Riya's body was lying on the cold marble floor on her side, her purse and mobile phone lying on the couch while her Prince Charming engaged himself with a glass of wine. Lying there comfortably on the floor in a deep, permanent sleep, she couldn't have figured that her dream boy would bring her life to an end. She might have been better off with her friends, alive and kicking, but here she was..... Such a waste.
The man whom she called Varun sipped at the last of the wine left in the glass - it was far better than coke. He very much wanted to have one more glass of that exquisite elixir but abstained himself - he had some work to finish. It was well past 11:00 pm now. He pulled himself up from couch and sat beside Riya's dead body, gazing at her from head to toe, a sly smirk on his face. She could have been an interesting woman only if she didn't have such a fat blabbering mouth. She talked too much for her own good. It wasn't hard for him to scrutinize her. Stupid woman. He chuckled as he got up and picked her mobile phone and purse from the ground. Fishing in her purse, he got her driving license, ID, credit cards, car keys and house keys.
He held the keys in front of his eyes and grinned, then got up and walked back towards the chest of drawers in front of television and threw her belongings in them for the time being.
His own cellphone vibrated when he received a text. He switched off his cellphone after reading the message and typing back a quick reply, slightly annoyed, then went ahead with remaining work. No loose ends, he reminded himself. He had to get back at her house before Amyra reaches home, otherwise he'll have to wait till she falls asleep to do the rest of the work. Not that it'll be a problem. He couldn't wait for this new game to begin, but he knew he had to be patient and careful.
He lifted Riya in his arms and took her inside the bedroom, carefully laying her on the bed as if she were still alive and needed not to be disturbed. Tugging her in the bed, he pulled the blanket over her, folding her hands on the blanket above her chest. To an unaware person, it would seem that she were fast asleep and sweetly dreaming. He grinned at her dead body. "I'll be back in a minute, darling."
He left her there and went ahead to clean up the living area. No loose ends, he reminded himself once more as he put away her belongings in a plastic bag although he was sure there was no loose end to connect him to her death anytime soon. Everything had been taken care of. Only evidence was her dead body and he would take care of it too. Take care of it after I have enjoyed myself, he thought as he went back towards the room where she laid dead, removing his shirt as he made his way.
***
Time is relative. Amyra couldn't have known it better than the situation right then, at their little get together some thirty minutes ago. It had been quite boring and superficial for her, even though everything in itself was good. She felt tired all through it and couldn't enjoy herself even with her friends. She wished she had stayed at home and slept when she was there, while on the other hand, she felt jittery and paranoid when alone, just like right now.
In her bathroom mirror, she stared back at her reflection, trying to study her own expression, trying to figure out how she felt at the moment. Empty and tired - she got her answer. It was true. In last few days, she had been either too jumpy and paranoid, or too empty and tired. All of a sudden, while still looking at herself, she had the sudden urge to cry that passed as soon as the moment it came with passed away. Again she was in that empty state. No longer the paranoia like earlier this day. She closed her eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath from her nose, and exhaled from her mouth. I just need a sleep right now, that'll do.
Opening her eyes, she looked at her own big almond eyes and pale face, as if daring her reflection to defy her. "Sleep. Right." She took determined steps out of the bathroom and checked all the windows and the door before getting inside her bed. Switching the light off, she slowly slipped into a much needed slumber, a small part of her mind telling her that she was forgetting something important. Before she could figure out what it was, she was far deep in sleep, forgetting all about her overdrive emotions and irrational paranoia. Forgetting about everything as an old scary memory started creeping in her dreams making her forget everything and everyone but itself. Also forgetting her flatmate and best friend Riya.
She wasn't aware of the fact that she would never see her friend alive again. And she wasn't aware of the intruder who was lurking in the dark outside her house, with a key to the inside of it. She wasn't aware of any of this while she slept soundly.
***
His cellphone vibrated in his pocket just when he was about to get inside the house again. He stood still for a moment before he finally decided to answer it. "Yeah?"
"You were not supposed to kill her friend!" The raspy voice on the other end boomed. It sounded like the man had tonsillitis.
"I couldn't afford to leave a living evidence behind me after we finish this job. It could've been dangerous." He frowned, annoyed by the fact that he was following orders, something he had never done before.
"Varun, I want this to be worked out perfectly - no mistakes. I know you're good at your job, that's why I hired you. But I've decided something. You are not working alone in this."
"I know what I'm doing. I don't need anyone's assistance." He protested, although he already knew that it was a lost cause. This man wasn't going to relent.
"But you need money, don't you?" He taunted in a surprisingly even, almost elegant manner. Almost.
"And you need the girl, don't you?" Varun said. He had already told him he would do things the way he wished, so why was he jumping in between again and again?
"Just meet him. He won't intrude in your way. And don't forget, you have to follow my instructions. I have made some changes in the plan." There was some steel in his voice this time. Revenge gives you an untainted passion, doesn't it? No one could know this better than him.
"Okay, I'll meet him." Calm, just calm. He gritted his teeth before the line went dead. A heartbeat passed and soon calmness engulfed him like a warm blanket in a cold night.
And then he turned around and went away without sparing another glance in the direction of the house where Amyra was reliving in her disturbed sleep, some old haunting memories from past. He would come here again later on, the main job for now was done. Now he just had to wait for right time.
YOU ARE READING
Taken
Horror[Highest rank in horror till now #11] The man knelt down and grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him. "You better recall the things that I'm asking you. Otherwise, I promise, worse will come." Amyra looked at him and she saw death. She knew th...
