A Beautiful New Life

by Irene, Susan

  Betty interrupted. "Yes dear, your name IS Megan Strauss. It's okay, I know you don't remember. That’s what we’re here for, to help you with your memories. Come sit over here." She patted her hand on an exam table.

  “I remember my name, it is Louise Gilab; and what do you mean, help me with my memories?” She said but both Henry and Betty acted as if they did not hear her.

  "I’m going to give you a light sedative so I can fix your hand and get a cast on it.” As she prepared the shot, she asked. “How did you break your hand?"

  “NO!” Louise took a step back from her but ran into Henry. If she had to, she could take the wimp and as she tried to run, Henry grabbed her and held her down. His strength surprised her, as did his stutter-free response.

  “You’re not going anywhere.” He picked her up and put her down on the procedure table, holding her there while Betty gave her a shot. After a few moments Louise relaxed and slipped into unconsciousness.

  “She is going to be trouble.” Betty said as she prepared to set the hand. “Do you have her tracking chip?”

  “Yes, here it is.” Henry handed her the microchip.

  “I’m telling you she is going to be trouble, I can feel it.” She proceeded to cut an eighth-inch slit in the web between her thumb and index finger. “The cast will cover it up and let it heal. Otherwise I’m afraid she will ask too many question.” She wrapped the wet material around the set hand and Henry took Louise back to her room.

  Chapter Six

  Arlin sat waiting for Detective Sheldon to update him on what he had found out about Louise. It had been three days since Louise should have been home.

  “Arlin, thanks for coming.” Arlin looked up and there stood Detective Sheldon with his overpowering presence, broad shoulders and hands that could crush a boulder. “Let’s go to my desk and we can talk about what I found out.”

  Arlin followed Detective Sheldon to his desk where he did not find the normal clutter-free desktop. Instead, there were piles of receipts and pictures. Arlin could see that the top picture was of Louise and one he had not seen prior to now. He took a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. His heart was beating fast.

  “Well. On first glance this doesn’t look good for you.” Detective Sheldon started out

  “Like what do you mean doesn’t look good for me?” If he was trying to get a reaction, he was well on his way for one. Arlin’s heart beat even faster.

  “I’m not done investigating, of course, but it looks like she may have run off with another man.” He sat forward in his chair resting his clasped hands on top of the pile of evidence.

  “No! You’re mistaken.” Arlin said with conviction.

  “Well let’s start from the beginning.” Detective Sheldon handed Arlin the account statement showing charges made to his account. It showed the charges to the spa that Arlin had purchased. The name of the spa was Genesee.

  “Yes, I told you I made that purchase. I just couldn’t remember the name of the spa.” He did not understand what point Detective Sheldon was trying to prove.

  “We found this resort. It was very secluded.” He paused and looked at Arlin. “Did you know this?”

  “Know what? I only purchased it because I had seen it on her computer and thought it would be nice if I bought her something for her birthday that I knew she would enjoy.” He shook his head. “I don’t understand where you are going with this.”

  “Did you pick the date?”

  “No, Louise did. It was a saved itinerary. I figured she chose a date that she knew would be a good weekend for us to get away. “

  “I’m still investigating but my thinking is you weren’t supposed to go on this trip.”

  “What? Yes I was.”

  Do you know who this person is? Detective Sheldon now handed him a picture of a young man with a military haircut.

  “No, I don’t know him. Who is it? What does it have to do with Louise?

  “Well on first glance I would say she was having an affair?”

  “No, that’s not right.” Arlin squirmed in his seat. This cannot be happening.

  Detective Sheldon showed him the rest of the pictures he had collected from her weekend trip. There were pictures of her crying and a young man consoling her, the same man with her at dinner, and then a picture of him and her again with him leaning in for what was obviously a kiss. Arlin tossed them back on the desk.

  “NO! There is no way this happened.” He hung his head and the tears fell freely.

  “I’m sorry. We are still trying to track down this young man and we hope we will find Louise with him or he can tell us where she is.”

  “I don’t even know what to think.” Seeing the pictures made him burn with rage. How dare she go off with another man? “No! I don’t believe it.”

  Detective Sheldon got up from his seat, came around to the front of the desk and patted Arlin on the back.

  “I’ll keep in touch with what we find as our investigation continues.”

  Arlin got up and followed him out to the waiting area. As he entered the area, he thought he recognized the person sitting in the chair he had just been in earlier. However, the news he received distracted him that even when Detective Sheldon called out the name Arlin did not acknowledge and continued out the door.

  “Mitch thanks for coming in again.” Detective Sheldon led him to his desk and showed him the same evidence he had just shown Arlin.

  “I don’t believe it for a minute. Louise would never leave those boys. They were her life.” Mitch yelled at the detective. Detective Sheldon ensured Mitch that they were still investigating but he may need to come to the realization that maybe he did not know Louise as well as he thought he had.

  “No you are wrong.” Mitch yelled at him. He got up and Detective Sheldon told him to sit down. He did not need him running out angry for no reason. Mitch was not going anywhere, however. He pulled out his wallet, sat back down, and started reading off dates and incidents he had recorded from the past year.

