Close Enemies by Marc Daniel

Author:Marc Daniel [Daniel, Marc]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 53

The contraption looked rudimentary, but Olivia felt confident it would do the trick. She’d secured the chainsaw handle into a vise on the edge of Michael’s workbench. The shotgun was resting against the bench ready to use. She simply needed to wrap the bungee cord around her neck, attach its hook to the two fifty-pound weights she’d purchased in the morning and shoot herself in the head. The weights and bungee cord would then bring her neck onto the chain saw that would finish her off before her brain had a chance to heal from the gunshot.

She felt bad at the idea that Michael would be the one cleaning up the mess, but who else could she count on for the job?

“Olivia?” called Daka’s voice outside the tool shed.

She remained silent, holding her breath so as not to attract his attention.

She heard him knock on the door of Michael’s cabin and try the handle. But the door was locked. His footsteps were getting closer now.

“I knew I heard some noise,” he said, opening the door of the shed. “What are you doing in there?”

His eyes immediately went to the chainsaw and the gun poorly concealed behind Olivia’s back.

“Hey, Daka. What’s up? I wasn’t expecting you today,” she said, trying to sound cheerful.

“Michael asked me to come check on you. He was worried about you. But to tell you the truth, I’d have come even if he hadn’t asked me to. Now can you tell me exactly what you’re doing with this chainsaw?”

She looked away, suddenly feeling ashamed of what she’d been about to do.

He grabbed the gun out of her hand, ejected all the shells and placed them in his jacket pocket before putting the weapon down on the workbench.

“Come, Olivia, we need to talk.”

“I don’t need a lesson from you, Daka,” she replied defensively.

“On the contrary. I believe you do!”

She sighed heavily but followed him onto the cabin’s porch.

“I know how you feel Olivia, but th—”

“How do you know? Was it your sister we burnt to ashes yesterday?” she interrupted angrily.

“No, it wasn’t. My own sister was burnt to a crisp three years ago. But don’t think for a moment I don’t remember the pain. You don’t have a monopoly on suffering, Olivia. You’re not the first one to lose a loved one and you sure as hell won’t be the last.”

She’d never heard of Daka’s sister. She’d always thought he was an only child.

“You have no right to take your own life, Olivia. This isn’t how things work. You don’t get to make people around you even more miserable than they already are simply because you feel sorry for yourself.” His voice was imperative, but not angry. He was simply stating facts, not arguing.

“What do I have left to live for, Daka? Please tell me.”

“What about Michael? He cares about you. You know that.”

“I know he does, but he doesn’t need me. I’m nothing but a pain in his side. He’d be better off without me.”

“What about me? Would I be better off without you?”

The question took her by surprise.

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