Athena's Story

Part 19: Ruses and Rage

George had run down the well-lit foot path to find the horses in relative peace. He frowned as he counted the horses. One of them was sweating slightly as if it had been ridden recently. He and Athena were the only ones here, so how could it possibly be tired unless someone other than the two of them had ridden it?

The realization flooded his consciousness with inevitable dread.

It had been a ruse.

George noticed a set of muddy footprints leading away from the exercised horse's stall. Another person was on the island and logic told him it was Walter Vigo. He had left Athena alone and given the murderer a chance to go to the house and hurt her. He slammed the stable doors shut and sprinted all the way back to the house, praying he wasn't too late.

Walter didn't touch her. He just told her to sit down. She stumbled onto a sofa.

He was quite wet but he didn't seem to notice. He was staring at her hungrily. She opened her mouth to speak as he unzipped his jacket. "Shut up," he said quietly. He threw the jacket onto the nearest sofa.

His first question caught her off guard. "Did you sleep with him?"

"What?"

"Did you have sex with your British playboy?" he shouted.

"What are you talking about? Who? George?" she asked, confused.

"Don't play dumb, baby. Don't play stupid." He was now pacing and clearly livid. "You left me so you could see someone else."

In a split second, Athena felt her fear turn into rage. "I left you?" she said incredulously. "I left you Walter? That's rich."

"Shut up," he warned her in a low voice.

She couldn't. "You know you left me because I wouldn't give myself to you! As much as you said you loved me, you only wanted my money and my body. You didn't-"

"I said shut up!" he screamed again and whipped out a gun.

This time she obeyed.

"Sit down!"

She did.

"You're a lying bitch," he said pacing the length of the floor once again.

"What did I lie about?" she asked him, contempt evident in her voice.

"About us. You said we'd be together forever. Now you're screwing Tony Blair's boy."

She was amazed at the parts of their relationship that he decided to ignore so deliberately. "I can't believe you're here trying to blame the mess on me! Don't you remember what you did? When was the last time I said we'd be together? It was way before you showed me what kind of man you really are. Before you hit me and before you nearly raped me!"

In the distance, George could vaguely see the lights of the house. Adrenalin surging, he picked up speed and hoped he was overreacting. From somewhere deep in his gut came the knowledge that there was trouble ahead of him.

There was silence after Athena's accusation.

Walter came toward her. "Speaking of which... since you are no longer a virgin, it won't bother you so much to indulge today."

"What?" She stood up. "Walter, no!"

He pushed her back onto the sofa and her towel fell away from her waist, revealing her bare golden legs. She was only wearing her tank top and underwear, having left her jeans in the dryer. She regretted it now.

"You have been screwing him!" came the angry whisper.

"Who?" she pleaded. "There's no one here! Walt, please, let's talk about this. I haven't been s-screwing anyone."

She was terrified.

Athena had seen that look on his face before and the bulge in his trousers was another sign of his lust. Today, she knew there'd be no stopping him.

"Then why are you naked?" he was screaming again, bizarrely prepared to reason with her. She was sure he had gone mad.

"I- I got wet and the jeans are in the dryer."

He calmed a bit at that and knelt in front of her, placing a cold clammy hand on her naked thigh. His breathing was shallow and ragged as he lowered his face to follow his hand with his lips. Repulsed, she would have resisted but for the gun in his left hand.

"You're mine," he said with satisfaction.

Athena's skin crawled to think that only a day ago George had touched the same skin in order to play out her dream. Where was he? She was beginning to panic as Walter peeled down her knickers and that was when she heard a loud bang at the door.

"Athena," George shouted. "I'm back, open the door!"

Walter froze. "That's him, isn't it?"

His eyes left the curly patch of hairs that covered her most private parts and met hers. He was clearly displeased with the interruption.

Relief poured through her and loosened her tongue. "He's going to kill you."

I know, I know! Shortest chapter I have ever posted... and first author's note, too! What is Sam doing?? I promise, that this is just how this one turned out, but I am sure this is a once off situation.