Once Upon A Stranger's Crime

IV. Invisible Strings

Mason’s POV:

I spent the next hours of existing in this earth thinking about what a mess I got myself into. First, I have a person tied up in the basement of my shop and second, I just let a female cop rent my house. How did it all come to this?

“Let me out of here, you bastard! It’s almost a day now. What are your plans for me?!” Lucius clamored beside me while being soaked with sweat, struggling to free himself from all the amount of tapes plastered in his poor body.

At the moment, the two of us are having a friendly meeting in my basement. I say it’s friendly because I am not doing anything wrong with him yet. I even gave him food and water which he generously rejected. If he died out of starvation then I would be more than willing to bury his body to my backyard without any trace.

“You can’t scare me anymore, you prick! I’m not the same Lucius you kept on making fun of when we were kids.” He explained ferociously without any intention of shutting his mouth.

I heavily sighed as I stared at the walls of my messy and dark basement. Fragments of past memories began invading my head again, causing me to zone out. Lucius’ voice faded in the background as images of familiar walls and narrow structures flashed through my mind.

“Hello?! Are you listening to me, Eric?! Damn it!” He cursed after spitting and kicking helplessly. Suddenly, I’ve got an idea.

“Listen to me…” I started grabbing the nearby vacant chair and walking towards him to level with his face.

“I…I did not do any of those that you saw in the television.” I confessed truthfully. I don’t really care if he believes me or not. I just said those words as a transition on what I am about to make him do.

“How am I supposed to believe you if I am tied up three feet below your shop?” He scoffed while maintaining a tensed eye contact with me.

I let out a knife from my pocket and showed it straight to his face. His eyes suddenly widened as I noticed him gulp down hard.

“E-Eric…” He stuttered in fear at the sight of the knife.

“Don’t you know? It’s time to pay me back.” I threatened with a smirk, reminding him of our past. Just like that, Lucius’ face snapped to becoming pale. He halted his struggle and became speechless before staring at nothingness, all drained up with his soul. Only by observing his reaction, I can recognize that he is not expressing fear nor anger anymore. He is feeling nothing but terror.

Soon enough, I slit the tape covering his body to let him free from my captivity. After he felt that his skin is making contact with the air again, he grabbed me by the collar and looked straight to my face. I frowned at his action before clenching my fists, ready to fight him.

“I will meet you up at 6 pm…in THE spot.” He concluded with an unexplainable facial expression. His voice emphasized the place that we currently both have in mind. Lucius then stood up from his seat while panting and gracefully walked away to climb up the stairs leading to the exit. I observed him with a smile as he disappears from my sight.

I bet nothing feels better in the world than knowing you are holding a person in the throat with invisible strings.

--

“Where are you now?” I dialed his phone number later that day. At around 5:50 in the afternoon, I decided to close my shop to do another business with Lucius.

“Saw you already, I am headed there now.” He replied with the same husky voice.

I ended the call before observing my surrounding as I sit here inside my car, waiting for him. The park is empty tonight, no wonder why. People are afraid to spend more time outside because of the killings in Sherwood.

As I turned my gaze to the left, I saw empty swings that are being swayed back and forth by the strong wind and empty slides that being showered with falling dry leaves from the nearby tree. I think that the screeching sound of the old metal from the swing may cause people’s hair to rise in fright of the eerie vibe it gives but not for me. I can stay the whole night in here and I would find peace. In fact, I am really hoping to see that killer to end things TONIGHT so I can finally be at peace.

“Open the door.” A muffled voice suddenly caused me to look at the direction of my car’s passenger seat. It was Lucius. Finally, he arrived in one piece. I immediately unlocked the door to let him enter.

“What took you so long?” I asked in a monotonous voice.

“Do you think what you made me get is that easy?” He complained before clasping his seatbelt.

“Well, you’re from a family of politicians. Of course, everything will be easy.” I replied straightforwardly as I looked at myself in the rear view mirror to fix my cap.

“Wow, so much for a thank you…” He shrugged his shoulder before looking at my direction.

I did the same.

“I think you’re forgetting that I can easily tear you down if I want to.” I countered, tilting my head to observe his face in detail. I imagined slicing his throat with a sharp and pointy metal to the point that it damages his jugular vein.

