Prophecy
Checkmate

The room hushed as I entered.

The silent moments at school had become severer due to yesterday’s encounter. I, however, took my seat and bore on as if nothing had happened. A little scrutiny here and a little ostracism there was just a regular part of my daily routine.

I sat at the far end of the dining area and stared blankly out on the cricket field. It was the final session in the day. I was free but Thorn had a class. I’d chosen to come to the canteen at this hour mainly because the sixth form building, the upper sanctum as I once called it, no longer held much refuge for me.

To everyone I was a monster, and every monster had its own lair to hide and sift through their thoughts. The dining room was mine, for all intents and purposes.

The weather was characteristically dry for this time of the year, causing small patches of crisp, brown grass and sand, to dot areas of the field, especially the ones that had been marked out as a temporary track for the athletics team.

Last night I had a dream, it wasn’t like the usual nightmares I had. In it I was happy. I dreamt that I’d finally met my dad, after all of these years. There was just one aspect of it that worried me. In the dream, I could only picture his eyes, green and almond shaped just like mine. But that was all I could see. The rest of his face was still a blur.

I’d seen pictures, but I didn’t really take notice of them as somehow they’d just been so foreign to me.

Although I couldn’t see his face I was sure that I could hear his voice, smooth, deep baritone, whispering words of comfort, telling me that everything was going to work out and that I shouldn’t worry.

A dream about strange, comforting, green talking eyes. I really must be going nuts. I smiled slightly.

The final bell sounded, signalling the end of another school day. I could see in the distance, miniature humans dressed in purple, white and khaki moving briskly towards the auditorium. School was over and my secret lair was once again about to be transformed into a noisy high school cafeteria.

“Nothing lasts forever.” I miffed and got up from around the table. I walked briskly down to the sixth form building and collected my books. I found an empty seat behind the staff house, where I sat and waited for Thorn.

“Ready to go home?” I turned and found him standing behind me.

“Yes.” I said taking up my thick biology book from the bench and stood. He placed his arm about my waist and guided me without actually touching towards his car.

“I can’t believe that it is the end of March already. The teachers are laying on the work thickly in order to complete the syllabus in time.” he said breaking an extended period of silence.

“Yeah, exams are only a month away, so I guess they’ve got to do what they’ve got to do.” I replied nonchalantly.

“Am I boring you with all this school talk?”

“No not really. I don’t really have anyone else to talk to about these things these days. So any talk is good talk, as we all know I’ve got lots say.” he rolled his eyes and shook his head at my sarcasm.

“Point taken. I’ll shut up and leave you to your thoughts until we get home.” I turned to him and smiled softly and took his free hand and twined my fingers into his. I then turned away and closed my eyes as I rested my head against the back of the chair.

“Police car? I wonder what they want now?” I opened my eyes and stared at the white car with huge red and blue bulbs on top of it, as Thorn pulled up into the garage.

I nervously got out of the car and headed to the door, which would lead downstairs. Half-way down the steps I could hear voices coming from in the kitchen.

“Interesting décor. Refrigeration must cost you a fortune.” said a creaky voice, which I recognised as being detective Adams’.

“The structure is underground, so it is well insulated.” replied Seidon sounding very irked. “Detective, you still haven’t told us why you are here?”

“When your young ward gets here all will be revealed.” was his only response.

I slowly unlocked the door and stepped into the kitchen. “Good evening everyone.” I said looking at Seidon, Naeht and my mother, who were all leaning stiffly against the counter. “Detective Adams, is there something wrong?” I said putting down my book and bags, and extended my hand.

“I’m sorry to say that this is not a courtesy call. Summer Dayse, I am here to arrest and charge you with aggravated assault against Susan Gris.” he said taking my hand and twisted it forcefully around to my back.

“What? How?” was the muddled reply of all my other family members who suddenly stood around us.

“But I didn’t do anything?” I protested as he slapped the cold, hard steel handcuffs around my wrists.

“That was not what the bruises all over Ms Gris’ body said. She managed to tell us the name of her attacker before she fell unconscious,” he said harshly as he pushed me towards the door.

“Summer would never do something like that.” said Thorn stepping in front of us.

“I will suggest that you move out of the way Mr. Rose, before I have to arrest you too for obstruction of justice.” he hissed. Thorn didn’t move and a look of defiance crossed his face.

