Dark Secrets

Chapter 10

      The next morning at work Matt told me Nikita's brother had been in touch to advise that Nikita was recovering faster than the doctors had expected, and she was asking to see her workmates.

"The boss has said five of us can take an hour to visit her this afternoon," he said, "Would you like to come along?"

Would I like to see Nikita? Of course I would, but how would Jasmine react when she found out? She would probably go ballistic! But I didn't care. I was not going to let her rule my life. It was just a harmless hospital visit and I would be in the company of my other workmates. Jasmine didn't need to find out, I just wouldn't tell her.

I made up my mind. "Yes sure, Matt, count me in."

That afternoon, Janet, Matt, myself and two others from the office walked into Nikita's room at the hospital. She didn't look as bad as I expected. She had a bandage on her head, and her left arm was in a sling, but she was very pale.

She managed a big smile as she greeted us and gave each of us a quick hug. Did I imagine it or did she hold me in a hug a bit longer than the others.

She told us about her injuries. Five broken ribs, a compound fracture of her left arm, and a severe concussion which had initially been life threatening.

"It could have been worse," she said, "At least I didn't break my neck."

The room was full of flowers, and Janet added another large bunch that she had brought with her. We all talked with her for awhile before we left to return to work.

As we left she told us the doctors thought she could be discharged in about two weeks. They didn't think she would have any lingering effects from the head trauma she had suffered in the fall.

"I may be able to return to work in about a month," she had said, "Looking forward to seeing you guys then."

After work as I walked to the subway station with Jasmine she hardly said a word. She was in a dark mood over something. She remained silent until we arrived home, then she confronted me.

"I stopped in to see you at work this afternoon. They said you were visiting that slut bitch in hospital! You just can't stay away from her. You want her don't you?"

"That's ridiculous," I replied, "A group of the staff went to see her and I went along with them. I don't want her. You're the one I want."

"Liar!" she screamed as she picked up a plate from the breakfast counter and hurled it at me. 

There was about four metres between us which gave me just enough time to duck to one side as the plate went flying past my head, smashing into the wall behind me. I turned around to look at the damage, then turned back to Jasmine. I froze in shock. She was holding one of my carving knives as she took a couple of threatening steps towards me pointing the knife in my direction.

"Jasmine, what are you doing?" I spluttered in disbelief, "Put the knife down. Let's talk about this."

She suddenly seemed to snap out of whatever crazed violent mood she was in. She turned and put the knife on the counter,  then she glared at me. "I'm going out for a few hours. Don't wait up for me."

With that she pushed past me and went out the door, slamming it behind her, while I stood there unable to believe her actions in previous few minutes. This was a violent outburst. The girl I loved had just thrown and plate at me and threatened me with a knife. Was she having a mental problem?

I couldn't eat dinner, I had no appetite after what had just happened, so I sat in front of the TV for the next few hours hoping she would come home in a calmer frame of mind and we could talk things over.

By one am she still hadn't come home so I went to bed. I was just managing to doze off about half an hour later when I heard the front open, then quietly close. Jasmine came into the bedroom leaving the light off. She stripped down to just her panties and slipped into bed.
"Josh, are you awake?" she whispered.

"Yes," I replied softly.

"I'm sorry," she whispered back, "I don't know what came over me. Do you forgive me?"

Did I forgive her? Her violent outburst earlier had scared the hell out of me. It certainly seemed getting together with Jasmine had been a huge mistake, but I had to keep her calm until I could think of a way out of this relationship which had me starting to fear for my life.

"Yes, of course I do," I whispered back, "But please try not to get angry so easily. I have no attraction towards Nikita. You have no need to worry about that."

"Okay," was all she said, then she turned the other way and I could soon hear her breathing deeply as she fell asleep.

What would the next day hold for us? I hated to think.

In the morning Jasmine was a bit subdued, but still reasonably chatty. What had happened the previous evening wasn't mentioned. We had lunch as usual at our regular café where she seemed almost back to her usual self, while my mind was churning through ways to tell her I wanted to break up with her and she would have to move out of my flat. But who knew what reaction I would get from her. She could easily turn violent again.

On the train home that night she was in a bad mood again.

"A detective came to see me at work this afternoon," she said, "He wanted to know where I was the night your little bitch friend was attacked. I had to give him the name and address of my friend who I was staying with. She didn't want to get involved in this, but now she is, and she is not happy with me, but what else could I do. This is all your fault, Josh. Why couldn't you have just kept your hands off that conniving little slut?"

I said nothing. I didn't dare say anything for fear of making her temper get even worse.

When we got home she said, "I'll cook some steaks for dinner. Why don't you go and have a shower."

Twenty minutes later I stepped out of the shower with wet hair, towelled myself off and slipped on my robe. I went out into the lounge room. I could see into the kitchen where steaks were sizzling in a frying pan, but there was no sign of Jasmine.

I called out, "Jasmine, where are you?"

There was the sound of movement behind me, then an explosion of pain in the back of my head and everything went black.

Wait till you read what happens now.
All the action in the next chapter,
but please vote first :)