Ripley

Rome pt1

Tom Ripley stood at the edge of the narrow road leading out of Atrani, his suitcase packed and his thoughts churning. The small town had begun to suffocate him with its picturesque beauty, each cobblestone and sun-drenched terrace a reminder of the deception he was now living. He glanced over his shoulder one last time at the place where his transformation had begun, and with a deep breath, started walking.
The journey to Salerno was uneventful, the bus rattling along the coast with its usual passengers and their mundane conversations. Tom's mind was already racing ahead, plotting his next moves. The train to Rome would be his escape, but first, he had one more loose end to tie up.
As he stepped off the bus in Salerno, Tom spotted Freddie Miles almost immediately. Freddie, with his boisterous laugh and brash American charm, was impossible to miss. He was lounging at a café near the station, sunglasses perched on his head, a half-empty glass of wine before him. Freddie waved enthusiastically as Tom approached, his face splitting into a wide grin.
"Tommy boy! What brings you here?" Freddie's voice boomed across the square, drawing glances from passersby.
"Freddie," Tom replied with a tight smile, settling into the chair opposite him. "I was just passing through. Thought I'd catch the train to Rome."
"Rome, eh? Sounds like fun. Is Dickie with you?" Freddie leaned back, scrutinizing Tom with a hint of suspicion in his eyes.
Tom hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, Dickie's around. We're planning to spend a few days in the city."
Freddie chuckled, swirling the wine in his glass. "That sounds like him, always on the move. I thought I'd find you two in Mongibello, but I heard you left in a bit of a hurry."
"Things got complicated," Tom said, trying to keep his tone light. "Dickie needed a change of scenery."
"Well, I hope he's behaving himself," Freddie said, his laughter subsiding into a more serious expression. "You know how he can get."
Tom forced a laugh. "Yes, I do. But he's fine. Really."
Freddie eyed him for a moment longer, then shrugged. "Alright, if you say so. Give him my best, will you? And tell him to write once in a while."
"Will do," Tom promised, rising from his seat. "I should get going if I don't want to miss my train."
Freddie waved him off with a lazy salute. "Safe travels, Tom. See you around."
Tom hurried to the train station, his pulse quickening. The encounter with Freddie had unsettled him more than he cared to admit. He purchased his ticket and found a quiet corner to write a letter to Marge.
"Dear Marge,
Dickie and I have decided to spend a few days in Rome. It's been a while since we've explored the city, and we thought it would be a nice change of pace. We'll be back soon.
Best, Tom"
He sealed the letter, handed it to a postal clerk, and then made his way to the platform. As the train pulled into the station, he felt a rush of anticipation mingled with anxiety. Boarding the train, he found an empty compartment and settled into a seat, his suitcase stored above him.
Tom waited until the train had started moving, the rhythmic clatter of the tracks soothing his nerves. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring, its gold band gleaming faintly in the dim light. It was Dickie's ring, the one he had taken off his finger after... everything.
Sliding the ring onto his own finger, Tom felt a strange sense of satisfaction. It was a symbol of his new identity, a token of the life he was determined to claim for himself. As the countryside blurred past the window, Tom Ripley felt a dangerous thrill. He was no longer just Tom Ripley. He was Dickie Greenleaf, and the world lay at his feet.
The train sped towards Rome, carrying Tom further into his deceitful web, but also into the life he had always coveted.