Chapter Three: Torn
We didn't have a honeymoon. Well we didn't go anywhere at least. Anthony stayed home from the store, just as he'd promised and we slept in everyday. I was blissfully happy all week until the Monday when Anthony would return to work. I wanted him to stay home but he said he had to get back. "But, it isn't tourist season, it won't be busy, get George to handle it," I said. George was the assistant manager. "I need to go back Skye, I won't miss dinner, I promise," he gave me a kiss and left me alone in the large house. It wasn't good when Anthony left me alone to think about the past. The past made me depressed and unhappy. I wanted something happy to think about. Rachel had the day off to spend time with Wesley. They had grown even closer over the last week. Rachel told me she might actually be falling in love with him. I was so happy for her. I went out onto a balcony that belonged to one of the guest rooms. It had a view of the driveway. I stared at it, half expecting someone to come driving in to visit me. But no one would come. I was about to go back inside when I heard a vehicle's engine coming up the drive. It was a red SUV. I didn't know anyone with that kind of car. I went downstairs and waited for the doorbell to ring. When it did, I went to the door. I opened it curiously. Standing there was a man my age with a strong square jaw and shaggy blond hair. His hazel eyes softened when he saw me. Suddenly everything went black.
I woke up on the floor to someone slapping my cheeks. "Skye..skye.." someone was saying. My eyes fluttered open and Derek's face loomed over me. I sat up quickly. My head started swimming so I lay back down. "What happened?" I asked. "You fainted," he said. I sat up more slowly this time and felt ok. Derek was here. He had found me. After five years he had finally found me. I had dreamed of and dreaded this moment since I left La Vie that night. This was going to complicate my simple life. The simple life that I enjoyed living. Suddenly I was angry. Couldn't Derek take a hint? I left him for a reason. I stood up quickly and ignored the throbbing pain in my head. "What are you doing here?" I demanded to know. He looked at me in surprise. What did he expect? I would be ecstatic to see him? Did he think I was being held against my will and he would be my rescuer? "I.I didn't know where you were," he said lamely. "That was the plan!" I said throwing my hands up in exasperation. He looked confused. His beautiful hazel eyes looked tired and sad. My heart softened at the thought of him searching for me. Wondering where I had gone. Not even knowing if I was alive. What had I done? In the process of trying to prevent him from being hurt I had hurt him even more. My shoulders sagged as the realization washed over me. "I missed you Skye," Derek said sadly. I looked up at him. He was so handsome, and I had missed him. He stepped closer to me and put his arms around my waist. He leaned closer and kissed me on the lips, hard. I put my hands on his strong chest and was about to push him away but I just didn't want to. Anthony's face flashed before my eyes. "No," I murmured into his mouth. I pushed him away and took a minute to catch my breath. "What's wrong?" he asked. He looked so happy to see me again. But.I was married to Anthony now. "You have to leave, Anthony might come home," I said glancing out the window. Derek looked confused. "Anthony's here?" he asked. I nodded, "We were married a week ago," I said softly. His face fell and tears sprang to his eyes. He looked so exhausted. I hated to hurt him again. Why did I have to do this to everyone I loved? "No, no, we were going to get married," he stammered. "I'm sorry Derek, I didn't want to hurt you," I tried to explain. "Well this was sure a good way to do that," he said bitterly. He brushed past me and slammed the door on his way out. Tears sprang to my eyes and overflowed onto my cheeks. I ran up to my room. I lay face down on the bed and sobbed. What had I done? I somehow always managed to do exactly the opposite of what was right. Seeing Derek had awakened old feelings in me. Feelings that I had buried along with memories of Pop and my mother. This couldn't be happening to me. I heard aloud crash from downstairs. I shot out of bed and down the stairs. Anthony was in the hallway; his face was beat red. There was a broken vase on the floor in front of him. His hands were clenched into fists. He looked absolutely livid. Oh no, I thought frantically, does he know about Derek? He looked up at me and smiled bitterly, "So Derek Brooks was here?" he asked. I looked at me feet and didn't say anything. "He came to the shop and started to rant and rave about me stealing you away from him he drove all the customers out!" Anthony cried angrily. I was silent. I didn't know what to say. "Skye? Say something!" he yelled. I jumped, "I'm sorry, but it isn't my fault," I told him. "Oh yeah," Anthony said, "Nothing's ever your fault. It's always Maxine or Trevor or Pop, never you," I shrank away from my husband and crossed my arms across my chest trying to look more defiant then I felt. "What are you angry about? Nothing happened between Derek and I, I love you," I said softly, trying to look sad and hurt my Anthony's reaction. "For now," he muttered. He walked away, leaving me standing in the hall, more confused than ever. Anthony and I were just married, why did fate have to choose this time in my life to bring my old love back to me? What did I do to deserve this? Lots, the voice in my head said, you are the cause of Gregory and Trevor's death and your mother's disappearance. "No," I said out loud. Yes, the voice said I ran outside into the chilly October air. I didn't feel the cold on my skin as I ran into the woods towards the lake. I had to escape the voice. All I could think about was getting away.
