Kawaii-Cherri: You're too smart for your own good. Thing is, I actually address that very bit in this chapter. You beat me to the punch, you clever thing you. Unfortunately, she simply didn't get the time or mental headway to think about the panic room. Would have made for a significantly shorter chapter if she had though, no? lol.
AnonGuest: I'm glad you're happy I'm back. I'm happy to be back as well. I have the next few chapters written so I just gotta upload them! And you're the one that's awesome!
Chapter 36: Cherry burn
Sebastian walked along the path towards home. He had picked up some wildflowers that he knew Rina loved and so he was a little bit later than expected, he hoped she didn't mind too much. It was almost dark and she hadn't replied to his text, though that didn't surprise him; when she became focused on work, Rina would lose all sense of time. The day had been great, the time he had spent with Sam had been really fun and he had even put forward a song idea that he had been writing. Inspired by his good life.
Tonight was the night.
Sebastian was going to tell her. Tell her everything. How he was hopelessly in love with her; how he wished to spend every day until his last making sure that she was adored and cared for. That he hoped for her forgiveness and at least her understanding for his deceit. Truthfully, he didn't know what Rina would think of his confession but all those that knew them would say over and over again that they were in love. This time he had to trust others instead of himself, because although he hoped they were right, he had a hard time seeing it. He hummed the tune to himself as he walked towards the house, only looking up when he caught sight of the wide-open door.
With the door being wide open and he instantly knew that something was wrong. The was an energy about the house that filled him with dread. He dropped the flowers he had been holding and tore towards the porch. His chest felt constricted as he saw the broken glass across the floor. The chairs that had been knocked over; the table was on its side. Jams and honey had been smeared across the floor, mingling with the splatters of blood that glittered in the low light.
'Pheebs?!' He called out as he stepped into the house, fear bubbling into his voice. His calls for her became more desperate as he tore through the house, checking every room. 'PHEEBS?!' Sebastian shouted, ripping open the door to their bedroom. Their bed still slightly messy from the morning, her pyjamas hanging over the back of a chair. 'Sweetie, where are you?!' He begun to panic, grabbing random things and putting them down as if she would magically appear if he did so. 'Ophelia?!'
The thought hit him about the basement, it wasn't quite finished but the panic room that his mother had set up in case of monster attack was functional. He ran over to the door and took several steps at a time as he ran down into the musty light. He had hit the light switch as he passed and it had taken a couple of seconds to illuminate the room with enough light to see. He made his way past barrels and towards the panic room door. Frantically, he typed in the passcode and the hydraulic door hissed open to reveal… nothing. 'Oh, Yoba… no… Pheebs,' he sobbed, covering his mouth with his hand. He had allowed himself to hope for a moment. He had half expected to see her sitting on the bed inside, simply waiting and bored out her mind. Sebastian staggered back into the kitchen and there was a glinting that caught his eye.
He almost threw himself onto the floor and grabbed the shiny metal that had caught the light. Her mermaid necklace and charm, the chain broken. Next to it, a Stanley knife with dried blood on the blade. Looking under the table he found her phone thrown precariously to the side.
Whatever had happened here… Rina had fought against.
And lost.
Sebastian couldn't help himself as he sat back onto his knees and wept, holding her necklace as if it was Rina herself. For the moment, his grief overwhelmed everything else. The uncertainty of what had happened poisoning his mind. Perhaps it was her father… perhaps it was Zachery, maybe… another monster attack? Whatever it was, Sebastian wasn't going to rest until he found her and brought her home.
-x-
Robin sighs as she picks up one of the photo frames on the dresser. It was Rina and a woman Robin assumed was her mother. She looks around the room, none of Rina's clothes had been touched, her wedding dress was still in its protective bag. Maru came out from the bathroom, 'mum?' She said quietly, walking over to where Robin was sitting on the bed. 'Are you okay?'
'How could I be, Maru?' She said sadly. 'For some reason, Rina's gone. All her clothes, her shoes, even Mochi is here. The kitchen was destroyed… but even with all the blood and mess, they've not been able to find any leads. It's bullshit and so… ugh, wrong,' she sighs. Two days earlier, Sebastian called her with panic in his voice, he couldn't find Rina. She wasn't answering his calls or texts and her marriage pendant along with the malachite stone he had given her was on the kitchen floor, its chain broken. Cast aside without a care. Tears trickle down Robin's cheeks, 'my little Sebby, heartbroken, thinking that something's happened to that poor, sweet girl,' she sniffs.
