Revealed

by Stephanie Appadou

  "Yes... Please, Michael... Let me go," Eva pleaded.

  "Oh, no. The party has just started, and you already want to go?"

  Michael took threes glasses from the cupboard and poured in Martini. Garnished with a lemon twist, Michael served both Mr Robert and Eva. Even in the most murderous mood, Michael had an equivocal elegance. Eva was unwilling to drink the cocktail, but not drinking it might hasten the count-down of her death.

  "Good girl," Michael said with a wink an eye.

  "Oh Eva, I started to love you as if you were my own daughter, but your curiosity has changed everything," Mr Robert commented.

  Eva remained there without uttering a word. She could feel that Michael was about to kill someone, and it was her for sure.

  Mr Robert laughed and then asked Michael, "How are we going to deal with her now?"

  "What do you mean by 'we'?"

  Mr Robert seemed puzzled, "Hum-"

  Michael then looked at his father and said, “Thank you, dad, you are the best! But I am a lone guy. You taught me that in life, one should always walk alone, right?

  Michael then shot his dad right in the heart with the gun he had taken out from the back of his pant before you could say Jack Robinson. Eva clasped the couch’s fabric at this horror, such a cold-hearted action nearly froze her blood. How inhumane! He is surely going to kill me, Eva thought.

  Michael then looked at her while tilting his head as if he was thinking of the perfect murder scene. Eva closed her eyes and started to pray in her heart – she was not praying God to save her life; she was pleading God to kill her with a heart attack. Eva was not at all ready to be a victim of Michael's insanity.

  However, as she opened her eyes, Greg was there sitting on the couch with his glass of Martini in his right hand as if it was normal to chillax after a murder.

  Michael then looked at two of his men and ordered, “Get rid of that corpse. Right now!”

  As the two men had removed Mr Robert's corpse from the room, another man cleaned the shimmering lake of the blood which was on the floor. Michael then took a sip of his Martini and then put the glass on the coffee table, just like the casual guy next door – instead of a cut-throat. He then asked the other men to leave the room. Eva wanted to utter something, at least one word, but she swallowed back her saliva knowing that a single mistake would put her life at risk.

  “What happened my dear? Why do you seem so frightened?”

  Eva took a deep silent breath and asked with a trembling voice, “Will you kill me too…?”

  “I don’t know. You are the one who can read minds. So, you tell me?”

  Eva was not able to understand Michael at all, even the necklace seemed to be unable to cope with Michael's split personalities. Eva could feel an imminent death, but also the possibility that Michael would spare her life. She was confused and did not know whether to be afraid or to feel relieved.

  Eva then tried to change the topic and asked, "Why have you killed your own father?"

  Michael looked at Eva mysteriously and answered, "He was a bastard! I have finally avenged my mother."

  "Avenge your mother?"

  "This bastard was beating my mother. She nearly saw death at frequent intervals until she gave her last breath. Today, I've got enough courage to avenge my mother – the one who I've loved the most in this world," Michael replied.

  Eva could feel the grief of Michael, still haunting his heart after so many years. People say that time heals, but there are some wounds which keep deepening over time: these are the wounds that are invisible, yet they are here.

  There was a glow of woe in Michael's eyes, but he took control of his emotions and then asked, "So, what's your answer?"

  "What?"

  "According to you, what does my mind wants to do? Kill you or let you alive?"

  Eva then replied, “I don’t know, but please, we can just forget all this and just be the same as we used to be… I will not tell anyone the truth…I promise…”

  Michael abruptly got up from the couch and shouted, “You promise?! Do you think I’m a fool?!!”

  Michael sudden reaction startled Eva and she got up too and made a step away from him.

  Michael then added, “Rebecca had promised that she loved me, yet!!”

  Eva then could suddenly read in Michael’ mind. She knew that Michael was thinking to seize the gun that he left on the table behind. As he turned towards it in order to grasp it, the lustre of the dagger in Greg’s back pocket seized her attention. Before long, Eva immediately took the dagger and as Michael turned towards her, she stabbed him in his heart – not once, but thrice. Michael tried to defend himself but the very first stab was enough to weaken him. Tears started to roll down Eva’s cheeks as she realised that she was taking the life of Michael. She was now a murderer. Michael whimpered for some seconds before taking his last breath. Eva then pushed him on the floor, causing a loud noise as the corpse fell on the wooden floor. The men immediately ran into the room, each one of then having a sword pointed towards Eva. Eva thought she was finally out of danger, but she was wrong.

  However, against all expectations, the main door opened, and a silhouette appeared in front of the bright sunshine which served the latter as background. The figure seemed familiar to Eva, but she was not able to see his face clearly. In a swift, the man took his rifle and slew all the men. The man then approached Eva. It was Christian. No doubt, Eva got many questions to ask Christian – surely about the necklace’s origin and the reason he gave it to her.

  Christian then looked at her and said, “Follow me.”

  Quite appeased to see Christian, Eva remained silent and did so. Once out of the house, Christian opened the door of the car and asked Eva to get in.