You killed Gregory. You killed Trevor. It's all your fault. All your fault, the voice taunted.
"NO!" I screamed. Suddenly I broke out onto the lakeshore. Maybe if I drowned the voice then it would stop. I walked into the lake. The cold water shocked my legs through my jeans. I had to stop the voice.
KILLER! KILLER! KILLER! KILLER!
I ducked my head under water but the voice didn't stop.
KILLER! KILLER! KILLER! KILLER!
I opened my mouth to scream and water poured into my mouth. I couldn't breath, but I didn't care, if I were unconscious then I wouldn't hear the accusing voice. I sucked water into my lungs. I'll see you soon, Daddy, I thought. My lungs were about to explode when I felt strong arms grab me under the arms and drag me out of the water. I lay limp in the person's arms and looked up to see who had rescued me. It's my prince, I thought. I blacked out before I could see his face.
I woke up in my bed under what felt like hundreds of blankets. Despite the blankets I was still shivering. I looked to the side and found Anthony asleep in a chair. I pulled the blanket closer to my nose and sunk into the pillows. The voices were gone now. Anthony stirred and his eyes fluttered open. He saw me looking at him and jumped up, "Skye!" he ran over to the bed and kissed my on the forehead. "I'm so sorry! I love you. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he muttered over and over. I felt his warm tears on my skin as he held me close to him. "What happened?" I managed to choke out. He pulled back and looked at me with love and worry in his eyes, "You almost drowned in the lake," he said. I remembered someone pulling me out of the water. My prince. I didn't get to see his face. "I found you on the shore. You must have crawled out and then passed out," Anthony said. I shook my head, I hadn't crawled out, "No, I--" "I know, I couldn't believe you would do that either," Anthony interrupted, "I feel so awful, I promise I will never yell at you like that again," He hugged me tightly. I remembered suddenly Derek coming to the house and then Anthony coming home furious about it. I remembered the accusing voices. Was I going crazy?
Anthony slept beside me that night. He kept me warm with his body. It took me a long time to fall asleep that night. I couldn't stop thinking about the person who pulled me out of the lake. I would have died if it weren't for that person. It wasn't Anthony; he thought I crawled out myself. I knew that someone had saved me. But who?
We didn't have a honeymoon. Well we didn't go anywhere at least. Anthony stayed home from the store, just as he'd promised and we slept in everyday. I was blissfully happy all week until the Monday when Anthony would return to work. I wanted him to stay home but he said he had to get back. "But, it isn't tourist season, it won't be busy, get George to handle it," I said. George was the assistant manager. "I need to go back Skye, I won't miss dinner, I promise," he gave me a kiss and left me alone in the large house. It wasn't good when Anthony left me alone to think about the past. The past made me depressed and unhappy. I wanted something happy to think about. Rachel had the day off to spend time with Wesley. They had grown even closer over the last week. Rachel told me she might actually be falling in love with him. I was so happy for her. I went out onto a balcony that belonged to one of the guest rooms. It had a view of the driveway. I stared at it, half expecting someone to come driving in to visit me. But no one would come. I was about to go back inside when I heard a vehicle's engine coming up the drive. It was a red SUV. I didn't know anyone with that kind of car. I went downstairs and waited for the doorbell to ring. When it did, I went to the door. I opened it curiously. Standing there was a man my age with a strong square jaw and shaggy blond hair. His hazel eyes softened when he saw me. Suddenly everything went black.
