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The Reckoning

Indiscretion

By Ahed AttarPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
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The rain fell in torrents, ricocheting off the surface of the umbrellas and splattering into the dampening mud. Greg stood still, his knuckles turning white, as he clenched the handle of his umbrella. His eyes were focused on the casket as it was lowered into the grave. Robert had departed like Salim had all those years before. The memories of that night had become clearer and clearer over the last few days. They haunted Greg’s every waking hour, threatening to consume him.

There was a little drizzle that night. The black sky hung overhead. Twigs crunched underneath his feet as Greg shifted his position slightly. He stood behind the tree, his hands on the bark. He stared at the thicket in the distance, watching as the branches of the trees billowed in the gentle breeze. Greg could hear the waves cascade against the shore behind him.

It was at that moment that the headlights became visible. They cast a white light over all that lay before them, as they drew closer. The car followed the winding road between the trees. Greg grinned, glancing in the direction of Jerome, Ashraf and Saira, who were huddled behind nearby trees.

The rainfall grew steadily heavier. The whir of the engine resonated through the air. The car came to a halt metres away from Greg.

Fred, masked by a balaclava, clambered out of the car. Robert whose features were also covered by a baklava, followed suit. Fred pulled the backdoor open and yanked Salim from the car. A hood shrouded Salim’s face. His hands were bound. The rain had begun to thunder down. It soaked Salim’s clothes. Fred dragged him to the clearing by the rope tied around his wrists. He was followed by Robert. Fred brandished a pocket knife and sliced through the ropes trapping Salim. Robert pulled the hood off his head.

A lot happened within the next few moments. Salim stumbled back, his eyes wide in bewilderment. He stared at his would-be captors. He began turning away from them. Greg stepped out from behind the tree. ‘Congrat-,’ he began. Salim’s eyes took note of Greg; he continued to stumble. His eyes were transfixed on the figures before him. Fred unmasked. Salim’s foot slipped over a rock. He fell. His head hit a boulder and his body plummeted into the water.

The violent waves lashed at his body. The current began to carry him away from the embankment. Greg’s feet worked quicker than his brain. He sprinted towards the water and dove inside.

Greg sighed, turning his back to the grave. He trudged along the grassy slope, past countless gravestones. Rain beat down around him. The roar of thunder reverberated through the air. Greg’s coat became saturated with water, clinging to his body. He continued to make his way to his car, oblivious of where the others were.

To this day he wondered why he had agreed to participate in the prank, in Fred’s words, to ‘celebrate’ Salim’s achievement. Salim had obtained the highest marks in the year for the cohort and was the first to secure pupillage to be a Barrister.

Greg knew the reason for taking part deep down. But he did not want to admit it. Jealousy had underpinned the motive behind his involvement that night. He had wanted to knock Salim down a peg. However what transpired had become a heavy burden that he still struggled to bear. His guilt would always remain with him. Salim was not coming back.

Greg climbed into his car and closed the door behind him. On turning the key in the ignition, the engine sprung to life. His foot pressed on the accelerator. The tyres scraped against the tarmac. The car sped away from the graveyard, rain deflecting off the windshield.

fiction
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About the Creator

Ahed Attar

I’m a Qualified Solicitor who enjoys writing in my spare time, dabbling in my different areas of interest.

I’m currently writing a criminal thriller story. I hope you have a read and let me know what you think.

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