That night
The storm started immediately after Jules disappeared into her bedroom. Keifer's sitting on a couch in living room. He noticed the silence in the appartment.
No maid, no sound of normal household. Just a chilly silence sometimes broken by the thunder cracks.
The floor ceiling-to-floor windows are opened, curtains flowing abruptly not sure about the direction to flow. For then gravity became optional.
Finally the rain started.
The room is getting cold enough.
Keifer's POV
Im right now I'm in the living room of Jules appartment.
My brain is messed up. So much going on.
Jules's disappearing, her marks, Loid's fury.
Is there anything between Loid and Ethan?
Wait.
Loid got furious because Ethan touched Jules.
But why?
What's that incident?
Why there's a brother concept?
Did she have a brother?
Is Ethan connected with him?
Can I ask Jules about it?
But I know she'll not gonna answer.
She's being mysterious.
And for the hell reason why I'm being curious about the girl I just met?
But she seems to be known.
How?
God!!
There's so many questions and all are unanswered.
I called Dan.
After two rings he answered
-Hey bro!
- Dan I need some information.
- Tell me bro.
- It's about Jules and Ethan. I want to know it they're related or not.It's must be confidential between you and me. After time I'll inform the group. But make sure for now no one knows.
- On it Keifer.
The call hang up.
Crick.
The door opened behind me. Jules is standing there surprised wearing a pajama set, hair still damp, slightly shivering by the wind.
She opened her mouth then closed. No voice came out. Then " You still here?"
"Yes, that's the thing I told."
"I thought you're not serious. "
"Everything I say It's serious and specially about you."
In between the conversation, I stood up,came near her. She surprised by my last words.
Our eyes met. Tension grew.
I'm searching, she's hiding.
She broke eye contact.
My eyes land on the marks on her neck. Now it's more visible. Her top has no collar. Maybe she just forgot to hide it or didn't took me seriously.
My jaw clenched.
Who's the monster?
I come more closer.My hands moved by own, my finger caressing the spot.
She gasped,her eyes closed. Fingers balled into fist.
I turn her around, moved the hair from shoulder and back to see the wound.
The moment it's visible, my blood boiled.
It's a mark of a grip. A vicious,monstrous grip.
Who did it?
"Who's that?", my voice came from gravel. I could feel this time I'm not the classmate, I'm the Watson to whom the power bows.
I turned her around. Her face goes pale.
I hugged her immediately. She fits in my embrace like she belonged. I was careful.
But that moment she flinched," aah".
That's make me sure that she has more bruises.
I make her sit on the couch. Her eyes are glassy and curios.
Looks cute.
Fuck what I'm thinking about? But I can't stop it either.
"What do you want? "
Her voice came shaky and kind of doubtful.
"I want to know what happened to you."
My voice us clear, sharp. The tone isn't authoritative nor pleading.
"Why? "
"I don't know. May be curiosity. Or just something I couldn't even understand. "
That's hit.
I am honest with the confession.
She studied my face.
-------Flashback -----------
Jules's POV
It's been a long day. After returning from the hospital I was completely drawn to my work that make me feel worth it. But I stopped when my stomach growled.
Oh I need food now. Afterall what I'm doing is for food.
I checked the time. Maids are gone. My ankle still under recovery. So I thought of ordering some tacos. I placed order on my phone. It will arrive in 30 minutes. I took my my time to stand up. Slowly headed to the living room.
I was scrolling my phone. A massage popped.
Delivery will take a little time.
Ok I'm gonna wait. After sometime the bell rang. I'm unaware of the time. I headed towards door.
As I opened it. Mind stopped. The face I burried long age standing on my door.
Robert Willam
I cold shiver ran through my spine. Before I could close door he got inside.
I tried to restrain him.
He slapped me hard. I hit the floor.
A blood strain came out from my lips or mouth.
He grabbed my hair, dragged me inside.
I tried to hit him, tried to free me.
But no help.
He locked the door. Then I know there is no use of screaming.
I searched around with my eyes. My sore ankle is paining.
I saw a rod laying under the couch. I reached for it.
As I handed it he grabbed my back of my neck so tight, made me stand. At this point my legs tried to give up, breaths hitched by pain.
He makes me face him. He removed the hair on my face. Then his rusty voice came out
"Little bird you have become more beautiful. Oh! I missed so much things in these years. But this time no one even you can't save yourself like before. Today I'll take the revenge of every pain you caused me. But first I'll enjoy your so- ready -to-use body. Then.....well let the suspense go on. I want to see fear in your eyes. "
I looked this time. Really looked.
