Darkest Fears Trilogy: Fallen For Him / Freed By Him / Forever With Him

by Clair Delaney

  “You know where the bathroom is right?” he softly says. I nod again, still unable to speak. “And if you need anything, anytime. Just come and get us,” he says, gently stroking my hair.

  I blink up at him. “Carlos,” I whisper.“I’m so glad you’re ok.”

  He pulls me into his arms and we hug for a while.“Me too, I would have missed you and you’re crazy ways,” he says, pulling back to look at me.I smile weakly at him. Carlos leans towards me and softly kisses me on the forehead. “I’ll leave you to it,” he says.I nod again as those were the only words I could say, Carlos stands and quietly leaves, shutting the door behind him.

  I stare blankly at the clothes in my hands, then decide if I'm going to sleep through this numbness, I'm better off doing it in these. It takes a long time to change clothes, I keep stopping and staring blankly at the wall, I think I’m in shock.

  Pulling my top over my head, I collapse back onto the bed staring blankly at the wall...

  “CORAL WAKE UP!” MY EYES DART OPEN. I see Rob stood over me, my mobile in his hand.“It’s the police, they need to speak to you,” he says. What?

  I frown deeply, I feel so disorientated – Police? Why would they want to speak to me?

  “Coral, take it,” Rob shouts.In a daze, I take my mobile off him and bring it up to my ear, I'm still not sure if I'm awake or dreaming.

  “Hello,” I croak.

  “Miss Coral Stevens?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you the owner of studio seven on the western concourse?”

  “Yes.” My heart starts to palpitate.

  “My name is Sargeant Phillips, I’m afraid there’s been an accident.”An accident? What’s he talking about?As my senses start to come back to me, I look up at Rob.

  “Um…I’m sorry what accident?” I whisper.

  “Your next door neighbor,” he says.

  “Bob?” I shout– Oh My God, something’s happened to Bob!

  “We are here with him now, just waiting for the ambulance.”

  “Ambulance,” I choke. “I’ll be right there,” I tell him and end the call.

  Rob runs out the room. I launch myself up from the bed, grab my trainers from the bag and shove my feet into them.Running out of the bedroom and down the hallway, I see Rob already has his jacket on and his keys in his hands.

  I run to the front door then glance behind me.“Thanks Carlos,” I say, “For everything.”

  “Anytime, I hope Bob’s ok,” he says a look of concern across his face.

  I smile weakly at him and dash out the door…

  THE DRIVE DOWN TO THE MARINAseems like a complete blur, the only thing I notice it that it’s gone dark. All I can think about is whether Bob’s ok.Why does it feel like we are going in slow motion?My leg is rapidly jigging up and down, and I’m chewing my tips with nerves.

  “Hurry Rob,” I squeak. Rob screeches to a halt at the gym, right next to a waiting police car with blue lights flashing. Not waiting for him, I launch myself out of the car and run at full speed across the carpark, heading straight for my studio.

  I hear someone calling me back, but I can't stop, I won't stop. Taking the steps down to the concourse two at a time, I almost fall over I'm going at such a speed. I can see several people hanging around, and I can just make out a policeman, I can tell from his black uniform, his radio on his shoulder.Reaching my studio, I have to shout at several people to move out of the way. When the crowd finally parts and I see what’s before me, I almost burst into tears.

  Bob is on the floor, a pool of blood underneath his head. A female police officer is holding his head with a towel, and my studio has been completely ransacked, my music, photo albums and DVDs are all over the place. The cushions on the sofa have been slashed, my little table over-turned, and I can see what I think,are several of my work trousers hanging across the banister, but they are in pieces, like someone’s cut them all up.

  Bob sees me and lifts his hand in the air. He’s alive, thank god he’s alive.

  I launch myself forward and sink to the floor next to him, I take his hand in mine and squeeze it gently, he smiles crookedly at me.

  “Bob,” I choke, my throat thick with tears.

  “She was here,” he whispers.

  “Who was?” I ask.

  “The girl...from before,”he says coughing. Susannah!

  “The blonde girl?” I ask.

  “Yes,” he croaks.

