First time here who has finally summoned up the courage to write something. Really appreciate feedback and many thanks for reading
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Dianne watched, almost in a trance, as Stuart took the package from her lap, turning the top outwards so he could extract its contents.
“Oh my goodness,” said Dianne as Stuart removed its contents, holding it high in the air so Dianne could get a good view , “It’s beautiful,” she added as he turned the necklace slightly, to ensure Dianne could properly see just how beautiful it really was.
“Glad you like it, it will look lovely around your neck” Stuart added.
If Dianne had not been staring so intently at the necklace, glistening in the afternoon sunshine flowing into the car, she would have noticed the tears welling up in Stuarts eyes as he remembered how his ex wife had left the necklace on the kitchen table a year ago today. She had looked so beautiful in it, how could she just discard it in the same way she had discarded him.
“Close your eyes, let me put it on for you,” said Stuart knowing there wasn’t long left now, it was nearly time. He checked his foot was still firmly on the brake, the car in gear with the clutch pedal depressed and the engine running. One slight alteration and the car would jolt forward.
Dianne watched as Stuart undid the clasp on the necklace and lifted it higher, only closing her eyes as he moved the necklace towards her neck. He knew she would. As she felt its coolness touch the nape of her neck, she sighed with contentment. It seemed like forever since she was this happy and she wanted to savour every moment of it.
Reaching around her neck, holding the ends of the necklace in each hand Stuart heard her sigh and just for a moment, he felt guilt. She didn’t deserve this, she hadn’t caused his pain he thought as he looked into her pretty face, her eyes closed in complete trust. He silently asked for forgiveness for what he was about to do. Then he moved fast.
She felt his hands behind her neck, excitedly awaiting the clicking of the necklace clasp that never came. Instead she felt the smooth, cool texture of the necklace being replaced by a course burning feeling as the two ends of the rope, pulled from behind the head rest, slide along either side of her neck before the modified clasp on the end of each snapped them together, joining them in eternal unity just under her chin. She opened her eyes, attempting to make sense of the situation, but it was too late. The modified noose held her secure, preventing any struggle.
She turned her eyes to look sideways towards Stuart, confusion and innocence exuded from her presence. As he looked into her eyes, no words came from Stuart’s mouth as guilt once more washed over him. His guilt wouldn’t change his actions, but by keeping silent now, he might spare her the full horror of what was about to befall her as he looked over Dianne’s shoulder to see the view that was thankfully hidden from her eyes. His eyes followed the rope that now secured Dianne’s neck so firmly against the headrest as it trailed along the inside of the car, and out through the hole he had so precisely drilled in the back panel. He couldn’t see the other end, but he knew it was tied securely to the crash barrier at the rear of the car.
Stuart looked at his watch, two minutes to go.
Perhaps driven by the loss of his own daughter or perhaps a symptom of the raging lunacy into which he was rapidly descending, Stuart reached for Dianna’s bag now lying open next to where Dianne was sitting in shock, her head secured by the homemade noose. He pulled out her mobile phone, looking for her daughter’s name among the contacts. He found the name Gemma and called the number, waiting for a response before passing the phone to Dianne.
“You wanted to tell her how the date ended,” he said, not bothering to hide the sadistic cruelty in his voice “Now is your chance.”
No words came out of Diannes mouth as Stuart pressed the phone to her mouth, it didn’t matter. Gemma would be a witness to the ending just as he had wanted.
Driving the car forwards sharply would cause the rope to tighten, before pulling the noose backwards through the gap between the headrest and seat, cutting through flesh and sinew as it separated head from body. Gemma would hear her mother’s last gasps as the rope tightened, cutting through the point of least resistance where the necklace should have been. She would hear the sound of her mother’s breath being severed from its source as her head fell from her shoulders and he would have his revenge. Mercifully it would be over in an instant.
“Hi Mum, how’s it going with that guy who is different,” teased Gemma, keen to pick up on the text she had sent earlier.
Dianne tried to drown out the manic engine revving sound as she listened to her daughter’s voice for the last time.
“Mum, is everything ok?” asked Gemma, her voice betraying the growing urgency.
Stuart looked at his watch, one minute to go.
Dianne tried to talk but no sound would come. “I love you” she said silently again and again in her head, trying to force the sound out from her lips while she still could.
Gemma knew her mum was in trouble. She listened hard for her mum’s voice but all she could hear was a desperate panting noise, hidden between what sounded like manic laughs and a car engine revving so loud that it could have been in the same room.
Stuart took his foot off the clutch causing the car to lurch across the car park.
“MUUUUM, ”Gemma screamed unaware of the level of horror unfolding on the other end of the phone.
“Gemma, I love......” Gemma heard her mum’s words before they were cut short, as the engine noise hit fever pitch, followed by a bang and now there was silence apart from the gentle hum of an engine.
The perimeter wall brought the car to a stop, close to where the Raven stood perched, looking and watching in silence. His eyes gazed across the car park to where the car began its deadly journey, the place where he had toiled to complete his task, the place where the rope was still firmly attached to the railing, its securing knot pulled tight as the vehicle lurched away only moments earlier. Strands of the rope lay all around, as the other end lay frayed on the concrete floor of the car park, a remnant from the Ravens earlier hours of rhythmic pecking as he had worked diligently to break the rope apart.
“MUUUUUUUM,” Dianne heard the words, distant at first then becoming clearer. She opened her eyes and looking through the windscreen she saw steam coming from the bonnet as the gentle hum of the engine secured the car firm against the perimeter wall. She moved her head slightly forward, the rope still around her neck, but now no longer secured at the other end to the metal railing, giving her the freedom that she had so nearly lost. She turned her head to look at the man in the driving seat, now lying dead after the poison he drank earlier in the coffee shop had taken its effect, stopping his heart at the allotted moment, exactly as he had planned.
“MUUUUUUUM, ARE YOU THERE,” Dianne heard the words again, louder and clearer this time as her senses gradually returned. She reached down to pick up the phone lying on the floor of the car.
“Yes I am here darling, the date is over” replied Dianne, not noticing the Raven fly from its perch and disappear over the horizon, its work now done.