Considerably Wicked: A Dark Romance

by Leigh Frankie

  She gave him an apologetic look. “Una…well, she was… she was admitted to Aishcliff after having been held captive by Mr. Brandon Chase for a couple of years…”

  Frederick’s eyes furrowed. He had heard about Brandon Chase. He had heard about the fire. And he heard about the missing girl.

  “Ms. Una Miller was that girl Charlie?”

  “Yes, she was.”

  ***

  Una was on her chair, tying the laces of the sneakers she requested from Will when the door suddenly opened.

  “You mentioned a lake near where we are,” she said to him before Will could even have the chance to ask her why she was wearing shoes.

  “Yes. We can check it out tomorrow,” Will replied, still looking a little puzzled.

  “I was never a fan of skinny dipping. That’s how people in stupid horror movies get killed.” Una stood up. “But I can’t be afraid of anything. Not when I’m with you.”

  Will felt a stir in his stomach. Was that supposed to be a compliment? It could have been, but the words somehow didn’t match the tone of Una’s voice as it was suggesting something else. “Yeah.” He smiled anyway.

  “Then let’s go. Let’s try something fun for a change.”

  He was utterly shocked as he listened to Una’s suggestion and the unexpected excitement in her voice. He wasn’t sure whether she was being truthful to him. “You want to go now? Water might be freezing cold.”

  “Let’s go for it,” Una insisted.

  And after careful deliberation, she was finally able to convince Will.

  As it turned out, the evening was warm. The sky was clear, and the bright moon above them was kind enough to cast light on the grounds for them.

  “Careful with your steps,” Will said, as he led Una from the cabin into the night. He was holding her tightly with his right hand while his left held the flashlight aimed at the ground as they walked.

  “Maybe I should carry my own flashlight, too.”

  Will smiled. “No need for that. With the bright full moon above us, we only need one. It’s not really a long walk.”

  “I can’t wait to take a dip,” Una told him.

  “The water is probably freezing at this time of the night.”

  Una kept on looking at her surroundings for the rest of the trip to the lake as if mentally taking notes of the trees and the turns they made. It was her first time walking that far and her feet were not ready to cover that much ground. And after spending most of her time in her room doing mostly nothing, she had to slightly catch her breath when they arrived at the lake.

  She breathed in the fresh air and gazed at the beautiful lake in front of them. She watched admiringly as the moon glistened over the water. For the first time in a long time, she was feeling appreciative despite what had been going on in her life.

  “Let’s go.” Quickly, she pulled her hand from Will’s and kicked off her shoes. She unzipped her jeans and pulled them off, revealing her blue silk panties Will bought her days ago.

  Will’s eyes widened. He still couldn’t quite believe the positive vibe he was getting from her. It was just a couple of nights ago when he confessed to her that he slipped and gave in to his demons again. And now, as he stood and watched her smile and looking jovial, he couldn’t quite believe it.

  “A lake all to ourselves,” he heard Una inhaled.

  He had surveyed the lake before: in the morning, afternoon, and twice in the evening, he never noticed anyone around. It could change, though, now that summer had finally come. And he knew they had to leave within the week.

  Una took her shirt off, leaving her in her blue lacy bra. “By the way, I change my mind. I’m leaving them on me,” she said, pointing at her undergarment.

  I should have brought the blue lacy matching set. Will thought with his mouth dry.

  “Get naked already,” Una ordered him. She picked up her clothes and shoes and brought them with her.

  Will was stunned.

  How could he be so lucky to have someone as precious as her in his life? Thinking about it, he had Liezel to thank. She was the one who brought Una to him.

  Well, wherever you are now, Liezel, thank you so much. You did something that’s significantly a blessing to me. He smiled at the thought.

  He continued to stare at the calm water while his mind wandered back to the past when Una first came to his life. Who would have thought? As he continued to recount the moments, he suddenly realized that Una was still nowhere in the water; however, as soon as his mind started to panic, he saw her dive in.

  He stared out at the water and listened to Una whine about how cold the water was but was still enjoying it. She looked careless, happy and free. He felt a rare moment of normality by just watching her.

  When he suddenly felt a warm sensation lit up inside him, he quickly pulled his shirt off his body and pulled down his pants and joined her.

  While in the water, Una took pleasure in how cool and refreshing it was against her skin. She never felt so much relaxed for a long time until that very night. She rolled onto her back in the water when she sensed a splash, advising her that Will had joined her.

  She swam away, kicking her legs faster, but Will proved to be a lot faster than her and caught up with her easily. They swam for a while, enjoying the cool water.

  Will suggested that they float together to gaze at the stars above them which Una silently approved.

  “Tonight is beautiful,” Una whispered as she admiringly gazed at the vast dark blue sky littered with stars like silver specks of dust on a blue velvet blanket. She shivered lightly as the cool, night breeze brushed through her wet, bare skin.

  Will turned to his side and noticed Una floating away from him; looking so peaceful and beautiful. The warm sensation inside him was back again and a little overwhelming this time. Gracefully, he swam towards her.