  “What happened?” I ask softly.

  “I heard a noise...thought it was you, she was upstairs…” Bob stops wincing in pain.

  “Take it easy Bob,” I say, and gently stroke his forehead.

  Bob takes a breath and continues. “She came down when I called for you...she hit me with that,” he says his eyes moving to the right, my eyes follow his, and there, lying on the floor with blood on its tip is my baseball bat.

  “She attacked you?” I growl.

  “Yes,” he croaks – I feel such venomous hatred run through my veins. I’m going to fucking kill her, I’m going to find her and I’m going to fucking kill her for this.Rob arrives and crouches down the other side of Bob.

  “Bob,” he squeaks in shock, taking his other hand.

  Bob smiles crookedly again.“You kids are so good to me…” he croaks.“Coral,”he winces, just as the paramedics turn up and start working on him. “She’s after you,” he whispers. “Go kick her butt…” he coughs, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.

  “Bob!” I screech. The policewoman is shouting at me, trying to get me to move, but I am not leaving his side. Rob grabs hold of me by the waist and pulls me out of the way.

  I watch in horror as two paramedics start CPR, trying to resuscitate him. No!

  Rob squeezes me tight, trying to comfort me.I slap my hands to my mouth…don’t die on my Bob, please…I close my eyes and start a mantra. Don’t die on me Bob, please don't die on me...

  “Coral!” Rob squeaks.

  I open my eyes and see Bob’s chest start to move up and down on its own again, I sag with relief, then watch as they carefully move him onto a stretcher. I walk forward, take his hand in mine and squeeze it tight. I know Rob is behind me, walking with us.

  “Are you family?” The female paramedic asks.

  “Practically, he doesn’t have anyone else,” I say, choking back tears.

  She nods once. “You can ride with him,” she tells me.

  “Hang in there Bob ok?” I croak.

  With the oxygen mask across his face, he blinks once at me and tries to smile, he’s such a fighter, I dread to think what would have happened had he not been that way.I lean down and kiss his cheek, keeping up with the paramedics as they roll him along the concourse.

  Bob tries to pull off the oxygen mask several times, but the paramedics keep stopping him, he looks pissed off. Reaching the ambulance they get him inside, and I follow.I feel so angry and mad at myself, I should have protected Bob, I should have demanded he stay with Gladys.

  A few stray tears fall down my cheeks, when I think of what could of happened, it’s too horrifying to think about,I lean down and kiss his cheek again.“I'm so sorry Bob,” I choke.

  Bob points to his mask. I know he wants to tell me something, so I carefully lift the mask.

  “I’ll be fine,” he says wincing again. “But he won’t,” he whispers.

  “Who?” I question.

  “Tristan…” he croaks. “She’s gone there, looking for you…”he whispers.

  It takes a few seconds to register what he’s said…’she’s gone there looking for you…Holy Fuck, Tristan!

  I think Bob can see the horror spreading across my face.“Go,” he says trying to move me.“Go…”My head whips round to Rob who’s stood outside the open doors.

  “Rob, can you go with him? And can I borrow your car?” I ask.

  There’s somewhere I need to be!

  “Yeah…but, what’s going on Coral?” he says, stepping inside the ambulance.

  “No
time!” I frantically say, holding my hand out for his keys.

  Rob shakes his head at me. “Don’t do anything stupid,” he says, reluctantly handing me his keys.

  “I have to go do this,” I tell him, then I look down at Bob. “Hang in there Bob,” I say kissing his forehead.

  “Be careful,”Rob says.I nod once at him, step outside and watch as the paramedics get ready to shut the doors.

  “Rob,” I shout. “Call Gladys, she needs to know,” I add.

  Rob nods once, looking very worried and squeezes Bob’s hand.The doors to the ambulance close before me. I hear the sirens come on, and I watch as it drives out of the carpark, heading in the direction of the hospital.My blood instantly boils within me, I am going to kill her.

  Clenching my fists, I start running back to my studio. I have one thing and one thing only on my mind – Tristan!

  Pushing past all the people that are being asked to go home by the police, I run into the living-room – How the hell am I meant to find them in this mess?

