Дмитрий Леонтьев – The evil will come for you (страница 9)
* * *
William woke up with a gasp. Cold sweat covered his forehead. After several deep, rapid sighs, he turned his head toward Linda’s side. The bed was empty. A wave of fear overwhelmed him.
“Maybe I’m still dreaming,” he thought.
Linda’s voice from the kitchen dispelled the thought. William quickly threw off the blanket and put his feet on the floor. He bent down and ruffled his hair a few times.
“What the devil,” he muttered under his breath.
He wiped his lips and stood up.
On a chair, he noticed his clean T-shirt and shorts.
“She’s already prepared them for me,” he guessed and got dressed quickly.
A short while later, he was in the kitchen. Linda had already cooked breakfast.
“Good morning,” William said as he entered, trying to sound cheerful in spite of his throbbing headache.
* * *
“Morning,” Linda replied, turning from the stove. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked, concerned.
“Just a headache,” he began, but she interrupted him.
“Oh, you’re bleeding,” Linda exclaimed.
William saw his right hand smeared with blood.
“When did you scratch it?” Linda asked, immediately grabbing a kitchen napkin and pressing it to his head.
“I… I don’t know,” he answered.
“Oh, William, please! I beg you, don’t go on the trip today,” she whispered. “It’s only morning but you’re already hurt!”
William hugged her tightly.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he whispered into her ear. “This is my only chance. I may never get another opportunity.”
Linda pulled away from his embrace.
“But…” she started to protest but was cut off.
“Please, don’t,” William said firmly.
Linda turned to the kitchen cupboard and silently served breakfast onto a plate.
“How long will you be gone?” she asked after a few quiet moments.
“Not more than three days,” he replied.
Linda smiled faintly.
“What about Charlie Henderson?” she asked.
William looked startled. He remembered telling Linda that it was Charlie who would be driving them all.
“What do you mean?” he asked her.
Linda sighed, “I mean, where is he going to pick you up?”
William took a deep breath.
“Oh, I… I have to get to his place, of course,” he said.
Linda watched him closely.
“Is anything wrong?” she asked.
William met her gaze with a sigh.
“What?”
“It seems like you’re hiding something from me.”
“Oh, no,” he said, growing worried. “Of course, not!”
Linda kept staring at him.
“How’s your foot?”
William lowered his gaze, stretched out his leg and looked at his right foot.
“It’s fine,” he said.
“I’d better change the bandage,” Linda suggested.
* * *
The time had come.
William went to the front door and hastily grabbed his bag. He half opened it, checked something with his eyes, then closed it immediately. Everything he needed was there.
He turned around.
“How do I look?” he asked.
Linda smiled, crossing her arms.
“Handsome,” she replied.
“Okay, I’m ready,” he said at last. “Wish me luck.”
“Break a leg,” Linda said with a smile. “Take good care of yourself!”
“With God’s blessing,” he said, turning toward the door.
At last, he stepped outside and walked through the yard to his car.
He lit a cigarette and stared intently at his house.
Why? He didn’t know.
“Today is an important day for me,” he murmured, taking a deep drag.
After smoking half the cigarette, he flicked it away with his two fingers. Then, he opened the back passenger door and tossed in his bag. After that, he sharply opened the driver’s door and sat inside.
“Okay,” he said as he started the engine.
Something made him glance out the window, where he caught his wife’s eyes. Linda was waving him goodbye. William waved back.
He engaged reverse gear and slowly backed up. Then he shifted into first gear and began driving toward his dream.
CHAPTER 8
Everything was prepared for the trip, and William was absolutely sure he would succeed and that everything would be alright.
The road to his destination was terrible, though. His first stop was a small town where he planned to rest and fill his car with petrol.