The Dark Side Of The Crescent

''Really?''

I chimed happily over the phone. I couldn't believe my ears, the one thing I've been expecting my whole life was finally becoming a reality. My wedding anniversary morning couldn't have begun any better.

''Yes, Mrs. Williams,''

Olivia confirmed, sounding just as happy as I was over the phone, ''I'm happy for you. Congratulations once again,''

''Thank you so much,'' my voice sounded so happy and excited, ''I can't wait to break the news to Jordan,''

I hung up the phone hurriedly, and dialled my husband's number. My heart was thumping fast, and the anxiety I was feeling was too overwhelming, and I couldn't wait to break the happy news to him.

Disappointment crept into me the moment it rang without any response. Jordan was fond of always ignoring my calls, and it had been like that for the past two years of marriage.

''Maybe he's busy with work,'' I muttered to myself, heaving a deep sigh. On a second thought, I decided it would be best to meet him in his office with his favorite food and break the wonderful news to him. After all, it was our second year marriage anniversary.

____________________

''We're here for Mrs. Ivy Williams,''

A deep, husky voice said to my security officer, drawing my attention on my way to get in my car. I felt my heart thump in fear and halted in my track as I wondered why anyone wanted to see me.

''What's going on?''

My tiny voice inquired, slowly and carefully walking to where all three of them were standing - my security officer, and two other hefty men I later identified were the cops. Nate - my security guard, muttered a greeting to me as I waved him off in reply.

''Are you Mrs. Ivy Williams?''

One of them who turned to me, inquired.

I took off my sunglasses and glared at him. What were the cops doing in my house? And what business did they have with me? Hesitating to reply, I muttered quietly,

''Yes,''

''You're under arrest, ma'am,''

Under what? Was this a joke on something? I couldn't help but burst out in laughter, because it sounded so funny to my ears. How could someone who committed nothing suddenly be arrested? Maybe it was a prank.

I searched their eyes and postures and observed that they weren't joking. Breaking off my laughter slowly, I proceeded to ask,

''Is this a joke? Why am I being arrested?''

''For the murder of Sir. Benjamin Winters,'' the other man replied, proceeding to get the handcuffs from his colleague.

My heart raced at his words. I stood there dazed, with my mouth opened wide. My eyes felt like they would pop out of their sockets and my whole body started trembling with fear. This wasn't happening, I thought to myself. I had no idea when the food bag I was holding in my hand fell to the floor with all the contents splattering all over the place.

''Wait…'' I muttered quietly, trying to prevent him from cuffing my hands, ''I didn't murder him, he was—''

''Please save your speech till you get to the station,'' The cop interrupted me rudely, dragging my wrist against my will. My eyes glistened with tears as I watched them cuff my hands like a criminal. I glanced around and could see my security officer trying so hard to do his best to restrain them.

''Please inform my husband about my arrest,'' I muttered in tears to him, ''Tell him I'm being framed for something I know nothing about,''

He nodded with his eyes filled with tears and the last glimpse I caught of him was running into his quarters hastily. Like a hardened criminal, I was dragged roughly to the police van waiting for my presence outside my home.

_____________________

I waited several hours for Jordan to come, but each time a person entered into the station's counter, I got disappointed.

I hadn't been placed in a cell, at least not yet, but they had taken the handcuffs away from my wrists.

From what I gathered while sitting there, they were waiting for someone they claimed had given them the information, and was present at the time of the murder scene.

My mind kept spinning with several thoughts on who the person could be. From what I remembered and knew, only three people were present at the time he was murdered, and I knew them fully well to stoop this low to betray and frame me.

The time on the clock announced that it was already 5;00pm, and I was getting hungry. My plan earlier was to eat the food I had prepared with Jordan in his office. But now, that plan was ruined.

''Can I please have my phone?'' I asked one of the cops who had taken me. I needed to call Jordan and inform him that I was being held hostage in the police station.

''Your husband has been contacted, he'll be here soon,'' he uttered plainly to me as if reading my mind. Refusing to give me even a glimpse, he went on with his work. I clicked my tongue, nodded my head, and returned to my seat quietly.

I felt lonely and dejected. Aside my husband, I had nobody else to come to my rescue. And if Jordan refused to show up for me, then only God knows how long I was going to remain in the cop's custody.

''God, please help me,'' I sobbed quietly to myself, muttering a prayer. That was all I knew I could do. I had no family, no friends, and not even a responsive and supportive husband.

A familiar voice caught my attention, and made me jolt up to my feet. I could tell the owner of that voice anywhere - It was my husband's.

Tears of relief streamed down my cheeks and I felt a renewed hope once again. I knew there was no way he was going to return home without me, and I braced myself up to return home with him.

''Bye to this godforsaken environment,'' I murmured happily to myself, but little did I know that it was about to become my new home…

Jordan's huge figure entered where I was shortly, and I heard him call out for me,

''Where's Ivy? Where's my wife?''

I rushed to meet him, pulling him into my outstretched arms for a warm embrace. The joy I felt inside of me was indescribable. My tears flowed, but with immense happiness, my husband had come to save me!

''Honey, I tried calling you,'' I chimed happily, not realizing that he wasn't reciprocating my hug. He pulled away from me slowly, and I started to blab almost about everything that had happened. I had so many things I wanted to tell him, including the joyful news.

''I got a call from Olivia and–''

''He's here,'' One of the cops who had arrested me yelled out to his colleague, interrupting me from my sentence. ''The witness of the crime is here,''

Witness? What witness? My eyes darted to the entrance and moved from one male individual to another in search of him. But I had no idea he was standing right in front of me.

''Did you like my anniversary present?''

Jordan asked me, holding my hands gently and giving me a dark smile. I beamed a smile at him. He remembered our anniversary. I thought he had forgotten about it just like the first one.

Recalling if I had received any present earlier, I realized I hadn't. Did it come after I had been arrested? Or had it–

''Welcome, Mr. Williams,'' A cop greeted, interrupting me from my thoughts, ''We arrested her upon your statement. She'll be taken to a cell assigned for her now,''

I blinked my eyes in disbelief and saw Jordan smiling and nodding at the cop. None of what was happening was making sense. Who was the witness who had framed me? I wasn't seeing him for crying out loud!

''J..Jordan?'' I stuttered, swallowing hard and refusing to believe what I was seeing and hearing. Had my husband betray and frame me? Knowing fully well I was innocent?

Flashing a full, naughty smile at me, Jordan leaned closer to me and whispered in my ears,

''Happy wedding anniversary, Ivy Winters,''