Eyes Like Ice by Radia Al Rashid (books successful people read TXT) 📕

“Hey guys!” I try to keep my voice collected.

“Hey!” three of them cheerfully greet me.

“Well, well, Miss Evelyn Lawrence! Back from date?” Zac winks with a lighthearted grin.

“Nah! It’s just a friend. How are you doing?” his presence makes the environment so comfortable and easy that I can feel my chest easing out of the tension it has been holding.

“I’m great! Guess nothing can be better than being reunited with an old acquaintance.” He smiles at Julia.

“Eve! Can you believe Zac went to the same university as mine? This is crazy! I can kind of remember seeing him spicing up the late-night parties back in college.”

“Ouch!” Zac eyes Julia, “Your aunt there will skin me alive.”

Julia laughs in reply.

“Wow, you guys! How come you didn’t recognize her earlier?” I ask Zac.

“I don’t know, she wasn’t the social butterfly! More like a nerd, actually. So, I couldn’t really remember seeing her before that much. But, when she rummaged through all the good old day records, I could finally recall seeing this nerd couple of times.”

Julia rolls her eyes, “I wasn’t nerd, I just was not a party animal!”

He chuckles, “Yeah! You were in the freshman or junior year when I graduated?”

“Maybe junior year! Can’t remember this one.” She grins.

“Cool!” I am very happy to see Julia all perked up. But deep down inside, I know she’s gonna have to swallow that horrible news soon.

“So, what happened to that Sabrina?” Zac sinks back on the couch.

“The one from our batch?”

“Yeah! Is she still wild like back then?” Zac smirks.

“I’m hearing you.” Kate calls out from the kitchen.

“Well, I can’t say, actually. It’s been nearly a year or so I heard from her last.” Julia shrugs with a smile.

“O yeah? Actually, that’s pretty much the truth for all of us. End of the University, almost end of the friendships!”

“Gotta change back to something comfy, be right back.” Hearing a ting, I look down at my mobile screen.

A text from Richard, don’t stress over the incidents much, Eve! I know it’s been a burning hell out there but just stop torturing your health by freaking out over these. You need rest right now and one more thing, be careful not to make anyone doubt anything from your expression. You got this Eve, I’m here with you.

As far as I can remember, I did pray for no more newly emerged shock or grotesque scene for the next day before going to sleep last night. Unless the brand-new day is all ready to hit me hard with brand new show of monstrosity. I sip my coffee while typing a text to Sara.

“Morning, Eve! Anna isn’t back yet? It’s already 11 in the next morning.” Kate pours a glass of water.

“I don’t know! Once she spent three days at some guy’s place, back in high school. Now that we’re in University, guess her staying period will increase if I’m not wrong.” I smirk.

“You two are so different! I wonder how you guys managed to be friends in the first place!” Kate grins.

“Yeah! It was really long time back and I think I didn’t know a lot about her then or else...” I absentmindedly murmur.

“Or else, you wouldn’t be friends? That’s not true, Eve. Me and my best friend Ella used to argue over anything and everything yet we were inseparable. You know, opposites attract.”

“I guess so.” I shrug. Only if she knew what I meant by “didn’t know a lot about her”! “Where’s Jules? Is she awake?”

“Nah! She slept late than usual last night, remember? She should be awake in an hour or so. So, tell me, that friend of yours you went out with yesterday, was it, Richard?” she winks.

“Um... yeah but it wasn’t...”

“Oh, come on! Did you guys get to kiss? Did he say he liked you too? He did!”

“Ah, no! nothing happened, literally.”

“What? Why are you so unromantic, Eve? I need to train you “How to flirt 101”, I see.” She frowns.

“Okay, I’d be glad to have you as my trainer.” I chuckle.

I think I should drop the news about William’s murder to Kate. she can figure out better than me how to let Julia know.

“So, Kate, here’s something I really need to talk about...”

“Wait! Are you hearing it? Someone is shouting outside. Is it Mr. Sanchez?” she pushes to her feet.

“Woah! He never shouts, I mean, not like this and not outside the house! What could possibly go wrong? I think... we should check on him.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

“What an atrocity! Who did this to my Smokey! Why on this earth... why to my innocent cat?” his raised voice trails off as he wipes the tears with his shirtsleeve.

“Mr. Sanchez? What is it? What’s wrong?” Kate reaches out to put her hand around the light-struck, petite old man’s shoulders.

“My cat... my Smokey. Some monster killed him like a fucking psycho.” His thick accent gets more intense with the hint of rage and tears.

“O my God! I can’t believe she did it.” I huff.

“Who? Who do you think did it, Evelyn? Tell us.” Kate sniffs.

“I’m not sure yet, but can I see where is it now? Mr. Sanchez?”

“In my backyard. What will you do by seeing it? The monster’s gone, long gone. The sight... O dear Lord.”

“Please, you try to calm down a bit, okay? Kate, take him to his house. I’m going to look at the cat’s body before going somewhere.”

