《Whispers in His Ears》


 Prologue - Benjamin

    Take her. That one.


    I twitched. The sedan I had appropriated from a car park back in Salem swerved along with the contraction of my muscles. The twitches had become more frequent lately. More violent.


    I should have refilled my prescription.


    Take her. That one.


    The skin over my knuckles became taut as I gripped the wheel cover that was adorned with some silly looking blonde fairy. I should have picked a better car¡ªthe cover was conspicuous for a man of my age. What self-respecting forty-three-year-old would have car accessories with a child¡¯s character on it?


    The cover popped off easily. I tossed it in the back seat along with my duffel bag without a glance. Eyes on the road¡ªthat was the way.


    Take her. That one.


    Who?


    My eyes deviated from the pin-straight highway before me to the small shoulder along the side of the road that separated the asphalt from the trees. There was a girl there, thumb extended out to the center line. she had a basic satchel slung over her narrow shoulders, and a skirt that was more of a denim band-aid across her waist.


    Take her. That one.


    Why would the poor girl dress like that? Isn¡¯t she cold?


    I smoothed the canvas fabric of my jacket over my stained shirt. It was rather brisk even for the end of February. The heater pumped into the cabin of the car, and even still my hands were sluggish from the piercing cold.


    Take her. That one.


    I should give her a ride.


    My turn signal clicked on and I started to guide the car over to the shoulder and made sure to slow down enough that I wouldn¡¯t scare the girl. As soon as she saw the flashing amber light from my vehicle, she lowered her arm and backed up close to the trees to give me room to maneuver.


    Now that I was closer, I could pick out more detail of the young hitchhiker. She seemed to be in her early twenties, and from the patch on her backpack I could see she, or someone she was close with went to Willamette University in Salem. She still had that round face most youths have, and a bit of weight around her middle.


    It wasn¡¯t the physical characteristics of her person that caught my eye the most, though. It was the odd outfit. Aside from the poor excuse of a skirt, she had clunky boots on, and a deep teal shirt that had a skull and crossbones emblazoned across the front.


    Even more peculiar than that was her short spiky hair. It was colored a vibrant hue of magenta or had been some time ago. I could see strawberry blonde roots as they peeked through the swaths of pink.


    Take her. That one.


    Christ, where are her parents?


    As soon as I parked, she rushed forward, unshouldered her bag and opened the passenger door. A waft of frosty air surged into the cabin and sent a chill through me so powerful that my vision shook along with my body.


    ¡°Thanks! Sorry¡ªone sec,¡± the girl¡¯s voice was light and musical. It didn¡¯t seem to fit her aesthetic.


    ¡°Not a problem,¡± I replied softly. It was strange even now to hear my own voice. I had spent so much time in silence over the past few decades that I heard the voice of a stranger whenever I spoke.


    The passenger door slammed shut, and the car bounced as the girl settled herself into the seat. She tossed her bag carelessly to the floor so she could have her lap free and buckle her seatbelt.


    The way she moved was so fluid and loose, it mesmerized me. it was like she didn¡¯t have a care in the world. I tried to fathom the idea of nothing gnawing at the back of my mind twenty-four-seven. The blissful quiet. The ability to sleep without unwanted thoughts in my head.


    I yearned for it.


    Take her.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m Alys,¡± the girl reached out her polished hand for mine. I blinked away the dreams of silence and offered her an unsure smile as I took her hand with my own pockmarked appendage.


    ¡°Benjamin Redman. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Alys.¡±


    ¡°Same.¡± Our hands parted ways. Alys¡¯ went back to her lap so she could rub heat into her bare thighs and mine went to the steering wheel. I let off the break and pointed us back onto the highway.


    ¡°So, where are you headed?¡±


    ¡°Green Glen,¡± she sighed heavily.


    ¡°Geez, really? That¡¯s a tiny town.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­there¡¯s shit to do there, but I have to see someone.¡± Alys¡¯ head dropped back against the headrest. It lolled in the direction of the window, her hair now obscured her dark painted face from my peripherals.


    ¡°Oh¡­best of luck.¡±


    Take her.


    No.


    We were still an hour¡¯s drive from Green Glen at this point. It was close enough to Salem for a day trip, but far enough that the entire town was encased by the iconic Oregon woodlands.


    I spent part of my childhood in Green Glen. It was idyllic then. New housing developments popped up all around the highway and main commerce area. Some were more affluent than others, but even the houses in the bad part of town had a quaint atmosphere.


    My parents moved us there from Salem when I was fourteen for my father¡¯s career. My parents, little sister and I settled down in a run-down Victorian on the North side of town. We were only there for a few short years until my little sister passed.


    I didn¡¯t tell Alys any of this as we drove, though it might have served to make the hitchhiking experience less awkward. I, myself, didn¡¯t mind the silence. Silence was a rare commodity.


    Take her.


    I said ¡®no¡¯.


    So much for silence.


    I glanced at Alys and noticed she was speaking. From the conversational tone, I could tell her words were meant for me, but her head was turned to the window.


    ¡°¡ªJust, like, why did she have to lie, though? Relationships are based on trust and she fucking ruined it before it even began¡­I guess it¡¯s partly my fault I never asked.¡± Her head rolled against the headrest until she looked at me instead of the trees.


    ¡°What do you think, Benjamin? What should I do?¡±


    ¡°Uhm,¡± my voice wavered. ¡°Tell me exactly what she lied about, again?¡±


    ¡°Okay, so, Kerrie didn¡¯t really lie, I guess. More like she let me believe she was older than she is,¡± at a glance I saw Alys¡¯ painted on eyebrows knitted together. ¡°I¡¯m twenty-one, right? Well she¡¯s sixteen. She doesn¡¯t look sixteen. Oh! Here¡ª¡±


    Alys¡¯ body doubled over as she went for her bag seated in the footwell of the passenger seat. She rummaged through the contents of her bag and pulled out a photo insert from a wallet.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re driving, but just take a quick look,¡± Alys pulled a photo out of the protective sleeve, unfolded it and handed it over to me. I took the photo and held onto it as I gripped the steering wheel so I could see the road and glance at the photo at the same time.


    The picture was a group of five kids. Two girls and three boys. They were all hunched together as the smiled and made faces at the camera. The two girls had their arms around each other. The shorter one looked like she was dressed in boy¡¯s clothes from the angle the photo was taken at, whereas the taller girl was dressed in more form fitting clothing.


    The tall girl had an older appearance and could pass for twenty-something. It wasn¡¯t just the hourglass figure she had, but her face. It wasn¡¯t round like Alys¡¯. It seemed she could have been Alys¡¯ senior.


    ¡°Kerrie is the taller blonde one, correct?¡± I glanced at my companion who stared at the photo with a mixture of anger and wistfulness.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s her,¡± she confirmed. ¡°Don¡¯t you see what I mean, though? She doesn¡¯t look like a sixteen-year-old!¡±


    ¡°No, she doesn¡¯t,¡± I handed the picture back to Alys. ¡°She should have told you. It was wrong of her not to.¡±


    ¡°I know, right?¡± Alys¡¯ musical voice turned sour. ¡°She lied to me and freaked out when I told her we needed to take a break. She¡¯s jailbait, I can¡¯t date her, anyway. It¡¯s fucked up.¡±


    End her. Silence her.


    Leave me alone.


    My head bobbed as I mulled over her statement. Alys brought up fair points all around. I had completely missed out on dating, myself, but from the younger crowd that came and went through my institution, it was a ¡®minefield¡¯.


    ¡°Five years doesn¡¯t seem like a lot,¡± I said genuinely confused.


    ¡°Sure, it doesn¡¯t to you. You¡¯re old¡ªno offense¡­but, like, we¡¯re just in different stages, you know? I¡¯m in college and she¡¯s still in high school, asking her parents¡¯ permission for everything.¡± Alys shoved the photo back into its sleeve and dropped it back into her bag. ¡°Hell, she couldn¡¯t even tell her parents about me. I¡¯ve never been to her place.¡±


    ¡°So why go there?¡±


    ¡°Because even though I¡¯m freakin¡¯ pissed off, I still care about her. She¡¯s been mass texting me, begging me to talk to her. I have to break things off for good, but I¡¯m not going to be the d-bag that does it over the phone,¡± Alys folded her arms and leaned back in the seat. There was a frown on her berry lips.


    Give her a Chelsea smile. Rip her flesh.


    Go away. Please.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    A sign on the side of the road caught my attention: Fifty Miles to Green Glen.


    End her.


    No. I like this one.


    ¡°I just, Christ. I don¡¯t know what to do here. We¡¯re supposed to meet at some coffee shop on Main Street so her mom doesn¡¯t see us¡ªlike, even now I¡¯m her secret¡­that kind of pisses me off.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Alys groaned in frustration and whipped her head in my direction:


    ¡°Because that puts so much stress on something that shouldn¡¯t be stressful! You know that feeling you get when you¡¯re with someone you really care about¡ªyou just want to let everyone know how great that person is, and what they are to you?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± I mumbled.


    ¡°Wait¡ªwhat?¡±


    Park the car. Crush her throat.


    She¡¯s nice to me.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know that feeling¡­I¡¯ve never met that person, I guess,¡± I repositioned my hands on the wheel to prepare for an upcoming bend in the road and avoid her curious stare.


    ¡°How old are you?¡±


    ¡°Forty-three.¡±


    ¡°Damn.¡± Her astonishment hit me straight in the gut and shook my feelings for her around. They loosened up enough that they were easier to see past.


    Drain her. Leave her as roadkill.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    I don¡¯t know¡­


    My life had been wasted by a mixture of padded rooms, antipsychotics and shallow bids to fix me. I knew long ago that wasn¡¯t possible, but no one listened to reason. I was a project, a box to be checked on everyone¡¯s list.


    All the while, there was the ever-present foul voice that invaded my mind. It told me things about people and told me to do thing to them. It had been there as long as I could remember; my constant companion, and the only static thing in my long life.


    It¡¯s as real as the poor girl who sat next to me as she stared out into the grey Oregon sky. It was hungry for muscle, sinew and blood. It was always nagging, cajoling, and begged to be fed¡ªand it didn¡¯t stop until I made good on its wishes.


    After I gave in and fed it, the voice will go quiet while it digests the emotions that lingered after my task. It sipped on them leisurely like it was tasting a fine wine.


    Those are the times I was happiest.


    Pure silence. Pure bliss. The scratched in my head left me and I was alone with my thoughts to plan and to try to get myself together again. It never lasted long, though. Eventually it¡¯s hibernation would end, and it would begin its torment again.


    It had been two years since it last fed. The foul voice demanded tribute. I hadn¡¯t slept in four days. Instead I stayed up with the voice and tried to convince it to leave me.


    I like that idea. Roadkill. Roadkill. Roadkill.


    Will you leave?


    I glanced over at Alys and debated on if I could kill the girl whose problems seemed so big. Her head was rolled to the window, but I could see from the side mirror that her eyes were closed.


    The powder on her eyelids looked like two vacant sockets in the hazy reflection; a possible look into the future.


    She let out a soft snore.


    Do it and I¡¯ll make you a deal.


    The highway began to get curvy. I pondered the voice¡¯s offer in absolute silence. I didn¡¯t want to wake my passenger.


    It was the closest to a ¡®yes¡¯ I¡¯d ever gotten from the voice, and most likely the closest I was ever going to get. I had to decide her fate. How far was I going to go for peace and quiet?


    I had lost so much to the voice over the years. My childhood, my parents, and a normal life. I was forty-three, yes, but I had years ahead of me, that, if I chose to feed the voice¡ªcould be quiet.


    The loose dirt of the shoulder kicked up under the car¡¯s tired as I hit the edge of the road. I crawled to a stop to make sure Alys remained asleep and put the car in park.


    Roadkill. Roadkill. Roadkill.


    The chatter kept pace with my heartbeat as I reclined in my seat and went for my bag. The thick canvas scratched and swallowed my arm as I fumbled around.


    My hand finally grabbed the leather sheath for my brand new ten-inch hunting knife. I closed my fingers on the handle, my joints popped with every deliberate movement while my thumb flicked open the button closure for the sheath.


    I jiggled the knife loose and brought it close to me while I examined the soft curve of the streel. Even in the overcast light the pristine metal gleamed.


    I brought the knife with the sole intent to keep myself and my few belongings safe on the streets of Salem. There were a lot of folks in the homeless community that didn¡¯t think twice to steal a peer¡¯s property.


    Luckily the size of the knife was enough of a deterrent that I never had to use it. this would be its first foray into the human body.


    Alys let out a soft snore from the passenger seat and nestled further against the window. As I watched her, I thought of the girl she was going to see. How long would she wait in the coffee shop for Alys to arrive. Would she be sad? Angry?


    Slice her.


    Slice her.


    With the knife in my left hand, my right was free to manipulate Alys into a more compromising position.


    I jutted my hand out and grabbed a fist full of her deep pink hair. I pulled it taut as Alys grumbled and began to rouse. Her head lifted easily despite the semi-deadweight as she slowly regained consciousness.


    Her eyes opened slowly and blinked away the last dregs of sleep.


    ¡°Are we there, yet?¡±


    ¡°Almost,¡± I poised the knife of the knife gingerly against the side of her neck, to mark where I would need to insert the blade to accomplish the job. I would do my damndest to keep her in the dark of her fate for as long as possible.


    Alys frowned and tried to wiggle her head. My arm tensed which stopped any movement with a small jerk. A strangled cry came from Alys; her eyes slid my direction, wide with panic.


    Slice her.


    ¡°Thank you for your help, Alys,¡± the sound of my soft voice mixed in with the rattle of the heater.


    The slip of a knife into human skin always made me think of mushrooms and the tension in your jaw as you bit down on an especially large chunk. It was soft, but there was still a rather pleasant resistance¡­if you like mushrooms.


    I liked mushrooms, myself so I took my time as I slid the blade through Alys¡¯ acne spotted neck and buried the silver blade into her soft peach flesh.


    Alys clawed at my arms and hands with vigor. Black polished nails pierced my tan skin over and over as she did her best to change her fate. Her legs flailed in the footwell of the passenger seat, feet connected hard with the interior plastic at intermittent rates.


    As she thrashed, she cried for me to stop. Her screams had a musical quality to them, much like her voice. They filled the cabin of the car with perfect pitch until the destruction of her windpipe turned her squeals into wheezes.


    Her hands now grasped at her own throat as she tried to catch her breath. The movement in her legs died down as well and only attempted the occasional jerk.


    I continued to leisurely push my knife through Alys¡¯ neck until the hilt rested against the entrance wound. I took a moment now that she was subdued to follow the small stream of blood from underneath the knife down to the collar of her teal t-shirt. It was not a dirty purple from the blood it soaked up.


    Carve.


    Alys spurted a small amount of the red fluid from her mouth in a sad attempt at speech. I knew what she was going to ask. It was what everyone asked in their time of death: ¡®why?¡¯


    There was no point to tell her my motive. It wouldn¡¯t soothe her. It would only make it harder as she contemplated her error getting into a car with a perfect stranger.


    I took the moment to switch my grip on Alys¡¯ hair to my other hand. I briefly left the knife buried in her unattended. Her magenta hair slid between my fingers effortlessly as her head bobbed forward and pushed another wheeze from her bloody lips.


    I lifted her back up and took the knife again in the opposite hand. My body twisted in my seat for a better angle. Alys¡¯ entire body tensed, her arms gripped onto anything within reach as I rotated the knife in the wound and began to saw my way to the front of her throat with a new-found enthusiasm.


    Once I¡¯m done, it¡¯ll stop. Once I¡¯m done, it¡¯ll stop. Once I¡¯m done, it¡¯ll stop.


    I repeated my new mantra with each stroke of the blade. The cords, tendons and cartilage gave way fairly easily for the knife thanks to the fine edge of the blade.


    All movement on Alys¡¯ behalf had ceased now as any will to move was hindered by her loss of blood. The front of her shirt was a viscous mess thanks to her slight forward lean that directed the flow down onto her front and into her lap.


    I rocked the knife back and forth a few more times until the blade broke through the soft skin just above the hollow of her neck. A river of red that hadn¡¯t yet escaped from the side of the gash followed.


    There was still a faint gurgle that came from Alys, but it was softer than before. She was essentially done, but I was not.


    Roadkill. Roadkill. Roadkill.


    Luckily for me this highway rarely got any traffic mid-day, so I wasn¡¯t worried about being bothered. The rest of the process would go quick, anyhow. Nothing more than to put the finishing strokes on my painting.


    I released Alys¡¯ head which slumped forward. With no solid neck to keep her head up, I watched as her nose stamped itself into the soggy fabric of her shirt. My seat groaned loud while I turned back to face front and exit the car. More work needed to be done, but there wouldn¡¯t be enough room inside the vehicle for it to happen.


    The freezing wind that blew down the highway snapped at me when the door opened. I shrugged my jacket tight around me as I went around the sedan to the passenger door to collect Alys. I needed to bring her to her final resting place. There could be worse places for her to end up, than in nature.


    My slick fingers fumbled with the door handle. Unable to grip the smooth surface with any degree of reliability, I tried two or three times before I finally got a good grasp and pulled the door open as wide as it would go.


    Alys¡¯ dead weight was almost too much for me to carry out to the trees. Her upper body wetted down with her own innards made trying to carry the corpse a slippery affair. I let her tip out and onto the ground, her face hit the gravel and rocks hard.


    I grabbed a boot and dragged her down the shoulder to the front of the car. It was still a chore, but it wasn¡¯t as bad as what I¡¯d tried to do before I changed my strategy. I completed my work as soon as she was a few feet in front of the bumper, just far enough that I figured I could see her from the driver¡¯s seat.


    Roadkill. Roadkill. Roadkill.


    My knife worked with speedy accuracy. Every downward swing cut into the supple flesh below me.


    Not enough. More.


    I squatted down over her legs and plunged the knife deep into her round belly and chest. Pleasing the voice was paramount to earn my deal. If Alys had to look like a pile of ground beef by the end of it, I could live with that.


    I had to live with the consequences of my actions as they slapped me in the face every day for most of my life. It was because I would let the voice wear me down ever since I was a child. This had caused me to spend the last few decades institutionalized.


    My little sister, Rebecca was only an infant when the foul voice made its appearance in my life. It hissed that she kept my parents from me. it said she liked it when I cried and felt lonely.


    It began to tell me ways to get my parents back. Leave her face down in her crib. Put her in the tub and turn the tap on. Simple things that required only a small action before I could walk away and let my young brain forget about what I¡¯d done.


    Even at five, I knew what it asked would get me into trouble. I lived with the voice¡¯s interference until I was tired enough from insomnia that I told my mother about the voice and what it asked of me.


    That was the first time they sent me away to live at the hospital. I lived there with doctors and nurses for years, always maintaining the existence of the voice.


    It wasn¡¯t until I was thirteen that it truly clicked that I would have to ignore the voice and pretend it didn¡¯t exist to go back home. It did stop talking for a while. I finally got a taste of what silence within my own mind was like.


    I finally went home on my fourteenth birthday, but it wasn¡¯t to our house in Salem. It was to that run-down Victorian. My sister, who was almost nine now, treated me like an unwanted guest. The tables had turned as far as my parents were concerned. They had years of only two visits a month to make up for.


    I had a normal life in Green Glen for one wonderful year. I enjoyed middle school and even had a couple friends despite my lack of social skills. Home life had finally calmed down to where my sister and I were friendly.


    Then one day as we stood side by side brushing our teeth a thought that wasn¡¯t mine forced its way in:


    Jam the toothbrush down her throat.


    No.


    That was that. The voice was back, skulking around the edge of my active thoughts and waited to pop in and tell me to brutalize someone. Anyone. It grew hungry and insistent at a maddening pace and demanded its pound of flesh.


    I saw it for the first time that night accompanied with the stench of death. It was a pale creature, faceless save for a vertical gaping maw of huge jagged teeth. It stood in the corner of the room all night and whispered into my mind¡ªinto my ear and told me everything it knew my sister thought about me.


    I kept quiet. I knew if I told my parents the voice was back that I would be in a car back to the hospital without so much as a discussion. I couldn¡¯t go back there. Green Glen, my friends, even my sister were things I didn¡¯t want to miss out on.


    A month later, my parents left for a weekend stay in Salem, and left Rebecca and I to our own devices. It was a weekend and friends were busy for both of us. she was being bratty as usual. The voice was hungry.


    Break her. Drain her.


    Leave me alone.


    Rebecca was in her room at her desk to write in her journal. Her curly hair fell over her shoulders and created a privacy curtain around her face. I watched her as I paced up and down the hall as she continued to jot down her thoughts unaware of the argument going on inside my mind.


    Break her. Drain her.


    I can¡¯t.


    Why not? She hates you, you know.


    Not this again.


    She¡¯s mad you came home.


    She¡¯s over it.


    No. She hates you. Look at her.


    And?


    It would be so easy. Drain her.


    Go away.


    This went on for hours throughout the house. Rebecca had moved to the den to watch TV. I was never far behind. I strode around fists clenched as I battled the voice until it said something new:


    I¡¯ll leave you alone if you drain her.


    Promise?


    I promise.


    That night I clocked Rebecca over the head with my wooden baseball bad and dismembered her in the old clawfoot tub.


    This was years in the making. Finally seeing the splotches of red pop against the white tile of the bathroom set my mind at ease and I became aware that this was inevitable. I cleaned myself up in my parent¡¯s bathroom and spent the rest of the weekend asleep. I had a lot to catch up on.


    I met my parents at the door when they got home and owned up to what the voice told me to do. I asked them not to go upstairs. They didn¡¯t need their last memory of Rebecca to be what I had done.


    I went back to the state facility immediately. There was no arguing on my part. Maybe I could get some use out of my therapy now that my mind was quiet. There was peace in my head for the rest of my time there. I finally got out about two years ago, back in 2002.


    The mass of blood and slash marks on Alys made her unidentifiable. She would be found, but would she ever make it home?


    The crunch of dirt and rocks beneath my feet as I headed back to the open passenger door accompanied me on my mission to make sure Alys would have more than a stranger¡¯s funeral.


    I grabbed her bag to bring it back, but as I lifted it out of the car, the haphazardly placed photo holder fell out and onto the seat. Two smiling faces stared up at me from the upholstery.


    I slung the bag over my shoulder and pulled the photo from the clear plastic case. I unfolded it and studied the faces of the kids in the picture. Young. Full of life and happiness.


    Them.


    What about them?


    They need you.


    They don¡¯t need me.


    Cut them. End them.


    Leave me alone.


    Not until you end them. Do you want your deal?


    What do I need to do?


    End them.


    I scrutinized the picture for a few moments. I had to get acquainted with their faces. Green Glen was small, so it wouldn¡¯t be too hard to find them. Maybe the library still has yearbooks stocked.


    Well?


    So, if I end them, I¡¯m free?


