AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTERONE
PRESENT DAY
I rested backon my heels. My blurred vision was clearing and the white noise that screamed in my head fell silent. The smell was awful–blood and… was that shit? Could I smell shit on the carpet? I wanted to heave. I looked down at my hands, they were stained red and for a moment I was confused why.
A large carving knife sat on the floor beside me, its blade no longer silver but the same red as my hands. I knew there would be splatters over my face and I wondered about the pattern. The cream painted wall had an arc of colour and I smiled as I stared up at it. It looked good. I made a mental note when I redecorated I’d see if I could replicate that. I would need to redecorate, wouldn’t I?
I needed to move because I could feel the numbness creep over my feet. I winced as I climbed to them, aching bones, tired muscles, exertion, and exhaustion were all taking its toll. Perhaps I’d have a nap. I wondered if I had time for that. Or time to clean myself up, even. The least I could do was to clean my hands.
I walked to the bathroom and ran the tap; impressed with the fact I thought to use my elbow to flick the water on. I used anti-bacterial wash to remove the red. When only a pink tinge remained, I used the nailbrush to scrub my skin. With clean hands, I then returned to the living room.
Nap or phone? Nap or phone? I ran the words through my head until I decided I needed to make that phone call. I was sure the stench would overwhelm me at some point.
I walked back into the living room and picked up the telephone. I dialled and waited for the call to be connected to the police.
“Police, what is your emergency?” I heard once the call handler had answered.
I took a deep breath in. “I have killed someone,” I said.
At first, there was a pause. “Oh, I’m sorry, I need to give my details.” I then rattled off my name and address and waited for that to be repeated back to me.
“Who have you killed?” the handler asked.
I looked over to the other side of the room, to the prone form that was bloodied and very much dead. I caught sight of the arcs that crisscrossed the wall. They distracted me for a moment.
“Hello? Who have you killed?” There was urgency in her voice.
“I’m sorry. My husband… I’ve killed my husband. I’ll wait here,” I said, and then I disconnected the call to wait.
I found my shoes and put them on my feet. One was discarded in the hall, the other, I found under the sofa. I thought, with the way I’d toppled over the heel might have broken, so I was pleased to see it still intact.
I could hear the sirens getting louder as the police approached. I could see blue and red flashing lights through the window and was pleased to not have neighbours to disturb, I would have hated that. A banging on the front door startled me and I was unsure what was protocol. Do I wait for them to break in, or should I open the front door?
I decided on the latter. As I unlatched it, it was pushed open, and I stumbled back against the wall. I held up my hands, and that’s when the shouting started. Too many people shouting too many things. I couldn’t concentrate on any of them. I spotted a woman, and I focussed my gaze on her.
“Mrs Stowley?” she enquired. I nodded. “Did you make the call?” I nodded again.
From then on it was a blur again. A hand gently pressed on my head to stop me from bumping it as I was encouraged into the back of a police car, and I wanted to laugh. I didn’t deserve their care or attention. I was driven to the station, and I gave basic details such as my name and address. I was taken to another room and my clothes were removed, my nails were scraped, my mouth and ears were checked, although I wasn’t sure why. I was given a white cotton overall to wear. Questions were fired at me, and I didn’t answer one of them.
I wasn’t being obtuse. I wasn’t acting tough, as was suggested. I wasn’t the cold-hearted killer they called me. I was paralysed by fear.
“I was meant to feel free,” I whispered.
CHAPTERTWO
THE PAST
“Phew, thank fuck that’s over,”I heard. My best friend, Patty, walked beside me as we strode through campus. She slid her arm through mine. “Party like we’ve never partied before!”
We had just finished our final exams. Three years of hard slog at uni was finally over. I’d nearly quit multiple times but kept going, mostly because Patty nudged me along. I wasn’t academic, and I still didn’t know what I wanted to do with my degree. I most certainly didn’t want to be the teacher Patty was pushing for. She wanted me to join her on a teaching course, so we could work at the same school and stay friends for life.
I chuckled as we walked.
“What are you laughing at?” she asked.
“Just thinking of you and me working in a school.”
“Are you going to sign up for the course?”
