The Consequence of a Rumour

TRIGGER WARNING - Allegations of Sexual assault and violence.

Claudia gulped from the smooth, glass bottle she held in her hand. She felt the burning sensation slide down her throat and settle in her stomach. After the burning subsided, she was left with a numbing sensation with tackled the emotional turmoil swirling inside. She looked around at the bush she was now hiding in and sniggered. How had she fallen so far? She was reduced to spying on a life she was no longer welcome to participate in. Claudia stared at her daughter and her husband who were playing in the front garden, without a care in the world. She felt her heart lurch when she realised neither seemed to miss her.

She closed her eyes tightly leaning her head back against a patch of leaves, reminiscing on what life was like six months ago. She remembered herself laughing with her Peter, her husband in the kitchen while they cooked dinner. The vivid memory embodied her and she could feel her husband’s hands around her waist and smell the dinner cooking. She remembered her teaching job and how much she enjoyed interacting with the kids. She even made money tutoring a rich sixteen-year-old kid after school.

Everything was going smoothly until 3^rd May 2023, the day her life crumbled into pieces. The police knocked at her house and told her the kid had made an allegation against her. After the shock had worn off, the anger took over her. How could this kid lie about her? How could he get away with it? It was unjust! The worst thing was, everyone seemed to believe him. Seven years with a flawless record and one allegation destroyed everything. Those who did believe her quickly succumbed to public pressure and abandoned her and now she was alone, waiting for her day in her court.

As she stared at her family, she saw a tall attractive woman leaving the home. It was Gina. Gina had been the family babysitter for a year. Claudia did not want to hire the leggy and beautiful blonde but, for obvious reasons, Peter had been eager to hire her. Claudia had agreed to hire her with instant regret. Whenever she had her back turned, Gina would be rubbing up against Peter, stroking his arm or face or something inappropriate. It was clear that she liked him but whenever Claudia had voiced her concerns, he shrugged them off labelling her as jealous and sensitive. So, she left it, trying to ignore her behaviour and now she had moved in on her family.

Gina had poisoned Peter against her after the allegation was made and convinced Peter to kick her out of the house. Gina moved into the guest room to support Peter and all Claudia could do was sit in her bitter resentment and plan her revenge. Peter never would have believed the allegation if it had not been for Gina and Claudia knew it. Claudia’s eyes welled up as she dissected her fate. She was far from perfect but she did not deserve the fate that had been bestowed on her. She had always paid her tax, obeyed the law, and been a faithful and loving wife along with a hard-working citizen.

She watched her family, waiting for her moment. After a few minutes, a car pulled up and she saw Peter’s parents get out. They all embraced but Claudia got a small sense of satisfaction at Peter’s mum refusing to hug her. At least someone saw her for who she was. Peter and his mother seemed to stand to one side and argue about something. Florence’s attention moved to Peter’s dad who was drooling over Gina.

After a few minutes of chit-chat, Peter’s parents put her daughter in her car and the three of them drove off leaving Peter and Gina to walk into the house arm in arm. Claudia felt a jolt of electricity through her. She placed her hand inside her pocket and felt the smooth instrument which was going to change her fate. As the door closed, she found her feet moved without instruction and she moved quickly to the door. Her husband was going to listen to her and Gina was going to get what she deserved.

She slammed the door open and stormed in, raising the gun in the air. She found Peter and Gina in the kitchen putting away some dishes. Claudia’s eyes zoned in on Gina as she raised the gun, prepared to extinguish her very existence. Peter gasped at the scene which was unfolding in front of him “Claudia, what the hell are you doing?” he screamed. Claudia took no notice, her focus on the woman who had destroyed her life. Her hand shook slightly as the adrenaline raced through her “You did this, I know you did this!” she said with a tremor in her voice. “This was my family and you twisted what that lying little shit said to get what you want!”.

Gina calmly placed the plate down on the side and seemed slightly amused by the situation. Gina took a few steps toward Claudia before folding her arms and resting against the counter, her face unreadable. Peter raised his arms and Claudia could see them shaking “Listen just put down the gun. We can talk about this” he said “She didn’t make the allegation Clauds!”. Claudia could feel herself losing her nerve as she raised her second hand to the gun, hoping to steady her nerves “She did this, I know she did. It was all a plan to take my family”. Claudia found herself breathing so deeply that she felt herself going light-headed and thought she might faint.

They all stood like statues for a moment, no one sure what to do. Peter tried to calm Claudia “She was just here to support me. There wasn’t some scheme to take you down, you’ve gone mad!” Peter said, Claudia’s hands shaking slightly more erratically now. She began doubting her sanity and asking herself if she was insane when Gina calmly spoke “She’s right” she whispered.

Both Peter and Claudia turned to her, mouths gaping open. Peter spoke “What?” he said, his voice shaken. Gina stood straight and looked at Claudia straight into her eyes “You don’t remember me, do you?” she asked calmly. Claudia could feel her arms dropping slightly, the gun felt like an anchor to her and her strength was draining from her. Claudia managed to shake her head weakly and this seemed to aggravate Gina who let out an intimidating laugh with her hands on her hips.

