????ABIGAIL
INOCENCIO????
(The Murderer….)
By, Precious Pinky
Copyright ©️(Don’t copy this story if you don’t want to see madness!)
CHAPTER 51????52
•••••
{ BURSTED }
★FLASHBACK★
“You are not going to be a rapper and that’s final!” A woman in her late forties said with a stern voice, glaring at her young son.
“Why not?” He barked.
“Because rappers are sinners and I won’t let you become a part of their unholy services. And besides, I won’t let the money your father and I spent on your education go to waste.”
“My dream is to become a rapper, mum. Why can’t you support me?”
“Dream of something else and then I will support you, okay?”
The sound of the front door caught their attention and a man walked in, holding a briefcase in his left hand.
“Honey,” The woman called out and approached him. She grabbed the briefcase from him and kissed him softly on the lip before taking a gentle step back. “Welcome home.”
“Thank you.” He smiled. “What is going on? I heard voices on my way in.”
“Is it not your son?” She groaned.
A young maid walked out of the kitchen and collected the briefcase from the woman’s grasp and went upstairs with it.
“What happened?” The man asked, staring between his wife and son.
“Are you going to tell your father about your ‘stupid dream’ or do you want me to tell him myself?” She asked.
The man furrowed his brows and glanced at his son.
“What dream?”
“I want to become a rapper like Eminem, Dad.” The boy said boldly.
His mother face-palmed herself whilst shaking her head in disappointment.
Silence hung up on the air for a few minutes until… His father burst out in fits of laughter, throwing his head back.
Both the boy and his mother stared at him in confusion, wondering what was funny with what he has just said to make the man laugh so hard like this.
“Uhm, am I missing something here?” The woman cleared her throat, watching her husband closely. “Why are you laughing? What’s funny with what he just said?”
“Isn’t he funny?” The man asked in between laughter. “Eminem? Who the heck is that?”
“He is a rapper and my idol, Dad. Why are you laughing?” The young boy said.
“Listen, son.” The man eventually stopped laughing and crouched down to his son’s level. “You are only ten years old and I’m sure you don’t know what you are saying right now. Your mother and I trained you in school so that you can become something great in life. Okay?”
“I know. And that is why I want to become a rapper like Eminem.”
“Enimem…”
“Eminem.” The young boy corrected.
“Yeah, whatever his name is. I don’t care. But listen, he is just a rapper and nothing special.”
“But I want to_”
“You are going to become a doctor.” The man cut the boy off. “A medical doctor, to be precise. I will make sure you go to the best college in the world. All you have to just do is…read. And dream of becoming a medical doctor.”
“No.” The boy stubbornly shook his head. “I don’t want to be a medical doctor. I hate science.”
“Well, start loving it because that is what you are going to study.”
“Why can’t you and Mum support my dream of becoming a rapper? Huh?” He asked, tears pricking his eyes.
“Not every rapper makes it in life, son. Do you think the world is as easy as it appears to be? Do you know the circumstances and obstacles that Enimem or whatever his name is faced to become the great idol you cherish now?”
“I have the talent, Dad. I can rap and_”
“Listen to your parents!” His mother interrupted angrily. “What is wrong with you? Why can’t you be more like your sister? Look at her, she wants to become a scientist. Why can’t you think of a professional job? Why must you become a rapper? Answer me!”
“Because that is my dream.” He proclaimed, tears rolling down his face.
“As I said before, think of another dream. A professional dream to be precise and then you will have your father and I support.”
“I don’t care anymore about you and Father’s support.” He stated. “I am going to become a rapper, just watch and see.” He stormed out of the house.
“Robert! Robert, get back here. Where are you going to? Get back in here!” His mother shouted but he paid no listening ears to her and ran out of the compound, having no direction or destination in mind.
•••••
????Breaking news, every citizen is required to stay at home for their own safety because there is said to be heavy snowfall in the next thirty minutes. Lives and property can be lost in the process but the government is willing to do everything to ensure the safety of its citizen’s lives and properties.
“Mum, Dad,” Tessa ran downstairs. “Robert is not back home yet from wherever he went to.”
“Really?” Mr. Gregor raised a questioning brow as he turned to his wife. “How long has he been out for?”
She shrugged.
“An hour.”
“What?” He pulled out his phone from his pocket and dialed Robert’s phone number. The phone started ringing inside the house.
“Oh. I forgot to mention. He didn’t take his phone along with him.” Tessa informed as she waved her brother’s ringing phone in the air for her parents to see.
“Oh, God.” Mrs. Gregor groaned. “This is bad. Where could he have gone to?”
“Probably the park,” Tessa replied.
“You think he will be there?” Her father asked, pinching his brows together.
“He usually goes there whenever he is angry. I’m sure he is there right now.” She told them.
“Let’s go and check then.” Mrs. Gregor said, putting her hair up in a messy bun.
