Considerably Wicked: A Dark Romance

by Leigh Frankie

“Does he know about―?”

  “What kind of a person I really am?” Will shook his head. “It doesn’t really matter, does it? He knows I kill people. He just doesn’t know how sick I am. I guess.”

  “Why were you on the run?”

  “When the news about my dad broke, I panicked. I killed Will―Thomas, let’s just call him that. I got desperate, and I didn’t know what to do. I ran thinking the police were already on me.”

  Una closed her eyes briefly. She would always feel her insides spiral whenever Will shared a piece of his past. It was always exceedingly surreal for her to listen to him recall moments in his life when he had become someone’s tragic demise; something she knew she’d never get the hang of.

  “That was part of my past, Una. Something I could never change.” Will had noticed how uncomfortable she had become. “It’s not gonna happen over time, but I will change. I know I can do it. You have to trust me.”

  Trust. Una thought she did trust him. But, after everything she had learned from and about him, she couldn’t quite tell if trust was still something she was capable of giving. There was just so much to take and accept.

  When the night got deeper, and they could no longer hold their eyes open, Will announced that they should go ahead and rest. They shared the bed without saying a word to each other. Una kept her back on Will most of the time and did everything she could not turn around to avoid facing him.

  When she felt Will’s arm around her waist, a voice inside her wanted to protest, but her tired mind couldn’t seem to care. Even when she could feel Will’s warm breath against the back of her neck, she didn’t have the strength to come up with an alibi to keep a good amount of distance between them. She was deadbeat tired, and all she could think of was to rest her eyes.

  In just less than a minute, they both fell asleep.

  ***

  Una rested her cheek against the warm glass of her window, trying to ignore her aching body. They had been on the road again for hours since they left King’s Motel at dawn and remained quiet for most of the trip. She peered out the window as she recalled last night. She still had not asked Will why Nicko called him Henry. Could it be his other identity?

  Her mind did not further sail away when Will called her name. She turned to his direction.

  “Go on.”

  Puzzled, “go on what?” she asked.

  Will nodded at the glove compartment. “The glove compartments. Open it.”

  Still confused, she opened the compartment and took a black zip bag. She pulled out two IDs and passports.

  “I hope you like the name I chose for you.”

  “Samantha Greene,” Una read. She stared at the picture of herself. It was the same picture she took for her ID at the university. How did Will manage to get a hold of it and change the hair color? It was Photoshopped to perfection.

  “It suits you. I like the name. I mean, I love your name. Don’t get me wrong,” Will explained as if Una would even care.

  Una opened the other passport. It was Will’s, although the name said, Tate Morgan.

  Will extended his right hand, asking the passports and IDs from her. She silently gave it to him.

  “Thank you for agreeing to wear the contacts, Una. Blue suits you,” Will said, his free hand carefully tucking their passports and IDs inside the Jansport backpack on the dashboard.

  “Where are we heading now?” Una asked. She didn’t want to talk about her contact lens or her blond hair. She clearly didn’t like the image Will had forced her to take on.

  “We’ll stop in Monterey for a night before we head off to Mexico―”

  “Mexico?” Una swallowed. Her mind in a whirl in an instant.

  “I can’t access my money while we’re here. I can do it in Mexico. And I have to buy a boat to take us to Cuba,” Will told her.

  Mexico. Una’s heart sank at the thought.

  She never once traveled outside her own country. After her abduction and time spent at Aishcliff, how could she? But there she was now, traveling with perhaps one of the most dangerous men in the country. And she knew she’d be utterly hopeless once she stepped outside United States territory.

  “What are you thinking, Una?”

  “Nothing,” she lied.

  “Don’t worry. We could leave Cuba after five years and maybe live somewhere up north. Or, any place in Europe maybe.”

  Five years. The words hung in Una’s mind like a massive dark cloud. With her precarious situation with Will, no, she wouldn’t possibly last for five years. She was sure of that, and she had to do something.