  “January 16th, February 3rd, April 26th, and July 18th, Louise was admitted to the hospital with unexplained symptoms of vomiting, dizziness, and confusion.” Detective Sheldon tried stopping Mitch but he continued. September 21st, November 1st and as recent as one week before Louise left she had serious mechanical problems with her car.”

  “That just proves she had some bad luck with her car.” Detective Sheldon tried rationalizing with him.

  “No, it was more than bad luck.” Mitch explained how each incident could have resulted in an accident that could have been fatal for Louise. “That girl was smart and that is why these accidents weren’t as bad as they could have been.”

  “I tell you what.” Detective Sheldon said in his smoky voice. “I’ll have them pull her medical records and the mechanic records for her car. I’m afraid though, Mitch, they won’t shed any light on this. I think she just left.

  Chapter Seven

  Louise’s dreams would not let her rest. Hidden tunnels she ran down had no end. They twisted and turned as she ran away from the heavy breathing of the beast following her. A warm greeting. Wine. Dinner. A flash of a face. Whose face? That question lingered as the flashes of visions changed with each twist of the tunnel. Flowers. Camping.

  “Daddy.” She called out. He had always been her strength her guide. “Daddy, help me.” As she drew closer another twist of the tunnel. A face. Another twist. “Daddy.”

  The rush through the tunnels now slowed as she crept up reaching out wanting to touch her dad, needing his strength to protect her. As she reached the safety of his aura, she could feel his strength envelop her. She smiled as she allowed it to take over her, closing her eyes and turning around in a full circle to feel it all over. As she made her way around to face her dad again, she opened her eyes and he was gone. In his place a stranger now stood, the feeling of safety and strength planted her feet in front of him. The dark, bald stranger was familiar to her and she was not afraid. She relaxed and the vi
sions, the tunnel, the heavy breathing were gone.

  She woke when she heard the sound of the door. The heavy breathing was her clue to who had entered the room. She stood to face him. She knew she should not resist him but she was not going to show fear either. He raised his arm toward her and she stood fast. He laughed at her and raised his arm again, this time connecting his fist to her face. She fell to the floor and he was on top of her before she could comprehend what he had done. His hand was at her throat holding her down. She struggled against him as he ripped her shirt with his free hand. He did not seem to notice her slapping at him as he now worked to get her pants off. He pulled back a little too far and her foot caught him in the groin.

  “You bitch! You’ll pay for that!” He spit with each word and grabbed her throat pulling her head close to him and he punched her full fisted in the face. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she went limp. He laid her back down and pulled her pants off.

  “Vince, get off her.” A voice came from the darkness. Louise opened her eyes and saw it was Henry. “What do you think you are doing? Mr. Kramer told you she was off limits.”

  “Yah, what is he going to do to me?” He laughed as he got up and pulled up his pants. “You’re lucky; this time.” He said to Louise before he turned, pushed Henry out of the way, and walked out the door.

  “Megan, are you okay?” Henry came and sat next to her bare body. She rolled over, collected her clothes, and dressed.

  “I’m not Megan!” She yelled. “I’m Louise Gilab. Please let me go. I have three boys and a husband.”

  “You’re never leaving here.” He stood up and walked to the door. Louise jumped up behind him.

  “No, I’m leaving now and you can’t stop me.” She made a run for the door and hoped it did not close on her. As she stepped out two men grabbed her. She fought against them as they forced her down the hallway. The feeling that penetrated her brain reminded her of a book she read about a man on death row taking his last walk to the electric chair, except he went willingly. If this was her last walk, it will be her last fight as well. She was not going down quietly. Their nails dug into her skin, drawing blood, but she kept fighting. The blood ran down her arm pooling in her cast. She pulled her arm, freeing herself of the man’s grip, and swung it around catching the other man in the face with her cast. He lost his balance and released his grip on her as he fell to the floor.

  She turned and ran in the opposite direction they had been heading. Henry and both men close behind. As she reached the end of the hallway, she saw the exit off to the right. She darted for the door but Vince came up behind her, grabbed her shirt, and pulled her back. He pulled the shirt tight. She reached to loosen the shirts grip on her neck but she could not get her fingers under the collar. She gasped for air but got none. He dragged her down the hallway as she started to lose consciousness. Vince relaxed his grip on the shirt and she gasped for air; taking deep breaths as he dragged her up the stairs.

  Louise inhaled another deep breath and had to fight back the vomit as the hospital smell overwhelmed her. She tried to fight but Vince tightened the shirt once again forcing Louise to fight to breathe. They picked her up, laid her down on a table, and strapped her arms down. The cold steel penetrated through her lightweight t-shirt. She kicked and spat at anyone within reach until Henry strapped down her legs and taped her mouth.

  “Should I sedate her?” The motherly voice asked.

  “No, she needs to feel the pain, bitch will think twice before she tries to leave again. That’s if she ever gets her memory back.”

  They laughed. “Look at her struggle like a fish out of water.” Betty shaved her head of what hair had grown back and placed electrodes on it. She continued to struggle under the straps.