  “Miss, you can't be in here.”A male voice tells me.

  “I live here,” I snap at him, still searching for what I need.

  “Miss Stevens?” He questions.

  “Yes,” I shout – Found them!

  “We need to ask you a few ques’ – I barge past him, out the studio, past all the onlookers and run as fast as I can towards the carpark.

  Reaching Rob’s BMW 4, I press the fob and the car unlocks, throwing myself inside, I push my foot on the brake and press the start button, the engine revs to life. Slamming my foot down on the gas, I fishtail out of the carpark,tyressquealing as they find grip.I almost collide with another car, but they slam on their brakes as I go speeding past them…. I have to get to Tristan, no matter what – Brandon Flowers Crossfire is blaring on the radio – Weird that I’ve noticed it, I hadn’t even realised the radio was playing on the way down here.

  Racing up Marina Way, I have to use the handbrake to turn right into Roedean Road, then I slam on the brakes as I take the right onto Cliff Approach, then I turn left, tires squeeling onto The Cliff, I almost lose control – Shit!

  I slam on the brake and then back on the gas as the car powers down the road towards Tristan’s pad.With the gates still open, I swing a left into them, skidding so badly I almost smash into the gatepost.When the car straightens up, I slam my foot down on the gas again and launch towards the house.

  I see Tristan’s car in the driveway and the front door wide open – Fuck!

  Screeching to a halt, I pull on the handbrake and push the stop button. Opening the door, I jump out, and slamming it behind me I run the couple of steps to the front door.

  Tristan, please be ok!

  Stilling myself for a moment, I take my Eskrima sticks out of the cloth bag and take a deep breath –You can do this Coral!

  I close my eyes for a moment and picture Tristan smiling at me. A strange calm washes over me, I don't feel angry or scared, I feel calm and focused and totally in control.

  Stepping out of my trainers because I know they will squeak across the flooring, I carefully step inside.All the lights are out. As I take silent steps into the hallway, I see the alarm cover is down and there’s a green light flashing on it, I remember Tristan telling me it triggers the alarm for the police. I wonder for a moment if I should call out to him, but something tells me I need to be silent, invisible.

  My eyes search the living room, I can't see him in there or the part of the kitchen I can see from the hallway, and there’s no sign of a struggle.Turning around, I tiptoe silently towards his office. I open the door as quietly as I can, I half expect to see him in here, but as I step into the room I see he’s not, but I'm instantly immobilised when I see what’s up on the walls – Oh My God!

  The photos from Hastings are all blown up and hanging on the walls.

  On the back wall there’s a collage of four, to my right another four, to my left are the two I liked the most. They have been blown up and changed to black and white and I can tell from where Tristan sits at his desk; they would surround him…Oh Tristan!

  Swallowing hard, I turn on my heel and walk back out.I feel lost for a moment. This house is so big I could spend forever trying to find Tristan.Deciding my next step is to check downstairs I silently pad as quickly as I can down the stairs, I run along the hallway and stop as I reach the cinema room. The door is open, so I lean in as quickly as I can and pull back taking a mental picture of the room as I do. Damn he isn’t in there!

  Running to the gym, I stop before I reach the glass wall and do the same as I did with the cinema room – Damn it! – Not in here either.

  Dashing back down the hallway, I silently run up the stairs two at a time, I turn to my right and head towards the kitchen. I check the library, and the large dining room, just as I’m running back out, I start to hear music playing, I stand stock still so I can try and work out where it’s coming from.Upstairs!

  I tentatively walk towards the stairs leading to the bedrooms, I hear Florence and the Machine playing, I’ve never heard Tristan play that before. I put my foot on the first step and listen again, I know the track – Shake It Out – I try to listen for any strange noises, any kind of danger, when I don't, I run up the first flight of stairs as silently as I can.I’m so glad these stairs don't creak and give me away!

  Reaching the first landing, I open each bedroom door as quietly as I can and glance inside. I have a horrible feeling I know where Tristan is…and Susannah.

  I walk over to the last flight of stairs and stop for a moment…Ok, this is it!