A ragged but firm voice came out of me
"Look carefully Robert. Can you see fear in these eyes? "
I flinched a bit, hesitated.
That's the point his focus lost, grip loosed. I banged the rod on his biceps really hard.
He screamed in pain.
"You bitch!!"
"Better than you asshole. "
Then again I swing the rod. I hit him few times. Leave the rod, searched for my phone.
But the monster stood up. I didn't see that.
He grabbed the rod . Hit on my back. I fall on the ground. He threw the rod. Come nearer. Then slapped me. One. Two. Three. I lost the count. My breathing goes uneven, cheeks burning, pain drowning the body. Then he started kicking me. Constantly saying," You bitch! You never been in my control like a good mannered woman. You always dreamt. Women are not allowed to go before a man. You'll understand that today. "
My soul wants to leave the body at this point. I was so devastated.
But I have to live. When he become tired by hitting and got hit. I took the chance again.
This time I reached for the porcelain show piece on the centre table. I hit him with every strength I left with. After that everything goes black.
When I woke up in hospital. The police was there. They told me the delivery guy saw us like that. Apparently he monster didn't locked the door right so the guy came in and informed the police.
------end of flashback ---------
Keifer's blood boiled again hearing the words.
He's definitely going to make thar monster survive the hell on earth. As he moved Jules grabbed his wrist for the first time. The fire in him slightly extinguish but not fully.
She pulled him. Her eyes teary and wide thinking the consequences if Keifer moves for it.
"Please please please don't involve yourself in it. He's now a criminal. He can do anything. You're my friend please don't go. "
Deep down she knows, " This is not only Robert. I'm sure the Harringtons are there in the influence. Otherwise there's no way he can reach here or know which city I'm in.
Keifer softens. He hold her hand. Still his fury came out with his words.
"This time I stopped by your voice but next time the motherfucker try to do anything you will tell me."
This is not He's asking. He's saying. His eyes full of desperation.
Jules nodded reluctantly.
"Have the dinner and medicine. Should I wait? "
"You can have dinner with me. "
"Actually someone is waiting for me. Better next time. "
She nodded.
Keifer left.
Jules relaxed herself on the couch.
"Why are you doing this Watson? Don't come near me. The world would never allow us to be even this close that we sit on a same couch. You don't know. I'm cursed."
Cursed for love.
Tear slipped from her eyes.
Same time At Loid's place
Loid is now sitting on the library of there mansion with his father. Tempting conversation goes on. A knock break the tension. The door opened.
Martha.
"May I come in? "
Soft and elegant like always. The cheerfulness now covered with tension.
"Come in lady. "
Loid's father voice came. She entered.
"Did I interrupt?"
"Are you here to know about Jules? "
This time Loid. She nodded. Took a place formally on a chair.
"How the man entered? "
"That's what we're discussing. The restraining orders are still there. Dad worked on it. Even now we're doing the same for the court. "
"But make sure no one knows that Jules is here. "
They nodded.
After some paperwork Loid's dad left. Loid lit a cigarette,Martha looking out of the window.
"We can't loose her Martha."
"We won't. "
This time her voice came firm.
The next day on University
Jules come to the university. The corridor and campus is less crowded. She noticed but not giving attention.
As she moved forward she saw student's are hovering over bulletin board. She shook her head and reached the classroom.
"What's the crowd on bulletin board? "
She asked Martha while placing the bag on desk.
"Oh. The university opened the curriculum clubs for new students. The joining will be start from next week. And only week. I forwarded you the clubs. "
I nodded and scrolled down.
The students are coming back to the class excited, discussing about the joining.
The teachers came for the classes each of them telling us to join the clubs.
All of them are excited. And for the first time I'm also.
By the lunch break we all gathered on the cafeteria. Coincidentally I'm between Keifer and Martha. But I don't mind it.
All are discussing about the clubs.
Dan and Josh complaining why there's no club for IT interested. Marco mocking them by saying that's a particular study stream not a hobby. We all are laughing.
Suddenly Marco turned to me and Martha.
"So girls which clubs are you joining? "
There are more than one club a student can join but of course he or she should take responsibility.
Martha said , I'll join the dance club".
"I'll join the badminton club" , I answered.
Then we looked at each other and said like an announcement, " And we're joining the Fight club".
The sudden silence restored on the table.