Page 116 of Scarred King
The only sane thing I can think about is that there’s nothing sane about either of the two pictures I just saw. My curiosity gets the best of me, and I continue watching videos. When I get to the last one, my head is full of all the shocking information that’s happening in Boston’s underworld. Suddenly the picture of me at the airport flashes on the screen. “Anyone who knows anything about the Duchess’s whereabouts can contact us on the encrypted web,” says the man in the mask. And then there’s another picture and my mouth drops open in surprise. Liam and his plastic doll are standing in front of a machine covered with pipes. I put my hand over my mouth and narrow my eyes. This is beyond bizarre. They’re at the Oasis water desalination plant. I visited the facility a few months ago with some schoolmates to observe the impressive physical process of the desalination plant. I was fascinated by the experience and talked about it for weeks, I even told Liam about it. But what the hell are they doing there? The plastic doll was wearing a most unsuitable tight red dress and stiletto heels. She was leaning on Liam with an expression of pain and suffering, but he actually looked very interested in the image in front of him.
I place my finger on the screen, stroking his hair and then turn off the computer and lie down on the bed. I have no idea what the hell I just saw, and I probably won’t ever understand it. All I understand right now is that my heart is bleeding, and my body is burning with passion for the man in the pictures. I pray for the emptiness to return and extinguish the fire between my legs, but it doesn’t happen. I consider postponing my flight for a day or two, just so I can recover from what has just happened to me. But Johanna is being discharged from rehab center tomorrow and I have to be there for her.
Suddenly, I know what I need to do. I jump out of bed and walk towards the door. I open it quietly and stand outside Professor Sawyer’s bedroom. I grasp the door handle and close my eyes. Please let me do this, I beg my brain. This is the only thing that can release me from my nightmare. Maybe I’ll discover passion with him as well. My brain surrenders to my pleas, but my body freezes in place and won’t cooperate. I groan in distress, let go of the handle and return to my bedroom.
46
I say a hasty goodbye to my professor by the check-in counters at the airport. He suggests eating breakfast together, but I want to avoid another emotional and annoying conversation, so I refuse politely. I sense that it’s hard for him to say goodbye, and I wish I felt the same. He hugs me warmly and I tighten my arms around him, knowing that there’s a good chance I’ll be running back here again.
I force myself to study for my upcoming exams during the flight. I’m completely engrossed in the study material, and it’s only when we land that those strange pictures reappear in my mind.
An hour later, I’m sitting in the armchair in my old apartment. Everything is in its place, and apart from the dust that has accumulated on the furniture, it looks like we never left.
I have an hour left before Johanna’s discharge and I make good use of it by showering and changing clothes. We might even be able to make it to the tutoring sessions at the university. I know I don’t need them, but I need to devote the next few days to Johanna and help her catch up on all of her missed classes.
I look at myself in the mirror and smile bitterly. My jeans, tank-top and new shoulder-length haircut all make me look like a completely regular student. There’s no trace of the Duchess, and that should make me happy. So why does my heart hurt?
I go outside to wait for a cab and my eyes instinctively search for the blue Volvo. The war is over. I’m not a part of this game anymore. I must get used to that. I climb in the cab that pulls up in front of me. The feeling of emptiness is suddenly replaced by one of anticipation. I’m finally getting my roommate back. This time she won’t be a sniffing junkie anymore, but the sweet, good-hearted girl I’ve missed so much.
I pay the cab driver and walk towards the rehab center. My heart is pounding, and as I approach the entrance my breathing becomes heavy. I knock on the door and within seconds it opens and the older woman who met us on that terrible night is looking at me.
“I’m Elena. Do you remember me? We talked on the phone,” I say and peek behind her.
“You look different,” she looks at me intently. “I see that you’ve been to rehab as well.”
“Yes,” I laugh shortly. “I’ve been to rehab, but a different kind.” She’s still blocking the door.
“I’d like to come in and get Johanna,” my voice trembles with excitement and anticipation.
“She’s already being picked up,” she says, and I stare at her in horror. “Her parents are here,” she says with a smile, and I don’t know whether to feel relieved or sick.
“Can I see her?”
“I’ll check with them,” she shuts the door in my face, while I continue staring at it anxiously. My heart is burning. The door opens again and this time she invites me in. I sigh in relief and follow her. She points at an opaque glass door and I go inside. I see Johanna sitting opposite a man and a woman with fair hair and blue eyes. They're talking quietly in German. Johanna’s head hangs low and she is nodding.
“Johanna,” I say in a shaky voice and she raises her head and looks at me as if I’m her savior. She jumps out of her chair and runs to me, her slender arms encircling me. I hug her tightly, fighting those damn tears.
“Elena, these are my parents,” she pulls away from me reluctantly.
They stand up and shake my hand politely. “We've heard so much about you,” her mother says sadly as she looks me over. “You had a great impact on her, it's a pity you couldn't prevent her downfall.” I don’t know exactly what Johanna told them, and I look away in embarrassment.
“We have to go,” her father picks up a black suitcase. “We can't miss our flight.” I wait for their emotional goodbye, but instead Johanna approaches me and hugs me again.
“I don’t understand…” I say, shaking my head nervously. “You too?”
“I am leaving with them,” she says with a smile as her eyes fill with tears. “Just give me a minute,” she asks them, and although her father grumbles, they leave the room.
“You can’t leave,” I pout. “Exams start in two days. I’ll sit with you and help you catch up on everything you’ve missed.”
“Elena, they kicked me out.” She shrugs and tears roll down her cheeks. “I didn’t go to classes for a whole month. My advisor spoke to the head of the student exchange program and he contacted my parents. They had to hire a private investigator to find me here.” She giggles but then immediately bursts into tears. “I think they would have reacted better if they discovered that I’d been murdered in some dark alley.”
“Johanna,” I can’t control my tears. “Let’s talk to them. We can try to fix this. Please don’t leave. Please don’t leave me.”
“There is no way I can stay.” She dries her tears with the back of her hand. My father already arranged for me to continue my studies at the university in my hometown and the truth is…” she sighs. “The truth is that I am not strong enough to stay here in this city.”
My tears turn into loud sobbing, and she hugs me, whispering soothing words. “I have to go now,” she finally says and strokes my head.
“I won’t survive here without you,” I sob. “You’re the only good thing about this city.”