“Yeah…” Mr. Gregor grabbed his car keys from the rubber fruit bowl set at the center of the table in the living room. “I just hope we make it back home on time before the heavy snowfall begins.”
“Can I come along, please?” Tessa asked.
“I’m sorry, honey. But you can’t.” Her mother responded.
“Why not?”
“The road isn’t safe, that’s why. Stay inside the house while we go and get your brother, okay?”
Tessa hesitated before finally giving in. “Okay. Please be careful.”
“Sure, honey.” Mrs. Gregor turned to her husband and they both left the house.
••••
Tessa slowly opened her eyes and examined the room.
She realized that she was still in the living room and had fallen asleep there.
She yawned tiredly and glanced at the wall clock, it reads; 3:35 am.
She saw the blanket covering her body and frowned.
Were her parents back home? If yes, why didn’t her father take her to her room like he always does?
She sat upright and rubbed her eyes, taking off sleep from them.
She heard footsteps and turned around to see their maid, Tina.
“Tessa, hey. You are awake.”
“Yes, I am. Where are Mom, Dad, and Robert? Why am I lying down here and not in my bedroom?” She queried.
Tina heaved out a deep breath.
“Well, your parents are not back home yet with Robert.”
“What?” Tessa stared at the time again. “By this time?”
Tina simply shrugged her shoulders as she didn’t know what to say.
“Do you think they are okay?” The eleven years old girl asked, worriedly.
Tina rushed to sit beside the child and then slung her arm around her shoulders.
“They are absolutely fine. Maybe they decided to sleep in a hotel because of the heavy snowfall. Trust me, they will be back home in the morning.”
“Are you sure?”
The maid wasn’t.
“Yes.” She nodded, forcing a smile on her face to calm the child’s nerves down.
Tessa nodded her head. “Okay.”
“Do you want to go and sleep in your room?”
“Uhm…I will sleep here.”
“Are you going to be comfortable on the couch?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Okay. If you say so.”
•••••
Tessa was awakened by the ringing of the doorbell.
She winced while peeling her eyes open.
The sun peeking from the window made her hiss as it reflected into her eyes.
Gradually, her eyes adjusted to it and she rose from the couch, stretching her body which now aches.
She heard the doorbell again and that brought her out of her trance as she quietly approached the door, plastering a smile on her face as she expected to see her parents and Robert in front of the door.
Tina stepped out of her quarters, yawning.
“Who is it?” She asked.
“I guess it is my parents and Robert,” Tessa replied, unlocking the door and pulling it open.
The smile on her face dropped when she saw two cops standing in front of the door instead of her family.
“Is this Mr&Mrs. Gregor’s house?” One of the cops asked.
Tina hurried to stand behind the child.
“Yes, it is. I’m sorry but how can we help you?” The maid asked.
“We are here to deliver news…” The second cop began, having a sad look on his face.
“What news?”
“Robert,” Tessa called out when she saw her brother pushing his way into the house with Richard and his mother tagging along.
“Tessa,” Robert responded, looking at the cops. “What is going on?”
“I don’t know. Anyway, where are Mom and Dad?” She asked.
“Mom and Dad?” He repeated, frowning. “How am I supposed to know? Are they not at home?”
“No, they are not. Didn’t they find you in the park?”
“No. I wasn’t in the park.” He shook his head. “I went to Richard’s house.”
“What? So wait, you weren’t with Mom and Dad in a hotel?”
“Hotel? What are you saying?”
Tessa was confused. She turned to Tina.
“Didn’t you say, Mom, Dad and Robert were in a hotel room?”
Tina didn’t say anything.
“What is going on?” Richard’s mother asked, facing the cops.
“Mr&Mrs. Gregor’s body was found this morning. They had a terrible accident from the massive snowfall last night and I’m sorry but they didn’t make it alive.” The first cop let out.
Richard’s mother’s mouth dropped open while Tina screamed and dropped to the ground, crying.
Robert, Richard, and Tessa were a bit confused.
“What is it?” Robert asked.
“Why are you crying?” Tessa asked Tina. “Where are my parents?”
Tina embraced the child.
“I’m sorry, Tess. I’m sorry…”
Tessa pulled herself from Tina’s arms and turned to Richard’s mother.
“What is going on?”
“You need to be strong, Tess. I’m sure your parents will want that from you.”
“Where are they?” She asked.
“They…they are dead.”
“NOOO!” Tessa screamed and rushed to her brother who was still in deep shock. “This is your fault. You killed Mom and Dad. Because of you…”
“Tessa, stop.” Richard’s mother said from behind but the little girl didn’t answer the woman.
“I hate you! If only you didn’t leave home…If only you were at home…Mom and Dad wouldn’t have gone out that night. It is all your fault. You should have been the one who died that day. Die!”
Tina quickly rushed to Tessa and pulled her away from Robert who was now crying.
“Leave me alone!” Tessa struggled to get away from the maid so that she can attack her brother.
“Tessa, get a hold of yourself.” Richard’s mother scolded.
