The Compulsive Taking

Chapter 6

(Alicia's Perspective) 

Liam was up early the next morning. He was set to fly out to film a new movie for the next few months. I got up around the time he did to fix breakfast, while he helped the kids get ready for school. 

The kids were not too pleased about Liam leaving mid-breakfast to catch his flight. He spent a few minutes with each child before coming over to me. When he finally came over to me, he rubs his hands down upon my shoulders. "This is good-bye for now." He says, as he gives me a frown. 

"Don't say good-bye." I say, as I shake my head. I was used to him leaving for months at a time, but it becomes harder now to part ways with him than it did before. He just stares at me for a few seconds trying to understand. 

I wrap my arms around him and lay my head on his shoulder. "Anything, but good-bye." I reply. My eyes well up with tears as I hold him close. He pulls back just for minute, before he reaches out to wipe my cheeks free from the tears that are falling. "I'll see you soon, Alicia." he then closes the gap between us with one tender kiss. He pulls away walking out the door toward his vehicle. I follow him out on the front porch calling out to him one more time before he leaves. 

"Hey!" 

He turns around. "Yeah?" 

"Call me when you land. Okay? I love you. Show them what you got!" I turn on my feet to go back inside, he calls after me. "Alicia?" I turn around. "Yeah?" 

"I love you, more." 

"Not possible, Mr. Westchester." I tease. 

"Anything is possible, Mrs. Westchester." He then climbs into his vehicle. I watch him start up the vehicle and pull away from our driveway. I watch until he disappears from my sight. 

~~~

"Alright kids. Remember, grandma is picking you all up today to go to the museum, after school.  I love you all so much. Make some A's!" I tell my children. 

"Okay, Mommy. I love you!" Blair calls back. 

"Sure thing, mom." Bradley replies. 

"Will do, mommy!" Lorna says, as she blows a kiss at me. I pretend to catch it before blowing one back to her. She gives me a huge smile, before closing the vehicle door. I drive off, continuing the rest of my daily routine. 

Since my mother was taking the children for the evening, I took the chance to deep clean the house and do some laundry. I turn on some music to give me some noise, then I was off. I worked from the upstairs to downstairs cleaning every nook and cranny. 

My music paused for a few seconds when a notification came through on my phone. I quickly stopped vacuuming and went downstairs to check it. It was a voicemail from Liam. I listened to it, before sending a text back informing him I got his voicemail. 

I started my music again, once I reached the downstairs floor. I was working on cleaning the kitchen, when my music stopped playing again. I stopped what I was doing and went into the living room. There were no notifications on my phone for my music to have stopped playing. I press the 'play' button before going back to cleaning. 

Something felt off when I was wiping down granite island. A chill ran down my spine, as queasiness creeped into my stomach. I hear a creak nearby which makes me jump, throwing down my cleaning rag in process. It had to be me overthinking it had been a while since I had the whole house to myself. 

I try ignoring my mind running wild with all different sorts of scenarios. A hand holding a cloth comes over my mouth in a quick instant. Muffled screams come from me, as I try to wriggle away. I am lifted a little in the air, as I continue to thrash about. The scent of chloroform came to my nose, I shove my elbow as hard as I can into my attacker. 

"YOU BITCH!" The attacker shouts. I start running toward the knife set sitting on the island, but I am pulled away before I can get my hands on the set. I go to hit the person again, as the cloth comes back toward my face. Then, one attacker turns to three. My vision becomes blurry, my senses were failing me. 

 The world became gray and fuzzy. I was being lowered onto the floor it was soon after that, I blacked out.