Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 1 - Lessons

This was the last time Jolene was going to put up with his lies. She looked over at the stiletto dagger lying on the middle of the passenger seat.

It was difficult to concentrate on the road. She was going to kill Ryan for what he destroyed. The unavoidable disappointment from Ryan's treachery caused a sharp burn of pain in her heart. The discovery of what he hid raped her thoughts and choked her throat. Anger again punched her in the face. How could she not have known what he was doing?

"How many unsuspecting girls has he hurt? How many nights have girls fallen for his sweet words, good looks only to fall to the misfortune of his wickedness?" Jolene whispered allowed. Her blurred peripheral vision made the colorful twinkling Christmas lights on the buildings and trees look like specked tissue paper against the snow as she passed.

Jolene couldn't help but wonder if Ryan was as rough with them as he was with her. It scared her sometimes, but he always stroked her hair after sex and apologized for getting too excited. It was one of the few doubts that nagged her about marrying him.

A Police officer drove by a little faster than her car. Her heart reacted as if she had just run down a hill. The panic was too much. She could sense the shadows in the darkness of her mind promising sinister things with soft whispers. It was getting harder to fight their coercions. To lose mental sanity was not preferable but felt close to being unavoidable. Jolene wasn't even sure she would be aware if they locked her up in a hospital somewhere from a mental breakdown that she was on the edge of expecting. It was as if she were walking on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

A quick glance told her the dagger was still on the passenger seat. It was her early wedding gift to Ryan. He had been collecting unique knives for years. It costs her more than he was worth. Jolene was planning to surprise him with it at dinner on Sunday. She hoped it would buffer the other surprise she had for him. Jolene put her hand on her stomach. A vision slapped truth into her head, but with quick practice she shoved it deep inside the darkness, so it wouldn't have a voice.

It was time to play as rough as he sometimes played with her. She felt sadistic and knew she should handle this differently. Her right hand moved to the silver blade etched with the most feminine pattern of the dagger and stroked it. Jolene wrapped her fingers around the curved carved metal wrapped in leather. She lifted the surprisingly heavy handle before letting it fall to bounce back on its seat. Its sharp shiny blade threatened to slice into the upholstery with just a quick turn of the angle, but luck was with her.

The blast of another car's horn reminded Jolene that she had to pay attention after she had switched lanes without turning on her blinker. The man she ignored flipped her off as he sped by. It seemed as if cars started to give her more space on the road.

Jolene pulled into the parking lot of the Club Magician. "...where magic happens" was the slogan under the club's sign.

After Jolene grabbed what she needed she climbed out of her car without locking it. In the icy weight of winter, Jolene took a deep breath that burned her lungs. She stepped with care as she moved with determination across the slick ground. She paid for her stamp to get in then walked into the loud club feeling overdressed in her long heavy coat. She was more uncomfortable in her hospital uniform covered with baby ducks she wore underneath. Adrenaline rushed through her and sweat dripped down past her ear on the side of her face.

The club was decorated for New Year's in gold and black with traces of Christmas. Candy canes replaced stir sticks and gave girls the excuses they needed to tease with their mouths. This led to free drinks from spectators at the lounge tables.

Jolene spotted Ryan immediately and walked through the crowd on the dancefloor towards him. The thumping of the music didn't help the headache she was already developing. Anger built to blindness as she watched him downing shot after shot of alcohol. It was surprising to see that Ryan was trying to get drunk fast since he usually liked to be in charge. Though his cheeks were already a bright pink, she was about to make it even brighter.