Once Upon A TIme In HollyWood Hills

Submitted into Contest #98 in response to: Start your story with a character having a premonition, but no one believes them.... view prompt

2 comments

Crime Fiction Suspense

This is all about a premonition and how no one would


listen, till it was too late. I really do believe that everyone


has their own destiny all laid out for them but that fate


often steps in and changes the course. If I could have lived


out my destiny I would want to be a fairy princess. I just


love that idea. But as my fate would have it there will be no


happy ending and no magical wishes to come true. Instead


my last four days would be filled with stress and worry. And


then nothing but complete and utter fear. Because in four


days I will be dead. And I wont be known for my modeling


career or for the great flims I have done. No. I will only be


known for one of the most horriffic crimes ever committed.


In what for years many will call the 'Summer of Fear'. Done


by a man named Charlie and his followers. And me, I am


Sharon Tate. And this is my story. 



There are alot of speculations of what happened that


dreadful night. Alot of rumors around the events leading up


to those final days. And hopefully I can put to rest some of


these. Put things into perspective. It is hard to think back to


these memories. At all that was lost. How soo many dreams


came to an end.


And how things are still fractured, even today. But can you


ever really put all the peices back together after something


terrible and so devastating takes place? Personally I do not


know. I want to believe that peace can be found for those


who are gone and for those who are left behind. That is the


reason why I have decided to come back. To tell my story


and to help Roman. He never has gotton over that night.


Instead he re-lives it day after day. His life has become


stale. My Roman has forgotton how to live. But most


important he has forgot how to love. And a life without love


is no life at all.


The start of the end? Well it all started with the preminition


I had shortly after we bought our dream home. A beautiful


ranch style home in Hollywood Hills. 10050 Cielo Drive. My


'love house' as I referred to it. It was truly love at first sight.


I just knew it was going to be the home where my dreams


came true.


After all I was married to a screen producer, Roman


Polanski and was carrying our baby. I was blissfully eight


and a half months pregnant. Things seemed to be falling


into place. Till that weekend when Roman decided to stay


behind in London and I came home without him. I was very


upset over him choosing his work over me but didnt know if


it was hormones talking so I decided not to press it. And he


had promised to meet me there in a few short weeks. He


even arranged to have his best friend who just happened to


date my friend, Abigail Folger. And best of all my very best


friend in the world, Jay Sebring would all be there waiting


for me. As house guests till he got there. So you see how


could I really be upset?


  As I pulled into the driveway I smiled, content. " Did you


know that the word 'Cielo' in spanish means heaven?"


Jay smiled at me. " How fitting. Your 'heavenly house'."


I sighed. "So what does a girl gotta do to get some help out


of the car?" In the heat I was feeling very pregnant. 


"I dont know if Im strong enough."


I pretended to be offended. "You creep. Come help me."


"Okay, on the count of three. One, Two, " he pulled me to


my feet, "Three."


"I swear," I lifted my long blonde hair off my neck, "It is


getting harder and harder to get up from sitting."


I stood looking at the house. It was truly beautiful. "Do you


think it is possible to fall in love at first sight twice?"


"Well," Jay looked serious, "I dont know. You tell me."


"What are you talking about?"


He grabbed his heart, " You are the one who left me for


another man." 


"Jay..."


Our eyes met and held. Then the moment was interupted


by my friend, Abigail. "Oh my goodness. Look at you." She


ran over to hug me. "You look like you could burst any day."


I laughed, " It feels that way."


"Lets get you inside and off your feet." 


Once inside I was hit with this pounding headache. I cant


explain how sudden it came on. It almost made me lose my


balance. 


"Are you okay?" Jay asked.


" Yeah. Just got a little overheated I think."


They helped me into a chair and handed me some ice water.


I was having a hard time focusing but didnt want to worry


everyone. 


"I thought I heard voices," a shaggy haired Wozjecke walked


into the room. "Hey doll." He hugged me. "So where is that


no good husband of yours?"


"He is still in London. Finishing up the script to his latest


masterpiece."


"Uh huh." He nodded. "Well I think he should be here but


what do I know."


