Secrets and Lies [COMPLETE]

Chapter 39

39

Elizabeth, I love you, he said as he inched closer. As Dave leaned in to kiss her, she stabbed him with a knife.

Gwen's eyes flew open. She sat up on her bed. She couldn't breathe. This was her second panic attack this week, and there nothing there to help her control it. Dave's face kept coming to her in her dreams. It was as if her brain was trying to tell her something. But she couldn't figure it out.

Claire's post mortem report confirmed that she had been killed by a strong person. Her neck had been snapped by somebody's hands, not by a weapon.

The town was grieving. But someone out there was rejoicing.

Lara's death had been declared a suicide. An overdose of pills, the asylum had said. Gwen still couldn't wrap her head around that. She pitied Adrianna. But Adrianna really had looked strange that day. Could she trust her?

With all these thoughts running around in her head, Gwen found herself calming down. She got up to get some soda from the kitchen when she heard a sound at her window.

Gwen froze. She glanced at the alarm clock. 2:30 am. Not exactly the time for meet-and-greets.

She rushed down the stairs to the kitchen. Her parents were home. She could shout if anything happened. After assuring herself, she opened the refrigerator's door. The pale, dim light enabled Gwen to look around the room as she took out the bottle of soda. She heard a noise behind her. Someone had opened the backdoor.

Gwen cursed herself for not being more careful. But it was too late now. She turned back, careful to not let the freezer door close. In the blue light, she saw Adrianna standing quietly, looking right at Gwen.

'If you move any closer,' Gwen said. 'I'll shout.'

'Relax. I'm here to talk,' said Adrianna.

Adrianna inched closer. Gwen took a step back.

Adrianna laughed and took the soda bottle from Gwen's hands. She took a sip.

'This,' she said, 'tastes divine.'

'Thanks.'

'Anyway,' Adrianna said. 'Let's get to business. I'm not here to hurt you, if that's what you're thinking. I'm here to warn you.'

Gwen was growing suspicious with every second. She reached back and grabbed her mother's favourite vase for protection.

'I'm listening,' Gwen said, trying to sound convincing.

'Good. Here's the thing,' Adrianna said. 'I'm not the killer. Nor am I out to seek vengeance. But there's two things I found out. One, Lara was not crazy. And two, you are the one who told her to pretend.'

Gwen gripped the vase tighter. 'I don't know what you're talking about.'

'Sure you don't.' Adrianna said menacingly. 'You were in this game from the very beginning. Everything connects to you. It started from Mexico, didn't it? I know what you did, Elizabeth. You can't hide anymore. Lara was your mom's goddaughter. You knew her very well. You knew that Rosetta knew about her secret. You knew that Lara slept with Casey's sister. And you were the one who tipped the Trïo off. Not because you didn't like Lara,but because you wanted to see what they could do.'

Adrianna's eyes were burning with rage.

'You played a twisted game where you made the Trïo destroy Lara. Then, you set out to seek revenge. Not just for your darling Dave in Mexico, but for everything that they were doing here. You made up a sick excuse for yourself to kill, not just Emma, but also Casey. But you couldn't stop, could you? You knew that Claire was dangerous for you. You told her directly about Lara being lesbian. Claire was the only one who could connect the dots. Tell me I'm right, you whore, tell me!'

Gwen was silent. Then, she swung the vase and hit Adrianna on her skull. She fell down like a lifeless doll.

Gwen had a smile on her face as she watched Adrianna's blood trickle all over the kitchen floor. 'You're right. You figured it out, Ad. Guess that means we can't be friends anymore.'