    Yes.


    I dropped the picture back into the bag and walked the items back to Alys and the ever-growing puddle of blood underneath her. I set the bag down and gave my work last once-over.


    Leave. Find them. Hunt them.

 Chapter One - Sophia

    The ticking of the old hand-me-down cat clock on the wall drilled into my brain with every mechanical swish of its tail. It was nine o¡¯clock and I was late for a meet-up with my friends.


    I had just gotten the twins down to bed. Bruce Jr. and Jayden, my two foster brothers, were passed out in their race car beds with ¡®Finding Nemo¡¯ playing softly in the background. It never ceased to amaze me how the two of them could sleep with that fucking annoying blue fish babbling incessantly.


    My foster mother, Janice, on the other hand was still drunkenly yelling at ¡®Chopped¡¯ downstairs in the den. I hoped the Valium I slipped her earlier would have done the trick by now, but it would seem the woman had the tolerance of an elephant. However, her speech was becoming more slurred and the time between bouts of swearing was growing.


    It wouldn¡¯t be long.


    I closed the door of my room, a no-no in Janice¡¯s house and set about getting ready for my trek through Green Glen. Our house was on the outskirts in one of the many secluded little neighborhoods off the highway. It was set back far within the dense forest that made up most of Oregon.


    I had to make my way through the idyllic little neighborhood and along about two miles of highway before I would hit the meeting spot, we had all agreed upon.


    The door of my mirrored closet rumbled along its tracks as I searched for something to wear over my baggy red t-shirt. I swiped through my litany of Goodwill finds and settled on an oversized black and white plaid flannel shirt. It was my favorite to wear on nights like this, and I could hide my lack of boobs easier.


    I closed the closet door carefully as to not wake up the boys. I didn¡¯t want to have to bail on the group¡ªespecially tonight. I glanced at the reflection of my phone from the mirror and instantly felt anxious.


    Earlier I had gotten a text from my good friend, Matthew Radanelli. Normally that wouldn¡¯t have been cause for alarm, but Matty had gone missing two days ago, and the entire town had been searching for him ever since.


    No one had heard from in for forty-eight hours until my phone buzzed while I had been helping Janice set the table for dinner.


    One New Message from Matty.


    After reading it I had texted the others an immediate S.O.S. and asked them to meet me at our spot¡ªthat it was about Matty. They all agreed to be there by seven-thirty.


    I was an hour and fifteen minutes late already, but I couldn¡¯t go anywhere until Janice was passed out.


    The thick fuzzy fabric of the button up slid over my slender arms and shoulders obscuring my slight frame better than my t-shirt could have ever hoped to do.


    I hated how shapeless my natural body was. My boobs were a small handful at best, and I had boy hips. Hourglass figure? What¡¯s that? Puberty had utterly failed me.


    Instead of trying to rock the ¡®stick-covered-in-skin¡¯ look, I decided to be shapeless on my own terms. I covered my body in shirts at least one size too big and layered that with flannels and over-shirts that would fit an adult, so I didn¡¯t look like a slight breeze would blow me over.


    The only tight article of clothing I ever wore were my jeans, and that was only because I loved the shape of my legs.


    I¡¯d been enrolled in some sort of dance class for the past five years. That long doing arabesques, leaps and countless hours of stretching had made my legs lean and shapely.


    Now if only it¡¯d do something for the rest of me.


    Bzzzzt.


    I jumped at the sudden sound of plastic vibrating on wood. The faint green glow of the screen made the bold black lettering of my boyfriend¡¯s name pop.


    He¡¯s probably wondering where I am.


    Ray Vena was a sweetheart, if not a bit overprotective and clingy. Even moths after getting together I could never understand why every waking second needed to be touching and grabbing. Normally I didn¡¯t mind it, it showed he was interested which somewhat soothed one of my faults: thinking I was some sort of bet or something.


    I never got why one of the most well-liked kids at Green Glen High School would be interested in me. At first, I thought it was shiny-new-toy syndrome¡­and sometimes I still sort of do.


    One New Message from: Ray


    Where are you, babe? Everything ok?


    I headed to the door and craned my neck to try and hear downstairs. I could clearly hear Alton Brown¡¯s voice but after a solid sixty seconds with no word from Janice, I figured I was in the clear.


    Shuffling my socked feet through the olive shag carpet, I headed back to my vanity. Three cylindrical amber bottles with white caps caught my eye while I checked my makeup in my light up mirror.


    Shit. I almost forgot.


    I uncapped the bottles and shook a pill out of each. One small yellow circle, another slightly larger white circle, and a teal triangle. I popped the three pills into my mough, my face contorting at the acrid powdery taste and fumbled for one of my many half-full water bottles that littered nearly every surface of my room.


    My grimace softened to a frown. I hated needing to take these. They were gross and made me feel sluggish all day. Worst of all, if I missed even one dose, my brain started firing off nerves in my body at random as punishment.


    I moved the water bottle I just drank from in front of the pill bottles, obscuring them from view. I couldn¡¯t look at them anymore. Very few people knew I was medicated. Only Janice, Ray, and Ray¡¯s parents¡ªFrank and Anita knew¡­and I wasn¡¯t sure I was cool with them knowing.


    I feel everyone that knows looks at me like I am some fragile woodland creature that must be approached with caution and handled with care. It¡¯s a shitty feeling when all you want is to be normal.


    I spun on my heel and moved silently from my room. I turned off the light as I passed the threshold just so Janice, if she did wake, would just think I was asleep. I popped my head in on the boys to make sure they were still softly snoring and crept down the stairs.


    The French doors leading to the den were cracked open. I could see Janice¡¯s severe ¡®can-I-speak-to-your-manager¡¯ haircut lolling over from the side of the couch.


    The clock above the TV read ten after nine. Janice snored loudly and rolled onto her back. Her new position gave her a few extra chins.


    I grinned to myself and slid my feet into my relaxed moto boots that sat waiting for me next to the front door. The keys on the hook above lightly ¡®tink¡¯d as I attempted to wrap my hands around them in a preemptive strike to stop a full-on jingle.


    Double checking that I had my phone in my pocket, I opened the heavy oak door and prayed the hinges wouldn¡¯t scream and point out my escape. A rush of cold air hit me in the face and blew my dark brown hair into my vision as my boots hit the worn welcome mat on the stoop.


    The door shut as easily as it opened and I was off into the neighborhood, feet pounding the concrete as I jogged to get out and onto the main highway that would be the long part of my journey.


    I passed through the dimly lit winding streets past the mixture of two-story ranch houses and the occasional restored Victorian. Before I knew it, I was past the cobblestone fa?ade fence of my subdivision and out onto the dark that was the highway. If I kept running, I could make it by nine-twenty, but without a flashlight there was no way I was taking the uneven shoulder at more than a brisk walk.


    Twenty minutes later I tramped through the pine needles and leaves of the forest floor. I had just veered off the highway that bisected the small town of Green Glen. My destination was the clearing where we usually stopped to chat on our way home from school.


    The fir trees stood tall and ominous in the near pitch black of night. My only guiding light came from the full moon over head. I didn¡¯t feel okay being out this late, especially with the curfew that Sheriff Doonan had instituted after they found my best friend, Kerrie Jeffers¡¯, girlfriend dead on the highway between here and Salem. Everyone under the age of eighteen was to be indoors by seven p.m.


    I checked the dim light of my old navy-blue Nokia brick phone for the time: nine-thirty.


    Fuck we¡¯re going to be so dead if we get caught.


    I frowned and balled up my hands inside the sleeves of my over-shirt after my phone was safely back in the front pocket of my jeans. I could just imagine the Sheriff¡¯s face¡ªwhich usually looked like you caught her sucking on a lemon¡ªcast in the eerie light of the red and blue lights of her stare issued SUV. That was something I didn¡¯t want to run into tonight.


    The faint glow of my friend¡¯s cell phones and a flashlight or two up ahead let me physically relax. It helped to know I didn¡¯t have far to go in the dark. As much as I had traveled these woods in my year or so of being here, I still never got over the feeling I was being watched¡­as stupid as that sounds.


    Even when I headed home in the fading light of the afternoon, every flap of a bird¡¯s wing or movement of a moth caused me to nearly jump out of my boots.


    At night, though? Nope. I usually didn¡¯t wander in the woods after the sun went down. Everything went so¡­wrong. It was hard not to suspect the woodland creature¡¯s main mission went from ¡®survival¡¯ to ¡®scare Sophia¡¯. I was pretty sure I had already encountered at least two murderous rabbits and was being stalked by a squirrel.


    ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late, guys,¡± I announced my presence as I broke through the trees into the clearing and was blinded by no less than two flashlights and a camera in return. My arm rose to shield my face from the blinding light just as I was tackled by a warm body in a windbreaker.


    I stumbled off to my right trying to counter the mass that had attached itself to me as my eyes re-adjusted to the dark. Warm body, windbreaker; my hands felt around the top portion of the body and soon found their way to the grown-out buzz cut of none other than my boyfriend.


    ¡°Jesus Christ, babe! Take it down a notch!¡± The fuzzy hair on the back or Ray¡¯s head tickled the tender skin under my nails as I ran them over his scalp. He hummed contentedly and nuzzled his face into my side.


    ¡°He was worried you got lost¡­you know, since it¡¯s been two hours,¡± Kerrie¡¯s sharp tongue jabbed from across the clearing. She was standing there, arms under a developed chest I would kill to have, looking severely annoyed at my late appearance.


    We were fighting which was a first for us. It was stupid and my fault. At first, I was too scared to talk to her, or try and apologize but the longer it took me to talk to her, the more pissed she got. If there was one thing I could say about Kerrie Jeffers, it was that she always wore how she was feeling on her sleeve.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I stressed the word, widening my stance to keep my balance. ¡°I know I sent out a random S.O.S., and I would have been here sooner¡­but it took a while for the Valium I slipped Janice to knock her out. Then I had to put the boys to bed.¡±


    The look on Kerrie¡¯s face was priceless. Her nose did this thing where her nostrils widened and closed repeatedly like she was silently hyperventilating. That and her left eye twitched. She looked like Carrie White from that Steven King move after she had blood poured on her.


    ¡°You drugged your foster mom?¡± Kerrie raised one of her slender hands and combed her long dirty blonde locks from her view. She was lucky¡ªshe had thick luscious hair naturally. Something that took me hours in the bathroom to achieve.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a habit,¡± Ray spoke from around my middle where he¡¯d begun to lightly tickle my hip bone. I squirmed in his firm grip. ¡°This is only what¡­the third time?¡±


    ¡°Well that makes it sound like a habit, babe,¡± I lightly tapped the back of his head and got a nibble on my side in response. I yelped and hopped back, finally slipping from his grasp and edged closer to Samuel Peppard who had spent the entire conversation leaning against a maple tree fucking around with his early birthday present: a digital camera.


    ¡°God you two are gross,¡± Kerrie groused and turned from the group to look the opposite direction.


    ¡°Jealousy is an ugly color on you,¡± Samuel piped in, his uncharacteristically sing-song tone brought a smile to my face. I love it when he let his guard down and joined in on our banter¡ªespecially lately since it tended to be at Kerrie¡¯s expense.


    ¡°Get stuffed,¡± Kerrie threw up a middle finger at Samuel who didn¡¯t even bother to look up from his camera. ¡°I tried dating Ray a long time ago, remember? It didn¡¯t work out.¡±


    ¡°You were in sixth grade Kerrie,¡± I could see Samuel¡¯s deep blue eyes rolling in the bright light of the camera. ¡°It doesn¡¯t count.¡±


    ¡°Does so, we kissed¡­and shared fry boats,¡± I snored and rolled my eyes as well. It never bothered me that Kerrie and Ray had a past. In my mind it was expected in a town this small. A peck on the lips and sharing your lunches doesn¡¯t make a real relationship, anyway.


    ¡°Well you haven¡¯t tried dating Sophia, yet,¡± Samuel snickered, and Ray¡¯s body went stiff.


    Ray was always a little paranoid about my being so close to Kerrie after she came out as bisexual. He put me up on such a high pedestal that he thought everyone, and their mother wanted to date me. He wasn¡¯t a jerk about it, just insecure. He needed occasional reassurance that I wasn¡¯t going to switch teams or cheat on him like his last girlfriend did.


    Kerrie¡¯s face scrunched into a sneer. ¡°You couldn¡¯t pay me to date her¡ªshe¡¯s not my type.¡±


    Yeah, I¡¯m not a total edge-lord.


    ¡°What about all those sleepovers you two have?¡± Samuel smirked mischievously.


    ¡°We¡¯re talking about what idiots you guys are,¡± she snapped.


    ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± I bobbed my head in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s pretty much the topic of discussion.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your help,¡± she spat.


    ¡°Chill the fuck out, dude,¡± I held up my hand to ward off any further jousting.


    ¡°So,¡± Ray drew out the word and took a big step forward effectively blocking Kerrie and I from each other¡¯s view. ¡°What¡¯s this text you got? Matty, right?¡±


    A newly familiar pain in my chest surfaced at the sound of Matty¡¯s name. my face dropped into a frown and my cold fingers fumbled to grab my phone from the small pocket it was kept in. the soft rubber of the ¡®on¡¯ switch gave way, and woke the device. I navigated the interface like a mad woman trying to find my last text from Matthew Radanelli:


    Saved Message from Matty:


    Sorry for running. Had enough. Needed a break. Meet me at old school. Need to talk.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that sound weird? Like¡­not like Matty?¡±


    ¡°You sure it¡¯s his number?¡± Ray reached an arm out and wound it around my waist. He pulled me tight against his side and back into Kerrie¡¯s view. Furtively, I glanced at her, and hoped the PDA wouldn¡¯t pull another petty remark from her.


    I shouldn¡¯t have ghosted her¡­she probably hates my guts.


    ¡°It showed up as ¡®Matty¡¯ in my contacts,¡± I looked up at Ray, frown deepening. ¡°It has to be him, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ray¡¯s toasty hand rubbed my side brushing my flannel against the baggy shirt underneath. The fiction brought warmth I desperately needed. ¡°Of course, it has to be.¡±


    ¡°Question is, is he going to be pissed at all of us for coming along?¡± Samuel kicked at a fallen branch on the ground as he meandered at random through the clearing. ¡°None of us got a text, just Soph. It didn¡¯t say to spread the word.¡±


    Ray bristled and pulled me closer as he drew himself from a relaxed position to his full stature.


    ¡°Why would he get mad? We¡¯re his friends.¡±


    ¡°Just sayin¡¯, man,¡± Samuel shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s right¡ªit does sound weird the way it¡¯s written.¡±


    A guest of wind sent a flurry of leaves into the small clearing, their jagged edges sticking to whatever and whomever they could find on their way through. The chill brought with it sent a monstrous shiver through me.


    Why were we just standing in the dark talking through text meanings when we could get moving and help Matty?


    ¡°Well I wasn¡¯t coming out in the woods at night by myself, so he¡¯s getting what he¡¯s getting.¡± My hand still wrapped in the sleeve of my over-shirt pointed in the direction of Old Green Glen High.


    ¡°You heard the lady. We¡¯ve got about a mile hike down the trail.¡± Ray released his hold on my waist and waited instead to take one of my concealed hands. Begrudgingly, I released the grip on the cuff of my sleeve and slid my hand back out into the air. I shoved my small hand into his, hoping his ever-present warmth would keep my fingers from going completely numb.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine, babe.¡± Ray¡¯s slightly crooked teeth appeared as he grinned. ¡°We¡¯ll get him home.¡±


    We were a little over halfway down the path but had yet to spot Matty. As much as I wanted to get my friend home, I was glad we hadn¡¯t gotten to the old school yet.


    The whole place was off-putting enough on its own, but the worst part was the giant chain link fence that the last Sheriff had put up back in the nineties to keep kids out. it was covered in signs and over the years had taken a beating from a near constant stream of kids climbing over it. There were some points where the fence was nearly bent in half. Now a days it served more as a hinderance to fleeing rather than something to keep us out.


    Samuel took the front with a flashlight in one hand and his camera in the other. He swaggered down the trail lost in his own little world. Samuel was an interesting character. He dressed in button up sweaters that would be more at home on his grandmother Hattie. Yet, somehow, he managed to make out with almost every female underclassman at Green Glen High.


    I¡¯d seen him in action, and it was a sight to behold. The impish smile under shaggy hair. I could see why other girls would be attracted to him, but I just didn¡¯t get how it seemed to be commonplace to let him stick his tongue down their throat. Everyone just seemed to expect to get with him at some point.


    However, Samuel seemed to save the charisma just for his conquests. When he was with our friend group, he was quiet and withdrawn. He seemed to prefer to watch our interactions than get in on the conversations himself.


    I could never quite figure him out.


    Ray and I followed behind Samuel hand in hand, while Kerrie took up the rear. She was too pissed at both Samuel and I to walk next to either of us.


    ¡°You doing okay, babe?¡± Ray¡¯s deeper voice cut through the night on its way to my ears.


    ¡°Yeah. I just¡­I feel bad like we weren¡¯t there enough for Matty. Maybe he wouldn¡¯t have felt the need to run off if we were better friends.¡± I looked over my shoulder at Kerrie who was busy keeping her stony gaze on the trail. I focused back in on Ray¡¯s baby blue eyes: ¡°What if we could have stopped this? His dad¡¯s been calling every day to see if he¡¯s shown up at my place.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ray squeezed my hand. ¡°He¡¯s been calling my house, too.¡±


    ¡°I just have run out of things to say to him.¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey¡ªyou don¡¯t have to have all the answers,¡± Ray knocked into my hip with his own. I had to side-step to keep my balance but giggled all the same.


    ¡°Can you two save it for the janitor¡¯s closet,¡± Kerrie¡¯s sour tone hit me full force right in my last nerve. I spun on my heel in the loose dirt and jabbed a finger just a few inches from her face.


    ¡°Can you stop being such a bitch, Ker? Christ, if you want me to talk to you, don¡¯t have such a shitty attitude.¡±


    Kerrie smacked my hand out of the way violently, her chest heaved with anger. I pulled my stinging hand back to my own breast and looked up at her in disbelief.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare, Sophia. You lost any friend privileges you had when you refused to answer your fucking phone!¡± Kerrie flinched as Samuel, who had doubled back at the first mention of someone being called a ¡®bitch¡¯, put a large hand on her shoulder to keep her in place.


    Kerrie had about four inches on me and could¡¯ve taken me down without breaking a sweat. I had to admit she was intimidating. Her hazel eyes narrowed to near slits behind strands of messy hair.


    ¡°What? The cops showed up at my house,¡± I hissed. ¡°I¡¯m in foster care¡ªI¡¯m practically one step from Janice telling me to pack a bag and get the fuck out because of your stupid¡ª¡±


    I stopped as I was about to tread into very dangerous territory. It was true I hadn¡¯t answered any of Kerrie¡¯s calls since the cops had shown up asking about Alys, but did I really want to be the person to bring the dead into school yard drama?


    ¡°My stupid what, Sophia? My stupid dead girlfriend?¡±


    Kerrie lunged forward like she was going to hit me causing a flurry of motion all at once: Samuel grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her away while Ray moved in front of me to take whatever hit managed to get through.


    ¡°Yeah, you know what¡ªshe was your ex-girlfriend, Ker. She dumped you for lying to her,¡± I yelled from behind Ray.


    ¡°Sophie, what¡¯s the point of this?¡± Ray looked at me over his shoulder, his usually wide eyes slightly narrowed. ¡°Is this really the time to get this out?¡±


    ¡°Yes, because she keeps making passive-aggressive comments about us. Why would I want to answer the phone when all I get is a shitty fucking attitude?¡±


    ¡°Because that¡¯s what friends are supposed to do,¡± Kerrie calls out from beyond my line of sight, a tinge of sadness to her voice. ¡°They¡¯re supposed to help you when someone you love dies, and be there for you¡­but I guess you missed that when you were being kicked from house to house for being a horrible human being, Sophia!¡±


    ¡°You know why I¡¯m here,¡± I screamed not caring if my voice carried all the way through town to the Sheriff¡¯s station. ¡°My foster dad had a stroke and they couldn¡¯t keep me!¡±


    ¡°Or wouldn¡¯t.¡± Kerrie sneered.


    ¡°Dude, Ker¡­harsh,¡± Samuel whistled lowly and shook his head at the two of us. ¡°What happened to the two of you being best friends?¡±


    ¡°She left me hanging¡ªhaven¡¯t you been listening?¡± Kerrie¡¯s shrill tear-filled voice cut right through me, and I knew that as much as she was mad at me, she was more hurt.


    ¡°She was thinking about you, Ker. Fuck she talked about you the entire time, asking if you were okay and shit.¡± Ray¡¯s shoulders rose and fell in a half-hearted shrug.


    ¡°Lot of good that did me and the thirty unanswered voicemails I left. She¡¯s too busy with her hands down your pants to pick up the phone!¡±


    Ray swatted the air between him and Kerrie dismissively. His feet ground in the dirt like he was deciding to keep being a human shield or if he was going to just move and let us work it out on our own.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bring him into this, Kerrie. That¡¯s not why I didn¡¯t answer,¡± I sighed heavily and peeked my head around Ray¡¯s bicep. ¡°I just couldn¡¯t handle my emotions and yours at the same time. I kind of shut down, and¡­and I should have said something.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t even know her,¡± Kerrie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and gave me a suspicious look.


    It was true. I had only met Alys one time and that was on purpose. Not that she wasn¡¯t a cool chick, but I didn¡¯t feel like lying was the right way to start off a relationship. Still, Kerrie had insisted on keeping up the rouse of being out of high school, so I took myself out of the equation.


    ¡°I still met her. We all had lunch together. I know she had a dog named Zipper, and her older sister goes to Arizona State. I just kept thinking about her dog waiting for her to come home, and her sister missing her on Christmas.¡± I sniffed due to a combination of emotion and the cold numbing my nose.


    ¡°I could grieve for a person, Ker, but I couldn¡¯t deal with it from the both of us. By the time I was ready to talk, you were already pissed, and well¡­you¡¯re mildly terrifying.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not that scary!¡±


    ¡°Tell that to my hand. It still stings.¡±


    ¡°You deserved that,¡± Kerrie stood her ground. I could tell I would have to full on apologize to fix this.


    ¡°I was selfish and a dick¡­and I¡¯m sorry.¡± I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and stepped out from behind Ray, so I was in front of Kerrie. I was willing to take a hit if it meant this would blow over.


    Queue me standing there for the longest minute of my life while the fate of my friendship with my best friend rode on a one sentence apology and a silent prayer that she took my dumb ass back. Her hazel eyes regarded my smaller form with intense scrutiny like she was looking for a shred of a lie to grasp onto.


