Apollo's 11

by Anna Collins

  Mrs. Hudson's face went blank "then you are my only hope Freya, you have to help me with this. Henry told me that you and Robert shared an intimate relationship."

  "But how can we compete with black magic?" I asked, as my body shook with fear.

  "With the power of goodness. I know a way by which we can save Robert. I am not an expert like Rebecca but I too know some spells and if you do this ritual with me then...then Robert might come back to us" she described with hope beaming from her eyes.

  God! What was she saying? It made no sense to me and how could I agree to do something like that with her? I barely knew that woman. But the information that she had given about Rebecca, couldn't be totally wrong. And she was Robert's mother after all.

  I looked at Rick but got no signs of reassurance from him. He was still trying to comprehend her words.

  "Sis, you love him and I think you should totally try this" Rick spoke up but his expression told me that he was surprised by his own words.

  Okay, enough of this emotional drama, now it was time to speak about some logic "how can you be so sure that this...whatever you are calling it, will work?" I asked.

  "I don't know if it will work or not but I want to try. The power of love can do anything. My dear, you just have to sit in front of a pile of fire and pray to God. He will bring him to you" She said.

  "But this seems too vague. I think, we should beat up that Joe and ask him to spill the truth, yes I will do that only. Come on Rick" I stated and got up on my feet.

  "Rebecca will save Joe and you will not be able to compete with her," said Mrs. Hudson.

  I hated it when someone else was right.

  "I think Henry was wrong. You don't love Robert. If you had loved him, you would have agreed to do this ritual because believe it or not this is the only way to bring him back. I could have done this alone, but it requires two people. That's why I am begging you to help me but I think your heart is just too stiff to care for anyone else" she said while wiping her tears, the desperation and sadness in her tone was totally noticeable.

  Ahh! Who was she to lecture me about my love for Robert? Maybe it bothered me more because I was still unsure about my own feelings. Yes, I felt something for him but love was a very strong word to define it.

  Dude! I was Freya, the overly curious and selfish girl. I never really thought about someone else. But this woman was a helpless mother she was asking me to help her.

  Freya, how can you be so heartless? What if it was your mother instead of her, would you have denied her too? My subconscious hammered me with these questions.

  No matter how lame her plan sounded but it was the only way out. I couldn't deny the presence of black magic nor the presence of that veiled woman because she tried to trap me too.

  Finally, I gave up "please don't say like this. My brain is too worn out to deal with anything. Fine! I will do it, but not because I have faith in all these, I will be doing this because my manners don't give me the permission to turn down an elderly woman" I sighed.

  She smiled "thank you so much. Please don't mind my words I said those out of anger"

  "Don't worry, sis always blabbers a lot of things too" Rick said with a smile which faded immediately with an angry glare of my eyes.

  "I can't believe it. How did she fell for it? " Joe Hudson's eyes were opened wide.

  Rebecca smirked "it was easier than expected. That girl is an emotional fool. She fell for my crocodile tears" she said while checking herself on the round glass mirror.

  She continued "this getup helped a lot too."

  Joe walked up to her "yes you look totally different, almost human. Except for the heart," he taunted.

  Rebecca's eyes went fierce and Joe looked away in fear.

  "Emotion never meant anything to me and don't you dare lecture me about not having a heart. You too are hungry for wealth" Rebecca shrugged.

  Joe's eyes were now filled with regret. It looked like a part of him was repenting.

  "But where is Robert? Have you killed him already?" Joe's voice shook.

  Rebecca laughed "no silly! Why will I kill my own blood? I have trapped him in that painting. I will release him once Freya gets married to my master. Till then my poor son will just have to suffer" she winked.

  Her blue eyes were slowly changing into red. The getup that she had taken to fool Freya was starting to come off.

  "Ahh, this place still smells like old times. There was a time when I used to groom myself up in front of this mirror. Sometimes I really miss my old life" Rebecca sighed.

