The Master of Demise: A Dark and Riveting Psychological Thriller by Nadija Mujagic

Author:Nadija Mujagic [Mujagic, Nadija]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781737004752
Publisher: Pioneer Publishing
Published: 2023-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

We drive home that evening, and the tension between Emily and me hasn’t let up. I am being more careful not to hit a deer, so I drive below the speed limit. It’s already dark and there is no light projecting from anywhere except for the car’s beams. A long, winding road is all we can see in front of us, with woodlands on both sides. It’s silent in the car except for the engine revving. Emily’s mother lent us her Ford Fiesta until ours gets fixed. Her car makes a peculiar noise, like it needs repair. I'd choose to drive this broken-down car over staying the night at my in-laws.

There’s a lot of downtime to think, besides focusing on the road. That Emily doesn’t press me about me concealing my mother’s death surprises me. I had been expecting a lecture about how I messed up this time. But not one word. Nothing.

I am relieved, but I’m also scared that Emily is caring less about me and about us as a couple. The prospect of her leaving me fills me with dread, even though our marriage is struggling. I’m scared. I don’t want to go back to singlehood and start dating anew.

It’s common to turn to familiarity, complacency, even in disadvantageous circumstances.

Halfway into our ride, she speaks up in her stern and self-confident tone, “Let’s do dinner tomorrow night and discuss our future family plans.”

I turn my head to her and notice she is not looking at me, but at the vista disguised in darkness ahead of us.

“Su-sure.” I say.

A sense of hope tingles inside me. Perhaps things will be better once we rehash our plans. I don’t see how a baby can’t be an object of joy uniting us in love and peace.

“I made a restaurant reservation for tomorrow night.” She says it so dryly that I say nothing in response at first.

“Great. I look forward to that,” I say. I mean it even though I’m genuinely scared of what our conversation might look like.

“When are you going to the conference?” she says.

“On Monday,” I say. “But I’ll be back Tuesday evening.”

She says nothing, and suspicion creeps in. Does Emily need to know this so she can make plans with her lover? What does she have in store? I bite my lip and hold a tighter grip on the wheel.

I finally muster, “We’re good, right?”

I need reassurance Emily will not abandon me.

She remains quiet. I turn my head to her, but I can’t see her. It’s that dark. Her silence is filling the car, and it’s starting to make me feel angry. Emily doesn’t answer, perhaps because she doesn't desire an argument while I'm behind the wheel. Could it be that she's trying to control me by ignoring me? I absolutely hate when she does this to me.

I decide to pull a prank on her.

“Watch out! Deer!”

Emily screams from the top of her lungs and leans forward, placing her hands on the glove compartment. Even though I can't actually see her, I can imagine the terror on her face.

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