Anna sat in the bus ruminating on everything that had happened. From the rape to the emails. Jason’s plans to kill her and finally she ending Jason. She opened her phone and read the email again.
Dear Anna
I am a private investigator who was one of your dad’s friends from college. I’ve been watching you, your boyfriend Mr. James Woods and finally Mr. Lawrence Widomski and I think your life is in danger.
I’m not some random person who’s just here to state facts, Aren’t you wondering how your parents died mysteriously and how the murderer wasn’t caught.
How did Mr. Lawrence inherit the company and why did he flee the state immediately?
Why I was keeping an eye on you I got notified on the rape incident. I also have a video tape of it but part of the footage is gone.
Why did your boyfriend rape you? He was wearing the exact clothes the rapist wore. Why did he burn your clothes? The key evidence. How did he know where to find you?
All these may be mere speculations to you but here’s another key statement. Today, your boyfriend will suggest to take you on a hunting trip to Alaska. When you get there he plans to kill you in guise. When this happens I hope it will be a confirmation that what I’m saying is true.
You may wonder how I got to know all this information. Come down to California and let’s work this out.
Gather evidence that they are both trying to kill you for power. Please heed to every word I say and protect your life.
Regards
The reformer
Anna read the email again and again. Beads of tears dropped from her eyes. Mucus gathered in her nose. Her face was beet red and eye bags began to pitch a tent underneath her eyes.
The people she loved all her life. The people she had practically spent most of her life with were the people she should have stayed away from.
But why? Anna constantly asked herself
Jason was an extremely rich heir. Emphasis on extreme. His great, great, grandfather had built a large empire worth billions of dollars. His grandfather had two children. One died leaving the other which was Jason’s mother, Rachael.
Rachael strived to run such a large empire especially since her shares were over 75%. No one was allowed to purchase more than 25% of the shares.
Jason and his father suffered for this. Since she was so busy running the business she struggled to take care of Jason.
She was barely home on weekends, rarely seen at home and was so stressed out that even when she had free time, she had to spend the time working on herself and her mental wellbeing. At a point, Jason forgot the face of his mother.
Jason’s father couldn’t take it anymore and filed for a divorce. He rejected Rachael’s numerous gifts and a part in the company because he didn’t want it to seem like that was the reason he married her.
When Rachael realized that she could lose Jason too she fought legally and spent a lot of money to make sure he’d be kept by her side.
Who would inherit the company if Jason isn’t with her, Jason’s father thought it was very selfish of her but could no longer do anything about it.
However, after the divorce, Rachael decided to make sure she had time for her family regardless of the business or the loses she could make and hired a skilled assistant.
Rachael made sure that Jason was in no way bothered by the numerous wealth in store and made sure he was not reliant on it either. He went to a public school and they lived in an average home donating most of her money to orphanages.
After two years of successfully building a happy home with her son, Larry moved next door and she began to find love again. Sadly, she was diagnosed with stage three brain cancer.
Larry was a very skilled neurosurgeon; one of best in California. He made sure he did everything he could to save her but her cancer was not responding.
The tragic loss of Rachael made Larry leave the field of neurosurgery and he decided to focus his attention on Anna’s family business.
Jason was exactly 18 when his mother passed on so he had to take on the role of the new CEO. His father was reluctant on this because he felt he was too young to take the reins of the company and it would destroy his youthfulness.
However, Jason was so smart that he managed to balance almost everything without putting the business through risk and he made sure that he didn’t let it affect his daily life or sweet moments with Larry and Anna.
Let’s not even talk about Larry. He doesn’t even have a family. His family was wiped out by a massive flood in Pakistan. He has no one.
So why would any of them want to kill her?
Anna heaved a sigh and took out her ear buds for the first time in 6 months. Ever since that night music left her.
The sweet but slowly piercing tune of I’m tired by Labrinth and Zendaya filtered through the air pods. Anna felt that song reflected her inner emotions.
As the bus rode across the highways Anna observed the people that were on the streets or houses or restaurants
Little girls and little boys played across the park like they had no problems in the world. Anna wished she were like them. Having nothing to worry about
The college lovers. Feeling like their lives would be perfect as long as they had each other. Anna wished she could go back to those moments. Moments when Jason would abandon work just to be with her. Take her to places where she could forever feel like she was normal
She gazed at a father and daughter. Their hands clipped together. The feeling of having one to protect you at all costs. That was how Larry secured her. Like a mother eagle watching over her little cub.
What changed?
