Leave Me If You Dare

Arabella’s anxiety rose immediately. The warm water in the tub became so cold that she could freeze. She had felt that the air inside her body was almost running out. She tried to gather all her wits, she took a deep breath and replied to the person on the other line.

“Who are you? Sorry, but I don’t have time for this prank call.” Though her hands were shaking, Arabella tried to compose herself.

“If you want to know the truth, go to Hardley Café at 2:00 p.m. sharp. Do not forget to come alone and don’t you ever call the police or else you won’t like what’s gonna happen next.” The mystery caller with a distorted voice clearly ordered.

Goosebumps. Lots of goosebumps. Arabella had never felt so nervous like this. She felt her hand that was holding the telephone was restlessly shaking. She then held it with her other hand to stop the trembling and calmed down. This kind of suspense in her life was too dangerous that she didn’t know how to handle it but she had to. If not her, who would do it? Her mother was the one who took care of her critical father in the hospital abroad. She was the only one left in Capital Z and the only one who could give justice to his father.

“How would I know if you are telling the truth?” She then added with courage to conquer her fear. Dealing with this man on the phone was like dealing with a hideous criminal. This gonna be her first time dealing with a dangerous man. Well, for the sake of her dad again and for the love of her family, she would do what it takes even if her own life is at stake.

“You will know that I am telling the truth if you will come to the place. Don’t’ forget. You have to come alone.” The mystery caller then hanged up the phone without waiting for her reply.

Nervous mixed with doubt and fear, Arabella couldn’t move. She had felt her mind was going to explode. Thoughts of her father’s painful face lying in the hospital bed, the risk of putting herself in trouble, and dealing with the man on the phone, were all flooding uncontrollably in her mind. Sure enough, this man wanted something big for her. By the fact that the voice she heard was distorted, that caller wanted to hide his identity. And the way he ordered her not to call the police was something only a criminal-minded person would say. He didn’t call her to be a witness in her dad’s case, but obviously, he wanted to benefit from it. That, Arabella, would need to know. But first, she needed to get to Hardley Café on time.

Arabella then quickly finished her bath, put on her clothes, and drove out. ‘What a day! She just had escaped from the island for 1 day and now another trouble was on its way for her. This trouble could give her father justice or could put her life in danger.

Exactly 2:00 pm at Hardley Café.

Arabella got inside while her eyes kept on wandering the place. She needed to be vigilant if she didn’t want to die that early. Her heart was beating fast. Her mind was full of dangerous thoughts and her body was trembling uncontrollably. Of course, she followed the caller who had ordered her. She didn’t alert the police and she came in alone, but before she went there, she grabbed a small pepper spray and put it in her pocket. For whatever it may happen, she could use this for her self-defense.

Arabella sat down at the corner table. Good thing, there were other customers in Hardley Café. She could easily make a sound if something would go wrong.

Then her phone suddenly rang. It was an unknown number. She figured it out already, it was the mystery caller.

“Hello?” Arabella’s voice was staggering. She could feel the danger was already coming and she couldn’t help shaking even her voice.

“I can see you.” The distorted voice came again.

Arabella was then frozen. She turned her head around to see who was holding a cellphone out of the other customers. There’s no one.

“Are you kidding me?” Arabella’s fierce voice came out. Annoyed from being schemed, her anger welled up. She couldn’t believe she let herself believed the caller just like that. Just because he mentioned her father’s case, she didn’t think too much and let this damn caller toyed her.

“Enough. You are wearing a white shirt and blue pants with white sneakers.” The caller replied.

Arabella then was dumbfounded.

This man was really on the site and watching her. Her instinct made her eyes to looked everywhere for the man, but she could not find anyone who looked suspicious.

“Stay where you are. A waiter will come to you and will give you something.” After he ordered, the caller hanged up the phone without waiting for Arabella’s reply.

‘Gosh. This is what it feels like.’ Arabella was still shaking thinking about the situation she was in right now.

“Miss Arabella Jones?” A big waiter came in front of her and asked her.

“Yes.” Holding the pepper spray in her pocket and forcing her shaky, mouth to open, Arabella replied.

“This is for you.” Then the waiter gave her a small black box. Then turned to walk away.

“Wait! Who gave you this? Did you know him? Did you see his face? “Arabella quickly stood up to chase the waiter.

The waiter stopped and turned on her.

“Oh! I’m sorry, ma’am. Someone just gave me a big tip to give that one to you and left in a hurry. He was wearing a cap and dark sunglasses with a thick jacket. I could barely say if he was a man or she was a woman.” The waiter replied with full of innocence on his face. At the same time, his face had a hint of fear and curiosity from Arabella’s way of questioning. He was obviously didn’t want to be involved in some trouble.

