Crazed (Read 4,950 times)

[André DiMera]

Chapter 4

HOTEL LOBBY
Abby had finished changing and walked into the lobby of the hotel. Nicholas was already there.
NICHOLAS: You look nice.
ABBY: Thanks.
NICHOLAS: Dinner's in the parlor. This way.
Nicholas led Abby to parlor.

PARLOR
Abby and Nicholas sat down and began eating. The parlor was full of birds that had been stuffed and mounted on the wall.
NICHOLAS: Looks like the rain stopped.
ABBY: Yeah, it did. While I was changing.
Nicholas noticed how little Abby was eating.
NICHOLAS: You eat like a bird.
ABBY: You'd know.
Abby looked at one of the stuffed and mounted birds.
NICHOLAS: Not really. Actually, the phrase "eats like a bird" is a misnomer. Birds actually eat quite a bit. But, I don't really know anything about birds. My thing is taxidermy.
ABBY: Interesting hobby. What else do you do?
NICHOLAS: I take care of the hotel. I tend the grounds. Do jobs...at least, ones that Aunt Viv thinks I'm capable of.
ABBY: Do you have any friends?
NICHOLAS: Well...a boy's best friend is his mother. That goes double for his aunt. So, where are you headed?
Abby thought.
NICHOLAS: I don't mean to pry. Just curious.
ABBY: I don't really know. Maybe someplace private. Like an island or something. Somewhere I can be alone.
NICHOLAS: What are you running from?
ABBY: Why do you say I'm running?
NICHOLAS: No reason. Nobody really runs away from anything. We try. But it's like this private trap that holds us like a prison, you know? We claw at it, scratch it, but we're only scratching at the air, or each other. I think we're all in our own private traps, clamped up in them, and no matter how hard we try, we can't get out.
ABBY: Sometimes we deliberately step into those traps.
NICHOLAS: I was born into mine. I don't mind it anymore.
ABBY: You should.
NICHOLAS: I do. I say I don't,
ABBY: If anyone ever talked to me the way I heard her talk to you...
NICHOLAS: You know, sometimes when she talks to me like that, I just want to curse her, and pack up my things, and leave her forever. But, I can't. She's ill.
ABBY: She sounded okay to me.
NICHOLAS: No, I mean she's...ill.
ABBY: Oh, I see.
NICHOLAS: After my father died, it was just the two of us for so long. Then, she remarried. And when he died, that was it. And the way he died...she just couldn't take it.
ABBY: I'm sure you take good care of her.
NICHOLAS: Well, a nephew is a poor substitute for a lover.
ABBY: Why don't you go away?
NICHOLAS: To a private island like you?
ABBY: No, not like me.
NICHOLAS: I couldn't. I couldn't do that to Aunt Viv. Who would take care of her? If you love sombody, you wouldn't leave them even if they treat you badly. You must understand, I don't hate her. I hate what she's become. I hate the illness.
ABBY: Wouldn't it be better to put her someplace...
Abby couldn't find the word she was looking for. Nicholas suddenly became angry.

[gapeach]

Oh no! Don't make Nicholas angry Abby! Don't think that is such a smart idea to suggest he put his Aunt somewhere (even though she probably does need to be put away!!)

[fluffysmom]

I think Nicolas may be a bit ill himself.

[unavitasegreta]

