Chapter 8: Degradation

Past

The phone in the living room rang early that morning. Robertz hastily lift the receiver to his ear and a man spoke in a rather hesitant voice, "Mr Robertz Hills?"

Robertz confirmed that it was him indeed. "This is Greenday Asylum here. Your wife has awakened from the subconsciousness. She is completely fine. Are you sure that we must keep her here itself? She is....err how to say, frustrated and angry?"

Robertz said without any emotion, "Yes keep her. I will reward you soon. From now on, call me on my cell number."

"Morning dad. I'm starving! Where's mom? I can't find her anywhere!" Jake asked as he leisurely walked down the stairs.

Robertz shrugged, trying to look as puzzle as his son. "I was about to ask you the same thing."

Robertz turned on the television as he wanted to specially see the morning news that day. He exclaimed as the newscaster was passing some images of a car accident, "My God! Jake, look at the number plate of that car."

Jake observed it, frustrated that his mother has gone out. "Yes, so what?"

Robertz had expected this news. He had dreamt to hear that since so long. "It's Andrew's car plate. My friend! I've got to go Jake."

"What about mom? She never goes anywhere without telling you or me."

Robertz shouted, "My friend died and you are calm like that?"

Jake grunted, "How can you be sure? Anyway, go! I won't bother you. By the way dad, I'm borrowing your stapler."

Robertz went outside, hoping that Jake would find the document he had written in the name of his wife. He had to explain her disappearance and that would do the job.

Jake ventured near the fridge and took out some juice that was left in the jar and gulped down everything. He walked to his father's study to get himself a stapler he needed, to secure some of his files when he saw the screen of the computer on. He approached closer and stared at the document that was displayed.

To: Robertz

Robertz, I know I have been quite evasive these times but I have to tell you something. I have not been honest with you. I'm seeing another man who can satisfy my desires as a woman and who has time for me rather than being absorbed in work. Don't be angry but I'm leaving you. Understand me. I still love you but more like a friend than a husband. And please, don't tell Jake anything about this. He will be broken. To compensate for my lie, tell him that my sister urgently needs me and that I've taken a flight to go to her.

From: Elena Houston

"What the bloody hell?!" Jake could not believe what he read. He re-read it and his eyes became as dark as it had never been before. That's why his father was avoiding his mother's talk. He could not believe his mother who had been the gentlest and most kind person he had ever known to have done something so evil. He would never believe it but the truth was right in front of his eyes.

Elena had awakened with a heavy headache. She remembered instantly what had happened last night. She hoped the Millers were still alive. Her husband was mad to want to kill them. She had never even thought that he could do something like that. But something was wrong with her surrounding and her nightdress. She was wearing an ugly blue hospital dress and then she noticed a man in front of her.

She angrily asked, "Who are you and what do you want? Where is Robertz?"

She walked to him and stopped right in front of him fae to face. "Mrs Hills, we are in Greenday Asylum and we were ordered by your husband to keep you here until things calm down."

"Are you insane or what? I'm not mad to be here! I want to talk to Robertz. Give me back my clothes."

The man retrieved back, "We will take care of you." Before Elena could reach him, the door was closed and it was locked. She was frustrated. They made her a prisoner in that mental asylum. She looked around her...no windows only one door and that too, locked. She felt suffocated. How long would they keep her there? She was enclosed with madness.

Present...

"It was a pleasure meeting you, sir." Victoria had chatted for a while with Robertz.

He had asked her about her parents, her house and other personal things while they had toured the whole building. Jake Hills had been so-called too busy to assist her in her induction training. But what did she care? If she did not know well, she would have said that Robertz was a calm, polite and a nice man but she knew who he was. A murderer. Now she knew all the weak and strong spots of his business. She would make her possible to make this flourishing business perish along with its actual fake owner.

She walked out of the building and waited at the side of the road for a taxi. At this late hour, would she get one? Five frustrating minutes passed by and no sign of a transport and the bus stop was too far to reach by foot. "You'll not get any taxi at this hour, ma'am."

Victoria looked at the guard and sighed, "Fine. Thank you."

A walk would do no harm. She clutched her handbag and strolled on the pavement. It was really dark and she wanted to reach the warmth of her new apartment. The thought of a hot coffee motivated her to walk faster. She was shaken out of her dream when a loud horn sounded behind her. She slowed down her pace and a black Maserati stopped right beside her.

