Malevolence

Chapter 28:

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

Evelyn:

"Don't joke like that Evelyn." Ransom says, his voice trembling.

He creases his brows like he is going to burst into tears.

Yeah he better be scared!

I scoff. "It's cute that you think I am joking about this?" I roll my eyes playfully. "Oh my dear, naïve Ransom...I am very serious." I say, sounding sarcastic – not caring how rude I sound.

I'm sick of Ransom's lies, and I want the truth from him!

"H-How can you...you..." Ransom takes a step backward, trailing off as he speaks. His breathing seems to have accelerated.

I sigh, looking at Ransom's expression on his face and I detect a mix of panic and fear.

He is really scared that I am going to break up with him, which is something I don't want to do, but he is leaving me no choice...I don't even like the fact that I have to threaten our relationship like this, but how else am I supposed to get Ransom to tell me the truth?

"Don't break up with me." Ransom says in an undertone, his voice trembling, I think he is going to burst into tears.

But I cannot give into his tears if he does cry. I must stand my ground.

"Then tell me where you went?" I demand.

"I –" Ransom exhales sharply. "I just told you where I went!"

"Then why don't I believe you?" I shrug, sounding hostile.

"Evelyn..." Ransom sighs like he is getting annoyed with me.

"Your shoes," I point down to Ransom's shoes, "are dry and there is no indication that you went out for a walk. I mean, you are wearing your trench coat. You don't wear that when you go walking."

"Evelyn –"

"Not done." I raise my finger, but as I am about to speak, I spot something black hanging out of Ransom's trench coat.

Gloves? Are those gloves in his pocket?

I need to take a closer look.

"Why," I step closer to Ransom, "do you have these on you?" I ask, pulling out the pair of gloves.

I was right!

I recognize these gloves however. They are the driving gloves Harlan gave to Ransom a few years ago, back when Ransom was in a car race with his friend.

Oh the painful memories of Ransom driving like a maniac on the road – well, not much has changed actually.

Getting off topic!

"Evelyn..." Ransom trails off again, staring at me.

I look down at the pocket, and I shove my hand in again, to see if there's anything else he is hiding from me, and I pull out...his car keys? His car keys?

Wait, did Ransom drive somewhere, because if he said he went walking, why would he need to drive? The walking route Ransom and I usually go on is literally a few kilometers away, so he wouldn't need his car to drive anywhere.

My eyes shoot up to meet with Ransom's, and I clench my jaw before I speak. "Where did you go?"

Ransom looks at my hand, his eyes widening, and he does not utter a word.

Why isn't he answering me? Surely he would – oh wait a minute! Is he...oh!...is he thinking of concocting a lie in his mind? Is he going to lie to me?