“I’ll get my men to check all the neighborhoods that are near a river.” Janice put the glass shard down, looking troubled. “But this will be a big project, so we might go a while without any clues.” If Rachel is locked up somewhere near a river, that means every neighborhood in Riverdale that is near a river is going to be on our list.
Upon hearing that, Gloria offered, “My friend can help. I’ll ask them.”
“No. That’s too conspicuous. You’d best lay low or Justin will know something’s up. It’s going to be a problem if he takes Rachel somewhere else.”
“I don’t think he will. He’s seriously injured.” The mention of Justin’s situation saddened Gloria. Even though everyone thought he was a cruel person, she couldn’t bring herself to agree. She was really worried for him when she knew he was injured.
Julian patted her shoulder to show solidarity as he shared her sentiment, after all. Justin was his cousin so even though they weren’t on the best of terms, he was still Julian’s family. “Don’t feel too pressured, Gloria. We’re not betraying him. Just trying to make sure he won’t do something he’ll regret for the rest of his life.”
Gloria nodded.
“Then that’s it for now. I’ll assemble the squad,” Janice said.
“Okay.”
The room was as dim as ever as there was only a small opening on the window that allowed sunlight to shine on the room. Rachel was watching some TV as usual, and a can of sour plums sat on the table before her. Aside from the TV, she had nothing that could connect her to the outside world.
Someone came to dispose of everything that had glass in it the day after Justin was injured. When Justin came himself, he saw a dozen or so plums lying on the table. “You like those plums? I’ll get Frankie to buy more tomorrow.”
Rachel looked at him. Can I even say no? She had no choice but to passively accept everything he gave her. What will it take for you to let me go?
Justin frowned. “After you give birth to the child.”
Don’t tell me you can’t find anyone else who wants to bear your child. You can get any woman you want with a wave of your hand, so why won’t you just let me go? Rachel suddenly got agitated and she gestured, Because I’m Jefferey’s daughter? I’ve already told you that I’m not!
“Calm down.” Justin held her wildly waving hands. “I said, calm down,” he growled.
Rachel tried to break free but she couldn’t. Her chest was heaving and her face became flushed. Meanwhile, her lips were trembling but she couldn’t make a sound.
“You have to stay calm. The doctor said so.”
Stay calm? She felt a lump in her throat and tears streamed down her cheeks. How can I even do that? Pretend my whole childhood never happened? Pretend that this man in front of me isn’t that boy I saved? Pretend that he’s not the cause of Hans and Grandma’s deaths? At that thought, Rachel flung Justin’s hand away.
Justin wanted to hold her, but he hesitated and decided against that in the end. He then poured her a glass of water and put her medicine on the table. “Take your meds.”
Rachel wiped her tears away and gulped all the meds without even looking at them, but they were stuck in her throat a moment later.
Upon seeing that, Justin handed her a glass of water. “Have some water.”
The water melted the meds, making it easier for her to swallow. The pills were painful to swallow and it made her eyes redder, but it stopped her tears. At least pain could make sure she stayed sober.
The TV was airing a crime movie. The villain was escaping in an abandoned factory but he was shot a moment later and blood splattered everywhere. When Justin saw that, he said, “Watch something else. This
is too gory for the baby.” He switched to a cartoon channel that was showing some sheeps running in the meadow. “This is good.”
So I can’t even choose my shows now?
Justin frowned and put the remote control down.
However, Rachel didn’t touch it. I’m tired. I want to sleep.
She went to her bed but Justin got angry again and he questioned, “How much longer are you going to throw a tantrum?”
What are you talking about?
“You could have killed me back then. Why did you tell them to save me?”
Rachel froze. She knew Justin would bring that matter up eventually, so she answered, I did want to kill you, but I don’t want to die. I can’t run away even if you’re dead, right?
In response, Justin yelled, “You’re still trying to escape? You literally stabbed me! That should have been enough, so what more do you want? Fine! I broke Hans’ legs, so do you want to get back at me for him?” He suddenly put a dagger on the table. “Here’s a dagger. Stab me anywhere you want. You can do anything as long as you’ll stay here safely and bear the child.” He put the dagger in her hand. “Go on, stab me!”
All the color drained from Rachel’s face as Justin tried to guide the dagger into his chest. You’re mad! Why are you doing this? She was terrified.
“I thought you wanted to kill me. If you do it now, they’ll let you go. You can leave Riverdale-heck, even the country-and nobody will try to catch you.” He let her hand go, but the dagger was still inches away from his chest.
All Rachel had to do was stab him in the chest and he would die. However, everything started spinning around her, even Justin. The closer the dagger was to his chest, the more the world spun.
Eventually, she lost her grip on the dagger and it fell down. All her strength left her and she plopped on the ground, laughing and crying at the same time.
“You don’t even have the guts to kill me.” He held her chin, looking at her with dead, dark eyes. “I gave you a chance, Rachel. You lost it, so now you can’t complain anymore. Stop giving me that attitude, you hear me?”
To Justin, anything could be forgiven as long as it was an eye for an eye. However, he had no inkling that some wounds were so deep that forgiveness was out of the question, and that those wounds would simply not heal.
Rachel thought Justin’s gesture was laughable. A long, long while later, she gestured with trembling hands, I’ll give birth to the baby.
Justin was surprised, but that reply worked well in calming down his temper. While Rachel went to bed, he stood there for a while before going up to her.
Rachel could feel him getting into her bed and hugging her through the blanket. The hug got tighter and tighter as time went on.
“You don’t have to worry about the baby’s future. Once I finish my business and after you give birth, we’ll get remarried. You’ll still be my wife,” Justin said, like it was some sort of divine gift.
Rachel, on the other hand, was suffocating from the hug but she didn’t struggle.