  Feeling sure of what I'm about to do, I run up the stairs, then I slowly walk across the short landing to the doorway so I can catch my breath.I hear the music getting louder, but my heart is overtaking that, thumping loudly against my chest, blood pounding in my ears.

  Reaching the door, I shakily reach out and place my hand on the doorknob. I slowly turn it, then gently push it open. Keeping an Eskrima stick in each hand just in-case Susannah is there, I step forward into the room. Oh God! No…Tristan…

  Tristan is lying on the bed. His head is cut and bleeding, his mouth is covered with duct-tape, his arms tied behind him, and he’s out cold – Tristan!

  I run over to him and crawl along the bed, when I reach him I try to lift him up, but he’s too heavy for me. Leaning down, I try to see where all the blood’s coming from, but there’s too much of it, I quickly untie his arms and pull the tape from his mouth.

  “Tristan, wake up baby, please wake up,” I whisper into his ear.

  Silent tears start to fall against my cheeks; seeing him like this is like my own personal hell.

  “Tristan,” I whisper kissing his head. “Please wake up.” I tap his face a couple of times, hoping that might do the trick.

  Finally, his eyes open drearily. “Tristan, look at me,” I say sharply, his eyes search for me, but he looks like he can't focus properly, then suddenly his eyes widen with fear as he grips his head in pain.

  “Run,” he growls.

  “Is she here?” I whisper.

  “Get out Coral… she has a gun!”

  “What?” I gasp.Fuck! Where the hell did she get a fucking gun from?

  “Get out Coral,” Tristan says again, gripping his head and groaning in pain.

  “No. I’m not leaving you Tristan, come on,” I stagger as I try to help Tristan off the bed and onto his feet. He instantly falls to the floor, taking me with him.

  “Tristan!” I cry out. “What did she do to you?” I choke.

  He tries to push me away from him again.“Go, run...get out,” he moans, holding his head again.I feel absolute rage flood through me. I want to find her. I want to kill her.

  “Coral...move, go,” he says then he cries out in pain and holds his head.

  I start to cry.“No! I'm not leaving you,” I croak.I help him to his feet again but he stumbles three times onto the bed.

  I lift his arm over my shoulder, and with all my might, I l
ift him up to his feet, blood starts gushing from his head, pooling onto his shoulder, then dripping down his torso –Fuck, Tristan!

  I hear police sirens close by, and just as I'm about to take a step forward I see Susannah appear from behind the door. Shit! She was there the whole time! – I see the gun in her hand, I think it’s a small revolver; we stop and stare at one another. I decide my best bet is to try and talk her down, get her to see sense, I have to do something.

  “Susannah,” I whisper, swallowing hard.

  “He’s mine,” she says robotically and lifts the gun up so it’s pointing at me. Oh fuck!

  I hear voices shouting from down below, it gives me a tiny glint of hope.

  “Coral…don't move.” Tristan’s voice startles me, I turn and look up at him, he seems more lucid as he glares at Susannah.

  She smiles weakly at him then she looks back at me, her lips pull back over her teeth, and she starts to growl at me, which quickly turns into an erratic scream.She holds her head in her hands and starts to shake her head, then she starts banging the gun against her forehead, mumbling to herself, then suddenly she stops and looks up at me, raising the gun in her trembling hand she points it right at me – Holy fuck,I think I'm about to die?

  “Susannah!-Don’t!” Tristan shouts.

  She moves a fraction and aims at Tristan, tears pool in her eyes and start to stream down her cheeks, just asher finger starts to pull back against the trigger.

  “No!” I swing myself around and dive in front of Tristan, just as I hear the deafening sound of a gun going off, and something…something painful pierce my shoulder.

  “Coral!” Tristan gasps and falls to the floor with me in his arms.

  Several footsteps run into the room, I hear Susannah scream in rage as she’s taken down, and another shot goes off, my ears are ringing so badly.I feel a strange sensation start to trickle down my back. I'm aware of several things happening at once, an ambulance being called, lots of male voices shouting, Tristan looking frantic.

  I realise I can't really feel my body anymore, everything feels numb.I look up at Tristan, his beautiful face looks so clear to me.