“Why are you all stopping me from telling him the truth? Because of him, my parents died.” Her face was reddened from anger and from the fact that she was crying. She glared hard at her brother. “From this moment, you cease to be my brother. I have no family because they all died last night. I hate you, Robert. And never you forget this, Mom and Dad died because of you.”
★FLASHBACK ENDS★
“My parents died because of me.” Robert lowered his head, tears rolling down his face. “If I didn’t leave the house that day…they wouldn’t have died in the snow. It is my fault.”
Emma was crying silently as she watched him.
He was broken and in pain.
The memories were back to torture him.
The scar in his heart was bleeding once again and she wished there was something she can do to take the pain and anguish away.
“My sister blamed me for their death and hated me afterward. Life became different and more difficult. Everyone saw me as a child who killed his parents. And they weren’t wrong.”
“Robert…” Emma called with a shaky voice, her lips quivering.
Was there a way to heal him? She wondered.
“But you know,” He paused. “Tessa wasn’t the only one who lost a parent that day… They were also my parents and I love them as much as Tessa did.”
Emma shifted closer to him and slowly reached out to touch his arm. It was her way of telling him that he wasn’t alone and that she was there for him.
Robert, on the other hand, didn’t flinch away.
It was as if he was back to that day. The very day the cops came to inform them about their parents’ death.
He could still remember the loud cries of his senior sister and her hurtful words to him.
He remembered how everyone consoled Tessa and forgot about him. However, those who noticed him only threw a scornful look at him and went away.
No one cared about his feelings and that’s because they blamed him for his parents’ death.
He blamed himself as well.
But as time went on, he stopped blaming himself. It was the only way he could continue with his life and stop living in the past.
For two years, he went to therapy because he couldn’t get his sister’s words out of his head.
Her words were like daggers that went through his body and pierced his heart, scarring him for eternity.
He might have stopped blaming himself for his parents’ death but that pain and scar were still there. He couldn’t get them away.
Maybe if he had listened to them and given up the dream of becoming a rapper, they wouldn’t have died.
By the way, Tessa didn’t become the scientist she dreamt of. She became a model. He knows for a fact that his parents would have been disappointed in her if they were still alive.
Robert cried, balling his fist as he remembered his sister’s words over and over again.
Never forget this, Mom and Dad died because of you
Emma stood up and stood between Robert’s legs, burying her fingers inside his hair.
He instantly wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face on her flat stomach.
Emma strokes his hair softly, not saying anything.
He needed silence and sometimes, people heal from the calmness of their surroundings.
Now she understood why he was in this sour mood. Now she understood why he wasn’t pleased with his sister’s appearance at his house last night.
Will he ever forgive his sister? She doesn’t have the answer to that question. But she won’t blame him if he doesn’t.
“You are not alone…” She said in a whisper, following her impulse by dropping a delicate kiss on top of his head.
•••••
Felicia stepped out of her husband’s office, adjusting her dress while walking down the hallway when she sighted her husband’s colleague, the one she met in his office an hour ago.
“Hey.” She greeted with a charming smile on her face.
Sandra raised a questioning brow.
“Hi.”
“I am Felicia Hart,” She introduced, stretching out her hand for a handshake. “Marshall’s wife.”
Sandra’s face dropped and the headache she has been having since the moment Marshall asked for a break-up increased.
“Wi…Wife?” She repeated.
“Mm-hmm. I just want to tell you to please take good care of my husband. He means the whole world to me.” Felicia attempted to walk away but Sandra stopped her.
“Wait a minute,”
“Yes?”
“Whose wife did you say you are?” She asked again.
“Marshall. Didn’t he tell you he was married?”
Sandra almost lost her balance but held herself. She can’t embarrass herself any further.
“I… Wait, aren’t you the daughter of Mr. Hart I mean, you are the sister of the director, Jersey Hart. Right?”
Felicia grinned and nodded her head.
“Yes. I know this was supposed to be a secret and no one is meant to find out about my husband’s real identity but I don’t know why I have a good feelings about you. And I’m sure you are close to my husband, right?”
Sandra blinked several times, biting her inner cheek.
‘Marshall is married and I didn’t know? I thought he loved me. I thought I was the only woman in his life. Is he breaking up with me now because he has had enough of me and is now tired of me? How dare that bastard play with my feelings?’ Sandra thought to herself.
“Uhm, that reminds me, you haven’t introduced yourself to me.” Felicia pointed out.
“I am Sandra. Sorry, but I have to go now.” Sandra quickly walked away, leaving Felicia behind.
Felicia simply shrugged off Sandra’s rude behavior and walked away.
••••
Sandra barged into Marshall’s office and saw him buckling his belt.
Books lay carelessly on the floor. It was obvious that it was knocked down on purpose.
He stopped what he was doing as soon as he noticed her.
“Sandra, what are you_”
She cut him off immediately.
“Who is Felicia Hart to you?”
TBC.