The Secret Dies With Me

     I was in California, standing in front of Mrs. Cox's huge mansion. I had come to console Mrs. Cox as her only son and my best friend, Albert Cox had died. But the sinister smile that played on her lips as she opened the door declared to me that it was I, who needed more consolation. 
    Albert Cox, my closest friend and roommate during our college days, had passed away a day before, owing to an illness (I knew not what). The news of his sudden demise had shocked me as I had always seen him in the pink of his health... 
    When I reached the house, it was almost dinner time and the funeral ceremony was already over. With emptiness in my heart, I followed Mrs. Cox into a large gloomy hall. The entire mansion looked eerie and I didn't like being there. I sure wouldn't have come if it had not been for Albert. I wished with my whole heart that he were alive. I still couldn't imagine him gone.
    Mrs. Cox looked huge in her black gown. She welcomed me warmly but, the constant smile on her face made her seem evil. I tried not to think of her that way. Though I had never met her before, Albert (God bless him) had always talked of his mother as a good woman. She definitely didn't look so good to me (Sorry, Albert).
    Keeping my thoughts to myself, I looked around and found the hall painted in dark grey. All the furniture in the room was jet black. The walls were bare and as blank as my mind. The whole place looked foreboding. Turning back towards Mrs. Cox, I thought of saying something to comfort her. But even before I could open my mouth, she disappeared into the kitchen with the excuse of bringing my dinner. The sly smile that continued on her face made me feel uncomfortable. I concluded that it must be a natural part of her face. 
    As we sat down for dinner, I started to talk about Albert, but was interrupted by a stunningly beautiful white Cheshire Cat, the only bright creature in that depressing house. She had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and darted across the table to Mrs. Cox's lap. Mrs. Cox gently chided her, "Get down, Chill".
    The whole house looked strange. What seemed stranger was that such a big house did not have any servant. I pointed this out to Mrs. Cox. She shrugged it away by saying, "I'm used to loneliness, Wilfred. Now, I shall be satisfied with it." This even stranger answer forced me to give up my attempts at conversation and I finished my food silently. After dinner, Mrs. Cox was eager to lead me to (my) bedroom. As I did not want to disturb her privacy, I complied without asking any questions.
    The bedroom was down a long passageway in another wing of the house, which must have been added later. On entering this huge bedroom, I realised that it was as grey and gloomy as the rest of the house. I was soon left alone, wishing I was not where I was. I scanned the room and found that it contained three doors - one, through which I had come in; another, that led to the rest room and yet another, which was locked. There was one locked window, which I didn't bother to open. A single black bed covered neatly with dark grey sheet and a black pillow completed the foreboding look. I wanted to run away, but consoling myself that it was only for the night, I gingerly sat down. 
    Strangely, I felt a wave of tiredness wash over me. It was only nine. I closed the black door and settled down to sleep. As I was drifting away, I could hear the rain outside. At least, I wasn't caught up in the rain, though it didn't make me feel any better in this not-so-cosy mansion.
    Maybe it was that discomfort which woke me up. Anyhow, I found Albert near me as he whispered, "Next, it's you." I rubbed my eyes and saw him standing in the doorway, talking to his girlfriend, Anna Cole. She looked heavenly in a white gown, yet something was amiss. I couldn't figure out what it was.
    Albert and Anna appeared to be blissfully unaware of my presence. So, I switched the light on (and froze). Their faces were pale blue...
    I sat up horrified and realised that it was just a dream. What a scared little puppy I was! The time was hardly eleven, so I lay down again, but sleep evaded me. I kept twisting and turning, to no avail. It was then that I heard it.

    A slow scratching noise. At first, I thought it was the rain outside. No! It seemed nearer. I switched my torch on and pointed at the door. Nothing. I pointed at the window. It was locked. The rest room door too was closed. Slowly, I shone my torch towards the other locked door. And I knew it was Chill before I even saw her.
    There she was, scratching the door with her sharp paws. She looked dazzling in the torch light. What baffled me was how Chill could have got inside? I convinced myself that she had been hiding under the bed, unknown to me. I switched on the light once again. Surprisingly, the sudden light didn't frighten Chill. Instead, she scratched the door even more fervently. I went near in order to shoo her away, but stopped short when I saw the lock.
    I was sure that when I entered the room, that door had been locked. (Come on, I had checked it). Yet now, there it was, simply bolted. The lock was hanging harmlessly under it. Something was wrong either with me or that place. Anyway, now the room was open and my curiosity got the better of me. I opened the door silently ...
    It was pitch dark and I couldn't see a thing.  I shone my torch, but was not too keen to go inside the room. I didn't even know what I was looking for. Chill sensed my hesitation and ran into the room. I followed her. A strange smell permeated my nostrils. I jumped out of my skin when I saw something in the corner of the room. It was a big black box. And it was not empty...
    I inched closer. The sight in front of me made me stagger. Albert and Anna were lying there. Lifeless. I pinched myself. No! This wasn't a dream! But...but Mrs. Cox had said that the funeral was over. And what was Anna doing here? I was baffled. What shocked me more was not that Albert and Anna were in their wedding dress. But the fact that their faces were pale blue...
    I didn't wait there for the explanation. I made my way back into my room and closed the door behind me. Before closing, I saw Chill dragging what looked like Anna's veil. I didn't wait for her to come out. Leaving Chill, Albert and Anna behind me, I quickly packed my bag and opened the door that led to the hall. I was afraid Mrs. Cox would find me, but  nothing could hold me back anymore. 