“Thorn, it doesn’t make sense for the two of us to go to jail. This is all just a misunderstanding. We’ll sort it out soon enough.” I said pleadingly and he finally removed his hands from across the door to allow us to pass.

“Good choice.” said the detective staring steely at him. “Ms Dayse while we are going, I’ll take this opportunity to read you your rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law . . ..”

“I would like to see my mother.” I demanded as I stood in front of the camera.

“Turn left,” said the police officer, who pretended that she hadn’t heard anything I’d just said. I turned left and the camera light went off. “Now turn right.” said the woman.

“Well don’t I get a phone call. That is my right, isn’t it?” I turned right and the camera flashed again.

“Face front and shut it.” said the woman austerely as she seemed annoyed by my constant pestering. “Besides who are you going to call, when the whole of your rich, uptown family are already waiting outside.” the camera snapped.

“They are, so when can I get to speak to them?” I said stepping away from the plain white wall and putting down the number board which I was holding up on the table in front of her.

“There will be plenty of time after your questioning and your bail hearing tomorrow morning.” a small cynical smile crossed her face.

“Tomorrow! I can’t spend the night in jail. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“No use wasting your breath on me honey, I’m not the judge. I have heard it all before, everyone who steps in here is innocent.” she said smugly.

“But I didn’t do anything. Could you please be more gentle when you’re putting on those things.” I protested as she slapped on the cuffs again.

“Sounds like we have a real prima donna here.” she said to another officer in the room. The man only smiled and then went back to whatever he was doing. “The girl’s up at Fort Augusta are going to love you.” she whispered. Somehow I figured that she hadn’t meant it as a compliment. “Well come on dearie, time to meet your other mates. I bet you all will get fully acquainted, as you will be spending quality time together tonight.”

She slid the jail door open and pushed me inside with four other female inmates and closed the bars. “Hold out your hands.’’ she said from the other side. I pushed my hands through the bars and she uncuffed me. I then pulled my hands back through and rubbed my wrists. She then walked away.

I turned back to face the other prisoners.

There were only four beds in the room and they were all taken. a heavy stink permeated the air as flies swarmed an old filth-streaked toilet in the corner.

“Hello,” I said uncertainly to the four women who were sitting on their beds and staring at me.

“I’ve never seen anyone like you in here before. What were you arrested for, shop lifting?” said a skinny one sitting on the top bunk.

“No, aggravated assault, but I didn’t do it.” I said folding my arms.

“Of course you didn’t do it. We are all innocent here just victims of an unjust system. Larrisa and I didn’t hold up that store. Shawna here didn’t hack her brother to death with a machete and well Ricki. Ricki here didn’t shoot her husband. I am Sebrina by the way, but my friends call me Seb.” she guffawed and the other women the cell let out small chuckles.

“Well I didn’t do it.” I spat. Maybe if I didn’t show any fear they would just leave me alone.

“Tenacious isn’t she?” said Seb jumping down from his bunk and stalked towards me, the other three following behind.

“I’m not afraid of you.” I said sternly. I could feel the heat surging from my core and towards my hands. I slowly came to the realisation that I was dealing with just humans, who had no idea what they were getting themselves into.

“What are you going to do? Slap us around with your dainty manicured hands.” she said as they crowded around me.

“Guard! Guard!” I hollered.

“I thought that you weren’t scared.” she said brushing his fingers down my face.

“Don’t touch me.” I hissed and pulled my face away from her.

“So soft, I’d never had anyone like you before. I bet you haven’t either Ricki,” she said tracing his hand down my neck. There was a sudden rush of adrenaline sprinting through my veins and I could hear the accelerated sloshing of blood as it passed through my ears.

“I said don’t touch me.” I grabbed her hand and squeezed it until I could feel his bones cracking under my hold. She tried pulling away, but I held her hand firmly in place. Her face was contorted by both surprise and anguish. I decided to end her misery and slapped her across the face with my free hand and then pushed her across the room.

I then turned to the others ducking their advances and kneeing and elbowing them until they were all left immobile.

“Guard! Guard!” I yelled again and shook the bars.

“What is it?” said the woman officer.

“You have to get me out of here. They were fighting and one of them hit me. You have to get me out of here.” I said in my most terrified voice. “I think one of them has a knife,” I said beginning to sob.

She looked at the bruised faces of the women, two were ground and the others were sitting on their beds holding their heads.

