My life flashed before my eyes; my first day at school, my tenth birthday, starting high school, starting college and meeting Amon, our engagement party, our wedding, the birth of our first child and finding out that I'm pregnant again. Then nothingness, my world turned black. Too bright, the harsh hospital lights illuminated the room. I felt different, lighter almost. What had happened? had I fainted? confused and shaken I sat up, only my body didn't move. In that moment I realised that I had died. "How can I be dead? I'm perfectly healthy" I whispered in a stunned voice to myself. "what about Lilith? does she even know or understand?" it's useless asking myself these pointless questions, no would give me an answer.
Blankly I stared at my lifeless corpse, my long curls had become matted with congealed blood that had poured from a bullet wound in my forehead and a deep slice in my throat. The blood dripped like delicate rubies from the vicious wound. My clothes had been torn by the thirteen angry stab wounds that were littered across my torso. I was so dishevelled that I was barely recognisable, the caramel colour of my skin had been drenched and stained red with blood, my usually rose pink lips had turned grey and were splattered with blood. Stunned I stared down into my own frosted over eyes and felt an icy chill creep down my back. " This is definitely me?" I asked myself, already know the answer as my eyes darted towards the name hanging above the bed. " Alexia Lovelace, that's me" I said mournfully.
Suddenly I heard a loud bang like a gunshot, as I turned in the direction of the door I heard my husband's cries echo throughout the room. Then I saw him, he looked heart broken. Tears streamed down his cheeks like a vicious, violent river as he cried helplessly "WHY, WHY WOULD SOMEONE TAKE HER AWAY FORM ME?!"
As his sadness and grief coated the sterile hospital floors with tears a tall, well-dressed man entered the room. "I am Detective Eric Righter, I am here to investigate your wife's murder" he said calmly.
When Amon's sobs didn't stop he gently spoke to my husband "Sir, I know that this is a distressing matter however I will need you to calm down so you can answer a few questions for me" slowly the crying slowed and the last few tears trickled down Amon's face. Seeing him in so much pain made my heart splinter. "Don't cry, I'm right here. I'm fine" I cried out but to no avail, he couldn't hear me
"now can you tell me where you were at the time of the murder?"
" do you really suspect I murdered my own wife detective" Amon demanded, his grief boiling over into anger, poring power into his demanding question.
"not at all sir, just procedure" Detective Righter said. I was surprised at how calm he could be after asking a grieving man if he was responsible for his wife's death.
"I was coming home from collecting my daughter from school" he replied reluctantly. Detective Righter began to scribble note furiously as he questioned Amon.
"ok, could you tell me if there was anyone else home when you left the house?" Detective Righter asked
"No, there was no one else home when I left"
"and does anyone else have access to your home?"
"aside from our parents no, although we do always keep a spare key under the door matt" Amon responded
"can you think of anyone who may have had a motive to do this?"
"no, Alex was a very loveable woman. Actually, her ex- boyfriend may have, he believes she cheated on him with me"
"Alright, thank you sir. I suggest that you and your daughter stay away from the crime scene for the foreseeable future. At least until the investigation is complete" the he left mumbling to himself as he left. I was left shocked and frozen in place, could Dean really have done this?
As the door closed behind him Amon relaxed, his once saddened expression became cold, calculating, emotionless. Something didn't feel right, something was wrong, I just needed to find out what. He began mumbling to himself, he's probably just trying to come to terms with what has happened and accept that I am gone I thought to myself, trying to rationalise his strange behaviour. Amon began pacing back and forth between the wall and the bed, his mumbling growing ever louder with every step. Suddenly he stopped right by my bed, I watched as he loomed over the bed and stared down at my lifeless body. The expression that passed across his face momentarily was unreadable, was it sadness I saw or was that fear maybe even regret. I didn't get time to think as the door began to slowly creak open.
Just as the old doctor walked in Amon fell to the floor in a crumbled mess like a used, broken doll and began to sob uncontrollably at the foot of my bed. The doctor shuffled towards my husband and rested a comforting hand on his shoulder, clearly attempting to bring Amon some kind of peace. My attention was pulled away from the scene when the heavy door was pushed open again and young girl inched into the bland colourless room. It was my daughter Lilith. She didn't know yet. As she came towards he father and saw my mangled body she, like her father, began to cry and the scream. Either out of fear, confusion or sorrow I did not know. Their woeful cries filled my ears, this was too much for me, their pain was burrowing my heart and ears. Crying I fled the room, leaving the doctor to attempt to calm both and escort them from the room.
I was so confused, as I floated through the empty halls I wept; I wept for my family, my daughter and all that I had lost. Through my hazy vision I spotted Detective Righter. Up close he seemed much kinder, his expressions and features softer. There was another detective with him. He was shorter than detective Righter, with tanner skin and gentle features. He seemed strong yet not intimidating, I immediately felt drawn towards him. As I began to listen to their conversation I realised that they were talking about me. "there didn't seem to be a struggle" said the unknown detective.
"well then, she must have recognised her attacker, if she didn't she would have tried to get away from them" replied detective Righter.
"well who does that give us as suspects? did you get any information from the husband?" the second detective asked, a hint of excitement at finally getting a lead evident in his tone.
"not much, just that no one else was in the home but anyone could have gotten in if they wanted to, there was a spare key under the doormat. That means whoever did this knew the family well." replied detective Righter "and he told me that an ex-boyfriend may have had motive to do this" he added. "we'll take a closer look at the evidence we've found when we get back to the office to see if that gives us any suspects"
"the husband seems off if you ask me sir"
" Detective, you know that we do not gossip and we do not blame a suspect without sufficient evidence to back our claims"
" I apologise sir " he said through laughter
As they both left laughing I followed detective Righter to his car but my mind felt fuzzy. How could they suspect Amon, he would never hurt me, we're family. Although the detectives did say that there was no forced entry, it does make Amon seem suspicious. There must be another explanation, there was always a spare key under the door mat, someone could have let themselves in. But that doesn't explain why I didn't fight back against the attacker. Why can't I remember what happened? who had done it?
YOU ARE READING
The Phantom of revenge
Mystery / ThrillerAlexia has been murdered. Left a helpless spirit with unfinished business, until detective Righter reveals he can see her. Will they be able to find and capture the person who committed this heinous crime?