Frozen in Time - Radia Al Rashid (best book club books .txt) 📗

my throat.

“OMG! Shame on you. Why would we believe something that a murderer has to say after brutally killing an innocent girl? Why would you even do that? Is that because you are into her handsome boyfriend? What are you? A psychotic teenager?” she scorns.

“What the hell are you talking about? I didn’t kill her, trust me! someone else tried to frame the whole thing.” My head keeps throbbing.

“Enough with your itsy-bitsy lies! O God! Leave her, Angie. I can see now what Anna told us earlier, remember?” another girl chimes in.

“Hell yeah! Girl, get ready to be dragged down to the inquisition. There, nobody will give a damn about your made-up little stories.” they leave me utterly devastated and miserable. God! why? You know it for sure, I didn’t do it! I feel more helpless than ever before. The moments Julia had her accident or mom and dad died are seeming to be much lighter than the present disaster. I don’t want to rot in the prison for Anna’s vengeance. I am innocent for God’s sake! I am almost entirely outside my consciousness when a black car halts in front of me. I mechanically go ahead and get in the car. I sit there totally lifeless for a couple of minutes before my phone starts ringing.

“Hello!”

“Ma’am your uber is at your location.”

“What? I’m already...” my words trail off. I look up and find a masked guy sitting next to me. “Welcome home, sweetheart!” he wraps a bandana around my mouth which seems to make me unconscious…for real.

Chapter Sixteen

 

Richard’s POV

I still cannot believe Melissa is gone. I mean, how did it even happen? I haven’t found anything wrong going with her at the party except for her sudden outbreak about Evelyn. My head weighs thousand pounds heavier as I keep thinking about the last couple of hours over and over again.

“Hey, Ted! You okay there, buddy?” Aron sits beside me.

“No! how would I be okay after all this?”

“This is insane! I mean, why did Evelyn do something like that?”

“Evelyn? It’s not her, Aron. I’m saying it for the millionth time now. it cannot be Evelyn.” I can feel my voice becomes a little shrill.

“Then who? It was her bracelet we found there covered with blood. Melissa’s blood.”

“So? Does that explain it all? Come on, I know someone else is behind all this to just frame her as the murderer.” I grit my teeth.

“Why are you so sure of it? Most importantly, your girlfriend just died and you’re here covering for some ex-love interest?” he sounds surprised.

“Nope! I’m not covering for anyone here, Aron. I’m simply stating the truth. How am I supposed to react to my girlfriend’s death? Should I cry like a kid to prove my love for her?”

“God! you’re misunderstanding me, Ted. I didn’t mean it like that. Besides, everyone including the police is suspecting Evelyn the most at this point. I mean, that’s the only clue we’ve got.”

“I believe they will investigate the truth. Mark my words.” I utter slowly.

“I hope so too. But before that, they’ll bring her under the inquisition, right?”

“Hm, I guess you shouldn’t have invited Evelyn to the party.”

“Why not? She’s my colleague and I’ve invited all from the office.”

“But Annabelle Gaston was there.” I suddenly snap at him.

“I didn’t know she’d be there. Come on, Richard, she’s my sister’s guest. How could I say otherwise even if I knew?”

“You don’t understand. She’s really dangerous and can do anything to quench her vengeance.

“I’m sorry I…”

“It’s fine dude. Not your fault.” I feel sick in my stomach. This is insane. All of it.

“Are you not gonna go home? I guess, all the paper works are done.”

“I will. You go ahead, I can drive home.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. I’ll have to meet Evelyn at her apartment before going to my place.”

“What? Why?”

“I need to know everything that happened at the party. I saw Anna talking to her. It must have some connection with the conversation.”

“But Richard, she’s the number one suspect now. you’re gonna step into a big trouble if you meet her.”

“Then be it. I don’t care.” I know I’m being stubborn to death as usual but I must help Evelyn at this. She looked real sick back there and I’m genuinely concerned for her right now.

“Cool! I’ll go with you then.”

“No, it’s not necessary for you to go.”

“When I said I will, I actually will.”

“Argh! okay. Let’s go.”

“I don’t want to sound like a mean person but do you think Evelyn was having her old symptoms back there at the party?” Aron suddenly throws the question at me.

“Why do you ask?” I keep my eyes steady on the road.

“I saw her going really pale and sort of sick. She was constantly shaking her right hand maybe because something was wrong. I don’t know, I’m saying it because...”

“Because you think she killed Melissa while being in that phase, am I correct?” I calmly cut him short.

“I’m sorry but don’t you think it can be a possibility?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Evelyn will never kill anyone to begin with. Besides, even in her unconscious episodes, she’d think twice to scar a person with her own bracelet. It is a fricking plot.”

“Whatever you say, dude.” Aron doesn’t sound so convinced but I know for sure, it’s not Evelyn who killed Mel. It has to be someone else.

