yaaayy! finally got some review.. m pretty excited about it.. here's the next chapter.. hope you all enjoy.. plz do not forget to leave your reviews.. means a lot to my little writer soul ;) Happy Friday!

-Sabah

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Chapter.3

The Breakthrough:

Suddenly darkness took over the porcelain afternoon sky. The shades of baby-blue and white fluxed away into a dusty-silvery night. The wind began to whoop, the clouds growled, the lightning struck spawning a sudden flash of ablaze; a cascade of rain fluttered down the chest of the sky. The obscure misty night shrieked an uncanny mystery.

Norma ran vigorously, tearing through the sheets of rain, splashing every little puddle on her way; she ran, ran and ran; ran for her dear life, not knowing where to stop or where she would be safe. She twisted her head to find the shadowy figure right behind her shoulders, close in on her. She started pacing harder; her heart pounded against her rib cage ready to explode anytime now. She struggled for one notch of oxygen; she knew her body was giving up. Leaving the highway she entered the woods only hoping that she'd lose him amidst the thick forest. Norma went deeper and deeper into the woods and finally crashed against a tree. She clung onto the tree catching her breath, heaving in a mouthful of oxygen then exhaling them all at once. She leaned against the tree, resting her head on the dumpy bark; her eyes gravitating in circles to see whether she had finally lost him. To her, relief he was nowhere to be seen. Her pulse rate started to drop calming down her nerves; she shut her eyes and inhaled a breath of satisfaction but fate didn't seem to be on her side; right then something strong caught her throat which made her eyes flung open, popping out of their sockets. She grabbed onto the firm grip around her neck with her petite arms battling to break free. She coughed and winced in pain as the grasp grew stronger almost choking her. Then, with one violent blow, Norma was thrown on the ground. She fell flat on her stomach and groaned in spasm. Her deep blue orbs grew wider in fear as she turned around to find the tall ebony structure approaching towards her with something sharp in his hand. Norma wobbled on her back making an attempt to escape; she whimpered like a little child begging him not to hurt her but all in vain. He took a giant step forward, leaped on to her and stabbed the pointy object right in the middle of her stomach with full force.

Norma let out shrill cry of agony. "Normaaaaaaaaaannnnnn!"

...

Norman came running into her room to witness his mother soaked in her own sweat blabbering in her sleep.

"mother..!" he rushed beside her.. "mother wake up! what's the matter?" he gently nudged her grabbing her by the shoulders.

Norma plunged off of her sleep with a sudden jolt; she struggled to breathe, her throat was as parched as a dry log, drops of sweat dripping down her dirty blonde; Norman gently rubbed her back to calm her nerves.

"was it a nightmare?" he asked softly.

"I- I donno Norman, it felt so real.." she fumbled.. "please get me a glass of water.."

"be right back mother!" Norman rushed down to the kitchen and brought her back glass of water in no time.

Norma guzzled all of it at one go, then handed the empty glass back to him.. "thanks honey."

"do you wanna talk about it?" Norman asked concerned.

"I'm fine.. It was just a nightmare.. it happens." She chose not to tell him that it was probably him she saw in her dream, strangling and stabbing her to death. "Norman, where were you the other night, when we had fight?"

"I went with Bradley as I told you earlier. Why wouldn't you believe me?" Norman replied, now a bit annoyed.

"ugh.. I believe you honey, it's just that I was worried sick looking for you.. anyway.. then what happened? Where is Bradley?" she squinted at him waiting for an answer.

"mother.. how can you not remember?"

Norma stared at him in shock.. "remember what?" she asked.

"mother..!" he moved closer to her encircling his arms around her shoulder.. "don't worry, I'm not gonna say it to anyone. I promised you; remember?"

Norma couldn't comprehend what he was talking about.. "what the hell are you talking about? My what secret? What promise?" an agitated Norma grilled.

"The fact that you smashed Bradley's head to death, then we put her body in the trunk of her car and pushed it down by the old dockyard.. don't you remember any of it?" he asked in a serious tone.

Norma's jaw dropped down. Goose bumps appeared at every inch of her skin. Suddenly her entire body became cold. She stared at him in disbelief.. "I.. I killed her?" she hitched through her sore throat.

"oh mother.. what's gotten into you? Forget about it, we promised each other never to reveal this to anyone right? So just think it'd never happened." He tried to convince her as if it was no big deal.. "I'll tell you what let me make you breakfast, run your errands. You take the day off. Give yourself some rest. Alright?"

