Chapter Sixteen: Looks Are Deceiving….



~ THE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING ~

Security had been stepped up, there were bodyguards and security guards everywhere. Alarms had been changed, locks replaced, windows installed with tamper proof locks, the once cozy relaxed house was now looking more like a fortress.
“It’ll all be okay” Brian smiled as they stood back, watching the bustle of people move in and out of the house.
They’d not heard the “The Pale Horse” since the letter had arrived, maybe after seeing the house remodeled into a modern day stronghold, they’d given up any idea of trying anything, at least that’s what Faith tried to consol herself with.
It had been nearly 2 weeks since Faith had dropped the charges against Marie, unfortunately she still held a paranoid feeling, she never expressed this to anyone, simply because Marie was her best friend, and tomorrow she would be her maid of honor. The distance between them was clear, Marie understood, it wasn’t hard to notice things seemed to point directly at her, she just hoped Faith trusted her enough to believe her.

The Church was too have round the clock surveillance and beefed up security. They didn’t want to draw any unwanted media attention, but in everyone’s eyes safety came first. From the house to the church Faith would not only be accompanied by Marie and two other bridesmaids, but also 2 body guards and an undercover, plains clothed escort. At the house, an unmarked car would patrol the streets, checking for anything out of the ordinary and 2 security guards would wander the grounds of the house, and two more would be situated in the house at all times. Nothing was overlooked and nothing would escape them.

Catherine knew that layout, and she’d studied it religiously every night. There was however one flaw, and that little flaw she would use for all it was worth.

~ THE NEXT DAY ~

“Uh, I’ll see you later” Brian called through the door, to Faith.
He was under strict instructions he wasn’t allowed to see her that morning, until the ceremony later that day. He was to get ready, along with Nick, his brother and a close friend at AJ’s house, which was only a matter of minutes from the Church. The girls would get ready at the house, then be taken in 2 limo’s to the Church at exactly 12:00 the ceremony was to begin.
“Bye baby, I’ll see you in 4 hours” she laughed from the other side of the door

~ 3 HOURS LATER ~

“Now blot” the makeup artist smiled as she placed a tissue between Faith’s lips
A guard wandered around behind them, checking his watch and jiggling his walkie-talkie.
“You look gorgeous” Marie smiled as she gently hugged Faith
“God, I'm so nervous” Faith laughed, her hands shaking
“It’s gonna be great, you and Brian need each other, and belong together” Marie declared as she walked around the room in the fitting deep blue stain dress.

~ 11:45 AM ~

“Is everyone ready?” Marie inquired as the 2 limos pulled up to the house.
“I thought we were all going in one?” Faith questioned looking out the window
“I suppose the company sent two” Marie shrugged
“I guess we’ll use that to our advantage, Marie, you and I will go in the first one, Jamie and Cherish you can ride in the second one” Faith smiled
She took one last look at herself in the full-length mirror propped up against the wall. The dress sculptured around her figure perfectly, her makeup was soft and subtle, her hair wavy and pulled half back, with a weave of white flowers folded through.
“You’re going to knock his socks off” Marie smiled wrapping her arm around Faith
Faith silently smiled as she adjusted the small veil at the back of her head. She breathed in slowly and picked up her flowing dress as they walked to the door.

The sun was high and bright in the clear blue sun, birds chirped a merrily song high atop the trees as the walked down to the awaiting rides.

A male driver stepped out of the car and walked around to the door, silently he tipped his hat and opened the door for Faith. She stepped in, as Marie hopped in on the other side. The other two bridesmaids got into the following limo. The engines started and the two soon pulled away from the house.

“You know, I’ll never get sick of driving in one of these” Marie smiled as she ran her hands across the leather upholstery.

~ 5 MINUTES LATER ~

The window separating the driver and passenger’s slid down.
“I'm real sorry Ma’am” the driver spoke, looking at them through the rear view mirror
“What’s wrong?” Faith hesitated
“I thought they’d filled this baby up, but it would seem they didn’t” he chuckled, though it was barely amusing to Faith
“You have to stop for petrol?”
“I wouldn’t want to risk running out of it”
“Alright fine, do what you have to do” Faith sighed
“Do you have a radio? So that you can tell the other car behind us?” Marie inquired
The driver handed Marie the extended ham radio.
“Just push the button and talk love” he smiled

“Uh, it seems we have to stop to fill up with petrol, carry onto the Church, and tell them what’s going on, we’ll be there as soon as” Marie spoke into the radio
The response came quickly, as the two limo’s veered off in opposite directions.

~ 5 MINUTES LATER ~

The Church was on the outskirts of rural Orlando, as was the surrounding town. The lush foliage lining the sides of the small roads towered over the limo, hiding it from the sun. The limo approached the petrol station, but didn’t make the maneuvers to pull over.

“Ah, you just passed the station” Marie announced tapping on the glass as they sped past. The limo pulled to an abrupt halt along the side of the empty road. The glass separating them slowly wound down.
“What the hell are you doing? Go to the petrol station” Marie announced, agitated.
The face of the man turned gravely annoyed. With a quick movement his arms wrapped around Marie’s neck, his hands covering her mouth and nose with a chloroform soaked cloth. The other hand held a gun in Faith’s direction.
“Don’t say a fucking thing” the driver announced as Marie fell limp onto the seat
“Get out of the car” he instructed waving the gun in her face
Stiffly she obeyed, stepping out onto the grassy bank. He stepped out also, still holding the gun powerfully.
His hand reached down under the chin, scratching at the skin. Pulling it loose, the mask came off slowly but easily, revealing a completely different, but familiar face.
“Oh my god, it’s you” Faith choked as she backed away
“Don’t fucking move bitch” Catherine announced harshly as she walked up to her, holding the gun out in front of her
“Chelsea” Faith muttered
“Catherine actually” Catherine smiled, seemingly laughing to herself
Faith looked around, back into the limo, where Marie lay seemingly lifeless on the seat, to the side, a thick covering of trees, the others side of the road – nothing. Not a car, not a person, nothing.
“Don’t think about running anywhere Faith, there’s nowhere to go” she cackled.
Faith looked to the side of her, out of the corner of her eye, and made the split decision to run, she got about a meter away before Catherine lunged on top of her, pushing her to the ground with a violent force.

Faith struggled underneath her body, holding back the gun in Catherine’s hands. She scratched at her face, with her perfectly manicured nails, but Catherine took it all, an evil glare glassing over her eyes. Her hand pushed down against Faith’s throat, strangling her with excited fury. Faith choked back, struggling for air, as she wriggled around on the ground. She saw Catherine’s hand raise up over her head, the gun glistening in the sun – then nothing.

With one swift blow with the handle of the gun, and Faith was out to it. She stopped wriggling, stoped struggling, she just lay there in muddy white, deathly still.



Chapter 17
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