  ***

  The night had gone chilly as Will’s old black Audi roared down the highway. In the passenger seat next to his was Una, curled up in her own little corner.

  As Will continued to drive silently, Una thought back in time and how her life had changed again. It had been more than a month since she left her old life. What started out as an effort to open up to people again had brought her so many things. First was her so-called friendship with Liezel that ended tragically.

  The second was Sinclair, not that she had willingly opened up to him. He basically forced himself into her life just because she resembled his ex-girlfriend from college that he was, apparently, still hung up on. She had always questioned his personality and his real motives, and it didn’t really come as a surprise when she found out that he was another kind of crazy.

  Then there’s Will, her boyfriend who turned out to be a homicidal maniac with a god complex. Will Thomas—handsome, charming, and the nicest person she had ever known—always spoke the right words, although the trust wasn’t something instant. She thought something was lurking behind his charming smile and tantalizing eyes. Something far more wicked. Something deadly. And she had always doubted him. And looking at her situation now, her instinct was right.

  And the most unfortunate realization was the fact that she actually fell for him. For the first time in a very long time, she had finally felt genuine feelings for someone―awfully enough, it had to be for someone like Will.

  Una was drawn out of her thoughts as she read a sign welcoming them to Monterey. Her heart quickened. A few more hours and they’d be on the other side, and she would have to leave her life behind. She had no idea what would happen to her in Mexico or Cuba. What was she supposed to do there?

  “We have to stop at the next motel.”

  She discreetly let out a sigh of relief. Her back was aching from the long ride. “And find something to eat,” she finally spoke, no longer able to neglect her stomach which was rumbling for the past three hours. And she could also then stretch her legs.

  Will smiled at her. “Yes. I’m starving, too.” He pulled into a local motel that seemed friendly for runaways like them.

  The best thing about the motel wasn’t the old rusty looking gas station next to it, but the small diner inside. Una could feel her stomach grumbled at the sight and the thought of having her stomach finally filled.

  They got out of the car together. The cold air nipped at her exposed skin, causing her to shiver slightly. Will held her hand tightly as they entered the motel.

  The inside was warm and looked old yet homey; the room was used as a receiving area and a diner in one. Una looked down on the carpet and thought it could have been a different color when the owner first bought it; now it was gray, dusty and covered in footprints. They were five coffee tables with some missing chairs, Una counted.

  They both approached the front desk. Will smiled at the woman behind the desk who was already smiling at them. “Hi, we need a room for the night.”

  The woman looked to be in her mid-50s, gray hair neatly pulled back into a loose ponytail. “Okay.” She probably owned the place, too. Her welcoming smile slowly faded as soon as she turned to Una.

  “We also need something to eat,” Will said.

  The old woman nodded. “My grandson is probably in the kitchen with his phone talking to his girlfriend,” she commented, scribbling in her check-i
n book.

  “My girlfriend and I are starving.”

  She looked up from the book and stared at Una for a moment. “Are you okay, dear?”

  Una pressed her lips and nodded.

  “She’s just tired. Both of us are,” Will explained. “We need a room,” he repeated with a sense of both urgency and annoyance.

  “Sure thing. I just need an ID from you, son.”

  He took his wallet and picked out a driver’s license.

  The woman briefly stared at his ID and smiled as she handed it back over to him. “Okay, that’ll be $35 for one night, Mr. Noel Finch. And here’s your key. Room 22.”

  Will handed her $100. “Could you ask your son to deliver our dinner to our room, too, Mrs. Robins?” he asked, reading the name tag on the old woman’s uniform.

  But before the woman could answer him, Una spoke, “I think we should just eat here.” She looked around. “It’s just us, anyway. I want to eat here.”

  Will thought about it for a brief second before he finally agreed, “Okay. Sure.”

  “I need to pee.”

  “I’ll go with you,” he offered.

