Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

The Nocturne Club was Hank’s sanctuary, especially since the whole debacle with Phoebe. These days, he was practically part of the furniture, drowning his sorrows in booze night after night.

“Hey, gorgeous, come here and give me a hug.” Hank slurred, surrounded by his rowdy entourage, as they partied in their private booth.

“I gotta use the john,” Hank mumbled, staggering toward the restroom door in the booth, only to find it locked. With a grunt, he stumbled out of the booth toward the hallway bathrooms.

The corridor was eerily silent. Stella had tipped off the owner of Nocturne earlier, and thanks to Robin’s warning call, the place had been shut down early – except for Hank’s little shindig.

Slipping into my old favorite outfit, I followed him with a drink in hand.

Hank was hammered, barely keeping his eyes focused.

“Here, have another,” I said, pressing the glass into his hand.

He downed it in one go, then finally looked up at me. His gaze froze on me, his body stiffening. “Phoebe…”

I smiled at him. “Hey, Hank. Long time no see.”

Hank’s face turned ashen as he collapsed to the floor, stammering, “Phoebe… don’t haunt me. I ain’t the one… It was that murderer, not me!”

The lights flickered off suddenly, casting an eerie green glow on my face.

Panic–stricken, Hank scrambled backward, desperately seeking refuge in the restroom. “Phoebe, don’t do this. You’re dead… It wasn’t my fault.”

“Hank… you made my life hell…” I whispered.”

“ver pushed Melody; you saw it, but you lied! I loathe you.” I snarled with a ferocity that shocked even me.

“It wasn’t me. It was Melody! She and her sister told me to keep quiet, to keep it from my cousin Dexter. You can’t blame me; Dexter didn’t trust you; you should be after him!”

“If not for your lies, Melody would have never slandered me.”

“Dexter chose to believe Melody over you; that’s not on me. I just kept silent, but he believed everything she said. She fell, and he thought you pushed her!” Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I sneered, moving in to grip Hank’s throat. “You deserve to die.”

“Phoebe, please… spare me…” Hank fainted from sheer terror.

Letting go, I spat out in disgust, catching myself before I actually went through with it.

16:12

I touched up my hair and wiped away the smudged lipstick. I had dressed up to the nines to look like Phoebe.

Phoebe and I shared a passing resemblance, and with a dash of makeup under the dim lights, especially with Hank being so plastered, scaring him senseless was a piece of cake.

The lights flicked back on, and Stella emerged, phone in hand. “Got it all on video.”

I glanced at her phone. “Nice shot.”

“Your acting wasn’t half bad either,” she remarked, eyeing me with a mix of admiration and

caution.

I probably did look a lot like Phoebe.

“Phoebe…” she whispered, then scoffed. “Got the video. What’s your play?”

“We send it to Dexter, of course. Why should he and Melody get to live happily ever after?” I said darkly.

Stella nodded. “Alright, I’ll send it.”

“Thanks,” I said, bumping her shoulder with a smirk. “Stella, you should try moving on too, after all…”

I’m still alive and kicking.

Stella frowned, giving me a long look. “You’re overstepping a bit.”

I sighed.

When would she let her guard down and see me for who I really am – see that I am Phoebe?