Chapter 7: FEW DAYS BEFORE DEATH
CHAPTER 7
Final
Daniel paced back and forth across the room, his brow furrowed and hands restless. Frank sat nearby, arms crossed, watching him with a mixture of concern and frustration.
"I've never felt this clueless," Daniel muttered, more to himself than to Frank.
"Guy, calm down," Frank said firmly. "You better stop this. Take your hands off the case. It's too big and could land you in serious trouble."
Daniel stopped pacing and turned to face him, eyes blazing. "Frank, she's innocent! If I don't intervene, Prisca might spend the rest of her life in captivity. Can't you see how powerful that guy's parents are? They'll do anything to make someone pay for their son's death."
"Which is exactly why you should back off," Frank retorted. "If we get caught—"
"Just shut up, Frank!" Daniel snapped. Silence hung thick between them before he continued, his tone steadier but no less determined. "I'm going to meet that John guy."
"What? No way! That's suicide!" Frank exclaimed.
"If he loves Prisca enough to kill for her," Daniel reasoned, "then he won't let her rot in jail. He'll turn himself in."
"Damn it, Daniel!" Frank threw his hands up in exasperation. "How can you come up with such a crazy idea? That guy's a psycho!"
Daniel's expression hardened. "A psychopath can do anything. He could even go to prison if he chooses to."
"He wouldn't choose to!"
"He would," Daniel said firmly. "He loves Prisca. He threatened me for her, killed that guy for her… Hell, he might even turn himself in for her. I'm doing this."
Without another word, Daniel slipped on his shoes, opened the door, and stepped outside.
Frank groaned in frustration, running his hands through his hair. "This guy is going to get us both killed," he muttered under his breath.
Prisca sat on the edge of the sofa in Ben's house, her posture stiff and her eyes fixed on the floor. She had changed into fresh clothes, but her face was pale, her expression haunted. Ben stood nearby, watching her cautiously.
"He says you're his ex," Ben began, breaking the heavy silence. "Do you know him? His name is Alex."
Prisca's head snapped up, a spark of hope flickering in her eyes. "Yes, I do! Is he the one in charge of this case?"
Ben nodded.
"Oh, God!" Prisca exclaimed, pressing her hands together as if in prayer. "Thank God! I can explain everything to him. He'll believe me… he has to."
Ben's expression darkened. "No, Prisca. I doubt he has any real say over your arrest. He's just following orders. This case involves a high-class family. You won't be able to convince him."
Prisca shook her head stubbornly. "I can't keep hiding forever. Please, trust me. I have to do this. I need to try."
Daniel and Frank stood outside John's house, the rickety door in front of them looking as uninviting as the man inside. Frank fidgeted nervously, his eyes darting around the quiet street.
The door creaked open, and John stepped out, shirtless, his tattooed torso glinting in the sunlight. A cigarette dangled from his lips, and his eyes narrowed as he looked them over.
"How may I help you?" he asked, his tone dripping with suspicion.
Daniel swallowed hard. "She's in danger… Prisca is in danger."
John's face darkened instantly. "How do you know? What do you know? Where is she?" He lunged forward, grabbing Daniel by the shirt.
"Whoa, whoa! Easy, man!" Frank stammered, stepping back in alarm.
John released Daniel, who staggered slightly, gasping for air.
"I've been looking for her," John said, his voice quieter but no less menacing. "Where is she?"
Daniel straightened, his voice trembling but steady enough. "The police are looking for her. If she gets caught, she'll be arrested. You need to turn yourself in. We know you did it… we know you killed that boy. If you don't, Prisca will face the consequences of your actions."
John's hand shot out, producing a gleaming dagger. He grabbed Frank from behind, pressing the blade to his throat.
"Jesus! Don't do that!" Daniel cried, his voice breaking. "Please, don't!"
"Where is she?" John hissed.
"I'll take you to her," Daniel said quickly, his hands raised in surrender. "But please, don't hurt him."
Frank's eyes filled with tears as he struggled against John's grip.
"They want to kill my wife?" John sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "Who dares?"
"Yes, they will," Daniel said, his voice trembling. "They'll kill her if you don't confess."
John released Frank, who stumbled away, choking back sobs.
"And if I confess," John said, his lips curling into a bitter smile, "they'll kill me too, won't they?"
"You'll just be imprisoned," Daniel replied.
John laughed, a harsh, hollow sound. "And while I'm locked away, who will take care of her? Who will be there for her?"
Frank spoke up, his voice shaky. "She'll visit you—"
"No!" John interrupted, his voice rising. "She'll be separated from me. Someone else will claim her. I won't let that happen. No way!"
Frank stared at him, horrified. "So… what are you going to do?"
"I'll kill her," John said, smiling sinisterly.
Daniel froze. "What?"
"And then I'll kill myself," John continued, his laughter echoing like a madman's symphony. "We'll live together in the other world since this one isn't worth it."
Daniel and Frank exchanged a terrified glance, their fear palpable.