The ride was surprisingly peaceful. The road flat and effortless. There was no loud honking or unnecessary stops and everyone inside the bus seemed to understand that they all wanted to be left alone. So did Anna.She sat at the very aft of the gigantic bus, her ears mantled with her headset as a soft soothing music played into her drums. Anna stared at the sky aimlessly, watching clouds whisk past her as the bus sped away. The book in her hand stared up at her, wondering when she would actually look down to read its content. But she didn't. She remained in her thoughts — where she had been for the past hour, her mind unable to cultivate any other memory or idea to ponder on. Everything she was able to think of made her submerse with regret.Anna always found herself wondering if she often made decisions so hastily that if left her making the wrong ones.Hitting Jason with the tree branch. Abandoning him at the hospital. Running away to California and so many more. They were all decis
Chapter 7 It was odd, to say the least. The envelope was fresh, and the ink used to write her name was still glossy. Whoever had kept the envelope here wasn't far off and it hadn't been a while ago since it was dropped. Anna decided that was true as she pondered about it. The wind would have blown it away long ago if the envelope had been there for more than an hour. Her eyes narrowed as she studied the piece of paper and the handwriting on it, hoping to recognize it. She was unsuccessful. So why was she still staring at it? Anna gulped, wondering why she couldn't bring herself to open the envelope. She was just begging for answers a few minutes ago on the bus, the paper in her hand most likely had all the answers she needed. So why was she hesitating? A loud thud made her spin around impulsively. The sad look on the face of her rolling duffel bag made her feel guilty as she realized she had abandoned it by the wayside. She bit her lip as she hurried after it. “I'm going to need
6 Months AgoThe label “Pennciterry Asylum” declared itself over the dark unwelcoming building. The air was cold and even the sun had resolved not to bless that part of the city with the yellowness of its rays. It was engulfed in darkness. There was a loud buzz sound from inside of the building as the front door slowly opened. A white light blaring from the interior of the asylum illuminated the outside where two men stood in thick black suits. Out of the ugly asylum, an eerie figure walked out. The shadow of the night couldn't reveal the individual but they favored their right leg as they hobbled out of their building, looking around with fearful curiosity.The two men in suits made themselves visible, folding their arms emotionlessly and glaring at the person.“Well well. . .” The voice was sneering and sharp. “It took you long enough.”“You know why you're here?” one of the men asked.“Well don't be foolish. Who's it this time? And how messy do you want it?”The other man in suit
It was two o'clock in the afternoon. Anna sat in the kitchen table, gobbling down a noodles she had hurriedly made to defeat her hunger. It was all new to her — staying alone — and she knew she had to get used to it as soon as possible. What was she even thinking coming all the way to Los Angeles? The only friend she had here was Alvin and he was even more in need than she was. Oh God. She had to start getting her life back together. Start getting things straight, Anna. Beginning from that second. She jumped up from her seat. Why did she come here in the first place. What was her intention?To find her parents' killer. Yes. Anna paced around the kitchen as her mind wandered. Her thoughts racing through her brain like speed cars on race tracks. How did she intended to find the killer? The email. Also, yes. Whoever had been emailing her. They said they knew. But how could she get in contact with the person? Whoever they were. How could she. . . The envelope. Anna hurried to
The lights lit across the horizon brightening everything beneath. The starry burst and sparkling trails took on new magic as they reflected beautifully on the water. As more fireworks were sent to the sky, the mirage of colours made the lake come alive. Anna's eyes were supposed to be gawking with amazement but instead, it was filled with instant fear. Is he planning to kill me? Jason smiled sheepishly as he lit more fireworks and sent them into the sky but his smile was larger and brighter than all the fireworks combined. He gestured for Anna to come towards the bridge as he placed the remnant of the unlit crackers on the floorboard. Anna responded with a faint smile and moved sluggishly watching her surroundings for anything she could use to defend herself. As she moved closer to him she noticed a big tree branch by the side and moved towards it just in case of an emergency. Jason reached into his pockets ready to bring out the ring he bought two years ago
The traffic on the road was intensifying at every minute. Anna got to know there was an accident by the roadside. An excuse to tell a policeman if they ever stopped her. She turned and looked at Jason again.She had to get to a hospital and drop the body before anyone could suspect anything. What if they called the police the moment she got there? Anna drove looking hopelessly and thinking of different excuses to come up with. It would be best to go to a hospital she knows because there will be less suspicion so she took a diversion and headed to her uncle’s hospital.When she got to the hospital, she turned off the ignition, put the keys in her pocket and went to open the back seat.As she dragged the body from the car screaming and crying a group of nurses quickly came with a stretcher and carried Jason to the OR.“Will he be alright?” Anna asked the doctor“Yes he will Anna but for now I just want you to run a quick checkup to know if you were hurt anywhere” The doctor said, conce
6 months ago Dark clouds hovered the store as fat heavy drops of water fall from the pregnant sky. Anna looked out the window. “Oh shit” she mumbled to herself. She walked around the store and noticed a weird looking guy wearing black denim trousers, lemon shirt and a black cap fumbling with some items. As she tried to come closer to take a look at his face she felt a buzz in her pocket.Anna reached into her pockets and saw the caller i.e. A smile crossed her face as she answered the call“Larryyyyyyy. I was just about calling you” She beamed touching a shelf of drinks“You’re always about calling me” Larry dryly said“Oh c’mon, give me a break. I’m coming down to Arizona next week with Jason” she spilled“You’re coming?” Larry asked surprised“Yeah…Jason and I” Anna said looking outside to see if the rain has subsided a bit. “I think I’m just gonna buy an umbrella and head home.”“It’s dark and the clouds are still heavy. Call Jason and have him pick you instead” Larry su
Present Day: The hospital“Vegetative state?” Larry asked taking another look at the comatose body.“Yes. I suspect he’s in one. It’s difficult to determine because it’s only been two days. I conducted some tests and an MRI” the doctor said handing a tab that showed the tests results to Larry.“Hmmm… you’d have to keep watching for a while. I don’t want any mistakes” Larry looked through the tests moving from page to page constantly.“I did notice some brain activity during the CT scan that’s why I came to this conclusion. Earlier I saw movements” she explained stating some theories“What if he’s just in a minimal conscious state?” Larry suggested watching Jason closely. “Run more tests and send them over” He handed the documents back to her“Ok sir… will do. Would you be treating him yourself” she asked as she collected the tab and moved close to Jason’s bed to adjust the bed.“For now, see to it that you get the right prognosis and move his bed to an executive room. I’ll call you if