The Misguided

Manhunt

Chapter 9- Manhunt

The moment Lilian stepped into her house, she was greeted with a piercing breeze of cold air and dusk. She strolled around the house, making sure Daniel did not pass out again in another yet discrete hallway corner, Except she found nothing, no one. He has yet to return home, and it's eleven thirty at night.

"Where are you? Text me when you are home." Lilian delivered the message and sighed, so he never quit his drinking problem despite his promise, after all.

She threw her lifeless body onto the couch, exhausted after a 4-hour layover on her commute. Her eyelids began to sink gradually until she caught a sparkly mini-purse in the dent between the pillows and couch. She rubbed her eyes, blinking rapidly and realized it was Lilian's go-to purse she carries almost everywhere. She could not have left it before Lilian went to the city, surely. She zipped her purse open; It had all of her belongings, including her cell phone and wallet and five thousand dollars in cash. Lilian reluctantly got up, barely awake, and headed to her house across the street to return it. What was Camila doing at her home, and left in such a hurry she forgot her valuables?

An orb of light cast Camila's house; all the lights were on as if there was a business meeting. She banged on the door for what seemed like an eternity while yelling her name, yet received no answer. She glanced over at the street behind her, Camila's car was still parked in the driveway, but not Juan's - he has night shifts at the hospital on Thursdays.

Lilian tugged on the doorknob, and it flew wide open. Lilian stepped inside quietly, twisting her head to detect her presence.

"Camila? Are you here?" She yelled.

Lilian began to worry, and she paced around her living room, the clock ticking in longer intervals. She tried to call her phone, but it went straight to voicemail. Lilian looked upstairs from the living room opening and noticed her bedroom door was closed. She must be sleeping, she thought. Lilian ascended her way up the stairs and tip-toed to her bedroom door, hoping not to awaken her and decided to leave the purse hooked on the door handle. As Lilian turned around to head home, she heard a series of chatters and Camila's flirtatious laughter pierce through the door; despite sounding muffled. Lilian placed her ear slightly apart from the door and faintly curved her back.

"Thank god she was gone," Camila whimpered flirtatiously. " We haven't gotten along in a while."

"I think she's already catching on; we gotta be careful, " A deep, monotone voice suggested, almost too familiar to Lilian's discernment.

Camila's having an affair, confirming Lilian's gut instincts that have been lingering for the past few months. She almost pitied Juan for a second, but she recognized this feeling- the feeling of being a prisoner in a relationship you don't find shelter in, practically trapped. Lilian applauded Camila's gallantry in the battle of love when her naive self remained hopeful he would one day return the affection for just the way she was. They always worked it through - and this time will be no exception.

"Oh, Daniel, you are hilarious. Or should I call you Marc?" Camila giggled, "She was so upset about it!" Followed by a loud glass clank.

Daniel- the voice is Daniel's, her husband. She felt an imaginary puzzle piece click in her head. But Daniel? What is he doing here? How could he do this to her? How could she do this to her? Lilian plopped on the floor. Her life was shredded into pieces like an incomplete story of a failed author.

Her best friend and her husband were having an affair, the two people she thought had no chance of getting along.

Lilian's chest felt firm as her stamina shortened. She replayed Dr. Marco's words in her head; straighten back, breathe in and breathe out. Repeat- until the chest feels like a sponge, slowly expanding. Lilian took a few deep breaths, stood up and swung the door open. Camila had a nightshirt on, gently caressing Daniel's bare chest with her fingertips while eroding herself against him, holding a glass of champagne in her other hand. Daniel's seductive eyes heaved with desire and met hers, combing through her silky hair with his knuckles.