Ch23
Oh, my gosh! This is the worst situation! I have to run away from Sara as soon as possible. One of the lessons I learned in school when I was young was, when we gain something unrighteous, we have to deal with the consequences. However, I never expected that something would actually happen to me three days before I die.
Did Boldo lie to me or did something go wrong during my ritual? It did not seem like he was lying, Is this my nightmare? But it wasn’t a dream. I am panicking, I am totally screwed. ‘What should I do now? I need to find Boldo as soon as possible!
-R-
Robert woke up early in the morning. He could not sleep much even though he went to bed late. He drove outside of the city. He did not know where he was going, but he couldn’t just sit in his house. Cool air came through the car window. After driving, he bought a cold soda and an energy drink at the 7/11 near his house and sat down on the bench. He breathed deeply, the morning air was fresh. He saw small birds on the ground. He checked his phone and read his text message from Sara.
-Good morning. Come and eat some breakfast.
I think she feels a lot better today. Robert had to take care of Sara yesterday. He figured walking around the river made her sick. However, in spite of his worrying, taking care of her was more meaningful to him than just dating her. He sat there and watched passing cars and people for a while.
“Alright. I am leaving. Have a good day guys.” Michelle said while she was leaving the door. Sara looked at Robert and asked.
“So, what do you want to do today?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Do you want to go somewhere, or do something, or eat something?”
“Well, I don’t know. What do you think?” Robert really did not know what he wanted to do for next two days except for spend time with Sara.
“Let’s eat lunch outside. I told you that I am buying you lunch. Michelle told me about a great place, and I also want to print some pictures that we took together.”
“Are you going to be ok?”
“Yes. I am feeling fine today.”
“Ok, then. Let’s do that.”
When he came out of Sara’s house after breakfast, the day was already very bright, and the weather started heating up. He saw his neighbors mowing the lawn and reading books under the shade.
I need to enjoy what time I have left as much as I can. That’s what I need to do. Robert made his mind up and went back home. His house was quiet. Boldo promised him that he would contact Sara instead of him. After Robert said goodbye, the next morning, he was going to write letters that he would send to Sara in the future, and also write letters to his family containing his will, he decided to finish his life at home. After that, Boldo will call 911 anonymously about Robert’s death. He sat down on the couch and thought about his past and how he was living a dead life, but changed and was happy at the end of his life. He felt alive during the last couple months.
“Yeah. This is good. My life was worth it.” He comforted himself.
Michelle told Sara the restaurant was called “Beaver Island.” It was made of big logs like a beaver’s nest. It was located on the second floor above the music shop. Many people came, even on weekdays.
“This place is nice.” Sara said while she was walking up the stairs. It was also made of wood.
“Yeah, it is.”
Sara looked at Robert. She put her right hand on Robert’s neck and asked.
“You seem tired. What time did you go to bed?”
“I don’t remember.”
“What? How come?”
“I am not sure. I fell asleep after 4 am.”
“What were you doing up that late?”
“I just couldn’t sleep.”
Robert opened the door for Sara. They could see logs inside of the restaurant, too.
“Would you like to order?” The waiter asked after they sat down on the table.
“I will have the Beaver original set.”
“I will have the same one.” Robert ordered it without looking at the menu.
Robert looked at Sara.
“You look really pretty today.”
“Thanks.” Sara giggled.
Sara told Robert what they would do that day, and showed Robert pictures. Robert could listen to her well no matter how tired he was.
John parked near Robert’s house. He knew something was wrong with his father and he investigated. He did not have a cousin named Joe. He actually had not even contacted any of his cousins for very long time. He thought it was weird how Robert only used e-mails, and sent his mother a text. When John checked Robert’s credit card usages, he only had been using his card near in town even during when John was told that Robert was outside of the country.
Something has happened to dad and the people in his house are hiding something. As a cop, John followed his instincts. He knocked on the door, but no one came out. When he turned the door knob, it opened.
“Hello? Is anybody here?”
