Chapter 4: Death And Pain

Amanda 

"Drive to the house first. I want to redo my makeup before heading to my grandparents' place, " I settled into the back seat. I clutched my stomach tenderly, now aware that I had a new life growing inside my womb.

"Yes, ma'am," Anderson studied me from the mirror for some time, then added, "Will you tell Jason?"

"Tell him what?" I asked absentmindedly, my hands still clutching my abdomen.

Anderson looked at my hands against my abdomen and smiled sadly, "That... The baby..."

"Oh!" My lips opened but no words came out. I gave out a weak grunt and smiled almost immediately. Leaning a little bit forward, I said, "I wouldn't. I have no intention of telling him. He'd never know, if not he might hurt my unborn child."

Anderson stopped the car abruptly.

"Why don't you leave?" He held the steering fiercely and shut his eyes, as though he were trying to remember something. Leave! I'll help you."

I wondered why his voice seemed a little bit raised. Ignoring it, I said, "I can't. It's not as easy as you think."

In all honesty, I couldn't leave. Jason had threatened to kill my grandparents if I dared to talk bad about our marriage or even dared to leave. I was very much sure that those weren't empty threats. He meant every word he had said. Leaving Jason and this God-forsaken marriage was the same as sending my lovely grandparents to their graves.

Anderson shook his head, then turned to face me, "I don't want you to get hurt, or even lose your life, Amanda" This was the first time he referred to me by my name and not with some honorifics, "I know you're scared of your husband, but it isn't worth your life. Think about your baby. You can't risk its life, too."

I pondered on his words for some time, then said, "Why do you want to help me? Don't you work for Jason? He'd have you killed if he found out. I don't want you to get involved."

He laughed, and it eased the tension and awkwardness in the car a little bit.

"I might work for Jason, but my loyalty is with you. People in the company don't really know who Jason is. I know him, and I don't like the way he treats you. There's nothing to like about your nonsensical husband!" He hit the steering forcefully, his face squeezing into a frown and I was startled.

"Careful, now, Anderson!"

"Sorry, Amanda," somehow, the fact that he suddenly switched to calling me by my name, made it seem as though we were close in a way. It was oddly comforting as I had no friends whatsoever. Jason had ensured that.

"It's alright. I'll definitely call you if I need some type of help," I said in a bid to close the conversation.

He drove into the compound, and I went upstairs, redid my makeup perfectly, and came back downstairs. 

"Let's go." 

This time around, I sat in front of Anderson's invitation. We said nothing to each other and there was silence, except for the "WestLife" music playing in the background. We hummed to the song, and my nerves calmed down a little bit.

"We're here," he undid his seat belt, came down, and came over to my side. He opened the door for me, and I stepped down.

"You're really beautiful. Jason is a big fool for being oblivious of such beauty and treating you in such a manner..."

"Thank you, " I tucked a strand of her behind my ears, and smiled. Jason never called me beautiful.

"Should I wait for you, here?"

Before I could answer, I spotted Lena Dunham entering her car and zooming off. I was sure she didn't see me, but it bothered me that she came here.

She looked in my direction and I ducked immediately. I wondered if she had seen me.

********

I remained in that position until I heard the sound of her car zooming off. Breathing a sigh of relief, I stood up.

Lena Dunham! She was the reason I had decided to pay my grandparents a surprise visit, but, what was she doing here? I had a sick feeling in my stomach and I felt like throwing up. What was Lena up to? I wondered.

"A penny for your thoughts,' Anderson's alluring voice interrupted my thoughts, "who's she?"

"No one important," I said, waving it off momentarily.

"Alright, I'll wait in the car, you can go ahead,"

Thank you, Anderson, I'd try not to take so much time."

I headed towards the building briskly, determined to find the answers to my questions. I pushed the wooden doors open, and the smell of metal hit me strongly.

I couldn't believe my sight. Laying on the floor were the almost lifeless bodies of my grandparents.

I screamed and rushed out, throwing my bag, and the present I got fell on the floor without thinking. I flung my slippers away for easy movement. I ran towards the car, screaming hysterically and shouting Anderson's name as loud as I could. 

As I approached the car, I sprained my ankle slightly. "Anderson, help! Please, help!" I cried.

Anderson hurriedly approached me, fear and surprise written all over his face.

"What happened?"

I tried to talk, but words failed me. I cried and pointed toward my grandparent's house.

"Talk to me, Amanda, you're scaring me," but, for some reason, I couldn't still talk even though I tried to. I just kept crying and pointing.

Anderson hugged me while caressing my hair all along. I hugged him tightly, refusing to let go.

As if it just occurred to me, I jolted away from his embrace and dashed towards the house again. They might still be alive. Maybe they aren't dead, yet.

Anderson ran after me, calling my name loudly as he ran.

There was no one around, no neighbors, nobody. My grandparents lived in a bungalow on the outskirts of the city in a secluded area. They weren't exactly old, in fact, they were still young as they were still in their middle fifties.

"My God!" Anderson exclaimed upon seeing my grandparents' bodies. Without further delay, he made a phone call, calling both the police and an ambulance quickly.

Before the blink of an eye, I could

d hear sirens right outside the compound. Men and women in uniform barged in, asking questions, while the hospital personnel took my grandparents to the hospital on a stretcher.