Uh oh!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 5

ALAMAIN HOTEL - PARLOR
Nicholas grew angry.
NICHOLAS: Someplace? You mean like a madhouse? An institution? People always call a madhouse "someplace", don't they?
Abby was taken aback.
ABBY: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound uncaring...
NICHOLAS: What would you know about caring?! Have you ever been inside one of those places, seen what it's like? The empty, hollow laughter, the tears, the cruel, blank stares. My Aunt Vivian there? But, she's harmless! She's as harmless as one of those stuffed birds!
Nicholas pointed to a bird on the wall.
ABBY: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out the way it did. I meant well.
NICHOLAS: People always mean well. They cluck their tongues, shake their heads, and suggest oh so very delicately...
Nicholas softened. He was back to himself again.
NICHOLAS: Of course, I've suggested it myself. But, I couldn't...I just couldn't do that to Aunt Viv. She needs me. She's not crazy. It's not as if she's some raving thing. She just goes a little...mad, sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't you?
Abby thought.
ABBY: Yes. Sometimes, I think just once is enough. Thank you.
Abby stood up.
NICHOLAS: You're not going already, are you?
ABBY: I have to. I should get some sleep. I plan on leaving early tomorrow.
NICHOLAS: Why so early?
ABBY: I stepped into a private trap back home. I need to go back now, and see if I can get myself out of it before it's too late.
NICHOLAS: Good for you. Don't you wanna stay a little while? Just to talk?
ABBY: I'd like to, but I need to shower and get to bed.
NICHOLAS: What time do you think you'll be leaving tomorrow?
ABBY: Very early. Dawn, I imagine.
NICHOLAS: Okay. I'll have breakfast ready and bring it down to your room.
ABBY: Thank you. And thanks for dinner. Good night.
NICHOLAS: Night.
Abby left the room. Nicholas stared at the stuffed and mounted birds for a few minutes. Then, he stood up and walked over to a picture of Vivian hanging on the wall. He stared at it. He then took the picture, which revealed a hole in the wall. Through the hole, he could see into the first room, the room where Abby was staying. She was preparing for her shower. Nicholas watched as she undressed. Once she went into the bathroom, Nicholas put the framed picture back on the wall and walked away.

[fluffysmom]

I think Nicolas is crazier and creepier than Aunt Viv. Abby should get dressed and get the heck outta there.

[gapeach]

Something tells me this isn't going to go well for Abby.

[unavitasegreta]

Creepy! But oh so enthralling. Can't wait for more!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 6

ALAMAIN MOTEL - BATHROOM
Abby was getting ready to take a shower.
ABBY: That's all there is to it. I'll just have to take the money back and hope for the best.
Abby took off her robe, got in the shower and turned on the water. It took a few minutes, but soon the water was nice and warm. Unbeknownst to Abby, someone had entered the room.

DETECTIVE'S OFFICE - CHICAGO
E.J. was in an office with Detective Rafe Hernandez.
E.J.: $400,000? Are you sure?
RAFE: Well, there are no witnesses, but she's the last person known to have it in her possession.
E.J.: This is just so unlike her.
RAFE: Mr. DiMera, I'm afraid I don't quite understand your relationship to Miss Deveraux.
E.J.: Oh, yes, quite. I'm just a friend. A very close friend.
Stephanie walked in.
STEPHANIE: I came as soon as I could. What's going on?
E.J.: They think Abigail stole $400,000 from the company she works for.
STEPHANIE: She would never do that!
RAFE: Who are you?
STEPHANIE: Stephanie Johnson, I'm Abby's cousin.
RAFE: Miss Johnson, when's the last time you heard from your cousin?
STEPHANIE: Yesterday. She sent me a text. It was a little strange, though. She said she needed to get out of town and didn't know when she'd be back.
RAFE: Well, that's suspicious.
STEPHANIE: Look, like I said, I know Abby. She would never do something like this. She's too innocent.
E.J. looked down at his shoes.
RAFE: Well, I hope you're right. Otherwise, your cousin is in a lot of trouble.

ALAMAIN MOTEL -- BATHROOM
Abby was washing her hair. She rinsed it. The shower curtain was flung open. Vivian was on the other side, brandishing a large carving knife. Abby looked up, saw Vivian and the knife, and screamed. Vivian stabbed her repeatedly with the knife, then quickly left. Abby leaned up against the wall, bleeding profusely. She tried to move, but on succeeded in falling over, taking the shower curtain down with her. The water, which was still running, sent her blood down the drain.

[gapeach]

Oh my!!!