"You both are useless," John snarled. "Now, where is my bride?"
Back at Ben's house, Prisca lay on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. Her mind swirled with thoughts, her heart heavy with guilt and regret.
Ben entered the room, his expression unreadable. "Have you called him?"
Prisca nodded. "Yes. I'm meeting him at the restaurant opposite the station."
"You know you can still change your mind," Ben said gently. "You don't have to go. I spoke with Daniel earlier today, and he told me about a plan he has."
Prisca sat up, shaking her head. "No, Ben. I have to do this. I need to."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she broke down again. "Had I known… I wouldn't have let him come over."
Ben sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "It's going to be okay," he whispered.
Prisca leaned into him, her sobs quieting as he held her. Slowly, the comfort turned into something deeper, and as Ben kissed her, their passion ignited, consuming the moment and pushing everything else away.
***
Ben stood by the door, watching Prisca as she prepared to leave. He felt a deep mix of worry and longing as she gathered her things.
"Don't worry," she reassured him, her voice calm and confident. "I'll be fine."
Ben couldn't let her go without one last kiss. He stepped forward and kissed her deeply, as if to make sure that this moment would stay with him forever. Reluctantly, he pulled away, allowing her to leave.
As soon as Prisca stepped outside, she boarded the waiting motorcycle and drove off. The sound of the engine faded into the distance, leaving Ben with a sense of dread in his chest.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him out of his thoughts. He answered quickly.
"Hello?"
Daniel's voice came through, urgent and panicked. "Hey, shit happened. Huge shit! Just make sure Prisca never leaves the house."
Ben's heart sank. "What? Why? She just left."
A pause on the other end, then Daniel's voice cracked with disbelief. "What? Oh my God! Where is she going?"
"To see the inspector," Ben explained, already feeling a tight knot in his stomach. "Long story short… the inspector is her ex-girlfriend. She thought she could convince her to listen and explain herself. Tell her the truth."
Daniel's voice raised in panic. "No, no, no, no… Where are they meeting?"
"At a restaurant across from the station."
"Shit! Shit!! Shit!!!" Daniel cursed loudly. "You shouldn't have let her go!"
Ben's heart raced. "What's going on?"
"Just get there fast," Daniel ordered, his voice frantic. "Follow her as quickly as you can." The call abruptly ended.
Without wasting another second, Ben dashed inside, grabbed his car keys, and sped off, his mind racing with worry.
At the restaurant, Alex sat at a corner table, checking his wristwatch for the third time in as many minutes. His patience was wearing thin. The sound of the door opening caught his attention, and he looked up to see Ben entering.
"Where is she?" Ben asked, his voice tense as he approached Alex's table.
"What are you doing here?" Alex shot back, startled by Ben's abrupt arrival.
"Where is Prisca?" Ben demanded again.
Alex glanced around, looking more frustrated than confused. "I haven't seen her. I've been waiting."
Before Ben could respond, Daniel and Frank burst into the room, moving quickly toward them.
"Where is she?" Daniel asked, his voice tight with anxiety.
"She hasn't arrived yet," Ben replied, his worry escalating by the second.
Daniel slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing through the quiet restaurant. "Oh God! Oh damn!"
Frank looked at Daniel, then to Ben. "What do we do now?"
Daniel's face tightened as he looked toward the door. "We need to find her. We're going to John's house."
"The mûrderer's house?" Ben asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Yes," Frank answered, his tone grim.
Alex looked between them, confusion evident on his face. "What are you guys talking about?"
Ben sighed, feeling the weight of everything piling on him. "Long story. We'll explain on the way. Let's go."
The group hurried out of the restaurant, their hearts racing.
***
In the car, the atmosphere was tense, the silence almost unbearable. Ben's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white. Daniel sat in the passenger seat, his eyes glued to his phone, while Frank and Alex were in the back, both of them quiet, processing everything.
"She's not the mûrderer," Daniel finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "That boy was kïlled by someone else. A guy who loved her. A psychópath. He'd been stalking her for months. He even had a mini CCTV set up in her house."
Alex's eyes widened, but he didn't speak. The weight of Daniel's words hung heavy in the car, each passing second making the situation feel even more urgent.
***
They pulled up to a rundown house on the outskirts of town. Ben's heart skipped a beat when he saw it. The group quickly got out of the car, their footsteps hurried as they approached the door.
Ben and Daniel exchanged glances before knocking forcefully on the door. There was no response. Daniel gestured toward the side of the house.
"Try the back," he suggested, his voice tight with tension.
The two of them circled the house, and that's when Ben stopped. His eyes locked on something on the ground. His blood ran cold.
"Is that… blood?" he whispered, pointing to the dark red liquid that was creeping out from underneath the front door.
Without hesitation, Daniel kicked the door open. What they found inside was far worse than either of them had imagined.
Prisca was lying on the floor, her body surrounded by a pool of blood. She was lifeless, her skin pale and cold. Beside her, John was kneeling, covered in blood. A dagger was pressed against his own throat, and he wore a sickening smile.