Maru sits next to her and pulls her into a hug, 'I know, mum. I know. We're all worried,' she said fighting her own tears. They had done cursory searches into the forests and mountains but Rina's generators were perfectly functional and her animals were undisturbed so another monster raid had been crossed off the list. 'We've asked everyone, I swear Mayor Lewis knows something but he's being strangely quiet and distant,' she mutters. 'Where's Seb now?' She asks. They had come to the farm to collect some of his things, seeing as for the moment he had moved back into his old room. He couldn't bear to be in the house, alone.
'He's gone to ask Marnie if she wouldn't mind taking in the animals until Rina comes home,' she said, putting down the photo. 'Yoba, I hope she comes to her senses soon. Maybe it's just… cold feet? Something set her off?' Robin suggests. She knew what with the situation in the kitchen that it wasn't something Rina wanted but she had to voice the niggling thought out loud and at least pretend that something horrible hadn't happened, or she would let herself be overwhelmed by sadness.
Maru shook her head, 'Seb said that she hasn't touched any of the money in the accounts. Rina was meticulous when it came to finances, everything was recorded. Even the petty cash she had for emergencies,' she sighs. 'She's not taken any money or any of her medication. No belongings.'
Robin stands up and her mouth hardens, 'then something tells me that whatever happened here, Rina wanted no part of it.' She felt her heart harden with anger. That night when Sebastian had called her would forever be preserved in her soul. Robin could feel her son's heartbreak from the tone of his voice, the anguish in his being, his very helplessness. It tore at Robin in ways that she didn't know possible. Losing her first husband, Sebastian's father was a pain that she had never recovered from and it filled her with fury at the thought that their son might end up with the same unwavering scar. Sebastian had given the police a name, some lad called Zachery but still there had been no developments on her disappearance.
'Mum?' Maru said softly. 'I have a horrible feeling that whatever has happened here, it's far above us,' she whispered quietly. 'I don't know if there's going to be anything we can do. Her father is a powerful man and from what she told me… we might not have the resources to help her,' she whispered.
Maru could only watch as her mother seemed to glow with an inner defiance. 'Come on, Maru, let's grab Sebby's things and get on our way,' she says firmly, a determined set to her brow.
Her daughter grabs the small, stuffed toy that Sebastian won for Rina years ago at one of the Spirit's Eve festivals; one of the things he requested. It was just a plushie pumpkin with an oddly stitched on pair of beady eyes. It used to make Rina smile just looking at its goofy face. Robin goes about packing the other bits of clothing and shoes when Maru asks, 'where are we going? It doesn't sound like you mean we're going home.'
'We're not,' Robin said simply. 'We're going to go to Lewis' house and break him like a cheap piece of MDF. The abomination of the carpentry world,' Robin growls under her breath. Maru is pretty frightened by the look in her mother's eyes and busies herself with collecting what was on the list. It doesn't take them long and before long she found herself almost being dragged through the town, the backpack heavy on her shoulders and the small pumpkin in her hands. They were passing the grove behind Sam's house when they heard Sebastian's voice. Robin roughly stops Maru from walking forwards and revealing that they were there. She mouths a "sorry" to her daughter, knowing that she may have hurt her with the sudden stop. Maru hides behind Robin as they creep forward, as quietly as possible. The grove was private and so Sebastian must have been there for a reason. They manage to spot him through the foliage, he was pacing and had a rather, tense… expression.
Sebastian glares at Lewis. 'I know you know. I know that you have all the information that I need in regards to where my wife has been taken,' he said, his tone low and unmistakably calm.
Lewis was against the tree, Sebastian had very unkindly grabbed him and shoved him into his current position, the lad's body language made it clear that Lewis wouldn't be able to just leave. 'I understand that Rina's disappearance is upsetting but honestly, it was to be expected. She was born in luxury and has a taste for finer things,' Lewis shrugs. 'It was only time before the hard work and lack of frivolities made her reach her breaking point.'
Sebastian stopped pacing and stares at Lewis in disbelief, he couldn't believe the nerve of the man. They had police at the farm to investigate the scene and yet Mayor Lewis was trying to weave this story about Rina simply… running away? 'There was blood all over the fucking ceiling, Lewis!' Sebastian shouted at the man, making him jump. 'Blood everywhere! Glass everywhere! My wife's necklace broken on the fucking floor!' He snarled, as he walked closer. 'Don't stand there and have the fucking audacity to look me in the eye and tell me that this is something that she wanted!'
