Catherine was in pain. She stared down at her finger, watching the red liquid seep out from between her layers of skin. She had been moving some of Richard’s old laboratory files out of his study and into crates; Friedrich had offered to buy the files from her citing independent research as a reason. He was adamant on receiving the files as soon as possible and Catherine was happy to get it for him, she wanted to empty the study to make room for something else.
The paper cut was deep, maybe two layers of skin down. Catherine ran to the bathroom. She ran the tap in the white marble basin. She cleaned to cut and bandaged it before looking at her reflection in the mirror. She looked drained, literally. Her skin, that was once smooth and soft, was dry and cracked. The deep-set crow’s feet and the few strands of matted, grey hair made her look old. The sunken cheeks that made her once round face look like an upside down pear. Her red cheeks were gone, leaving behind white spots. The years robbed her of her beauty and left her with nothing but cold comfort and pale shelter. Her thoughts were cut short by the rapping on her front door. Catherine dried her hands and ran to the door. It was Friedrich.
“The crates are in the back, do you mind helping get ‘em?” she motioned with her hand toward the study.
“Okay.” Friedrich seemed tense and a little more rigid than usual.
“You okay?”
“What…oh yes, yes I’m fine.”
Any fool could tell her was lying, but Catherine chose not to enquire into the matters concerning the town’s most emotionless man. Two-by-two they carried the crates into the van Friedrich had parked outside. The van smelt of fresh paint and once again Catherine chose (and wisely so) not to read too much into the happenings of Mr. Cullum. After Friedrich had driven off with a total of twelve crates, Catherine retreated back into the house to relax after the labor she had just endured. Just as she opened the door she noticed the single, lone file that lay on the floor. She read the name: The Empty Cot Experiment. The name was strange, no doubt, but was it normal to feel this uneasy about the wording of the lone file that lay on the floor? Catherine bent down to pick up the file and proceeded to sit down at the dining room table before opening the old brown file.
YOU ARE READING
Dead Center
Mystery / Thriller'Crazy people do crazy things.' That's what Catherine had believed, until Rob, her husband crept into the woods and killed himself. An act that sends the town of Guardsfield into chaos. Secrets are revealed, lies are told and people disappear. Only...
