Chapter 30: Chapter 30

“ We found her dead body in an old forsaken building. Apparently, She had committed suicide, I don’t think so though.  There were several burnt marks on her skin. She was badly tortured and the evidence was clear on her skin. Whoever did that made it seem like suicide but we all know it wasn’t. Though no one is willing to open the case again. There is pressure to close the case from the higher authorities. Those were some monsters, who did that to the poor girl. Are you her relative miss? “ The woman asks.

I put the home down, without saying anything back.

Noah lied to me. He said he handed Sophia over to the police. What if there is more to the story? I can’t blame him without solid evidence. This is a big thing.

With a barely functioning brain, I decide to call Lucas.

He picks up the phone instantly.

“ Noah murdered Sophia. “ I scream, as soon as he picks up the call.

“ What? Are you alright? He asks, worried.

“ Sophia is dead. She isn’t in the police’s custody as Noah told me. He lied to me, what is that supposed to mean Lucas? He is the murderer! “ I exclaim.

“ That’s bullshit, Emma. He was with me throughout the night. I can assure you that. Who told you she isn’t in the police’s custody? “ He asks, more interested in knowing the person’s name than answering my questions.

“ It was a woman operator, I don’t know her name. I’ll send you the number she picked my call upon. But why does that matter? “ I ask confused. I thought he would understand me. Why does he think I’m bluffing?

“ Because you might not have a real number and that might be just a prank call. Relax Emma, it’s nothing. Don’t worry that pretty little head of yours on such petty things. “ He says, cutting the call.

Before I can enquire more, he hangs up on me.

It feels as if he was trying to hide the issue.

Not feeling satisfied, I decide to visit the police station myself.

“ Hello, I talked to an operator on the phone. Can you tell me which one is on duty right now? There is something important I need to discuss with her. “ I state, as soon as I reach there.

“ About Sophia? That was me. “ The woman behind the desk replies back.

She grabs my arm roughly and takes me to the women’s restroom.

“ Sorry, I had to drag you back. I’ve been ordered by my seniors not to talk about it. “ She states, shocking me. Why is it a hidden topic?

“ Is she dead? How do I believe you? “ I ask, not really trusting her. I mean Lucas could be right. This woman might be just kidding around. Right?

“ You can see the dead body. It’s still here. No one has arrived to claim it. “ She states, looking me right in the eyes. Quite confident in what she speaks.

She leads me to the cold area where the dead bodies are kept and there, I see Sophia.

Several burnt marks on her body. It seems as if she was badly abused before dying. It was clearly a murder case.

“ Everyone believes that she was murdered, but no one is willing to stand against whoever did that. The man must be really powerful. “ She says, leaving me in a pile of shock and guilt.

It is Noah, but even I won’t rat him out. Not because I am scared of him but because I love him.

I leave the place quickly and go to Noah’s office to confront him.

Reaching his office, he engulfs me in a hug as soon as he sees me. I do not reply to his warm gestures, my body stays frozen in its place.

“ I went to the police station, Noah. From there I got to know that Sophia was never jailed, want to know why? Because she was murdered. “ I state, eyeing him icily.

He breaks the hug, shock takes over his calm and composed face but he covers sit quickly.

“ I… I don’t know what you’re talking about. “ He says, a lousy attempt to hide the truth from me.

“ Don’t lie to me, Noah. You killed her. Your tortured her brutally and then murdered her. And then you had the audacity to hide the truth from me. “ I scream.

“ I loved you despite your rude behavior with me initially. Because I thought there was good in you, Noah. But I was a fool to think that. You murdered her without a second thought. “  I tell at him, losing my control. Not able to decipher the fact that Noah can kill someone.

“ What was I supposed to do? Let her live? She made my life hell. I had to do it. She deserved it, she doesn’t deserve your sympathy. Don’t you see how she ruined my life? “ He shouts back at me. Not ashamed of his doing.

“ You know a lot of unfair things happen to you and I kept blaming Sophia for it. But now I realize she was never the problem Noah, it was you all along. It was your reckless behavior that drives people away from you but you always have Sophia to blame not realizing that you are responsible for your own actions and no one else is. You were the problem all along and I just realized it now. “ I say some hurtful words.

“ Do not test me, Emma. “ He says, getting equally angry.

“ You are a cold-blooded murderer, that’s what you are. Be a man and have the guts to fucking hear it. Your life will always be a mess, not because of Sophia but because of your own actions. Tell me, why did you have to kill her? “

Expecting an answer, I am met with a tight slap on my face. My head tilts due to the impact of the slap. Noah just slapped me!

My heart pains more than my face stings.

I look at him with painful eyes.

Noah looks at his hand in shock, as if he didn’t mean to do that.

“ You shouted at me, called me names, mocked at me and I still accepted you, Noah. The last thing left was hitting me. But you crossed this line too! “ I claim, extremely furious at him.

He tries to come forward, apologizing in the process but I push him away.

“ Don’t touch me. “ I bellow.

I get up and leave, not looking back.

I spend the rest of the day in bed, not wanting to think about the situation.

At night time, I hear the bell ring. I open the door to see that it is Noah.

He looks bad, his whole face tells another tale. He looks stressed and a completely different man.

“ I am sorry Emma. What happened today, shouldn’t have. “ He starts his apology.

“ It’s alright. Just don’t ever do that again. “ I reply, accepting his apology.

It wasn't the apology that made me forgive him, but it was his state. He doesn’t look okay.

I love him a lot to see him in pain. No matter what he does, I’ll always love him.

“ You forgive me that easily? I hurt you, Emma. “ He asks, a little shocked that I forgave him.

“ I’m way in love with you to see you in any sort of pain. I shouldn’t comprise on my self-respect but I’ve fallen for you too much to even think of those things. “ I reply back sincerely.

He nods, digesting my words. Such words should make a man happy but I see the worry on his face, and guilt and sorrow.

“ Stay with me for the night. You seem tensed. “ I offer scared to let him go away, but to my disappointment he rejects.

“ I’ve got somewhere important to be at. Some other day, in some other way. “ He replies looking at me.

“ Emma, I’ve truly loved you. Don’t forget that.” He says, looking at me longingly, pain evident in his voice.

He leaves before I can ask him more. I hope everything turns out okay. He really has got me worried.

I go to sleep, thinking about Noah and whether he’ll be alright. I decide to call him but then change my decision. Maybe he needs a little space?

The next morning I am woken up by the vibration of my phone.

I look at the screen and realize it’s 4:45 in the morning and that Lucas is calling me.

Why is he calling me at this time? I pick up the phone but what he says shocks me to the core. Something I would have never expected in a million years.

“ Noah’s dead. “ He croaks out, in a sobbing voice. His statement, hardly a joke.