Death In The Window – Chapter 1 June 14, 2023

Chapter 1

Kamlei stared at the plastic test kit, her hands shaking as she waited. She’d missed her time of the month and felt torn inside as her whole body trembled. She took a second test to make sure. There could be no doubt about the results. The blue plus sign told her all she needed to know.

Her heart pounded as she paced through her large apartment. The soft carpet caressed the soles of her feet. Every part of her body was alive. Every sensation amplified. She glanced at the leather couch and considered sitting down.

There was no way she could sit still right now, though. She couldn’t wait to tell him.

She ran a hand through her hair and touched her belly.

Will he be happy?

Kamlei stared at the painting on the wall. It was called The Scream, and she hated it because it overwhelmed her senses. It made her afraid. It was a cartoon caricature of fear, giving her a sense of desolation. But he liked it. How could anyone like such a terrifying scene? Her stomach wanted to shrink and disappear when she stared at it too long. She fixed her gaze on the TV screen’s CCTV display of the lobby.

He was there, headed for the elevator.

She would be ready.

She thought about how he’d take her news. Would he be mad, or would he share in her excitement? She hoped he would see the joy in the amazing gift they were given. A gift she never expected, a surprise she never anticipated.

Kamlei stood at the door and opened it. A kaleidoscope of butterflies swarmed inside her. Excitement and trepidation competed in her mind. She walked back and forth across the carpet. When she heard the elevator door open, an anxious hope slipped through her.

She welcomed him as he walked in and smiled at her. Kamlei wanted to leap in his arms and share her news but restrained herself. Instead, she gave him a quick, warm kiss and turned around. There was lots of time to tell him.

She entered the kitchen and grabbed the drinks she’d poured: Scotch for him and tea for her. She wondered if he’d notice she didn’t have wine.

He took the scotch and looked right through her—his mind elsewhere.

Her heart pounded. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry.

I’m right here! And I’m having your baby.

The thoughts erupted inside, but she held back. Finally, he looked at her, really noticing her. Then he looked at her cup of tea. He raised his left eyebrow and pulled his laptop out of his bag. He set the bag on the floor and the laptop on the table, the power cord still in his hand.

He was so strong, so handsome. She badly wanted this to be right, for him to feel the joy bursting inside her. She kept silent, afraid he wouldn’t be happy, staring up into his eyes and trying to see into his mind. She longed to feel his heart. Somewhere inside, she knew he loved her. After ten years, there had to be something there.

When he stared back at her, she knew he could tell she was hiding something.

“Kamlei, my little boa-boa. Why don’t you have wine? Why are you making me drink alone? Are you feeling all right?” His words broke the spell.  

“I feel amazing, my love.” Kamlei smiled, put down her tea, and wrapped her arms around him. She pressed into him, wanting to share her heart.

“Mmm, yes, you are. Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t want any wine?”

“I am fine, my love.” Kamlei grabbed his glass and set it down. She took his hand and placed it over her heart, then stared into his eyes. “Do you feel my heart? It’s beating just for you. Soon there will be two hearts inside, beating for you.” She held his eyes and smiled, desperately wanting him to share her joy.

Something was wrong. His expression hardened, and his jaw clenched.

“What do you mean? Two hearts? What are you saying, Kamlei?” His frown was reflected in the tone of his voice.

“Yes, my love, I am pregnant. It’s as much a surprise to me as it is to you. Isn’t it wonderful? We are bringing another life into the world.”

“Pregnant! That was never part of the deal.” A dark look came over his face.

He held her wrist, his grip tightening. Then he shoved her and in one quick motion, had the laptop cord around her neck.

“Stop.” She gasped as the cord tightened. “You’re hurting me. I thought you would be happy—” She tried to pull away.

He held her firm, pulling the cord tighter.

Why?

Her eyes begged him to let go. It was as if he was possessed. His eyes were beyond reach. He was lost to her, and she couldn’t stop him.

He kept squeezing. She pushed at him with her hands. He was too strong. She’d never seen such rage in him. She tried to wriggle out of his embrace, and her hands went to her neck, struggling to pull the cord away. If only she could reach his eyes and scratch them.

Who was this stranger stealing her life away? Where was the man she’d grown to love?

She fought harder, pushing on his chest, trying with everything she had to pull the cord from her neck. It was too tight.

How much longer could she hold on?

Kamlei swung her arms at him; it was all she could do to pull in a trickle of air. She kicked her feet, and the drinks flew off the table. For a split second, he stopped choking her. Then he glared at her, pulling tighter on the cord.

Her strength ebbed. Her vision blurred.

If he didn’t let go soon, it would be too late.

She searched his face and pleaded with her eyes. An unspoken why hung in the air between them. All she saw was a stranger staring back at her: a madman full of rage.

She struggled for each ragged breath, but nothing came.

Her arms reached again, and she tried to scratch at his eyes, but she was too weak. There was nothing left as spots filled her vision.

Kamlei tried for one more breath.

Nothing came.

She didn’t have the strength to fight. She tried to squirm and get away right to the last second. He pushed her down on the couch, lifted his knee, and put it on her throat, crushing the last bit of life from her body.

Then everything went black.

* * *

Larry Cullen glanced at his reflection in the window and saw himself holding the laptop power cord. He watched himself wrapping it around the young woman’s neck. He saw himself lose all self-control. Anger took over—he was no longer controlling his actions.

He stared, horrified, as the cord carved a line into her beautiful throat. He pulled the cord tighter and tighter. He watched it happen in slow motion, dismayed by what he was doing.

Stop! his mind screamed.

His body didn’t listen.

Kamlei stared up at him. He looked into her eyes, fear and confusion echoing back at him.

He kept squeezing.

He wanted to stop, to let go. But it was out of his control. He saw the look again, a pleading look searching for a reason.

Why? He kept asking himself that. But there was nothing he could do to stop.

She squirmed beneath him, but he held on and kept squeezing.

She thrashed and pushed his arms and tried to grab him. A wave of terror came over her face when she realized he wasn’t stopping. Her legs thrashed out, and the drinks flew off the table.

He stopped for a second, trying to gain control. A feeling of remorse pulsed through him, but he kept on. Kept squeezing.

Her body twisted as she fought to live. She threw her hands forward and tried to claw his face, but she couldn’t reach it. He pushed her onto the couch, towering over her. His knee pressed down on her throat. Her eyes glazed over, and he could tell she was letting go.

He wanted to stop. The stranger inside him kept going, kept squeezing. Kept pushing.

The light in her eyes faded.

A movement outside the window caught his attention. On the other side of the glass sat a man on some sort of swing. A bucket hung from the bottom of the seat, and he held a large suction cup in one hand. His hair fluttered in the breeze.

They stared at each other for a frozen moment.

The man in the window reached for the front of his harness and pulled some type of lever.

Then he was gone.

***

This is an edited finished version of Chapter One in my upcoming book, Death In The Window. Stay tuned for more info about my debut Novel. Thanks for reading. I will let you know how to get your copy when they become available.