    ¡°You were a dick,¡± she agreed quietly, her full bottom lip shaking slightly as she inhaled. ¡°I¡¯m still kind of mad¡­but I love you.¡±


    Kerrie reached out one of her long slender arms and pulled me into a hug so tight that I could barely breathe as her tits suffocated me. My lungs ached as I struggled to draw in live-giving air, but I didn¡¯t dare move. I was hugging my best friend¡ªsomething I hadn¡¯t done in far too long and I wasn¡¯t ready for it to be over, yet.


    ¡°Are they going to make out, now?¡± Samuel¡¯s excited whisper filled the silence that had fallen over the group. ¡°Cause Matty¡¯s going to be pissed if he misses that.¡±


    ¡°Fuck off, Sam,¡± Kerrie and I offhandedly replied in unison. We were used to the lesbian comments from him, so much so that it didn¡¯t even phase us anymore.


    ¡°Uhmmmm¡­he does bring up a good point,¡± Ray sounded slightly uncomfortable. ¡°We¡¯re supposed to be meeting Matty, and while I¡¯m glad you two aren¡¯t yelling at each other anymore, it¡¯s getting pretty late and I don¡¯t want him to think we¡¯re not coming.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I nod against Kerrie¡¯s chest and give her one last tight squeeze before letting go and taking a large breath. Oxygen. Thank God. I smiled up at Ray once I was sure I wasn¡¯t going to die and grabbed his hand. I walked a few paces and pulled to urge him forward to the old school.


    We continued, this time in a pack now that unsaid tensions were behind us. The black woods on either side of the path gobbled up the beams from our flashlights hungrily as did the dark path before us.


    There wasn¡¯t much said as we went on. Ray was being unusually quiet, Kerrie was concentrating on the ground again, and Samuel never talked much, anyway.


    The silence wasn¡¯t all too uncomfortable, however and it did quicken our pace somewhat so that now we were more focused on moving instead of conversing. The only thing mildly distracting was the occasional flash from Samuel¡¯s camera as he continued to document the night.


    That had been a big hang-up of his since Alys was murdered. Like I said, he didn¡¯t speak much, but when he did his words were carefully cultivated. He had gone on this long speech about ¡®life being too short, might as well save the memories while you can¡¯. As soon as his grandma had given him the damn thing, it was in his hands twenty-four-seven, and usually aimed at one of us.


    ¡°I see the fence,¡± Samuel called out after about ten minutes of walking.


    A small ¡®whoop¡¯ of triumph rippled its way through the group as we all focused in on the bent eight-foot frame of the perimeter fence that glinted back at us.


    ¡°Now, to figure out where Matty¡¯s at,¡± I murmured, let go of Ray¡¯s hand and bounded forward so I was standing even with Samuel to start scanning the fence line. there was maybe only a fifty-foot curved span of fence that didn¡¯t back directly up to trees, so I had hope that maybe Matty would be sitting in the dirt of the path off to the side.


    ¡°Maybe he left,¡± Samuel said from behind me.


    He could be right¡ªit had taken a hell of a long time to get over here and from the couple of passes I did over the open bit of fence; he wasn¡¯t anywhere to be found. The only thing I did find was that the gate for the fence was unchained giving easy access to the parking lot of the school.


    What I really hoped was that he¡¯d gotten fed up with waiting and had finally gone home. However, knowing the climate of his home life, especially the past couple of months, it was more likely he was nearby off the beaten path, or close to the school.


    ¡°Could be,¡± I replied and squinted into the darkness. ¡°I just want to be sure, first.¡± My eyes strained as I tried to pick out a human form in the black beyond the beam of light from Samuel¡¯s flashlight.


    As I paced on my way back, I pushed the gate open. The metal feet of the fence grated against the crumbling asphalt as the mouth of the gate widened. I could only see in so far and the parking lot of the old school was huge¡­there was no way I was going to spot Matty from here.


    I was about to step through the gap in the fence when a swirling breeze carried a scent to my nostrils that made me stop dead in my tracks. It was tangy, metallic, and was something that I hoped to never be close enough to smell it that clearly again.


    I spun in place as I tried to sus out where the odor was coming from. Hair whipped me in the face as I revolved, my eyes near slits as I tried to squint past the relative safety of the beam of light.


    ¡°Soph? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ray¡¯s question cut through my haze of panic.


    ¡°I smell blood,¡± was all I could muster.


    ¡°What¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Very funny.¡±


    I looked between Kerrie, Ray and Samuel helplessly. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t believe me. it wasn¡¯t a secret that the woods creeped me out, so it wouldn¡¯t be too far of a jump that I¡¯d freak myself out and star imagining things.


    A step toward me by Ray brought my full attention back to him. I flinched and backed up. My thigh hit against the latch for the fence. The last thing I wanted was to be touched.


    ¡°I smell blood, and we¡¯re supposed to meet Matty. Matty isn¡¯t anywhere I can see.¡± My dainty hand balled itself into a fist, nails dug into the soft flesh of my palm. I needed to try and stay grounded. I was beginning to feel how I did when I was younger and had frequent panic attacks.


    ¡°You¡¯re just scared, babe,¡± Ray¡¯s voice was the definition of soothing, but I could see the way he side-eyed Samuel when he thought I wasn¡¯t looking. He was having doubts as well.


    ¡°You¡¯re freaking me out, Soph. If you¡¯re trying to be funny, its not working.¡± Kerrie kicked at the rocks near her feet and wrapped her arms around her body. I couldn¡¯t tell if she was trying to keep warm or console herself. Her usually angelic face was marred with unease and she kept glancing behind her like she was hearing something off in the forest.


    Samuel, however, was stoic as ever. He circled around the back of the group slowly, his arms outstretched, camera in hand. A little red light on the front blinked on and off as he pointed the small lens at each of us in turn before going back to the woods.


    ¡°Sorry, but something is wrong here! ¡­Are you recording this, Samuel?¡± I flapped my arms helplessly at him. I was unwilling to move from my spot between the group and the fence. If I took one step, now, I was worried I wouldn¡¯t stop until I hit my doorstep.


    ¡°Call his phone.¡± Samuel¡¯s broad shoulders shrugged underneath his cardigan. ¡°If he¡¯s here, we¡¯ll hear it. Matty never puts his phone on silent. He gets it taken away at least once a week because it rings during class¡­if he¡¯s not here then maybe he didn¡¯t show. Maybe he got tired of waiting and fucked off to his house.¡±


    ¡°Man-whore has a point,¡± Kerrie¡¯s face seemed strained as she tried to look optimistic. ¡°Ninety-nine percent sure Matty¡¯s at home watching ¡®Lost¡¯ or something.¡± Kerrie¡¯s head bobbed along with her statement.


    ¡°Fine, then. Call him.¡± I folded my arms across my chest and looked at each of them in turn.


    ¡°You call him,¡± Samuels¡¯ face screwed up in annoyance.


    ¡°I¡¯m not doing it,¡± Kerrie muttered.


    Ray sighed and hung his head for a moment. He looked up, caught my eye and gave me a look of sympathy: ¡°He texted you, babe. You should call.¡±


    ¡°Traitor,¡± I mumbled and after a few seconds of frantic fumbling I managed to get my piece of shit brick phone out of my pocket and set off on doing my best to go through the menu on the tiny green and black screen with severely shaky hands. I was almost unable to read the words on the tiny screen due to the jagged uneven jumps my arms were making the closer I got to Matty¡¯s name in my contact list.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be okay,¡± Ray¡¯s continuously soothing voice cocooned me, giving me that last little push I needed to hit the green phone button.


    Quiet.


    Everyone stopped making noise as the deceptively loud dial tone emanated from the tiny speaker. I craned my neck to the fence, listening for the standard Nokia ringtone that Matty never bothered to change. I hoped simultaneously that I would hear it, and that I wouldn¡¯t.


    Do do do DO, do do do DO, do do do do DOOOO.


    Fuck, he¡¯s close.


    ¡°Matty,¡± I screamed and turned to my left to face the edge of the woods before the crumbled pavement of the parking lot began. The sound was coming from somewhere over there, but the trees carried and bounced sounds around so you could never quitetell where it was coming from. I clutched my phone in my hand, careful to not hit the red ¡®hang up¡¯ button. I turned to Samuel:


    ¡°Give me your flashlight,¡± I ordered and held out an impatient hand.


    Samuel jumped into action and practically slammed the mag lite into my hand on his way past and through the fence.


    ¡°Matt!¡± His voice echoed off the charred walls of the school and the trees as he set off into the black parking lot.


    Do do do DO, do do do DO, do do do do DOOOO.


    ¡°Matty,¡± Kerrie called from her spot in the dead center of the pathway. ¡°Matty! We¡¯re here, man! Just come out!¡±


    I flipped the flashlight over in my hand and pointed it in the direction of the woods where I was sure the ringtone was coming from.


    ¡°Matthew!¡± My scream bounced back at me as I searched above the shrubs and bushes for my friend.


    Do do do DO, do do do DO, do do do do DOOOO.


    ¡°Christ,¡± Ray stepped over to me and ran a hand through his short black hair. The pomade perfection he had made earlier in the day was marred by his fingers. ¡°This is fucked up,¡± he whispered while the others desperately carried on calling for Matt.


    ¡°I just hope he¡¯s not passed out or something¡­or you know, mauled by a bear¡­¡± I gulped trying to regain some moisture into my mouth after yelling into the cold night.


    ¡°Bears don¡¯t come this close to¡ª¡±


    Do do do DO, do do do DO, do do do do DOOOO.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Ray screamed. His usually calm and collected demeanor shattered by the maddening ring of Matty¡¯s phone. He snatched the flashlight from me and stomped to the edge of the path, head high¡ªscanning for movement as he went.


    ¡°Radanelli! Get your ass out here!¡±


    Do do do DO, do do do DO, do do do do DOOOO.


    Ray stomped up to the edge of the woods. He looked like he was going to head past into the trees when there was a loud resonating ¡®snap¡¯. Ray jumped back and pointed the flashlight down where he had stepped and gasped.


    I headed up and around Ray to get a better look at what he was gaping at and stopped when I saw a small stream of crimson leaking slowly from underneath a full, glossy trash bag. I backed up next to Kerrie and shook my head.


    ¡°Samuel! Over here, now!¡± Ray¡¯s order boomed through the woods. Kerrie and I flinched at the unusually harsh tone in Ray¡¯s voice. We were used to him being soft spoken or using goofy voices. No, this was his ¡®military¡¯ voice¡ªthe one his dad used when things needed to be done around the house.


    This is bad.


    After a moment we heard Samuel¡¯s sneakers squeak on the pavement as he neared, camera still in hand¡ªlight still blinking. His solid form filled the entrance to the parking lot as he stopped and stared at the black bag on the edge of the path.


    Do do do DO, do do do DO, do do do do DOOOO.


    ¡°The fuck is that?¡± He questioned, his strong eyebrows pinched together.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡ªbut we¡¯re going to find out.¡±


    That was when Betty came out. Betty was Ray¡¯s hunting knife. Something that his father had given him as a gift. She lived outside under his porch due to his mom¡¯s stance on weapons. Ray loved Betty, though. She was his prized possession.


    The flashlight was tossed back to Samuel, who¡¯s usually impassive face was contorted into a wide-eyed look of terror as Betty gleamed.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Just get over here,¡± Ray pointed Betty at a spot on the ground to the right of the bag. Samuel gulped and studiously moved to the place Ray indicated, his movements unsure.


    ¡°You two, stay there.¡±


    Do do do DO, do do do DO, do do do do DOOOO.


    Even though he was carrying a knife with a blade the size of my forearm, I knew Ray too well to be intimidated by his false bravado. The sweat on his brow, despite the cold was proof he was just as scared as the rest of us. As much as I knew whatever was in the bag wasn¡¯t going to be good¡ªI didn¡¯t want my friends to go through it alone, and I sure as hell wasn¡¯t going to be told what to do.


    Plumes of loose dirt kicked up around my boots as I made my way over to the left of the bag leaving Kerrie in the center of the path by herself. Ray glared at me, but said nothing. He turned back to face the bag. His shoulders heaved as he psyched himself up to make his move.


    Do do do DO, do do do DO, do do do do DOOOO.


    The ringing seemed to be the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. Ray headed straight for the bag, grabbed the top where it was tied together, and jammed Betty through the thin plastic. With one swift motion Ray brought the knife down and sliced the bag open. With its integrity lost, the contents of the bag spilled out over onto Ray¡¯s boots and the ground.


    Do do do DO, do do do DO, do do do do DOOOO.


    There it was, Matty¡¯s phone. The scratched silver casing covered in a mass of red congealing blood as it vibrated on what seemed to be the mangled and bent corpse of Matthew Radanelli.


    I sunk to my knees and watched the phone vibrate. It slid out of the broken contorted hand of my friend and down his body to the slowly expanding pool of guts in the bottom of the bag.


    ¡°Is this real?¡± I looked up at Samuel and Ray. I hoped one of them had the answer.


    Samuel¡¯s arms immediately dropped. His camera, still recording, hung limp at his side while he stared slack-jawed at the corpse of his best friend.


    Do do do DO, do do do DO, do do do do DOOOO.


    ¡°Aww, no,¡± Ray backpedaled a few steps. His boots took gooey trails of syrupy liquid with him before he turned off to the trail we had walked down. He braced his hands on his knees and barfed so violently his entire body spasmed. He painted the dirt of the forest floor with whatever he had eaten for dinner and continued to do so until there was nothing but the occasional chunk of half digested food among the bile.


    Do do do DO, do do do DO, do do do do DOOOO.


    I turned back to stare at the blank face of Matthew, half obscured by the plastic bag he was encased in, head tilted with my phone in my lap. I was trying to wrap my head around the idea that I would never get to speak with him again¡ªthat he wouldn¡¯t be waiting for us when we met in our clearing after school. That he would never hug me again.


    ¡°Matty?¡± Kerrie questioned from her spot in the middle of the path, her voice sounded like a small child looking for their mother.


    My brick phone stopped buzzing in my lap and a moment later I heard the soft voice of my friend come through the tiny speaker in my hand:


    ¡°Hey this is Matt. I can¡¯t answer the phone. You know what to do.¡± Beep.


    Oh God. Oh God, no.


    I stared blankly at the spin art of bone, muscle and skin that used to be Matthew Radanelli. He was in pieces that showed more of his inner workings of the human body than I ever wanted to see. All the different colors under a wash of red would have been fascinating if it weren¡¯t for Matty¡¯s soulless eyes that were staring vacantly into the night.


    A fly probably attracted by the overwhelming smell of blood and growing stench of death landed right on one of Matty¡¯s deep green eyes. It rubbed its tiny front legs together like it was proud it¡¯s plan had come to fruition.


    I screamed.


    I don¡¯t know why the fly broke me. Maybe it was because for just a second I wondered: Why isn¡¯t Matty blinking? There¡¯s a fly on his fucking eyeball. As soon as I had finished the thought, though, his death that was staring me right in the face finally hit home.


    There was nothing I could do. No way I could fix this. I was powerless and most importantly, I felt useless. So, without anything else I really could do¡ªI screamed.


    Nothing intelligible¡­just a primal cry of every single negative emotion I had in me. it felt amazing. Cathartic.


    Then, as I screamed, my eyes shut I could feel the others staring at me. their eyes probably wide and tear filled as they watched the pool of blood that seeped from the broken bag ooze across the ground to my knees.


    Then pain.


    It was probably the desperate need for oxygen, but my head began to pound along with my quickened heart rate in an intensity I hadn¡¯t felt before. I could have sworn someone must have come up behind me and beat me with a branch or something, because the pain resonated deep.


    It was so bad my cries immediately ceased; my mouth open in a silent wail. My hands wound themselves into my windblown hair. I pulled at the deep brown strands in a bid to tear down to the crux of my agony.


    I neared a new level of panic as I tried to figure out what was wrong. As far as I knew this wasn¡¯t a normal response to death¡ªbut if this wasn¡¯t that¡­then what? I didn¡¯t get migraines, just the occasional headache. But this? It felt like my eyes were going to explode.


    A light hand on my shoulder snapped me out of both my thoughts and my pain. Again, confusion washed over me. Pain like that couldn¡¯t just disappear. While I was thankful for the reprieve, I was left with a hollow feeling and the sense something was off.


    ¡°Hey, babe,¡± the closeness of Ray¡¯s voice and barf breath made me turn in mild surprise. He knelt next to me, his face a picture of concern. ¡°You should take your meds. You have them, right?¡±


    I nodded and croaked out a ¡®yeah¡¯ before delving into the pocket that held my travel pill case. The small round case clicked open to reveal the one lowly Xanax I kept on me at all times in case of a panic attack. They were becoming rarer over time, so I¡¯d had this pill on me for a while. Still, I always kept it on me just in case.


    The white bar was segmented to be easily broken apart based on how much you needed, but I wasn¡¯t fucking with that tonight. My friend was dead¡ªif there was ever an excuse for a full dose, this was it.


    Not having a drink to wash it down was going to be the worst part. In an attempt to ease the process, I did my best to work up as much spit as possible before tilting my head back and dropped the benzo into my mouth.

 Chapter Two

    ¡°Ray, get her away from there, I¡¯m calling the cops,¡± Kerrie pulled out her phone to dial 911.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, babe. Let¡¯s go.¡± His voice was tender. I desperately swallowed to get the taste of Xanax out of my mouth, but without a drink, I didn¡¯t see any hope in that.


    I let him peel me off the ground, my black jeans sticking to my knees where Matthew¡¯s blood had seeped into the thick denim. I shimmied as I tried to pry the fabric loose without having my hands anywhere near the blood.


    ¡°Yes, hello? My name is Kerrie Jeffers. My friends and I just found Matthew Radanelli.¡± Kerrie¡¯s voice shook with every word¡ªso much so that she repeated herself a moment later.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay here,¡± I whispered from my hunched position near Ray¡¯s armpit.


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± he said. ¡°But we have to. We¡¯re witnesses.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± a soft curse from Samuel threw our attention and Kerrie¡¯s. She shot him a glare and headed off a few feet down the path as she spouted off where we were and what we had found in as much detail as possible.


    I watched in awe of her. How could she be so calm with our friend¡¯s corpse just a few feet away? My heart was pounding in my ears as she was describing entrails like she was giving a book report in class.


    ¡°How can she do that?¡± I whispered up to Ray.


    ¡°Because someone has to,¡± he answered before turning to Samuel. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Betty,¡± was all Samuel said as he pointed to the discarded knife on the edge of the path.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Ray¡¯s face fell. There was no way Sheriff Doonan would let Ray keep a knife at his age¡ªespecially with how massive she was. Betty was one of those old Rambo knives with the hollow handle and a shitty little compass on the end. Something all boys should have according to Ray¡¯s dad, Frank.


    ¡°Hide her, dude,¡± Samuel motioned for Ray to pass me over to him, like I was a human football, so he could save Betty. I didn¡¯t want to let go. Ray was my security blanket. However, I also didn¡¯t want to be responsible for Ray losing Betty.


    Reluctantly, I stumbled to the waiting arms of Samuel. It was something I never saw myself doing. He had tried his routine on me when I first arrived, and I had turned him down as soon as I heard some girls talking loudly about how he had just been with one of them the previous week.


    Samuel brought me close to his solid body and stretched his fuzzy cardigan around me. He buttoned it shut, leaving my head and shoulders free, and wrapped his arms around me.


    I frowned at the proximity along with Ray who didn¡¯t look happy. His usually kind eyes were shooting daggers at Samuel who took the change in demeanor in stride and shrugged. They never fought and I was worried with tensions being so high that this would break their streak.


    After seeing that Ray¡¯s glaring wasn¡¯t going to change the situation, as Samuel hadn¡¯t moved an inch other than to shrug, Ray put some pep in his step and retrieved Betty from the ground after wiping off the blade in the pine needles. He then loosened his belt and slid the knife carefully into his pants. He cinched the belt tight to keep it from moving further and pulled his windbreaker low.


    Ray turned to us, bushy eyebrows raised expectantly as he motioned to the side of his body where betty was hidden.


    ¡°See anything?¡±


    ¡°Nope, you check out,¡± Samuel assured him.


    I was about to respond with an affirmative when my nose caught a whiff of rot. It was the scent of Matty¡¯s corpse mixed with garbage, sweat and sulfur. My nose scrunched as did Ray¡¯s.


    ¡°The fuck is that smell?¡±


    I tried to shrug by I was trapped. I hadn¡¯t been around a dead body before, so I didn¡¯t know if this was normal or not¡ªor how long Matty had been in the bag for, but this was a hot smell. A wet smell. Not one I felt was normal for an end-of-Winter night.


    A movement in the woods over Ray¡¯s shoulder caught my eye. It was over twice my height at least, and a sickly gray color. Its legs were elongated and rickety looking. Its arms were just long tentacles whose ends writhed on the ground.


    As my gaze went up it¡¯s naked form, I noticed a distended gut, and a hollowed chest. Every bone was visible under taut leathery skin. When it moved the space around it seemed to shudder as if the air itself was disturbed by its presence.


    Another scream erupted from my throat as soon as I got to the bald bulbous head of the creature. The vertical mouth bisecting its head was wide open and pointed right at me.


    The scream had no sooner left my mouth when the air shuddered again, looking like someone pressing into clear plastic. At the height of the distortion, the creature disappeared leaving nothing but the inky blackness of the forest behind it.


    ¡°Woah!¡± Samuel jumped at the sound of my scream, and stumbled back a few steps taking my trembling form with him, the heels of my boots dung into the soft earth as he moved back.


    I struggled against the cable knitting of his cardigan. I wanted to get as far away from here as possible. I didn¡¯t care if we were witnesses, or whatever. I just wanted to be out of the damn woods.


    ¡°The fuck, dude,¡± Ray looked between us and the spot in the woods I was fixated on. Not able to spot anything out of the ordinary, he turned back to the two of us.


    I continued to flex and push against my fabric prison and the bulk of Samuel¡¯s arms. Maybe I had finally snapped.


    Ray jogged to where Samuel stood and tried to keep me in place. It didn¡¯t phase me in the slightest. My eyes stayed on the spot in the forest where the creature had disappeared. The smell, though fainter, still lingered around us¡ªand I wasn¡¯t all too sure it wouldn¡¯t pop back up again.


    Ray cupped my face in his hands and forcibly moved my head to look at him. My eyes strained as they tried to keep watch off to Ray¡¯s left.


    ¡°Soph. Sophia,¡± Ray¡¯s thumbs gently wiped tears off my face. ¡°Come on, babe, you gotta calm down.¡±


    My body stilled at his command though every muscle was still tense as it waited for my release so I could run. Samuel¡¯s arms relaxed slightly giving me a bit of room to work with. It seemed like he was putting his trust in me to stay in place.


    Just then, the wail of police sirens cut through the silent night. Not just a few, from the cacophony the entire Sheriff¡¯s station was headed our way.