"Get in!"

She stared at him for his prompt invitation and dryly said, "I'll rather walk, Mr Hills. Thank you."

She would not accept anything from the son of her enemy. Jake pouted. He watched her as she continued her way. The foolish woman! Who would walk alone on dangerous roads like that? But most important, was she dumb or what? Women would fight to be in her place, right now. He lightly pressed the accelerator so as to catch up with her. He got down, seized her hand and pulled her to the other side of the car.

She was shouting, "Let me go, you savage. I said I want to walk!" He opened his door, shoved her in and slammed the door on her face. Before she could react in any way, he hastily walked got back to his place and asked as he started the car with a roar, "Where do you live? It's dangerous here on these streets. You should not walk alone."

She protested with a gleam of determination, "I can protect myself."

He sarcastically responded, "Don't make me laugh. Wear your seatbelt." She firmly clutched the seatbelt around her, putting all her frustration.

Jake managed to steal a glance of her. So beautiful and yet so mysterious. He knew nothing about her and yet there was this urge. This urge to know all about her. Her eyes were stubbornly stuck on the window glass. Why don't you look at me, Kate? At that instance, she indeed turned to look at him but what she said made him disappointed, "Mr Hills, stop the car. We've reached!"

He forced himself to focus on the road. He was surprised as he observed that desert street, "Victoria, there are no houses here!"

She softly replied, "I know. I'll walk from here."

He grumbled and pressed hard on the accelerator, "No, are you mad or what? There are so many drunkard and beggar around here. You are so stupid. We're stopping in front of your house and that's final. Where do we go now? " She frowned hard. How could she let that arrogant enemy know where she lived? She eyed the handbrake on which Jake's hand rested. She gently placed her hand on his. The contact was soft. It instantly provoked a strange agitation inside him.

He stared at her, confused and surprised. "Victoria..." He wanted to hold her at that moment, return that cruel caress.

"Mr Hills, thank you for the lift." She applied pressure on his hand and this engendered the handbrake to bend down. The car halted with a screeching sound. Victoria hastily unclutched her seatbelt, opened the door and waved to him, "I'll walk from here. Thank you."

"Kate, come back here!" She was already distancing herself from him. He was hesitant to let her go in this darkness. Was she not afraid of being attacked by a drunkard? How did that matter to him anyway? Good riddance. He had simply been a real gentleman for once and given her a lift. He watched her till she disappeared at a corner.

Victoria turned around a corner and wondered which way to go. The damn man! Couldn't he stop where she had asked him to but no, he had to continue to drive. She would call Finn and asked him the directions. She fetched her mobile from her handbag and dialled his number. As the call connected, she asked, "Finn! You won't believe me, I'm lost!"

Finn Hyland sighed as he heard her. He was not surprised though. "Victoria, how many times should I tell you to be careful when you go to a new place? Anyway tell me what you see around you." Victoria revolved on herself and saw an indication panel just above her. She read it and said, "Gordeon Street and my apartment is in Farquhar Street."

"Good. You continue along Gordeon and you turn left, then right, continue straight till you come to a second road to your right and you'll be just fine, sweetie."

"Thanks Finn. What will I do without you?"

Abruptly someone violently covered his hand on her mouth and began to drag her behind. She let go of the phone and it felt in dry mud with a thump. A sharp blade glistened in the moonlight in front of her eyes and she sensed a slight pressure in her throat. A man brusquely whispered, "Your cash! Where is your money?"

He had already slid one hand in her handbag as he held the knife before her. Victoria gave him a kick in the stomach with her elbow, snatched the knife from his hand and as he leant to punch her, she went down, avoiding the blow and traced a semi circle in the air with her leg, knocking him on the jaw. She frowned as he felt down against the wall. As she approached closer, the man begged, "Please, I beg you. Spare me."

The knife was still in her hand. She threw it far away and said, "Next time you do this, you're dead!" She picked up her muddied phone and walked away as if nothing happened. Finn was still on the line and his voice held panic, "Kate, are you alright? Kate, answer me!"

She responded, "Why would I not be alright? I'm just walking."

Finn was annoyed, "You were fighting right now, huh?"

She laughed, "Of course not Finn. But that beggar irritated me and I just told him to go away. I did not fight."

"Such a liar, Kate. Okay, I'll hang. Take some rests."

"Say hello to Rosabella on my behalf. Bye."