  Una closed her eyes to capture the serenity around her. She opened her eyes at the sensation of warm lips against her neck, kissing their way down her bare shoulders. She sucked in a breath. When she could no longer hold it, she turned and fell in the water.

  Will threw his arms around her. “You make the night so beautiful.”

  Una stared into Will’s deep blue eyes which were screaming with desire. The enchanting light from the moon made him look dangerously captivating and wildly irresistible.

  “I want you now,” he whispered as his hungry mouth went for her earlobe and sucked it.

  Una gasped. She found it very hard to restrain the moan that had also escaped her throat.

  Will kissed her neck teasingly. “I’m addicted to you, Una,” he told her before gently sinking his teeth into her flesh playfully. Feeling Una wrapping her legs around his waist aroused him even more and if they wouldn’t stop any second now, he knew he might not be able to control himself and take her there.

  The warmth of Will’s breath fanning out over Una’s shoulder against the coldness of water around her made her body vulnerable.

  When he wasn’t murdering people and being psycho, Will Thomas could be downright madly enthralling.

  “No one can have you, Una,” he murmured. He turned to face her, and his mouth ravaged hers eagerly.

  Slowly, Una led him to the shore as he continued to kiss her more passionately this time. He kissed away the droplets of water that had invitingly adorned her chest as he lay on top of her on the bank of the lake.

  Una felt Will slid a hand between her legs to part them. “No. Please not here.”

  Will stopped at once with an apologetic look on his face. “I’m sorry. We should go back to the cabin then.”

  And just like that, both of them were on their feet.

  Standing with nothing but her underwear outside the water, the clear night air hit Una instantly and she was beginning to feel the sharp, coldness of the night. She wrapped her arms around herself.

  Will looked around for their clothes. “Where did our clothes go?”

  Una picked up her pants and shirt that w
ere neatly piled on top of the shrubs. “I placed mine near here so I could see them while I was swimming. I can’t be too careful.”

  Will sighed. “Wait for me here. I’ll get mine. I’ll be back.”

  Yet, as soon as he was nowhere in sight, Una hurriedly put on her clothes and her shoes. She had to be quick and be fast. That moment was her only chance. She ran to the direction she thought would take her away from Will and ran through the forest as fast as she could.

  The night had gone deeper, and she found it difficult to distinguish the path she and Will took from the path she was on. But there was no time for her to assess because the only thing she could do was to run and run. It was hard for her to keep the determination going when fear reverberated inside her head.

  Her feet slipped a couple of times while dodging brambles, but she quickly pulled herself up. Not a second to waste. She ran again, turning through trees and deciding on directions at random.

  She couldn’t go back to the cabin that had become her prison. She needed to take her life back.

  The forest was growing thicker with every step. She constantly wiped the tears off her eyes, not even sure why her eyes couldn’t stop producing it.

  Her breath was becoming heavy, her legs were growing heavy, and she started to pace slowly.

  Suddenly she saw a dim light not far from where she was. Could it be the cabin? Her heart quickened when she realized that it could be the cabin which would not mean well for her. She stopped. She needed to go take another different direction.

  She turned around once more, and without looking where she was going, ran straight into something hard. She looked up and thought she would collapse when she came face to face with him.

  Una ran exactly back into Will’s arms.

  “Una! Why did you run off like that?”

  “I…” Although her eyes clouded with tears of anguish and dejection, her mind was still quick in thinking of the most believable excuse. “I didn’t…I got scared and looked for you.”

  And when she could no longer hold the stream of tears from falling, she wrapped her arms around Will. She knew her face would reveal more, and her tears would raise questions. “I almost got lost. I’m glad you found me,” she lied.

  She failed.

  Will returned her embrace with an even tighter one.

  “Don’t cry. You’re home now. I’m here.”

  And she cried even more.

  ***

  …The distressed family of Sinclair Godfrey, 28, son of Arthur Godfrey of the MaxFrey Corp and the current CEO of MaxxTech, has been left disconcerted by his sudden disappearance. Sinclair Godfrey has not been heard from since he left his penthouse on Saturday night, April 13.

  Chestnut Hill Police Chief Kurt Mason suggests that Sinclair’s disappearance may now be connected with the disappearances of three other persons who were last seen leaving a Boston bar on the same Saturday night where Sinclair was last heard of by his sister Belinda Maxwell who was in Saint Mande, France, when Sinclair called her.

  Una Jeanne Miller, 24, a student at a university in Boston; Liezel Anne Blanco, 25, and William Thomas, 26, both employees at MaxxTech ―all have failed to show up the following day after a night out in downtown Boston….

  The sun was already up and Will Thomas was frantic after learning the news that all four of them going missing had gone national. Police officers were now investigating their disappearances. This was bad for him. He had to make a move now.

  Cursing silently to himself, he shut his laptop down. He was being reckless for staying in the cabin more than what he initially had planned.

  No more extension. No more delays. He had to act fast now. The idea of leaving had never appealed to him, but circumstance had left him no choice if he were to be with Una for as long as he could. He needed to leave the country with her.

  Una was just getting up from her bed when he entered the room. “I think it is lunchtime.”

