by H. Caswell
It is the middle of the night. All but the two in Alfred’s study and Claire who waits downstairs are asleep. Claire wonders down to listen for Charlie. He soon begins his sleep talking again. Claire knows he needs to be handled thinking to herself‘sorry Alfred, but I warned you’ without hesitation, sneaking into Charlie’s room, she slips a high dose pill into Charlie’s medication bottle. Knowing the shipments, Charlie would be on his last pill, Claire exchanges it. The med would kick in an hour after taking, stopping, his heart. All would think Charlie to have suffered heartache. Even Alfred himself would believe this,‘she smiles’ and he would not be a burdened with the thoughts of Charlie and his talking, or having to end his dear friend’s life.
Alfred starts pacing the floors. His eagerness wants to get into his secret room with Kate. He decides to set the mood with his confessions of the other woman. Believing Kate will never be heard from, considering her no threat. He says the tails of his favorite woman, and the enduring things, she would go through. Suddenly, he is briefly, in the moments with Lauren. Kate listens‘her stomach twisting’ to the man’s sickness as he describes the countless painful things he would do to her, and how much he enjoyed his first time entering a woman. He talked about how strong Melinda had been, and how he enjoyed when he listened to struggle for her final breath. Kate watches‘nervously’ as Alfred pulls the secret book upon the shelf. A sound begins to creek beside Kate. She turns herhead to see a secret door open ‘gasping’ as Alfred, walks to her. He stands front of her and escorts her up to the room; Kate walks slowly beside him. She begins to cry as fear swells her soul. Alfred flicks the light above on. Kate sees the place and what is about to come of her.
Before having her lay upon the table, Alfred removes her gown and panties. She wants so much to run, knowing there is nowhere for her to go. As the tears, fall, she pleads“Please Alfred, please stop.” He stands front of her, as he runs his figures through her ponytail ‘smirking’ removing it allowing her hair to fall, he says nothing. He takes a whole handful of hair in his right hand, while, with his left hand, he begins to work his hand slowly along her body parts. Kate’s breath grows deeper with fear. Slowly he helps her upon the ice cold table, laying her down. Kate cries,“Please” he does not care. He looks into her big blue eyes, and smiles, as he slowly works with tying her hands into the leather straps. He allows his hands to glide over her body, as he opens her legs. He straps one of her legs by the thigh and than the other. Kate lies there helplessly‘her breath pounding’ and spread openly. She recalls what he was saying out in the other room, ‘how he became so excited by the breath and reaction of the bodies’ she decides the only way to possibly get out of this is to remain, calm. As Alfred preps the equipment, and he places the small while circles upon her body, she keeps her‘be calm Kate’ breathing calm. He attaches the thin white cords next, still she gives no response. He unbuttons his trousers and allows them to fall. Alfred begins slowly, with the current. He watches as her body slowly reacts to the flow of energy. Still she does nothing. Alfred comes close;her breath is slow and steady ‘Inside Kate is in pain, but refuses to show it’ He turns the power stronger and looks. His manhood now enlarged, yet she remains quiet. He turns the machine off and climbs onto of her; she lies still, not fighting it. The pain as he enters her severely wounded female parts, makes her cry‘shhh, telling herself’ on the inside. Still she does nothing. For hours Alfred tries to free himself, with no hope. His anger‘clenching his teeth’ begins to build. He finds joy in her body but not enough for him to explode. A pain within his genitals takes ahold of him. He finally brings the machine to full power. Her body jolts with the energy, yet her breath is quiet. He watches her breasts for excitement; she gives him none. Leaving Kate on the table, Alfred rings Claire. He tells her “Prepare Sarah, and get Kate.” Alfred has never touched Sarah, but now she over eighteen and legal, with his frustration he wants a female part to make him explode. He releases Kate of the restraints, while telling her “My next act will be all yourfault.” He continues to explain, in a much-raised voice,“I shall not be denied mypleasures.” As he finishes placing Kate’s gown on, Claire arrives with Sarah. It is the first time Kate has seen this young fragile girl. Her heart ‘sinks’ as she gazes at the smallness and frailness of Sarah’s body. It hits her ‘this small framed girl will not live through Alfred’s sick twisted sexual fantasy’ as Alfred grabs Sarah’s arm, Kate pleads for him“Please try again with me ‘looking at Sarah’ I will perform for you, I will … I promise‘as she tries to pull her arms free’ He gazes at Kate, explaining,“You had your time, and my need … is far too strong, and time is running out now, for the guest will be here shortly!” Alfred expresses his wishes with his gaze to Claire. Claire drags Kate screaming out the door as Alfred begins with Sarah.
