Chapter 2- drawn to the cursed town
1261 Words
***********Three years later*************
“You can't run away…” Clara found herself tied to a tree; her eyes lingered on the same army that saved her life years back.
She woke up heavily, her heart pounding, she held her chest firmly while she huffed for more air down her throat.
“I'm… I'm…” She gasped for more air the more someone called her from outside.
Sweat dripped down her cheeks, pain piercing down her waist while screaming.
“Clara…Clara…” James rang her doorbell over and over again and hissed at the door.
Clara crawled out of the bed and to the window after hearing James calling her. She spied at him from up above; he folded his hands while staring at the door.
“I'm coming…” Clara screamed, rushing over to the bathroom to freshen up.
“We're late!” James screamed as he waited outside.
“I'm coming, dude,” she scoffed as she brushed her hair with the black gel and styled it perfectly. She walked out of the house, as a little gasp escaped.
“I don't need any trouble; get your ass here now!” James yelled, but with a low voice.
“I…don't…need… no trouble, you chickenhead, let’s get going,” Clara mimicked James, as they both laughed out hard.
Throughout the journey, Clara kept on staring out the window. Imagine how her life was three years back, the memories of not knowing who she really is.
She exhaled deeply, pushing the door open immediately when they arrived.
The detective firms were full of police, running in and out. Some stood at the door side, they rushed their food very quickly.
Clara walked inside the huge building, James followed her behind.
“See who is right here?” Oscar said, hugging her tightly as the rest of their team laughed out loud.
“Good to see you, man.” She pulled off from the hug and scanned the rest of her team.
“Come here—wait, nah…you’re going to be kidding with me, right?” Daisy said, as she glanced at James and then at Clara.
“Oh, hold on! You two are together?’’ Oscar asked.
Clara glanced at them and then at James, their eyes giving a signal of guilt.
“I don't need to be told, you're together?” Oscar chuckled, shook his head, and walked back to his seat.
“Okay…you win,” Clara said, lifting her hands in defeat.
“I wouldn't say we are dating, but almost.” Everyone glanced at both of them as they clapped and laughed.
“Congrats, man.” Oscar said, shaking hands with James as they tossed their shoulders together.
Clara sat at the edge of the table, smiling and spying at them.
Suddenly, Mr. Dante walked in. Everywhere seized, the silence drew Clara back to reality.
She rushed back to her seat, and everyone did the same. Their eyes fixed into their system, avoiding Mr. Dante's angry gaze.
“You, everyone, come close,” he ordered, his hands pointing at everyone. They rushed toward him, their hands at the front as they looked.
“We need volunteers for a mission along Shepherd Street.” He cleared his throat before speaking again. “A crime of a little girl being killed along with her baby brother.”
“Details, sir,” one of them asked. He stared at the man and cleared his throat before continuing.
“It's said that the mom left for work and hasn't been back ever since; no one knows what really happened,” he explained.
“For how long?” James asked as he folded his hands together.
“For three days now, and we don't want this to escalate. But I need three volunteers to come with me.” He tried explaining.
“When, sir?” another detective asked.
“Now!” he said, everyone's jaws clenching down as they stared at each other.
Some even drew themselves back behind, as Mr. Dante glanced and scanned those he might pick.
“You, you, you…” He pointed at two men, and then at Clara. Clara widened her brown eyes , and pointed at herself.
“Me?” she asked; he nodded.
“Nah…Sir, I can't.” She shook her head as a no.
“Why? any troubles?” Mr. Dante asked as he folded his hands and stared at her.
“I just received a report from a town named Owen Town about a killing crime scene of a little girl about five years old, and the townspeople are scared.” She tried explaining with her hands. Her whole body felt some goosebumps immediately when she said the town name.
Everyone stood there staring at her; not a single noise was made.
“Really? Then good, you can go ahead with two of your colleagues,” he ordered.
“No…Sir, only James can drop me off.” She stammered, and sweat dripping down her cheeks.
“Are you sure? Alone?” Daisy spoke from the crowd.
“Yes… I'm sure, and I will definitely will give my report regularly,” she assured them, but everyone felt a bit of pity for her.
Their faces filled with pity as they tossed their heads.
“Alright, done.” Mr. Dante said as he took a deep breath before continuing.
Clara was still in thought, not caring what her teams were discussing.
She scanned everyone as they tried discussing the mission at hand. Mr. Dante finally picked another person, Lucy.
Clara rushed to her seat after the meeting had ended. Everyone got busy with theirs work, while she was busy scanning and planning her trip to the little town.
The hour had arrived; Clara walked down the street. Her hands folded together, the air slashing down her dry skin.
“Are you sure you don't need my help?” James asked her, and she jerked out of her thoughts.
“Nah… I'm good.” She said, pressing her lips into his. They kissed passionately, not minding who might be there.
After a few minutes of hugging their breath together, they untangled each other, breathing heavily as they gasped.
Throughout their walk, Clara didn't utter a word. All she did was hiss each time; her eyes lingered at her watch.
“Have a nice night.” James waved at her as she nodded before heading inside.
Her one-room apartment fitted well for her salary. She rushed to her bed, lying on it as she took a deep breath.
Staring at the blue ceiling, it reminded her of the day she got alone in the woods.
Suddenly, when she tried remembering that day. Her heart ached, her eyes went blurry, and she screamed heavily.
“Damn it! Not again.” She smashed her hands against her pillow, crawled to her cupboard, and tugged at her medicine.
She sipped some water down her throat, allowing the medicine to flow deep inside.
She exhaled deeply after getting herself back.
On the other hand, James scratched his hair. Making it messy enough, as he kept on thinking about why Clara behaved strangely.
“What is she thinking?” he muttered, leaving his hands roaring onto his table.
A one-bedroom apartment, far from Clara's own. But that didn't stop him from picking her up each day.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated, leaving him to croak.
“What the f**k?” He pulled out his phone from his pocket and straight to his view.
“See you tomorrow, for Owen town.”
She must be kidding, right?
- Writer