    I had just enough space now that if I ducked out quick enough, I might be able to escape and get the fuck out of here and back to the safety of Janice¡¯s house and avoid the cops. I would curl up with the boys and put on that stupid fish movie again for a palette cleanser and wait for sleep to come.


    ¡°Should I let her go?¡± Samuel asked from above me.


    ¡°No, just keep her there. That way she can¡¯t run.¡± Samuel¡¯s arms locked down again before I had the chance to make my move.


    The discomfort in Ray¡¯s voice didn¡¯t go unnoticed, and though I was terrified, some small part of me felt bad. He just gave Samuel the go ahead to keep me pressed against his body, which meant Ray must be really worried about me. Well, at least more than he was about Samuel getting hands-y.


    We had spoken before about trust, especially concerning the other males in the group and I told him the only way to build it was to test it. I would never do anything to betray Ray¡¯s trust¡ªI just needed his insecure ass to see it.


    The beam of a flashlight blinded me. Kerrie returned and flipped her phone shut as the shrill scream of the sirens grew. They had to be nearing the turn off for the school.


    ¡°Is she going to be okay?¡± Kerrie asked as she pointed the beam down to my feet. ¡°What did she take?¡±


    ¡°Anti-anxiety,¡± Ray¡¯s offhanded response was immediately noticed by Samuel who piped in:


    ¡°Wait¡ªshe has the good stuff and she didn¡¯t share?¡± His brawny arms contracted around my middle forcing a small gasp of air out of me. ¡°What gives?¡±


    ¡°She needs it,¡± the ire in Ray¡¯s voice was ill-concealed. ¡°There¡¯s¡­stuff, okay? Stuff you and Ker don¡¯t need to know but trust me. She can¡¯t afford to share.¡±


    ¡°Shit, alright. Calm your tits, I was kidding.¡± Samuel¡¯s chin knocked into my head as he looked down at me. His tone changed completely from his loud joking voice to his usual soft pattern of speech:


    ¡°You¡¯re safe, Soph. I swear. The cops are almost here.¡±


    ¡°Here, turn her away from Matty,¡± Ray instructed and took a hand from my face to guide Samuel back to Kerrie and the center of the path as the sirens barreled down on us.


    My head turned the opposite of my captor as I tried to keep my gaze on the woods beyond, but Samuel¡¯s shoulder eventually blocked my line of sight.


    As soon as the cable knit obscured my view of where the creature was, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I blinked to moisten my dry eyes and shifted my focus to Kerrie wo was assessing me from a short distance beyond Ray.


    She looked uneasy and I was pretty sure it wasn¡¯t all due to the body on the side of the road. I had gone to great lengths to keep my instabilities private for this reason.


    ¡°You okay, Ker?¡±


    ¡°I dunno¡­are you okay?¡± She looked like she was going to step closer to see me, but then thought better of it. ¡°You freaked me out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be okay,¡± I assured her. I felt the Xanax enough that I could sense my muscles slowly unclench as I relaxed into Samuel¡¯s chest and got a disgruntled ¡®humph¡¯ in response.


    I was about to request my release from my makeshift cage when all four of us were bathed in the yellowed headlights of a conga line of Sheriff¡¯s SUV¡¯s and cruisers.


    I screwed my eyes shut since I was unable to cover them with my hands as the others did. The screaming of the sirens bouncing through the trees had been growing during our conversation and now it was near impossible to hear anything.


    Samuel backed us up to the chain link to give the Sheriff and her deputies more room to maneuver. Ray and Kerrie followed suit after the first SUV nearly clipped her on its way to park.


    I counted eight cars when all was said and done. They were all lined up on the far side of the path, opposite Matty¡¯s body. The sirens shut off one by one leaving a ringing in my ears. The red and blue lights lit up the area so much that our flashlights no longer seemed necessary.


    The driver¡¯s door of the fourth cruiser down swung open to reveal Sheriff Doonan wearing her puffy fur collared jacket over a tan uniform. Her long blonde hair was bulled back into a severe bun under her state issued hat. There was something off about her though¡­she didn¡¯t look as pissed as she usually did.


    Doonan¡¯s dirty black shoes kicked up dust as she B-lined to us practically shoving one of her deputies out of the way as he exited from his own cruiser.


    I suddenly felt very exposed for being trapped in a sweater as her intense gaze locked onto the four of us. We were now all lined up as we prepared for the verbal beating, we were sure to get for breaking curfew.


    ¡°You kids okay?¡± The Sheriff¡¯s concern was off-putting. Usually she couldn¡¯t give two shits about any of the kids in town. To her we were generally a nuisance that made her job harder.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Kerrie mumbled, head bowed.


    ¡°Been better,¡± Samuel added.


    Doonan looked to her left at Matty¡¯s body and even in the red and blue light of the chain of cruisers, I could see the lights take on more of their full hue as the color drained from her face.


    ¡°Fucking hell,¡± she grumbled. Doonan spoke into the radio mounted to her shoulder and requested forensics step on it before turning back to us, pity in her eyes.


    ¡°Come on, guys. Let¡¯s get you away from here,¡± she stretched an arm out to guide us back down the path to the end of the gaggle of cars.


    Samuel took a moment to unbutton the cardigan and released me back into the waiting arms of Ray. His relief was palpable as he tucked me under the arm opposite Betty and kept pace with me while we left Matty behind one last time.


    As much as I didn¡¯t want to spend the rest of the night around a dismembered corpse, I also felt guilty leaving him there in the leaves all alone. Matty was a gentle guy and was always worried about being left behind by the others. Now here we are showing him our backs.


    ¡°Babe, how you feelin¡¯?¡± Ray asked.


    ¡°The only thing keeping me together right now, is the Xanax,¡± I replied honestly. I still felt everything. The terror, the sorrow¡­I just didn¡¯t have the energy to react to it anymore.


    ¡°You have a prescription for that, McLellan?¡± The Sheriff looked over her shoulder at me, her expression back to its normal sour self.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± I nodded. ¡°I have the prescription bottle back at home.¡± The Sheriff seemed to take my word for it, but as soon as she turned around, Kerrie and Samuel both took the opportunity to shoot me quizzical looks.


    ¡°Later,¡± I promised. I¡¯d been here for a little over a year and a half at this point, but I had never been totally forthcoming with the people I considered my closest friends. There wasn¡¯t a specific reason for it, either. they hadn¡¯t done anything to make me think they were untrustworthy¡­I just didn¡¯t trust anyone with that knowledge.


    The only reason Ray knew of my panic attacks and my history with them was because I had an episode at his house and had to medicate in front of him.


    After that, there was no hiding anything from him. He¡¯d always been sweet about it and constantly check in with me to make sure I hadn¡¯t forgotten my meds if we were going out or would get me home in time for my next dose.


    Kerrie nodded and turned back to keep an eye on the Sheriff. Samuel on the other handheld out a pinkie for me to latch onto. I smiled at the grade school gesture and wrapped my little finger around his.


    We got to the trunk of the last cruiser and Samuel and I parted ways. The Sheriff turned to us and folded her arms over her puffy jacket.


    ¡°So¡­how about that curfew I set? What happened to that?¡±


    Kerrie who buckled under the presence of any authority figure pointed straight to me. ¡°Sophie got a text from Matthew¡¯s number asking her to meet up to talk¡ª¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Doonan stayed blank faced as Kerrie explained the bare bones of the situation, sans Betty. We all nodded along with her at the appropriate times while the recount of the event was going on.


    ¡°And that¡¯s it,¡± Kerrie bowed her head again.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Doonan repeated and widened her stance. She looked at each of us in turn as she picked apart our expressions to see if we were lying. Other than Kerrie, who stared at the Sheriff¡¯s shoes, we all looked her in the eye.


    ¡°Okay, so that¡¯s it,¡± Doonan looked to where I was huddled under Ray¡¯s arm and her frown deepened. ¡°I¡¯m a little disappointed you didn¡¯t just let us know what was going on so we could help.¡±


    ¡°I know Matty. He would¡¯ve run,¡± my voice was sluggish but sure. ¡°After nothing happened when he reported his dad, he didn¡¯t trust you guys anymore.¡±


    Doonan scowled and whipped her hat off. Her frizzy blonde hair trailed after her due to the static electricity built up from a long day of wear. ¡°There wasn¡¯t anything I could do. Trust me. I wanted to help the kid.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. he¡¯s dead now.¡± My matter of fact tone caught the Sheriff off guard. Her eyes widened momentarily before she caught herself and returned to her mask of mild irritation.


    ¡°We¡¯ll catch whoever did this,¡± Doonan¡¯s statement sounded more like it was for her benefit than ours. ¡°But first we were calling your parents and getting you kids home.¡±


    She took out a notepad, retrieved our numbers and began to call. We all stood there taking turns listening to our parent¡¯s muffled shock on the other end of the line. Except for me. The Sheriff tried Janice¡¯s cell and the house line six times and got no answer. Once Janice was passed out, she was gone¡ªbut there was no way I was outing my foster mother¡¯s habit¡­or the fact that I had knocked her out. I settled for playing dumb and just said she was a heavy sleeper.


    Doonan groaned and scratched out Janice¡¯s number violently.


    ¡°She can come home with me,¡± Ray offered.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see what your parents say,¡± the Sheriff replied and flipped the notebook closed. She waved a deputy over to our little group. ¡°Right now, I¡¯ve got to go deal with the shit part of this job, so Deputy Gomez is going to look after you until your parents get here.¡±


    Without another word the Sheriff stormed off back down the path to Matty¡¯s body. Deputy Gomez took up sentry a few steps away from us.


    Samuel eyed Gomez for a moment before swinging a foot forward to give the deputy a full view of his broad back.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about you guys, but I am not sleeping tonight.¡±


    ¡°Me neither,¡± Kerrie sniffed.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± I shuddered at what might happen when I eventually did close my eyes.


    ¡°Group call?¡± Ray¡¯s suggestion was a valid option. However, that would depend on where I ended up for the rest of the night. If the Vena¡¯s wouldn¡¯t let me stay, then I would probably be chilling with the cops.


    The other two nodded and we all fell silent for a moment. There wasn¡¯t much to say. Joking felt inappropriate given the situation, and anything other than the body down the road seemed utterly unimportant.


    Kerrie twisted her necklace idly around her finger and stared in the direction their parents would be arriving. Her eyes were red from crying, and I knew she was hoping her father, Reverend Don would be the one to pick her up.


    Samuel had his hands jammed deep into his pockets. I could tell from the way the gray wool moved he was trying to fight the urge to play with his camera. He stared up at the sky and softly hummed this indie song he had tried to get us into a few days prior.


    I slid an arm around Ray¡¯s middle, being extra careful not to jostle Betty and sighed into his chest. I was mentally wide awake, but the Xanax was making my eyes heavy.


    ¡°How much trouble do you think we¡¯re in?¡± Kerrie muttered out of nowhere.


    ¡°Not much,¡± Samuel shrugged. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re all out past curfew, but we found Matty¡­so I think we¡¯re in the clear.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Ray rubbed my back. ¡°We saw some shit. I know what bone marrow looks like and it wasn¡¯t from research. I think I¡¯m getting a pass on being grounded.¡±


    ¡°You might be, but when Janice wakes up, she¡¯s going to be pissed. I know how she thinks. If the cops show up again asking questions? I¡¯m screwed.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because she wants everyone to think she¡¯s perfect. That our home is perfect. I already got the neighborhood talking last time Doonan showed up, and she flipped shit about that, too.¡± Tears welled in my eyes and I gripped the fabric of Ray¡¯s US Marines shirt. ¡°I can¡¯t fucking win, man.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t¡¯ know that, Soph,¡± Kerrie leaned back against the trunk of the cruiser. ¡°No one blames you, and Janice¡­¡± Her eyes flitted to Gomez for a moment before continuing: ¡°Well she¡¯s a cunt. Don¡¯t listen to her.¡±


    ¡°She may be a cunt, but she¡¯s the cunt with the ability to send me away,¡± my voice quaked.


    Over the past couple of months, Janice¡¯s patience with me had taken a severe nosedive. I wasn¡¯t sure what started it, but it didn¡¯t help when the Sheriff had show up about Alys. I had been pulling extra weight around the house with the twins to make up for it, but she still just had this weird look on her face when she saw me.


    ¡°We¡¯re not going to let her send you away,¡± Ray said, but his voice betrayed him. He was just as unsure about it as I was. Not hat he had much experience with Janice. As soon as she found out we were dating, she barred him from coming into the house.


    ¡°Thanks, babe,¡± I rubbed his side and turned my face into his shirt ot give his chest a quick peck.


    ¡°I¡¯m not usually one for mushy shit, but it¡¯d suck to see you go,¡± Samuel added.


    While the rest of us giggled softly over Samuel¡¯s attempt to be sweet, a new set of headlights lit up the path and muted the colored lights of the cruisers.


    Deputy Gomez finally moved from his spot and went to the sedan to see who had arrived. When the headlights dimmed, Kerrie straightened up from her relaxed position against the trunk of the police car and gulped.


    We all murmured words of encouragement as the driver¡¯s door to the sedan opened and made way for Birdie Jeffers, the dutiful Reverend¡¯s wife.


    As soon as she saw Kerrie, Birdie clutched her ever present strand of pearls and nearly tripped over a rock in the path during her mad scramble to get to her daughter who immediately began tearing up again at the sight of her mom.


    ¡°Oh baby,¡± Birdie cooed as she held onto a crying Kerrie and smoothed her hair to her back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry!¡±


    Kerrie just sobbed into her mother¡¯s auburn hair wordlessly. She was finally breaking down after holding it together for the cops.


    Though I knew she was sixteen like the rest of us, due to her appearance, I always saw Kerrie as being older and therefore more mature, somehow. She rarely, if ever cried. I think I could count the number of times I¡¯d had to console her on one hand.


    The rest of us just stood there while deputy Gomez radioed to say the parents were starting to arrive. We all tried to look elsewhere as the Jeffers¡¯ hugged. I was getting second-hand embarrassment from being so close to such a private moment. As much as I wanted to move away, the ever-present deputy Gomez kept us rooted to the spot.


    After a few minutes, Kerrie¡¯s wails turned to sniffles and after an especially long throat clearing session, she let go of her mom.


    ¡°Where¡¯s dad?¡±


    Birdie¡¯s perfectly lined lips pursed as she considered her response.


    ¡°He went to Morton Radanelli¡¯s house. He¡­he felt he was needed there.¡±


    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Ray¡¯s swear was barely audible. I could feel the heat rising off him as his anger built.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Kerrie began to pick at her cuticles, which quickly turned into full on scratching at the sensitive skin.


    ¡°He sends his best,¡± Birdie ran her hands down over Kerrie¡¯s arms to her hands to stop the self-destructive behavior.


    ¡°Does he?¡± Kerrie exploded suddenly and wrenched her hands from her mother¡¯s reach. Birdie backed up, grasped her pearls and glared disapprovingly at her daughter.


    ¡°Kerrie this is not the time or place,¡± I saw Birdie¡¯s eyes slide over to the three of us, her first sign of acknowledgement. ¡°Don¡¯t put on a show because your friends are here.¡±


    ¡°¡¯Put on a show¡¯? Are you serious? I¡¯m a human being, mom! I have feelings, which I guess aren¡¯t allowed by you or Dad. I can¡¯t possibly like boys and girls because I¡¯m too young to know what I want, and I can¡¯t be upset that my father hates me for it, because it¡¯s ¡®putting on a show¡¯?¡± Kerrie¡¯s white knuckled fists pound against the trunk of the cruiser. Birdie jumped along with the rest of us at the loud ¡®thwump¡¯.


    ¡°Calm down, Kerrie Anne,¡± Birdie hissed from a safe distance.


    ¡°No, this is bullshi--¡­crap. I found my freaking friend dead in the woods and his first thought isn¡¯t to come see if I¡¯m okay?¡±


    She had a point. Though if Reverend Jeffers did go to see Matty¡¯s dad, I could also see the importance there as well¡­but there was no way I was telling Kerrie that.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about this when we get home,¡± the cords in Birdie¡¯s neck were sticking out as we strained to keep her cool in front of us. She straightened her sweater over her knee-length skirt as if looking presentable would fix the situation.


    You could almost see the smoke coming from Kerrie¡¯s ears as she stared her mother down, torn between her upbringing to respect her elders and her mounting rage.


    Another car came down the path and parked behind Birdie¡¯s sedan, effectively trapping the Jeffers¡¯ here for the time being. Deputy Gomez didn¡¯t even get half-way to the little two door affair when Samuel¡¯s grandmother popped out and shuffled her way through the loose dirt to us. she rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she introduced herself to Gomez.


    ¡°Wow, she actually came,¡± Samuel¡¯s quiet surprise carried its way to the old woman and made her shake her head and mutter something. I could only catch the word: ¡°idiot.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Gran,¡± Samuel reached out a bulky arm for his grandmother and brought her into a one-armed hug. The older woman¡¯s face lit up at the affection and she returned it with a few simple pats on the chest.


    ¡°Sammy, don¡¯t you ¡®hey gran¡¯, me! You shouldn¡¯t have been out here, what were you thinking? I know what you were thinking¡ªyou wanted to know what the quickest way to give me a heart attack would be. Well getting woken up by the Sheriff is a sure way to do it!¡± Her light pats turned into a hollow slap right on Samuel¡¯s sternum.


    Samuel flinched and swore. The rest of us chuckled, save for Birdie who just flashed him a severe glare.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do it again,¡± she cupped his chin with a bony hand and sighed heavily.


    ¡°I won¡¯t do it again, Gran,¡± Samuel gave her a boyish grin.


    ¡°Good,¡± she turned from him to the rest of us, her old watery eyes scanned our faces. ¡°You kids doing alright?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be okay, Hattie,¡± I smiled at the woman who always had kind words for me.


    Hattie Peppard was that special kind of person who was always doing something for others. Whether it be for someone in her active living community on the edge of town, or just by painting kindness rocks and leaving them on the popular hiking trails. She always went out of her way to make people smile.


    ¡°Thanks for asking,¡± Ray added. Hattie waved him off with a toothy grin.


    ¡°No need for thanks, kiddo. You tolerate my Sammy and keep him out of my hair. Had to see how you were fairing.¡± She let out a sharp cackle.


    ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s appropriate?¡± Birdie scolded the older woman as she looked down her nose at Hattie.


    Hattie stopped mid-laugh and turned slowly to Birdie and I could swear I saw her crow¡¯s feet deepen as her eye twitched. ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°A boy is dead. We should act with a level of decorum, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Hattie nodded slightly as Birdie spoke ant tucked a strand of her dyed strawberry blonde hair behind her ear.


    ¡°No, actually, I don¡¯t,¡± came Hattie¡¯s measured replay. ¡°When you get to be my age, you get a certain amount of clarity on the subject of death. No one reacts the same, and there shouldn¡¯t be a rule saying you have to be all mopey and dour all the time. You¡¯re alive. Live for Christ¡¯s sake!


    ¡°Matthew was a dear boy. Miss him, mourn him, and continue to love him. Just don¡¯t do him the disservice by shutting down and falling into some dark pit of despair out of some preconceived notion of solidarity.¡±


    ¡°They just found his body,¡± Birdie¡¯s shrill voice cut through the center of the group. ¡°They should be upset. They should be depressed. They should all be wrecks right now because of what they saw!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t cry anymore,¡± Kerrie sounded ashamed. ¡°I just¡­I don¡¯t feel anything right now.¡±


    ¡°¡ªAnd Sophie¡¯s high as balls,¡± Samuel cut in with a chuckle. Hattie and Ray both struck out in unison. Hattie slapped Samuel¡¯s chest while Ray punched him hard in the arm.


    ¡°I knew it,¡± Birdie muttered while sizing me up.


    ¡°First off, I¡¯m not high¡ªI¡¯m calm,¡± I snapped my head to Samuel. ¡°Second I have a prescription, you incredible douche.¡±


    Hattie laughed at my summation of her grandson and reached out a worn hand for mine. I put my hand in hers and got an affectionate squeeze in return.


    ¡°You have such a spirit, my dear. It¡¯s lovely.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Hattie,¡± my cheeks heated up at the wholehearted compliment. Hattie patted the back of my hand before she released me and turned to Kerrie:


    ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve dried out your reserves, my dear. There¡¯ll be days when you can¡¯t do anything but, and then days where your eyes are dry as the Sahara. It comes and goes.¡±


    Birdie¡¯s lips were a thin line while she listened to Hattie address her daughter, but she was way too polite to cut her off. That was the good thing about Birdie¡ªshe had her husband¡¯s reputation to worry about, so she always through carefully about her words and actions.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t cry,¡± Samuel smirked, like lack of tears was some sort of feat.


    ¡°Bull crap, you little twit,¡± Hattie glared up at him. ¡°I¡¯m old but I¡¯m not deaf.¡±


    Samuel went red because of Ray¡¯s snickers and took a step back from the group. A glance over at Hattie¡¯s convertible later and I figured he was debating on going to sit in the car to hide.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be a baby,¡± Hattie groaned and reached out for Samuel¡¯s hand which he took without pause and stepped back to her side. it was cute to see him showing affection without him trying to jam his tongue down some random girl¡¯s throat.


    We rarely saw Hattie as she lived in a gated fifty-five and up community on the North edge of town. Samuel lived there with her, but he had to get special permission to be there in the first place. However, we would chat with her on the random occasion she decided to drive Samuel to wherever we were hanging out for the day.


    The group devolved into small talk after that, with Birdie dutifully ignored everyone but Kerrie, and Hattie took every chance she could to make us laugh.


    Hattie was in the middle of describing what theme she was going to use for her current batch of kindness rocks when the roar of Frank Vena¡¯s huge Dodge Ram shattered the stillness of the night.


    A few moments later, the white monstrosity zoomed around the bend in the path at a break-neck speed. It barely stopped in time to avoid Hattie¡¯s convertible.


    ¡°Oh shit,¡± Ray paled and gently removed himself from my hold before his parents exited the truck. I relented and took a step back from him as he self-consciously patted Betty from where she was hidden. I think he was more worried about his mom would do if she found Betty, than the Sheriff.


    Deputy Gomez high-tailed it to the truck. He got to the Ram and knocked on the window down to reveal the hard jaw and graying hair of Frank Vena.


    After a silent exchange, Gomez backed off and Frank slowly and purposefully opened the door. He hopped down into the dark dirt, said something over his shoulder, and paced a few steps forward before he stopped to wait for Anita.


    The passenger door opened for a few seconds then closed. Around the front fender came Anita. She looked disheveled. Her hair which was usually sleek, was mussed, and her clothes were even worse. Knowing Anita, she got dressed in a hurry and just grabbed whatever clothes she could find off the floor, wrinkles and all.


    She floated forward, her eyes locked on Ray her nails getting nibbled as she approached.