I smiled. "It's fine. Really." I looked pointedly at him, "We are


fine."


"Besides I thought you were Roman," he joked, pushing into


Jay.


"Very funny man." 


"Okay boys. Enough." Abigail pulled me to my feet. I got


something to show Sharon. It's a surprise.


"Really? What?"


"Lose your eyes." She began leading me own the long


hallway and into a room.


"Okay. Open your eyes."


As I looked around I saw we were stanfing in the nursery, A


very finished nursery. I mean completely decorated. "Oh my goodness. Oh..." my voice began to trail off.


"You dont like it?"


"No. I love it. I just had planned on doing it while I waited


for Roman to get here."


"Well now you dont have to." She clapped her hands.


Completely satisfied she had done what was in my best


interest.


As I settled into my home the more of an uneasy feeling I


had, I felt like there had been a prescence that was not


good. My head continued to pound. And I felt sick to my


stomach. But I figured it was partly to do with traveling in


the heat and being so pregnant. I went to bed early that


first night. But tossed and turned. And towards dawn I


awoke suddenly. I sat up in bed and saw a strange man


standing in the door frame of my room. 


"Who are you?" 


The man stared at me for a minute than turned and headed


down the hallway. I got up and slowly followed him to the


living room. There in the middle of the room was a man


with a rope around his neck tied to a woman crying. Then


the woman turned to me. And I saw it was me. The two


people were Jay and I. 


I fell to the ground and started to scream. A blood curdling


scream that sent everyone running into the room.


"Sharon!" Jay reached me first. "Oh my god. What's wrong?"


I clung to him. "You were dead. And," I gulped. " He was


going to kill me next." I began to sob. " He is going to kill us."


"Who is?" Abigail smoothed my hair off of my forehead.


"I dont know." I sobbed. "He was here. He knew this house."


"Its only us honey. No one else."


"No. You dont understand." I continued to cry. " He plans on


killing us."


Jay cradled me in his arms. "Shh baby. Its okay."


But I kept shaking my head. No. Things were not okay. Not


anymore.


Somehow I managed to fall back asleep. And when I awoke


the sinking feeling was back. I headed into the kitchen. I


needed some answers.


"Tell me who has been in this house that I dont know."


Abigail and Wozjecke looked at each other. " Noone. Not


really."


I glared at them. " What do you mean not really?"


"This guy keeps showing up with these packages for some


Micheal guy. He said that this guy had promised him a


record deal."


"But that guy has not lived here in a very long time."


"I know, Sharon we told him that. But he keeps dropping off


these packages."


"What packages?"


They led me into Roman's office where a stack of thick


manilla envelopes were piled up. "What does this guy look


like?"


Abigail spoke up, "Shaggy brown hair. Black eyes."


I felt sick to my stomach. " That's him. The guy from the


dream."


Voytek scoffed, "Come on Sharon. He is a little weird but he


doesnt even know us. Why would he want to kill you and


Jay?"


My head started to pound again. " What is his name?"


"Charlie." Abigail whispered. "Charlie something."


I let the envelopes slip from my hands. There is something


evil about them.


"What is inside these?" 


"A recording of a song. Its not too bad." Voytek was avoiding


making eye contact. He knew me well enough to know


when I was really mad. And I was. I was furious that they


had kept this from me but most of all furious that this man


had somehow invaded my home during a time I should be


feeling safe.


"Im sorry we didnt tell you Sharon," Abigail truly looked


upset. "We did not want you worrying about anything. And


this," she swept her hands outward, "is really nothing. I


promise you."


I took a deep breath, "I dont want to stay here. Things are


not okay. And I wish everyone would stop saying they were."


I headed back into the kitchen.


"What is going on?"


"They think I am acting crazy," I looked over my shoulder,


"but that man from my dream has been showing up at this


house. Alot. And noone told me."


Jay looked at both of them, their faces guilt ridden. "Well


what do you want to do?" Jay knew me well enough that


there was no reasoning with me in the moment.


"I want to leave."


"And go where?" Abigail asked me. "At least call Roman and


talk to him first."