    My horror helped me in the right direction as I headed towards the main door. I moved quietly, hoping against hope that it would be open. As I moved cautiously, a single gunshot reverberated through the huge house. Forgetting everything, I ran as fast as I could with my bag, through the door. Fortunately, it was not locked.
    The rain had stopped. I didn't stop running till I reached the railway station. To my delight, I found a train waiting there, which would take me to Arizona, where my home was. 
    Throughout the journey, I remained in a daze. I willed myself not to think of anything, but somehow, the pale blue faces of Albert and Anna kept coming back. I glanced at my watch. It was almost two now. The tiring travel and the shock of the night finally got to me and I nodded off. It was still dark when I got down at Arizona. Home, sweet home.

    I felt a sudden chill as I was walking back to the comfortable warmth of my home. Shrugging it off, I got inside my house and slumped down on the bed. A warm shower seemed like a good idea. After the refreshing shower, I made myself some coffee. Two cups later, I felt a little stronger and thought of unpacking my bag. Even as I got up to do so, the doorbell rang.

    I glanced at the clock. It was hardly seven and I wasn't expecting anybody. Hesitatingly, I opened the door. It was a Sergeant Peter. From California. Oh no! Just when I thought it was all over. I  welcomed him inside. What else to do?
"Yes, Sergeant. How can I help you?"
"Are you Mr. Wilfred James?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do you know Albert Cox, Wilfred?" So, that was it.
"Yes, sir. He is my friend. We were college mates."
"Am sorry to break the news, but your friend, Albert, is no more."
"Nothing new", I thought, but said instead, "Wh..what? How, Sergeant?"
"He and Anna Cole were poisoned by Mrs. Cox, his mother. I take it that you know Anna."
"Anna...is his girlfriend, Sergeant. But why should his mother...?"
"Anna was Albert's wife, Wilfred. They were already married when they were...you know. In fact, we found them, I mean, their bodies, still in their wedding dresses. They would have  made a great couple."
"I still don't understand. Alfred tells me everything. But he never told me about his marriage."  That is why their wedding dress had seemed strange to me then.
"The suicide letter states that Albert had married Anna against his mother's wish and so, she did away with both of them. That could have been the reason...maybe."
"Maybe," I conceded. There was something nagging me still.
"Did you say 'suicide', Sergeant?"
"Yes, Mrs. Cox shot herself last night."
"What?" I remembered the gunshot.
"Hmmm, we found this letter in her hand. It also says, "I regret my actions, hence I'm punishing myself. I'm sorry, Wilfred James." We found your visiting card in Albert's telephone directory. Thought you should know."

That explained everything.
"Oh! I don't know what to say!"
"It's okay, Wilfred. We have sent the bodies for post-mortem. I'll let you know about the funeral arrangements later. Just one question."
My heart was racing. "Yes, Sergeant."
"Is there anybody else who should be informed?"
(Phew!) "Not that I know of, sir. He doesn't have... sorry, didn't have any relatives apart from his mother."
"Well then, my job's done. I should take leave."
"Thank you for the pain you've taken, Sergeant. Do keep me informed."
"Sure, Wilfred," said he and left with a smile.
    I heaved a sigh of relief when he was gone. Now, the entire truth was before me and I understood why Mrs. Cox had had that forbidding smile. I was glad that I had run when I did. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened? "Dangerous Mrs. Cox," I thought as I entered my bedroom. My bag still lay there unpacked. I felt tired, but I had better unpack it before anyone else came. So, unwillingly, I went to unpack it. 

    The events of the previous evening played before my eyes. I don't know why, but I thought of that beautiful Cheshire Cat. I had always wanted to own one. I wondered whether the police had found her in that room. I scolded myself, "I should have brought her with me." Now, nothing could be done. As I turned my attention to the bag, I stopped thinking. I could sense something strange.
    I thought I saw the bag moving. No, it must have been my imagination. The bag was where it was. Carefully, I opened the bag and almost screamed. Chill jumped out of my bag coolly. She still had Anna's veil in her mouth. I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, Chill was sleeping next to me on my bed. And I couldn't let her go. 

    Even today, I don't understand how Chill got inside my bag. Or for that matter, how she had got inside my room that fateful night. It's been fifteen years since Albert's death. Chill has lived with me ever since (at least had lived till her death five days ago) as a reminder of my best friend. And as a reminder of the other secret that I had hid from Sergeant Peter. I'm sure you would have done the same if you were in my place. Now that Chill is no more, I don't feel afraid to tell you about my strange adventures with Mrs. Cox. My secret has died with her Chill. Or rather, my Chill has died with her secret. Now, the cat is truly out of my bag. 

    

    

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