Death And Old Aquaintances

Death And Old Acquaintances

by

P. A. Matthews

         Katherine struggled to open her eyes, and then realized she couldn’t. She tried thinking, only to find her thoughts supplanted by an ache permeating her head while her mind vied for attention with her movement. Attempting to adjust her limbs, she found them bound behind her like an animal.

         The fetid smell of decayed earth filled Katherine’s nostrils as she inhaled her surroundings, her cough to exhale the stench blocked by a rag shoved in her mouth. Katherine worked her fingertips, scratching whatever lay behind them while trying to loosen her bonds, soon, the pain from bleeding fingertips matched the pain in her head. She lay in the dark with a sensation flooding her memory—a lingering chemical smell. Had she been drugged? And the more important question. Why?

         Voices grew louder as they approached. Something about the tenor of one voice niggled through her memory. Where had she heard that voice?

         “Hello Kathy.”

         Katherine froze. No one had called her Kathy since college; the voice was that far back in her past. Confusion blanketed her brain, that voice belonged to one of her oldest friends, she had to be wrong

         The blindfold was ripped from Katherine’s eyes. Katherine squinted as a lantern shined in her eyes, displaying eerily cast shadows on an unusual face. The familiar voice spoke.

         “Don’t you remember me? Has it been that long? It’s your good friend Belinda.”

         Katherine stared. Twenty years had not been kind to Belinda; her once pretty face now distorted by swollen features and pocked skin. Katherine had heard Belinda traded her good life for a hard, fast ride.

         Belinda snapped her fingers impatiently. “I asked a question.” Belinda’s laugh sounded like a donkey braying. “Oops, forgot you can’t talk.” She grabbed the gag from Katherine’s mouth, and then slapped her.

         Katherine could only mumble one word. “Why?”

         “Why? You’ve always had everything, a good life, great husband, and loads of money.” Belinda shoved several photographs into Katherine’s face, showing her bound and gagged. “You’re even photogenic. It’s a good thing your husband loves you in any condition; he just paid the three million dollar ransom we requested for your return. Your money will now allow me to spend the rest of my life on easy street, just as you have your entire life.”

         Katherine watched Belinda’s insane eyes glitter in the lantern’s light. “I’m not going to live, am I?”

         Belinda brayed as she lifted a gun. “Very astute. I will attend your funeral though, and try to catch up on our old college days with your husband. Kathy, you were always so good at sharing, I know you won’t mind me helping him through his grief. Who knows, perhaps he might like my form of sympathy.” Belinda lifted her gun and stared into the eyes of her oldest friend, and then fired six rounds into Katherine’s head.

The End