Alfred straps her small boney body to the table; Sarah does nothing. Her body is not attractive to him, but the urge is just too strong. He will watch the breath for his turn on. Alfred does not even start small with Sarah, her life matters not to him. Her convolutions, are fierce. His eyes upon the tiny breasts of her, the nipples, are small but fully aroused. He climbs on and starts. Soon, he is behind her body, as he was with Lauren, a strap around the throat he thrusts hard and long, until finally, the sounds of her breath; ring out no more and his release, has been made. Suddenly, he realizes what he has done. Quickly he summons Claire “The snoopers will be here soon‘he is breathless’ as the morningas grown.I am horribly sorry Claire, I do not know‘tears fall from his eyes’ what has happened to … me.” Claire stares at the man before her, her heart‘aching’ she hurries with a plan“I will make it look like Sarahkilled herself” leaving Alfred in his loft, as she rushes the dead body of Sarah downstairs to her room. Randle helps as they tear her white gown and tie it, around her neck; Claire explains“We must hurry, those bitches, will be here soon!” Charlie, checks in on the commotion, his eyes glance at the horror, he turns and walks away, as tears fill his old, weary eyes. They tie the gown high around the bars on the window that is set up above the bed. They arrange the bed and a small table to look like Sarah had moved it over and stood upon the table and bed. Finally, the end of the gown tied carefully around the neck of poor Sarah; Randle hoists her body into a position as Claire ensures the height is good. The table pushed aside upon the bed; all seems to right.
They rush out the door. As they make their way around the corner, Joe is standing there. He had witnessed the whole act. Claire orders Randle “Take care of Joe” but, Joe holds a gun to the two of them. Randle still tries to defend his sister, ‘diving at Joe’as ‘BANG the gun goes off’ Joe shoots him in the leg, as Claire begins to come after Joe,“MY BROTHER” he warns her she will be next. Clairequickly dives onto Randle ripping ‘tears; pouring, down her cheeks’ her sweater off, tying it on Randle’s bleeding wound. The two girls come running in with Johnathan and the Mayor. A whole fleet of tugs and officers’ climbing upon the shore of the island.
Joe could not wait any longer for more evidence. He knew something horrible was going to happen. So after the argument, Johnathan, had taken from the refrigerator two beers and joined Joe. After listening again to Joe, Johnathan decided, waiting was not the option needed, any longer. Johnathan and the two girls, decided to agree to come early and surprise the situation. They also convinced the Mayor, of their theory beliefs. Johnathan, knowing his risk, also understood that lives were at stake, something he could not ignore.
An officer came down the hall with old Charlie, who was crying and saying “thank the lord it is finally over” Other officer’s came charging in, putting cuffs on Claire and Randle. Finally, free, Joe rushes to Kate’s room. He finds her crying; he lifts her up and holds her, as she cries for Sarah, saying“It is all my fault” Joe holds tightly to Kate and lets her cry.
Police charge the whole building searching for Alfred. Joe lays Kate, who has cried herself to sleep onto her bed, as he joins the others when the news comes“Wehave not found Alfred.” Joe becomes f
urious, along with Jonathan, the two asking at the same time “Where can he be … huh … Find him NOW!” The police gathered all of Alfred’s help Claire, Randle, old man Charlie, and Billy into the front entertainment room, as they prepared them for returning to the island. As they began questioning the three, asking where Alfred has gone, Old Charlie begins grasping his chest. His breathing became short as he fought for his breath. Everyone; rushing, trying to see what was wrong. Charlie screamed out in pain as his grip upon his heart grew tighter. Melissa scream “heart attack!” One of the officers jumps on Charlie’s body, starting CPR as another rushes to get a medical bag. They worked on poor old Charlie for a bit, but it was evident that he was gone. Claire had stood beside the officer giving CPR as Charlie ‘gazing up’ to her with a tear rolling down his cheek; she gives him a wink. Before his last breath, Charlie knew, trying to speak ‘Claire’ had done this to him. Randle begins to bellow an awful cry out forhis friend Charlie, “NO … no … don’t die” as group of four officers and the Mayor himself, escort Claire, Randle and Billy to a small boat. They are taken to shore. Randle is brought to the hospital for treatment of his gunshot leg. Not realizing that Randle, had an allergy to penicillin he had an allergic reaction and suffered terrible sickness that quickly, caused his death. Claire and Billy are escorted into the town jail and put in separate cells behind bars. She later was told of her brother’s demise. Claire wept for hours.
The island in complete chaos, officers running around everywhere; looking for Alfred. Johnathan and the others stand in the kitchen, not believing that somehow Alfred, had fled the island. They vow to stay until he is found, if that means tearing the building down.
