Love's Dark Deception by Alice Baburek

Sebastian Prescott sat behind the vintage oak desk. The life insurance proceeds from his wife’s demise had finally been deposited into his personal account. It was about time. Two million dollars wasn’t a bad haul for the five-year marriage. Agnes was a looker. She had a hot body and was scrumptious in bed. It wasn’t a painful marriage.

In fact, he just might miss their sexual interludes during the day. As he thought about her luscious curves, he grew hard. He leaned back in his chair and unzipped his pants. His well-manicured hand gripped his enlarged groin. Slightly squeezing, he closed his eyes.

Suddenly, visions of her bloody body engulfed his mind. Her violent screams echoed inside his head. He could see the bloody knife in his hand.

Instantly, his manhood deflated. His eyes flew open wide. His heart was beating rapidly within his chest. What was wrong with him?

Sebastian had planned his wife’s death for over a year. Down to the finest detail, leaving not a shred of evidence linking him to Agnes’ death. Even down to the call to the police and filing a missing person’s report. And as for depositing the corpse where it could be discovered, it was easier than he could ever have imagined. Or so he thought.

As far as he knew, law enforcement believed Agnes was abducted on Valentine’s Day. It wasn’t until five days later that her battered and mutilated body had been discovered along a rocky trail in the Winchester Woods, twenty miles from their home in Epson, Pennsylvania.

After speaking with the detectives and exuding emotions in the interrogation room, he was released. Sebastian played his part to perfection.

But to ensure the whole mess didn’t blow up in his face, Sebastian retained a criminal attorney and, after the initial interview, no longer spoke with law enforcement without counsel.

**

The funeral was simple and quick. Friends of Agnes came to pay their respects. She had no living relatives. She had been the perfect target.

Sebastian acted as a grieving husband. Giving the performance more fuel at the cemetery as they laid Agnes to rest.

Now, with the murder behind him, he could move ahead with his life. A life with a nest egg of two million dollars.

But why, then, were memories of the evil deed he had committed coming back to haunt him? Guilt was a useless emotion.

Sebastian did not feel guilty when he lied to Agnes, promising her a romantic Valentine’s Day getaway in a cabin deep in the woods. Of course, she would be excited about spending time with her loving husband away from the hustle and bustle of daily responsibilities.

And he did not feel guilty when he lured her far away from their home into an isolated cabin up in the hills, only to take her life senselessly.

**

Sebastian got up from the desk. He remembered the bloody scene so vividly. His hand trembled as he poured himself a stiff drink. A chill ran down his spine.

Their Tudor house had been emptied of all their prized possessions. How Agnes loved this house. Just a few more signatures, and it would be sold for a hefty amount.

“Sebastian,” came a whisper against the back of his neck. He swiftly turned about to an empty and suddenly chilly room.

Goose bumps covered his bare arms. Sweat formed along his brow. What was wrong with him?

“Sebastian.” His name carried across the room. He ran to the window and looked out into the night. He flinched at his own reflection.

The air was frigid. He rubbed his arms. “It’s freezing in here!” He checked each window in the study. Closed and locked. So why was it so cold?

It must be a draft. Sebastian finished his whiskey and decided to turn in for the night. As he went to exit the chilly room, he noticed the study door had been closed. When did he close it? More importantly, why did he close it? He was the only one in the house.

Sebastian’s hand hesitated on the brass knob. Maybe he did close the door. Taking a deep breath, he gripped the knob and turned. His posture stiffened. The wooden door did not open.

“What is going on?” he asked no one. Yanking and twisting with all his strength, yet the door held strong and did not budge. The temperature inside the room plummeted. Frost formed on the windows. They crackled from the warmer temperatures outside.

Sebastian’s chin and lips trembled as he struggled with the door. The chilly air swept past his ear with one single word: Sebastian!

He had to get out. Using all of his strength, he yanked, yet the door still refused to open. He leaned his freezing head against the cold wood.

There had to be a way out. Without hesitation, he scanned the frigid room. The desk light flickered.

“Sebastian…Happy Valentine’s Day, my love,” whispered an ominous yet familiar voice. In the corner, a wispy apparition shifted as Sebastian tried to focus his watery eyes.

“Agnes?” His breath clouded in the arctic atmosphere. By now, his lean and muscular body shivered and shook with each passing minute. The tight-fitting t-shirt and snug black jeans provided little warmth. His thick black hair could not hold the heat that quickly escaped his body.

“You are heartless and cold-blooded, Sebastian. And you too shall perish the same way.”

