The Last Victim #JustWriteIt

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Jay was sitting in the back porch with Dawn, eating ice cream. It was a warm and sunny day. Dawn was lost in her thoughts, eyes fixed on a huge rose bush on the corner of the vast lawn. Jay smiled. He could tell that she was not thinking about roses or even flowers right now. Her thoughts were more far away, raving some lonely part of the 'Other World.'

Jay was gazing at her, quite lost in his own world. It was amusing how quickly this girl had made his way right through his heart. She now had control over most of his spirit. Each night, he dreamt about her. Each day was just incomplete without catching a glimpse of her. His heart would throb most painfully if something hurt her. If he could have power over it, he would just hide her with himself; never let the changing world modify her. She was so wonderful. Everything about her showed utter perfection. She was a complete picture. Her breathtaking smile, shining eyes and the 'oh-so-adorable' dimples on her cheeks. Jay knew even without saying it out loud. He was deeply in love with her.

Keeping his empty bowl on the table, Jay tilted towards her and gently prodded Dawn on her shoulder. She startled slightly and then turned to face him. She gave him one of his stunning smiles and leaning forward, whispered in a seducing voice.

'What is it, Jay?'

Jay grinned at her weak attempt and taking her hand in both of his own intently gazed at her.

'Are you alright, Dawn? I just feel as if....'

Dawn shook her hand and wriggling her hand free of Jay grasp, placed a finger on his lips.

'I am fine, Jay. Don't worry.'

The corners of Jay's lips twitched and taking a deep breath, he relaxed back in his chair.

'Are you sure?'

Dawn nodded and gave him a small smile.

'Of course. Why won't I be?'

Jay shrugged.

'I have no idea. But seems that way.'

Dawn got up and stretched.

'Come on, Jay! I am just normal.'

Jay gazed at her for the longest moment before quietly saying.

'I know you are. I never said otherwise.'

But something about him struck hard even to him. Dawn immediately turned pallid and looked at him in horror. This made himself conscious and he observed himself, realizing after a while that Dawn was gazing behind him. He whipped around. There was nothing there. Dawn however stood transfixed at the spot, eyes glued. Jay shook her slightly, only to find her upper lip, sweating profusely and her eyes swimming with tears again.

'Dawn!'

She shrugged put of the abstraction and looked at Jay as if looking at him for the first time.

'Wwhaa-at? Yea-h. I mean what?'

Jay shook his head.

'You are NOT okay!'

Dawn bit her lip trying to smile, tears streaming down her face.

'Nah! I just need.... I... I want to go to.... The bathroom. Ye-ah! I mean yeah! Bathroom. I'll be right back.... Bathroom. So... I.... ummmm. Ah Catch you later...'

And with that she turned around and breathlessly, rushed towards the house leaving a staring Jay in her wake. Whatever the case, he was sure she had not been entirely true to him. Something was glinting at the back of his mind. He needed a stroll to clear a mind. He turned and rather than following Dawn back inside, started walking waiting for her to return. He still felt as if she hid a huge secret. The day he could figure that out.....

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Dawn raced across the yard and darted into Jay's house. The huge theatre was in the back and she had to get to it. What she had doubted for so long, could it be true? She entered the theatre. Heart thudding uncomfortably in her chest and frame shivering so much that it was difficult to hold herself up straight; she brushed her blond bangs from her face, taking a step towards the curtained stage. There was a soft tune humming through the air. Dawn's heart skipped a beat. It was the same melody..... The same tune which she would play hours at a time on the piano. She was pretty proud of it since she had created it herself. How could someone else know about it?

Shivering, she took another step towards the giant piano on the stage. Each footstep was like a current, passing painfully through her tendons, her heart she thought, might just explode. She craned her neck to look at the piano. It was kept at the corner of the arena where Jay had been playing it earlier morning. As the sun had travelled to the other window now, across the one which it was kept, the piano was in a semi shadow state. She could see the hull and all, but the bench and who was sitting on it and playing it. She let a frayed breath out as a broken whisper escaped her lips.

'Who is there?'

The jingle continued as if whoever was playing it had not heard her. She took a few steps closer and plucking up as much courage as she could, spoke defiantly.

'Who is there?'

The melody stopped abruptly. Dawn stood looking at the place carefully. She heard a light rustling sound and gasped. She took a shocked step back. A pair of gray sparkling eyes glared at her from over the rim of the piano cover. A few lose hair fell around them as the glare got harsher and much intense. Dawn's voice caught in her throat. She took a few more steps back, banged into a desk a fell hard on her back, hands thrown back to cushion her fall.

'Who are you?'

The pair of eyes disappeared. Dawn got up, dusting herself off, only slightly aware that the palm of her right hand was bleeding freely, having clashed with some jagged part of the desk. A cold voice drawled as she tried to run for it. The voice was chilling to the bone...... She stopped dead in her tracks.

'As if you don't know....'

Dawn was constantly moving back, but by now, she had a clear view of the stage. Through the red curtains pulled over the side of the backstage, on a dimly lit spot, Dawn saw something. A long gown touching the stage floor, while a hand rested on the waist. She knew that dress..... It was... The face was, without doubt in a shadow behind the curtain. A ghostly glow seemed to radiate from the figure. Dawn struggled with herself not to scream but her insides were squirming with uneasiness. So this had been true the whole time? She backed down until she hit the room wall behind her. The pale ghostly light vanished and so did the figure.

Dawn stood panting, leaning against the wall. Hot, painful tears streamed from her blue eyes. The agony in her heart was beyond words. Her frame still shaking; she tried to bite her lip to collect herself in vain. For the first time in quite a few years, fear crossed her mind. What was she going to do? She had no idea.

There was a sudden rise of emotions within her and she rushed to the toilet and heaved. The nausea was becoming unbearable. Indefinite images flashed before her eyes. She finished and flushed and then getting up, wiped the tears off her face. She caught her reflection in the mirror. Trying to force a smile on her death grave features so that Jay would not get more suspicious than he already was, Dawn brushed her hair back and splashed water on her face. Drying it with a towel, she had a sudden premonition of events. Her eyes roved across the bathroom, her mind clearly, assessing chances.

When she came out of the bathroom fifteen minutes later, Dawn had a genuine smile on her face. She did know what was to be done! But before that, she had to talk to Dr. Sophie. It might as well be her last chance to fix the dirty mess which lay before her. Taking a deep breath she pushed the lawn door open and stepped out in the warm sun where she had left Jay half an hour ago.