Archer Diaries

Save Me

Many things crosses one's mind when backed in a tight corner. Should I make a run for it? Should I stay and face it? I've had these thoughts often and each time I come up naught of an answer. It may make sense to run but how long can you keep that up until you stumble and fall. Staying to face your fears may seem a wise option but how strong are you and can you bear the aftermath. We make choices everyday with little thought until we are forced to look back at the trail we left behind, crumbs of stones that can't be blown by wind or eaten by birds to be lost forever.We'd hope we never saw them again but there they are, lingering in the dark waiting to be brought to light. Hope is the stronghold for the weak and fear is nothing but in our minds. Live like there is no tomorrow, I hear often but what if there is a tomorrow. What if what I did yesterday comes to haunt or taunt me tomorrow. Do I run or stay then...

******
He heard knocking on his front door as he climbed into bed. He checked the time on his alarm clock and groaned. It was midnight for crying out loud. It had better be good, he thought as he dragged his feet to the door. His face contoured into shock when he saw who was on the other side.

"Robyn? " he managed to say before she wrapped her arms around his torso. Still in shock, he enveloped her in a hug and they stood still in each other's arms at the doorway.

She finally pulled back with a sad smile, "Hey!"

"Hey!" he replied smiling as well. She lowered her gaze like a love struck teenager and that amused him. He was curious about how and why she was standing at his doorstep but he wasn't going to ask yet.

"Can...I come in?"

"Oh yeah, sure." He stepped aside for her to enter before he followed locking his door shut behind him. He turned on the lights as she looked around, admiring his condo.

"Nice place..." she complimented as she sat down fiddling with her nails. He sat next to her and placed his hands over them to calm her down. She looked up at him, giving him the chance to see the fear in them before pulling her hands away. "Tucker told me where you live" she said, answering the question he was yet to ask.

He furrowed his brows, "Tucker?"

"Yeah, I don't know how but he came to my office a few months after you left and we've been sorta friends since then." He nodded, making a mental note to question Tucker later.

"Can I get you something, water or maybe beer...?"

"I'm fine." she paused for a moment, looking hesitant, "Can I stay here...for tonight I mean. It's fine if you don't..."

He cut her off before she ended her sentence, "I would never want you to not stay." he assured seriously. "You can sleep in my room. I'd just crash on the couch."

She nodded meekly and allowed herself to be led to his room. She waited patiently as he walked into his closet, returning later with his folded pjs. "Thank you." she said when he handed them to her. 

He nodded and scratched the back of his head. He was suddenly nervous and at loss of words. His phone began ringing just then, ruining the silence.

"Uhh...I'm gonna go. Good night." he said and walked out but not before grabbing a blanket from the closet and a pillow. He placed them on the couch and walked to his balcony to answer the phone which was ringing for the second time.

He heard heavy breathing and shuffling sounds in the background before the person spoke, "It's done."

"Are you sure it won't be traced back to you?" he questioned with all seriousness.

"Yeah!"

He nodded, "You'll be wired the money tomorrow. Make sure you're out of town then."

"Okay" He hung up and felt guilty immediately. He went back inside to his room. It was dark but he could see the steady rise and fall of her chest indicating that she was asleep. He returned to the hall and laid on the couch, draping the blanket over him however sleep evaded him. He could already see how wrong it could all go for him but it was a necessary evil, one he probably shouldn't be feeling guilty for.

He didn't know when he fell asleep but it was already morning when he awoke. The delicious aroma of eggs filled the room. He found himself walking towards the kitchen. There she stood before the stove with her back turned to him, busily stirring whatever it was she was stirring. She then turned and for a moment she seemed genuinely stunned.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." he apologized as he walked over to the island in the centre.

"It's fine." she said as she poured the contents of the fry pan onto a plate. "I hope you don't mind but I made breakfast...to say thank you." She had made stir fry veggies mixed with chopped pieces of ham and scrambled eggs. She served him a plate together with slices of bread and walked the short distance to the coffee maker. She stood still for a while before grabbing the mug next to her to fill it. She placed the mug in front of him with a pained expression that was hard to miss.

Mason knew whatever it was that was bothering her still was. He held on to her hand before she could pull it away. "What is wrong, Robyn... and don't tell me it's nothing."

She pulled her hand away abruptly, refusing to look at him. "Nothing..."

"Don't give me that bullshit." he deadpanned but she kept staring down her trembling hands. He sighed deeply and walked over to her, lifting her head up till the fear in her eyes was on full display. She broke out in tears, mumbling words incoherently. It was clear she was still in shock over whatever happened to her. He held her close as she wept.

She finally calmed long enough to mutter the words she was scared would make it all too real, "I think Rick is dead." Mason moved her a little away with a look of horror.

"What do you mean he's dead?" he barely said. She gave him a matter-of-fact look before moving further away from him.

"He was murdered, Mason." she begun trying to compose herself. The image of her husband lying in a pool of his own blood was still vivid in her mind. It had been horrible and she had fallen into a state of despair, unable to move towards or away from him. Mason listened silently while she recounted all she had seen which wasn't much. "I sho... should...have called the police bu...but..." She begun shaking violently and he moved closer to her trying to console her.

"It's fine..."

"No, it's not. I didn't ca...call because he was...still alive when I saw him. I could hear him panting for air but...but... I didn't help because I wanted him dead, Mason. I wanted my husband dead." she confessed and burst into tears again. The guilt was eating her up, threatening to consume her soul. "I'm a murderer..."

Mason just held her close until she was calm enough. He then led her to his bedroom, gave her a couple of pills to knock her out. She fell asleep in minutes. He returned to the living room, turned on his TV and there it was on the news, the gruesome murder of Rodrick Hawthorne. He couldn't say he was sad about it, if anything it was the best news he had already heard.

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I'm sorry for the late update. Anyway thanks for reading...^_^