Norma nodded lightly still in daze.. she couldn't believe what she had just heard.. Caleb's and Dylan's words echoed in her mind..

'He thinks he's you Norma!'

'He was wearing your robe, thinking that he was you!'

She knew she had to do something. It couldn't continue the way it had been. Threading her fingers through her messy hair she grabbed her golden locks in a tight fist trying to soothe her throbbing head. 'Dylan, only Dylan could help her out', she thought. She grabbed her phone dialing to Dylan; to her absolute frustration the call got directed to voicemail..

"ugh!" Norma groaned.. "Dylan! Where are you? I need to talk to you ASAP.. call me!" she hung up; fiddling with the phone her mind clicked; Alex, she's got to talk to Alex. With a little apprehension she dialed his number.

His phone buzzed in his pocket as he slammed shut the door of the SUV; a serene smile curved on his face as soon as he saw the name flashing on the screen.

"Morning Norma!" he greeted her entering the office.

"Hey Alex, morning. I.. I need to talk to you" she took a terse pause "It's kinda urgent."

"Yeah.. what happened? Is everything alright?" he asked, worried.

"no, yeah.. everything is fine.. it's just.. I mean.. I need.." before she could arrange all of her words in one proper sentence Alex's voice cut her off.

"umm Norma, would you mind if I call you back?" he asked almost pleading.

Norma was taken aback.. "uh.. okay.. I mean, yeah sure.." she replied quickly.

"Thanks.." he hung up.

"what are YOU doing here?" he asked entering his cabin; there sitting across his desk was DEA Liz Babbitt waiting for him with a sly smile plastered on her face.

"hey Sheriff, good to see you again!" she scoffed. "have a seat, I gotta run something by you."

Alex was already fuming by her commanding tone but he decided to stay calm and find out her agenda. "so.. what brings you here?" he asked.

"where is Bob?"

"excuse me!" he was enraged. "what do you mean where's Bob?"

"you know exactly what I mean.. what did you do to him ha Sheriff? Did you kill him?"

Alex sopped his tongue over his dry lips, his throat was drying up thinking of an answer; he hated to lie but he couldn't give in, not now at least. The gunshots from the night whirred in his ears making his mind all blurry. He hated himself for killing Bob because of his personal needs but he had never realized how deep he'd gone down along this path; he did it for his love, he did it for Norma. He reminded himself and he still needed to protect her. So he had to be strong.

Alex leaned back to his chair, folded his arms in front of his chest and asked confidently, "did you find a body?"

"you know what, we did!" she retorted boasting with pride.. "and here's the autopsy report!" she pushed the file towards him.

Alex took the file scanning it carefully; his pulse rate started to rise but he managed to keep a stoic demeanor in front of her.

"apparently he was shot 3 times! point four zero bullets, fired from a 92 C, Beretta Model; which I see here is registered to you Sheriff!" she took a halt trying to read his expressions. "what do you have to say about that?"

He smiled contently, took his body forward, with his elbows resting on the desk. "well, did you find the gun?" he asked.

Babbitt was perplexed by his inquiry.. "what you mean?"

This time Alex slid a file towards her, "here's the answer to all your questions Ms. Babbitt" he sneered. "not that I owe you any explanation but this is the F.I.R of my missing weapon, filed an evening before Bob went missing!" he informed her fearlessly.

"besides, use your head! if I had to kill him then why the heck would I involve you and your team in all of this right?"

Babbitt narrowed her eyes at him still not completely convinced, "how'd you lose it?" she pitched in.

"I don't remember..!" he replied, instantly cursing himself from the inside for giving such a naive answer. Sure this was Norma's effect; he recalled the first time he had called her up to the station. She was sitting right there in front of him lying to his face. What an irony, it was the same situation. He was sitting right where he was sitting that day. But today, he was the liar.

"you don't remember how did you lose your gun?" she asked in utter shock.

"No, I said I don't!" he proclaimed.

"that is so irresponsible of you Sheriff" she concluded but to her annoyance his smile never disappeared.

"call it whatever you want to Babbitt, it's not a crime and let me tell you what; instead of doubting me, interrogating me in my own cabin, without any prior notice, you should rather get a hold of the real murderer. After all, like you said, it's your case right?" he plastered a victorious smile on his face.

She eyed him one last time before getting up, "this is not the end sheriff, we'll meet again soon!"

"Be my guest!"

TO BE CONTINUED. . .