It’s been half an hour we are standing in front of Eve’s apartment. Not a single sound is heard from inside.

“Do you think she’s deliberately hiding from us?” Aron sounds like a stupid kid to me at this point.

“I think she hasn’t arrived home yet.” I clench my jaw.

“You called her, right?”

“Uh-huh! It’s switched off. Wait, why don’t I call Sarah? She must know something.” The idea suddenly pops up in my mind.

“Only if Evelyn said her anything.” Aron shrugs and I choose to ignore him completely.

“Hello! Sarah, it’s Richard.”

“H-hey! What’s up?” she sounds as shocked as a kid first experiencing the unpleasant consequence of falling down.

“I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour.” I look at the watch, it’s 11 pm.

“No worries, what happened? Is it anything regarding Eve? Is she okay?”

“I don’t know!” I let out a deep sigh feeling really exhausted. Mel is dead! Goddamnit! I still can’t process it properly.

“What? You don’t know what?”

“Sarah, did Evelyn contact you today?”

“Yeah! She sent me a text around two hours back saying that she has a very important thing to share. She’d call me as soon as she got home.”

“Did she call?”

“I would tell you if she did.”

“Right! Did you call her?”

“No! I didn’t get the chance to. I’m kinda sinking in a huge pile of work. What happened, Richard?”

“She isn’t picking up the call and she doesn’t seem to be at home.”

“What? What are you talking about?” she sounds anxious.

“Uh-huh. I’m a bit concerned now.” I see a neighbor heading towards the elevator.

“Sarah, just a minute.” I call out to the guy, “Hey! Excuse me.”

“Hey!” he turns to me with a bit annoyance on his face.

“I’m sorry to disturb but did you see Evelyn, I mean your neighbor coming home tonight?”

“I saw her going somewhere in quite a fancy dress but nope, haven’t seen her returning. I’ve been in my apartment all evening today. As her door makes a huge noise while opening it, it is easier for me to know she’s home even if I don’t want to.” He shrugs.

“So, you’re saying you haven’t heard that door noise yet?”

“Nope!”

“Fuck!” I mutter mindlessly.

“Who are you?”

“A friend. Anyway, thanks a lot for your information.” I give him a tight smile.

“Hey, Sarah.”

“O my God! Richard! where the hell did she go?” she literally cries out.

“I have no idea. Um, I guess let me think what I can do. I’ll get back to you later.”

“Wait! Why do you look for her now? Did something happen?”

“A lot happened but I’m not in the state to explain everything right now. later, okay?”

“Sure. Please, let me know if you find her. I’m also seeing what I can do from here.”

“Sure. Bye.”

“What are you going to do now?” Aron looks tensed.

“Inform the police.”

“Really? Don’t forget she’s already a suspect for Melissa’s murder.”

“I’m not forgetting anything. I believe there’s not much connection between Mel’s murder and Eve’s kidnap.”

“How are you being so sure that she’s been kidnapped? What if she just ran away from the crime spot?”

“What is wrong with you, dude? You worked with this person and yeah, you also went on a DATE with her. Couldn’t you understand what sort of a person Evelyn is? I’m swearing to God she can never hurt anyone let alone murdering. If you think otherwise, fine, you can leave. Let me do my part without any more stupid interruptions.” I tighten my fists.

“Woah! I’m sorry bro. I didn’t mean to be mean. It’s just, well it’s too apparent... anyway, I’m sorry for my doubtful questions.”

“I’m going to the Police now. if you want, you can come or I’d suggest you to go home now.”

“I’m coming.” He calmly says before following my footsteps.

 

Chapter Seventeen

 

Evelyn’s POV

I open my eyes in an almost darkened room. I squint to make sense of what’s going on around me when my head begins to throb. An indistinct yelp comes out of my mouth. I feel extremely weak in my bones to get up to sit straight. Suddenly, my hand gets hit against something like human skin beside me. I practically start screaming in fear and suspicion.

“Ah, what is it? Are you new here?” a weak voice asks in reply to my shrill scream.

“Who is it? Why are you here? Why do you ask? Where am I?” I gulp.

“Are you another Julia?” I can almost see the girl’s face with the thin ray of light coming through the dusty window. She looks like a walking dead with countless scars on her face and arms. The insidious vibe on her appearance is accentuated by the protruding bones and her extremely skinny figure.

I can feel the corner of my eyes becoming moistened with the threat of tears. I swallow the lump in my throat, “What do you mean?”

“I just asked you if you were another Julia or not.” Her voice lacks the minimum strength.

“No! I’m Evelyn.” I reply in trembling voice.

“So, why are you here?” another voice startles me which seems to be coming from the opposite end of the room.

“I don’t know. What is this place? How many of you are here?”

“Five.” Says the first girl.

“O my God! why are you here? Who brought us here?” I start crying.

“Because our name is