CHAPTER SIXTY:CATHERINE RETURN’S

\-ARTEMIS- 

I slammed the door behind me, my heart throbbing as I dashed down the stairs. 

Bella was home? Catherine had to be with her; she had to. I made a quick turn, avoiding the mattresses that obstructed my way to the door. 

Mom stood at the entrance, her hands curling around the lady before her. I skipped, jumping next to her in order to ascertain what exactly had gone wrong. 

"My baby…" Tears rolled down Mom's eyes as she cuddled Bella. 

Bella looked pale, dusty to the brim. Her hair had gone all tacky, from the smooth little bob I remembered it being. I stood by the side, my eyes lingering on the blood she carried at her tips. 

It was just as the voice had said; they had escaped. I pushed the door back, making the entrance wide enough for me to pass through. 

I walked out, searching for any traces of Catherine. I could see bloodstains on the floor, but that was Bella. I plunged myself into the garden, taking the gap between the flowers as I headed for Catherine's quarters. 

My footsteps echoed in my ear as I approached her quarters. It was silent, not a trace of a human being, not even a hum from the perching insects.

"Catherine!" I yelled, taking off down the corridor

. 

"Catherine!" I heaved, "Where are you, Catherine?" I reached out hoping someone would respond. 

Footsteps echoed, two maids approaching me with tears in their eyes. "Miss Artemis!" Their breathing was heavy, felt like they had run several marathons and could barely breathe. 

"Is there anything the problem?" I asked. 

"The inspector is here; he says he wants to speak to you." One of the maids let out. 

I stared at her white gown, hoping they hadn't been sent by Bella, because I still couldn't believe Bella was held captive. 

I took to my heels, heading for the mansion's main entrance. The inspector had informed me that he would be back but then with a condition. He would only return when he found Catherine. 

"Where is he?" I asked as I got to the main entrance. 

"So glad to see you healthy once again, Miss Artemis." His face didn't speak joy; neither did it speak positively about the matter. 

"Did you find Catherine?" I said in haste. 

"Yes, I did." He stammered, his legs trembling as he spoke.

"Where's is she then?" I walked up to him, gazing into his eyes. 

"Boys." He snapped his fingers. 

Two cops walked in, carrying a black bag that seemed pretty heavy. It had a zip in the middle, the zipper made of iron with zero holes to support oxygen.

"I'm not here for jokes, inspector." I grabbed him by the collar, trying to be a little more violent in my dealings. 

"Calm down, Miss Artemis. We did all we could." His words piercing through my heart like a rapid bullet. 

My hands fell from his collar, my eyes lingering on the black bag as the two cops unveiled it. 

There she was, lying down in the bag. Her whole body scratched, cuts and bruises all over her neck. I could only wonder how her head was still in place.

"How could this happen?" I walked towards the bag, kneeling before her dead body.

Cry’s and Wails erupted as other maids came to witness her body. They didn't want to believe at first, but there was nothing they could say that would bring her back from the land of the dead.

"Why Catherine?" Bella knelt next to me, tears in her eyes. 

I veered towards her, staring at her pale and sorrowful look. She didn't look like she was pretending, but then she couldn't be trusted. 

"Where were you?" I grabbed Bella by the collar.

"I was kidnapped, locked in a cell with no way to escape." She yelled, tears cascading down her face.

"Miss Artemis!" The inspector grabbed my arm in an attempt to stop my grip. "She had no idea about Catherine. Turns out they were in two different places."

"Two different places? How dumb do you think I am?" I inquired as I threw Bella to the ground. 

"Artemis, stop." Mom ran towards Bella, helping her up from the fall. "Do you plan to kill her?" 

"How come she's back alive but Catherine dies?" I let out. 

"We found Miss Catherine at the entrance of the Hyperion forest. She was barely breathing; her neck had been cut through so she couldn't talk." He explained. 

"She couldn't talk." I heard myself chuckle. 

"You need to rest, Miss Artemis." One of the maids said, her hands gripping me slightly. 

"How can I rest? I mean, this is Catherine." I bit my lips, the bitter taste of blood lingering in my mouth. 

"Miss Artemis, I understand. There's no one who wouldn't feel the loss of a maid like her. We just have to take the bull by the horns. Call a spade a spade."

Even though I hadn't known Catherine for a long time, she was more of a sister than a maid to me. She made me smile, laugh, and also put me through her world with her homemade pancakes. I had always wanted to get her the diamond bracelet we had seen on TV one night, but Bella had made me so oblivious to it. 

"Do you know what Catherine said to me before I saw her last?" The maid let out. 

"She said she'll never die. She said her will has been passed on a long time ago and would love to live as free as a dove. The afterlife? She believed she would get there after she lived a heartfelt life." The maid wailed. "She said you were the best thing that happened to her. Let's keep it that way."

"Catherine!" I whispered, tears gathering in her eyes. 

"If only I could change the hands of time, maybe then I would be there to save Catherine from her misery." Bella wailed. 

Bella knew something about it. This was all just pretense, her way of sorting things out. No matter what happens to me, I will make Bella pay for what she's done.