EMBRACE OF MISTS by Sowmya Latha (important of reading books .TXT) 📕

There was nobody to console me, that night. The morning dawned and I had hardly slept. I washed my face and made up my mind not to go to school. My aunt claimed that I had an early visitor. My heart jumped with excitement for I thought it would be Jacob of course. Running down the stairs, I came to face not Jacob, but the girl who played the role as Valentina. Adrenalin rushed through my body and I controlled my hands from hitting her. I stared at her with dark hatred in my eyes.

“There are certainly no doubts, you angry on me.” She started her talk and smiled. I thought I saw a pinch of remorse in it. Stupid Emily, don’t believe it, I instructed myself. I remembered how natural her act as Val was. I continued my stare.

“Emily, whatever I did was only to save you” she said earnestly. Her eyes were soft brown and I could not disbelieve her.

“From?” I asked her. I did not follow what she was saying about. Why is she so interested in saving me? And to save from what? The murderers who are following me? Does she know anything about them?

“Jacob” she said and hung her head down. Drops of tears fell on her fabric. I sat there immobile watching her cry.

“Jake” I repeated.

“Please do believe me. Every word I tell you is truth. I am striving hard to save you from Jacob. He killed Valentina, my friend” she took her handkerchief and wept into it. It was a pity to see her crying but the matter she told seemed insane. Seeing my disbelieving look she continued her plight.

“Val and I were great friends. She fell in love with Jacob at the first sight of him” she paused. Absolutely anyone would fall in love with Jacob, my mind travelled to his voice, his smile and his look. Listen to her Emi, I reminded myself and followed her talk.

“Jacob too took interest in the girl who followed him. Eventually they both became very close. Val introduced me to Jacob and everything turned upside down. Jacob took a liking for me and hanged out with me. I knew it was wrong as I was cheating Val. But with Jacob near me, I felt nothing else important. Finally Jacob told me that he loves me and I was very much delighted but I was afraid to disclose it to Val. Jacob took her to the forest in the north and told her everything but she was adamant to leave him. She cried and created scene to commit suicide if he leaves her. Jacob usually an impatient person killed her by strangling her neck. It was an accident as Jake did not mean to kill her but Val lost her life. I tried my best to save her but in vain. Jacob promised he did it out of crazy love for me and that he would kill anyone who intrudes between him and me. I melted in his words and helped him dispose the body along with the victims of the plane crash that day. Jacob had planned very well as his brothers were a gang of murderers whom even the police could not trace out. They fear of nothing.” She stopped and looked at me. I never interrupted as she spoke, devouring every horrible word of hers. Jacob strangled Valentina, disposed her body, his brothers a gang of murderers, everything terrified me.

“Emi” she called. I nodded to her to continue.

“That was it Emi. Now, he told me about you pushing him towards loving you. He decided to get rid of you too. But I suggested him the idea of acting as Val and save you from harm. He sent men to strangle you, once to your house and another to the forest. But you escaped both. Then I appointed men to follow you so that you would be safe from the hands of the murderers. Jacob came to know that I was helping you. So…” she dragged.

“Go on” I said weakly. I wanted to hear how Jacob had planned to kill me.

“He planned to kill you with an unnatural drink yesterday in the party but I arrived in time to prevent you from drinking that. He was wild at me but I managed to convince him to leave you alone.” She stopped again for me to speak but I remained at loss of words. I remembered Jacob’s cold stare at this girl last night. This girl sitting in front of me has helped me a great deal in saving my life and I was such a fool to hate her. I was indebted to her.

“Thanks, er” I still did not know the girl’s name.

“Ashley Stane” she replied. “But that isn’t important now, Emi. Try to save yourself from Jacob. He is much disturbed after your behavior last night. Avoid him as much as you can and I will help you out, when you are in danger. I promise.” She got up and left. Fear took a beastly shape inside me. From day one, I recalled my incidents with Jacob. His bruised hands now proved that he was an addict. He never told me much about his family members. I recalled him being beaten up by strangers. I remembered him restricting me from coming to his house as it was dangerous to me. I also remembered his scent in my room and the strangler muttering his name. Jacob, Jacob, Jacob. I lost my conscious.

The next day, I went to school, cautious about Jacob, but he did not turn up. One day passed safely. I had no followers. Ashley called to my home and enquired my safety. She had such care on me. I concealed every matter from my aunt as she would not be able to take it. Three days went and still no signs for Jacob. It was Saturday and my classes were over an hour early. I decided to go for a drive, just to relax from my pressure. I slipped away from the others and went to my car. I decided to go north. Just when I was about to start my car, a hand was placed over my shoulder. Terrific stricken, I turned to Jacob bending through my car window with a smile. I quickly got out of the car and got ready to run.