"Fine. I will." But I had already left three messages for him


and not a word back.


Maybe a nice bath would help. And a little breakfast. I knew


I had to somehow try to remain calm. For the health of the


baby.


A few hours later I felt more like myself and headed out to


the pool. Not surprised to find Jay already relaxing. "Hey." I


smiled at him fondly. Im sorry about earlier."


He nodded. "So want to tell me what is really going on?"


I stared into the water for a few moments gathering my


words, "I think Roman is cheating on me."


He sat up, his eyes growing concerned. "Why do you say


that?"


"Because I know. And," I lowered my voice. I have left three


urgent messages and he has yet to call back."


"Why didnt you tell me sooner," he asked. 


"Oh you know the deal Roman and I have," I was trying to


make light of things. 


He came to sit next to me, "What deal?" 


I could feel the tears flowing, "That Roman lies to me and I


pretend to believe it." I began to cry harder. "Damn. All I do


anymore is cry."


"Sharon, It doesnt have to be this way you know."


I looked at Jay and I could tell how much he still cared for


me and would gladly trade places with Roman any day. But I


had gotton married. I was about to have his child. I looked


at him sadly, "He is my husband Jay. The two of us need to


figure this out."


"I know." His voice was hoarse with emotion.


I stood up, feeling very exhausted. "Well I think this mama


to be is going to go take a nap before we go out for supper


tonight." I bent down to kiss him on the cheek. "I do love


you."


"And I love you."


Despite the heat I fell into a deep sleep. And awoke to the


sounds of music. 'What on earth?' I thought to myself.


Opening my bedroom door I called out, "Abigail? Jay?" But


noone answered. I continued walking towards the music till


I arrived at Roman's office. Slowly I opened the door. The


record player was on and a haunting song was playing.


'Oh I love you pretty girl


My life is yours


And you can have my world


Never had a lesson, I ever learned'


I reached out to turn it off. It was his song. The guy from


my dream. Charlie. But why was this playing? What was


going on?


"Sharon," I felt myself being shook awake. "Honey it's time


to get up."


I jerked awake. "The music?"


Abigail laughed, " What music honey?"


I wiped my eyes. I was dreaming again. Damn. "What time is

it?"


"About six o'clock. Jay said he would be back to pick us up at


seven. He made reservations at your favo ite restaurant, El


Coyete."


I laughed, "Sounds good. I better get ready." I headed


towards my closet. "Did Roman call?"


She glanced at the floor, "No."


Damn you Roman. When I need you, Where are you?


I tried my best to not show how bothered I was by my


second dream. Or the fact that I could not get my husband


to call me back. I just tried to focus on my friends and how


excited I was to finally become a mother. On the way home


I asked Jay to drive slow. I wanted to savor this night. Not


knowing what waited for me back at my 'love house'. That


my dreams come true were about to turn to my worst


nightmares. And this was my last hour alive. And if I had


known I would of liked to been able to say this to my


Roman,


"I love you. And I forgive you my love. Dont worry about us.


We are not alone. We are safe now with Abigail, Voytek, and


of course Jay. Dont blame yourself. It just was not our


happily ever after. But yours is out there. So please promise


me, You will find it. Good bye darling."


On that night, August 9th, 1969 the five of us were killed. I


will spare you all the gruesome details. For why should you


have to live with those images. It was something wicked.


Pure evil that transpired that night. And even though I died



at the age of twenty six, I do believe that my whole life had


been decided by fate. That I never really planned anything


that has ever happened. 


In a way you could say, I lived in a fairytale world. That I


lookied at everything through rose colored glasses. And I


guess...I probably always will.






Michele Christine Martin

315 L Street Apt #8

Gering, NE

69341

MicheleChristine2021@gmail.com
















June 18, 2021 03:40

You must sign up or log in to submit a comment.

2 comments

The Sundial
14:18 Jun 27, 2021

Enjoyed this

Reply

10:11 Aug 04, 2021

Thank you very much! Made my morning!

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply

Bring your short stories to life

Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in the Reedsy Book Editor. 100% free.