“That one there,” I said pointing to Ricki, “Started touching me and the others tried to get her off me, and, and they started fighting.” I said as tears started flowing down my cheeks. “Please, please don’t leave me here.” I cajoled.

“She is lying!” said Seb.

“So are you trying to say that I beat up four grown women, with these dainty manicured hands!” I yelled at them and I started a new fit of tears. “Please, please don’t leave me here because they will kill me,” I said turning back to the guard.

She looked at my tear strewn face and then back at the others. “Okay. I’ll move you into an empty cell. Detective Adams will be seeing you shortly anyways.” she said and started opening the bars.

“Thank you,” I slipped out as soon as she opened the door. “Hold out your hands.” I did and allowed her to put on the handcuffs.

“Thank you,” I sniffled.

“Don’t thank me yet,” she said closing the door of the empty cell further down the hall before walking away.

My first jail fight. That was something. I smiled. I should be howling and shaking right now, but my emotions were all twisted. It was either that or I was going raving mad, because I actually enjoyed hitting the crap out of those women.

In all my dreams and the ordeals I’d faced, I was always left helpless. Always covering my face and waiting for the next blow that would end my life. Today I was able to defend myself, for the first time I was in full control and it felt great.

“Dayse,” I lifted my head, which had been planted in my palms. “Time.” said the guard who'd returned quicker than expected.

“Okay,” I said slowly getting up and walked to the cell door. I pushed my hands through for her to cuff them, as I was quickly slipping into the prisoner routine.

“I don’t think that will be necessary at this time constable as I am sure Ms Dayse will not be making any trouble.” said Detective Adams who’d joined the woman officer. He looked at me and I nodded my head silently. She put the cuffs away and I pulled my hands back in, and the door was then slid open. “This way.” he said ushering me out the lock up.

I followed him silently down the hall until, we arrived at a room at the back of the police station. He closed the huge metal door behind us. I looked around the large, grey concrete room, which was mostly empty except for the small table and two chairs on each side.

“What is this? The torture chamber.” I said turning back to him.

“Just a regular interrogation room. Please take a seat Ms Dayse.” he said calmly. “Water?” he said putting a closed bottle before me.

“Yes, thank you.” I opened the bottle and took a small sip, before placing it back on the table. I sat on the chair opposite to the lamp, and I watched as he did the same on the other side. He laid open the black folder he always carried with him on the table. I tapped my fingers on the table as I waited for him to start.

“The charges being brought against you are quite grave.” he said sombrely.

“I know, but I didn’t do anything.” I said still tapping my fingers. He looked down on them and I stopped.

“What was your relationship with Ms Gris? Where you two close?”

“No, we were not friends, and we rarely exchanged words, but she was my cousin Caleb’s girlfriend.”

“But you did speak to each right?” I nodded. “When was the last time you spoke to her?”

“I am not sure,”

“Are you sure about that answer, because I have statements here from your classmates saying that they saw you two talking and in fact having a very heated argument yesterday. Can you tell me what that was about?”

“That was just a big misunderstanding.”

“Really, I wouldn’t take being called a murderous coward as a little misunderstanding. In fact I heard that she hit you in the face before leaving. That must have made you very angry?”

“No, I was not angry. Susan wasn’t exactly herself yesterday, so I let it slide.”

“You let it slide. Just like that?” he said getting up from the chair and circled the table before sitting again.

“Yes, like I said she wasn’t herself that day.” I said returning the steady gaze he had on me.

He leaned back into the chair. “You don’t have much friends at Campion do you?”

“No I don’t. I was the new girl in lower sixth and everybody had their friends since first form.” I frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“So what about Elizabeth or Thorn. Aren’t those your friends?”

“Yes they are, but your question was if I didn’t have much friends. I didn’t say that I didn’t have any at all Detective.”

“You don’t trust people easily do you?”

“Why would you say that?”

“I don’t know, maybe because everyone close to you have ended up missing, in the hospital . . . Dead.” he said holding up his palms and pursing his lips. Did any of those people betray your trust?”

“What are you trying to say Detective? That I did those things to my family?” I said sitting up sharply and gripped the edges of the table.

“Did you?” he asked casually.

“I would never hurt my family.” I said almost shouting.

“What about your friend Elizabeth. Her body still hasn’t been found.”

“So you are assuming that Elizabeth is dead now?” I said with more emotion.

