Loveless♣

Chapter 35

  Danger has a certain smell.You can perceive it in the air before you even see it.It brings goosebumps to your skin and makes your heart pitter patter a little faster than usual.Your heart tells you to flee,but your mind is curious.Curious to find out if it's only a feeling of paranoia or if there's real eminent danger ahead.
   Bella could smell danger before she even opened the door.She reached for the handle,and saw that the door was partly open.
It was unlocked.
She turned to look at Joshua whose forehead was creased in thought.Joshua who was willing to protect her despite seeing how much harm could befall him if he continued to stay in her company.She would probably never comprehend his reasons.
Joshua turned from staring at the small opening the door had created to Bella.
"Are you sure she never leaves the house unlocked?" he asked her.
Bella moistened her lips and nodded,without turning to look at him.
They were on the front porch of her house.
The moment Bella had driven up to the front of her house,she'd known something was wrong.
Now,standing in front of the slightly opened door,her fears were confirmed.
She could tell that no one was home.All the lights were off.But why then was the door unlocked.
"Let me go in first," Joshua suggested.No demanded.
His tone informed her that he was not asking her permission to do so,and Bella did not like that tone.
Before she could open her mouth to complain, he opened the door wider and stepped into the house.
Bella frowned deeply,and stepped in behind him.It wasn't hard for her eyes to adjust to the dark.She knew the house well.
She tensed.
Something was wrong.
"Nina?" she called."Nina,are you here?"
Joshua's hand travelled to the wall,searching for a nearby light switch.
"Wait," she gasped,grabbing his hand frantically. "Miguel."
Joshua turned to her.He could not see her face but he could tell that she was afraid.Her palms were sweaty.
Bella swallowed. "Miguel," she said again.
Joshua frowned."Who's Miguel?"
"My pet..the dog..He always comes out whenever I'm home.No matter what.No matter the time."
Joshua paused."And?"he asked.
She looked at him."Where is he?"
Joshua looked forward.The house was eerily quiet.Even the neighborhood. It was as though everyone on the street had gone on a vacation. Joshua had an odd feeling of discomfort.
"He's probably just hiding,Bella.Relax."
His fingers found the switch and he flipped the button.
Light flooded the room and the next thing he heard was Bella's loud and gut wrenching scream that completely tore his heart to pieces.
"No!!Oh God,no!!"
Joshua followed her line of sight and when he saw it,his lips parted involuntarily in utter shock.
"Jesus Christ," he muttered softly.
Bella sped to the centre of the room,tears flying from her eyes.
"No,please,God!Please!"
Hanging from the ceiling with a rope around its neck was Miguel.
He was lifeless.
His throat had been slit and he'd been hung by the wound.
It was a horrific sight.
It was obvious he'd been bled out judging by the dried blood that had stained the carpet below him.
Bella was hysterical.
She kept touching the dog and crying,heaving it up so she could bring it down.
It was of no use,and Joshua felt a lump in his throat at the look on her face.
Her eyes refused to stop spilling tears.Her mouth was opened and a sound was coming out of it.A deep guttural sound of pure pain.Joshua was sure he had never heard it before.
Her clothes were stained now with blood and sweat as she continued to
wail and heave the dead dog upwards. She wanted to untangle its neck from the rope but to no avail.
She did not stop.
"Bella," Joshua said gently."Bella,please..."
"Help me,Joshua," she cried."Ayudarme,por favor!I can't let him die like this!"
Joshua walked up to her slowly."Bella...Bella,please stop.He's already dead."
She turned to look at him,her face a mixture of mortification and pain.
"No," she croaked."No,he's not dead!Help me get him down!"
"Bella.."
She quickly climbed the centre table,in hopes of untying for the rope around his neck.She tugged at it frantically, her eyes meeting with the dog's closed eyes and bloodied neck on several occasions. She cried out hysterically.
"No!Miguel can't go like this!No!"
"Bella,please get down," Joshua urged.Her efforts were futile.The dog was dead.She had to accept it.
"No!"
He reached for her and swiftly carried her down.She hit him repeatedly, screaming.
He held her tight as her hands flailed all around him.
Soon her struggling stopped and she sobbed freely and openly on his chest.
"Why?!"she wailed." Why would he do this to me?"
Joshua felt her tears seep through his shirt.She had bunched his shirt into her fists and was shaking her head sideways repeatedly.
"Why?!"she cried again.
Joshua's throat went dry.What could he tell her?It was obvious this was done on purpose. The threat was crystal clear.
He placed a calming hand on her hair and patted it gently.
"It's gonna be fine,Bella."
"No,it's not!" she yelled into his chest and Joshua could feel the sobs rocking through her.
Joshua gritted his teeth in anger.He wanted to hurt whoever had done this.Whoever had finally broken her with this terrible act.He felt a rush of rage as Bella's tears continued to flow into his chest.He held her tight and they stood there,beside the dried blood of her dead dog...and that was when he noticed the package.
He released her a bit as he frowned.
"What's that?" he asked.
Bella paused for a moment.Then,sniffing,she looked up at him.She let out a shaky breath.
"What?"she asked,wiping her face with the back of her sleeves.
Joshua hesitated.She looked so crestfallen.
"Um..that."
He gestured to the white package sitting on the center table.She followed his line of sight,unwrapping her hands from around him as she did.
She frowned when she saw the package.How had she not noticed it?Had she been so torn up in her grief that she hadn't seen something so visible?
She walked towards the package carefully.Joshua stared at her as she did.
She looked apprehensive,as though she was afraid to find out what was within.She looked back at Joshua.
He gave her a small nod.Assuring her that he was there for her.
Bella held her breath as she turned back to the package.
She slowly undid the blue bow..and lifted the lid.
She frowned when she saw what was in the package,then her eyes widened in realization.It was..
It was..
Oh my God.
Bella screamed and her hand flew to her mouth.
Then her eyes rolled upwards involuntarily,and she hit the ground with a loud thud.