    Frank seemed on high alert. His head jerked back and forth as he took in all the sights and sounds along the path. I could feel the tension from where I was standing. It wasn¡¯t just from Frank, though. Ray nearly vibrated with nerves as he wilted under his father¡¯s presence.


    ¡°Frank! Anita,¡± Hattie turned to greet the Vena¡¯s with her usual warm welcome.


    Frank grunted, let go of his wife¡¯s hand and walked past the group to the school. He ignored Gomez who sternly tried to remind him that this was a crime scene, and continued on like a man possessed. Gomez radioed the Sheriff of an incoming parent.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Hattie focused in on Anita who was just staring at Ray, nail between her teeth. ¡°You don¡¯t look well, Anita.¡±


    ¡°I just¡­¡± Anita¡¯s head bobbed on her shoulders as she looked around at the surrounding woods. Her fingers twitched as she did so, like she was silently counting. Her wide eyes settled back on Ray. ¡°The energy here is so wrong¡­it feels¡­dark?¡±


    ¡°Oh Jesus, Mary and Joseph,¡± Birdie muttered and moved further from Anita as she put herself between Ray¡¯s mother and Kerrie.


    ¡°Well a boy died here, hon,¡± Hattie shrugged, not bothered by Anita¡¯s statement whatsoever. Hattie habitually chatted with Anita whenever she dropped Samuel off at the Vena¡¯s house, so she was used to the younger woman¡¯s oddness.


    ¡°It¡¯s more than that,¡± Ray tensed further as his mother approached him and put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s the dark that changes. It¡¯s marked my son.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Ma,¡± Ray leaned forward and put his head on Anita¡¯s shoulder. She cupped the back of his head and sniffled. Ray rubbed her shoulder and sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Ma. I¡¯ll be okay, I swear.¡±


    He grinned at me from her shoulder and rolled his eyes. Of course, he would end up consoling his mother after he found a dead body.


    Birdie didn¡¯t find any of this amusing. She cleared her throat loudly to get the attentions of the other guardians and when that didn¡¯t work, she interjected an extremely exasperated ¡®excuse me¡¯. Kerrie went red, her eyes silently apologized for her mother¡¯s behavior.


    Ray released his mother so the adults could talk. Anita, watery eyed, took up residence next to Ray and Samuel across the circle from Birdie and did her best to smile at the other woman.


    ¡°Birdie, so nice to see you.¡±


    ¡°And you, Anita,¡± Birdie replied in the most insincere tone I¡¯d ever heard come from an adult. ¡°I think we need to discuss exactly what happened here tonight and how this came about.¡±


    I gulped and glanced at Kerrie who shrugged and kept her mouth shut.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well one of the kids had the bright idea to break curfew and roped the others into doing the same. I know it wasn¡¯t Kerrie who did that.¡±


    ¡°Birdie, what¡¯s the point of the ¡®blame game¡¯?¡± Hattie scoffed. ¡°Even if they hadn¡¯ta snuck out, that poor boy would still be dead.¡±


    Birdie adjusted her pearls, her mouth transformed into a scowl.


    ¡°That¡¯s not my point. My point is, I don¡¯t want my daughter around negative influences. My baby say God-knows-what tonight, and if she hadn¡¯t been¡­cajoled into sneaking out she would still have that innocence.¡±


    ¡°Mom¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®Mom¡¯ me, Kerrie Anne. You¡¯ll thank me when you don¡¯t end up in a detention center.¡±


    Fucking bitch.


    I set my jaw to keep from going ape shit on my best friend¡¯s mom and from the hand that gripped mine, I could tell Ray was having a hard time not losing it as well.


    ¡°They¡¯re kids, Birdie, lighten up,¡± Hattie drawled. ¡°Am I happy my Sammy broke curfew? No. We¡¯re going to have a long talk about that, trust me¡­but is separating the kids really the way to go here?¡±


    ¡°I think Hattie¡¯s right,¡± Anita chimed in. ¡°They went through a trauma tonight. It could make it worse if we keep them apart.¡±


    ¡°The church has counseling, which I can give you all information on,¡± Birdie rummaged through her purse and pulled out three pamphlets she held them out and waited for us to take one.


    ¡°That¡¯s your answer?¡± Hattie balked. ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯m against counseling, and I¡¯m not against believing in something, but I¡¯m not sure the two mix¡­¡±


    Birdie retracted the pamphlets and shoved them back into her purse violently.


    ¡°Fine¡­but I¡¯m not going to stand aside and let my child be surrounded by s-called friends who can¡¯t follow simple rules.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you know what, Mrs. Jeffers? It was me,¡± I blurted. ¡°I got a text from Matty that asked to meet up, and I didn¡¯t want to be alone in the woods, so I figured we¡¯d be safe in a group. I knew we shouldn¡¯t go out past curfew, but I wanted Matty to go home.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like Sophia was trying to do the right thing,¡± the deep voice of Frank Vena barked from behind me. I jumped and looked over my shoulder to see him walk to us just as quick as he¡¯d left.


    Frank stopped behind me and put his hands on my shoulders.


    ¡°You can¡¯t commend a child for breaking rules,¡± Birdie was astonished. ¡°Heart in the right place or not, the rules are there for a reason!¡±


    ¡°I can, and I am,¡± Frank¡¯s voice was alarmingly even. ¡°That boy had been in that bag for a while. At least a day. If Sophia got contacted today, then it wasn¡¯t Matthew doing it.¡±


    Wait. What?

 Chapter Three

    ¡°Holy shit, Soph,¡± Kerrie gasped. Birdie nudged her daughter and glared.


    ¡°So I was talking to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Whoever murdered Matthew. You got a gut on you girl, good job watching your six.¡± Frank patted my shoulders roughly and wove his way around me to stand in front of his son.


    ¡°You¡¯re not in trouble for being there for Sophia, got it?¡± Ray nodded quietly and let out a shuddering breath.


    ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying was that this was a trap?¡± Birdie¡¯s voice was small.


    ¡°More than likely,¡± Frank¡¯s tone was matter of fact. ¡°He was probably watching from the woods and split when he saw there was a group.¡±


    All the women in the group shuddered collectively.


    ¡°All I know is that Sophia trusted her gut, and Kerrie was there for her friend when she needed her. that¡¯s an admirable trait.¡±


    Kerrie perked up at the words of praise, her dejected expression changed into one of pride.


    Birdie thought on it for a moment before she sighed. She probably realized she wasn¡¯t going to gain the agreement of the other adults. She looked over at Kerrie, smiled apologetically and rubbed her daughter¡¯s arm.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when we get home,¡± she said.


    Kerrie shook her head and flinched out of her mother¡¯s grasp. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go home, I want to stay with my friends!¡±


    Birdie seemed like she was going to explode.


    ¡°Kerrie Anne, it¡¯s late,¡± the woman¡¯s voice was purposefully even and measured. ¡°I¡¯m tired. Please don¡¯t¡¯ fight me on this.¡± She pinched the bridge of her nose as she spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to be able to sleep, and I don¡¯t want to be alone! We all pretty much agreed sleep wasn¡¯t happening, anyway,¡± Kerrie persisted.


    ¡°Yeah, Mrs. Jeffers, we don¡¯t want to be alone¡­parents are great and all, but it¡¯s not the same. Y¡¯know?¡± Samuel added.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even know where I¡¯m going,¡± I whispered and looked around the circle for the guardian I didn¡¯t have.


    ¡°What? That¡¯s right. Janice is missing,¡± Hattie¡¯s wrinkles deepened as she frowned.


    ¡°We got her,¡± Frank assured Hattie. Ray gave me the ¡®I-told-you-so¡¯ face and swung our connected hands back and forth in a small gesture of victory.


    ¡°Thanks, Frank,¡± I grinned, glad I wasn¡¯t headed home in the back of a cruiser.


    ¡°In fact,¡± Frank slung a lazy arm around Anita¡¯s shoulders and gave her a quick look before he made eye contact with both Hattie and Birdie in turn. ¡°How about we all meet up at our house. It¡¯s a little out of the way, but we have room to entertain while we figure out how to handle this.¡±


    Hattie immediately agreed, but Birdie¡¯s face of annoyance was one for the ages. She rolled her pearls in her hand while looking between the other adults, all of whom were waiting for her answer.


    ¡°¡­Sure,¡± she finally agreed. Without giving the rest of us a second look she glided off to her sedan and left Kerrie at the trunk of the cruiser.


    ¡°I¡¯ll guide her,¡± Kerrie spoke to Frank and Anita, her tone reeking of unspoken apologies.


    I couldn¡¯t blame her. Though she truly cared for her daughter, Birdie had a shitty way of showing it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get the heck outta here, kiddo,¡± Hattie patted Samuel on his chest to get him to move and shuffled her way back to her car. Samuel gave Ray and I a thumbs up before he spun to follow his grandmother.


    As they were walking away, Frank turned to the two of us, his expression full Sargent.


    ¡°No shenanigans under my roof,¡± he jabbed a meaty finger at each of us which made my head jerk back at the quick movement.


    ¡°No shenanigans,¡± I promised.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Ray agreed.


    ¡°Good,¡± Frank immediately melted back into the family man I was used to, his smile wide. ¡°Shall we?¡±


    With an arm around Anita¡¯s shoulders Frank strode to the back of the truck os that the others could follow us back to their house. Ray and I trudge after his parents and hop into the bed of the truck¡ªour usual seat when we hung out with his folks. We kept a tight grip on each other and the sides of the bed while Frank turned the truck and drove back to the highway.


    My head fell against Ray¡¯s shoulder as we rode to the little suburb that the Vena¡¯s call home. It was one of the more affluent neighborhoods that was mostly made up of restored Victorians.


    We leaned into the turn as Frank pulled into the driveway and parked the car before he came to help us hop out. he slapped Ray on the back as he jumped down and offered me a hand, so I didn¡¯t biff my landing.


    ¡°Thanks Frank, it means a lot¡­you know, bringing me here.¡± My hand slid back into Ray¡¯s as we navigated the manicured path to the front door.


    ¡°Darlin, if you haven¡¯t already come to the conclusion, let me tell you: You¡¯re family. No matter if my stupid kid fucks up or not, you always have a place here.¡± I laughed quietly at the face Ray made at his father.


    I liked how candid Frank was when he was out of the public eye. His use and combination of swear words was impressive and never ceased to make me laugh.


    ¡°Oh and don¡¯t let ¡®Mary Jane Rotten Crotch¡¯ back there get you down. She¡¯s uptight as fuck, but she just loves her kid,¡± Frank unlocked the door and stepped back to let us pass.


    I was just at the threshold of the door when Anita¡¯s breezy voice could be heard: ¡°I hate that woman.¡±


    ¡°We all do,¡± Ray snorted and made way for the kitchen. ¡°You want anything to drink, babe?¡±


    ¡°Water,¡± I called out and sat on one of the plush couches that lined the walls of the great room.


    Anita had done her best to make the gargantuan house feel cozy and warm. All the furniture had warm undertones, and the couches and chairs were all earthy shades. Paintings she had done herself lined the walls. I could spend hours just walking from room to room taking in all the different textures and patterns.


    ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± Frank called out from the porch.


    Just then there was a clattering of nails on hardwood and a hollow ¡®thud¡¯ followed by a yelp of pain. I could hear whining and whimpering from the other side of the kitchen near the back stairs.


    ¡°I¡¯m in here, idiot!¡± I called out.


    The whining stopped and the telltale steps of Jett, the Vena¡¯s great dane drew closer at a rapid-fire pace. He emerged from the kitchen, pointed ears high on his head as he listened to the sounds going on around him.


    ¡°Hey, doof,¡± I patted my thigh to get Jett¡¯s attention.


    The blank and white spotted monster of a dog galloped across the open space and crawled up onto the couch next to me and planted a saucer sized paw in my lap.


    I patted Jett¡¯s neck. Small clouds of dust rose from his coat.


    ¡°Fuck, you need a bath,¡± I muttered.


    There was a rise of commotion at the front door as Frank and Anita welcomed the first comers into their home. I heard something about drinks then saw Anita half-jog into the great room on her way to the kitchen. She had a mischievous sparkle in her bright eyes. That look for a parent was never a good thing. Especially one as whimsical as Anita.


    ¡°Yo,¡± Samuel lumbered into the great room with Hattie close behind him. He looked exhausted. Hattie on the other hand was buzzing with half-whispered compliments about the d¨¦cor and artwork.


    ¡°Hey,¡± my lips parted into a miniscule smile as I scooted over a cushion to make room for him as Frank entered followed by Kerrie and an uncomfortable looking Birdie.


    Jett leapt off the couch and set about greeting the new guests. After getting reacquainted with Samuel and Kerrie, he introduced himself to Hattie and Birdie who¡¯s reaction was priceless. She shrank back against the doorway while the rest of us tried not to laugh at her discomfort.


    I heard the rough gurgle of a throat being cleared and looked up to see Frank¡¯s eyes on me.


    ¡°Fuck off upstairs, please. Take the others. I¡¯ll send Ray up when he¡¯s done helping his mom.¡±


    Birdie gasped at the rhetoric from the door and looked to Kerrie with wide eyes.


    ¡°You got it,¡± I stood and jerked my head for the others to follow. The carpet of the great room sank under my boots as I crossed the wide space and made for the foyer.


    We climbed the stairs and went directly to Ray¡¯s enormous room which amazingly enough was the master of the house. When Ray had become a teen, Anita forced Frank to switch bedrooms with Ray so that he could have his ¡®alone time¡¯ and not have to leave the room. From what I heard it was a hell of a fight, but she eventually won.


    The door was cracked open, as per Anita¡¯s want, so we just walked right into the deep navy room and collapsed in our usual lounging spots. Samuel went right to the bean bag chair that was situated by the door and sunk into the velvet fabric. Kerry laid down on the padding for the bay window¡¯s seat, her head knocked against the wall as she situated her head on one of the pillows.


    I raided Ray¡¯s closet and began looking for something to wear on my lower half. I wanted to perch in my spot¡ªRay¡¯s bed, but my knees were still covered in Matty¡¯s blood. I ended up finding a pair of basketball shorts in a drawer.


    These¡¯ll do.


    The floor of the bedroom creaked as I ventured across to the bathroom. I would have done so in the room had it been just Kerrie in there, but because of Samuel¡¯s presence the bathroom was the safer option. If Ray knew I¡¯d gotten even partially undressed in front of Samuel, there would be a fight.


    Once locked up in Ray¡¯s bathroom, I peeled my jeans off and left them hanging on the sink so the blood wouldn¡¯t get anywhere that couldn¡¯t be easily cleaned and grabbed some toilet paper to clean my knees.


    I wasn¡¯t sure if it was the Xanax, or what, but even though I knew it was Matty¡¯s blood, it felt more like dried paint for the reaction I had to it. It washed off easily enough, and I flushed the soiled paper before slipping on the basketball shorts so I could go collapse on the bed.


    I was probably gone no longer than five minutes, but when I came out, I could hear Kerrie¡¯s soft snore from across the room and saw Samuel take aim with one of Ray¡¯s dirty t-shirts.


    In the height of her next snore, Samuel whipped the shirt at her. It got Kerrie right in the face and snapped her awake with such ferocity that she nearly fell off the window seat.


    I giggled on my way to the bed. The plush pillow topper was calling my name. I damn near swan-dived into the pile of pillows Ray kept at the head of it.


    ¡°So satisfying,¡± I groaned, my face buried into a pillow.


    ¡°Heard that before,¡± Samuel said.


    ¡°Doubt it,¡± Kerrie snapped, still pissed from the shirt to the face.


    We sat there in silence for a while. The only sound that permeated the quiet was the occasional yawn or crack of the fingers.


    After about twenty minutes with no sign of Ray and a growing swear count downstairs, I rolled off the bed and went to the door. I was fucking bored.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Kerrie asked through a yawn.


    ¡°Stairs. I want to know what¡¯s going on and you two are boring as shit.¡± I brushed my hair back behind my shoulders and slipped through the open door out into the hallway.


    I stepped lightly as to not get outed by the creaking floor as I moved down the hall past the spare room to the landing. I was about to take a step down when a shadow fell over me. I wanted to jump out of my skin.


    I looked over my shoulder to see Samuel smirk at my reaction and Kerrie behind him with a hand over her mouth. Her shoulders bounced as she laughed silently.


    ¡°Fuck you,¡± I mouthed and turned back around. I made sure to use the sides of the stairs to avoid any noise.


    The volume of the conversation in the great room grew as we descended. I moved next to the railing about halfway down the flight. Low enough to hear, but high enough not to be seen if Frank decided to look around the corner.


    Kerrie took a seat next to me, and Samuel chose to sit a few steps up, his knees pressed against my back.


    Birdie was in the middle of a rant about how they shouldn¡¯t let us hang out anymore.


    ¡°Obviously tonight is further proof that the kids are bad influences on each other. Kerrie didn¡¯t have her¡­confusion until they all started getting close.¡± Kerrie tensed.


    ¡°So, your daughter¡¯s a carpet muncher. There¡¯s worse things she could be¡­like dead,¡± Frank spat.


    ¡°Excuse me, sir!¡±


    ¡°What? It¡¯s true. Who care if she likes boys and girls¡ªshe¡¯s alive and she needs back up,¡± his voice verged on venomous.


    ¡°The children¡¯s sexual preferences aside, I think the crux of the issue is that Birdie here seems to have a low opinion of Sammy, Sophia, and Ray.¡± The coldness in Hattie¡¯s voice sent shivers down my spine.


    ¡°What? I said no such thing!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to. You¡¯re not as slick as you think. All night you¡¯ve been looking down that nose of yours at every single one of us. What¡¯s worse is that you had a chance to show poor Sophia some kindness in Janice¡¯s absence and you didn¡¯t even acknowledge her!¡±


    Birdie attempted to cut in, but Hattie just raised her voice and continued:


    ¡°She may not be yours, but she¡¯s your daughter¡¯s friend, and if that doesn¡¯t count for something then well¡­I guess what I¡¯m trying to say is: I don¡¯t see much ¡®Godliness¡¯ in the way you treat others.¡±


    ¡°Fuckin¡¯ A, right, Gran,¡± Samuel whispered.


    I glanced at Kerrie while keeping an ear out for more drama in the other room. She had the biggest shit-eating grin on her face as she stared off down the stairwell. I grabbed her hand and lifted our arms in silent celebration. I think we¡¯d all been waiting for Birdie to get taken down a peg.


    There was a long silence after Hattie¡¯s proverbial mic drop. It was made all the better because I could tell without being able to see the reaction that even Frank was speechless.


    ¡°Now that that¡¯s out of the way,¡± Frank finally spoke, ¡°what we really need to think about is school. When are we sending them? Tomorrow? Two days from now? Also, possible media whores¡ªhow are we going to handle that?¡±


    Shit. Reporters.


    The idea hadn¡¯t even occurred to me, but once news of Matty¡¯s murder hit the papers it was going to be a circus. Green Glen was a small town. Only a few thousand people and everyone knew we were Matty¡¯s closest friends.


    School was a great question as well¡ªI wasn¡¯t tired so who knows when I¡¯d be able to sleep, so I didn¡¯t think school would happen for me tomorrow unless Janice decided to be a true sadist and send me anyway. Then there would be no way for me to get the looks or questions.


    A feminine throat cleared:


    ¡°In my opinion,¡± Birdie began, ¡°I think that they need a few days to process. Tomorrow is going to be hard for everyone and I think keeping them close is the best way to go about it.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Hattie replied. ¡°Sammy talks a tough game, but he breaks down when he¡¯s exhausted. And if he¡¯s set on not sleeping, sometime tomorrow the water works are going to be a-flowin¡¯ and I want to be there for him.¡±


    My lips pursed to stifle the laughter welling up inside me. Kerrie wasn¡¯t faring much better and was gripping her knee in her own bid not to laugh out loud.


    ¡°Fuck you both in the ass,¡± came a sharp hiss from behind us.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t cry during,¡± came my low reply. Kerrie snorted, and doubled over, her entire body shook from suppressed laughter.


    Samuel ¡®humphed¡¯ and I heard a barely audible creak as he leaned back and pushed his knees further into me.


    Ray¡¯s going to be sad he missed this.


    ¡°Right, so we¡¯re keeping them out for a few days until the frenzy dies down. I think we should all keep in contact during that time and make sure we¡¯re a resource for each other as well.¡± Frank¡¯s voice had softened back to its more ¡®acceptable¡¯ speech pattern.


    ¡°Sounds good to me. If one of us gets reporters camping, we can warn each other to keep the kids out of sight.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure Kerrie gives me your numbers to keep in contact,¡± piped in a less enthusiastic Birdie.


    ¡°Good, now final issue: getting Janice on the same page.¡± I froze at the mention of Janice. The railing of the staircase dug into my cheek from the amount of pressure I exerted as I tried my best not to miss a word. ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility for that seeing as Sophia is staying here. I¡¯m just at a loss on how to handle the woman.¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°I heard she¡¯s lost it since Bruce left her for that man her met,¡± Bridie¡¯s overexaggerated whisper was so loud I bet the neighbors could hear it too.


    ¡°I know Sophia has to babysit the twins a lot,¡± Frank offered in a less gossipy manner. ¡°There¡¯s plenty of times Ray¡¯s moping around the house because she can¡¯t come over. Something about making sure the boys are looked after.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s that side business she has. Keeps her out of the house. Don¡¯t think she can stand to be there with all those memories. Lord knows after my Wyatt died, I could barely handle being in those walls,¡± Hattie¡¯s voice broke at the mention of her late husband.


    ¡°She still has a duty to her children,¡± Birdie sniped. ¡°Those little boys can¡¯t be doing well without their mother around. A child should not be raising children.¡±


    ¡°Hey now. Sophia has a good head on those shoulders. I know damn well she cares about those boys,¡± Frank argued.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying she doesn¡¯t care,¡± Birdied sighed deeply. ¡°What I was getting at was: she¡¯s sixteen. She should be having a childhood and not be pulling double duty as an interim mother.¡±


    Wow, I never thought about it like that.


    I never gave a second thought to taking care of the boys. They were so excited to ¡®have a sister¡¯ that we had bonded right away. They were generally well behaved for me.


    Sure, I got a bit annoyed when I would have to miss time with my friends to make sure they were fed, bathed, and put to bed¡­. but if I didn¡¯t do it, it wouldn¡¯t get done. That was life in the Claybourne household. The great status quo.


    ¡°No arguments there,¡± Frank sounded put off that he had agreed with Birdie on something.


    ¡°I¡¯ve spoken to Janice on a few occasions,¡± Hattie admitted. ¡°She¡¯s a rather tough nut to crack. Very stand-offish. I made a comment about her haircut, nothing bad, but she got extremely defensive and blundered off talking to herself under her breath. I would just choose your words carefully.¡±


    ¡°Noted,¡± Frank sighed. ¡°Is that acceptable to you three?¡± His thunderous voice made me jump and lean back from the banister.