It seemed like there was no one in the house. He looked around the living room and the kitchen. It was very clean. It made him even more suspicious. When he visited Robert before, it was quite a mess. John came back when he saw Robert drunk and sleeping. John slowly walked up to Robert’s room on the second floor.
“When I looked into my closet, I had many clothes that I didn’t wear, but I forgot about those and then I went shopping, bought something I really liked, and then I came back home. When I opened my closet, I realized that I already have clothes that look exactly the same.” Sara said.
“That’s why you need to organize.”
“It’s not that I don’t organize. For some reason, I feel comfortable wearing certain types of clothes, and keep wearing only those.”
“Well-if you organize more often, it won’t happen again.”
“Whatever~ it’s not like that.”
Sara made playfully upset face.
“That’s cute.” Robert laughed and took a picture of her.
John opened Robert’s room carefully. The room was not as clean as the living room, and it was very unnatural. It seemed like Robert’s stuff was still there, but there were also young men’s clothes all around, and some of them were still brand new. John saw many receipts on the floor. He saw an old wallet in the corner of the desk inside was Robert’s ID and drivers’ license.
Did he get robbed? At that moment, Boldo entered the room with a book in his hand.
“Hey, you came back early...” They looked at the each other, and Boldo threw his book at John and started running away.
“Stop, police!” John ran after Boldo and grabbed his shoulder. Boldo punched John, but John grabbed Boldo’s shoulder and pushed him to the wall. Boldo tried to punch John again, but this time John guarded and punched Boldo’s face.
Boldo covered his face with scream, and he kicked John away, but John ran to him and punched Boldo’s in the stomach and he fell down with yell. John grabbed Boldo’s collar and shouted at him.
“Where is my father? Where is he?”
Boldo kept coughing from the pain.
“Wait, I think I’ve seen you before.”
John looked at Boldo’s face carefully.
“Well. I did some thinking when I was sick, you know. Yesterday.” Sara said.
“Yeah, what is it?
“It’s quite random.”
“Ok, tell me.”
“Should I…uh.” Sara hesitated.
“It’s ok. What is it?”
“Should I go with you? I mean, maybe later. If it works, I can go to where you are.”
Robert was dumbfounded when he heard this. He felt deeply that Sara loved him, and she wanted to be with him just as much as he wanted to be with her. That made him very happy, he almost cried.
“You don’t have to answer. It’s just a stupid idea.”
Sara said and turned her head to the other side. Robert slowly, but clearly said,
“I…love you. I really do.”
Sara looked at Robert and smiled.
“Thanks. Me, too.”
“Let’s think about it for sure.”
Robert said it, knowing it was a lie, but when he said it, he said it as if it was true.
“That’s good.” Sara smiled and took a spoon of ice cream. “Let’s go buy some clothes before we print pictures.”
“That sounds good.”
“I will pick something for you, and you have to wear it every day.”
“Every day? How many are you going to buy?”
“I’m not sure. Just wash them every night.”
“Ok, I will do that I promise” Robert laughed.
Boldo finally stop coughing and John was glaring at him.
“You! I remember. You are the psychic. The murderer!”
Boldo grinned and said,
“Yes, now you recognized me.”
“Where is my dad? Is that Joe guy your accomplice?”
“Why do you want to know that?”
“What?”
“You never cared about Robert anyway.”
“What are you talking about? What did you do to him?”
“He was in darkness by himself for very long time. You don’t give a crap about him.”
“Shut up! It’s none of your business.”
“I helped him. I freed him from his prison.”
“What are you talking about? Did you kill him?”
“It wasn’t me who hurt Robert. It was you; you and your noble family.” Boldo looked into John’s eyes and continued to speak. “Do you feel guilty? You knew that, too. You knew that you guys blamed everything on Robert, and play it like you are the only victims.”
“What…how do you know all that?” John felt confused.
Robert was about to finish his ice cream. Sara was checking her cell phone and said,
“Bailey said east side of downtown has many good clothing stores.”
