Chapter 8
The feeling of the warm sun in Jagen’s face wakes her peacefully. She looks around the room; there's a nice big TV, pictures of Ed with a pretty girl and the room overall is well decorated and has a warm, homely feel to it. She notices beer bottles and wine bottles on the side and Ed still snoring like an old man.
Although she feels relatively safe she can't help but feel something isn't quite right, but blocks that out for now. She stands and stretches herself out then makes her way into the kitchen and flicks on the kettle, helping herself to a cup of tea and at the same time making one for Ed.
She walks back into the lounge and Ed sits up with a start causing Jagen to jump, spilling a few drops of tea.
'Sorry I didn't mean to scare you Ed.' giving him an awkward smile.
'Eh?' Ed is baffled; he remembers Jagen but strangely thought it was a dream. 'Sorry, I was a little drunk last night, took me a few seconds to remember what happened.' He then smiled, 'You ok?'
'Yes thank you, had the best night’s sleep ever.' she giggles with the happiness of feeling safe.
'Good, listen to me, we need to call the police.' her face suddenly changes.
'No you can't, my foster dad was the police commanding officer or something and told me if I was to ever call the police then he would be protected and I would end up in prison.'
'No, that can't be true.'
She looks at him, tears roll down her cheeks. 'Do you think I would make this up?' she turns round in frustration and pulls up her t-shirt displaying three large triangle burn marks on her back.
'What on earth happened to you?' she pulls her top back down and spins round.
'Those are iron burns from when I fought back.'
'I'm so sorry, I really am, what can I do to help you?'
'Just let me stay here for a few days I won't be any bother I promise.'
'I don't know, I have a lot of my own issues to deal with.'
'Please, I beg you.' Her eyes look sad and Ed weakens at her plea.
'Ok but only for a few days, I can't have any more problems; my life is so complex right now.'
'Thank you Edward, I can't remember the last time someone was nice to me, I won't be any trouble, I just need some space to relax and work out what I'm going to do.'
'What about your foster dad?' Ed gently quizzes her, ensuring no dodgy police will be banging on his door.
'I wouldn't worry about him, the fact I've ran away is a blessing to him.'
'Ok, right I'm going to take a shower.' she nods and watches Ed leave the room.
Skipping through the TV channels is a treat for Jagen, normally she'd have no say to what's on the TV and have to put up with all the other crap everyone else wanted to watch. Craving a cup of tea, she slips to the kitchen and flicks the kettle on. She noses round the kitchen when there's a knock at the door.
She slowly walks towards it as Ed darts down the stairs in his towel, soaking wet with soap still in his hair. Jagen becomes curious as to why he's so quick to answer the door. She sees a postman had him a small package, which he rips open with his teeth and, to her shock, he pulls out what appears to be a severed finger.
'Ed, what is that?' she asks. He stares in silence; his towel falls from around his waist revealing his goods, but still he doesn't move.
After a few seconds, Jagen builds up the courage to approach Ed and tries to ignore that fact his manhood is on display.
'Ed, are you ok?' Looking him in the eye.
'It's, it's still warm.' Tears begin to roll down his cheeks,
Jagen, feeling she owes Ed a lot and blocks out the fact he's holding a human finger.
'You know I've been through a lot Ed, nothing will faze me and whatever it is you have going on right now I want to help.'
He looks back at her. 'Thank you but this is now far beyond even my capability.'
'What’s happening, Ed? Whose finger is that?'
'It's a long story Jagen, honestly you already have lots to deal with, but thank you for your concern.'
She raises herself up on tiptoes and pecks him on the cheek, then whispers in his ear.
'You can trust me Ed, you'll see.' then slowly finishes making herself her tea and walks back into the lounge.
Ed comes to his senses, pulls the towel back round his waist then makes his way upstairs, thinking about what he's just seen. He walks into the bathroom and takes another look at the finger, then pulls a note from inside the packaging. The note reads:
You know who this finger belongs to, you will be receiving one a day until you contact me for the next task, you have nine more days - then you'll receive the head.
Ed screws the note up and launches it across the bathroom, throws the finger and the packaging into the bath and steps into the shower cubicle. The hot water feels refreshing on his face and the itchy feeling from the soap in his hair is washed away. Images flash through his mind; what's he going to have to do? How is he going to do it? And most of all what is it these people want from him?
After an hour-long shower Ed, feeling fresh-faced and ready to talk to Jagen, walks into the lounge. She's all snuggled up on the sofa, looking relaxed; a completely different person to the one he met last night. There's a sparkle of happiness in her eyes, a look of contentment and relief.
'Ed, how are you feeling?' she asks.
'A bit better now I've had time to think.'
'Good, a long hot shower does help to relax the mind.'
'Look Jagen, I need to tell you some things and I'm going to be honest. What I'm about to tell you will probably cause you to run a mile but I have no choice.'
'Ok Ed, I'm all ears.'
'About a week ago I came home from a business trip to find my long term girlfriend dead on my kitchen floor.' Jagen’s eyes widen but she doesn't say a word.
'Her face had been so badly mutilated I didn't recognise her. I then had a call and was told to carry out various tasks under the threat that my mother would be next.' He breathes and watches her face for a reaction.
'These tasks consisted of me disposing of the body and I had to kill two other people.' His hands become sweaty; he’s still watching her face for a reaction, but she continues to listen.
'The finger you saw is my mum's, I have to carry out another task or she will die.' Ed drops his head into his hands and begins to sob.
Jagen, slightly shocked at the stories she just heard, places her hand on the back of his head.
'Look, this isn't your fault and I'm not going anywhere.'
He quickly jumps up. 'What? Are you nuts? How can you possibly hang around?'
'The phone calls your having, are from my foster dad.'
'So you made everything up?'
'No, well, only the part about your house having the only light on; I overheard him a few times talking to some other guy, your address was mentioned a few times and when I had a chance to escape from that hellhole I came straight here to help you and I'll be honest, I'm so glad I did.'
'I don't believe you; you’re in on this aren't you? You’re going to set me up!' Ed stands, angry and red-faced.
'Listen to me, I'm here to help you, that man made my life hell for years I give you my word, on my dead mother’s grave.' Tears stream down her face, her eyes are filled with desire, begging for his trust.'
'Jagen, Toni my dead girlfriend betrayed me for years and I only found out after she died, why should I trust you?'
'Because!' She shouts. 'Because I have nothing else to live for! Let me in, let me help you and we'll both seek our own revenge on this horrible bastard.'
Ed looks at her; she returns the look, her eyes begging for him to let her in. Shaking his head he leaves the lounge, stomping into the kitchen.
Ed wants the let her in but is scared of her getting hurt, not only that he's known her for less that twenty-four hours.
'You can trust me.' Her soft voice bounces off Ed’s eardrums, giving answers to questions in his mind. He looks round; she's standing in the kitchen doorway, smili
ng, looking cute and Ed’s heart slightly melts.
'I don't want you getting hurt.'
'I’ll be fine, let's do whatever this task is he's wanting us to do.’
Ed looks at her, smiles, she fills him with strength and determination to save his mum, turn his pig shit life back around and revenge the pain Jagen has gone through.
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