Peripheral Vision: A Supernatural Thriller(40)

Nick, now standing at her side, reached out and gently touched her face. She winced at his touch.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t a dream, Sarah.”

“Why am I tied up?”

“Because we need to talk and I don’t want you running away again.”.

“Are you gonna kill me?” Sarah’s voice was shaky.

Nick’s expression twisted in pain as her words hit him. “No Sarah. I don't want to hurt you, don’t you see that? I’m trying to save you! I’m sorry I hit you. Please forgive me...”

“Nick...” Sarah started but Nick put his finger to her mouth.

“Don’t talk. I need to tell you something.” He moved closer to her. His eyes were pools of warmth and water. “I love you.”

Sarah sat stunned. She watched as a tear wound its way slowly through the dried blood on Nick’s cheek.

“I loved you before I ever met you. I’m sorry it had to go this way, but sometimes to save someone, you have to hurt someone first.” Nick’s hand found its way onto Sarah’s thigh. His fingers caressed the fabric next to her skin. “This dress belonged to Elizabeth. She never got to wear it, but she saved it for you-for our wedding. It belongs to you and you belong with me. This is our life now.”

“Nick, you’re confused... we can get you help, just untie me.”

Nick’s face hardened at that. “I’m not confused, Sarah! I am very clear about how I feel about you. I am going to save you and we’ll be together as Elizabeth promised. You don’t understand now, but you will.” He paused for a moment, looking off into the distance. “I have a present for you.” Nick’s eyes lit up. He walked over toward the corner of the basement and flipped on a light switch. A dangling lightbulb outlined a bulky, blue tarp. It was covering something large.

“Do you remember how I came to your rescue at the bar when those animals were harassing you?”

Sarah nodded.

“You said I was your hero.” Nick reached down and grabbed the edge of the blue tarp. “I will always protect you, Sarah.” He yanked up the tarp to reveal two, tangled white bodies in a long horse trough. Their eyes were still open, but their lives were no more. It was the two men from the bar. Morris and Wright. The man with the red beard had a horrified expression frozen across his face.

Sarah screamed. “Nick, what did you do?!” But all at once Sarah could see exactly what he had done. The vision was powerful. Sarah’s head jerked violently backwards in the chair and her hands seized against her bonds. Her fingers splayed out like starfish as her mind was opened to her sight.

Sarah was standing in the middle of an unlit street. It didn’t appear that anyone else was there though. Suddenly, she was startled by the sounds of voices and laughter. When she looked up she saw Morris and Wright walking down the sidewalk toward her. They were drinking beer and laughing at the punchline of some crude joke. All at once, their laughter stopped. A menacing shadow stood off to the left of them.

“No, don’t please....” Morris pleaded. But his words were cut short by a loud cracking sound which sent him sprawling out on the sidewalk. Wright joined him a few seconds later after a second loud crack. The shadow moved into view and Sarah could now make out the face of the silhouetted figure. It was Nick. He stood there in the middle of the sidewalk, holding a bloody lead pipe.

“That apology wasn’t good enough fellas.” He ran his hand nonchalantly through his hair and in the next second he was on top of them wielding blow, after bloody blow with the pipe. He couldn’t stop. Something sinister had crept up behind his eyes, and he liked it. And then, just as quickly as it had started, it was over. Nick stood up and turned toward the street where Sarah still stood. He smiled to himself and once again ran his hand through his hair-this time staining his forehead with the men’s blood. Sarah’s vision spun again, and she was in the tunnel. She stood watching as Nick dragged the lifeless bodies through the darkness.

“Sarah? Are you listening to me?”

“What?” She shook her head slowly from side to side. She was back from her vision. She was back in the cellar.

“I said, they are very sorry they frightened you. They want to apologize.”

Sarah started crying. She couldn’t control it anymore.

The pained expression returned to Nick’s face. “Please don’t cry. I know you don’t understand yet, but let me help you. I was scared at first too. But Elizabeth showed me that there was nothing to be afraid of. Let me show you the same.”

But Sarah could already see. The feeling was speeding up, and with it the secrets were starting to fall.

Sarah saw Nick with Elizabeth again. This time they were down in the basement. Elizabeth handed a wide-eyed Nick a wine glass full of blood. She put her hand on the bottom of the glass, guiding it up to his mouth. He closed his eyes and drank. When he opened his eyes. Something had changed. His eyes were darker, stronger somehow. The hint of a smile lingered behind his eyes.

Nick walked over to the small table next to the bodies, and grabbed an open wine bottle. Sarah knew already what the bottle was filled with, and it wasn’t her favorite cabernet. He picked up the wine glass next to it and poured, then walked back to Sarah swirling the glass.

Sarah was horrified. Her voice was barely audible. “Please don’t make me drink that.”