Married To The Clown

Chapter Eight 'Missing'

The house was silent that day.
Nothing stirred, nothing moved.
From outside the house appeared normal and peaceful. The true definition of a happy married home but the inside told a story of something much more dark and sinister. The slightly gaped front door lead to what appeared to be a tornado aftermath. Not one object was left upright and each wall showed signs of the minds complete breakdown.

There were little speckles of dark, crimson blood illuminating the light flooring. They helped lead the way through the house like the pebbles that helped Hansel and Gretel find their way home. The blood became more frequent outside the bathroom and on the other side of the door, there she laid.

The young girl laid there a broken heap on the floor, unmoving.
A dried up bloodbath surrounded her frail body.
A massacre had occurred in the room yet the girl was still breathing, clinging onto life even though she so wished to die.
The pain running through her body was indescribable but it was the agony of her torn heart that made her want to give up.
Never had she felt such pain before and now the poor thing didn't even have her husband to turn to for comfort.
No that man had 'died' and been replaced by something even the devil would cower at.

'I'm still alive' Athena thought in wonder, surprised her body had refused to give up.
Her vision remained black as the caked up blood glued her eye lids together.
Athena knew she needed to try and move but she had never been good at handling pain. Her head felt like a heavy, dead weight and she was sure that if she got up, it would remain on the floor.
The more she laid there, the more her thoughts went into overdrive.
Where had Jack gone?
Was he safe?
Had he hurt anyone else?
What if he had hurt himself?

Athena needed to get up!
She needed to find Jack and help him before it became too late.
A quiet scream rippled from Athena's sore throat as she managed to raise herself onto all fours.
'Come on! This is for Jack' she exclaimed through clenched teeth.
Slowly she began to crawl around the bathroom, one arm stretched out as she desperately tried to find the sink.

A few minutes passed when her hand finally gripped the base of it and with all the strength she had left, Athena pulled her self up and slumped over it.
Shakily she reached down and turned the tap on.
Bending forwards Athena proceeded to wash her face, sobbing as the cuts stung against her fingers.
Moments later she found that she could finally see again.
Deciding to inspect the damage, Athena lifted her head to look in the mirror before screaming as she finally got a glimpse of her reflection.

Her face looked deformed!
Her once milky skin was now a blend of black, blue, red and purple. It looked like her face had been whipped, the wounds swollen and painfully red.
The girl in the mirror was unrecognisable.
Nothing on her was bleeding anymore so surely that was a good sign!
Maybe she could call Erin, she was a nurse but what excuse could she have for the state of her body.

Athena knew that if she stared any longer she would break down and she needed to be more stronger than ever before now.
Turning away she slowly limped her way to the door. Her intimate parts burned and cried out in protest with each step.
Why had this happened to them?
Why did Jack have to get caught up in criminal activity?
Sure they were having money struggles but life was fine!
They had enough to survive on, why couldn't he of seen that?!

Reaching the bedroom Athena let out a sigh of relief  as she saw her phone resting on the bed.
Walking over she picked it up before gently laying down on the bed, pleased to find a tiny bit of comfort.
Athena scrolled through her contacts before stopping at her friends name. She was dreading this phone call but she needed help.

'Hey my love!' Erin's voice sang through the phone.
'Hey Erin! Please listen closely, something has happened and I really need your help. Don't ask any questions, I'll explain everything once you get here' Athena sighed sadly.
'Of course I'm coming right now! One tiny question, are you ok?' Erin wondered hearing her best friends sadness project through the phone.
'No...no..no I'm not I'm!' Athena started before bursting into tears.
'Oh my god honey! Ssshhh calm down I'm coming!' Erin panted hanging up as she rushed around in a blind panic.

'So you don't know where he is?' Erin choked out as Athena finished telling her everything.
They were currently sat on the sofa cleaning up Athena's face. Erin, once here had helped her put all the furniture back before finally questioning her.
'Nope, he's gone! I'm so scared for him Erin, there's something seriously wrong with him!' Athena sobbed.
'Aw my love come here!' Erin whimpered pulling her friend into a tight hug.

Erin was extremely worried for Jack, he was also her best friend too.
What Athena was telling her was unbelievable but she knew it was really happening and they needed to find him quickly.
'Listen Athena, I didn't want it to come to this but we need to call the police! Jack could be in serious danger as it's out of our hands. We don't know what to do, we need help!' Erin exclaimed pulling away from her heartbroken friend.
'I just don't want them to lock him away but you're right, we need to call them! Oh god what if he's dead Erin!' Athena sobbed hysterically.
'He is not dead Athena, now phone the police!' Erin ordered pushing her phone into Athena's hand.

Taking a deep breath she dialled the number.
'911 what's your emergency?' The dispatcher chirped out.
'Hello.er..erm.. I'd like to report a....m..missing person' Athena choked out.
'Who is missing ma'am?'
'My husband Jack Napier'
'How long has he been gone?'
'Er erm about 12 hours I think, I'm not sure'
'Has he done this before?'
'No'
'Maybe he has went to a friends house, have you tried contacting them?'
'No you don't understand I think he's in trouble!' Athena cried out.
'I'm sorry ma'am but we can't do anything unless he's been gone for 24 hours'
'Are you serious?! Please you need to help me!' Athena sobbed hysterically.
'I'm sorry ma'am call back later and we will try and help you then'

Letting out a heart wrenching scream Athena hung up the phone and threw it across the room.
'ATHENA! What did they say?' Erin demanded as her friend broke down.
'They won't help me! he's gone Erin! GONE!' Athena wailed as she rocked herself.
She couldn't take it anymore, her whole world was falling apart!

Poor fragile Jack was out there all alone and Athena dreaded to think about what was happening to him right now.
She just wanted him home, back where she could keep him safe!