Chapter 4

It was late noon by the time Céline got back home. She was so grateful that she had come out of the den that John now called home alive. That psychopath scared the shit out of her, but she refused to show it, refused to give him that satisfaction.

She felt good to be home. She was in her living room with the TV on, though she was not giving it any of her attention. The last thing on her mind was whatever was showing on the TV. She was too distracted to know the station it was on. Her thoughts were on her encounter with John and their conversation.

She had no idea where to get such a sum of money John demanded. Even if she saved up her salary for a whole year, she still would not be able to realize such an amount. The truth was Céline did not have any idea how to get it.

She had just made a deal with John so she would be able to come out in one piece. If Céline had not made that deal, John would not have hesitated to kill her. She could not accept giving her body either because she did not want to sleep with a psychopath like John. She was a virgin, and that was not how she planned on losing her virginity.

Sighing, she lay down on the couch. She regretted ever deciding to see John. That was a stupid plan which she had not thought through. She had jumped into it out of the excitement of finally being able to come up with something. Now, she was stuck.

She knew she could not ignore John. If she did, he would come for her. She wondered if she should turn him in and get over with this. That was what was on her mind as she walked out of John, but she knew she could not. She could not, not when he was her last option of finally avenging her parents. She needed to come up with something, and soon enough. So many thoughts were on her mind as she drifted off to sleep.

The sound of the front door closing shut woke Céline up. She sat up on the couch and turned to look at who it was. It was her aunt. Not like she was expecting someone else. She lives with only her aunt, Elizabeth. It was dark now. She looked at the wall clock hung in a corner in front of the television. It was 10:00 pm. She must have overslept, losing track of time. She was exhausted after that encounter with John. Just looking at him was enough to sap all her energy from her, not to talk of actually talking to him.

'You did not seem so comfortable sleeping there like that." Her aunt said, walking over to the couch. She took a seat beside her. She was holding a bunch of newspapers and magazines, which she must have bought on her way back from work. She had her index finger placed in between the pages of one of the newspapers. She must have been reading it on her way back home in the cab.

Her aunt never missed whatever was happening in town because of her little habit of reading newspapers and magazines. She was always current and never ignorant of any vital information. It was why she found out about John and what he had been up to lately. Not that her aunt knew that the serial killer on the loose was her ex-boyfriend.

'I slept off. How was your day, aunt?" She asked.

'Stressful, but I am alive, am I not?" She replied, smiling at her. 'How was yours?"

'It was nice." She was lying about that. Her day was far from it. But she hoped her aunt did not push further.

'What did you do?" She just knew her aunt would want to keep the conversation going. Standing up from the couch and stretching, she replied to her aunt, 'Went to visit an old friend."

That was not exactly a lie. John could qualify as an old friend, even though he was more. Her aunt did not need all those details. She could imagine the look on her face if she told her that the old friend in question is the wanted serial killer going about killing pregnant women.

'Ok." her aunt replied. Thankfully she did not push further. She just opened the newspaper to where her index finger was placed and continued to read.

Céline sat down back. She picked up the remote from beside her, where she sat down and switched off the TV.

'Oh, you do not need to switch it off if you were watching that." Her aunt spoke, looking up from the newspaper to look at her. 'I was just about to head to my room."

'No need. I had not been watching. You can stay." She replied sharply before her aunt could stand up.

'All right. If you say so."

'Sure." She replied. Her aunt returned to reading the newspaper while Céline just sat and watched her.

Céline watched as her expressions changed as she read. It made her wonder what the news she was reading was about this time. Was it another case recently of activity by her psycho ex? She could not help but wonder.

When she heard about all he had been doing, it just did not sit well with her. She could not imagine John, who was once her boyfriend as a serial killer on the loose. But she knew even then that she could not deny it. The signs were there. All of them pointed to him. Seeing John today, with the memory of his cravings she knew in the past flooding back, helped to put things into focus. She had no doubt now.

The sight of him was enough to convince her. He looked like a complete deranged psychopath who was out killing pregnant women. She felt sympathetic for all the pregnant women in town. They must be scared out of their wit. The police advised all pregnant women to stay indoors or risk becoming the next victim. She could call the cops on him right now and end this, but she did not want to for selfish reasons. She would deal with the guilt later.

'Céline, is there something you want to tell me?" her aunt brought her out of her thoughts.

'No, why?"

'You have been staring at me. If there is something on your mind you want to talk about, you can talk to me."

'No, nothing. Just wondering what the news is saying this time," Céline replied. 'Any more news on the killings?"

'The one of some unknown guy killing pregnant women?" Her aunt asked.

'Yes, that one."

'Have not heard anything recently." Her aunt said, sighing and turning her full attention to her.

'Seems he is running out of victims. All pregnant women are hiding out in their homes."

'It is the smart thing for them to do," Céline added. She was glad she never told her aunt much about John when they dated. If she did, her aunt would have been able to recognize that it was him because it was hard not to miss.

'I just hope the psychopath does not start breaking into homes." She could see her aunt shiver slightly. She was frightened by the thought of it.