“Okay.” Judging from his words, Arabella took a step back and her back instinctively slouched in hopelessness.

It seemed that the caller planned this very well beforehand. She didn’t want innocent people like the waiter to be involved in her trouble, so she just went back to her table and sat back again.

With full of doubts and fear, she looked at the box in her hand. She was reluctant to open it since she was not ready yet to see what was inside. ‘What if it’s an organ? An eye? A nose? Ear perhaps? Gosh. Could she hold herself not to scream?’ Her thought made her want to vomit.

She was struggling with herself for a long time before she got the courage to finally open the small box. With her shaky hands, she unwrapped the black wrapper first, then to her shock, she found one piece of amethyst earring with bloodstain tightly sealed on a small zip lock.

Arabella froze again as if her time had stopped. It seemed that the caller really knew something. ‘Who could be the possible owner of the earring?’ ‘Is the owner, the person behind the killing of her father?’ ‘She is a woman.’ Arabella then concluded and her curiosity wanted her to do more of what happened that night. She was positive that the evidence she had on her hand would help the police to resolve her dad’s case fast and finally they would capture the real culprit.

Gathering all her hopes and chances, Arabella quickly stood up and went to the police station. She then met the police officer Willy Jackson, who was the leader of the investigation of her father’s case.

“Police officer Jackson, please have this evidence. I think this will help in your investigation about my father’s case.” Arabella said with full of hope on her face.

“Where did you get this?” Police Officer Jackson was stunned. They had been trying their best to gather evidence at the crime scene, but they found nothing and this girl in front of her had one.

Arabella was not ready for the officer’s question. She just went directly there without thinking it much. How could she tell him that there’s a mystery caller and that the caller just gave her the evidence? The mystery caller clearly ordered that there should be no police involved.

“Oh. I’m so sorry officer, but I just found it on my doorstep just this morning. I don’t know who’s the person behind it.” Arabella tried her best to act normal in front of the officer, though she was really scared that her lie would be detected.

The officer was a bit stunned by Arabella’s reply. It seemed someone added to their investigation. Could it be a witness or a suspect?

“Did you already check your CCTV?” The officer asked with a flicker of hope in his eyes.

“Hmm... I’m sorry officer Jackson but our CCTVs weren’t working for almost a week now. I should have it fixed, but I was caught up with my busy schedules lately.” Arabella tried her best to provide him an answer with her greatest alibi.

“Okay then. I’ll have to send this to our forensic laboratory. I will contact you once I get the result. Have a good day Ms. Foster.” Officer Jackson then quickly strode past her.

Arabella breathed a sigh of relief. The mouthful air, she held while she was being interviewed, now she finally let it go in a deep exhale. That feeling when she needed to lie and made some alibi to a respective man in uniform was quite horrifying than that of the mystery caller.

“One more thing.” When Arabella was about to get out from the station, Office Jackson stopped on his way and turned to look at her again.

Arabella suddenly turned into ice. “Shit! I’m doomed!” Her face turned to pale and her gaze remained low. She turned to face the officer, but still, she was rooted to her spot. She tried to lift her upper lip to utter some words but she failed. Extreme fear of being doubted or be caught lying invaded her body.

“Don’t forget to fix your CCTV. That person who gave you this evidence might appear again.” Officer Jackson said then continued on his way out.

‘Huh!’ Arabella felt like mocking herself. Officer Jackson just made a reminder for her, but she felt extremely thrilled. How much more if she would finally face the real culprit?

Back in her house, Arabella was waiting for the result. Her mind was preoccupied with the mystery caller’s real intention of giving her the evidence. She clearly understood that there’s no free of charge in this world. This caller must have something in exchange for this evidence. Thinking of this, it made her goosebumps again. How could a fragile girl like her handle this kind of havoc where dangerous criminals were involved?

Arabella just prayed that she would surpass all of these in her life and the outcome would be to her great benefit. For a moment, she forgot to think about Bill Sky and her position in Bill’s life. Her mind was centered on the laboratory result. Hopefully, that would point out the real culprit and end the intense suspense in her life and soon her father would be awake from a coma and everything with her family would be back to normal.

Though Arabella wanted to share the news with his mom, she opted not to as she knew that her mom had already suffered too much because of her father’s situation, let alone she was the only one who was with him abroad. Arabella’s conscience would not allow her to add more worries to her mom.

Then suddenly her phone rang. It was Officer Jackson.

“Ms. Foster, I have good and bad news for you..” Officer Jackson greeted her without the proper ‘hello’.