"No, no, no!" Daniel screamed, his voice breaking as he rushed forward.
John looked up at them, his smile unsettling. "We're going to be together," he said softly, almost dreamily.
Before anyone could react, John swiftly slît his own thróat. Blood poured out in torrents, and his body collapsed onto the floor.
Frank rushed to his side, while Ben fell to his knees beside Prisca. His heart pounded in his chest, and tears welled in his eyes. He gently touched her cold hand, his fingers trembling.
"Prisca…" he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Alex stood by, his fists clenched, his face contorted with anger. "She's gone," he muttered, his voice hoarse.
Frank checked John's pulse, then shook his head. "He's deàd too."
Daniel, unable to contain his emotions any longer, walked out of the room. His slight sobs could be heard echoing down the hallway, but no one followed. The room was silent except for the sound of Ben's soft crying as he sat next to Prisca, holding her lifeless hand.
Alex placed a hand on Ben's shoulder, but neither of them spoke. There were no words that could make this moment any easier. The reality of what had just happened was too much to bear.
***
Daniel sat in his couch, reminiscing.
The air in the hotel eatery was filled with laughter as Prisca chuckled at Daniel's teasing. He spoke in a playful blur, and she found herself smiling at the carefree energy between them. But then, without warning, Daniel's tone shifted, quieter and more somber.
"But she's gone now," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Prisca's smile faltered, her eyes softening with empathy. "Aww, I'm sorry."
Daniel leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant as memories resurfaced. "I was nine when she died. I didn't cry, though. It was just so... unbelievable. I couldn't accept that I wouldn't get to hear my mother crack jokes again."
His words hung in the air, and Prisca's heart went out to him. "I'm really sorry," she said gently. "So... you've never cried over losing someone you love?"
"No," Daniel replied, shaking his head. "Not yet. No one precious has left me."
"Not even neighbors?" Prisca asked, her curiosity piqued.
Daniel smiled at her, a light in his eyes. "Neighbors? Hmm... I've lost one. But I wasn't really close to them, so... I wasn't hurt." He chuckled softly. "Do you think I'd cry if you diéd?"
Prisca blinked, momentarily taken aback. "No... You barely know me. Why would you cry?"
Daniel's expression softened, a hint of vulnerability surfacing. "Yeah, but you make me feel like I've known you for a long time. I wouldn't be surprised if I cried over you."
Prisca simply smiled, sipping her drink as the moment passed, leaving an air of quiet understanding between them.
***
Daniel sat on the floor, his sobs shaking his body as medics moved quietly around him, carrying the lifeless bodies out of the house.
Alex stood off to the side, his face tight with grief, but his eyes revealing a deeper, more complex emotion. He watched Daniel, but his thoughts of Prisca seemed far away, distant from the scene unfolding before him.
***
Prisca sat in the darkened theater, her eyes glued to the screen, the images flickering as the movie played on. A tragic scene unfolded, and Prisca couldn't hold back her disbelief.
"I can't believe she died," she murmured, still in shock.
Alex, sitting beside her, nodded quietly. "Yes. She did."
"But she didn't deserve it. Gosh! The scriptwriter of this movie needs to be slapped," Prisca exclaimed, her voice laced with frustration.
Alex glanced at her with an amused yet calm expression. "It's just a movie."
"Yeah, but that's exactly why the screenwriter should be fair to the characters," she argued, her passion rising.
Alex chuckled softly. "Movies portray life, and life isn't fair. The screenwriter did a good job showing us that."
Prisca sighed, the frustration fading as the screen illuminated her face. "I'm just glad it's a movie."
There was a brief silence before Alex spoke again, breaking the moment. "So... you actually left work to come see me?"
***
Alex stood in the middle of the room, his hand clenched into a fist, the weight of his emotions almost too much to bear. "Life isn't fair," he muttered under his breath, a bitter edge to his voice.
Ben came around and sat on the floor, lost in thought. His eyes were distant, staring at nothing in particular, as if trying to make sense of the events that had unfolded. The grief was palpable, suffocating, and all-consuming. He reminisced moments with Prisca
***
"So, how do you plan to live the rest of your life?" he asked Prisca.
Prisca's eyes lit up with a playful glint. "I'll have all the fun I've missed for a month, then spend the remaining month in a convent."
Ben raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Hmmm, you've planned it all out."
Prisca nodded. "Yep. I've been less of a ghost lately in my neighborhood. I even hung out with one of the neighbors recently. Something I never did before."
Ben smiled weakly, but his eyes betrayed him, the tears threatening to spill. "Nice one," he muttered, his voice thick with emotion.
***
The faint wail of an ambulance siren in the background signaled the departure of Prisca's body, leaving an air of emptiness behind.
Frank, Ben, Alex, and Daniel watched as their admirable Prisca left, the weight of their shared loss hung in the air, unspoken but understood.
She had few days to live but, it was cut shorter.
THE END
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