Chapter Three

The News

Grocery shopping. She dreaded it with a passion. It somehow reminded her of how inadequate her salary was and what she could not afford in this world. Pushing an empty cart down the fruits station, Rue merely studied the luscious polished fruit and let out a longing sigh. What cruelty.

It always happened this way. They put the most appealing products by the entrance as if to test her bravery. Would she quell with fear and exit quickly from her lack of self-confidence and her dwindling money supply, or brave face and push through ignoring the hungry pangs that tortured her with each step?

Luckily today, her hunger overcame her need to escape from her lack of self-worth. The pantry only consisted of two things, water and toilet tissue. Not at all essential for a growing woman. Besides, her paycheck finally arrived after she’d stalked the post office for three weeks, ever since her boss said it’d be delayed while she was busy dealing with ‘family matters’ aka divorce plans. Rue chose not to ask.

Now staring at a delicious branch of purple grapes, Rue tried to ignore her fingers twitching or the glands in her tongue watering up. Gah… I cannot afford this. She mentally counted the spare change after paying her bills. Life was so unfair.

Holding back a whimper, she shuffled on. Peanut butter, bread and cereal. That was her staple food with the luxury of rice, if she was feeling lucky. After placing the 89-cent bag of sliced wheat bread in the cart along with her one-gallon of 2 milk and the cheapest crate of eggs she dug out from the very back, Rue twisted her lips in thought. Rice would have to wait for another day. This was all she could afford to spend.

Heading for the checkout station, Rue overheard the ends of two women chatting by the pasta aisle. “Such a darn shame. That poor girl,” one said solemnly, while trying to pry her antsy four-year old child from hanging on to the jar of marinara sauce.

“What on earth could it have been that killed her?” the other said.

Those words penetrated the chambers of her beating heart and she immediately remembered the blood-curling scream from the night before. Someone died last night? Her breath grew shallow and Rue came to a halt, now gaping at the two ladies, top of her ears stretched to hear more.

“It was no human I can say that,” the first woman continued, a wry smile on her face when her son diverted his attention to the strap on the cart. “The bite marks were enough…”

“Where?” Rue felt her mouth move and before she knew it, the two women halted all speech to stare at her.

“Pardon?” the mother raised a brow at the strange girl breathing hard just a few feet from them. She unconsciously pulled her cart closer, increasing the distance between her unassuming toddler and the girl.

“I think she means the news, Claire,” the other woman mused, brow furrowed. “Sweetheart, are you alright? You look a bit sick.”

Rue felt her head shake and she stepped back, her knees wobbly. “Um… W-what happened?”

Both women now gaped at her. “You mean you haven’t watched the news.”

Not bothering to tell them that she did not own a television set, Rue waited with a dumb look on her clammy face. The other woman shook her head as if disapproving. “A girl about your age was attacked in the park last night or rather around two, according to the newsman.” She tapped her cart’s handle absentmindedly. “It’s a shame. No one knew her well. They say she was a transplant here.”

That was all Rue could hear. Her feet started moving on its own accord, the women’s voices now a fading memory against her ears. Her vision in front blurry as tears fell rampart down her face and she stumbled to the counter.

“Miss, are you okay?” a feeble voice in front interrupted her raging thoughts. Rue kept her head bent. She couldn’t speak.

Clutching the handle tighter, she just stood there frozen, not knowing what to do or say. “Do you need water or something, miss?” the voice persisted, hovering over her.

Rue shook her head. Why were they fussing over her? Someone had died, all alone. No family. She was a transplant as well. Her family was back at home overseas. She was alone here. Was she next? Why hadn’t she done something last night? She’d heard the scream, it had to be that girl. Goosebumps chased down her arms and with trembling fingers, Rue held onto her purchases.

A hand suddenly pressed against her shoulder and Rue jolted. “It’s okay…” a familiar voice chased the questions from echoing against her ears. “I know her.”

Rue finally lifted her blurry gaze to the figure beside her, ignoring the stares around her, the customers watching her with perturbed frowns etched on their brows. This time, her heart did not quake at the sight of him. Instead it seemed to welcome him like a balm to a festering wound. She swallowed hard, searching his eyes and even without explaining herself, she knew he knew.

Her eyes closed and she leaned her forehead against his arm. He stiffened at her reaction but recovered quickly, placing his other hand about her shoulders. “Come sit down for a while…” he coaxed her softly, even pushing her gently to the row of seats leaning against the wall.