I woke up on the floor to someone slapping my cheeks. "Skye..skye.." someone was saying. My eyes fluttered open and Derek's face loomed over me. I sat up quickly. My head started swimming so I lay back down. "What happened?" I asked. "You fainted," he said. I sat up more slowly this time and felt ok. Derek was here. He had found me. After five years he had finally found me. I had dreamed of and dreaded this moment since I left La Vie that night. This was going to complicate my simple life. The simple life that I enjoyed living. Suddenly I was angry. Couldn't Derek take a hint? I left him for a reason. I stood up quickly and ignored the throbbing pain in my head. "What are you doing here?" I demanded to know. He looked at me in surprise. What did he expect? I would be ecstatic to see him? Did he think I was being held against my will and he would be my rescuer? "I.I didn't know where you were," he said lamely. "That was the plan!" I said throwing my hands up in exasperation. He looked confused. His beautiful hazel eyes looked tired and sad. My heart softened at the thought of him searching for me. Wondering where I had gone. Not even knowing if I was alive. What had I done? In the process of trying to prevent him from being hurt I had hurt him even more. My shoulders sagged as the realization washed over me. "I missed you Skye," Derek said sadly. I looked up at him. He was so handsome, and I had missed him. He stepped closer to me and put his arms around my waist. He leaned closer and kissed me on the lips, hard. I put my hands on his strong chest and was about to push him away but I just didn't want to. Anthony's face flashed before my eyes. "No," I murmured into his mouth. I pushed him away and took a minute to catch my breath. "What's wrong?" he asked. He looked so happy to see me again. But.I was married to Anthony now. "You have to leave, Anthony might come home," I said glancing out the window. Derek looked confused. "Anthony's here?" he asked. I nodded, "We were married a week ago," I said softly. His face fell and tears sprang to his eyes. He looked so exhausted. I hated to hurt him again. Why did I have to do this to everyone I loved? "No, no, we were going to get married," he stammered. "I'm sorry Derek, I didn't want to hurt you," I tried to explain. "Well this was sure a good way to do that," he said bitterly. He brushed past me and slammed the door on his way out. Tears sprang to my eyes and overflowed onto my cheeks. I ran up to my room. I lay face down on the bed and sobbed. What had I done? I somehow always managed to do exactly the opposite of what was right. Seeing Derek had awakened old feelings in me. Feelings that I had buried along with memories of Pop and my mother. This couldn't be happening to me. I heard aloud crash from downstairs. I shot out of bed and down the stairs. Anthony was in the hallway; his face was beat red. There was a broken vase on the floor in front of him. His hands were clenched into fists. He looked absolutely livid. Oh no, I thought frantically, does he know about Derek? He looked up at me and smiled bitterly, "So Derek Brooks was here?" he asked. I looked at me feet and didn't say anything. "He came to the shop and started to rant and rave about me stealing you away from him he drove all the customers out!" Anthony cried angrily. I was silent. I didn't know what to say. "Skye? Say something!" he yelled. I jumped, "I'm sorry, but it isn't my fault," I told him. "Oh yeah," Anthony said, "Nothing's ever your fault. It's always Maxine or Trevor or Pop, never you," I shrank away from my husband and crossed my arms across my chest trying to look more defiant then I felt. "What are you angry about? Nothing happened between Derek and I, I love you," I said softly, trying to look sad and hurt my Anthony's reaction. "For now," he muttered. He walked away, leaving me standing in the hall, more confused than ever. Anthony and I were just married, why did fate have to choose this time in my life to bring my old love back to me? What did I do to deserve this? Lots, the voice in my head said, you are the cause of Gregory and Trevor's death and your mother's disappearance. "No," I said out loud. Yes, the voice said I ran outside into the chilly October air. I didn't feel the cold on my skin as I ran into the woods towards the lake. I had to escape the voice. All I could think about was getting away.
You killed Gregory. You killed Trevor. It's all your fault. All your fault, the voice taunted.
"NO!" I screamed. Suddenly I broke out onto the lakeshore. Maybe if I drowned the voice then it would stop. I walked into the lake. The cold water shocked my legs through my jeans. I had to stop the voice.
KILLER! KILLER! KILLER! KILLER!
I ducked my head under water but the voice didn't stop.
KILLER! KILLER! KILLER! KILLER!
I opened my mouth to scream and water poured into my mouth. I couldn't breath, but I didn't care, if I were unconscious then I wouldn't hear the accusing voice. I sucked water into my lungs. I'll see you soon, Daddy, I thought. My lungs were about to explode when I felt strong arms grab me under the arms and drag me out of the water. I lay limp in the person's arms and looked up to see who had rescued me. It's my prince, I thought. I blacked out before I could see his face.
I woke up in my bed under what felt like hundreds of blankets. Despite the blankets I was still shivering. I looked to the side and found Anthony asleep in a chair. I pulled the blanket closer to my nose and sunk into the pillows. The voices were gone now. Anthony stirred and his eyes fluttered open. He saw me looking at him and jumped up, "Skye!" he ran over to the bed and kissed my on the forehead. "I'm so sorry! I love you. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he muttered over and over. I felt his warm tears on my skin as he held me close to him. "What happened?" I managed to choke out. He pulled back and looked at me with love and worry in his eyes, "You almost drowned in the lake," he said. I remembered someone pulling me out of the water. My prince. I didn't get to see his face. "I found you on the shore. You must have crawled out and then passed out," Anthony said. I shook my head, I hadn't crawled out, "No, I--" "I know, I couldn't believe you would do that either," Anthony interrupted, "I feel so awful, I promise I will never yell at you like that again," He hugged me tightly. I remembered suddenly Derek coming to the house and then Anthony coming home furious about it. I remembered the accusing voices. Was I going crazy?
Anthony slept beside me that night. He kept me warm with his body. It took me a long time to fall asleep that night. I couldn't stop thinking about the person who pulled me out of the lake. I would have died if it weren't for that person. It wasn't Anthony; he thought I crawled out myself. I knew that someone had saved me. But who?
