บท 103: Chapter 103 - Find Her

The day I was supposed to meet Celeste could not have started any worse. I was half packing things and half leaving some things behind because I felt sure I could change her mind. That was when another package came in.

The packages this menace was sending was getting more and more disturbing. She would send photos of Celeste in her home and while the shots were clearly taken far away it was still close enough for me to be concerned.

The messages got more cryptic as well. She always mentions a fox in the hen house getting close but I could not understand what she meant. My men were no closer to finding who she was than what I tried many years ago when this first started. I wanted to control the situation first before I even breathed of this to Celeste.

This package contained lingerie and a letter promising a beautiful night tonight. "Merda. Not tonight, I need to leave." I whistled to my men and threw the package to them. "Sample this to see if you find anything then burn it."

I got dressed and left in a hurry. Unfortunately she arrived before I did. When I saw her it felt like the unease that settled in from that other woman went away. She looked healthy and not a hair on her head out of place. She seemed as she normally did. The saying that distance makes the heart grow fonder was true.

I missed her.

"I want to firstly apologize for how my parents acted when you dropped by. I should have stopped them and stood up for you. For that I truly am sorry." I watched her face waiting for some type of reaction but she just looked more calm. Neither happy nor sad.

"I see I appreciate the sentiment." Her words seemed carefully picked. As if she was disappointed by what I said. "I hope that what happened does not change what started between us. I still want to marry you."

I hoped her eyes would light up but nothing of the sort happened.

"Dante, I will be very honest with you. If maybe I had less self respect we could continue but that is not the case. What you said and did is forever engrained in my mind and heart. You insulted me, belittled me, and treat me only as a doll. Something to collect and display in your house among your crowd." She tucked her hair behind her ears. As though I punished her. An odd feeling swelled in my chest seeing her that way.

"Let me level with you Dante. You don't like me. You like the idea of me. The things that can be written down on paper is what you like. Unlike yourself, I actually liked you. Not the idea of you but you. The you that tried to meet me in the middle. The you that was kind and considerate of me. The you that you presented to me. But that you died the day you hurt me. I am no child who gets hurt by what people say, I can handle myself as an adult. However, what you did was personal. Assume I wanted to try to forgive you. I physically can't. Every time I look at you the words you said are dug up again. Our marriage would never last if you can't respect me as a human being."

Before I could even refute her words the doors slid open as the waiters brought us our drinks. I figured I would cool off before I tried to coax her. Honey was a better attractant than vinegar. The woman set down Celeste drink and went to give me mine. But her hand shook. As though she was nervous.

"Ugh what is this?" I barely glanced over at Celeste when the all too familiar perfume hit my nose. There was no way. I watched on horror as Celeste turned blue. Her hands began to grasp at her neck. Fear coursed through my veins seeing her writhe in pain. I roared out in anger. "YOU!"

The woman ran off and I could not let her slip away. I chased after her. This person had to be her, the one who needed to be checked into a mental facility. She was not very fast but she did get a head start.

She ran out the back door and I managed to catch up just a few feet from the restaurant. She suddenly stopped and turned to face me. Her name tag identified her as Irene. She was maybe a young woman in her early twenties. Her hair was tied back into a bun but despite that it was apparent her hair was thin and brown. Her most prominent feature was her full cheeks.

She was polar opposite to Celeste. When she spoke her voice was mousy and quiet. "You finally found me. After all these years you found me." Her eyes were wide and she looked possessed. She was definitely not right, something was not right with her.

"I don't know who you are but it is no blessing we meet. Your life as you know it will end."

She did not look scared, instead she looked delirious. "Oh but that woman is gone now. She won't bother us again. Or rather you can't bother her. She doesn't love you, not like I do." Her hands cupped her face as she laughed manically into them.

It was then I remembered what happened. Celeste looked like she was dying and I left her alone in the room. Who knows if a waiter or someone was helping her. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO HER!"

I gripped her shoulders and shook her hard but she just laughed and laughed. "Oh it was too easy. I hate to do it because she seemed to have moved on but you did not take the hint. I found out she has a severe allergy to caffeine. So I gave her a pure glass of it. I wanted to test of you would stay for her or come to me."

She grinned from ear to ear. "You chose me." I had made a huge mistake. I threw her harshly onto the floor and ran back into the restaurant. People crowded at the entrance to the room and I shoved past to get to her.

But she was not there. The waiter who assisted us earlier waved me down to get a sense of what happened. The police also showed up quickly and dispersed the crowd. "The young woman who was here with me. Where did she go?"

The boy stuttered as he was clearly fearful. "Sh-she was taken by an older man outside. I think someone got an ambulance for her. I hope she makes it her face was so blue and she was bleeding profusely.

I slammed my fist into the wall. I then angrily punched in some numbers into my phone. "Hey I need you to find her. Now."