"I know. Julie has gotten pretty attached to Sune and Tobias."
"You'll have to make your decision soon. You and Sune have to talk this through properly and figure out if you can stay together without any of you getting bitter for not getting his or her way."
I sighed. "I know you're right."
The doorbell rang and I got up. Dad looked at me. "It's probably Julie. I texted her and told her where I was. We're staying here tonight, if that's okay with you?"
Dad looked confused. Then he smiled. "You're always welcome. You know that."
I kissed his forehead then ran towards the door.
CHAPTER 31
AMALIE FELT HORRIBLE when she woke up. Her head was aching like crazy and she couldn't move her hands. Something was very wrong, she thought, still half asleep. Her body, her head, it all felt so very wrong. Slowly she regained consciousness and suddenly she opened her eyes. When she did she tried to scream, but she couldn't. She breathed heavily, almost panicking as she realized something was in her mouth, something was in her throat, something big. She moaned in fear and tried to see what it was. Then she tried to scream again, but only a muffled sound came out of her mouth. What was this? What had he done to her? She tried to move her arms, but they were tied up on her back with duck-tape. She groaned and moaned trying to get free from this thing going into her mouth and throat, this big metal pipe of some sort, which was attached to her head with duct tape around the back of her head. She tried to turn her head, but she was stuck. She looked up and realized the pipe in her throat was attached to the box's tube creating one long tube going directly into her throat. She tried to bite down, but she couldn't. Her jaws hurt badly from being stuck in the same position.
A face appeared outside of the box. His face, her captor's evil eyes stared back at her. Then he knocked with a giggle.
"Oh good, you're awake. I was waiting for you to open your eyes. Wouldn't want you to miss out on all the fun, now would we?"
All Amalie could do was groan and growl in anger. She tried hard to speak, to yell at him, but with very little success.
The man laughed then started mumbling to himself. Like he was trying to remember what he was to do next. Amalie tried to turn her head just enough to be able to see Camilla. She was still in her box staring at the spider, it had moved down towards her feet now. Their eyes met shortly. Her look wasn't comforting nor did it fill Amalie with hope. The fear and anxiety seemed to have won. Camilla put her hand on the side of the box and Amalie saw a tear escape her eye. Amalie fought hard not to panic. She felt dizzy from the lack of air and had to focus on breathing through her nose.
The man walked around still while mumbling to himself and counting on his fingers. "Now a goose gets four pounds a day ... so with her body size she'll need what? Ten times as much? Not in the beginning of course, it'll kill her too fast. She'll need to go to the bathroom too. The boxes are beginning to smell of urine from both of them. I'd better write this down. Need to clean boxes soon ..."
Amalie tried to follow him with her eyes as he walked to the table and wrote on a piece of paper. He seemed to be calculating something, then he returned. His face appeared outside the box once again. He was grinning.
"You know what?" he said. "I'll figure it out as we go along. I think we should just get started. Don't you? You hungry?"
Amalie grunted and tried to nod. She was extremely hungry. She hadn't eaten for days. She was dehydrated and starved.
"I thought so," the man said. "I bet Camilla is thirsty too, am I right?" he said and turned to look at Camilla. She nodded cautiously.
"Well I haven't been very nice to my guests, have I? I'll get you something right away," he said and went to Camilla's box. He screwed off the lid to the tube. He went to the corner of the room and came back with a hose that he lowered into the tube. Then he went to the wall and turned on the faucet. Amalie watched as Camilla opened her mouth to receive the long-awaited water and as he turned it on, she drank the fresh water as it sprayed all over her face. Camilla was moaning and grunting while drinking greedily, but soon she had enough and stopped letting the water in her mouth. It was coming in too fast. Soon the water began to rise inside of the box and her clothes were soaking wet. Camilla began to ask him to stop the water, but instead he turned it up and more water gushed inside of her box. Amalie grunted and cried, trying to scream as Camilla's box slowly was filled halfway with water. Camilla screamed and yelled. The spider ran for its life inside the box, climbing high above the water, getting to the ceiling and as the water kept rising, it found the hole to the tube and by crawling on top of the hose, managed to find safety in the tube.