  "Then you shouldn't have killed him. He really loved you" Joe added nervously.

  Rebecca laughed "I knew that guy was crazy for me like Freya is crazy for Robert. People get so dumb in love"

  "Rebecca, can't you chose any other girl for this? I...mean..to say that Freya just seems too innocent and she never really did anything wrong to you. I mean, killing is another thing but getting her married to the devil...is worse than death" Joe gulped, rubbing his palms.

  Rebecca clenched her fists and went for Joe's neck as she pinned him to a wall. Joe was fighting to break free, but her force was too powerful. "Have you forgotten your level? How did you even dare to speak in front of me?" her voice was deep and too scary.

  "I'm sorry" Joe pleaded.

  Then she released him "don't make this mistake again" she warned.

  Freya

  "See there is nothing. There is no sign of that creepy bungalow" Rick stated in an I-know-everything tone.

  I frowned, this was my straw to find Joe Hudson and the veiled woman, oh her name was Rebecca. By now, we had checked almost everywhere. Hudson Mansion, the office, warehouses and now this disappearing bungalow. It seemed like they had disappeared in the thin air, oh wait... it totally possible. Maybe they had disappeared, but where was Robert? Did they also take him along with them?

  "Rick, I don't know anything. Everything seems just so foggy" I sighed.

  "That's why I asked you to listen to Mrs. Hudson. She is Robert's mother; she loves him more than anyone else" Rick tried to explain.

  "Maybe you are right, but something doesn't feel right. There are a lot of unanswered questions" I stated in a defeated tone.

  I was roaming to and from on the wet grass of that empty place where once there used to be a bungalow. I knew I was not strong enough to fight Rebecca. But I was not ready to lose it because losing it would mean losing Robert and there was no way I could afford that.

  I held my head in my hands and screamed with frustration.

  Rick walked up to me "sis, accept it. We have no other way to find Robert" he said.

  I looked at him helplessly.

  Just then a blue Mercedes drove into the empty road and stopped right in front of the yard where I and Rick were standing.

  Soon the feet of a woman wearing flat pump shoes came into view. Shit! What the hell was Mrs. Hudson doing here? My face fell on seeing her. She was proceeding towards us.

  "I know you are not happy to see me Freya, but I couldn't help it. I was following you guys. You did your part, for the whole night you kept on searching them and now it's morning. Is there any result?" she asked as she stood right in front of me. Rick quickly moved away.

  I shook my head in denial.

  "Mrs. Hudson, sorry for cutting in but how did Rebecca contact you? I mean is there a telephone number? If it is then maybe, we can try and track them down?" Rick suggested.

  "No dear. I am afraid she didn't call me by phone, she appeared right in my house and when she was done talking she disappeared" answered Mrs. Hudson.

  "Don't be stupid Rick. She is a damn witch. Why will she call people by phone? She has magical powers" I blurted out with irritation.

  Mrs. Hudson was giving me a look of fondness. It looked like she was understanding my dilemma.

  "I don't know what to do. If you are so sure about that 'ritual' then we must do it and we need to do it soon. Let's do it now" I urged, trying my best to hold my tears.
>
  She smiled and waved her hand on my head. It felt so good.

  "I know you are desperate but we have to do it at night. Now come with me, we need to get started on something and I need you to come alone" she said pointing towards Rick.

  "But...how can I leave her alone?" Rick hesitated.

  I sighed "don't worry, I will be fine."

  "Yes, I am here to take care of her" she wrapped her arms around my shoulder.

  And at that moment it almost felt like I was trapped in the arms of some kind of danger. Strange, why was I feeling like that? Ahh, maybe the tension and the stress had mixed up my emotions, maybe that's why instead of feeling hopeful I was feeling scared.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Robert

  With a loud sound of a smack, the darkness creaked and light penetrated into my swollen eyes. I shut my eyes tightly, my eyes needed time to adjust to these dense rays. I had even forgotten what light looked like.

