Becky's Doll

Chapter 21

"TRUTH- I FEEL IS THE most beautiful and immaculate thing. It is man's only faultless creation. And I know when I hear one. I am not saying that I am extraordinarily perceptive or that I have a strong enviable intuition. No, it's just that I have heard so many...so many lies. And it is basic human nature to feel attraction towards beauty and disgust towards vileness. When I hear something pure and bland - the truth, I feel an immediate gravitation towards it," Kane elaborated fixing me with a stare. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

"Some famous musicians could point out that one string of a violin in a huge orchestra that was out of tune. In the same way, the truth resonates with my vibes. Truth is powerful, it has the tremendous strength to weaken a person and destroy him. Why do you think I have become successful in my career?" He halted, searching my eyes for my answer. I stared blankly at him like an idiot.

"Because I seek the truth. And that's what makes me different from Owen. So-" He halted again, leaning closer to me, he whispered,"So Allison, don't lie to me."

Each word rung in my ears like the definite, powerful rumbling of a church bell. I licked my lips, feeling the rough, dry peeling surface under my tongue. Kane watched my every move silently before handing me a bottle of water.

"You won't believe me because it is so-" I said, suddenly halting as I noticed the black swirls reappear again.

"Try me," He answered spontaneously. His dimmed blue irises suddenly glimmered with readiness. I sighed feeling exhausted to talk again.

"That one case I have failed. I am determined to be successful again and I will be. So Allison you have to help me by being truthful. And don't act like the way you were with Owen to me," He warned. I felt an immediate liking towards this earnest man.

He took out a file from a dust covered leather case and took out an old sepia coloured picture of a smart looking man in his early thirties with attractive rugged features. The man looked grimly at the camera. The day appeared to be sunny by the way his eyes were crinkling at the corners and how his eyes were narrowed. With the way his tie was crooked and his hair was messy, it seemed like he had just got out of work.

"Have you seen him before?" Kane questioned.

"No," I answered, though I just can't subdue the sinking feeling in my belly.

"Geiger Martin, aged 32 at the time of his death. Approximately nineteen years back, his corpse was found in an old abandoned well," He said, supporting his chin in his hands.

"Nineteen years back? I wasn't even born then. How am I supposed to know him?" I told him, sounding unintentionally rude.

"I know that. This man was murdered. His gut had been brutally torn with some sharp object and then he was pushed into an abandoned well," He frowned.

"What connection does it have with this knife?" I asked sounding slightly disinterested.

"The same knife with his blood on it was found near the well. It was under police custody but before it was sent for testing, the sealed package containing the knife was missing. Someone had stolen it," He said.

"How are you so sure that it is the same knife?" I asked him, incredulously. He rummaged through his case and took out a file. Flipping through the dogeared yellowed pages, he showed me a clear photograph of a knife.

The resemblance between both the knives was almost baffling. The blade had the same streamlined shape and the faint intricate pattern on the middle of it's ebony handle. It even had the three sharp projections on it's edge near the tip.

I remembered all the times Hailey had chopped carrots with the same knife. The slashing sounds it made when dad sharpened it against the board. The birthday cakes that were sliced with it. The same knife was plunged into a person's body. The bright red blood that oozed out and stained his shirt. That beautiful scarlet hue. I salivated as I imagined it's metallic taste on my mouth. Salty and tangy just the way I like. No! What am I thinking? What is wrong with me? I looked down at my hands which were now back to normal. My fingertips were no longer tinged grey. I mentally rejoiced.

"No it can't be. It was always there in our house," I argued.

"I know this is incredulous but it looks the same and I can't let this opportunity go," He said.

"You won't believe me but this knife is quite weird. There's something paranormal-" I admitted.

"How so?" He asked. I took a deep breath, contemplating if I should tell him. But because of that challenging look he was giving me, I told him. He listened to me with rapt attention.

"You probably won't believe me but-"

He laughed," Of course, I believe you. My best friend is an exorcist. He has shown me things that defy science though I try not to delve into it too much. My wife hates it. I have solved few such cases with his help. I think you have heard of Fritz Matthew. He is quite famous." My eyebrows shot up. Ezra's dad.

"Yes, I know him. Not personally. But his son, Ezra is my friend and he is the one who is helping me out," I answered feeling quite excited. But the unfathomable expression that Kane had on, sank my soul.

"No. Fritz and I were friends from high school and I just talked to him this morning and he never told me about his eighteen year old son named Ezra," He said. My heart felt as if it had stopped beating.

"Maybe he never told you about Ezra because I am sure he is Fritz Matthew's son. I mean Ezra knows a lot about exorcism and his surname is Matthew too," I reasoned. He shook his head.

"There is no one who knows the exorcist couple better than me. Lisa and Fritz are sterile. They can't have children. That boy must have been lying. Actually that's quite funny, I must tell them about this," He said as he fumbled in his pocket probably for his phone. I felt hot tears prick my eyes.

"And Allison, you do need help from them, don't you?" He said as he stood up from his chair and took out his phone. I simply nodded. I felt like I was choking on a thousand sharp needles as my throat throbbed with unshed tears.

Kane was right. Truth is powerful and it is capable of weakening a person. Because, the person that I trusted the most had lied to me.

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I have started to edit the book and if you find errors, don't forget to message me. Also the updates will be slower from now on until Dec 23. Exams, duh. And don't forget to vote+comment.

Xx☠