Camilla was sputtering and making gargling sounds as the water reached her ears and cheeks. She was just barely holding her nose above the surface by lifting her body up on her elbows and putting it up against the hole leading into the tube. The man finally turned off the water. He walked closer, still grinning, and then he pulled out the hose and helped the Tarantula get out. It crawled on his hand; he put it carefully back into the jar and put the lid on.
Camilla was grunting, gasping for breath barely managing to keep her face above the water as the man looked at her through the tube.
"I guess you're gonna stay up late tonight. Better not fall asleep huh?" he laughed and put the lid back on the tube and sealed it by putting screws back in with a screwdriver.
Then he turned on his heel and looked at Amalie.
"Now where were we?" he said, rubbing his hands together. "Oh yeah. You were hungry."
CHAPTER 32
I FELT MY heart drop as I opened the door. Outside I saw Julie and her dad. She was in his arms, wrapped around him like she never wanted to let go again. Peter smiled.
"Wow," he said.
"What?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Nothing. You just ... well you look really great."
I stared surprised at him, then touched my unruly hair. I wasn't even wearing make-up. "No I don't," I said. "I've hardly slept all night and I'm exhausted after a couple of really hard days, so I ..."
Peter put Julie down. "Well I'm sorry if I think you look wonderful," he said and looked at Julie's face. "I'm sorry sweetie pie, but it's time to say goodbye now. But I'll see you again soon, right?"
Julie wept and whined slightly. "But that's gonna take forever, Dad. I'm gonna miss you. Can't you stay a little?" They both looked at me with pleading eyes.
"I'm sure Peter has somewhere to be, somewhere important," I said and looked at him wanting him to help me out.
But he didn't. Instead he shook his head. "No I don't. I really don't."
"Don't you have work tomorrow? Don't you need to be back in Aarhus early enough to be able to get up tomorrow?"
"Actually I don't. I don't have anything all summer. I was looking forward to spending some time with Julie, actually. I wanted to talk to you about it, since you work all through the summer."
"Yes, but she has that camp, the riding camp the next two weeks," I said. Then I shook my head. "We'll figure something out."
"Does that mean that Dad stays for dinner?" Julie asked with joy.
I shook my head. "No. No. That wasn't what I meant."
They both looked at me with big eyes. "Pleeease?"
I gesticulated resignedly. "Okay," I said. "Stay for dinner. I'm sure Dad won't mind."
"The old man always liked me," Peter said smiling.
Julie ran to me and gave me one of her warm hugs. I closed my eyes realizing how much I had missed her.
"So how was Aarhus?" I asked when we had walked inside. "The old house still standing?" Peter put Julie's backpack on the floor next to mine. He stared at mine for a few seconds.
"We didn't go to our old house," Julie said. "We went to Daddy's castle in the country. But we did go into Aarhus almost every day; we drove in Daddy's car. Did I tell you we went to Tivoli Friheden? We went to the beach one day too. You know close to where we used to live. Daddy said the old house had too many ba
d memories, so he put it up for sale."
I looked at him startled. "Really? Daddy has a castle?" I asked.
Peter chuckled. "No. It's just the old family estate outside of Aarhus by Lake Brabrand. You remember that, don't you? It's been in the family for generations."
"Dragonsholm?" I asked.
"Yes, that's it," Julie answered. "It was really fun. Lots of spooky places, Mommy. Great place to play hide and seek. You should go there, Mommy. It's huuuge." Julie gestured widely as she spoke.
I nodded. "Well that sounds like a fun place to be," I said as we walked into the kitchen. Julie ran to my dad and hugged him tightly. He enjoyed that and grunted contently. Julie saw the pastries on the table and grabbed one.
"Dragonsholm, huh?" I said and looked at Peter. "I thought you never wanted to go there again after that dispute with your brother."