    Oh shit! How does he know?


    ¡°First of all, your faces are priceless. Secondly, next time, check the door for reflections.¡± Frank¡¯s heavy footsteps thudded on the old floor. His graying hair poked into view as he leaned around the corner looking irked. ¡°Covert, you are not.¡±


    ¡°Guess not,¡± heat flared in my cheeks as I grinned at him sheepishly. ¡°Sorry, we got bored.¡±


    ¡°Guess it saves time explaining everything,¡± he shrugged and waved us off the stairs and into the great room.


    Kerrie and I exchanged a glance before we pulled ourselves up and tromped down the rest of the stairs to follow Frank with Samuel right on our tails.


    We stepped out into the great room to be met with the disappointed faces of our respective guardians. Hattie had taken up residence in one of the old recliners, and Birdie was pressed against the arm of the couch as she tried to put as much distance between her and Jett as possible.


    ¡°What have I told you about eavesdropping, boy,¡± Hattie swished one of her bondy hands in Samuel¡¯s direction. From the sharp intake of breath behind me, I could tell that though he was out of range, he still braced for the impact.


    ¡°Kerrie Anne, you know better,¡± Birdie¡¯s pearls were firmly grasped in her hand.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± we all spoke in unison. I know for my part I was doing my best to look dejected and hoped that if I looked sorry enough that would be the end of it.


    The clock on the wall above the main sofa showed it was way past one a.m. . I guess the face of the clock was my body¡¯s que to yawn. Soon after I saw Kerrie¡¯s face contort as she yawned as well, followed by Samuel¡¯s deeper version echo from behind us.


    Hattie put down an icy glass of water. Maybe Anita and Ray had come out to deliver drinks while we had been upstairs. Didn¡¯t explain where he was, now, though and it made me worry about that smirk Anita had on her way to the kitchen.


    ¡°I think that¡¯s our signal to get going,¡± Hattie reached down next to her feet for her purse and slung the patchwork bag over her shoulder as she stood. ¡°We¡¯ll check in tomorrow afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Kerrie Anne. Time to go.¡± Birdie stood and winced as Jett rose along with her.  As much as I didn¡¯t want them to go, there wasn¡¯t any denying that we were exhausted. Sleep was coming for us whether we liked it or not.


    I was apprehensive about the idea of shutting my eyes. I had no idea what I would see. Would it be Matty all broken in the bag? Would I be lost in the woods on my own as I was chased by a killer? Would the creature I saw make its return?


    I didn¡¯t even know if I would dream at all.


    ¡°See ya, Soph,¡± Kerrie pulled me into a brief one-armed hug. I returned the gesture doing my best to quell the sadness building within me. I wasn¡¯t ready for them to go.


    ¡°Bye,¡± Samuel¡¯s curt farewell and the memory of my dig on him in the stairwell brought me into a fit of giggling much to the confusion of the adults in the room.


    ¡°Oh screw you,¡± he groused, ¡°can we go, gran?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Hattie nodded to Birdie and gave Frank a hug on the way past us, all the while I was trying to calm my exhaustion fueled laughing spree.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to know, do I?¡± Birdie looked between Kerrie and I who had caught onto why I had laughed and began to giggle, herself. Kerrie shook her head at her mother and reached out a hand for her to take.


    Birdie latched onto Kerrie and big Frank and I goodnight leaving a sullen great dane in her wake. We listened for the front door to close behind the Jeffers¡¯ before his shoulder¡¯s dropped.


    ¡°I really fucking hate that woman,¡± he groaned and covered his face with his hands. The rest of his body slumped as he walked to the recently vacated recliner and dropped heavily into it.


    I padded over to the couch to recline next to Jett on the plush cushions. I sunk down and sighed in contentment. I would be fine with just staying the night in this spot. All I needed was a blanket.


    I must have passed out for a few because next thing I knew, Ray was shooing Jett off the couch to be able to sit with me. I blinked myself awake, pushed myself off the arm of the couch and yawned.


    ¡°Sorry, babe,¡± Ray flopped down next to me in a Frank-like fashion. I bounced on my seat which only served to wake me further.


    ¡°¡¯S fine,¡± I shrugged and reached for the icy glass of water on the coffee table in front of me to take a long drink.


    ¡°Well, now that we have you both out here, let¡¯s do these rules really quick so we can all try and get some sleep,¡± Anita¡¯s usual chirp was rather muted.


    She sat on the arm of the recliner Frank was in though there were plenty of other spaces to sit. Her arm laid along the top of the headrest as she lazed. Frank pinched her hip.


    ¡°Do the damn thing, hun. They look like shit.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Pop.¡±


    ¡°Now, Frank. Be nice,¡± Anita scolded. ¡°Anyway, we know you two are young and in love. That much is clear. What we are asking is simply not to fall into each other¡¯s arms and let the heightened emotions of the night allow you to make life altering decisions.¡± Her hands fluttered and flailed as she spoke.


    ¡°Translation for those in the back: ¡®No fucking¡¯!¡± Frank¡¯s voice rose as his sentence went on. Ray and I looked at one another, his cheeks were a deep cherry red, and my own face felt hot.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Ray¡¯s wide-eyed horror at the topic of conversation could have easily sent sleepy me into another fit of laughter¡­if it hadn¡¯t been for the fact that Frank seemed to want a response as soon as possible.


    ¡°Yes, Frank,¡± My answer came easily. I wasn¡¯t completely ready for a sexual encounter¡ªand I wasn¡¯t about to have my first time be the night I found my friend murdered.


    ¡°Now that that¡¯s out of the way, hun, can you find Sophia some PJ¡¯s?¡± Frank¡¯s head tilted up; his eyes filled with adoration for his wife.


    ¡°Of course, sugar. Sophia and I will go find those and I¡¯ll show her to her room.¡± Anita rose slowly letting the arm she had on the headrest drop down to caress Frank¡¯s head.


    I glanced over at Ray who shot back an apologetic grin. I shrugged and pulled myself from the couch and put the water glass back on the coffee table.


    I trailed Anita in her wrinkly pajamas up the stairs and down to the end of the hall. The room reeked of after shave and incense. The leafy green walls had tapestries of mandalas hung up on them and the bed was covered in pillows with inspirational quotes. It was very Anita. She meandered over to her closet and started to rummage through the hangers on the rack.


    ¡°I know I have something,¡± she muttered to herself. I saw clothing violently pulled across the wooden bar in her search for me to find something to wear. ¡°There it is!¡±


    Anita pulled out a short sleeve satin nightgown that still had the shopping tags on it and handed it over to me with a small smile.


    The lace detailing on the mid-rise collar of the night dress was beautiful and flowery-the only thing that bothered me was the small keyhole cut out below it.


    ¡°It¡¯s great, Anita, thanks so much,¡± I gripped the tags and yanked them off.


    ¡°No worries, my love. I quit wearing clothes to bed years ago, at least this¡¯ll finally get used.¡± Anita giggled and put an arm around my shoulder to guide me back out into the hall to the guest room at the opposite end.


    ¡°This is yours,¡± she pushed the door open to the light lilac room. It was from what I had seen, the cleanest room in the house. Probably due to its lack of use. There was a dresser, a desk, and a full bed. Simple but cozy.


    ¡°It¡¯s perfect. I love the color.¡±


    ¡°Good, because if you ever need a place to go, this room is open for you. You know that, right? Frank and I talked it over and we want to make sure you have a place you can come and decompress. We know you have a lot on your plate at home.¡±


    ¡°Wow, shit¡­I don¡¯t know what to say, Anita. Thanks again!¡± She waved me off and pulled me in for one of her famous spine-cracking hugs. I returned the gesture with as much force as I could muster being as tired as I was. Anita laughed in my ear as she let me go and went back into the hall.


    ¡°If you need anything, let us know. You know where we are.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    I checked the digital clock in the spare room and frowned. It was three in the morning and I still hadn¡¯t been able to drift off. I¡¯d been lying here for over an hours, eyes screwed shut as I tried my best to keep my breath steady and slow.


    Then the crying started. Lucky for the others in the house, I was used to having to cry in silence. Crocodile tears rolled into my hair as I stared at the ceiling and wondered where Matty was. Was he okay, now?


    The last few times we talked on my porch he had been really depressed. His father, Morton, was hard on Matty. He was also dependent on pain killers after an SUV at the garage he managed slipped off the jack and crushed his spine. Morton had someone to run the garage for him in the interim but wanted Matty to take over in his place as soon as possible.


    Matty hated cars¡ªthey weren¡¯t his thing. So, having to spend almost every afternoon in his carport taking instruction from his father was torture. When he did well, Morton rewarded him with a slap on the back. When he did bad, Morton hit him. There were several times Matty didn¡¯t come to school because he was nursing a black eye.


    That¡¯s why he ran away. I knew it. his life sucked and he wanted out. he didn¡¯t have a girlfriend to lean on, like how I leaned on Ray. He just had the four of us, and we weren¡¯t always as supportive as we could have been.


    I sniffled loudly and sucked back up a wad of snot that tried to run down my face.


    I need a tissue.


    The satin of my nightgown slid easily over the sheets as I got out of bed. other than the keyhole which showed off my barely there cleavage, I loved it. it was long on me because of how short I was in general, and a bit loose. The nightgown billowed about as I went to the bathroom where Frank¡¯s bears-fighting-with-chainsaws snore could still clearly be heard.


    On my way past, I heard faint music coming from Ray¡¯s room.


    Is he still up?


    I got to the bathroom, blew my nose and wiped my teary eyes with the back of my hand. I felt mildly better after my cry, but knew I wasn¡¯t anywhere close to being done. Matty had been a good friend and I missed him so much already.


    I wasn¡¯t ready to pass out, exhausted as I was. I crept up to Ray¡¯s door. It was shut.


    I knocked. My hands fidgeted as I waited to see if I would be allowed entrance or if I would have to head back to my room.


    The door groaned softly as it opened to expose the innards of the room, and Ray who was in nothing but a pair of baggy sweatpants. There were bags under his eyes from lack of sleep, and his hair was erratic as if he¡¯d been tossing and turning.


    ¡°Hey,¡± I whispered. ¡°Did I wake you up?¡±


    ¡°Nah. Wasn¡¯t working.¡±


    ¡°Me either,¡± I rocked from foot to foot on the smooth hardwood floor, unsure of what to say next.


    ¡°Wanna come in?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± I tilted my head.


    Ray chuckled softly and stepped back to allow me into his space. ¡°They said ¡®no fucking¡¯, not ¡®no talking¡¯.¡±


    Fair enough.


    The only light in the room was the moonlight streaming in from the large bay window. It made the furniture in his room cast strange shadows at odd angles. I made my way to the full-size bed and crawled up on top of the comforter to settle near the foot, not wanting to be in cuddling territory.


    Ray flopped onto his mattress soon after and landed somewhere near the pillows. His lean muscle flexed as he landed. He rolled onto his back and dropped his head onto his main pillow to stare at the ceiling.


    ¡°You okay, babe?¡± I reached out and nudged his knee. Ray was never this quiet.


    ¡°Just¡­tonight sucked.¡±


    Understatement of the year.


    ¡°Yeah, it did.¡±


    ¡°I keep thinking about what my dad said. About how it wasn¡¯t Matty who texted you? It makes my skin crawl.¡± Ray¡¯s eyes locked onto me. there was something more to the look, like he was in a reality where I had gone alone.


    ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯m okay,¡± I offered.


    ¡°I know,¡± he shut his eyes and sighed. ¡°I just want to know why. Was it because Matty was out there on his own? Did he see something he shouldn¡¯t have? Why Matt?¡±


    My elbows dug into the satin over my knees as I leaned forward and contemplated Ray¡¯s musings. I didn¡¯t have answers, that¡¯s for damn sure¡­and all questions were valid.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± He parroted my previous question.


    ¡°Got some crying done,¡± I shrugged. ¡°I think I met my quota for the day. Just couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Matty and where he was while I was trying to sleep.¡±


    Ray nodded and rolled onto his side to face me.


    ¡°You two were pretty close.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I stared at the pattern on the comforter as tears threatened to spill again. Ray reached out a hand for me to hold onto, which I accepted. He was warm as always, and it went a long way to helping me feel better. It was familiar, and since so much had happened tonight, familiar was what I wanted.


    ¡°Enough about earlier,¡± I said once I was sure I wasn¡¯t going to cry if I spoke. ¡°I¡¯m just glad to be here, now.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here, too,¡± he grinned. ¡°Never had a girl stay the night before.¡±


    ¡°Well don¡¯t get hopeful,¡± I squinted at him. ¡°I¡¯m not messing this up or disrespecting your parents¡­plus I¡¯m in your mom¡¯s nightgown. It¡¯d be super creepy.¡±


    ¡°Looks good on you though,¡± he jerked his hand back to pull me closer to him.


    ¡°Looks like a satin sack on me,¡± I grumbled.


    ¡°It looks wonderful.¡±


    ¡°Try hard.¡±


    ¡°Hey! Just learn to take a compliment, will ya? You¡¯re making this whole boyfriend thing a chore!¡± My hand pressed to my mouth to stifle a laugh that very well could have woken Ray¡¯s parents.


    ¡°Oh shut up,¡± the words came out muffled behind my hand.


    Ray stuck out his tongue at me and yanked my arm to get me to come closer. I stayed in place. I didn¡¯t want to get close enough for him to try and start anything.


    For all his great qualities, Ray had a habit of getting too heated up when we were alone. He always backed off when I asked him do and apologized afterward¡­but it was just annoying to constantly avoid boners when it happened.


    ¡°You¡¯re no fun,¡± he rolled his eyes and relaxed his grip on me.


    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡±


    ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll last?¡± The sudden change in conversation and his expression caught me off guard. The intensity in his bright blue eyes in the light of the moon made my heart skip a beat. That look was all for me.


    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t see why not¡­why?¡±


    ¡°Because, I dunno¡­I want us to. You¡¯re super chill, and you¡¯re supportive of what I want to do with my life. Hell, you put up with me, shouldn¡¯t that be enough?¡±


    ¡°Well of course I support you¡ªyou¡¯re supportive of me and my dancing. If you want to join the Marines when you graduate, why would I stop you from doing that?¡± I repositioned my legs, so that they were tucked under me and continued: ¡°I mean, it¡¯ll suck having you gone for long periods of time, yeah, but its what you really want. So, do it.¡±


    ¡°It is what I really want,¡± Ray¡¯s voice was earnest. ¡°I want to make my dad proud, and prove I can be just as badass as he is. I know I¡¯m just a goofy kid, now¡­but I know I can be more.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that just come with growing up, though? Not saying don¡¯t do it, but you gain maturity as you make mistakes and learn from them, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯m talking about having the balls to fight the bad guys¡ªwhoever they are and do whatever it takes to come out on top. Not letting my fear define me.¡±


    ¡°I wish I could do that,¡± I frowned. ¡°I¡¯m scared of a bunny in the woods. In daylight. Ever since my mom¡­I just expect the worst.¡±


    My mom had hung herself in her bedroom in the middle of the night while I¡¯d been asleep. Seven-year-old me found her the next morning when I needed help getting the cereal box off the top of the fridge.


    She¡¯d had her issues, even I could see it then, but like every kid, I always assumed my mom would be there.


    ¡°What happened with your mom was super fucked up, babe. It makes sense it¡¯d affect you¡­and hey! You¡¯re getting better bit by bit. Progress is good, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah it is. I just¡­I don¡¯t know. After tonight I feel like I¡¯m losing it. I don¡¯t know what is real, or safe. I thought I saw something in the woods after we found Matty¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Ray sat up straight. ¡°Babe! Why didn¡¯t you say something?¡±


    ¡°Because I didn¡¯t know if what I was seeing was real,¡± I lowered my gaze to the shiny crimson satin that covered my thighs. ¡°It wasn¡¯t¡­it wasn¡¯t human.¡±


    ¡°Not human?¡± I could feel the alarm wafting out of him.


    ¡°I can¡¯t describe it well. It was all stretched out and naked. It had this huge stomach¡­but what got me was its head. It only had a giant mouth.¡± I shook as I recounted as many details as I could. ¡°It looked at me or something¡­then its mouth opened and I just¡­¡±


    Tears rolled down my cheeks again as I thought of the pitch black inside the creature. I didn¡¯t want to look at ray and see the face any sane person would have¡ªconcern. I couldn¡¯t deal with that right now.


    ¡°That¡¯s uhh¡­there wasn¡¯t anything in the woods, Soph. I looked.¡± He squeezed my hand to get my attention.


    ¡°Because it disappeared when I screamed,¡± I quivered. ¡°It just, I don¡¯t know¡­faded into nothing.¡±


    ¡°Tonight was hard, babe. I think you were in shock and I think you kind of snapped for a second there. Monsters don¡¯t exist.¡±


    ¡°What about the smell? That awful rank ass smell that came out of nowhere. That had to have been the creature!¡±


    ¡°We were standing by a dead body, babe. Like Dad said, Matty was in there for a while. It was probably just that.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± I wrenched my hand free and grasped my hair. I pulled hard hoping to ground myself. ¡°It was so real, though.¡±


    ¡°But it wasn¡¯t,¡± Ray assured me. ¡°You have to believe that¡ªand you have to fight it. this is just your mind playing tricks on you.¡±


    The bed jostled as Ray moved closer and slowly unwound my fingers from my hair to take my hand back in his.


    ¡°Once you sleep, everything will seem better, I promise.¡± His voice was full of sincerity and I desperately wanted to believe him.


    ¡°You¡¯re probably right,¡± my lips turned up into a small smile, but it felt wrong on my face. Like my muscles knew it was a lie. ¡°I¡¯m going to head back to bed.¡±


    ¡°Okay, ¡° Ray lifted my hands to his lips and gave my knuckles a quick kiss. It wasn¡¯t something he usually did, and the sweetness of the gesture caught me off guard. My stomach did a little flip, and my smile became genuine.


    ¡°I want a real one!¡± I demanded and rose up onto my knees for a better vantage point. Ray beamed, slid his hands up my arms and guided me closer by the shoulders.


    His lips pressed to mine firmly. There was fire, and passion and want in the movement of his mouth against mine. It left my fear out in the cold.


    Ray cupped my head in his hands, and deftly wove his fingers through my disheveled hair as he poured a day¡¯s worth of lack-of-kisses into this one.


    I never thought I¡¯d find love at sixteen and I didn¡¯t expect it to be in a Podunk town like Green Glen. Guess there¡¯s something to be said about small town boys and their charm.


    Ray¡¯s hands now traveled the slick satin of my nightgown, down my back and¡ª


    Oh shit.


    He had a firm grip on my barely there ass, and was in the process of trying to pull me on top of him. I resisted, pressing back so I wouldn¡¯t end up in a place I had promised I wouldn¡¯t only a few hours before. The damn boy was trying to kill me, I swear.


    I pressed a hand to his chest and separated my lips from his, panting slightly from lack of oxygen and rapidly increasing hormone levels.


    ¡°Babe¡ªno,¡± I breathed.


    Ray¡¯s eyes glazed over in lust scanned my face for any hint of being unsure. When he didn¡¯t find anything, he released his hold on me, sighed deeply and rolled onto his stomach without a word.


    ¡°What?¡± I poked his side repeatedly as I tried to get him to face me again. ¡°are you mad at me? You¡¯re not mad at me, are you?¡±


    All I got was a head shake that made his mussed hair move back and forth. The small strands and chunks knocked together from the movement.


    ¡°Well you¡¯re being weird,¡± I ¡®humphed¡¯ and set about climbing off the bed. I wasn¡¯t going to stay and deal with Ray acting strange, especially with how emotionally drained I was. I had cried enough for the night.


    My feet hit the floor and I was in the process of standing when his hand grabbed my wrist. I looked over to see Ray giving me a sheepish half-smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m not mad. Just uhhh¡­¡± he glanced down at his lower half that was pressed into the mattress and his cheeks grew pink.


    Oh¡­


    Heat rose in my face as it dawned on me that he had tried to hide an erection caused by our intensely epic kiss. I felt like a dick for making a big deal out of it now, since he probably just hid it for my benefit.


    ¡°Oh, okay¡­I¡¯ll uhh¡­I¡¯ll just go.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Could you close the door on your way out?¡±


    The heat in my cheeks flared. I nodded quietly and slipped my wrist from his grasp, bounding out the door before making sure it was latched behind me.


    Back down the hall in my lilac room where my sheets were nice and cool, I prayed for a dreamless sleep.


    The metal frame of the bed creaked as I slipped back under the covers and rolled onto my side to face the window. I always fell asleep better on my left side than my right. The moon wasn¡¯t in view, but I could still see the stars and the tops of a few trees from the surrounding forest.


    I stared at the sky for a while and wondered what the little bright blobs were called. My eyelids drooped and felt heavy. There wasn¡¯t much I could do at that point, so I gave in and let my eyes close as I did my best to focus on the positive things I had going on.


    There was Ray and his parents. Kerrie wasn¡¯t totally mad at me, anymore. Samuel showed he could be a sweet person, and I had a dance concert to practice for over the next two weeks.


    My mind settled on running through my routine on repeat as my consciousness faded into the background of my mind.


    Kill them.


    My eyes shot open. It was still dark by the looks of the window, though I had no idea what time it was. I felt a crawling feeling on the back of my neck, and went to swat whatever offending thing it might be, away.


    Nothing.


    My arm didn¡¯t move.


    The crawling continued as I desperately tried to move my arm, my head, my big toe¡ªnone of them worked. I was trapped in my own body as I stared out at the misty early morning sky.


    Kill them.


    That thought, that voice¡ªit wasn¡¯t mine. It was a gravel-laced groan that resonated into and pierced my mind. It was something I¡¯d expect out of a horror movie, which I guess fit with the theme of the night.


    My panic levels rose as I debated on whether being paralyzed and hearing voices was a good enough reason to wake the house. They would understand, right?


    I tried to take a deep breath to amp my volume so I could call out, but my lungs only managed a petty inhale. Just enough to keep me going.


    Stay quiet.


    No!


    Nothing.


    I had every intention of calling out for Ray, or his parents but as much as I willed my mouth to open and for something¡ªanything to come out¡­nothing did.


    A movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. My eyes darted wildly to the foot of the bed to see a pale gray tentacle slip from the end of the mattress to the darkness below.


    Oh no.


    Then the smell hit me. Hot garbage and sulfur on a humid day. The exact same smell from the woods earlier in the evening. It enveloped me and I swore I could feel my nose hairs singe.


    The desperation to move was at an all time high. In my mind, I flailed, and scrambled out the door. However, the escape I concocted wasn¡¯t a possibility and I laid there like a lump, literally waiting for the monster under the bed.


    Kill them.

 Chapter Four

    I didn¡¯t have to wait long.