“Where? Will you tell me for God’s sake?” she shouts at me.

“I will but not now. you’ll not understand a word if I tell you at this moment. Got it?” without letting her give me another tongue-lash I head towards the backyard.

The sight is just what I expected it to be, maybe a little more gruesome. The pool of blood has been dried out to a considerable amount giving off the information about the slaughter’s taking place at least, last night. Mr. Sanchez was right when he said the monster’s long gone. I feel a shudder slowly and surely crawling across my skin. The far patches are scattered around the severely distorted body. The tail and two paws have been ruthlessly torn off of the body. This bitch! Why did you have to do it? What did this innocent beast do to you? Hot tears start rolling down my face. I quickly tap on my mobile screen in the hope to track her location. Yes! I can see it, well at least I know where you are now Annabelle Gaston! Be prepared to be shoved into the fucking asylum you, psycho little piece of... my eyes fixate on the burnt parts of the flesh. God! don’t complicate my life any more than how it already is! Quickly taking some snaps, I duck out of the sight.

“Jules, you took your meds? Where’s Serena?”

“Yeah, I did. She’s out at her sister’s place. You remember, Carmelina? Her son has diagnosed with leucoma so, I told Serena to go. What is it? Why are you huffing?”

“It’s just, an accident took place at Mr. Sanchez’s place. His cat has been killed and he’s totally broken down. You know the poor guy doesn’t have anyone here. Kate is there trying to sooth him. I’m going to meet Anna, okay? I’m gonna uber there. Here’s something very important to deal with. I’ll be right back. Bye, you stay safe.”

“but Eve...”

“Later, Jules!” I storm out of the door and before I know it, I’m inside the car.

“Can you go to this place?” I show the driver where Anna’s mobile is signaling the location.

“Sure, Ma’am.”

“Please, drive fast.”

“Sure.”

One thing I’m certain of, whoever killed William must have same sort of mental condition as Anna’s. Nobody with a sound brain can be this brutal to burn down and tear off parts of a living body, be it human or any other animal.

My breathing quickens as I restlessly fidget my bracelet.

“You okay there, Ma’am?”

“I’m good, no worries.”

I gasp at the vibration of my phone. It’s Richard. Why is he calling me? did something else happen over there?

“H-hello?”

“Hey, Eve? Where are you going? You were running at lightspeed and you didn’t even look at me calling out your name. what is it? Is it Mr. Sanchez’s cat? Are you doubting that Anna did it?”

“No, Richard. I’m not doubting it. I am sure of it. Talk to you later.”

“But Evelyn...”

I hang up the call. I don’t want to involve anyone else at this. And I don’t want to divert my mind to doubt anyone else as I know for sure, Anna is a psychotic bitch.

“How long will it take?”

“Five more minutes, ma’am.”

“Damn it.” I keep taping my fingers on the back of my phone.

After what seems like a decade, the driver calls out, “We’re at the destination, ma’am.”

“Cool! Thank you.” Paying the bill, I clamber down the car.

Shit! Isn’t it the apartment building Professor Mike lives in? Anna dropped him off on the way to our house back in the freshman year. Gosh! I can’t believe she stayed a night with the old hag. Ew!

Knowing the apartment number from the reception, I fly towards the elevator. Thank God I at least remembered the building right.

I clench my jaw as the elevator slowly proceeds to the fourth floor. My anxiety level is full-blown infinity at this point.

I quickly knock on the door as I reach in front of it. An inaudible chatter floats in from the other side. He must be having some romantic post-sex conversation with his student, argh!

A minute later, the door is opened. Here, stands none other than Professor Mike with head full of messy grayish hair.

“Evelyn? What brings you here?” he frowns.

“Anna. Where is she?” my voice is throwing daggers.

“Um... well...”

“I know she is here at your apartment, Professor. I’m not here to judge her or you for being disgusting. I’m here to talk to her... it’s important. Can you please let her know that I came? I’ll be happy to be waiting outside.” I put my arms across my chest.

“Yeah, sure.” He looks deflated and nervous.

“Thanks.”

After about a couple of minutes, Anna comes at the door. She’s wearing an oversized shirt and needless to mention, her long, tick hair is knotted in a messy bun. How can one act so normal after doing something hideous!

“What do you want? If you’re here to lecture me about how inappropriate it is of me to date a professor, then you can get lost. I’m not in the mood to listen to your BS.”

“Look at your audacity!” I smirk, “Anna, I’m not here to interrupt your little romantic session here. Why did you do it to the cat?”

“What cat? What the fuck are you trying to say?” she deliberately tries to tear up.

“Don’t play victim, Annabelle Gaston. I know everything about your mother’s cat, Bella’s murder. And yes, I know about Mr. Sanchez’s cat too.” I say deadpan.

“What? You, bitch! Did you go to my stupid mother to spy on me? I should’ve killed you.” Her eyes start burning a flame of hatred and disgust.

“Professor Mike? Can I come in?” I understand how Anna