Gina began to slowly move towards Claudia “Let me remind you. We went to school together when we were sixteen years old. I was slightly bigger than I am now so I’m not surprised you don’t recognise me”. Claudia’s mind raced to her time at school and tried to remember the many faces of the other kids at school. She was not sure if it was the adrenaline or if Gina was lying but she could not place her at all “What are you talking about?” Claudia spat. Gina’s face hardened at the realisation that she had meant so little to Claudia in a past life, that she could not even recognise her now.

Gina slowly moved to a nearby chair and sat down, folding her arms and rubbing her forehead in frustration. Claudia instinctively raised her gun, threatening that Gina not come any closer. Gina simply sat there in silence, trying to control her breathing. Gina then turned and looked Claudia in the eye and Claudia felt like she was trying to claw into her soul and a jolt of guilt ran through her. “You told everyone that I was sleeping with Mr Harrison, our maths teacher and everyone believed you”. Gina took a deep breath as if recalling the trauma was equivalent to running a marathon. “Things got so bad I had to move; I was admitted into the psych ward. You ruined my life! So, I decided to return the favour”.

Claudia’s face had drained from all colour as the realisation dawned on her and the worst thing was, she still could not remember Gina at all. It was frustrating that apparently, she had committed such a heinous crime, punishable by death but she had no idea when, where or even if what Gina said was true. Claudia could feel a pounding in her head start “You have me mixed up with someone else” she exclaimed “I never did that”. Gina said nothing but simply tilted her head slightly to the left and gave a weak smile. She stood up and went to a sky-blue backpack which sat on the table and took out a folder, throwing it at Claudia’s feet.

Claudia examined the notebook, worried it might explode “Go ahead, look” Gina encouraged. Claudia carefully knelt, ensuring the gun was still pointed at Gina. She opened the notebook to find old school photos and there she was. As clear as day sixteen-year-old Claudia looked back at her. As she continued to flip through, she saw handwritten notes which she recognised as her writing saying “I know you’re sleeping with him” and “Go kill yourself”. As she looked through, she saw receipts for large sums of money which was transferred to Liam Potter and Claudia felt her heart sink. That was the rich kid who made the allegation, Gina must have paid him for his trouble.

Claudia became so engrossed in the incriminating evidence that she forgot to keep her eye on her prey and a sharp pain burning in her arm as the gun was pulled from her. Claudia lost her balance in the hustle and fell to the floor, holding her arm in pain. She rolled over and saw Peter towering over her, holding the gun to her head. Claudia tried to pull her body away from him, but it was no use. Peter did not say anything, he simply stood there. Claudia glanced over to Gina who looked down at her smugly, walking confidently over to Peter and began stroking his shoulder “Thank you” she said and kissed him on the cheek. Claudia tried to push her against a wall, hoping to disappear into it but it was no use. She was about to lose her life to the man she had intended to spend it with.

Peter’s hand was as steady as a rock “Gina told me she knew you had the affair. She showed me messages. That’s why I kicked you out” he whispered. Claudia closed her eyes, tears flowing down her cheek. She could not find the energy to beg Peter to let her live, she could only repeat to herself that Gina was lying. She whispered it over and over again, hoping it might save her life. Gina moved closer to Claudia, so her ear was nearly touching Claudia’s mouth and she smiled at the realisation that Claudia had no words.

Gina slowly pulled the hair out of Claudia’s eyes and began whispering so Peter could not hear “It’s amazing what you can do with some editing software and a weak man” Gina tutted to herself “And now you’ll die here knowing your husband loves me” Gina whispered even quieter “Your daughter will join you soon though if that’s any comfort”. Gina lent in and kissed Claudia on the forehead, before standing and letting out an evil laugh. Gina turned to Peter “Let’s end this. She’s nothing more than a child abuser who ruined you and tried to kill me. She deserves everything”.

Peter stared at Claudia intensely and simply muttered “I’m sorry”. Claudia closed her eyes tightly and the room was filled with a loud explosion as the trigger was pulled. Claudia’s mind filled with thoughts of her daughter as her final moments loomed over her. She remembers giving birth and going to the zoo, hoping her final moments would be ones of happiness and contentment however, the pain never came. She realised after a few moments that despite hearing the bang, she never felt any impact and she allowed herself to open her eyes.

She let out a gasp as she saw Gina lying on the floor, a bullet hole in her head. Peter was visibly shaken, shocked at what he had done. Claudia seemed to find her strength and got to her feet. She took in the scene for a moment, before running over to Peter and hugging him. She stroked his head and comforted him “I heard her. She tricked me, I’m sorry” he muttered through tears, the gun tumbling to the floor with a loud clang. Claudia allowed herself a smile and simply reassured him, kissing him passionately on the mouth “We’ll be okay. I promise”. Claudia looked from the evidence on the floor to the woman who was now lying dead on her kitchen floor and only one thought consumed Claudia’s mind.

She still had no idea who this woman was.