In The Dark

Chapter 17

Months come and go, filled with me searching frantically, still coming up with nothing. Today is their trial and I am allowed one last visit before everything happens.

I am in a room with Mason and his lawyer, as well as some police because he's considered a criminal. They didn't think it was a good idea for me to visit because it makes the Stockholms more credible but I think not visiting makes him look guilty anyway. Mason told me he didn't care he wanted to be able to hold me one last time. I guess he really doesn't have faith in his lawyer but I'm still holding out hope. We don't talk, I just sit in his lap with my head on his chest and his arms around me. When they tell me to leave I don't say anything I just work up the nerve and give him a kiss on the lips and walk away.

After a lot of badgering I was allowed a victims testimony which I used to say that as the victim I would recognize the kidnapper and that Mason and Joseph were innocent. I know it did nothing but put a fire underneath the prosecution though. Now I'm just waiting at Masons house, knowing I couldn't sit outside the courtroom with reporters sneaking up next to me and badgering me about my 'Stockholms.' The detective assured me he'd let me know when everything was over, that was 6 hours ago.

I jump as the ringing of my phone pierces the silence around me.

"I'm sorry, they were found guilty..."

As soon as I hear this news I go ballistic. Not with my usual panic but anger, I throw things at my invisible target. Eventually my anger subsides and I fall into a drained heap. That is where he found me. When he came, I wasn't even scared, just done.

"Oh Scarlett that's just not fair you made it too easy, that's no fun." He almost sounds actually disappointed, and maybe the psycho is because right now I'm not playing his game.

"Why are you doing this? What kind of sick game is this?" I say in sudden outrage. I will not just give up, Mason would want me to do better. I look up at him to see him grinning. I don't recognize him as someone I know, but I'll never forget my kidnapper.

"Finally, there's the little player I know," he says bopping his finger on my nose like a child. I lash out kicking and screaming even managing to scratch his face, but he just continues to beam. He restrains me with ease before pulling out a piece of paper.

"I took the liberty of writing you a suicide note so they wouldn't come looking for you and interrupt our game my dear," he says stroking my cheek.

I shake my head but am unable to get his disgusting hands off me.

"I will read it for you, I studied the way you write so it wasn't even suspicious!" He cackles with glee.

"To whom it may concern (probably Detective Sparks and the PD)

I can't live with Mason locked up, I know people think it's 'Stockholms' but it can't be because he is innocent" he chuckles pausing, "innocent of the crime but not innocent right? Anyway let's continue my dear we should be on our way soon. 'I tried to find the real kidnapper but the evidence is too little. I can't live anymore with the nightmares that plague me, now that I don't have Mason to make them go away. I won't tell you where I will do this because I don't want to be stopped. This is my last act trying to be a good daughter, I'm sorry Detective I disappointed you. With deep regrets, Scarlett."

I'm shocked throughout this, not only by how closely he wrote it to how I would but how accurately he depicted my feelings. And the last bit, my dad, and I won't even get to relish that. I start lashing out again furiously at the restraints but he just languidly walks over to me. I expect him to gloat some more but soon I'm breathing some foul smelling chemical. It happened so fast I didn't even have time to tell myself not to breathe it in.