'I hope so too." Céline simply replied. She looked down at the newspaper that her aunt kept on her lap and spoke up immediately, wanting to change the subject. 'So what is the news saying?" She asked.

'The news these days seems to be so much interested in the personal lives of people." Her aunt replied, irritated by whatever she must have been reading.

'What do you mean?" Céline asked, laughing out.

'Well, do you know Damien Culhane?" Her aunt asked, returning her attention to the newspaper.

'That rich guy Olivia is obsessed with?" Olivia was her best friend from college. The bond they shared never broke, and somehow they were still in touch. She got to know about Damien Culhane from Olivia, who was obsessed with him probably because he was rich or his looks. She did not know which in particular.

'I do not know which guy Olivia is obsessed with, but he is rich. A billionaire or millionaire, whatever you call it." Her aunt said, picking up a magazine from the pile she held. She flipped through the pages, stopped at a particular page, then handed it over to Céline.

'Here he is." Her aunt said. 'Seems the news is obsessed with him too. He's everywhere on the papers. His personal life included."

'He is handsome." Céline breathed out, using her hand to trace his picture in the magazine. 'Olivia has these magazines too. He was the front cover on some of them."

Her aunt chuckled at that.

'I have just seen him a couple of times in her magazines, never really been interested. So what is the news saying?"

'Something about his mother looking for a wife for him." Her aunt said and kissed her teeth.

'Young men these days are so into money they forget the necessities of life. I mean, the man cannot even get a wife for himself."

Céline laughed out. 'He is probably not even interested. How did the media get to know about that?"

'I wonder. The press is always busy poking into your business." Her aunt replied, sighing and flipping through the pages of the newspaper. 'Poor woman, she wants to see her grandchildren."

'Can I see that?" Céline asked, stretching out her hand. Her aunt closed the newspaper and handed it over to her. Céline took it from her aunt and flipped the pages looking for the news on Damien. It was not hard to find. On the top of the page where it was, boldly written. 'DAMIEN CULHANE, IN SEARCH OF A WIFE!"

She chuckled, amused by such a title. She quickly read through, getting more interested with every word she read. Céline finished scanning the page and handed the magazine to her aunt with newfound excitement.

'Well, basically, I think his mom that put that in the news," Céline spoke up.

'Why would she do that?" Her aunt asked, confused by the conclusion she made.

'She is probably anxious to get her son a wife, seeing that she is not getting any younger. So she is going to whatever extent she can, including using the media."

'Hmm, you have a point, but I doubt it." Her aunt said with a frown staring straight at Céline. 'Why do you seem excited?"

'Well, I could be the bride she is looking for," Céline said, grinning from ear to ear.

'What did you just say!" her aunt exclaimed.

Céline was starting to appreciate that her aunt loved to read the newspapers. She was getting information on things she now found quite helpful. She was in desperate need of money. There is a mother of some dumb rich guy in search of a bride for her son. It all clicked into place so perfectly?

Céline had not been able to think of a decent plan to get the sum of money John wanted. She did not bother trying because she knew there was no way she could not get that money legally. Not with her job as a daycare teacher. She had majored in Statistics when she was in college and had had an office job as a market researcher but she had quit not too long when she realized she found her job way too boring. She much preferred her current job.

But now, reading this newspaper, she realized that there could be a plan after all. A legit way she could get the money. She would marry a millionaire.

'Céline, forget it. You cannot marry that man." Her aunt stated flatly.

'Why? Is anything wrong with him?" Céline asked, confused.

'Yes! He is rich!"

'What is wrong with that?"

'No! There is nothing wrong with being simply rich but he is not just rich, he is a famous business mogul." Her aunt exclaimed.

'Which makes it all the better," Céline stated.

'No! Can you not see? He would be too busy for family. I want you to marry someone who will have time for you, Céline, someone who will have time to come out here with you to visit me once in a while, you know, a family man."

Céline laughed out. 'Is that what you are bothered about?"

'I mean, he does not even have time to look for a wife himself. What makes you think he would be interested in you?" Her aunt added, shooting her hands up. She looked frustrated and desperate for the topic to die, the idea which made Céline laugh all the more.

'Why would you want to marry him?" Her aunt asked, losing her patience.

'Well, I am not getting any younger. I will have to settle down someday, even better if it is a really rich man. He can take good care of me." She replied smiling.

'I appreciate the fact that you are talking about settling down. I mean, it is high time you started talking about that. But I expect you to be talking about someone you have met, someone you love. You know, someone you are seeing." She said so fast, Céline almost missed the words.

'Not some rich guy in a newspaper, whom you know nothing about!" She slowed down, making sure to emphasize that point.

'Probably, but love is not for me, I am seeing no one. It does not look like that will change anytime soon, so…" she did not finish her sentence allowing her aunt to reason out the rest of what she was to say.

'So you better step up your game and start looking." Her aunt completed it. That was far from what she had in mind.

'Well, that is what I am doing." Céline replied, smiling again.

Her aunt facepalmed and glared at her. 'You know that is not what I meant." She hissed.

'Aunt, would it be so bad if I could marry someone like Damien?"