Chapter 19
Everyone awaits the coroner to arrive to retrieve poor Sarah. Joe is wanting so badly to remove her body from the white sheet. Lynn explains to him “the examiner needs her to be just as she is.” The two decide to check on Kate. As they enter, Kate has woken and was sitting listening to the people running around. Tears flow heavy, from her eyes. She begins to tell the story of the night before. “Alfred tried to make his way with me, I had learned his game from his‘anger, spilling in her tone’ own mouth, andI‘shaking her head’ would not take part in it, and now Sarah ‘tears flowing profusely’ she is dead because … of me.” They try to console her. Lynn suggests with the building secure perhaps “Maybe you would want a shower to calm, yourself down.” Kate agrees ‘nodding’ Lynn excuses herself to find some clothing for Kate. Joe sits next to Kate and rubs her hair. He finds something about her making him feel, deeply for her. Lynn would say ‘this is what Joe is about’ Although he never fell for anyone this, fast. He pulls her close to him and rubs her back as she cries. He tells her “Everything is going to be all right, I will not allow anything ‘pulling her tighter into his strong embrace’ to happen to you,again.” Melissa comes in and says Johnathan wants to speak to him. Joe tells Kate“I will be back” Melissa escorts Joe outside where Johnathan is smoking a cigarette. They begin to talk about how it could be possible for Alfred to escape. Neither man knows the answer. As the two talk, the examiner walks past. Joe knows soon poor Sarah, will be taken care. Melissa shows the doctor to Sarah. Two men enter the room. The Dr. climbs upon the bed looking over her lifeless body. He sees dries fluid‘shaking his head in disbelief’ that has flowed down the girl's legs, he lifts up her gown enough to follow the source of fluid. As he suspected, it comes from her female parts. There is bruising all over her extremities, of hand marks. Slowly he makes his way to her neck ‘slightly moving the cloth enough to see the bruising’ an officer had followed him in, now is motioned for his help to release the body. The officer lifts the girls’ cold, stiff body‘whispering JESUS Christ’ as the examiner releases the sheet from around Sarah’s little neck. They lay her upon the bed. Further examination of her neck reveals a “short cord had been wrappedaround prior to the sheet” the Doc tells, two men shake their heads with disgust. The undertaker comes in with another large man. They place Sarah on a narrow table with wheels as they cover her body with a fresh, clean white sheet. They believe it would be best to wheel her out the back door, and not in front of everyone. As they begin to pass Kate’s room, she raises her head to see the fragile bruised arm of Sarah hanging lifelessly from beneath the sheet. The men had no idea of anyone being there as they asked about the key. Kate pushes herself off her bed trying to reach Sarah; she stumbles into the door crying profusely. One of the men try to stop her, Joe hears her cries and comes running. The man trying to hold Kate back when Joe hits him, ordering the “Remove your hands… off of her” Lynn rushes down as well, seeing Joe hitting the guy and Kate desperately trying to reach Sarah. Lynn takes control of the situation. She explains “Please …just let Kate say farwell.” Another man walks by with a big pair of bolt cutters. He begins to cut the lock. The examiner agrees, for Kate to briefly “say your goodbyes” Kate pushes out of the man’s hands fleeing and lays across Sara’s lifeless, cold body. She weeps so deep that others feel her sorrow. Kate tells Sarah “It is all my fault. I am so … sorry that this has happened, it is all my‘gasping for air’ fault. I should … have let him … I should …have let him” The door swings open, and they tell Lynn, “We must go” Lynn and Joe take Kate off of Sarah. Kate buries her face deep in Joe’s chest and weeps more. He holds her tight. The door slamming shut, as Sarah is carted to a tug boat; brought inland to the examiner’s office for a full autopsy for the police.
