2ND MAY, 11:30 PM
Wilson, dressed in a tracksuit, jogged up to the second floor, his heavy footsteps echoing through the corridor as he approached Kate’s room. Slowly, he opened the door and peered inside.
Kate, lying on the bed, sat bolt upright when the door creaked open. She turned towards the noise, her face pale with fear.
“Who’s there?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Who is it?” she repeated, her senses prickling with unease. The air in the room was cold and sinister—an oppressive presence unlike Alisha’s unnerving gentleness or the warm familiarity of Jeff and Jason.
“Wh-who… who are you?” Kate stammered, clutching the bedsheet tightly as the sound of approaching footsteps made her heart pound.
“What do you—” Kate’s voice rose in alarm, but her words were cut short when Wilson clamped a white handkerchief over her mouth and nose.
Her muffled cries filled the room as she thrashed against his iron grip. She clawed at his hands, desperate to free herself, but the chemical-soaked cloth quickly sapped her strength. Her muscles weakened, her heart raced, and her vision blurred. Moments later, her body went limp, her hands falling lifelessly to her sides.
Alena burst into the room just as Kate collapsed onto the bed. She had heard the muffled screams and rushed to investigate.
The sight before her froze her in place: Kate lay motionless on the bed, her chest barely rising. Wilson stood beside her, casually slipping the handkerchief into his pocket.
Alena’s eyes widened in shock and fury. Without hesitation, she stormed towards Wilson, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him close. Her voice was low and venomous as she demanded, “What have you done to her?”
Wilson sneered, prying her hands off his collar with deliberate force.
“She’s gone now. Look—she’s as good as dead,” he said with a twisted smirk, glancing at Kate’s still form.
“You’re insane! Who sent you?” Alena’s voice shook with anger, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
“Sent me?” Wilson tilted his head, feigning surprise. “Don’t you know?”
Alena's breath hitched, her lips parting as the colour drained from her face. For a moment, she stood frozen, her wide eyes locked on Wilson, disbelief flickering within them. Then, as if propelled by a surge of emotion, she stepped closer, her movements sharp and deliberate. Her face hovered inches from his, her eyes narrowing into fiery slits. Her voice, low and trembling with fury, cut through the tense air. “Was it her? She sent you?”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Of course, Aliena, dear,” Wilson murmured mockingly, raising a hand to cup her face.
Alena slapped his hand away with a disgusted scoff. “Don’t you dare touch me! Kate was under my care, and you had no right—none—to act without my permission!” Her voice rose with each word. “Don’t cross me, Wilson. You’ve been warned.”
“And what if I do?” Wilson retorted, his smirk deepening.
“You won’t live to tell the tale,” Alena shot back, her tone laced with menace.
Wilson chuckled darkly. “You think too highly of yourself, Alena. Who do you think you are?”
Alena faltered, confusion flickering across her face.
“You’re out of your league, Alena,” Wilson said with a dark chuckle. He glanced at Kate’s still form one last time before striding to the door. ‘Take care, darling.’”
Alena stood rooted to the spot, speechless, her fists trembling at her sides. She turned her gaze towards the door as Wilson's footsteps faded away. Her lips quivered with suppressed rage, her breath uneven. Slowly, she shifted her attention back to Kate. Her knees buckled, and she sank beside the bed, overwhelmed by a storm of guilt, fear, and anger.
*****************************************************
For hours, Jason had sat silently, watching Jeff curl up in a ball, his head resting on his knees as he wept and muttered curses under his breath. Jason had no idea how to console him; he could only watch. But time was slipping by, and he knew he had to do something.
With a deep breath, Jason approached Jeff, squatted beside him, and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Jeff,” he called softly. When there was no response, he tried again, “Jeff…”
“JUST STOP CALLING ME JEFF!” Jeff roared, his voice shaking with anguish. “Don’t…” His words faltered and cracked. “I’m not Jeff. I’m Josh! Josh,” he sobbed, burying his face in his hands. “She’s going to die, and it’s all my fault. I hurt her! She trusted me… she…” His voice broke, and he looked away, his shoulders trembling.
Jason’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as he tried to comfort him. “It’s not your fault, Jeff. None of this is your fault.”
“Don’t you get it?” Jeff snapped, his tone raw with pain. “I knew this would happen to her, and I did nothing. Nothing! I just stood there, watching. I should have—” He broke off, gritting his teeth in frustration.
“You weren’t just standing by, Jeff,” Jason countered. “You were waiting for the right time to act, to tell Alicia everything. You’ve done your best. You—”
“Enough, Jason!” Jeff cut him off, his voice icy. “Just stop.”
Before Jason could respond, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He sighed heavily, throwing a glance at Jeff before pulling out his phone. His brow furrowed when he saw Alena’s name on the screen and he threw Jeff a side look before he stood to pick up the phone.
He said nothing and waited patiently for Alena to say whatever she wanted to say. Seconds of silence passed away before he finally heard Alena clear her throat and say in a sore throat, “It’s Alena, Jason.”
“I know,” Jason replied, his voice curt.
There was a pause before her hoarse voice came through. “It’s Kate…”
Jason’s grip on the phone tightened, his heart thudding in his chest. “What happened to Kate?” he demanded, his voice a mix of fear and anger.
Jeff’s head snapped up at the mention of Kate’s name, his red-rimmed eyes filled with fear.
Jason’s patience wore thin as the silence dragged on. “WHAT HAPPENED TO KATE?” he thundered, his voice ringing through the rooftop.