A MURDER TO SHARE
EPISODE 2
The next morning after a long night, I was woken by sweet coffee and some biscuits. Rufus always makes me morning coffee that has become a ritual. I gently sip from my cup, my black silky hair still packed in a bonnet. I am esthetically pleased by my husband's romantic gestures to me.
He never seems to stop showing everyday how much he loves me.
Five minutes later, the maid of last night came with two beautiful dresses for me to choose from. One of the dresses had flowers embedded on it, the other was plain yet had some kind of texture on it..
“ Which do you like?”.
She places them before me, smiling too much.
“ I …. I'll take this “.
I instinctively grabbed the one with the flower.
“ Okay, I'll take this back”.
She nods once and leaves.
Why this dress?
I take my time in making myself beautiful and pleasing to the eyes of my husband and people who might be with him.
I navigate my steps to the sitting room and unknowingly welcome too many eyes on me.
“ My beautiful wife “.
“…. Mrs Edwards “..
Rufus grabs the tail of my dress, bringing me closer to the guests at home. Everyone there would not stop staring at me. Their eyes ogled at me, from the hair on my head , the necklace and the shoes on my feet.
“Congratulations, I'm Mrs Susan”.
An old lady from the crowd stepped forward. She looks at my husband and Rufus lowers his head like a lab rat.
Who's she?
“Thanks, Grandma”.
Rufus head slowly raise
She's his grandmother.
I am being asked by her to hold my husband's hand and walk toward the people seated next to the window. I don't necessarily do well with old people, however, I still obey and walk together with the man I married..
“ Your wife is so beautiful”.
The old ladies would not stop their excessive complements.
Rufus' cheeks were stretched out by those old ladies till they were soon starting to become like their own.
“ Sarah, go to the kitchen and get me something to drink”.
Grandmother sends me alone. Rufus has his attention occupied by the guests in the house.
I enter the kitchen and approach the refrigerator working. Cool air penetrating through air vents, even as I came nearer.
I pull the refrigerator door open and take out the cold jar of water from inside. I equally pick a glass cup, slowly pouring in the water.
I hear laughter all of the way from the kitchen. Rufus seems to be having a good time without me, his wife..
I finished pouring the water and placed them on a tray. I take deep and heavy breaths as I slowly navigate closer to the exit. On my way out, Daniel all of a sudden appeared. His eyes are full of despair and evil intentions.
Kill the bastard already
“ Oh! Good morning to you, Sarah”.
I said, a cold smile on his face..
“ Hello, brother-in-law”.
I equally smile back, and curve a little to walk out of the kitchen from the small space he left.
“erm….. Sarah?”. I hear him call my name. Each pause made me remember what happened that very night.
Kill him!
“ May I help you?”. I said, putting on a fake smile. The cold water grandmother asked me to get is slowly getting hot.
“ You look familiar?”
“….. perhaps, have we met before?”.
He presses his hand on his face.
Yes, we have met before..
“No, I don't think so”.
I firmly held the tray, smiled faintly and left.
I offer my grandmother a glass of water. She's displeased, by the fact that the water wasn't cold any longer.
Rufus agrees to get her a new cup.
But she refuses and eventually drinks from the same cup she complained about..
Such an annoying old lady
After making sure we were not needed by his grandmother, mother and brother. Rufus leads me back to the room. He apologizes on his family behalf, promising to take me farther away from everyone as soon as possible..
“ Don't worry, I'll take care of you”
Rufus said, promising me.
“ I know”
“…. I trust you “. I responded back.
He is utterly shocked. He must not have expected me to utter such a response back.
The cold air from the window makes the atmosphere less choked. Rufus goes over and shuts the window, locking it with the tiny bolt from inside.
I calmly sat on the bed, my cold hands and body covered by the expensive duvet on top.
“ Guess what?”.
He asked me, sitting next to me on the bed..
“ What?”.
I turn, grinning carefully..
“ I have a surprise for you…”
“ Can you follow me?”.
“….. come with me “.
He extended his hand out, I took it and we went outside of his parents mansion together..
Rufus brings me to a greenhouse. Everywhere is full of flowers, red , bloodish flowers everywhere..
I never told Rufus I liked every flower before, how then did he know?
“Baby, I never told you I liked roses?”
“…. How then did you know?”.
I smile and cautiously withdraw my steps.
“Oh! I didn't know”
“…. It was Daniel that suggested I do something romantic for you”.
“Do you like it?”.
Rufus, my unsuspecting husband asked me.
Wait! If Daniel asked his brother to give me an entire greenhouse, does this mean he recognises me from that night?
“ I…. Don't know what to say” I tell him.
“ Oh! Just wait here”
“…. More surprises “.
He rushes out of the greenhouse.
I continued waiting for my husband. Maybe he has more surprises for me. An hour passes and Rufus has returned. I get worried and decide to leave there.
I turned casually walking through the uncomfortable flowers planted with love yet some hidden ill intentions from my own brother-in-law..
I grabbed the door and was about to leave, when Daniel walked inside. He grins with so much evil intention on his countenance.
“You! What do you want?”.
I pulled my steps back until there was not any chance left for me..
“Hi….. Sarah?”.
“….. Miss me?”
He waves, two fingers crammed together..
Kill him now!!
I seized the shovel behind me, planning to use it as a weapon if need be.
“ What do you want, Daniel?”
“….. and where's your brother?”. I look straight at the door, anxiously anticipating his return.
“ Sarah? You really don't remember me?”..
“……impossible “. He laughs hysterically.
That same chuckle
I remember everything
My memories are fresh and the wounds are still hunting me till now
“Please leave, my husband is on his way back”. I grope the shovel tighter, still planning on using it on him..
“ Your husband?”.
“ My younger brother has gone to fetch you something romantic from a far”
“…… won't be coming back anytime soon “. He says, graining so happily..
Use the shovel, what are you waiting for?
“ Really?”.
I aim the shovel at his face.
“ Go away or else!!”.
“ Or else what?”.
“ Sarah?”.
He takes a bold step closer to me..
Despite threatening him he doesn't flinch.
No single fear at all. Perhaps, does he feel I wouldn't actually use the shovel on him?
“ Don't take any steps closer “.
I threaten him again.
But Daniel takes a bolder step and soon snatches the shovel away, tossing the heavy farm equipment on the ground .
Without permission, he clipped me by the waist and pulled me forward. He's hands reminded me of that unfortunate nightmare, I can't possibly ignore
“ Awwn, It feels like everything happened yesterday”.
He teases about that very dark night, laughing so carefully, I realised he harbours no remorse..
“ Really?”
“….. do you realise, I am your brother's wife?”. I ask him. ..
“ My brother's wife?”
“ Does it matter?”.
“ I had you once, before him”
“ Shouldn't it happen again?”.
He shamelessly says to me.
I was instantly triggered by his stupid comment and quickly used my head to hit his own, breaking his mouth in the process.
Daniel falls to the ground. I had to seize his moment of weakness as an opportunity to run to safety.
I bump into Rufus on my way to the room.
“ Hey, What's wrong?”
He took a look around, and confirmed I wasn't being chased by anyone..
Your brother
Daniel groped me without permission
I told my husband nothing and calmly asked if we could go back to our bedroom. Rufus, still innocent, nodded his head and we both navigated to our room without getting lost in such a massive and gigantic house..