Once Kate calmed a bit Lynn shows her to the kitchen. Lynn had gone through her bags and found her a pair of thin cotton pants and a white t-shirt. It was what Lynn had taken with her to where to bed. On the counter, the clothing and a white towel and washcloth along with shampoo and soap and a brush. She tells Kate“An officer will be standing guard‘lifting Kate’s eyes to hers’ on the stairs.”Joe offers “I will stand watch at the door”‘winking at Kate’ Lynn agrees. They make their way to the second- floor bath. Kate is a bit hesitant, as to wanting to continue. She asks Joe “Please go‘her voice startled’check the shower stall.” Joe checks and gives her an all clear smile. She thinks ‘the chains must be gone, or Joe would have done something about it’ she slowly goes inside, and looks for herself. The hooks remain, but the shackles gone. She asks for Joe “Will you please leave the door open, I am afraid” ‘shaking his head’He promises “I will be right here, and the door will remain open.” Joe stands with his back to the door, wanting to ask her ‘what happened to her leg’ but he remains quiet. Kate undresses and turns the water to very warm taking the supplies with her. At first the water burns her sores; ‘her teeth chattering she breathesthrough the pain’as the water; rushes over her body, as she allows her head to fall, into the water. The feeling of the water running down through her hair, and body begins to feel so good. She lathers with shampoo and softly massages her head and hair. As she rinses, the horror of what took place in the shower;begin to fill her mind‘visions of the devices, Claire low, as Randle holds her legs open watching as Claire places that horrible thing; inside her burning her, deeply. His smirk, she witnessed as her hair hung over her face. She begins to cry’ Joe, who is still there, hears her cries, as his heart begins to hurt as he wants so much to help her. Kate begins to wash her body. The soap runs down her legs onto her feet stinging her wounds. She sees the horrible things‘whispering,Christ’ the people here have done to her. She tries to remember‘Why’ how she ever got here. Her mind draws blank. She cries harder now. Joe asks “Are you all right, Kate?” she answers‘softly under the water’ “yes” Kate turns the water off and steps out of the shower, slipping on the floor she falls hitting her head. Joe runs in to help, as he grabs a towel from the chair and begins to cover her. As he bends down to help her, he notices the burn marks all over her body before the towel covers. He softly whispers asking her“Did these people … here do this to you” as she cries, wrapping her soaked body upon him, for comforther ‘whispering embarrassed’ “Yes” he holds hersoftly he says “here let me see”
checkingher head “you havea small cut on the back, ‘touching lightly’ right here, using the towel to dab it. He tells her“It is not deep” helping her to stand wrapping the towel completely on over her. She tells him “I lost‘feeling silly’my footing” as he smiles at her and tells her “It is okay” helping her to the chair, so she can dress, and he resuming his spot, outside the door.
As Kate dresses, she tells Joe about Alfred’s loft and“he has a secret …room.” Joe asks the officer “Go get Lynn and Johnathan” As he goes to find them, Joe asks, Kate“would you bring us to the place” Kate‘shakes her head’ agreeing with a sigh. Confessing “I … am terrifiedof that place” as the others come up, joining in the conversation, while Kate pulls her blond hair into a pony tail. When she comes out from the bath, Joe gives her a smile. She gives him one back.
The pants, fit loosely, that Lynn had given her, but the t-shirt fits, snug upon her bare breast. Nobody says anything about it, Joe certainly does notice‘smiling’. Kate walks them to the third floor. She is extremely nervous; Joe standing behind her, letting his presence known. They enter into the loft. There is no sign of Alfred, except the lingering smell of cherry pipe tobacco. Johnathan walks over to his desk. He wipes open the thick curtains and allowing the summer sunlight inside. As he begins to snoop around the desk, he finds the letters from T. He reads them silently to himself, then asks “Kate do you know about a girl broughtto the island not too long ago?” She says “No, but I have been here … for about a month or so. I was drugged … a lot, so I cannot be totally sure how long‘shrugging’I have been here.” Johnathan begins to put the story together. He reads it aloud the group. Kate for the first time begins to here of how she became to be here. Lynn recalls, ‘Alfred saying his father’s name as, Thomas during her interview’. Sharing the news with the others. Now they have evidence of a crime against Kate. But when they ask her about Thomas or anyone she was working with, she cannot remember. She tries“I …just cannot remember anyone by that name.” Joe reminds Kate “What about showing us the secret room” they watch as she slowly walks to the last bookcase, pulling the secret book she reads the name “STRANGE CASES OF JEKYLLAND HYDE” Lynn whispers under her breath‘For God sakes’ A low sound echoes’ as a secret door begins to open from the shelves. Joe standing back with Kate as the others enter the room. Shock fills their hearts as they see the things Alfred as in there. Kate slowly walks to the room with Joe behind her. She begins to retell every nasty detail of her experiences in there “His obsession of Breath” Joe growing furious with the thoughts as Kate explains, he sees the leather straps which held her and others down. They all begin to move things around. Now understanding the man, and his secrets, they feel, Johnathan speaks “there must be more” It is Joe who moves the table. Johnathan notices the floor boards are not right. He bends down and begins to lift the boards. To their surprise, inside the floor an unknown place. Johnathan‘franticly’ starts pulling movie reels out from within the covered area. Joe wonders “What is on them?” Lynn says “It cannot be good”They have no idea at the moments what itis they have stumble upon. It is Melissa who says “I had found a recorder in … a small closet near Kate’s room tucked into a hole on in the wall” They have an agent bring it up for them.