“No need to say that. Don’t you want to hear what I have in store for you?” He cleared his throat before avoiding gazes with me.

“Spill it.” I responded simply.

“First of all, you will have to wait a little more before you encounter that killer. Second, we will have to meet Mrs. Thomas tonight.” He started. I furrowed my eyebrows at the sound of that familiar voice yet I remained speechless.

“That’s right….Thomas family. Does the surname rang a bell? Well, they used to be your neighbors.” He added.

God damn it. I remembered now. Hillary Thomas. She was the one who saw one of my father’s personal…stuff. Although the memory is still quite blurry for me. 

“I thought they migrated out of Sherwood. Why do we need to meet her anyway?” I asked out of confusion. It seems like things are more complicated than I thought.

“Because she is the mother of one of the victims of the recent killings. The child’s name is Leon, I think. But I’m not sure.” He uttered in an interested voice. I’m still not following his trail of thoughts.

“So? What’s that have to do with me?” I argued in agitation.

“I learned that she is about to turn you in the police tonight. She has a photograph showing your face and she is ready to show them your identity.” He explained with his eyebrows still furrowed. I squinted my eyes at the sudden pounding of my heart.

“Give me the address.” I stated with a fiery demand.

--

At around 6:30 in the evening, we arrived at our destination. Hillary’s house is a little bit too much of a drive I must say. But since I am determined to finish what I started, I have no choice but to drive uncomfortably with Lucius sleeping in the passenger’s seat.

“Wake up, we’re here.” I tapped his shoulder forcefully the moment I parked at the adjacent side of the entrance of her house.

“Mmm…” He only mumbled in return before scratching the side of his neck with eyes closed.

I surveyed this familiar neighborhood for a while, turning my head side to side to observe any approaching threat. I decided to lower my window and take a close look at Hillary’s house. Suddenly, another set of bitty memories flooded my consciousness just like a rain of puzzle pieces I have no escape to.

“Is your father out again tonight?” A picture of her handing me a meal for dinner flashes out of the blue.

I nodded while sniffing. I remembered that night when I encountered her, I was crying…all alone in the entrance of our house.

“Poor child, you don’t deserve a life like this with your father….” She reasoned with a concerned look in the eye. I recalled only crying further as she enveloped me in a motherly embrace.

I sighed. Memories continued to pervasively play in my head as I stared at her house. Soon enough, another scene was remembered by my brain involuntarily. This time, it felt more tensed, dark and dreadful.

“Murderers! Your father and you are murderers!” She yelled to the whole neighborhood. I can picture Hillary’s frightful emotions right now like it was only yesterday when she accused us of being murderers.

Why would she do that, anyway?

“What the hell, Eric…Why are you staring at that house so intensely?!” Lucius’ ever-annoying voice came to disturb my mind from picturing fragmented memories.

“I thought you will not wake up anymore.” I looked at him as I shook my head from being taken back to reality where my consciousness is now more alert.

I unclasped my seatbelt before looking at myself in the rear-view mirror for the last time. As I stepped outside of my car, I spoke a serious warning sign towards Lucius.

“If you ever tried fleeing away while I am in there—“ I started but in the end, I was interrupted.

“I won’t. Go on now. I’ll wait here.” He supposed.

I nodded with an expressionless face before finally walking away from him. But as soon as my left foot started to take one step ahead, he stopped me.

“Hey Eric…” Lucius called.

I turned to him without voicing out anything.

“I knew you didn’t do the killings.” He assured. I furrowed my eyebrows at his remark. It took me a while to find the right words that will be of good reply to him. I was pinned to the ground because I didn’t expect him to say such.

“Mason…My name is Mason. I am no longer the Eric you knew.” I uttered. Without waiting for his further response, I ran towards the back door of the house. And devoiding of wasting any second, I quietly tiptoed in another person’s property to invade a stranger’s home.

--

The moment my feet made contact with the garden of Hillary’s house, I lowered my body to hide in probable witnesses present around. I just intended to peep through and look around some bedroom in the second floor quietly at first but everything changed when I found that the place is abnormally quiet.

Strange.