'Easy lad,' Mayor Lewis stammered, his words tripping over one another. 'I misspoke…that's all,' he said to placate him. 'Just… take a moment to calm down,' he added, praying to Yoba that someone would come along and disturb them.
With a deceptively steady hand, Sebastian took out a packet of cigarettes and placed one in his mouth, 'y'know, I always meant to stop,' he said conversationally, coming closer to the mayor. 'Pheebs always has a habit of sneaking one, using her puppy dog eyes and jutting out her bottom lip. I just can't resist that woman,' he laughs, bitterly, his eyes flicking towards Lewis' face. He flicks the lighter and watches the flame for a few seconds before he inhales deeply, causing the end to become cherry red with heat. Blistering.
Lewis can only watch as Sebastian exhales the stinging smoke and calmly and slowly inhales on the cigarette again, it flares and the end blazes once more. With one smooth movement, he pins Lewis to the tree, his forearm above the small man's head, supporting him as he leaned without touching. Sebastian exhales slowly, enjoying the way Lewis' face grimaces at the smell that clouds over him. 'I should quit, perhaps I'll start now,' Sebastian pointedly looks at the cherry end and then moves his hand close to Lewis.
The cigarette hovers about half an inch from Lewis' skin. 'You wouldn't-' Lewis stuttered.
He grins with a wicked intent, 'Lewis, I have nothing to lose. My wife is gone and I will do anything to bring her back. I promised her, Lewis. I promised that if she ever left this place that I would fight tooth and nail to bring her home. Are you going to make me a liar?' He stated simply. Lewis can only look at Sebastian in horror. The lad had lost it. Clearly he was deranged and if Lewis managed to get out of this situation with the ability to speak, the first thing he was going to do was have the boy committed. Robin would just have to put up with his decision but clearly her son was unhinged.
Sebastian's hand drifts and lingers near the mayor's eye; which winces and waters in response to the heat. 'Ever get smoke in your eye? Hurts like a mother fucker, takes a good couple of minutes before you can even think straight,' Sebastian chuckles. 'Imagine what it would be like if it… didn't end after a minute or two,' he threatened.
Maru looks at her mother and they share a concerned moment. Maru began to whisper as she held the little pumpkin tight. 'He's really…'
'Scared,' Robin finishes for her in also a whisper. 'I don't know what I would do if something like this happened to either your father or one of you two,' she explains. 'Sebby is just scared and angry,' she sighs, nudging Maru back a bit.
Unknowingly to Sebastian that he had an audience, he continues to threaten the mayor, moving his hand closer and closer until Lewis twists his head, sharply and closes his eyes. 'She failed her assessment!' He cries out, swearing under his breath as he rubs his eyes. Lewis doubles over, tears streaming down his face as Sebastian looks at him in shock.
Flicking the cigarette to the side, he grabs Lewis by the collar and heaves him up against the tree trunk. 'What the fuck do you mean? How the fuck could she have possibly failed?' Sebastian snarls, pressing him against the bark, painfully.
Mayor Lewis grunts and breathes heavily, 'it was deemed that your marriage was invalid! New evidence! Recordings, of… of… you and Rina… planning a fake marriage,' he scowls, kicking his legs out in anger, trying to get him to let go.
'What? Who presented this so called, evidence?'
'Her father! He came back a few days ago! He's got legal control over Rina again, a conservatorship! A judge deemed her incapable and he got a signed court order! There was nothing I can do!' Lewis wails. Sebastian breathes hard and heavy, dropping him without ceremony. Lewis grunts as he hits the floor, he looks at Sebastian. 'I couldn't even tell you. Legally, I'm not allowed and your marriage has been annulled. Something to do with… Rina's incapability to make informed decisions. If Gideon really wanted, he could have had you arrested for-'
'Shut up,' Sebastian says simply as he runs his hands through his hair. His heart thunders in his chest as he begins to panic. 'No, no… I can't… I can't let him do this… I promised her. I promised!' He said as he feels his mind begin to spiral. He looks everywhere but at the mayor, his head starting to feel dizzy as the real implications hit him. 'Pheebs,' he whispers, closing his eyes. Then his stress and panic was suddenly washed away by a tsunami of fury and rage, the audacity of this man. Sebastian's fists round and he breathes in deeply. 'Right. If he wants war, that's what he'll damn well get.'