  "Robert, Robert, are you there? Please answer me" a familiar voice called out my name.

  It took me a moment to find my voice "yes, I am here. But I am trapped in something, I can't move" I answered, it felt so good to hear my own voice after so long.

  "Don't worry, I am here, I am applying heat. You have ice all around you" said the voice.

  The rays of heat covered me from top to bottom like a second skin, it was piercing, yet soothing and that moment it felt like I was alive, I was breathing again.

  The ice melted ,now I was floating on warm water.

  Then I was lost again.

  "Robert, swim to your left and jump out. Make it quick, we only got like an hour" said the voice.

  My body was weak, but my hopes of getting free were stronger than anything else I could remember. Gathering my courage and praying to God for help, I swam to the end and jumped out as instructed.

  "You! What are you doing here? Were you the one to cage me like this?" I yelled on getting the obnoxious sight of Joe Hudson.

  "No, I mean, I helped her but it was not my plan. Trust me Robert" he pleaded.

  "I don't know who to trust anymore. You can't even imagine how it felt to be lying out there. The ice surrounding me had killed my body and the pain had made my brain numb, I was not even sure if I was alive or not" I shivered as the outer air touched my wet body.

  Joe was staring at his feet; his actions spoke regret.

  Then I calmed down a bit and took a good look at my surroundings. I was in a hall room where several candles were burning, the white fumes weren't providing the best vision in the world and were making me cough. The place looked too creepy to be true. It seemed like an ancient bungalow, yes that's what it was!

  "I can't believe it! Did you create this den of yours just to trap me? But where is the sea? And how did you create that ice around my body?" I asked in awe. I was hell angry, I wanted to kill him on the spot but at the same time I was amazed by his unique technique of kidnapping and couldn't wait to find out about the place where I was trapped.

  "You were trapped in that painting, by a spell. And I am not capable of casting any spell, so you have to believe that a witch was behind all this and the witch was…."

  I didn't let him complete his sentence, I cut him "you think I'm a fool. There is no such thing as witches or wizards" I shrugged in my no-nonsense attitude.

  Joe Hudson laughed.

  I furrowed my eyebrows trying to figure out the reason behind his mocking laugh.

  Then I looked to my left and there was a painting of the sea, and to my surprise, actual water was dripping out of it. Was it a hologram? No way dude! It looked so damn real. I touched it and shook a bit when the water actually caught on my fingertip.

  Freaking hell! What is this?

  "Look who is talking, Robert Hudson, how can you not believe in the existence of witches when your mother is one of them?" Joe informed.

  I looked at him with panic in my eyes "my mother, witch?" I spoke.

  "Yes, she was the one to trap you. She is one of the most powerful witches" Joe announced rigidly.

  My body shook both from the cold and from the panic attack as well. He was lying, there was no way he could be telling the truth. My mother was not even alive. She died, that too because of me.

  I held my face in my hands "Joe! If this is a joke then I will kill you and none of the powers in this world will be able to save you!" I growled angrily, feeling my eyes turning red.

  "You think this is the time to cook up stories? And why will I save you in the first place when I could take over your property in your absence" Joe blurted out.

  I inhaled deeply "then why did you save me?" I asked.

  "It's true that I hate you, you have always been mean to me but I have no reason to hate that innocent girl. I can't let her face the worst possible death, knowing the fact that I could have helped her if I wished to" he sighed, took out his coat and wrapped it around me. His eyes looked soft and were filled with tears.

  "Whom are you talking about? Whose life is in danger?" I asked.

  "Freya!" he stomped.

  His outburst raised my goosebumps, even the cold didn't affect me like that. "Freya? My Freya? But why does mother want to kill her? She has done nothing."

  "Huh! Your mother is a complex character and she is filled with evilness she doesn't need a reason to hurt anyone" Joe sighed.