I checked the time from my pocket watch only to think that it is too early for the people inside to sleep. Although the lights are on inside, there seems to be no people doing chores. Immediately, I wore a pair of gloves so I would not let any trace of my fingerprint behind when things go south.

I continued walking towards the backdoor until I reached the knob. Carefully, I turned it to the right in an attempt to part the door wide enough for my body to fit in. But, to my surprise, the door isn’t locked. My heart pounded as I thought of all the things that are waiting for me inside.

What if I walked inside a trap? What if the police was already here?

Nevertheless, I took a deep breath and lowered my cap to my face and hide in the darkness. I took a step inside the cold and chilly house, hiding in one of the walls. As I blinked within a span of few seconds, I witnessed something that no normal people can take.

Laying on the floor is a woman’s body covered with her own blood, face down. I realized that it wasn’t just me and Lucius that got a tip. The killer sure knew that she was going to tell something to the authorities as well…because at a closer inspection, I realized that the dead woman is no one but Hillary. Her wrists are broken and her eyes are missing. This murderer sure knows how to mess with me.

I clenched my teeth before I stood up and walked around the house. I am careful not to touch anything that could point me out to the police. I opened the drawers in the kitchen, parted the heavy cupboards, and turned the sofa upside down in the living room but there was no photograph hidden. I am starting to lose hope when I thought that I came here for nothing.

Out of the blue, I heard a car pulling up in the front porch. Its’ headlights are on which beamed through my location. With a frowning face, I peeped in one of the windows only to see that Lauren is on the outside together with a short-haired woman. I am assuming that they came here to get that photograph.

That stupid photograph.

Adrenaline rushed down my body as I pondered that I need to hurry up. I cannot leave this place without getting that one piece of evidence that will ruin my life forever. I decided to go upstairs and enter every room to search for the presence of that picture. Without making any sound, I pulled every bedsheet and foam up to look for it. I was starting to sweat when I heard a commotion downstairs. They already discovered the dead body.

“No way…” I heard the short-haired woman expressed disappointment.

I clenched my fists before trying to search again. But as I am holding my breath, I heard footsteps from the stairs that leads to my location. I widened my eyes before pulling my last card. I walked a good distance inside the room to open one small cabinet laying in the left side of this bed and there I found an old and dusty carton box that looks like it is going to crumble anytime.

Without giving it much of a force, I lifted its lid and browse its content. Stack of old pieces of papers were found inside including dried flowers. I continued to flip the papers until sirens were heard from the outside of the house.

The moment I heard it, my sweats began feeling cold. My heart is also now beating faster than before. I quickened the pace of my browsing until I came across the bottom of the box which revealed what I exactly am looking for.

My heavy heart began beating normally again as I took the photograph and exited the house through the window. All the cops are surveying the crime scene and I took that as an opportunity to escape while still careful not to make the slightest noise.  

Luckily, the window led me to the backyard where a medium-height fence stood erect. I smiled as I hurried to climb it carelessly that I accidentally slipped on the bush.

“Damn it.” I whispered briefly out of frustration.

As I regained my balance once again, I attempted to climb the fence for the second time. But just as my left foot made contact to the rocks surrounding the fence, I heard someone speak from behind me that made me breathe heavily in silence.

“Stop right there!” A woman screamed. I widened my eyes as I tried my best to recognize the voice.

I lifted my hands up in the air without looking at her direction until I heard her lift the c**k of her gun. Several entangled thoughts filled my head for a brief second. I think that for the first time in my life, this is the only moment I felt like I didn’t know what to do.

“Eric Snyder, it’s all over now. You are under arrest.” She added calmly before taking a step further to my location.

Instantly, I felt my soul left my body. It was Lauren. My eyes only widened more and I felt my gut turn upside down the moment I heard her say my real name. She knew my name. She knew my real name.

I closed my eyes, thinking of the next step I am about to do. Hairs from all over my body started to rise. With a leap of fate, I decided to hop over the fence as quickly as possible. And by the time I am already out of the vicinity, I ran as fast as I could.

I ran for my life.

And being the most diligent cop that she is, she didn’t let me escape without any difficulty. She decided to follow me in a run.

“Stop right there or I’ll shoot you!” She yelled with a trembling voice as she continued to chase me down the empty road.

