Chapter Ten: Speed Things Up
Abby awoke
with a start as the light of day pierced through the window.
She jumped almost, staring at the clock. It was going close
to 11 in the morning, she’d slept in. She had so much
to do.
~ AT THE SAME
TIME ~
Charisma
replaced the phone and barely smiled. She’d rung the
studio claming she had a sore throat and it was best to rest it
for a while – just as she’d been instructed to do.
She sighed a little placing a shaky hand up to her forehead, she
felt a sudden headache coming on. It was something she was
used to by know. It was the only way her mind coped.
Her graceful
feet patted across the pristine floor of the kitchen as she
opened each draw in sequence, searching for the painkillers.
She found them without too much trouble and downed 2 with a glass
of water. She wasn’t to go out today. She was to
do exactly as she’d been told. The plan had to be sped
up because of the recent ‘arrival’. She had to
stick with the plan, otherwise they wouldn’t succeed.
She reached
for the receiver again and dialed Nick’s phone number.
It took only 3 rings before he answered it with a soft “hello”
“Nick,
its Charisma” she spoke softly down the phone
“Carry,
how are you?” he questioned, his voice more alert now
“A bit of
a sore throat, nothing much else, but I should rest”
“Does
this mean our lunch date is cancelled?”
She laughed a
little.
“Not
cancelled, postponed” she smiled
“Sure you’re
okay?”
“Yes,
yes, I'm fine, just need some rest”
“Okay
then, maybe I could come around tonight”
She smiled to
herself, he played right into her hands.
“I’d
like that”
They said
their goodbyes and Charisma replaced the receiver.
“So far
so good” she smiled
The figure
paced around the dark damp room. Things needed to be sped
up now, things were getting complicated.
“I don’t
like complications” a grumbling voice spoke out
Breathing in
the smell of the surroundings did little to slow the pace of the
walking. It smelt down here, like rotten fish, perhaps
rotting flesh, but that didn’t matter, that wasn’t on
the agenda, the agenda, which now needed to be sped up. A
cough rung out, then another, the dampness getting to the figure.
“Soon,
soon” they muttered
~ AT THE SAME
TIME ~
“Speed
things up?” Abby questioned, her hands shaking
“We need
to” a soft voice tried to smile
“Why? I
thought –“
“Abby,
they know you’re here, it wont take long, they’ll speed
things up, so must we”
A tear fell
from Abby’s eyes.
“I want
to leave, I want to go”
The figure
stooped to touch Abby’s leg, a soft smile glowing on the
face.
“It will
be over soon”
Abby gripped
at her head and flicked her head violently back.
“I want
them out, please get them out, please” she cried, begging
like the small child she once was
“I will,
as soon as I can Abby, I will, I promise you that, but right now
I cant”
“Why? Why
not now?”
“I'm not
strong enough. I don’t know enough”
“When
will you know?”
“When
this rests”
“Please,
get them out, the voices, the visions, the nightmares, please
just get them out of my mind. Am I not strong enough?”
“You will
be Abby”
“That’s
all you can offer”
“I have
nothing else, but my word”
“You
promised to take care of me”
“I will”
“Promise?”
A hand raised
and touched the side of Abby’s face.
“I’ll
promise that Abby, and I’ll keep it”
~ THAT NIGHT ~
Charisma
opened the door and Nick strolled casually in. She peeked
her head out the door, and sure enough the unmarked police car
was down the road.
“They’re
gonna stay there forever huh?” she laughed, flicking her
long hair back
“Sure, I
suppose, its good though, that they care”
Charisma half
smiled.
“I
suppose” she winked, moving around into the lounge
“Carry I
need to tell you something” Nick sighed, flopping down onto
the black leather couch
“You do?”
she responded sweetly
“It’s
about Melissa”
Charisma
shuddered at the name – She’s dead
“Really,
what?”
“The
anniversary is coming up, and I don’t think I can stay with
you that night, I need to think about things” Nick spoke,
his voice stunted
“That’s
okay, I understand” They’d planned on that
“You don’t
mind?”
“Not at
all Nickolas, it was horrible what happened and I'm willing to
give you any time you think you need”
Nick smiled
softly “Thanks”
'