Revenge

Chapter 6 - Yarnold's file

Mark's POV

Jessica was arranging her plate trying to make it seem full. Like I didn't know she lied about being hungry. The look on her face said it all. What concerned me was why she felt the need to pretend like she was fine when she clearly wasn't. She's trying to hide something serious. I needed to find out what. I turned around to ask Riley to stay with Jess for a minute when I noticed she wasn't there. Where'd she go? I took Jessica to our table and as I was watching her sit down, about to sit down myself, I saw a figure leaving the room we found Jessica in going in the direction of the corridor. Since Jessica didn't want to tell me what happened in that room, I had to do some digging of my own. "Jess, I need to go to the men's room. Will you be okay by yourself for a minute?" I asked intently scanning her facial expression as she replied "Yeah, I'll be fine. Go" with a smile that looked genuine. I didn't like leaving her there, but I comforted myself by the fact that she wasn't completely alone. These old geezers may be a fussy bunch but they really loved Jessica and I'm sure they would take care of her if she needed something. I just hope the power doesn't go out again.

I made my way across the room to where I saw the figure and went in the direction I saw it go. It was dimly lit at the beginning of the corridor but completely dark at the end. I could make out the first 5 doors down but from there on it was almost impossible to see clearly. I vaguely saw a shadowy figure going into the 6th room and I followed suit taking out my phone and turning on the flash light. I was standing in front of the room and noticed the door was closed. Strange. I just saw someone going into the room and I didn't hear the door shut. I ignored this fact and opened the door to enter the room. The room was pitch black except for the light shining from my phone. I tried looking for the light switch but couldn't find it, so I slowly waved my phone from side to side to see where the person was who came in, but the room was empty. I stepped forward very slowly because I didn't want to trip over anything in the dark. I held out the light of the phone to my left to inspect the room from each corner more clearly. I came upon a light brown metal file cabinet which had about 6 drawers. Each were numbered with about 7 alphabet letters. The second drawer was marked A-G, the third H-N and the last O-Z. It was the first drawer that seemed curious to me. It was marked "YARNOLD – DESTROY FILE". I remember this case. This drawer was solely about an 18-year-old girl allegedly murdered. Her mother, Mrs. Yarnold swore on her life that it was the mayor. She even said she had evidence, but nobody believed her. The case was taken to court and dismissed due to lack of evidence whereafter everyone assumed she was crazy. Poor woman. I visited her once after her daughter died just to give her some comfort. It can't be easy losing your only daughter and only 3 years after you lost your husband. She was so kind to me even though she was heartbroken. She even offered me tea and homemade cookies in her state. She's not like the other people around here. She has such a kind heart and I'm still puzzled about what really happened to her daughter and why she accused the mayor. Only she knows.

I grew curious about all these thoughts and decided to read through the files. I was left disappointed when I found that the cabinet was locked. I tried pulling harder thinking maybe it was just old but when it wouldn't budge I gave up. I flashed the phone around looking for an object I could use as leverage that would help me open the cabinet, but then I heard a door in the right corner of the room being thrown shut causing my whole body to turn in the direction of the slamming door and any thoughts about opening the cabinet to completely leave my mind. "Shit!" I swore under my breath clutching my chest as a result of the fright caused by the sound of the door being shut. There was definitely a door that I must have missed the first time I searched the room. I rushed over to open the door when I suddenly tripped on something lying in the middle of the floor causing me to tumble head first on the floor. I lifted my aching head and searched for my phone which was luckily lying face up, the light still illuminating from the screen making it easy for me to find it. I lifted myself up to grab my phone and turned around still kneeling on the ground to shine the flashlight on whatever I tripped on. As I turned the light in the direction of the object, I saw a thick red liquid substance on the ground. My hands felt sticky, so I turned the light to my hands and noticed that my hands as well as my clothes were covered with the substance. I lifted my hands to my nose thinking maybe I can identify the substance by its smell and as soon as the aroma of the substance entered my nose I felt sick. I was horrified when I realised that this could only be the smell of blood. The metallic stench was strong which lead me to believe that it was fresh and very nearby. I thought about the thing I tripped over and immediately turned my phone's flashlight on it, scattering backwards while doing so, trying to get away from it, but it was within arm's reach and I almost puked when I saw what it was. It was a man lying face down on the floor, covered in blood. The man wasn't moving, and I was too shocked, too afraid too even dare touch him. I sat there for a few minutes, my mind screaming "get up and get help!", but my legs unable to move. My whole body was numb. I couldn't grasp what I was seeing in front me.

Was this real?

I couldn't even feel my legs, let alone move them, but I willed myself to get up and run to get help. I got on all fours shifting some of the weight of my body on to my hands which made it easier to stand up. When I finally managed to stand up, I turned around and ran. When the darkness of the hall started to disappear, and the crowded great hall came back into view, I could feel the relief wash over me. I hadn't even noticed that I had started to sweat until a droplet ran down my temple. My blazer felt tight and sticky against my back from all of the sweat, but I paid no mind to all the distractions and ran straight to Jessica. Jessica, seeing the state I was in, looked at me with wide eyes, a frown starting to appear on her forehead while she started to open her mouth to say something, but I cut her off.

"Jessica" I said out of breath, not able to recognise my own voice.

"The mayor is dead!".