  Will hurried to her side and clasped her hands in his. “Una, please tell me that you believe in me. You have to trust me. I do want to become a better person… for you.”

  “Why are you suddenly telling me this?” Una asked, unsure what else to tell him, and confused by his sudden need of validation from her. “Did you kill someone again?”

  “No! I didn’t.”

  Her shoulders dropped. She was glad that at least no one died again. “Then why?”

  “I have a plan.”

  “What plan?” She looked perplexed.

  “You have to swear that you will give me your full commitment, Una. You have to swear.” Will urged her.

  “What plan?” she repeated, voice a little firm. She did not like the tone in his voice

  “An escape plan with new identities. New life. New place. A new beginning.”

  “Where?”

  “In Cuba.”

  Chapter 29

  Highway

  Will groaned as he stretched his legs in the driver’s seat at a red light. They had been on the road for some time, and he could feel his entire body throbbing from being in the same position for several hours.

  Una saw a sign on the side of the road and realized that they were already in Baltimore. Will had told her earlier that they would stop in Baltimore to rest and meet a friend.

  Who could this friend be? Could he be someone like Will? She felt a sudden rush of fear as soon as the traffic light changed to green.

  Will took a left turn and Una noticed that the houses and establishments had become fewer as they continued to drive. It was already dark, and after a few more minutes, Will swerved off the highway and pulled over in a parking lot where only two other cars were parked.

  “King’s Motel,” Una read the red-light sign.

  “Yes, just for tonight,” Will told her as the old black Audi that he snagged coughed like an old man. Maybe he should have picked up a better car that wouldn’t clunk like it was on its deathbed. But it got them to Baltimore, so he was still glad.

  He turned the engine off, and silence followed. He smiled.

  Una just stared outside. The motel looked like a roadside truck stop for scary drivers. She turned to her left and saw Will and then sighed. She was already with someone scary.

  Will opened the door and jumped out. “Finally.” He stretched his arms and legs. “Let’s go, Una. The owner of the motel is a friend of mine.”

  They walked into an office that was inside a small diner that was attached to the motel.

  “What the fuck?! What a pleasant surprise.” A fat, bald man with a terrible case of acne behind the front desk greeted them with glee. Contrary to what Una was expecting, the man didn’t look menacing at all, except for his acne. But then again, even Will didn’t look anything scary when they first met.

  “Hey, no swearing, Nicko” Will pointed candidly at the man. “And good to see you. ,” He chuckled.

  Nicko’s laugh got louder. “How’s it going, Henry?”

  Henry?

  Una stood there as she watched Will give the man a tight hug. Henry?

  “What did you do to your hair?”

  Will laughed. “Nah, I wanted to try something new. How are you, Nicko?”

  Nicko shrugged. “Still hot man. And who is this fine-looking woman?”

  “My girlfriend,” Will answered proudly. “We’re here to rest for the night.”

  “Good.”

  “Is it ready?”

  Nicko winked at him. “Always, man.”

  Una noticed how he handed over a brass key to Will without even asking him to sign anything or ask for his credit card or any identification.

  “The room is just how you left it.”

  “Thanks, Nicko,” Will said. He took Una’s hand, and they walked outside the diner. They walked past the motel and went behind what looked like a detached garage hidden in the bushes.

  He unlocked the door with the key in his right hand while his left hand was holding Una’s. They went inside and he switched the lights on.
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  Una looked around. It was no garage. It was a small room with one queen-sized bed in the middle, a door on the left which was obviously the bathroom. The room only had one window and was tinted with black film.

  Questions started to muddle her mind. But she was so tired to even try to ask Will about Henry. She pulled her hand away and flopped on the bed. She shut her eyes and opened them again when he heard Will dragging a stool in the middle of the room. She watched him step on it and reached for the sloped ceiling above them.

  Will reached for the ceiling, took out two handguns, put it in the back of his pants, and reached for a thick bundle of cash. Jumping down from the stool, he smiled at Una.

  “We’re set.”

  Una sighed and closed her eyes. “I’ll be back,” she heard Will say, followed by footsteps and then the door closing.

  Her eyes quickly opened and checked the room for any possible exits. She checked the bathroom, no window. The only window was even shut closed. There was no way someone could hear her from outside. Surprisingly, the room was made to Will’s advantage. It was hopeless.

  After a couple of minutes, the door finally opened. Will came in carrying a backpack and a brown paper bag.

  “I bought food,” Will said and gave the bag to Una.

  Una opened it and peered inside. She was tired, but her stomach demanded her attention more. She pulled out a chicken sandwich and some fries. It wasn’t the kind of meal she was hoping to satisfy her hunger but it was better than to sleep on an empty stomach.

  She hurriedly peeled the plastic off the sandwich and took a bite.

  “I bought orange juice, too.” Will raised the bottle with a smile.

  They ate their meal in silence until Will started pouring orange juice into a blue plastic cup.

  “Nicko and I have known each other for years. He’s a smuggler. I met him when I left college. I was on the run. I bought my first gun from him. He was aware that I had nowhere to go. He let me have this place, and I started renting it when I started having clients.”