I didn’t look back. I didn’t stop running eventhough my lungs are now begging for air. My legs are starting to numb as well but I kept scurrying without a certain destination in mid. All I think about is I will not be arrested tonight for the crime I did not do.

“I said stop running!” Lauren screamed a threatening call again but that didn’t scare me. I knew she wouldn’t shoot me. She was not that kind of girl.

I am certain that I am ahead of her with a good distance. Yet, I kept running as I surveyed my surrounding for the possible hideout. The road is dark and empty, making it difficult for me to see anything. But thankfully, my gaze met a small hill in the far left side of the pavement. That might be my only chance.

“I am warning you!” Lauren shouted again.

Without wasting my time, I pivoted to the left side of the road where a hill was found. And from there, I saw a tiny hole from its side, wide enough to fit my body. And that is what I did, I hid in that tiny hole even before Lauren could catch me.

I tried my best not to pant hard so she wouldn’t hear me. From my spot, I observe her catch her breath and furrowed her eyebrows while looking desperately for me. She turned her head from left to right but she was hopeless. Lauren also placed both her hands in her waist as she tries to regain her composure.

She was tired and that is a good sign.

I leaned my head back and looked up before closing my eyes. I waited for a few seconds until I heard her sigh and finally gave up from finding me. She decided to walk away with disappointment. The moment I heard her footsteps fade to the background, I stepped out of my hiding spot.

That is when I released it all. I sat on the soil and leaned towards the nearby tree as I breathe heavily. I felt my limbs lose blood because of all the energy I exerted. I then surveyed my surrounding and I noticed that stars are filling up the dark sky above me. I realized that I was all alone in an empty hill and I just escape the end of me.

I smiled quickly before bringing out my phone from my pocket and calling Lucius.

“Pick me up here.” I stated with my eyes closed, enjoying my victory.

--

It was already dawn when I arrived back at my shop. Lucius and I changed clothes and cars after the incident just to be safe. I also took a peek in the photograph I got from Hillary’s house and I informed him of the horrible death of her.

He dropped me off quite far from my house so I can pretend that I just came from a morning jog. I wore a pair of tracksuit and a pair of white rubber shoes to complete my look. I finished my cover up by wearing earphones and running slowly to my front yard, making sure that the CCTV caught me. I pretended to pant, wipe my sweat, and drink from my water bottle as well.

When I was already sure that I was able to secure the footage, I walked slowly to my front door and to my surprise, Lauren is there….sitting in one plight of my short stairs.

I got abruptly nervous until I realized that she is crying. She is covering her face with both her palms and she is still in her clothes from last night. Dirt is all over her coat and shoes.

I decided to sit beside her and pretend that I didn’t know anything.

“You will feel better.” I uttered without looking at her face.

I can say that she was startled by my action since she flinched before facing me and wiping her tears away. She also cleared her throat before speaking.

“Oh, I’m so sorry about this…I just…” She said shyly.

“I noticed that for a cop, you are quite easily startled.” I attempted to joke to lighten up her mood.

I can say that my effort bore fruit as I saw her laugh briefly.

“Here, take this…” I said, offering her my handkerchief.

Her head slowly directed to my palm before looking up at my face, gazing directly through my eyes. This is the first time that I saw a human being expressed this kind of facial emotion so I couldn’t recognize how she is feeling right now. Her facial expression is quite difficult to describe.

Her cheeks are reddening and her mouth suddenly parted before gulping down.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to offend you.” I muttered with a guess that I offended her. But she was quick to dismiss me.

“No, you didn’t offend me…” She reasoned, shaking her head back and forth.

The next thing that happened, happened so quick. As fast as a blinking eye, Lauren leaned forward to my face with her eyes closed, letting her lips make contact with mine. Her action sent all the blood in my body to rush up my face.

After our face parted, she smiled briefly and I looked at her intently as I became speechless. My head went blank. I was immersed through her eyes, trying to recognize what she feels right now but I failed. And just like that, I completely forgot everything that happened that lead us through this very moment.

Out of all the noisy questions dancing inside my mind, two problems truly stood out. First, why does her kiss made me feel…happy? And second, why do I have to be Eric Snyder that just escaped her from that long and exhausting night?