    The bed was an island in the middle of the room that left space on three sides for the creature to appear. Not able to discern which one, I rolled my eyes wildly as I tried to get a better look at my surroundings.


    The shadows seemed darker. Stranger. Like they were too long. I did my best to ignore them and keep my focus on what I was on the hunt for, but instead of finding it¡ªit found me.


    I had my gaze set as far to the side as I could, as I tried to look behind me, when a shadow darkened the comforter that covered my body. Something was between the window and I, and for the love of God¡ªI didn¡¯t want to look.


    I didn¡¯t want to look, because there was no question as to what it was. It was the creature from the woods, and it was hungry. Hungry for what, I wasn¡¯t sure, but I doubted it was one of Anita¡¯s vegetarian casseroles.


    Look at me.


    The thought, again, wasn¡¯t my own. It was a rasping guttural sound that left me wanting to shower. Whatever was in front of me spoke to me from inside my own head. However that worked.


    Look at me.


    No.


    This had to be proof that I¡¯d lost my shit. No sane person hears foreign voices in their head and then responds to them without being a few crayons short of a box. No sane person sees naked pale monsters in the woods.


    Look at me. Look at me.


    Fuck. You. No.


    I saw the shadow move before the bed creaked. Something had put pressure on it and my cheeks grew cold as the blood drained from my face. A thick wide pressure slithered its way up my stomach to my face.


    My eyes screwed themselves shut. I didn¡¯t want to see this thing up closes and I didn¡¯t want to see what was touching me.


    Look at me. Look at me. Look at me.


    Stop it! I¡¯m not looking!


    The moonlight that hit my closed eyes blacked out and I had to assume the creature moved closer to the head of the bed. I tried again to move. I had the faintest of hopes I would be able to fling myself off the other side of the bed part way to the door before it realized what I was up to.


    No dice.


    The foul smell that encased me grew, hot and wet right near my face. I gagged and tasted bile in the back of my mouth.


    The pressure that moved its way up my body was now past the protective barrier of the comforter. I felt the end of tit brush against my cheek and the only thing I could liken it to was the outside of Janice¡¯s old leather purse.


    Look at me, Sophia.


    How do you know my name?


    Look at me and I¡¯ll tell you. I won¡¯t hurt you. Just look.


    No.


    I promise. Just look.


    Stop it.


    Ray will look. I¡¯ll make him.


    Don¡¯t you dare.


    Then look.


    The meaty object on my face brushed a loose strand of hair that must have fallen while I was sleeping out of the way. This thing, whatever it was, knew my weak points. It immediately spoke of Ray in a tone that was murderous.


    I opened my eyes and choked.


    The bulbous egg-shaped head of the creature was not more than a foot from my face and its mouth was wide open. Its neck was stretched to an absurd distance from its bony shoulders. From my close view, I could now see the thing was covered in scars that oozed a clear viscous fluid.


    My heart pounded so loud I hoped Frank and his super senses would hear me from down the hall and come to my aid. I tried once more to scream.


    Nothing.


    The creature¡¯s head tilted in a quizzical manner and moved one of its spindly legs in a large step closer to the head of the bed as the tentacle moved from my face to the space between us. it wriggled slowly in the air like a giant gray earthworm.


    Are you going to ask?


    How do you know me?


    You made me.


    MY eyes bulged as I recalled the horrible pain in my head earlier in the night. That had been this thing? How had I created this monstrosity?


    Pain. Loss. Grief. Depression. Delicious.


    What?


    Pain. Loss. Grief. Depression. Life.


    I stared at the creature¡¯s toothless sideways grin. Was something so wrong with me that I had created something so gross and terrifying? Why couldn¡¯t I have created a unicorn?


    The monster moved closer. Its noodle neck struggled to hold up its massive head. My eyes watered from the stench as it neared.


    A scream was in the process of bubbling up from within me and no way to exorcise it. the muscles in my legs started to cramp from how taut they were, and my hands were numb from being motionless for so long.


    The tentacle wavered between the two of us like a cobra ready to strike. The thick end of it pointed directly at my face as I laid there, barely able to breathe.


    Feed.


    What?


    Kill them.


    No.


    Kill them!


    No!


    Then I feed from you.


    The tentacle moved closer at a speed where it disappeared for a second, and then there was a pressure on my ear.


    No way!


    More pressure. Then pain. If I could¡¯ve cried out, I would have as the tendril forced its way into my ear canal. Its mission left no room for caution. A feeling similar to spiders crawling worked it way out from the tentacle as I watched the appendage it was attached to move closer.


    Though my ear killed me, that¡¯s where the pain stopped. I couldn¡¯t tell where the tentacle had gone after that. I didn¡¯t really want to know.


    As I lay there, unable to close my drying eyes, I noticed the creature had begun to smack its jaws together. Wave after wave of rancid breath was pushed at me as a gnarled bone colored tooth pushed its way through its rotting gums.


    Thank you.


    Its other tentacle wound its way to its mouth and touched the tooth. The creature opened and closed its mouth like it wanted to test the new addition and how it fit.


    Done now.


    More pain. The spider-like feeling receded to my outer ear. My eyes watered as the sharp pain jabbed and peaked. There was no reprieve during the monster¡¯s slow withdrawal.


    After what seemed to take forever, I spotted the end of the tentacle as it moved from the side of my head. I was still in pain, but it had deadened to a dull ache.


    The creature¡¯s mouth closed, its lowly tooth fit perfectly over its chapped lips. It stepped back and the room bent around it and seemed to swallow it, leaving me in the room alone.


    Whatever hold it had on me seemed to break. My eyes snapped shut. Hot salty tears seeped from my ducts and down my face.


    I can move?


    I tried to unclench one of my hands and sure enough they responded how they were supposed to. A small jolt of hope bubbled up as I next tried my jaw, which had been clenched so hard my teeth were sore. the cold of the room washed over the inside of my mouth. Now that I knew it was possible, there was nothing to stop me from doing what I had wanted to do since the encounter began.


    With nothing to hold me back, I let out a shrill cry filled with every single emotion I¡¯d been through during my paralysis. Pain, terror, hopelessness. I screamed myself into the fetal position in the center of the bed.


    ¡°What the fuck,¡± a muffled yell of surprise from down the hall let me know help was on the way as my scream devolved into a crying jag. The hollow thud of feet on the floor followed by a door being flung open as one of the two Vena men came to my rescue.


    ¡°Sophia, what happened? What the fuck is that smell?¡± Frank was on full alert and his tone showed it. the mattress caved under him as he sat and put a hand on my arm.


    ¡°There was something in my room,¡± I sobbed and described the creature that violated my mind and how I was unable to move the entire time.


    After a heavy sigh, Frank pulled on my arm to get me to look at him. I rolled onto my back. I expected him to look at me with pity for absolutely cracking. His dark brows furrowed.


    ¡°What happened just now, that¡¯s sleep paralysis,¡± he explained. ¡°It happens when your body is awake, but your mind isn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°But,¡± I glanced back at where the monster stood. The smell still clearly hung in the air. ¡°It was so real. It touched me. I could feel it¡­and the smell.¡±


    ¡°Just your mind playing tricks. As for the smell? This house is old and has so many crawl spaces, it¡¯s probably something dead in the wall I need to find when it gets light out.¡± He sounded so sure of his answer. If it hadn¡¯t been for the pain I could still feel, I would have believed him.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? What happened?¡± I turned bleary eyed to the sound of Anita¡¯s voice. She flitted into the room, hair mussed from sleep and crawled onto the bed with me, to brush strands of hair from my face.


    ¡°Sleep paralysis,¡± Frank said simply. I wasn¡¯t going to argue with him, though I knew in my heart he was wrong.


    ¡°Oh honey,¡± Anita frowned down at me before she looked to frank. ¡°I told you the energy from earlier would have effects.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Frank muttered. ¡°I¡¯m up for the day. It¡¯s almost six a.m. anyway. I¡¯ll go wake Ray and we¡¯ll make breakfast.


    Breakfast was a mostly silent affair. For the adults it was probably due to not getting any sleep between last night¡¯s events and my episode at the crack of dawn.


    On my part, it was because I was fucking pissed that Ray didn¡¯t come to my rescue when I screamed. It was stupid to be mad at someone for being passed the fuck out, especially when he obviously needed it, but all I wanted was to be held, and he wasn¡¯t there.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    I had been making it obvious that he was in the doghouse. He tried to rush to my aid as soon as Frank explained what happened, but I had thwarted his attempt to hug me with a pointed finger to the chest and a frosty glare.


    Frank noticed the tensions and made a comment about Ray being ¡®royally fucking screwed¡¯. He was right. I had zero patience for Ray after our conversation last night where he tried to convince me I wasn¡¯t crazy.


    Today I wanted so desperately to be crazy that it killed me. no matter how much Frank wanted to say it was something dead in the walls, my ear had been violated by a giant tentacled monster in the middle of the night. That had happened¡ªthe smell that lingered was proof. It wasn¡¯t just me. Anita and frank commented on it over breakfast.


    I had given Ray a pointed look, one of the ¡®I-told-you-so¡¯ specials I reserved for certain occasions where pointing out that he was wrong was necessary. He just responded with a confused frown and excused himself.


    The rest of us were nearly done. Forks and knives clinked against ceramic plates when my phone rang.


    I looked at the small screen and winced. It was Janice. I announced who it was and asked to be excused as I stood and left for the great room for some privacy.


    ¡°Just let me know if you need me to talk to her,¡± Frank waved me off.


    Once I crossed the threshold onto the carpet, I answered:


    ¡°Hey, Janice.¡±


    ¡°Where in God¡¯s name are you? The boys woke me up crying because they were hungry!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m at the Vena¡¯s place. There was¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why are you there this early? What is going on in that empty little head of yours?¡±


    Well fuck you, too.


    ¡°Listen, okay? Something happened last night¡­¡±


    ¡°Good lord. Give it to me shorthand.¡±


    ¡°I got a text from Matthew¡¯s phone, so me and the guys went to go get him home, but¡­we just found his body. The cops came and couldn¡¯t reach you so the Vena¡¯s took me home and said I could stay here until you woke up.¡±


    ¡°Well I¡¯m sure as shit awake, now!¡± Janice roared. ¡°I¡¯m on my way. Don¡¯t go slipping out the back door before I get there.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±


    Click.


    Well that couldn¡¯t have gone better.


    I dropped onto the couch fully prepared to await my fate in solace, until I saw Ray get shoved into the room via Frank¡¯s beefy arms.


    I looked pointedly at the floor, not ready to give up being upset, yet, although I knew I would need his support for when Janice arrived. She was always a beast of a woman, but when she was inconvenienced in some way, no matter how minor, she was an outright terror.


    ¡°Went bad, huh?¡± The unsure nature of Ray¡¯s tone showed me he was testing the waters as to the state of our relationship.


    ¡°Yup. I¡¯m fucked.¡± I clasped my hands together and hung my head.


    ¡°Anything I can do?¡±


    I shrugged.


    ¡°You going to actually be available this time?¡±


    ¡°Shit, babe. I was passed out¡ªit¡¯s not my fault I didn¡¯t wake up!¡± His distress hit me right in the gut. I knew he was right. It¡¯s not like I wouldn¡¯t feel just as bad if the roles were reversed.


    ¡°I know, I just¡­it¡¯s been a fucking hard night and I¡¯m just not coping well,¡± I finally lifted my head to look at him.


    His hair stuck out at random from sleep, and the bags under his eyes had gotten worse, but he had this hopeful smile on his face that made him look so sweet.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not waking up, Soph. Please don¡¯t be mad?¡±


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± I invited him to sit and patted the cushion next to me. ¡°I¡¯ll probably still be crabby for a bit, but my anger has dropped down to mild annoyance.¡±


    ¡°I can handle that,¡± he chuckled and padded over to where I sat and dropped down next to me. I leaned my head on his shoulder, already exhausted before the day had begun.


    I relayed the call from Janice word for word as best I could to Ray as we waited for her arrival. He tensed at the phrase ¡®empty little head¡¯ but let me continue until the end.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why she has a beach worth of sand in her vagina. I mean, seriously?¡±


    ¡°Eh, it¡¯s Janice. I¡¯ve come to expect it.¡±


    ¡°You know that¡¯s not okay, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, I know¡­I¡¯ve just accepted that if I want to stay here until I¡¯m old enough to age out, that her word is law. It¡¯s just easier to pick my battles. I know I¡¯m not empty-headed. She can think what she wants.¡±


    ¡°I guess,¡± Ray didn¡¯t seem too happy about my view, but didn¡¯t say more on the subject.


    Jett bounded into the room followed by Anita and Frank. The great dane jumped across Ray and I to the other side of the couch to lay down.


    ¡°I see you two made up,¡± Frank looked from Ray to me with a sparkle in his eye.


    ¡°I was just in a shit mood.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± he ventured to his recliner and got himself settled before he continued: ¡°So how¡¯s the old bat?¡±


    ¡°On her way¡­and pissed,¡± I frowned.


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Anita dropped my freshly laundered clothes into my lap. ¡°Janice is a¡­treat.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s something.¡±


    The couch creaked as I left the comfort of its cushions to go change. Janice didn¡¯t need to see me in a harlot red satin nightgown with the knowledge I stayed the night at my boyfriend¡¯s house.


    I moved through the kitchen into the downstairs guest bath and hastily dressed myself. I nearly fell into the vanity in the process. My balance was off due to the exhaustion, so it took me a bit longer to pull my clothes on than it should have.


    I exited the bathroom to the sound of Jett barking as someone pounded on the front door.


    Jesus fucking Christ.


    ¡°Coming!¡± Frank bellowed and the pounding ceased.


    The dining room and the parlor were a blur as I ran through the house to meet Frank at the door. I didn¡¯t want Janice to burst through like the Kool-Aid man if I wasn¡¯t easily accessible. I hit the foyer just as Frank got to the door. He gave me a sour look before he plastered his family-man fa?ade back into place.


    The door opened to Janice. Her foot tapped impatiently on the old wooden boards of the porch. Her short, severe haircut was wild from her long night on the couch, and for once, she was completely bare faced.


    ¡°Janice, nice to see you.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm,¡± was her only response.


    Janice¡¯s attention turned to me and her lips twitched in annoyance. I wilted under her stony gaze. I didn¡¯t want to provoke her further.


    ¡°Would you like to come inside? Anita and I can feel you in.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m going to take Sophia home,¡± she looked me over, her eyes glazed in suspicion. ¡°Get your shoes.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± I turned and briskly headed to the foot of the stairs where my dusty moto boots were neatly lined up next to the rest of the Vena¡¯s shoes. I wedged my feet in. There wasn¡¯t time to make sure they were on properly. Janice didn¡¯t like to be kept waiting.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Sophia,¡± Janice called from the door.


    I was out past Frank in a matter of seconds to stand at my foster mother¡¯s side. I did my best to keep myself together. I always hated leaving the Vena¡¯s house, but this time was especially bad. Frank¡¯s ill-masked look of disapproval just twisted the knife.


    Once we were in the car and the doors were closed, Janice let loose:


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to have to take you to Planned Parenthood, am I?¡±


    ¡°We slept in different rooms. Nothing happened.¡±


    ¡°If you say so. I don¡¯t have the money or time to deal with that¡­and exactly who¡¯s bright idea was it for you to stay with them? Why not the Jeffers¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Jeffers wasn¡¯t really prepared for guests. The Reverend was with Matthew¡¯s dad and her and Kerrie were fighting¡­so not a good time.¡±


    ¡°Uh huh. Well I hope the Vena¡¯s loose parenting doesn¡¯t come back to bite me.¡±


    ¡°They were trying to help¡­I don¡¯t get why it¡¯s such a big deal. My friend was murdered, and you¡¯re stuck on me staying at Ray¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°It is a big deal, Sophia, because I work hard to set a good example for you, Brucie and Jay¡ªand you seem to be doing whatever it is you can to defy me. you know I don¡¯t approve of that boy, but you keep seeing him anyway.¡±


    ¡°Please can we not have this fight again?¡±


    ¡°You brought it up, kiddo. You must focus on what¡¯s important. You¡¯re sixteen. You should be worried about school and family. Boys can come later when you actually have something of substance between your ears.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not stupid, Janice, I¡¯m my own person.¡±


    ¡°You can be your own person when you¡¯re out from under my roof.¡±


    ¡°I came to your house my own person¡­¡±


    ¡°You know, I¡¯m seriously starting to reconsider your placement here¡­¡±


    Fuck.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t send me away, Janice,¡± tears welled in my eyes. I might dislike Janice, but I loved everything else about Green Glen.


    ¡°What else can I do when you¡¯re doing everything you can to get yourself into trouble? I¡¯ve had Sheriff Doonan at my house twice now! Twice! Do you know how that looks to the neighbors?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything, though! They were just asking questions.¡±


    ¡°Do they know that? No, and then I get side-eyed in the grocery store because they think I took in a criminal.¡±


    ¡°Why do you care so much about what the neighbors think?¡±


    ¡°Because it matters, Sophia. Especially in a small town like this. Especially after Bruce left us.¡±


    I knew it would come back to Bruce. It always did. He was a great foster dad, and seemed to really care for Janice, but I guess that doesn¡¯t count for much when you¡¯re in love with someone else.


    ¡°Still, you know I¡¯m not a criminal. I¡¯m trying to help as much as I can. I babysit all the time, I get good grades, I¡¯m doing really well in dance¡ª¡±


    ¡°Dance. Where¡¯s that going to get you? Nowhere.¡±


    ¡°It could¡­and wait¡ªwhy are we even having this conversation? Matty was murdered and you don¡¯t seem bothered.¡±


    ¡°Some crazy transient in the woods, probably,¡± Janice shrugged. ¡°Doubt he¡¯d come into the gated communities.¡±


    ¡°He was chopped to bits and stuffed in a trash bag. Somehow that seems more than crazy homeless guy to me!¡±


    ¡°What would you know?¡± She glared over at me between spurts of looking at the road. ¡°Don¡¯t make this into more than an unfortunate situation, Sophia. Matthew shouldn¡¯t have been out there, anyway.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying it¡¯s his fault?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m saying it could have been avoided if children these days knew their place was at home with their family. On that note, I will admit you are a great help with the boys. Between both my jobs, I haven¡¯t had much of a chance to be there for them. I noticed Brucey¡¯s last report card was better.¡±


    That small nugget of praise seemed too good to be true, but I went with it seeing as how it was the best I was going to get.


    ¡°He¡¯s super smart. His problem was he was bored¡ªI had to find a way to make his homework fun for him.¡±


    ¡°I know he¡¯s smart, he¡¯s my kid...but as I was saying, thanks.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± I stared out the window as we turned onto our street, surprised by the small bit of gratitude. If there was any way I could stay in Green Glen it would be by exploiting Janice¡¯s weakness¡ªthe twins. Despite her general demeanor, she really loved and wanted the best for them.


    ¡°What the shit is this?¡± Janice swore and slowed the car down.


    At the end of our street in front of our house was a slew of reporters, and a news van all the way up from Salem. Across the street was a group of neighbors all talking to one another between looks at our house.


    Shit, that was fast.


    I hadn¡¯t expected anyone to find out about us until tomorrow at the earliest. Most people in Green Glen were still reading their morning paper at this time.


    The look on Janice¡¯s spray-tanned face said it all. She was livid. We rolled up the street and turned into the driveway without another word to each other. There wasn¡¯t anything to say. Somehow, I had managed to bring scrutiny down upon her.


    Once the town had found out Bruce Sr. had left Janice for another man, perception was all that mattered to her. before she used to be more understanding, and less of a witch. But now? All she wanted was to show everyone she had her shit together and life was perfect despite Bruce¡¯s infidelity.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you say a word to anyone,¡± Janice warned and switched off the car.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± I hung my head to let my hair provide me with a makeshift privacy curtain and stumbled my way out of the sedan and onto the steeply inclined driveway.


    ¡°Sophia McLellan!¡±


    ¡°There she is!¡±


    A ripple of excitement went through the reporters as I sped to the front porch, not daring to look in their direction. I didn¡¯t want to give the impression I had anything to say on the matter¡ªand I didn¡¯t want Janice to think I was hungry for attention.


    ¡°Can we get a statement?¡±


    ¡°Is it true you found the body of Matthew Radanelli?¡±


    I made it to the steps when I heard Janice begin to shoo the reporters off the lawn, citing that I was tired and had a traumatic evening.


    Like you give a rat¡¯s ass.


    I rolled my eyes as she continued the fa?ade of a caring foster mother and went indoors. I kicked off my shoes and placed them carefully on the neglected shoe rack.


    ¡°Sophie!¡±


    I let out a low ¡®oomph¡¯ as I was tackled around the waist by two excited eight-year-olds. Both had tore ass out of the den where they were watching TV, and probably had been told not to move an inch.


    ¡°Hey guys,¡± I placed a light hand on the back of their blonde heads and ruffled their shaggy hair. It was nice to feel welcomed, even if my fans were still wearing super hero pajamas.


    ¡°Where¡¯s mom?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s a bunch of people outside!¡±


    ¡°And the news!¡±


    I gave them both a tight hug as best I could and waited for them to take a break so I could answer.


    ¡°Mom¡¯s dealing with the news people and telling them to go away, right now. She¡¯ll be in, soon.¡±


    ¡°Why are they here?¡±


    ¡°Uhhhh¡­¡±


    Fuck, what do I say?


    I scrambled for something that wouldn¡¯t betray the real events from last night. I didn¡¯t want death to become part of their lives anytime soon.


    ¡°My friend Matty got hurt, and the news is here to talk to me about it.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­is he okay?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, yet. I¡¯ll keep you updated, okay, Brucey?¡±


    Thankfully the promise of future information seemed to satisfy both the twin because they released me without further questions and went back to whatever cartoon they were watching.


    I climbed up the stairs on the way to my room. I didn¡¯t want to be easily accessible when Janice finally got in the house. The one good thing about Janice was that she rarely went in my room.


    As soon as I entered I was hit with a familiar smell.


    Meat, death, sweat.


    Oh no.


    I looked around the room for any sign of it. Nothing. Not a single sign of the creature. I checked my closet even though it was too large to fit in such a small space.


    But it had been there, coating its putrid breath all over my stuff with the boys downstairs none the wiser to its presence. That¡¯s what bothered me the most¡ªwhatever this thing was, it knew me.


    It knew where I lived, where I slept, and it seemed like it could go wherever it wanted to.


    Was the rest of my life going to be full of sleepless nights? Full of days haunted by its rank-ass smell? I wasn¡¯t sure if I could handle being stalked by this thing for that long without completely snapping. At least right now, I was somewhat functional.


    A door slam from downstairs brought me back to the issue at hand. Janice. What was I going to say about the reporters and the news? It wasn¡¯t like they were going to go away anytime soon. Not until they somehow got their pound of flesh from one of us.


