Destiny

CHAPTER 16- Part One

I have been sitting silently for half an hour, trying to gather my thoughts, Evan waited patiently beside me. Telling someone your deepest darkest fears was not an easy task.

"It's okay if you need some more time" Evan says gently.

"No. I need to tell you. I want to tell you."

"Okay then. Take your time. We have whole night left, but first get inside this comforter, its freezing." Evan utters, his tone light, trying to diffuse the tense ambiance.

Lying down beside him, feeling the warmth radiating off of him, I get into a comfortable position. Okay I can do this!

"How much do you know from before?" I question him.

"No, forget that. Tell me like I know nothing. Tell me each and everything from the beginning"

"Okay" taking a deep breath I start. "Jake Winston and I were best friends since childhood our parents were close friends so we became friends too. It was not until when he went off to college that we both realized that we were in love. It was a year later when I joined the same college that we started dating.

Our parents bought us an apartment nearby so that we wouldn't have to live in the dorms and so that we could stay close and look after each other. The first three years flew by so well I had never felt that close to him. It was not until the last, fourth year that things started going downhill.

It was when Jake met Tristan at his new office, at first he seemed like such a sweet, down to earth guy. He used to hang out at our apartment most of the time, we all had same friend circle. He was very shy, never looked in the eye when he spoke to me, Very well mannered, I guess this was the main reason Jake and I started to trust him blindly. But the truth was he was just manipulating us into believing that he was a good guy.

He started showing his true colors after manipulating us for six months. It started with coming to the apartment when Jake was not present there, being always present when I went somewhere outside. I never thought anything of it because he was Jake's best friend.

A year later he introduced us to his friend Gregg, it was then I realized he was bad news. The small things which I usually ignored about him, started coming into focus."

I pause, giving Evan time to grasp the whole story.

"Go on"

"I still decided to give him benefit of the doubt. It was Jake's birthday and I had decided to throw him a surprise birthday party and for that I needed Tristan's help. I had known him for one and a half year but neither Jake nor I had been to his apartment. So that day I went to his apartment and found out something very disturbing. He had been stalking me, that's why he befriended us. There were million pictures of me scattered all throughout his apartment. I got freaked out, I told Jake immediately and we cut all our ties from Tristan after giving him a warning.

But things got really difficult after that, he started sending threatening notes, he even tried to kidnap me and Gregg helped him in all this. So we lodged an FIR and got a restriction order, thinking that it might put everything to an end. But I was so wrong."

"Things got back to normal for few months, as we had moved out of that apartment into a small house just outside the city. It was our fifth anniversary and we were going out for dinner when everything happened."

FLASHBACK

"Jake, get your ass out of the bed and get ready. We are getting late." I hollered.

It was our fifth anniversary today, but seeing everything which has happened from past so many months we decided to just have an intimate dinner instead of some extravagant party. We had decided to go to a restaurant with our closest friends and family members for dinner.

"I'll be ready in ten minute, love." I turn back to find Jake sauntering towards me, a lazy grin adorning his face, his hair tousled from just getting out of the bed. My heart sped at the sight of him, even after five years he had such a strong effect on me.

"Well, get going then you've nine minutes left." I told him teasingly, moving towards the master bedroom to give a finishing touch to my makeup.

"Fine. But one last time, why are we spending OUR anniversary with the others, we should have gone to that trip I had planned." He grumbled.

"Don't be a baby. Just go get ready, and we are still going to that trip of yours next weekend." Giving him a peck, I resume getting ready.

"But", the sound of the door bell ringing halts him mid speech, "I'll get that" Sighing, he starts to walk towards the main door.

"No no you go get ready, I'll get that." Not waiting for his response I saunter past him. Knowing him, I knew he will take every chance he gets to delay going to dinner.

Opening the main door, I am greeted with nothing but empty space and cold silence. Feeling slightly puzzled, I move back inside, closing the door.

Thinking it was some kid playing prank, I sit on the couch in the living room, waiting for Jake to get ready. Sitting on the couch, my mind drifted to the only sound heard in the silence of the night, shower running in the bathroom. It was eerily quiet this particular night, our house being just at the outskirts of the city was away from the noises and hustle-bustle of the city life, which was exactly what we needed right now.

The sound of door bell ringing yet again stirs me from my line of thoughts. Grumbling I march towards the door, the sound of my heel clicking on the hardwood floor resonates throughout the hall.

"Who's there?" I ask yanking the door open.

The deserted street and flickering streetlights are the only sight I am greeted with.

"Alright that's it." Heading towards the kitchen I grab a flashlight from the cupboard and proceed outside the house.

The house was situated just outside the city, with a quiet and serene neighbourhood. Situated at the end of the road, it was covered with forest on its three sides and a single dirt path which led to the main road and the rest of the neighbouring houses which were situated few feet apart from each other. The whole idea of this place was for those who wanted to live in isolation.

Pointing the flashlight towards the forest I once again demand

"Who's there? This is not funny anymore."

There was not a single soul outside; all that could be heard was soft swooshing of leaves due to the light breeze.

Heading inside, I close the door softly behind me, a feeling of dread washes over me as I look around my living room and deafening silence engulfs me.

To be continued. . .