Chapter 20

For the second time that day, Julian found himself speeding across the road. This time he was making a return to Nancy's home. He grounded his jaw as the car sped along the road. He couldn't believe he allowed Loretta get into his head again. How could he have been so stupid? All the time they were having that conversation, she was stalling him. But another thing confused him. She gave him some pointers. Why would she do that? Didn't she want him dead in the first place. Or was this another of her mind games? He hoped to heaven that she was bluffing and Nancy was okay. But there was something about the angry look Loretta gave him when she made mention of Nancy. He had never seen that kind of expression on her face. It looked like she was about to murder him at that instant. He pulled out his phone and dialled Nancy's number. There was no answer. He tried again for the second, third and fourth time. It yielded the same result. "Please be alright, Nancy," He muttered under his breath. " Please be alright." Another thing crossed his mind. Loretta had chosen the sixth sacrifice. Who was it? When Julian left her office, he had scanned everyone he passed along, looking for any sign of the cursed symbol on their body. All he got were looks of disgust and discomfort from them. He could worry about that later. Within minutes he arrived at Nancy's house. Without knocking, he barged in. "Nancy?" He called out. There was no answer. "Nancy!" He cried out loudly this time. No response. The house was as silent as a graveyard. Julian cursed under his breath as he ran around the house. He searched the kitchen, the basement and her bedroom. She wasn't there. He made his way to her bathroom. As soon as he stepped in, his heart skipped a bit. On her wall adjacent him were words written with ash. The words read: ' Proceed if you dare. I have your fair maiden. In the place you fear. Your life shall be taken.' Julian's eyes widened as the words soon faded away. His shock shifted to anger. Taking a deep breath, he screamed and charged towards the wall where the words were once displayed. He punched the wall, ignoring the pain on his knuckles from the impact. He leaned his head against the wall and sighed. "She took Nancy," He muttered solemnly. "That witch took her." He headed back to the living room and collapsed on the sofa. He pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes tight, thinking of his dilemma. Once again, Loretta managed to get one step ahead of him. And he still hadn't figured who the sixth person was. Even if he did, how would he stop her now that she had Nancy in her grasp. Where exactly did she take Nancy? At that moment, a thought entered his head and he quickly stood up. He remembered the words on the wall : 'In the place you fear. Your life shall be taken.' His eyes narrowed as he finally realized where Loretta had taken Nancy. There was only one placed he feared. The graveyard. The place where his mother was buried. The place that gave him nightmares for decades. This was a psychological attack on him. He needed all the help he could get. And right now, there was only one person he could turn to. $Chapter