Her aunt sighed and remained silent. She was probably thinking. 'I just want you to marry someone you love, Céline." Her aunt finally spoke up. 'And I mean it when I say I want you to marry someone who will have time for you, someone who cares for you, not some money lover."

'You are judging him too quickly, aunt. Just because he is rich does not mean he loves money and will not be a good husband. He could be a nice person. And who knows, we could fall in love with each other."

'Pfft, you will probably not even see him until the wedding day." Her aunt said, chuckling. 'You just read that," she added, pointing to the newspaper. 'He has not even met any of the women his mom has offered. He is probably too busy for that. He has only seen their pictures."

Céline laughed. 'I know."

'So what do you want to do? Email them asking to marry him? Because he is probably even too busy to see you? Don't you see how absurd and old-fashioned this is?"

'That's what I'm planning on doing. My friends are already getting married so should I. This situation isn't as bad as you make it seem."

'Céline, do you want to marry him because of his money?" The words hit her. When she puts it that way, it makes her seem like an immoral person, but that was the exact truth. She wanted to marry Damien because of his money. Her aunt got the answer to her question from her face.

'Why?" her aunt just asked.

'Why what?" Céline asked innocently.

'Why do you want to marry Damien for his money?"

'I did not say that," Céline replied, laughing.

'It is obvious. The Céline I know would not make such a decision out of the blue. Now spill."

There was no point lying to her aunt. She could trust her with the truth, just not all of it. She would tell her half-truth, leaving out the part about John.

'Yeah, I want to marry him because of his money."

'I already know that. The question is why."

'I want to find out who killed my parents, and I need money to do that." She said anxiously, hoping that her aunt would not ask her why she needed money to do that.

'That is new. All of a sudden?" Her aunt asked, surprised by her reply.

'No, it is not, I have always wanted to, but I never voiced it out."

'Why?"

'Because I never had it in mind as a real set goal."

'And now you do?" Her aunt asked, looking at her intently with interest.

'Yes." She said simply, not going any further and hoping her aunt does the same. Luck was not on her side.

'Why is it a goal now and how does it involve money?"

Shoot.

She had asked the one question she was dreading.

'Do not bother about it, aunt." She pleaded

'Oh, hell no, Céline. I am bothered about it. Do you have any idea how dangerous it could be to dig into the past? I need to know how you plan on doing that and why it involves money."

'I do not want to get you involved Aunt, can you just drop it?"

'No, I cannot. Whatever this plan of yours is. It is only going to go up in flames. Do you even know what marriage is and what you are setting yourself up to do? Marriage is a serious issue, and I cannot get involved."

It was clear her aunt was not buying her story, so she would need to come up with a lie.

'What do you mean it is dangerous to dig into the past?" She asked her aunt, hoping it would distract her and buy her enough time to think up a lie.

'For all you know, your people who murdered your parents could still be alive and trying to find them could put you in danger. Why do you even want to find them?"

'I want to avenge their death." It slipped from her mouth suddenly. Her aunt became silenced completely, staring at her like she was trying to figure out if that was a joke she just cracked.

'You are not serious, are you?" her aunt was frowning slightly.

'I am." Her frown intensified.

'Céline, will you just do me a favour and forget this whole thing? What has come over you? You are trying to make regrettable decisions." Her aunt pleaded.

'I have made up my mind, aunt." Her voice was firm. It made her aunt realize that there was no point in arguing further.

'What do you need money for?" her aunt asked instead. Fortunately, she has been able to come up with a lie.

'I need to hire a private investigator, and that needs money." She said. 'Filing a report would make it too public, and as you said, their murderers could be out there alive." She added immediately, not wanting her aunt to ask further questions on why she chose private. That was not her reason. She knew her reasons but her aunt did not need to know.

Her aunt just stared at her for a long time, then sighed. 'You have made up your mind, right?" her aunt asked, a note of sadness in her voice.

'I have."

'And nothing I say right now will change your mind?"

'Yeah. Do not worry about it, aunt."

'How can I not? You are putting your heart and life on the line for this. Do you think your parents would want that?"

Céline laughed and stretched her hands to pick the magazine again. 'It might not be too bad if I got married to Damien."

'You do not know that."

'We will find out," Céline said, smiling. 'I just need one favour from you."

'What?"

'I need to find out more about this offer. I think I will send an email to the address tomorrow. But I need to borrow your laptop, can I do that?"

'From the look of things, you are not giving me a choice, are you?" her aunt asked, sighing.

Céline just smiled at her.

'I will let you send in the inquiry." Her aunt said. A little part of her has always wanted vengeance for her sister. She did not want it to be Céline doing it. She would be sacrificing her peace and happiness. But since she could not convince Céline otherwise, she grudgingly had to accept, doing the little she could sense it was for her sister. 'I am doing this against my will. I am not in support of you pursuing this Damien or wanting to avenge your parents ."

'I know, aunt." Céline said, pouting. 'You must be hungry. I will go make dinner." She added, pleased that her aunt was playing along. She stood up from the couch and headed for the kitchen to make dinner.

She could only hope that this plan worked. The next time she meets John, she wants to be throwing money to his face and not begging for a rethink.