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We drove for hours before Oliver finally brought the Kombi to a halt. We were well into the wilderness, and there was literally not another soul for miles as he got the Kombi set up for the night. Dad escorted me to the public toilet, and waited there while I peed and washed my hands. It was pitch dark, and I knew if I tried to get away, I'd become hopelessly lost.
But as I finished up, I realised this was my chance. I could just make out the Kombi, and I knew that if I didn't do something, this would be the end of the road for me. And it was now completely dark - Oliver would have no chance chasing me down without risking his neck.
Heart hammering, I stepped out to the sound of peeing, and I realised Dad had made a rookie error - by moving away to relieve himself, he'd given me the one chance I needed to get away. I moved slowly, feeling my way along the rough, pebbled wall of the toilet block, and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could dimly make out trees, and the faint shimmer of a lake nearby. I also saw a bulkier form; Dad, tucking himself back in and zipping up. Over the sound of the zip, I sprinted into the woods, and instantly became lost in darkness again. Adrenaline gave me an uncanny sixth sense, however, and I managed to avoid tripping over roots and rocks by sheer luck. I'd gotten a good thirty seconds head start, and by the time Dad started shouting, I'd reached the lake. I paused at the edge, prayed, and then ran into the water, trying not to gasp at how cold it was. Mercifully, Dad hadn't discovered my path yet, but then I had another reason to gasp; the bottom literally fell away from under my feet, and my gasp became a gurgle as I went under. I quickly surfaced, treading water, and turned, scanning the shore. Dad was still shouting, but so far, I was home free. 32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJHokwYvGL
Then headlights bloomed at the top of the hill down which I'd ran, and I swore. Oliver hadn't been lying when he said he knew the wilderness like the back of his hand, and in moments, he'd be on to me. I took a deep breath and went under again, diving down to the bottom of the lake.
It was completely dark, but I felt my way along the stony bottom, the water gurgling in my ears. It was unmercifully cold, but I knew I was safer down here. That, however, became debatable when I heard a body hit the water, and I swore internally. Oliver was a good swimmer, and if he'd even suspected I was hiding underwater, he'd comb the length and breadth of the lake to find me. My best bet, therefore, was to become completely still.
Time stretched out into a seamless torture as the air slowly left my lungs in tiny silver bubbles. I could make out Oliver swimming above me, and I prayed he'd give up; I wouldn't be able to stay under indefinitely. Already the first spasms were starting, and though they were small, they were enough to warn me I was fast approaching drowning. But I forced myself to hold on; if I surfaced while Oliver was still about, I'd be tied hand and foot at all times, and likely made to beg for basic human needs. More bubbles burst free as my diaphragm spasmed more strongly, trying to force me to breathe, and I clapped a hand over my nose and mouth, desperately trying to hold the air in. But the urge to breathe was getting stronger, the pain and pressure in my lungs now almost unbearable. More air escaped despite my best efforts to control the spasms, and, finally, as I ran out, I was forced to make a desperate swim to the surface, one hand over my nose and mouth, the other pulling me up as the spasms grew stronger and more painful by the second. I was now completely out of air, but I broke the surface moments later, trying to keep my gasping to a minimum as I trod water, heart hammering. I could no longer see lights on the hill, but I did make out a dark bulky shape; the Kombi was still there. Two smaller shapes stood on the shore, engaged in a low, furious argument, their voices carrying clearly across the water. "She's got to be there," Dad hissed. "Go looking again."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gg3a1BlRy
"Either she's hiding somewhere else, or she's got the lungs of a fish," Oliver said angrily. "I shouldn't have let you drag me into this."
"I will not let her go," Dad said through gritted teeth. "She's mine, and if I have to kill her to stop her from escaping, I will."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdOVfUCr3X
"Then go look for her yourself," Oliver snapped. "I'm done. This was all a mistake, and I've paid dearly because of your stupid obsession!"
"So your wife and child died, big deal," Dad said dismissively. "You never gave a damn for them, so why mourn?"
And that was Dad's big mistake. Oliver let out a wordless cry of inarticulate rage and tackled Dad into the water. They went under in a tangle of arms and legs, and, as they fought to keep the other underwater, I swam for shore. Once back on dry land, I started up the hill towards the Kombi, only to have a shout catch me. "She's there, idiot!" Dad yelled, but that yell turned into a gurgle as Oliver brutally shoved him underwater again. Frozen on the shore, I turned and met his eyes in the darkness as he held Dad in a vice grip, bubbles gushing to the surface. Occasionally an arm would flail desperately as Dad fought to escape so he could get up to the surface and breathe, but Oliver's grip was like iron, and gradually, the bubbles slowed and stopped. Oliver gave one last jerk before letting go, his eyes still on mine. "I did that for you," he said, his voice flat.
I shivered as I took in what I'd just witnessed. "So it wasn't all Dad's influence," I said. 32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7XAwJ08XE
"No," Oliver said, his voice still devoid of any tone. "I still love you, and I want a future together. Don't you want that? You owe me for killing your dad, you know."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1knYIsnbnK
"I owe you nothing," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "You killed him all on your own."
"I did that for you," Oliver repeated, his voice still carrying no emotion as he started towards me. "I murdered a man for you, so you and I could finally be together, just like we'd always planned. Jim's dead now, so you and I can finally have our future together."
I backed away as he came closer. "I'm married to another man," I reminded him, thankful for the day to day gold bands Callum and I had got married with - my sainted mother-in-law would've killed me had I lost her heirloom set. "And I love that man very much. And even if I wasn't, and didn't, I still wouldn't come back to you. You're always going to be a friend, but never a lover, and never a husband."
Oliver came to a stop before me. "Then I guess I'll just have to end this," he said. "You belong to me, Charlie, in life and in death. And if I can't have you, then I guess no one will."
We were still close to the water's edge; this was my one shot. Taking a deep breath, I shoved Oliver, hard. He stumbled backwards, and, taking advantage of his tired condition after his fight with Dad, I shoved him again. He stumbled again and landed in the water, going under without a peep. I waited for him to surface, but even though the water was only waist deep here, bubbles soon rose, popping black and silver in the starlight. Horrified, I wondered if I'd killed him, but then I remembered the blank look in his eyes and the flat tone in his voice. He was already dead inside, having lost his wife, his child, and now me, all in the space of a few weeks.
I sank slowly to the ground, shivering in the chill air as the enormity of the day's events finally hit me. And as a chill dawn wind began to blow, I bent my head to my tucked up knees and cried.
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