  Chapter 13

  'Fons and origo mali'

  Since Eva had started the car, an unusual silence was reigning. Eva was trying to read in Christian’s mind, but the latter's grey matter seemed too sacrosanct for Eva to interfere with. Eva could not even sense his aura – as if Christian had neither mind nor soul. However, after witnessing the felonious dark side of Mr Robert and Michael, Eva felt so secured with Christian around her – he was just like her Guardian.

  Seeing Eva's fidget face, Christian asked, “I know you got so many questions. So, how is that possible you are remaining silent?”

  “Yes, indeed. I just don’t know from which point to start. I'm literally living a paranormal experience, yet my heart is yearning for a logical explanation,” Eva replied.

  “Start from the beginning then.”

  “Okay… Where have you found that necklace?”

  “Nobody can find the Necklace, it finds you.”

  Eva was perplexed and raised her eyebrow at this ambiguous response. “What do you mean?”

  “The Necklace decides who it wants to drown in an ocean of revelations," Christian replied in low voice.

  "Have you at least tried to learn more about its existence?"

  Greg then replied, “I once brought it to an old friend of my grandfather. He is an archaeologist. According to him, the necklace is an artefact which used to belong to Princess Eleanor. Guess you know about her legendary story?”

  “Yes, I have heard about this legend which says that, Princess Eleanor killed all the members of her family after learning that each of them was a traitor. After that, she committed suicide," Eva replied.

  "Yes. That's the facts, but I was talking about the legend," Christian replied.

  "Oh yeah! I remember doing it in my literature class. It is said that after Princess Eleanor committed suicide, her soul was forever confined in the necklace which was around her neck.”

  “Exactly,” Christian said while looking at Eva.

  At this moment, Eva understood that the Necklace around her neck belonged to Princess Eleanor and that this legend might be nothing less than the truth. Princess Eleanor’s soul was locked in that Necklace, forever. Eva was dumbfounded.

  “So, when you said that it’s the Ne
cklace which finds us – you meant to say that it’s Princess Eleanor’s soul who chooses us?”

  “I think so,” Christian replied.

  “But why?! Why does she want us to face the darkest truths of our life through her soul? Why does she want us to be able to read the minds of people?”

  "Stop by the cafe. I propose that we continue our conversation inside," Christian said.

  Eva stopped the car and then hesitantly answered, “Hum, okay.”

  Once inside, Eva ordered two cups of latte and they both took a seat at the table next to the windowpane.

  Christian then said while looking at Eva, “Princess Eleanor has been tormented when she learnt that the members of her family were traitors, she later suffered from severe depression before committing suicide. So, I guess she wants others to endure the pain she went through. Her soul wants us to face these revelations – bitter revelations which might even make us consider self-killing just like her. Her soul became an evil one. Fons and origo mali."

  "Fons and origo mali?"

  "It means the source and origin of evil. Her tormented soul is an evil one," Christian said.

  “Seems so wicked. However, even if one does not give away his life after so many revelations, he is already dead from the inside, just like me. I don’t feel like living anymore, still I am not really into suicide,” Eva replied before taking a sip of her latte. Even if Eva tried to act as usual, she was still not able to get over the the fact that she had killed Greg some minutes earlier, and soon she would be wanted by the Police.

  Christian did no comment on this – he just smiled and look outside through the windowpane. Eva tried to read her long-time friend’s mind, but in vain.

  “Why can’t I read your mind?” Eva finally asked.

  Christian looked at her and took a deep breath as if he was going to tell another unbelievable truth. However, before Christian could utter a word, a woman walking next to their table, stopped by Eva’s seat.

  The old greyed-hair woman then asked Eva, “Are feeling well?”

  Eva was quite confused. She then replied, “Yes. Why?”

  “Hum, just asking… I saw you talking alone since a moment…so I wondered if you needed some company…”

  Eva was astounded by what the elderly just said. “What!? Talking alone? No, I’m talking to – ” she stopped before finishing her phrase as she realised that Christian had disappeared.

  The old lady seemed totally astonished by Eva’s reaction. So, she just smiled and went away thinking that Eva was mentally disturbed. Eva was indeed mentally disturbed at this moment as she looked around for Christian who had mysteriously evaporated. However, as she looked again at the seat facing hers, Christian was here – as if he had never gone anywhere. Eva seemed shocked; she nearly dropped her cup of latte.

  Before Eva could open her mouth, Christian answered the question which had been asked a few minutes earlier, “ You cannot read the mind of the dead.”

  Eva goggled at Christian. She realised that all this time she was talking to someone who is no longer of this world. This explained the reason for which Christian was wearing the same clothes that he wore at their first encounter – and even the fact that Christian did not take a single sip of his latte, just as at the previous time. Eva thought that she was becoming insane. She remained speechless as now she understood why the people of the cafe were staring at her while she was talking to Christian. Eva then subtly proposed Christian to leave the cafe since the situations were getting too weird.

  As Eva jumped into the car, she asked, “What’s this nonsense?! You mean you are dead, still, I am seeing you as well as talking to you! Why haven’t you told me this before? At least this would have saved me from appearing insane to these people in the cafe!”

  “Calm down please,” Christian said.

  “I’m talking to a ghost and you are asking me to calm down!”

