Cracks Within

Chapter 12

Tuesday 9th October 2040.

I fall off the sofa as I hear the front door bang. "Mom!! MOM!" Izzy shouts out.

I roll my eyes and push myself up from the floor into sitting against the sofa. "Yeah, I'm in the living room." She bursts in, throwing her bag on the floor as she races towards the sofa and jumps on it.

"Mom, Mom, Mom!" she screams, shaking my shoulders as she talks. "Mom, guess what?!"

I put my hands on her shoulders and push her away.

"Don't try and kill me, Iz. What's happened?!"

She squeals with excitement. "I'm the lead in the play!"

My mouth turns into a wide grin. "Oh, my god, Izzy, that's awesome!! Let's call your Dad! We'll order Chinese, since it's an occasion and I'm craving it." I look at my daughter and wink. She runs into the kitchen to get the takeaway menu while I start to dial Sam's number. I hold the phone up to my ear, still grinning. After a minute, his voicemail message speaks out. I hang up. This is weird, I think to myself. He always answers his phone. I ring again and the tone is cut short. Sam had cancelled the call. Red flashes before my eyes as hundreds of thoughts enter my mind. Wait, I think. This isn't me, I know Sam, I'm just panicking because I saw Marshall. I let my mind rest as Izzy bounds into the room, Harvey running behind her. She throws herself next to me, grabs my phone and calls Mr Chow. She doesn't need to ask me what I want, she knows my order off by heart. I look at her, always in disbelief. This amazing girl is my daughter. I sit there smiling at her.

After Mr Chows arrived, we watched Star Wars and talked the night away. Mike came home and ate leftovers before running upstairs to play on his game. Before I knew it, it was 10.30pm. Sam still wasn't home. I send Izzy to bed and call him again. No answer. The fourth call that he hasn't answered today. This was so unlike Sam. He usually texts back if he can't answer. Especially if anyone calls more than once. I stare at my mobile until I leave myself no other option. I run upstairs to my room, quickly stopping at Mike's door to let him know I was going out. I change into more suitable clothes. Before I leave, I pick up my bag and make sure I have everything before locking the door. I jump into my car and drive along the deserted roads to the practice rooms my husband owns.

I park on the side, making sure that my car can't be seen. I sneak out and run to the front door, keeping an eye on all my surroundings. I start to unlock the door until I suddenly stop. What am I doing, I think to myself. I fall to the floor, my eyes screwed shut in concentration, my nails digging in to my temple as I try not to scream. This is the effect of the memories. This is what it is doing to me. I can't keep a hold on me anymore. I silently scream, tears running furiously down my face. I dig my nails in harder, trying to control my mind.

My eyes snap open. The pain stops. I tilt my head backwards as I look into the sky. I think of nothing but how many times Sam had betrayed me when we were younger. How much pain and misery he put me through. It motivates me enough to stand up, finish unlocking the door and opening it, prepared to face anything or anyone that gets in my way.

Advertisements, a television and chairs greet me as I walk into the waiting room. I look around, careful to not move anything or make a sound. I hear a voice. It echoes around the room, inviting me to investigate it. I carry on walking down the dimly lit corridor, my anger and my mind whispering in my ear. Voices get louder as I get closer to my destination. I stop outside a door that read 'Practice Room 5'. I carefully put my ear to the door as it opens without a handle. I hear Sam, talking softly. I concentrate to try and identify the second voice. As it talks, I realise it is a woman. I walk back and kick open the door. It springs open and hits of the wall, making a sickening crunch as it made contact. The top of the door came off its hinges and hung there, limply. I walk in after the chaos I created to see Sam and a woman locked in their passion on a table. He looks up in horror as I walk through the door. All I see of the woman is the back of her head. I smile. The same smile that spread across my face as I nearly killed Nina all those years past. Sam pulls away as I walk over to the table and grab the blonde bitch by her hair, pulling her backwards with as much force as I could. She stumbles and falls face first into the battered door. I laugh menacingly and then turn to my husband. He walks backward in fear, his eyes wide.