  “No. I’ll be right back,” Una said and left without giving him time to insist. She entered the ladies’ room, clicked the lock behind her and sat on the toilet. She let out a sigh that could tell a lot about what she was going through, buried her face in her hands, and fought back the urge to cry. She couldn’t let a single tear escape her eyes, for if she would, thousands then would follow.

  She headed directly to the sink as soon as she gathered all the remaining courage in her system. She stared into the mirror: physically, emotionally, and mentally she was exhausted.

  “Are you sure you’re okay, dear?” Una was far too drained that she didn’t notice the old woman, Mrs. Robins, standing behind her. She turned to her and nodded.

  “Is your husband hurting you?” That was a question she didn’t see coming. “Husband?”

  The smile on Mrs. Robin’s face seemed to hide the same familiar sympathy she used to get from Liezel the first time they met. The image of her best friend brought her sudden chills. Her face turned whiter than a second ago like she just had seen a ghost.

  “Oh, dear, you don’t look okay to me.”

  She hesitated before opening her mouth and before words could escape, she saw Will coming from behind.

  “Una, our food is here.”

  “Excuse me,” she mumbled and hurriedly walked out with Will who shot Mrs. Robin an unpleasant look.

  They sat in the booth nearest to the door where their dinner was already waiting for them.

  Both of them finished their food in silence. Will was too tired to exert any more effort to push for a small conversation with Una. He knew she might react differently from what he had imagined in his mind.

  As soon Mrs. Robin came to take their plates and clean the table, they went to their room.

  Will locked the door and grabbed the nearest chair. “What were you and Mrs. Robins talking back there?” he asked as he sat on the wooden chair. The absence of any expression on his face made him look a bit scary no matter how handsome he was.

  “Nothing,” Una answered. She carefully sat on one of the two beds in the room.

  With stress and lack of enough sleep, her state of mind was at its weakest, and the disturbing image of Will in the video that one of Sinclair’s men had secretly recorded had somehow found a permanent space inside her mind.

  “Come on, Una…tell me.” The look on Will’s face told her he didn’t believe her. She noticed his jaw tensed. The silence in the room and the strange heaviness in the air didn’t help.

  Then a knock on the door startled them both and broke the silence altogether. They stared at the closed door for a moment when Will turned to her with a sad, tired look on his face. “What did you do, Una?”

  “I didn’t do anything,” Una replied quickly.

  Will let out a heavy sigh, closed his eyes for a couple of seconds, and opened the door. “Yes, how can I help you?”

  “Hi. Is everything okay?” It was Mrs. Robin’s grandson, the cook.

  Will shrugged. “Yes. Of course. Why are you asking?”

  “My grandmother wants me to check on you guys.” The young man smiled ingenuously. Like, for him, it was a normal thing to give people the impression that they were closely being watched.

  “Right. And what’s your name again?”

  “Billy.”

  “And what exactly did Mrs. Robins tell you? Why did you have to come here and check on us?”

  Billy sighed and shrugged. “I didn’t really fully understand what she said. Something about her feeling something’s not right between you two. I don’t know.” He sounded bored and obliged.

  “You have to leave now, Billy. We’re okay,” it was Una who spoke with such urgency and worries in her voice.

  “Miss?” Billy’s eyes were already surveying the room.

  Will frowned. “Una, don’t be rude. Come on in, Billy.” He offered. “My wife and I are fine, but we do have one tiny bit of a problem with our bed.”

  “What is it?” Billy walked inside as quickly as he could.

  “The second bed on the left. It’s making this funny sound.” Will locked the door, reached in his front pocket and dug out a pocket knife. Without hesitation, he placed the cold, sharp blade across Billy’s throat and slit it open.

  Una gasped, unable to make a move as her eyes watched in terror at the spray of blood gushing from Billi’s neck like a fountain.

  The gurgling sound filled the air for a moment before Billy finally collapsed on the floor, choking on his own blood which was already flooding the carpeted floor.