“Emi” he said in a honey sweet voice. Fear travelled through my spine.

“What do you want?” I cut him short, my eyes randomly searching for a place to run into.

“I am sorry for everything. I hurt you. I realised my mistake and your love on me. I want to apologise you for my mistake” he said, his voice hoarse. What an act. One of his hands in his pocket. Perhaps a pen knife, I guessed.

“Apology accepted. Now let me go” I hurried my reply. My seconds were nearing. Everyone had left and the place was deserted.

“Wait I need to talk lots to you. Today is final. I want to finish of this as I hate stretching it” he said. Cruelty shone in his eyes. No. I was imagining it. Finish what? Me? No way. Run Emily. Get into your car.

“Stop it Jacob. I am not poor idiotic Valentina to DIE IN YOUR HANDS!!! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!!” Saying that, I pushed him with all my might and got into my car. I started the engine and sped. I did not stop for whole two minutes. I looked through the rear view mirror to find him following me in his motorcycle. I pushed my accelerator to its full capacity and raced through the road which was thinly populated. I did not know which road I was taking or where I was heading to. I would rather die in a road accident than to die in his hands. I could see Jacob racing alongside me.

“Emi!!! Stop the car…slow down..please..Emi..do as I say.. stop the car!!!” he shouted. I took a turn right and I ended in a clear path towards a forest. I had missed Jacob and I drove on. Finally the path ended and I had to go on foot. I remembered this forest which Harry had taken us into. I could hear the bike’s sound very near. I got down my car and ran into the forest.

“Emi!” I heard his voice behind me. He will crush me if I get into his hands. I threw myself forward, deep into the forest. Thirst was burning me but I did not stop.

“Emi! Emi! Come back!” his voice sounded dynamic across the forest. His footsteps neared me. I hid behind a tree trunk. I realized it was dusk. My aunt would be very worried about me. I got up to make my way out when a hand caught me. My heart stopped.

“Don’t go that way. He is there. Come on with me Emi” said Ashley. I was glad she came to my help. She led me the way into the forest. I followed her and reached an ugly old building in the interior of the forest. I felt something heavy in my heart and an instinct told me to get away from the place at once. But Jacob would be searching to grab me. Ashley caught my hands and took me inside. There were three small rooms and the place was filthy. She made me sit down and gave me her water bottle. I drank till the last drop trickled down my throat. I felt exhausted and tired.

“You can stay here for a couple of days until the coast is clear. I don’t want you to risk your life” Ashley said. “I will call your aunt and inform her that you are staying with me”.

“No but I have to go.” I cannot possibly stay in this forest. Perhaps I can go back to Florida.

“That’s not a wise decision now dear. Trust me. I will keep you safe Emi dear” she said. Of course there was none for me to trust now except her and she gave me some biscuits to eat. Finally I lied down to sleep.

“Fear no noise. I will appoint two men to guard you. They will take care of you. I will find Jacob and take him away from New York” she said. She kissed me good night and I fell into instant sleep after so much of running.

The next morning, I got up wondering where I was. Everything seemed awkward to me. My conscience told me to leave the place, while Ashley has told me this is the safest place for me now. The two sturdy men had gone into the forest. I saw a basin of water at the corner of the room and I went to wash my face. I dried my wet face with my T-shirt I was wearing when I heard a moaning sound. I hesitated to listen again. Few minutes later I heard the sound again. It was very weak and slow. It came from the room bolted outside. I carefully opened the bolt and pushed the door. I saw a girl, pale as a chalk, lying on the floor in the most pathetic condition. I slowly went near her. Her eyes were half open and she had heavy bruises all over her body. I noticed her surroundings. Needles were lying everywhere around her, probably drugs. I felt fishy about the place and came out of the room. I heard footsteps and hurriedly lied down and pretended to be asleep. I heard hurried footsteps and hushed voices.

“You couple of idiots. Don’t you go anywhere leaving her to herself. She is far smarter than Valentina. I don’t want her to run away from this place until I make Jacob believe she is dead. Understand?” Ashley’s voice was heard outside the room. I laid dumbstruck my mind refusing to work. What was she speaking about? Ashley betrayed me. I could get only this from her words. I left my confusions