  “Clear.” She heard Betty say and wondered what they were doing. Louise’s screams went unheard by the tape on her mouth as the shock sent through her body made her twitch uncontrollably.

  She heard Vince laugh and say. “Turn it up higher.”

  “No, no, we don’t want to fry her. Remember what happened to that other girl. It’s easier if they’re manageable and can give something back by working around here.”

  “Yah well that girl ended up going home anyway.”

  “That girl was a mistake, a big mistake. We had no choice really to do what we did.” She tried to focus on what they were saying but another shock swept through her body and wiped the thought away.

  “It isn’t an option here to send this one home.” Henry added to the conversation.

  “I don’t know, I think with this one we would be better off just making her disappear for good. I just feel she’ll be trouble.” The motherly nursed said as another jolt shot though Louise’s body.

  The wetness between her legs told her she has lost control of her bodily functions. It would only be a matter of time and she would lose her mind. After a few more shocks, Louise just laid there; the only fight left was the involuntary twitching of her body. They took her back to a room and strapped her down in a bed.

  “This is for your own good Megan, one day you’ll understand.” Betty said as she tucked her under the covers.

  “My…my name is not Megan.” She was not going to give up. She may not physically be able to fight but as long as her mind was working, she will continue to fight them mentally.

  “I really wish you hadn’t said that.” Betty turned out the lights and walked out of the room. As much as she tried not to, Louise fell asleep.

  She woke as they came in and unstrapped her. She eyed who was in the room and tried to overcome Betty. She may have sounded motherly but there was nothing motherly about her physically. She was strong, and single-handedly had Louise down and secured into the wheelchair before Louise even had a chance to take a step to the door.

  They took her to the same room as the previous day and strapped her to the table once again. Louise fought like hell but was overpowered once more. They taped her mouth and sent the electric shocks through her body again. She became weaker with each treatment she had heard them call it. Each time they would talk to her, tell her who she was, where she was at, and what she was doing there. They were shocking her past life out of her and she could feel them succeeding.

  Chapter Eight

  “Excuse me Mr. Gilab.” Shelley’s voice came over the intercom.

  “Yes, Shelley.” Arlin answered.

  “There is a Detective Sheldon here to see you.”

  “What could he want now?” Arlin said to himself. He took a deep breath and spoke into the intercom. “Send him in.” The authorities were still trying to locate the man last seen with Louise. Mitch Bullen continued to make a huge argument as to why Louise would never up and leave her boys. The detective had questioned Arlin nonstop for the whole month, going over every detail and contradiction that Mitch pointed out, including, according to Louise, the spa trip was a gift from Arlin.

  Detective Sheldon walked in and Arlin stood to greet him. “What do I owe this visit? Usually you would summon me to your office.” He walked around to the front of the desk.

  “Well I just got news and wanted to give it to you in person before we had our news conference.” He motioned toward the couch. “Here let’s have a seat.”

  “Did you find the man Louise was with?” Arlin’s heart raced. Arlin sat on the couch next to Detective Sheldon.

  “Yes we did.”

  “Well, where is he? Where is my wife?” Arlin stood up and started pacing.

  “Please, Mr. Gilab, come sit down.” When he continued to pace the room, Detective Sheldon continued. “He came forward after our press conference. He said he had met her at the resort for a romantic weekend but when he found out she was married, he told her he could not continue to see her.”

  “What? So what happened to her? Where is she? Did he say?” He sat down again on the couch.

  “He said she got really upset ran to her room, grabbed her overnight bag and went to the front desk to get her car.” Arlin got up ag
ain and paced the room.

  “So where is she?”

  “She had had a lot to drink. They tried to stop her from driving.”

  “They let her drive drunk?” He paced the floor, wringing his hands.

  “She insisted she had made a mistake and just wanted to go home. They offered to take her home and she declined.” Detective Sheldon got up and tried to get Arlin to sit down. “She said she would wait until morning but insisted on getting her keys now so she could leave first thing. They gave her the keys and she headed back to her room. She returned to the lobby a few minutes later and said she wanted to go for a walk. She didn’t have her bag so they let her go.”

  “So where is she then?” He continued pacing.

  “Please Mr. Gilab, sit down.” Arlin sat down; he knew the news would not be good. “I’m sorry to inform you that we believe Louise is dead.”

  “What? What do you mean, you believe she is dead?” He fidgeted.

  “Her car, well the remains of her car were found off a cliff along the route she would have taken when returning home from the resort.”

  “What do you mean remains of her car? What about her? Did you find her body? Maybe she is alive.” He stood now and paced again. His anger was real.

  “The cliff, the car went off, was a pretty steep drop. Those who found the car believes the force of the impact threw Louise from the car. It is really rocky terrain.” He stopped. Arlin sat down again and Detective Sheldon continued. “It’s hard to say where her body would have ended up. I’m so sorry.”

  “Well you are going to look for her. What if she is still alive?” He had to be sure.

  “No. The terrain is too steep and rocky. When we heard she had left, we had authorities fly over and they found the car. They used thermal imaging and didn’t find her body.”

  “But her body could be out there right? Thermal imaging would only find it if she was alive.” He had to be sure she was dead.