“My…” she swallowed her protests when he took hold of her groceries and handed it to the cashier who stood behind him. “I… I’m sorry,” she blurted out, the tears flowing unrestrained now.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” Gray muttered, kneeling in front of her, hands folded over his legs. He peered up at her through his glasses and offered her a sympathetic smile. “You did nothing.”

Exactly! I did nothing. Isn’t that a crime after all? Rue hiccupped her thoughts. “You heard about the news?”

“Yeah,” he muttered softly, his gaze shifting to stare at the entrance where a few more customers ushered in. “It’s tragic…”

Rue blinked, the sobs caught in her throat as she studied the pensive expression on his face. Tragic? How about scary? She swallowed hard and looked away. “Why did she leave the house so late? Why was she alone?”

“Rue…” his voice interrupted her monologue. “We don’t know what could’ve happened. Did you know her?” his eyes searched her face as though her words would not suffice.

Rue’s cheeks warmed and she turned away. “No, I did not.” She closed her eyes. But I heard her. Is that not enough? “It just scares me. She was alone.”

“How do you know that?” Gray asked softly, not wanting to upset her but did indirectly as the wave of guilt surged through her body. “Rue…” he muttered when she did not respond. He then sighed heavily and slowly rose to his full height. “Come. I’ll take you home.” He held out his hand to her.

She wanted to protest but seeing as though she didn’t even know how to pay for transportation after purchasing her groceries and fearing to walk home with such unsteady feet, Rue merely nodded. “Let me pay for my stuff.” She slipped her hand in his and he tugged her to her feet, leading her to the line where the cashier with her basket was waiting.

“Thank you,” Rue muttered once she received her receipt and her bags. The cashier gave her a silent smile and nodded to Gray standing behind her.

The man reached for her bags before she could protest and pretended not to comment on her small purchase. Instead, he kept his eyes on her slight figure and bowed shoulders. She seemed genuinely shaken by the news of the murdered girl, for reasons he could not be sure of yet. Why did she turn away when he asked if she knew her? What was this girl hiding?

Before he could open his mouth to ask, she turned around with a bemused expression on her face. Had she asked him something. “Pardon?” he asked sheepishly. The cool wind welcomed them once they exited the supermarket.

“I said we keep bumping into each other,” Rue explained patiently, glancing from left to right before crossing the road to where the bus station stood. People were already congregating and she moaned inwardly. They’d probably have to wait until the next bus at this rate.

“That we do,” Gray was turning a left instead of walking with her. Rue stalled, shifting to face his back.

“Where are you going?” she called out to him, apprehensively glancing over to where the bus was pulling up and the passengers ushered forward. Idiot, we’re going to get left here.

“Car’s this way,” he called back without looking at her.

Hezekiah Gray stifled a chuckle when he heard Rue’s grumbling and shuffling feet as she tried to keep up with his fast pace. “I like riding the bus during weekdays,” he answered her raised brows.

“Even in pouring rain?” she snapped impatiently, taking this surprise more seriously than he’d expected.

Gray threw her an inquisitive look. “I have an umbrella.” He chuckled in teasing when she scowled up at him. Spotting his black Jeep, he reached into his left pocket and pulled out a set of keys.

Rue rolled her eyes but kept her comments to herself. A beggar had no say when it came to favor. Slipping into the passenger’s seat while he placed her bags in the boot of the car, she folded her hands over her lap and waited patiently. The soft smell of leather told her this car was quite new and she caught the familiar scent of Gray that oddly made her relax her shoulders against the seat.

Soon, he entered and flashed her a warm smile. That was when she noticed his glasses. Thick black frames that pronounced his square jaw and straight nose, while bringing out the dark chocolate of his eyes. “Hmm?”

“I didn’t know you wore glasses,” she perused, buckling her seatbelt once he revved the engine.

Gray grinned once again, tossing his eyes over his shoulder as he reversed onto the street. “I hardly wear it.”

“Hmm,” was all she said before turning to face the window, watching as the cars zipped past them. Left with her thoughts to entertain her, Rue began thinking about the woman and her tragic fall. What had she been doing all alone there, with no one to save her? Why did she not run? Who killed her? Why?

“Rue,” Gray’s voice penetrated her thoughts and she jolted, glancing up at his perturbed expression dumbly. “You alright? I asked if you needed something else before going home.”

Rue shook her head and turned away again. “No, I don’t need anything.” Except the truth.

Not wanting to add more trouble than he saw mirrored in her eyes, Gray turned back to the road and the car remained silent until he reached her apartments.