"Well things change. People change. Plus he moved to Spain with his family, so he hardly uses it anymore. I thought I might take advantage of that. I've been going there a lot lately. When the old house reminds me a little too much of all the bad things that happened there, you know. I feel like I'm stuck there sometimes, like the walls keep reminding me of how bad a person I've been. My shrink says it’s normal. She's the one who told me to try and sell it. You know, start over. It would give you a little extra cash too, maybe get a place of your own down here," he said. "I thought it was in both of our interests."
I poured coffee in two cups, then gave Peter one. "I guess so," I said pensively.
"You think it's a bad idea?"
"No. I think it's a great idea, Peter. It’s time for all of us to move on. Put it all behind us, you know. But it's just so definitive, right? Like we're selling our past together. We both loved that house, remember?"
"I know," Peter said while sipping his coffee. Then he chuckled. "We did have some great times in that house. It's hard to give all that up, but it's time, Rebekka."
"I know," I said. "I know. It just takes a little time getting used to. I want to let go of all the bad things, but the good things I want to remember."
Peter nodded. "Then let's do that. Let's just remember the good things."
I looked at him and our eyes locked. For a second I felt something, a sentiment I hadn't felt in years. His eyes smiled gently like they used to. There was something in those eyes that reminded me why I had fallen in love with him in the first place. Then I averted my eyes and looked at Julie. "So you and Daddy had a lot of fun, huh?" Julie had captured my phone and was playing some game on it, not paying attention to anyone else anymore. "Well I'm glad you had such a wonderful time together," I said and looked at Peter again.
"And how was your trip?" he asked.
I sighed deeply and rolled my eyes. "Well that's a long story," I said. "But it was ... how do I say it ... eventful."
"Isn't your life always eventful?"
"It tends to be," I said finishing my coffee.
"I can't help noticing that you came here alone? And you brought your backpack? Are you staying here tonight?" Peter said and sipped his coffee.
"That's none of your business and you know it," I said.
Peter shrugged. "Do I detect trouble in paradise?"
I shook my head. "It's nothing. Just a small bump in the road."
"If you say so."
"That is exactly what I'm saying." I looked at my watch. "Now if you'll excuse me, then I have to go do some grocery shopping if we're to have any dinner tonight."
Peter grabbed my hand as I stood up from the chair. His touch stirred something in me, something I didn't want to be stirred up.
"Let me treat you to a dinner tonight," he said. "I'll take you all out. What do you say to Italian? I know it's your favorite."
Julie shrieked with joy. "Say yes, Mom. Say yes, say yes! I want pizza, I want pizza!"
I sighed. It had been months since we had been able to afford to eat at a restaurant. Ever since I had moved out of Dad’s place and started paying half of the rent for Sune's apartment I had been a little short. Plus I was trying to pay off my credit card debt, so money had been very tight lately. Peter always had enough money, coming from an extremely rich family and he always had a way of sweeping in with his wallet and saving the day for both me and Julie. I wasn't in the mood to cook anyway - or grocery shop - so eating out was exactly what I needed right now.
"Please, Mom?"
I sighed resignedly. "Okay then. But I'm not driving. I want wine with my dinner."
Peter smiled widely. "It's a deal."
CHAPTER 33
ALLAN FELT GOOD. He was actually happy and ... well almost content with himself. Everything was going according to plan. While she was sedated he managed to tie Princess Amalie to the pipe, stuff it into the esophagus and put her back in the box without any problems. The hard part was over, he thought as he prepared the liquid that was a mixture made from grain and fat. He had bought it all over the Internet. Everything needed to produce the perfect foie gras, his favorite meal of all time. The pipe and pump arrived first and then the food.
Allan stared down into the huge can of thick, mushy yellow goose feed. He had several just like it in the garage. Not knowing exactly how much it was going to take for the Princess's liver to bloat up to ten times the normal size, he had probably bought way too much. But better safe than sorry, he thought.