  Tears of fears filled Una’s eyes, and a sense of complete desperation came rushing to her when she looked up to see Will smiling at Billy.

  “Would you look at that…” Will’s smile quickly turned into a full grin. “You should have just ignored your grandma, Billy.”

  Una gritted her teeth and whispered, “Did you really have to do that?! You are sick!”

  “You wound me.” Will smiled at her lovingly. “Una, we both know what could have happened if I didn’t kill this idiot.” He pointed to Billy, who was already motionless. “I didn’t want to take any risk. Police could be on our tail by now. And there’s no doubt that he would tell on us.”

  “On what exactly, Will? You said so yourself that he’s an idiot. He wouldn’t notice a thing even if it hit him in the face!”

  “Oh, Una… I…I’m sorry. I get your point but―”

  “No! You just wanted to kill him,” Una snapped. “You bloodthirsty―”

  “I’m sorry.” Will walked over to her and kneeled in front of her and held her hands tight. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I overreacted. This isn’t me. I don’t overreact. I’m sorry, I guess, with you, I just lose control.”

  Una broke into a sob.

  “Please don’t cry. It makes me feel bad to see you cry. Come here.” He opened his arms to her.

  As the sense of complete desperation came rushing to Una, she clenched her fists, shoved him and raced to the door. But he was quick, and his arms caught her around the waist, taking away the chance of escape she already knew to be impossible. After failing at every attempt, she felt she was already dying every day and was just waiting for her final moment to come.

  “Let me go!” She fought as he pulled her towards him.

  “Stop it, Una,” Will ordered firmly, His intense blue eyes boring into her.

  She shuddered. “No! Let me go!” she yelled, struggling even harder to free herself. She screamed for help, and although she already knew he was too strong for her, she tried to escape his tight grasp again.

  Will covered Una’s mouth to stop her; however, the screaming didn’t stop, and he looked down at her face already turning red, veins pumping on her neck. He knew he had to do something drastic to stop her from fighting him.

  He kissed her forehead and whispered, “I�
��m sorry,” before knocking her unconscious.

  Will felt enormous relief as the yelling and fighting finally stopped. He carried her to the bed and prepared for their departure.

  Half an hour later and he was already in his car, cruising down an empty, dark road when Una started to regain consciousness. He smiled when he heard her moan. “Thank goodness! I thought you’d never wake up again.”

  Una touched her head and slowly opened her eyes. “Where…” her voice trailed off.

  “We are on the way to freedom. I thought it’d be good to rest for the night first, but since the little situation back there got a little out of hand, I reckoned we’d better hit the road and arrive at our destination before sunrise.”

  Quietly, Una sat up straight and looked out the window. She thought it was better to stare into the dark than at Will who broke his promise again. What saddened her more was the fact that Will didn’t show any hesitation when he jabbed Billy in the neck. He had a choice. Una was certain that he knew he didn’t have to kill the poor guy, but he still did.

  “Don’t worry, Una. I don’t blame you at all. I’m pretty tired and really needed the few hours of sleep, but I can still manage,” Will assured her softly.

  Una sat back and as soon as she closed her eyes, she had come to the conclusion that Will was never going to change. The way his eyes held joy and satisfaction while his mouth smiled in pleasure during and after brutally taking someone’s life, was more than a confirmation. He couldn’t possibly change who he was. Nothing could change who he really was―not even her.

  She glanced at him and listened to him whistling happily. She thought how his handsome face and good-natured smile had effectively fooled everyone around him. And did it fool her, too? She thought back on the day she met him and cringed. No, he didn’t fool her. Not at first.

  But what could have happened if Will had not been what he was? Will seemed to be the embodiment of the kind of guy that most girls dreamed of. But could they really grow together and endure whatever it was that some people in relationships had failed in? She couldn’t really be sure, though it might only be wishful thinking on her part.