David's eyes widened as Rachael burst into his room, her face etched with worry and relief. He hadn't expected her to show up, especially not like that.
"What the hell is going on, David?" she demanded, her voice cracking.
"It's been two months, you haven't called or texted, nothing!"
"I kept coming by, and you were never here. I thought you were dead!"
David stood frozen by the window, the curtains half-drawn, the room dim and suffocating. He looked thinner. His cheeks hollowed, eyes sunken, beard unkempt. When he finally turned to face her, he looked like the ghost of the friend she once knew.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Tears welled in Rachael's eyes as she closed the distance between them. "You didn't mean to scare me?" she repeated, her voice rising.
"Do you have any idea what I've been through? I've been losing my mind, David!"
Her voice cracked again, and this time she broke, sobbing uncontrollably as she sank onto the edge of the bed. David stood there helplessly for a beat before his own tears spilled over. He dropped to his knees in front of her.
"I was going to tell you," he whispered. "I wanted to... but I couldn't."
"Tell me what?" she asked through tears. "What happened to you?"
David lowered his head. "I saw her."
Rachael wiped her face. "Saw who?"
He looked up, eyes hollow. "Your mother."
Something in the room shifted as if the temperature dropped ten degrees.
"What do you mean, you saw her?"
David hesitated. His voice trembled. "That night... the night you asked me to follow her… I did."
Rachael's breath caught.
"I followed her to the Silent River," he continued, his voice barely audible.
"She met someone there. She met with Oscar."
A deafening rush filled Racheal's ears. "Okay, she met with Oscar, so what happened?"
David's lips parted, but no sound came out at first. He swallowed hard, like the memory itself was poison.
"She shot him, Rachael. She pulled out a gun and killed him. Just like that. No hesitation."
Rachael jolted to her feet. "What?"
"She murdered him," David said, his voice breaking.
"And I watched. I watched the whole thing from the trees like a damn coward. Then two men came and took the body away. They were waiting. Like they'd done it before."
Rachael staggered backward, her hand clutched to her chest.
"She's been lying to you," David added.
"She's not just manipulative, your mum is dangerous."
A long silence stretched between them.
Then Rachael whispered, "Why didn't you tell me?"
David looked up at her, ashamed.
"Because I was scared. I still am. She killed him like he was nothing. Rachael. She's... she's something else, your mum is something else. I didn't know what she'd do if she found out I saw her kill Oscar."
Rachael was shaking. "Oh my God. I was right. About everything. And no one believed me."
"She threatened to expose you," David said. "The drug test, remember? She's building a wall around herself. Anyone who gets close enough to tear it down... she destroys."
There was a sudden knock at the front door.
Both of them froze.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Three slow, deliberate raps.
They looked at each other. Rachael's hand reached for David's. He took it, his grip clammy and tight.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
David rose and tiptoed toward the window, peeling the curtain just enough to see.
His eyes widened. "It's her," he whispered. "She's here."
David's blood ran cold. "How did she know you were here?"
Racheal's voice was low, strained.
"I told her you weren't feeling well, that you were home recovering. "I said I'd come see you, but… I didn't expect this."
Rachael swallowed hard, masking her fear with determination.
"We have to play along. We can't let her suspect we know anything."
Together, they moved to the door. Rachael opened it, and Harriet stepped in. Her presence was unsettling; she moved with a serene, untroubled grace that belied the storm lurking beneath.
"Oh, David," Harriet cooed in a sweet tone as she stepped inside, holding a basket of fruits.
"I brought you some fruits."
Rachael quickly intercepted the offering, guiding the basket to the kitchen with brisk efficiency. Meanwhile, David forced a pained smile, pretending to be too ill to stand as Harriet drew nearer. Her gaze, however, sent a shiver down his spine, stirring memories too dark to ignore.
"You should really go to the hospital, David," Harriet continued softly.
"Your temperature is high and you've lost so much weight. I need to be out by 5pm for an appointment. See you both later." She smiled, an unnervingly calm smile, before gliding away to her car.
"Bye mom", Racheal waved at Harriet as she left David's apartment.
After she left, David slowly rose and watched her car disappear into the distance. Turning to Rachael, he asked,
"Are you sure she doesn't know?"
Rachael's eyes, glistening with unshed tears, met his.
"I'm telling you, David, she doesn't suspect a thing. Mom has been acting so kind recently. It's all so convincing. I'm surprised she's even attending Bible study and volunteering at church now. But even if I don't believe it, I know she'll slip back into her old ways soon enough. I just… I miss you, David."
Her voice broke as she leaned in and pressed a long, deep kiss to his lips, a desperate attempt to connect, to convey all her fear, longing, and uncertainty. At that charged moment, as their emotions tangled and the silence pressed in, a foreboding question lingered unspoken between them.
David froze for a second, startled by the kiss, then melted into it. The world fell away, the murder, the fear, Harriet, everything faded as their lips locked in a moment that felt like the first time either of them had truly breathed in weeks.
When they finally pulled apart, David rested his forehead against hers, eyes closed, voice barely a whisper.
"I missed you too".
Rachael let out a shaky breath. "I thought I lost you."
They sat there for a moment in the silence, hearts racing in sync. Then Rachael pulled back slightly, brushing a hand over his cheek.
Outside, the wind howled, brushing leaves against the windows as if the night itself was whispering secrets neither of them were ready to hear.
Racheal stood by the window, arms crossed tightly, staring out at the fading horizon. Her chest rose and fell slowly.
"I still can't believe she shot him," she said quietly, almost to herself.
"She's always been two people. The perfect host and the ruthless schemer."
David nodded, rubbing his palms over his face. "I can't stop thinking about how calm she looked, she didn't even flinch."
As they discussed their plan, the tension in the room began to dissipate. They felt a sense of purpose, a sense of direction.
Rachael's phone buzzed on the counter.
She walked over and picked it up.
One message.
Rachael's phone buzzed quietly on the counter.
She picked it up and stared at the screen. A new message lit up from her mom.
From: Mom
"I have an announcement to make tonight. Can you come home early? David could come along with you and join us to celebrate."
Rachael read the message once. Then again. Her hands began to tremble.
David noticed immediately. "What is it?" he asked, stepping closer.
Wordlessly, she turned the screen to show him. As he read it, the air between them grew still.
They both froze.
Rachael's breath caught in her throat. "An announcement?" she said slowly, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What the hell kind of announcement could she possibly be making tonight?"
David stared at the message, brows furrowed. "Do you think she knows?" His voice was low, uncertain, cautious.
"She doesn't know, trust me when I say this," Rachael whispered, pacing now, anxiety rising in her chest. "It could be anything else."
David stayed quiet for a moment, then gently grabbed her arm, grounding her.
"Do you want to leave now?"
Rachael looked at him, eyes searching his face. "Yes, and you're coming with me."
"Please don't say no. I need you there."
David didn't hesitate. "Okay. I'll come with you."
Relief washed over her face, even as worry lingered in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, grounding herself in his presence.
Without another word, David pulled away gently, giving her a reassuring nod. "Let me clean up real quick."
He disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of running water and clinking glass echoed faintly, a strange contrast to the storm of emotions swirling in Rachael's mind.
Ten minutes later, David emerged, cleaned up and dressed, his features sharpened by resolve.
"Are you ready?" he asked, his voice calm.
Rachael took a deep breath and nodded, her fingers lacing tightly with his.
They stepped outside together, the air thick with unspoken fears, and headed home toward whatever it was Harriet had planned for them that night.