He found a funnel and placed it in the open tube leading into Princess Amalie's box. Then he carried the big can with the yellow mush closer and began pouring it in. At first he needed to use a cup, since he couldn't carry the heavy can close enough to the tube to pour. But it suited the situation well, he thought, since the girl first had to get used to being force-fed. There was no reason to overdo it the first time. Allan had to be careful that she didn't die too early. That would ruin everything. So he took it easy on her on the first feeding. Four times a day they did it to the geese, so he was going to do the same. Only he would do it even more often than that. He would feed her with this fatty mush eight times a day until her liver was engorged enough for him to take it out and prepare it. It was risky, he knew that - thank you very much, since it had never been done to a human before and he had no idea how the human liver and body would react to ingesting this much fat. He had read about how some geese and ducks developed foot infections, kidney necrosis, spleen damage and tumor-like lumps in their throats, so he was aware that there might be severe side effects to the procedure. He was going to look out for that, since the Princess was one of a kind and it just wouldn't be the same doing it to someone else. The irony was that he knew the Princess herself had enjoyed eating foie gras most of her life and now she was going to end up on a plate just like those poor geese.
"What goes around, comes around," Allan said to himself as he shoveled the yellow mush into the funnel and watched as it slowly ran into the tube and into the pipe. Then he plugged in the pump. Princess Amalie gagged when the mush went through her throat and was pumped directly into her stomach. Allan heard how she tried to scream or speak, but the pipe and the mush forced her to stay calm while she was being fed. Allan tapped the side of the box and smiled at her.
"Tastes good, right?" he said. "I had it imported from France. Only the best for my Princess," he said grinning.
Amalie was grunting, gagging while the funnel slowly emptied. Allan looked at it as the last bit disappeared from it. He counted to ten, letting Princess Amalie breathe for a few seconds thinking it was over now, then he lifted the can and emptied the rest into the funnel, filling it to the top so much than some of it flooded over the sides and landed on the floor.
Allan grunted, and then went to get a paper towel that he used to wipe it off the floor. Princess Amalie was moving, tossing her body from side to side, while grunting heavily as the next shipment of yellow mush reached her stomach. Allan watched her for awhile to make sure there was enough room in her stomach for all of it. He didn't want her to throw up and possibly choke. That would be catastrophic. He didn't know if it w
as even possible with the pipe in her throat, but maybe it was? Amalie was now gagging again and he realized that she was in fact about to throw up. He hurried to the funnel, and pulled it off. He put it on the table behind him and waited. He listened for a little while. Then he heard Amalie cough. Phew, she was alright, he thought. He had to be more careful. It could so easily go wrong. One little mistake and everything was ruined. He had to let her stomach get used to being fed this heavily, he had to let it expand slowly, not too fast, too fast would be disastrous. Oh, he thought and rubbed his fingers nervously against each other. Oh how he had to be careful.
Allan put his head against the plastic-box and looked at Amalie. She opened her eyes and looked back. He sighed relieved. She was exhausted, but he detected anger in her eyes as well. That was a good sign. No it was more than that. It was a great sign.
CHAPTER 34
PETER HELPED ME get Julie to bed once we returned from the restaurant. I was so full I could have rolled all the way home. And a little tipsy as well from all the wine I had enjoyed. My cheeks were warm and I felt really good. It was Julie's idea that we tuck her in together like we used to when she was younger. We were sitting on each side of her bed while holding her hands. Peter was reading Pippi Longstocking goes to circus out loud to her. I closed my eyes feeling like the room was spinning a little bit, while enjoying listening to Peter reading about the world's strongest girl that I myself had enjoyed reading as a child. Julie put her head on my shoulder and squeezed my hand tightly. I opened my eyes and looked at her while caressing her hair gently. She was so happy at this moment. I could tell by the way she was looking at us. Peter kept reading:
"I can go with you most anywhere," answered Pippi, "but whether I can go with you to the surkus or not I don't know, because I don't know what a surkus is. Does it hurt?"