“Near the book store?”
“Book store? I’m not sure, but we can check it out.”
“Sure.” Robert was thinking about buying Sara the dress he saw the other day at Macy’s.
“How did you know that? Did my father tell you?”
“You just said it yourself before. I’m a shaman.”
“Liar!” John got upset and started to strangle Boldo. “Answer! Where is my father?”
Boldo was choking and John realized that he was strangling Boldo. He loosened his hands. Boldo started coughing again. As soon as Boldo got his strength, he poked John’s eyes with his fingers. John screamed and Boldo punched John and pushed him away. John cursed at Boldo, and grabbed him but his hand slept. He put out his gun and pointed at Boldo at the stairs.
“Don’t move! I will blow your head off!”
Boldo stopped. John was recovering his vision slowly.
“Put your hands on your head.”
John said it and slowly approached Boldo. Boldo looked at John’s eyes and said,
“You can’t shoot me. Coward.”
Boldo tried to run down the stairs and John jumped and grabbed him. Boldo lost his balance and they rolled down the stairs. With a loud noise, John’s gun fired, and blood was dripping down on stairs.
Robert felt a high fever in his body. It was electrifying, and he groaned.
“Joe? Are you ok?” Sara asked.
“Y, yes, I guess it’s the food.”
“Or you ate too much ice cream.” Sara teased him.
Robert tried to calm down, but the heat in his body was getting hotter and started to hurt. He hands were shaking. He looked at his hands, and their look was changing. Wrinkles started appearing and they were getting old. He put his face down and touched it. What’s going on? What’s happening? Robert was taken aback.
“Joe?” Sara was surprised by his reaction.
Robert covered his face and stood up. Where is the restroom? He ran to the restroom as soon as he found it.
“Joe!”
Sara called him from behind, but he would not turn back. He looked at the mirror as soon as he got into the restroom.
“Oh my gosh…”
He face was getting old rapidly.
“What is this!”
Did Boldo do this? What kind of prank is this? Soon his vision got blurry. He felt a severe pain in his body and became dizzy. I need to get out before Sara sees me.
He looked around, but there was no window. What should I do? What do I have to do? His phone rang; Sara was calling him. He turned off the phone. If I run out really fast, she won’t see me. I have to find Boldo as soon as possible. Robert saw a tall guy walking into the restroom. Robert saw the guy’s jacket.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes?”
“I need your jacket. Sell it to me now. I will give you…” Robert handed seven 100 dollar bills. “I will give you $700.”
“What? Now? Oh, wait, are you alright?” The guy saw Robert getting sick and asked.
“Please, now!” Robert handed his money on the guy’s hand. “I need it now.”
“O-ok.”
The guy took off his jacket and gave it to Robert. Robert put the jacket on and zipped it up. He put collar up and opened the door to the restroom. When he saw the outside, he saw Sara standing in front of him. He put his head down and walked passed Sara hoping she did not recognize him. Sara glimpsed at Robert and turned her head. I am so sorry, Sara. His pain was getting worse. When he was reaching the door, he heard Sara talking to the tall guy.
“My boyfriend is in there. I think he is sick. Would you check on him, please?”
“No, there was nobody, but him.”
The guy pointed at Robert. Robert felt he had to run.
“Wait, excuse me!”
Sara called to him. Robert stumbled as he ran.
“Wait!” Sara was running after him.
Please let me go, Sara! Robert opened the door and tried to walk down as fast as possible, but he could not see the people walking up. He bumped into one of the people and lost his balance. He fell down on the stairs, and his body slid under the guardrail and fell down to the floor below. He did not even realize what happened. There was a loud noise. Robert found himself on the floor and heard people screaming. He felt the pain in his head.
“No! Help, help him!”
That’s Sara’s voice. She is worried about me. No… she should not see me. I need to get away. He tried to move his body, but he could not. Am I dying? May be it would better. Everything was slowly getting dark. Robert closed his eyes.