  He continued "she is planning to get her married to the devil and apparently Freya has fallen into her trap."

  "What are you saying? Why will she ever agree to do something like this?" I asked.

  Joe shook his head, smiling sadly as we stood there in the middle of that atrocious place.

  "She agreed to do this because she is in love with you, she is ready to do anything to for you. And she doesn't know what she is doing, Rebecca fooled her by saying that it's a ritual and they will be doing this to bring you back. She created two images of herself in front of her, one good and one bad" Joe informed.

  "And the good one reassured that she would fight with the evil one to bring me back?" I asked.

  Joe nodded.

  "Shit! My mother is such a witch. For my entire life I have been living with the guilt that I was the one to kill her. I tortured myself mercilessly to get rid of the burden of guilt, and there she is trying to kill an innocent girl. How pathetic!" I stomped my feet.

  "What is the time? We must go there and stop that disaster before its too late. By the way, have you tried warning Freya? Now that I am safe, she might not go there in the first place" I said.

  " I knew she will never believe me that's why I found out the way to set you free. Now we can go to her and when she will see you she will not go there" Joe informed.

  I examined him with curious eyes "everything you are saying makes sense to me. But why are you doing this for us?" I asked.

  "I am doing this for Freya. I have been the witness of such a wedding like this and my insides shake whenever the flashes of that event cross my mind. I can kill people, I am okay with death too but that is surely the worst possible death one can ever imagine" Joe breathed.

  I reached up to him and touched his shoulder, giving him the calmest possible look of reassurance. And he smiled sadly holding in my hand.

  "Come on fast, let's go to Freya's house. The sun is about to set" Joe warned and we snaked out without wasting a further second.

  "Will you say something?" I yelled at that useless friend of Freya's but he kept staring me like he had seen a ghost or something.

  "Hello!" I waved my hand in front of his face.

  "Robert, is it really you? Where were you? You know we searched for you like crazy and sis was emotionally drained" he spoke in a breath.

  I let out a breath of despair, oh my poor Freya!

  "I know all that and now we don't have time to discuss all this. Call Freya, I need to stop her from making a huge mistake" I said.

  "Sis is fine. She is with your mother; they are doing something to bring you back. Wait, let me call her" Rick re
plied chirpily.

  "We are too late Robert. Rebecca has already played her game. She has taken Freya to marry the devil" Joe sighed.

  The phone slipped away from Rick's hand as he heard it.

  "No! This can't be true" he gasped.

  I shut my eyes in pain "how much time do we have? And do you know their location?" I asked Joe.

  "I do and we have almost 6 hours. The wedding can only take place after midnight. But it's no use of going there, we are no match to the devil" Joe stated, expressionlessly.

  "I don't care! I will try my best to save her. You just take me there, how long will it take to reach there?" I asked.

  "Four hours, if we start right away," he said.

  "Fine! Let's go to my place, I will grab some clothes and my fastest moving car and we are all set" I said.

  "It's going to be very risky Robert, don't even think that she will spare your life just because you are her son. The practice of black heart has snatched out the goodness from her. Now she can do anything for power" Joe warned.

  I sighed "I know and I am ready to face her. She could have all the power in the world but I know I can crack her with my determination" I said confidently as the pain became more apparent in my eyes.

  "Then let's go and save her" Joe patted on my back.

  "Wait, guys, please take me with you" Rick pleaded.

  Joe was about to say something but I stopped him "okay Rick you can come with us. I know how much you care for Freya" I said.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Robert

  It was 6 pm and we were on our way to the dense forest. I was driving my Audi A7, Joe was sitting beside me and Rick took the back seat. My life literally depended on this expedition. Freya was mine, there was no way I could let them take her away from me. My mother had tortured me a lot, now it was my turn. I swirled the steering wheel with determination. It was a do or die situation.

  "Uncle, do you know how this marriage takes place? And why does the devil have to marry a normal girl?" Rick asked from behind.