In front of me is a note attached to a dead mocking bird tied with a white ribbon in a bow. Behind me I hear Mason on the phone with the police. I reach forward and slide the note away from the bird and read it.
Secrets and lies
Honesty is my disguise
The mockingbird repeats
The truth that will defeat
I am in plain sight
See you on Halloween night
I collapse, my lungs burning, unable to breathe. My eyes go in and out of focus. Mason is saying something to me but it feels like I'm underwater.
"They... find him... oh God... kill that.. baby please.. I.. breathe.." Soon I can't even hear that, only rumbling. He sits in front of me and holds my face in his hands so I can see his lips moving. I try to focus on what he's saying, "breathe baby.... police... coming.. need.. breathe, come on you.. do it baby."
I gasp in a deep breath finally and he wraps me in a strong embrace. Needing his comfort I lay my face in the crook of his neck as tears stream down my cheeks.
The door is still wide open when the police get here. Mason gets up, cradling me and sits with me on the couch while the police bring the two chairs from the kitchen. Detective Sparks showed up with the police and is sitting on the couch with us.
"We just need to take your statements," one of the men say. I look up seeing a blonde man and a brunette and let them know they could continue.
"Alright Miss Jones, Mr. Daughtry notified us on the phone that you received a phone call, can you tell us about that first?" The cop with brown hair asks. I nod and recount what happened with Mason interrupting occasionally to add his side and the Detective to ask more detailed questions. When they are finished with us they stand and nod.
"Scarlett, I promise we will find this monster," the Detective growls angrily. I nod and turn my face into Masons chest when I start tearing up again. I hear the door close and sigh in relief knowing they're all gone.
"Sweetheart I won't let him near you, I promise." I shake my head.
"Don't make promises you can't keep, you can't be around me 24/7."
"Maybe I can, I've been meaning to talk to you about —"
"About what?" I interrupt him.
"If you'd be patient sweetheart you'd know," he says sarcastically.
"Yeah yeah whatever continue," I say waving my right hand.
"Fine then Miss Bossy pants," he laughs. "Do you remember our conversation in the car yesterday?"
"You mean about what I should do?"
"Yeah I was going to offer you a job where I work, that way you could slowly work your way into something normal in a way that won't overwhelm you. And now I think it would be best so that I can keep you by my side at all times."
"But I don't have the education required to work as a P.I do I?"
"No but it could be an intern job or a secretary job if you want. We don't pay the interns but it would be more like my work and secretaries only file and take calls."
"Well I suck at paperwork," I say awkwardly making him chuckle.
"Unpaid intern it is." I lay my cheek on his chest and feel the rumble of his laughter. He runs his fingers through my hair before talking again.
"I'm sorry this happened Scar," he kisses my hair, "I promise I won't let him hurt you."
"Halloween is in a week Mase."
"You have nothing to worry about sweetheart, I'll take care of you." His words do what they're intended and calm me for a short time.
YOU ARE READING
In The Dark
Short StoryMy mind was filled with pain, the darkness edging in, slowly covering even that in nothingness. I had been in this place for a while now. With no light I couldn't tell day from night, but I could feel my body wasting away. Terrified, I try to think...