“It has been a little over two months now, so I think that it is safe to assume as much.” he said folding his arms over his chest. “So did Elizabeth betray your trust in any way?”

“No she didn’t. I didn’t do anything to Beth.” I huffed. “Then detective if your theory on my motives for attacking these persons is so clear cut, why is that it cannot explain why I haven’t hurt Thorn, my mother or sister who are closer to me than any of the other persons?” I said biting my lips and folding my arms.

“I don’t know as yet, but maybe they just haven’t done anything to upset you enough.”

“I didn’t kill my aunt and uncle nor did I hurt Susan, Caleb and Elizabeth. I didn’t do any of those horrible things.” I said digging my index fingers into the table.

“Okay, I will give you the benefit of the doubt here. I am going to allow you to prove that your innocence.” he said leaning slightly forward. “I want you to tell me where you were at around two-ten to three o’ clock this afternoon?”

“I was at the dining room.”

“That is near to the auditorium right?”

“Yes, it is right above it.” I nodded.

“Was anyone else there with you?”

“No, I was alone.”

“Well that is funny, because that was where Ms Gris was found by another student suffering from her wounds earlier this afternoon.”

“Where in the auditorium?” I asked surprised.

“No behind it. Close to the netball court.”

“I didn’t go behind the auditorium. I spent all of my free session inside the auditorium by myself until the bell rang and then I went back to the sixth form building, collected my things and then Thorn came out of class and took me home. That was when you arrived and took me here.”

He casually leaned forward and then slid a huge piece of paper towards me. “Take a look at this and tell me if you recognise it.”

I slid the photo closer towards me and twisted right side up. “What is this?” I said looking at the huge metal pipe lodged in a bundle of grass.

“That was the weapon used to bludgeon Ms Gris nearly senseless.” he paused. “Forensics has confirmed that it was also the weapon used to break the neck of your uncle before he was strung up. The same one used to smash in the brains and crush the spine of your aunt and it was the same weapon used to knock your cousin into a coma.”

I dropped the photo back on the table and used my hands to cover my face.

“I want you to sign this.” he said sliding another piece of paper towards me.

I took it up, but my eyes were too blurry from the tears building up in them to read it. “What is this?” I asked weakly.

“That is your confession to the murder of your aunt and uncle, the abduction of Elizabeth Lewis and the assault and attempted murder of your cousin, Caleb Matthews and his girlfriend Susan Gris. This is your best choice, your only chance of getting a lighter sentence.”

“I am not signing this,” I said throwing the paper back on the table.

“It is your only chance to avoid the death sentence. Ms Dayse you are still in high school, but you are eighteen years old, so they will try you as an adult.”

“No, I am not signing that. I didn’t do anything.” I said vehemently. “Besides you have no evidence linking me to any of these vile atrocities meted out against my family and friends.”

“Actually we do. I want you to take a look at the photo again. What else is on that photo?”

I reluctantly pulled the photo closer to me and scanned it again. “I don’t see anything else except a piece of paper.” I said pushing the photo back towards him.

“That isn’t just any piece of paper. That leaf came from one of your books. We had a search through your things before we came in. That was what held me or else I would have been here much sooner. During our raid, we came across the book, your book that had a page missing. The paper types correspond and the handwriting was the same, so we know that it is yours. We have both of them sitting in the evidence room.” he said rubbing his hands across his scruffy chin.

“I didn’t tear out any leaves from any of my books and I didn’t even bring my things with me to the auditorium. And what would I use a book page to do anyways?”

“To use as a glove to prevent your fingerprints from getting unto the weapon.”

“But that wouldn’t make any sense. Why then would I leave the piece of paper at the crime scene since it would defeat the purpose.”

“Well Ms Dayse even the most skilled killer gets a little sloppy sometimes. Over confidence resulting from much practise tends to cause small mistakes to occur now and then, and that’s when we have to come in and pick them up.” he said boring into my eyes. I couldn’t withstand his penetrating stare so I looked away.

Omayra had really out done herself this time. I was screwed. She knew it. The detective knew it. But to make things worse, I knew it too.

My life was being played like a dangerous game of chess. All her moves were well calculated. The police were simple pawns in this game. Eliminating a few rooks and knights in the process was all part of an elaborate plan to destroy the opponents from the inside out.

The queen was rendered helpless. The king was left open.

Checkmate.