[fluffysmom]

Oh no!! I wonder if Nicholas was watching.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 7

ALAMAIN MOTEL - BATHROOM
Nicholas had entered Abby's motel room.
NICHOLAS: Hello? Abby? Just bringing some spare towels.
He could sense something was off as soon as he walked in.
NICHOLAS: Hello?
Then, as he walked towards the bathroom, he saw the blood.
NICHOLAS: Blood? Oh, no!
Nicholas ran to the bathroom to find Abby's dead body, still underneath the shower.
NICHOLAS: Oh god! Oh god no! Aunt Viv, what have you done?
Of course, Vivian had already left the room. Nicholas thought of what to do. He turned off the water. He took the shower curtain, which had come off, and laid partly under Abby from when she had tried to move, and wrapped it around Abby's dead body. Then, he thought of a place to put it. He saw Abby's keys on the bedside table. He grabbed the keys and the body, went out to Abby's car, and hid her in the trunk of her own car. Then, he went back into the motel room and started cleaning up the mess.

DETECTIVE'S OFFICE
Rafe was on the phone.
RAFE: Mmhmmm. I see.
Pause,
RAFE: She only got that far?
Pause.
RAFE: Right. Of course.
Pause.
RAFE: Well, I'll take a look. Thanks.
Pause.
RAFE: Right. Bye.
Rafe hung up the phone.
E.J.: So, is there any news? Have they found Abigail?
RAFE: The last place anyone saw Miss Deveraux was on the side of the road just outside of Salem. A police officer friend of mine, Roman Brady, is the one who found her. He doesn't know where she went from there, but assumes she may have gone into Salem. He said she was tired, so she couldn't have gone too far.
STEPHANIE: So, now what?
Rafe stood up and got his coat on.
RAFE: Now, I got to Salem to try to figure out what's going on.
E.J.: Very good. if you find anything, please give us a call, detective.
RAFE: I will.
The three left.

ALAMAIN MOTEL
It had taken Nicholas a while to clean up the mess, but it was all done. But, what to do with the body? If it remained in the trunk, it would decay and begin to smell within days. He had an idea. There was a swamp just around the back of the mansion. He started the car up, drove it in the direction of the swamp, got out and cut the breaks. Soon, the car sank deep into the swamp where, hopefully, nobody would ever find it.

[unavitasegreta]

Is it bad my first thought is 'all that money is going to be lost!'' Lol! Loved it!

[fluffysmom]

Maybe Vivian got the money out of the car after she killed Abby.

I wonder if Rafe will find out Abby stayed at the motel.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 8

ALAMAIN MOTEL
The next day, Nicholas took all of Abby's belongings out of the room. Among them was an envelope. Being curious, Nicholas opened the envelope. It was filled with money. He counted the money out.
NICHOLAS: No way! There's $400,000 in here. Now, why would she have been carrying that kind of money?
Nicholas pocketed the envelope with the money, took the rest of Abby's belongings and left the room.

ROAD
Rafe was driving along the road. He had his phone on speaker.
STEPHANIE (over phone): And then she said she stopped at some motel just outside of Salem.
RAFE: Did she say which one?
STEPHANIE (over phone): I think so. One sec.
There was a momentary silence.
STEPHANIE (over phone): She said something about staying in the Alamain Motel.
RAFE: That's not even on the road into town. But, it is just outside of town. All right. I'll take a look and get back to you.
STEPHANIE (over phone): Okay. Thanks.
Rafe pressed a button on his phone.
RAFE: Alamain Motel.

ALAMAIN MOTEL
Within an hour or two, Rafe pulled up to the motel. He parked his car, got up, and saw a woman in the upstairs window on the right. It gave him the same feeling of unease that Abby had felt when she pulled up. He knocked on the door, which opened with a creak.
NICHOLAS: Can I help you?
RAFE: Rafe Hernandez, detective for the Chicago P.D.
Rafe showed his badge.
NICHOLAS: Yes? Is there are problem?
RAFE: That remains to be seen. May I come in?
NICHOLAS: I'd rather you didn't at the moment. My Aunt Vivian isn't very well. The house is kind of a mess. Besides, it's such a nice night out.
RAFE: Right. Are you the owner of this establishment?
NICHOLAS: In a sense.
RAFE: What do you mean?
NICHOLAS: Well, my Aunt Viv really owns it, but as I said, she's not well. I've been taking care of it since she...became ill.
RAFE: I see. May I speak with your aunt, please?