Malevolence

Chapter 10:

Please read the Writer's note before continuing to read this chapter.

Evelyn:

2 Days. It's been 2 days since Harlan's demise, and all I have done is...nothing, except cry and cry some more.

I've done no work, no exercise and I've barely eaten. I think I've only eaten a hard boiled egg, which was yesterday.

It has only been two damn days and I miss Harlan terribly! I've already had a reporter follow me while I was in a shopping mall – a freaking shopping mall! – and demand I answer her questions. Luckily, I could run into the nearest clothing store and hide in one of the dressing rooms. Sadly though, I had to wait until the reporter left the store.

I waited in that dressing room for 30 damn minutes!

Thankfully I haven't had any reporters harass me ever since. That reporter just kept asking about Harlan.

What really happened to Harlan? Did he really commit suicide? What were your first thoughts when you saw Harlan dead? Did you see his dead body? Do you think it was a suicide?

That woman gave me a migraine!

Everywhere I look now however, I just see article upon article about Harlan's demise. It's in the magazines that get released weekly, it'son the news websites and it's still in the newspapers which is delivered to Ransom's house.

Every. Single. Newspaper!

I still find it strange that the news broke on the day of Harlan's death, but I think there's more to it than meets the eye...

How did the news of Harlan's suicide get published to the newspaper so fast? I know the newspaper was delivered later that morning, which was strange because usually newspaper articles only get published the day after an event has occurred.

So how did the news break so fast?

Also, I've noticed every other news article I have seen in the local paper or in the magazines have similar articles to the one I read two days ago. I have noticed that the magazines have tried to twist the story, claiming it suspects a member, or members, of Harlan's family had something to do with his suicide, but I am not buying it. I cannot buy it. I cannot imagine one of Harlan's family members doing something this vile to Harlan. Why would Harlan's family do this to him? None of them knew about the will – except for Ransom.

Ransom...

He hasn't really shown any sadness toward Harlan's death for the past two days.

But he could be hiding his emotions and doesn't want you to know how he truly feels?

Or maybe I don't know my boyfriend as well as what I thought...

No! I cannot think like that! I've known Ransom for years, I'm sure he is just putting on a poker face.

I mean, when I placed the first news article of Harlan in the kitchen drawer, I have spotted Ransom looking at that news article every now and again. When I looked at the expression on his face...I swear I saw the look of...sorrow...or was it guilt?

Wait! Does Ransom feel guilty for Harlan's suicide? Did...Did Ransom do something to Harlan? Did...Did he try to –

No! I cannot think like that! Ransom surely must be feeling at least some sadness for his grandfather. Ransom may be able to hide his emotions from the world, but he isn't made of stone.

Yet he is hiding his emotions from you?

I did ask Ransom yesterday how he was feeling, and all he said was that he was happy I was with him during this time of distress. So he must surely be feeling sorrowful toward Harlan's death...he wouldn't lie to me. Ransom told me he wouldn't lie to me again.