"These statements are not to be breached. If they are, the petshop
will not be held responsible for the results of your actions. First, you
must not show her to anyone. Second, feed her small fish once every three
days. Make sure you feed her exactly once every three days. Finally, keep
her in water at all times. I hope you enjoy your pet." Count D said as Paul
signed the contract.
The first thing Paul did when he got home was put Melanie in his in- ground pool. He had named her Melanie after his daughter who had died. He hadn't told the Count this, but Paul had once been married to his high- school sweetheart, Victoria. They had a daughter together, but she died at only 2 months old from a breathing disorder. Shortly after that incident, Victoria left him for another man. Paul was left heartbroken...he had no one. But now he had Melanie. "You're even better than Victoria." he said, stroking her hair. Melanie gazed up at him, not saying a word. She dove under the water for a few seconds, then came back up as Paul threw a few minnows to her. He had picked them up from a bait and tackle shop in the city.
The phone rang. Paul stood. "I'll be right back, Melanie." he said, and went in the living room. Slowly he picked the phone up. "Hello?" he said. The voice on the other end was that of a woman. "Paul..." she said sadly. Paul almost dropped the phone. "Victoria." he said, shocked that she was calling him. "Paul...I had an accident. I just wanted to...to see you...before it's all over." "But Victoria...what about Sam? Is he there?" "He left me. Just like I did to you. I...I'm so sorry, Paul..." "That isn't important right now, baby. Are you alright? What happened?" "I was so upset after Sam left me...I just got in the car and drove. I wanted to drive to your house, but I wasn't paying attention...I hit a tree...the doctors said there isn't much time." "I'll be right there, Victoria...I'll be right there." Paul hung up the phone and retrieved his coat from the closet. He had completely forgotten Melanie as he left the house, got into his SUV and drove off to the hospital.
Melanie waited for Paul to come back. Even though she had just met him, she loved him...he loved her, she thought. After he didn't come back for an hour, she wanted to see him. She swam to the edge of the pool...
"That's insane, D. She crawled out of the pool, even though she knew it would kill her, and went looking for him?" said Leon. Count D nodded. "It is quite depressing. I though Paul loved Melanie...but it seems he had not forgotten his past love. In a way, Paul and Melanie are very similar. Victoria left Paul for someone else....and Paul left Melanie for someone else." he explained. Leon rolled his eyes. "So why was Paul's car crashed in a ditch this morning?" he asked, getting tired of playing mind games with the Count. Count D folded his hands in his lap. "The consequences for how he treated Melanie was death, much like the punishment for Victoria was death. Love is a harsh and cruel thing, Detective. It is quite a shame what happened to Paul and Melanie, and even Victoria. But I will not be held responsible." he said, and set the newspaper on the coffee table. In the obituary section were Paul and Victoria's smiling faces set next to their biographies....somehow, this tale of lost love and tragic endings was not included.
The first thing Paul did when he got home was put Melanie in his in- ground pool. He had named her Melanie after his daughter who had died. He hadn't told the Count this, but Paul had once been married to his high- school sweetheart, Victoria. They had a daughter together, but she died at only 2 months old from a breathing disorder. Shortly after that incident, Victoria left him for another man. Paul was left heartbroken...he had no one. But now he had Melanie. "You're even better than Victoria." he said, stroking her hair. Melanie gazed up at him, not saying a word. She dove under the water for a few seconds, then came back up as Paul threw a few minnows to her. He had picked them up from a bait and tackle shop in the city.
The phone rang. Paul stood. "I'll be right back, Melanie." he said, and went in the living room. Slowly he picked the phone up. "Hello?" he said. The voice on the other end was that of a woman. "Paul..." she said sadly. Paul almost dropped the phone. "Victoria." he said, shocked that she was calling him. "Paul...I had an accident. I just wanted to...to see you...before it's all over." "But Victoria...what about Sam? Is he there?" "He left me. Just like I did to you. I...I'm so sorry, Paul..." "That isn't important right now, baby. Are you alright? What happened?" "I was so upset after Sam left me...I just got in the car and drove. I wanted to drive to your house, but I wasn't paying attention...I hit a tree...the doctors said there isn't much time." "I'll be right there, Victoria...I'll be right there." Paul hung up the phone and retrieved his coat from the closet. He had completely forgotten Melanie as he left the house, got into his SUV and drove off to the hospital.
Melanie waited for Paul to come back. Even though she had just met him, she loved him...he loved her, she thought. After he didn't come back for an hour, she wanted to see him. She swam to the edge of the pool...
"That's insane, D. She crawled out of the pool, even though she knew it would kill her, and went looking for him?" said Leon. Count D nodded. "It is quite depressing. I though Paul loved Melanie...but it seems he had not forgotten his past love. In a way, Paul and Melanie are very similar. Victoria left Paul for someone else....and Paul left Melanie for someone else." he explained. Leon rolled his eyes. "So why was Paul's car crashed in a ditch this morning?" he asked, getting tired of playing mind games with the Count. Count D folded his hands in his lap. "The consequences for how he treated Melanie was death, much like the punishment for Victoria was death. Love is a harsh and cruel thing, Detective. It is quite a shame what happened to Paul and Melanie, and even Victoria. But I will not be held responsible." he said, and set the newspaper on the coffee table. In the obituary section were Paul and Victoria's smiling faces set next to their biographies....somehow, this tale of lost love and tragic endings was not included.