Barely uttering a word of thanks, Rue quickly grabbed her things from the back before Gray had a chance to put the car in park and jolted out. “You’re welcome…” Gray muttered, watching her jog down the path, her bags flying behind her. Taking one quick glance around him, Gray’s eyes narrowed in suspicion as if he heard something among the brushes lining the path. Only the sounds of the cool breeze rustling the trees. He released a breath and reversed his car, heading back to the supermarket.

Night came faster than she’d expected and Rue lifted her eyes from the novel she was reading. Glancing behind her just in time to see the moon peek from the opaque clouds, she frowned slightly. Hadn’t it been a full moon the night before?

Not an avid stargazer, she had no inkling about the planets or the earth’s phenomena but from her calendar memory, two days with the full moon’s appearance was definitely a rare occurrence. She closed her book with a resounding thud and placed it beside her on the mattress. Uncurling her feet from under her, Rue shifted to face the window fully, peering over at the fence of dark trees, looming behind the row of apartment lots. That was where she heard the scream from before.

Her heart picked up speed at the mere thought and goosebumps followed, the hairs on her arms raising. She swallowed hard, a loud sound considering the room was as silent as a morgue. She shuddered a little when a cricket croaked again. What time was it? One glance at her clock confirmed it was still early. Just 8:38 in the evening.

Whatever it was that killed the girl could not be human, the voice of the woman from the supermarket came back to haunt her and Rue’s heart skipped a beat. She cursed herself for not purchasing a newspaper or going downstairs earlier to read the news in the computer room. There was no way she’d go out there now. But she needed to know! It seemed as though it was a life and death decision she had to make. To go downstairs and find out more information about the murder or stay locked in her room until morning, remaining ignorant and left alone with her dangerous imagination.

For once in her life, Rue missed her roommate. The bubbly girl had gone overseas for a three-week foreign-exchange program and this was just the first week without her. How would she cope with an empty room and a murderer lurking the streets unknown?

A dog barked rampantly in the background, jarring Rue back to reality. Biting back a curse word, Rue scrambled back into bed, snapping the covers over her head. Heart slamming against her ribs, she remained still and waited, breath suspended for the next sound. It never came. Morning did.

The click of a pen followed by a sharp object slicing through a soft material like cloth pierced the silence of the room. Two bowed men jolted in their position and one whimpered in fear. The clicking continued as they kept their heads bent, perspiration dotting their temples, fingers trembling.

The padding of feet across the floor joined the noise and the men stiffened, waiting. A pair of polished ebony shoes now stood in front of them, the feet separated in a strong, unrelenting stance. The clicking stopped and a bloodied cloth dropped to the floor. One of the men dared open an eye and almost cried out when he saw the wet, fresh blood glistening on the white handkerchief. He could still read the inscription at the corner of the cloth. A.U. He squeezed his eyes shut, biting his upper lip to keep from crying aloud, heart wrenching.

The feet shifted slightly as the man bent to a squat, his gleaming eyes glaring at the two bowed men while maintaining a smirk on his thin lips. “You know what this is, do you not?” his voice was low, husky and dangerous–a dark power coated his words as if they held a threat that was waiting to be released.

The other man whimpered, still squeezing his eyes closed. The man who noticed the torn and bloodied handkerchief merely nodded, sniffling back the stubborn tears that now trailed down his cheeks.

“Hmm. Then you know what must happen.” It wasn’t a question. A warning, more like it, as the gleam of the slender knife came into view.

Jaw clenched, the first man watched the weapon move languidly towards him. Even though his heart quaked in fear, his soul was hardened with grief. What more hurt could this creature inflict on him? He then lifted his eyes as if to say ‘Do your worst.’

What he saw made him regret those thoughts instantly as the man in front of him leaned forward, eyes dancing with deadly amusement, lips curled in a sadistic smile.

Swifter than he could’ve ever imagined, the gleaming object swiped in front of his face. He waited for the pain. It did not come. All he heard was a strangled cry from his comrade and snapping his eyes open, the man almost wretched as he gaped down at his companion lying there with the knife sticking out from his jugular, his pale eyes widened in fear, face suddenly blue with no sign of movement. A deep moan escaped his throat and he closed his eyes, shoulders sagging in defeat.

A venomous chuckle rumbled above his head and the polished shoes shifted away from him, measured footsteps taken until a door closed shut, leaving him to mourn for his son–the only child left.

end of chapter three.

Copyright. DeeKay 2008

<< back to Index