‘Should we leave it until the others get here? We might destroy evidence if she’s been taken.’
‘I’ll take a different route. Stay there, there’s no need for both of us to look but I have to make sure she’s not here.’ She yelped as her ankle caught the spine of a bramble.
‘Be careful, guv.’
She took a few more steps forward, flashing her phone in front of her. Inhaling almost hurt as it was so cold and the hum of traffic was making it difficult to hear. A twig cracked. Glancing across she saw a fox turning to run away. With her pulse running through her head, she took a few more steps forward. It was hopeless. He’d chased her and caught her and now she was gone, just like Amber. Sighing, she glanced around one more time. Left, right, even above, then ahead. A glint of something sparkled back.
Taking a step closer, Gina could see a finger with a ring on it. Running over, Gina kneeled over and peered behind the tree. That’s when she spotted the unconscious girl. Blood ran down her face, meandering over her cheeks and settling into the groove of her neck. Gina felt for a pulse. ‘Madison… Madison. Wake up.’ There was no response. The pulse was faint. ‘Jacob, get a medic here now. I’ve found her but she’s unconscious.’
‘On it, guv.’ In the distance, she heard the gravel under his feet shifting as he headed back to the hospital.
Gina placed the back of her hand on the girl’s arm and it made her shiver. It was like one of the bodies they keep refrigerated. A small flurry of rain began to fall.
Gina removed her coat. As her teeth chattered, she placed it over Madison and began talking to her gently. ‘Madison, you’re safe now. Help is on its way.’ She shone her phone over the girl’s face. She shuddered as she saw how much she looked like Amber – and she shuddered even more when she saw the raging, bloody wound on her head.
A rustling could be heard and the girl made an incoherent sound.
‘Madison.’
It was no good, however hard Gina listened, Madison wasn’t making any sense.
A man in a blue tunic pushed forward, followed by another. ‘We really need you to get back so that we can treat her.’ She stepped out of the way, stomach churning as she saw how bad the head wound was. Rushing out, she met Jacob back on tarmac. ‘I don’t know if she’s going to make it. She’s covered in blood and her breathing is shallow.’
30
That bitch got me good and proper. Damn! The kitchen door shudders as I slam my fist into it. Reaching down, I stroke my tender crotch and wince. The mission had to be aborted. It forced the wind out of my sails and now I’m here, pants around my ankles, trying to sooth my pain away.
‘I told you not to go, not to leave me.’You stand there, a smug look spread across your face. You’re relishing the fact that I got hurt.
‘Just piss off, will you?’
You shake your head, knowing that you have no intention of ever leaving me but when I finally find your replacement, you’ll have to go.
I hobble to the record player and set the needle on the soothing record that neither of us will talk over. A tear slips down your cheek, that smug smile now gone. I know you don’t want me to do the things I do but I miss us and I need to recapture that feeling. The moment I saw Amber, I thought she would be the perfect replacement and that ignited something in me. Even the way she placed her hair behind her ears was identical to how you do it.
‘You enjoyed what you did to Amber, didn’t you? You’re sick.’
‘Shut up!’ I pull my black boot from my foot, struggling as it’s such a tight fit. In a fit of fluster, I fling it at you but all it does is create another dent in the door. I rock back and forth taking in the song and then it ends. It’s finished and the bungalow is silent. The chair is empty and I am alone. I am hollow and I don’t deserve to be hollow.
I grab my phone and glance at the app again. I need to fill my life with purpose. Amber didn’t work out; Madison turned out to be a disappointment and she paid for that.
‘I promised I would find another you to make my life complete and this time, I’m sure I’ve found her.’ I gaze at the profile. Police or not. She’s the one.
I send a message, not wasting any time. The whole night doesn’t have to be a write-off yet. I followed her home earlier while Madison was in the hospital so all I have to do is be patient. When I came back and Madison’s car was still there, my night was made. I have been a busy boy but that’s far better than sitting idle, as my mother would say. At the back of my mind, I knew I had to have a backup plan. The pain in my crotch is starting to ease so I stand and walk around a little.
I learned one lesson tonight. They fight back, which means from now on I take no chances. Strike quickly. I grab my coat and head to the door.
You walk into view from the darkness at the end of the hall and you begin to sing our song as you cry. Tears spill from your eyes and you can’t get beyond the first line. As your voice cracks, you step back, falling back into the darkness. I can’t see you now but you’re always there. You never leave me.
My phone beeps. It’s a message and she’s interested but I don’t think I can wait until her proposed date night, a week from now. I know she’s a busy woman but that’s too long. I need her now. Maybe this is fate playing out. Madison was never meant to be but this one who works for the police, she’s the closest match so far. Our eyes met. That had to be a sign. The more I think of her, the more I can’t get her out of my head. There’s a void in my life. Since Amber, there is no going back in my quest to find the right one and when she is presented to you on a platter, you know it’s time to act.
I punch the wall and my fingers crack. That’s how hard it has to be when I strike them dumb. No walking stick or sick hedgehogs. Such a scenario won’t work on this woman and I want her. No, it’s more than that, I need her and I will have her.
One last message, play it cool.
I’d love to meet up! Wow, we have so much in common. :)
We don’t but we soon will. I will help you to emerge out of the chrysalis and become the butterfly that I need you to be. We’ll have each other. I glance back at the chair, the one with all the binds and plastic covering, ready to receive another woman for conversion. Maybe I should call myself Dr Frankenstein. I’m no scientist but I will work on my creation until it’s perfect and if that means breaking her down totally so that I can rebuild her, then so be it.