As the ghostly figure floated closer, Sebastian could see the ashen body covered in deep gashes. Bright red liquid oozed from the rotted, flayed flesh.

The stench of decomposition surrounded him. He instantly gagged. Putrid bile forced itself up into his dry mouth.

Sebastian staggered backwards. His legs felt like lead. Numbness spread throughout his aching spine.

“No! It can’t be you!” His words slowed. “I…killed…you.”

The skeletal face sneered. Jagged teeth protruded from its distorted mouth. Deep, empty sockets filled only with blackness.

“Stay away from me. You’re not real! You’re dead!” His words barely left his frozen lips. The hideous creature hissed as it draped itself over Sebastian.

“You…did…this…to…me!” The slithering words wrapped around him and squeezed his evil soul.

Sebastian strained to consume the freezing air. His lungs compressed from within. Suddenly, he collapsed to his knees. He tried desperately to breathe. The agony intensified with each breath.

“Sebastian, you shall pay for what you have done to me!” And as the manifestation overwhelmed his inner being, he slipped forever into the darkness of eternal damnation.

**

Detective Allen Werner smiled at the arrest warrant. He couldn’t wait to snap the cuffs on the egotistical murderer Sebastian Prescott. They had gathered enough forensic evidence to put Prescott behind bars for the rest of his life. It wouldn’t bring back Agnes, but maybe a bit of justice.

Allen remembered so well during Prescott’s initial interview how smug and confident he had been, assuming he outsmarted the police. And then retaining a high-profile attorney made solving the case an uphill battle.

But Werner knew it was just a matter of time before Prescott would be arrested for his heinous crime.

And now that day had come. With two police cruisers in tow, Detective Werner, in his unmarked car, rushed to the home of Sebastian Prescott.

As they pulled into the half-circle driveway in front of the stylish Tudor home, a wide grin formed across Werner’s middle-aged face. He assigned two officers to cover the back exits in case Prescott tried to run.

Detective Werner, with two uniformed police standing behind him, knocked heavily on the enormous wooden doors. After several seconds, he knocked again, but this time with an announcement.

“Mr. Sebastian Prescott…this is Detective Werner of the San Bernando Police Department. Open up…I have a warrant for your arrest.”

Werner withdrew his sidearm, and the two other officers followed suit. This time, he pounded hard enough to rattle the brass knocker on the door.

“If you don’t open up, Mr. Prescott, I will be forced to break down the door!” shouted Werner.

He glanced back at his fellow officers and gave a slight nod. One of the officers ran back to the cruiser and returned with a battering ram.

“Break it down,” commanded Werner. He stood back and let the officer do his job. Minutes later, the door splintered into pieces.

“Mr. Prescott…San Bernando Police Department. We have an arrest warrant.” Werner motioned for the officers to split up.

“Show yourself, Mr. Prescott.” Werner inched slowly down the illustrious hallway. He stopped in front of a closed door.

“What the…” His words trailed into silence. The study door was covered in frost. The temperature outside was at least sixty degrees. “Mr. Prescott…are you in there? It is the San Bernando Police Department.” Silence filled the hallway.

Werner slowly turned the rustic knob. The ice that covered it cracked and crumbled. With his weapon still drawn, he pushed the door with his body.

Just then, the other two officers appeared. “Detective Werner…the first floor is cleared.” They both looked at the door and then at the detective.

Deep creases lined the detective’s forehead. “Let’s have a look, shall we?” he whispered. And without waiting for an answer, Werner used his shoulder to muster the closed door.

The frost cracked as they pushed their way inside the frigid room. But the detective only took one step inside when he saw the frozen corpse on the floor. He knew immediately it was Sebastian Prescott.

All three men looked at one another. Immediately, the room began to thaw. Moisture covered the floor, walls, and furniture.

“What’s happening, sir?” asked the younger cop. He swiveled around, watching as the ice turned to dripping water.

The detective remained silent as he, too, watched the strange phenomenon unfold. After several seconds, the temperature in the study returned to normal. The three officers stood with wide eyes open at the horrendous scene.

The only thing that remained frozen was Sebastian Prescott. A permanent contorted face with an open mouth as if to scream. His hands, stilled and gnarled from the once frigid air, matched his frozen corpse, twisted and broken by an unseen force.

As the sunshine shone brightly into the room, one officer pointed to the sweating windows. Printed in large letters were the words: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Alice Baburek is an avid reader, determined writer and animal lover. She lives with her wife and four canine companions. Retired, she challenges herself to become an unforgettable emerging voice.