  “Ghost? – I’m your guardian angel.”

  Confused, Eva asked, “What do you mean?”

  “I am here to ensure your protection.”

  Eva then raised her brows.

  Christian then added, “It’s me who knocked Greg down when he was trying to kill you at the wooden house. And when the men at your house were willing to kill you, I had to get rid of them. I have to make sure that you are safe till the end of your journey through the darkest revelations.”

  “Oh, I see! Thank you, but something is intriguing to me. What did you mean by ‘the end of my journey’?”

  “The end of your journey is when you will have to face your own truth,” Christian boldly said.

  “Wait! Come on, I already know myself. I know what I have done, what I do and what I will do. I don’t have to read my own mind, dude.”

  “You know what you have done, but do you know the aftermaths of your actions?”

  This questions troubled Eva to such an extent that she could feel her bones breaking into pieces. The tone of Christian immediately implied that her actions did not have only positive impacts – but also some unwanted consequences she would have never imagined.

  ∞∞∞

  Chapter 14

  Epiphany

  A few yards away, the church’s bell rang, as if it was the sound announcing the ultimate moment of epiphany. The park to which Christian brought Eva was deserted – only the rustling of leaves on the uneven land could be heard. There was a cool breeze brushing against Eva’ skin. The atmosphere seemed like the apocalypse of Eva’s miserable life.

  Eva took a deep breath as if it was impossible for her to continue breathing. She then asked, “Why have you brought me here?”

  Christian remained silent while gazing at the sky buried under greyish clouds. Eva took a seat next to him. The bench made a cracking sound – ready to break down at any time. She turned towards Christian who seemed to be absorbed by his thoughts. They both remained there idle and silent as if they were contemplating the peculiar atmosphere disgorged in the park.

  Eva then asked, “How have you died?”

  Christian then looked at her and replied, “For those who are weak – looking for an escape, the courage to live seems inexistent and death seems to appease them.”

  This answer was like an enigma for Eva – it was not the kind of reply she expected to get.

  Christian then added, “That’s what had happened to Princess Eleanor and the victims of the Necklace. With no exception, we all gave away our life.”

  “You mean that you committed suicide too?”

  “I have just freed myself from this vicious cycle of lies. However, I must ensure that you do not commit the same mistake,” Christian replied quite firmly while looking away.

  “I’m really sorry for you… Don’t worry about me, I’m going to end up my own life despite the chaos.”

  “You are saying so because you have not yet faced your own revelations.”

  Eva remained silent. She knew that Christian might be right.

  “You have to promise me something.”

  Baffled, Eva asked, “What kind of promise?”

  “That you will not make the mistake committed by all the previous victims of the necklace.”

  “You mean that I should promise you that I will not commit suicide?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Why do you want me to make such a promise?”

  “If you commit suicide, this curse will continue. Once dead, you will be compelled to pass that Necklace to someone else and the same thing will continue to happen to all the succeeding victims.”

  “You mean that if I don’t give my life away like the preceding victims, the curse will be ceased?”

  “Yes, but one needs much more courage to live in this darkness than to end up his life. That’s why till now nobody has got the courage to break the curse. But you must muster your courage for the sake of humanity. Don’t let the wicked soul of Princess Eleanor bother more souls.”

  “Will I be able to face my truth?”

  “I can�
��t answer this question.”

  Eva’s face started to express fear as well as hopelessness. She started to doubt her courage to face reality.

  Christian then hold Eva by the hand and asked, “Are you ready?”

  “For what?”

  “For your truth to be revealed?”

  “Not really.”

  “Good. Now close your eyes.”

  Eva closed her eyes and Christian hold her by her waist as they levitated in the air.

  Eva then abruptly opened her eyes. They ended in a closed room – a well-lit room painted in white; with neither furniture nor exit.

  Quite afraid, Eva asked, “Where are we?”

  “In your mind.”

  “What?”

  Christian looked at her without saying anything. For the first time, Eva could see a glow of fear on his face – as if what was going to happen was something so terrible that one could die of a heart attack. Eva’s heart started to race as she felt a mixture of feelings – guilt, ignorance, fear and above all, a feeling of regret. But, for what?

  Christian then asked, “Do you remember when you were five years old and that you have accidentally pushed Emily from the trampoline?”

  Eva answered, “Yes, I do.” Yet, she seemed not convinced by herself – as if her own mind was accusing her of being a liar. Eva could feel a sense of guilt invading her.

  As her heart shivered, her memories of that day started to appear on the walls – as if her mind was forcefully projecting these despite her disapproval. Eva stepped back and turned around – her guilt was written on those walls. She could have lie to anybody, but not to her own mind. As Eva remembered herself pushing Emily, she had to avow that it was not an accident. Eva had pushed Emily purposefully out of envy.

  Emily was the best student in her class and the teachers were constantly praising her, leaving Eva jealous as she felt like her place was being snatched by the new nerd. In fact, jealousy destroys you first and then, it leads you to destroy others.

  Christian did not seem shocked by this confession. Instead, it seemed like nothing in this world could bewilder his calmness. Christian then looked at Eva and said, “What you did several years ago is nothing compared to the consequences of that action.”