    ¡°Sophia! Kitchen!¡± I groaned and pulled myself from the fetal position I had found myself in and rose to go downstairs to find out what Janice wanted.


    It was a weekday, so Janice had to work, and the boys had school. I was sort of looking forward to spending all day on the phone with the others and lying in my room¡ªnot so much now that I knew I wasn¡¯t completely alone, but still.


    I entered the kitchen ready to be torn a new one. Janice was seated at the table, mug of tea in hand. She pointed to the seat across from her and waited for me to sit.


    As soon as my butt touched the polished wood, she spoke:


    ¡°So I had an interesting chat with the neighbors. I made it clear you were not in any trouble. I made it clear you were just a witness, and I made it clear you were not to be answering questions to anyone.¡± She took a long sip from her mug.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine with you staying home the next couple of days, but you¡¯re on twin-duty as soon as they get home. No leaving the house.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I can do that. Can Kerrie come over if her mom says its okay?¡±


    ¡°If Birdie is willing to drop her off. Neither of you can open the door to anyone, got it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Now go get the boys ready for school, I¡¯ll do their lunches.¡± Janice rose and shuffled behind the breakfast bar to the fridge and began pulling out sandwich stuff.


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    This had gone surprisingly better than I thought it would. Sure, I was pretty much on lock down, but at least I wasn¡¯t getting kicked out. I could handle wrangling the twins full time for a few days. I¡¯d still have school hours to myself before my job began.


    I was almost out of the kitchen when Janice called out from behind me:


    ¡°Oh, and Sophia? Your room stinks. Clean it up.¡±

 Chapter Five

    The night I got home was more terrifying than the previous one. The creature came for me again not long after my head hit the pillow. I felt like I had barely closed my eyes when the world stilled, and my room grew quiet. I couldn¡¯t even hear the movie the boys were playing next door.


    Then it rose from the foot of my bed like a deep-sea creature from the depths. Its putrid stench rose with it. my room filled with the noxious fumes associated with the monstrosity and choked me.


    Kill them.


    No.


    Kill them. Kill them. Kill them.


    Go away!


    Again, I was locked inside my body with no way to call out for Janice or make an escape. All I could do was watch as it bobbled around my room on its way to me. Its eyeless face turned this way and that like it was scoping out its surroundings.


    Feed me.


    No!


    No choice.


    This time the rasping in my head came in the form of a taunt. It knew I was helpless, and it knew no matter how much I mentally refused to let it violate my mind, that I had no choice in the matter.


    I thought of Janice downstairs sleeping comfortably in her bed and wondered if she would even help me if I were able to expel the scream that was building in my throat.


    Janice will send you away.


    What? How do you know?


    I know. Janice resents you.


    You can¡¯t know that.


    But I do. She wishes she could start over.


    A lot of people do.


    But you have what she wants. She sees. She covets.


    Shut up, you don¡¯t know anything.


    The monster lumbered its way around to the side of the bed I faced. Its gnarled tooth glinted in the light of the window above my bed.


    I see things. I hear things. I feel things.


    Congratulations. What¡¯s your point?


    I can tell you what I know about Janice¡­about Ray¡­about Kerrie.


    No. I don¡¯t want your lies.


    No lies. Only truth.


    My eyes watered as the rot from the creature¡¯s gullet poured out into the room. Its wide-open mouth was a deep flat black that seemed to swallow light as easily as it could¡¯ve swallowed my prone body.


    The tentacle began the painfully slow journey into my ear. It wriggled and writhed through the air as the monster tried to get me to give in and listen to its ¡®truths¡¯.


    Do you not want to know the truths they will not say?


    No.


    You are curious. I can tell.


    Of course, I¡¯m curious. That doesn¡¯t mean I need to know, and it doesn¡¯t mean I think you¡¯d be telling the truth.


    Why would I lie.


    Because you¡¯re a horrifying monster.


    You made me, you gave me life. Why wouldn¡¯t I help you?


    Again, because you¡¯re a horrifying monster¡­you know what? Just get it over with.


    As you wish.


    My muscles twitched as the tentacle of the creature delved deep into my ear canal. Again, the pain accompanied the feeling of small insects crawling in my head.


    I watched as another tooth pushed its way through the dried gums of the monster¡¯s mouth, opposite and slightly below the other one. It gnashed its teeth as it felt out the new growth.


    How many teeth will it have when it¡¯s done with me?


    How much could I give this thing before I ended up in a facility or dead? There was so much room in the giant mouth that I didn¡¯t know if I would have the fortitude to fill my monster¡¯s mouth.


    When it was done, I was left with pain and hopelessness. I felt like I willingly gave myself up whenever I laid down. My bed might as well have been a giant plate. It was disheartening to know I would drift off to sleep after stifling my screams so that no one in the house would hear me. God knows how long that would go on for.


    The creature withdrew and the process seemed to take longer than the night before. Like it¡¯d gone deeper than last night. My eyes watered, blurring my vision as the monster backed up, now out of my head and stepped back before it disappeared again, swallowed into nothingness.


    I rolled onto my stomach as soon as I could, pressed my face into the pillow and screamed. It was all I could do¡ªthough I was sure that the monster was a fucking liar that just wanted to mess with me for funzies, I was worried about what it said about Janice. I wasn¡¯t going to take the chance.


    I woke up the next morning to the twins snuggled up to me on either side. I smiled at their big glossy eyes as they looked at me expectantly. They were too polite to wake me for breakfast.


    I brushed Bruce¡¯s slightly shaggier blonde hair out of his eyes and smiled at the eight-year-old.


    ¡°Your room stinks, Soph.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, kid. Yours isn¡¯t too sweet either.¡±


    ¡°You better clean before Mommy comes up here.¡±


    I sighed. I was getting chastised by an either-year-old for my cleaning habits. There was no way I was telling him why my room smelled. I¡¯d be sleeping in a race car bed with the twins for the rest of my life if I did that.


    ¡°Hungry?¡±


    Jayden popped up from behind me, his tiny chin poked into my arm as he leaned his head on my bicep.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine. Let me up. You two get dressed and I¡¯ll go get the cereal ready.¡±


    ¡°Yay!¡± Bruce rolled violently off the bed and thudded hard on the floor before he scrambled up to go get into his school clothes with Jayden hot on his heels.


    I threw back the covers and slid off the bed. My world spun at the sudden change in elevation and orientation. I wasn¡¯t a morning person by any stretch of the imagination, so it was hard for me to get going.


    Maybe I¡¯ll steal some of Janice¡¯s coffee.


    I grabbed my phone from where it was charging on my desk and noticed I had a new text from Kerrie as well as a belated goodnight text from Ray.


    New Message from: Kerrie


    Hey, can you get out today? I¡¯m super bored.


    I was suddenly grateful for Janice¡¯s bout of kindness. Last time I brought the scrutiny of the neighbors down on her, I was on house arrest with no contact with no friends for a week.


    This time, though the house arrest was still in effect, at least I was allowed a visitor.


    Sent Message: Kerrie


    Can¡¯t get out, but you can come over.


    New Message from: Kerrie


    I¡¯ll check. Give me a few.


    Phone in hand, I went down to the kitchen after I checked to make sure the boys hadn¡¯t gotten sidetracked by playing in their room. They had both picked out coordinated outfits. They thought being a twin was the best thing ever.


    Once I was downstairs, I entered the kitchen to find Janice at the table. She was simultaneously putting on her makeup and drinking a homemade latte.


    ¡°Morning,¡± I greeted quietly trying my nest not to startle her with my entrance.


    ¡°Hey,¡± she responded with only a hint of her usual annoyance¡ªbut that could have been because she was concentrating on her eyeliner.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeding the boys right now, but I was hoping it would be okay if Kerrie came over today. You said I could have someone over.¡±


    ¡°I know what I said,¡± she ¡®hmphed¡¯ and slammed the eyeliner down on the table. ¡°You¡¯d think after a few decades I¡¯d be able to do a simple wing, for Christ sakes!¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to do it? I¡¯m pretty good with eyeliner.¡± I offered as I pulled two plastic bowls down from the cabinet.


    There was a pause. I usually offered to help Janice with the boys, but I was usually too scared to ask her if she needed help with anything herself.


    ¡°¡­Could you? I have a meeting today. There might be a promotion involved, and I want to look as put together as possible.¡±


    ¡°Sure, just let me get these done and I¡¯ll be right there.¡± I poured two bowls of Fruity Pebbles into the twin¡¯s favorite bowls and set them on the breakfast bar. After I put some milk in both, I wound my way around the counter to Janice.


    She looked as unsure as I felt. I did my best to keep a pleasantly calm fa?ade as I grabbed the brush pen eyeliner, shook it and uncapped it.


    ¡°Now, face me, tilt up, and I¡¯m going to have to touch your face, okay?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Janice did as she was told and moved her knees closer to me. She tilted her head back so I could get a better look at her round eyes.


    ¡°How big of a wing?¡±


    ¡°Not too big, please.¡±


    ¡°Gotcha,¡± I smiled and pulled softly at the skin by her eye to get a smooth canvas. I don¡¯t envy makeup artists. Putting makeup on anyone, especially Janice made me queasy.


    Janice sat well enough, though, and the first eye after I stamped out the shape with the side of the pen went smoothly. All I had to do now was mirror the size on the other side.


    Between eyes, Janice grabbed the little standing mirror she had for her makeup and looked at what I had done. My breath caught in my throat as I waited. I hoped she wouldn¡¯t find something to complain about and blame me for ruining her face.


    For once, she smiled. A full-on toothy smile that I hadn¡¯t seen since before Bruce Sr. had left. She looked back up at me, smile still in place and gave me a small nod of thanks.


    ¡°Is it okay?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s perfect. Thanks for the help, kiddo.¡±


    ¡°Anytime¡ªnow let me get the other eye.¡±


    Somehow, I managed to get the other wing without too much trouble, even though the boys were a mild distraction. The lines were crisp, and the points of the wings were just at the right angle to lift the look of her eyes. Janice seemed more awake, and though she hadn¡¯t done mascara or lips, yet, she seemed put together.


    ¡°Sweet! I like wings on  you, Janice!¡±


    ¡°Thanks, kid. For the help with this, and the boys¡ªyou¡¯re doing your part.¡±


    ¡°I like it here, I don¡¯t want to be a burden.¡±


    ¡°I know most of the time, I don¡¯t act like it, but I do appreciate having you around, Sophia. Things are just hard, and I can¡¯t always separate stuff, you know?¡±


    ¡°I understand. I know I probably came here at a bad time, but between the two of us the basics are covered. The boys are doing great. I just wish we didn¡¯t fight as much. We make a good team.¡± I fidgeted with the closed liner pen and stared at the collection of cosmetics on the table.


    The last time I had this much of a heart-to-heart with Janice was when I first arrived. Then things went South and neither of us seemed up for talking.


    ¡°That¡¯s mostly my fault,¡± Janice admitted. ¡°I know you¡¯re doing your best. You¡¯re just a kid and I need to cut you some slack. I can¡¯t expect you to be an adult at sixteen.¡±


    ¡°Can we do this more often¡­you know¡­just talk?¡±


    ¡°Sure, I think I can manage that.¡±


    ¡°Cool,¡± I grinned at Janice who gave me a wink and turned back to her mirror. I was starting to see a bit of the old Janice and it gave me hope that I wouldn¡¯t have to worry so much about getting re-homed again.


    I headed over to the coffee pot and grabbed one of the mugs off the counter. Today coffee was a necessity. Though Janice would soon have to take the twins to the bus, I had other things to take care of. Mostly I had to make sure my room didn¡¯t smell like a landfill, but I also wanted to do some cleaning up so that Janice had less to worry about.


    My phone buzzed on the counter as I took a long pull from the cup of black liquid. I picked up my phone and read:


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    New Message from: Kerrie


    Mom said she¡¯ll drop me off. On our way, now.


    I grinned and set my phone back down. Today was going to be great. The only way it could be better would be if Ray could join¡ªor better yet, if we could go to Ray¡¯s.


    I wasn¡¯t going to push for that, though. A leaf had turned in my relationship with Janice and I wanted things to stay good for as long as possible.


    ¡°Hey, Janice? Kerrie¡¯s mom is dropping her off.¡±


    ¡°Okay, just don¡¯t eat everything in the house. I won¡¯t have time to shop until my day off.¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    The boys loudly slurped the rest of the milk from their bowls before they let the plastic clatter onto the granite countertop.


    ¡°I take it you two are done?¡±


    ¡°Yup!¡± The boys replied in unison as they giggled.


    Janice rose from the table and slipped her heels on. The thin pin-striping of her blazer elongated her already slender frame. She looked nice today and you could tell she was feeling it. her hair was all in place, along with a tiny smile.


    ¡°Ready, babies?¡± She walked up behind the twins and placed a light hand on both their heads.


    ¡°Yes, Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get going, then,¡± she headed off to the door without another word or a goodbye to me. that was fine. At least she was in a good mood and we had started the day off without a fight.


    ¡°Bye, Sophie!¡± The boys called out as the sound of squeaking sneakers faded. I responded with my own farewell to the three of them as I went to the table to finish my coffee.


    As I drank, I remembered the creature¡¯s words about Janice and how it said she resented me and what I had.


    I knew it was lying.


    My head shook as I took another long drink. Of course, it lied. It dealt in fear and horrible feelings, why wouldn¡¯t it try and pull on the strings for a bit and get a better meal.


    Still, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what it had to say about everyone else. It said it had insider knowledge on Ray and Kerrie as well. A small part of me thought it might be fun to hear what it had to say just to see how wrong it was. That was probably a bad idea, though.


    The doorbell rang about ten minutes later. I was still contemplating my life in the blackness of my half-drunk coffee when the chimes went off.


    I got to the door a few moments later, my hands still in my hair trying to brush out the knots. It didn¡¯t work as well as I¡¯d hoped.


    The door opened to Kerrie and Birdie. The downturn of Kerrie¡¯s mouth showed she wasn¡¯t for having Birdie looming over her. I could barely see a few straggling reporters over Birdie¡¯s shoulder. They called out for Kerrie and I to come and talk.


    ¡°Remember what I said, Kerrie Anne,¡± Birdie¡¯s hushed whisper was hard to hear over the din behind her.


    ¡°I know, don¡¯t talk to the reporters,¡± she rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Hey, Mrs. Jeffers,¡± I gave Birdie a bright smile. ¡°Janice has a ¡®no reporters¡¯ rule, too. We¡¯re just going to hang out inside for the day.¡±


    ¡°Good, good,¡± Birdie returned the smile though hers was harried. She practically shoved Kerrie past the threshold and into the house. ¡°We have a lot to do at the church today, so I¡¯ll be back just a bit before dinner, okay?¡±


    ¡°Fine, mom,¡± Kerrie kicked off her shoes and put them into the rack next to mine.


    Birdie gave the two of us a long look before she left. Her expression was odd, and I couldn¡¯t quite place it. As soon as I shut the door I turned to Kerrie and pointed over my shoulder.


    ¡°What was that look?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s worried that we¡¯re alone together because I happen to be partial to vagina.¡± Kerrie laughed, but it was harsh and hollow.


    ¡°She knows I¡¯m not, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I told her,¡± Kerrie shrugged. ¡°But I don¡¯t think she really puts too much stock into what I say, anymore. Not since she found out about Alys.¡±


    I started up the stairs, the smooth wood of the banister gliding along my skin as I ran my hand over it.


    ¡°Well not to be a dick, but you did hide a relationship from your mom. Gay one or not, she¡¯s going to be a bit bitter. I think she¡¯s used to you telling her everything.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but I mean¡­she¡¯s not really a safe place to land when it comes to boys or girls.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know. It just meant I can see why she¡¯s not completely trusting.¡±


    ¡°Traitor,¡± Kerrie chuckled.


    ¡°You know it,¡± I kept myself a few steps ahead of Kerrie. I needed to get to my room before she did and start the long process of freshening up.


    I had a can of Fabreeze in my possession from Janice¡¯s back stock of cleaning supplies. I knew that Fabreeze was good for earthly odors, but I my hope was that it would work on the one the monster left behind.


    I should have done this while I was waiting for her to show up.


    The smell had dissipated somewhat when I reentered my room. I crinkled my nose and grabbed the can of air freshener off the dresser near the door, held down the handle and began a slow walk around the room.


    ¡°What the fuck is that smell?¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe me if I told you.¡± I sighed. At least Ray believed me. he smelled the stench both in the woods and later at his house. Kerrie had missed it completely and had no idea that I had even seen something in the woods or about my little visits I¡¯d had.


    It was best to keep her in the dark.


    ¡°If you say so,¡± she flopped on my bed and waited.


    Half a can later, and my room smelled like flowers instead of death. I felt the need to write a review for the fucking product because it worked:  gets rid of the smell of death and garbage.


    ¡°Sorry about that, I should have done that earlier. I swear I¡¯m not a dirty fucking creep.¡±


    ¡°Well you are but that¡¯s besides the point,¡± Kerrie laughed.


    ¡°Fuck off bitch,¡± I chortled and opened my closet so I could pick out what to wear for the day. I never cared about getting dressed in front of Kerrie, even after she came out as bisexual.


    ¡°So how¡¯d it go at Ray¡¯s place?¡± The lilt in her voice left no illusions to what she was really asking.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°What was it this time?¡±


    ¡°Besides finding Matty? Frank said ¡®no fucking¡¯.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°So, I just found my friend¡¯s body and I was more scared of Frank than I was horny.¡± I browsed my collection of shirts and couldn¡¯t think of a damn thing to wear. Nothing jumped out at me. The closet door rumbled along its tracks as I shut it briefly to look at Kerrie with a frown.


    ¡°Fair¡­did he try?¡±


    I paused and grinned as I rolled her reflection away to keep on the search for a shirt. ¡°He got worked up, but that¡¯s nothing new. I asked him to stop and he did.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re zero fun.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not easy¡ªthere¡¯s a difference.¡± I grabbed a soft green work shirt and a white t-shirt. Kerrie¡¯s reflection came back into view with her disapproving expression blinking back at me.


    ¡°You gotta give it up sometime, kid. It¡¯s been what¡ªa year?¡±


    I turned slowly and gawked at her.


    ¡°You can¡¯t tell me you¡¯re one of those people that puts a time limit on sex.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not, I¡¯m just saying that as patient as Ray is, eventually those blue balls¡¯ll turn purple and fall off. Or, he¡¯ll find someone ready and willing.¡±


    ¡°He would not,¡± I stressed the last word, appalled by Kerrie¡¯s prediction of my relationship. ¡°You¡¯ve known ray for forever¡ªyou know he wouldn¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°I knew Ray as a kid. I¡¯m still unsure of Ray as a sixteen-year-old. Boys are horn dogs. You can¡¯t expect him to be a monk forever.¡±


    ¡°Monks don¡¯t crank it on a daily basis,¡± I scoffed. My feet sunk into the shag carpet by my dresser. I needed a bra and I wanted to put some space between Kerrie and I, so I didn¡¯t snap and lunge at her.¡±


    ¡°That you know of. Look, I¡¯m not trying to be a Debbie Downer. I¡¯m just saying you gotta throw a dog a bone¡­or let him throw you his, whatever.¡±


    ¡°Gross, Kare,¡± my knuckles knocked into the wood of my dresser as I shuddered at Kerrie¡¯s off-color commentary. Did she have to try and live up to being the stereotypical sex-crazed Reverend¡¯s daughter?¡±


    ¡°Do what¡¯s best for you in the end, of course. Just think on it.¡±


    ¡°I just want it to be good, you know?¡±


    Kerrie laughed. I could hear the soft ¡®whump¡¯ of her head as it hit a pillow. ¡°It won¡¯t be.¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°Because Hollywood makes money off lies. So that and experience tells me it¡¯ll be a sticky, fumbling mess.¡±


    ¡°I love the optimism.¡± I stripped off my night shirt and swung my bra around me so I could latch the hooks in front of me.


    ¡°Well, accept the realism, because that¡¯s all you¡¯re getting from me. don¡¯t think just because he spooges into a sock daily that he¡¯ll be able to hold his load inside you. It¡¯ll probably be fast, painful¡­and it¡¯ll be awkward.¡±


    ¡°Great motivational speech, Jeffers. Now I really want to do it.¡± I finished up the last hook and inched my bra around my ribs to pull the straps up over my arms.


    I was less sure about having sex with Ray than ever. I wasn¡¯t a fan of pain, and I didn¡¯t want my first time to be awkward. I didn¡¯t want a bed of roses, I just didn¡¯t want to accidently do something wrong and look stupid.


    ¡°This¡¯ll sound really bad but¡­just get it out of the way.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. That¡¯s horrendous.¡±


    After I pulled the straps up and I settled each boob into its respective home, I turned to Kerrie, frown on my face and glared.


    ¡°The whole idea really freaked me out before this, and this conversation isn¡¯t helping any.¡± I huffed and pulled my t-shirt on.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯ll be naked, and to be completely honest, you¡¯ve seen more of my body than anyone else has. I¡¯m not a hundred percent comfortable with that either¡ªbut the idea of Ray seeing me naked just¡­¡± I shuddered.


    ¡°Dude, your body is rad,¡± I caught Kerrie as she gave me a thumbs up as I looked up from settling the hem of my shirt around my waist.


    ¡°I look like a prepubescent boy.¡±


    There wasn¡¯t a hell of a lot of truth to that, but that¡¯s honestly how I felt. I saw girls all over Green Glen rocking more than a good handful and here I was still barely needing a training bra.


    ¡°You have the body of a dancer. Own it.¡±


    ¡°I know dancers that were blessed with actual boobs.¡± My hands moved in front of my small chest and mimed them getting bigger.


    ¡°Who cares how big your chesticles are? Ray¡¯ll just be happy to see them¡ªI don¡¯t think he¡¯s going to care if they¡¯re not humongous.¡±


    ¡°Easy for you to say¡ªyou have boobs.¡± I crossed the small space and sat at the foot of the bed to face Kerrie who was stretched out opposite me.


    I reached over and grabbed my favorite pillow to pull it onto my lap. It was a small comfort to hold onto the pillow, but what I really wanted was Ray.


    ¡°Dude, seriously, now¡ªbig boobs aren¡¯t all they¡¯re cracked up to be. Your back hurts all the time, and I don¡¯t think anyone has ever looked me directly in the eyes in about three years.


    ¡°Oh¡ªand the boob sweat is a bitch!¡± Kerrie lifted her chest for emphasis and though it was still chilly out, I could see a small line of perspiration on the material of her shirt.


    ¡°Okay, okay. I get it. I just don¡¯t feel sexy, you know? I feel like that¡¯ll show. If I don¡¯t like the way I look, why should he?¡± I squeeze the pillow as the corners of my mouth droop downward.


    ¡°Again, he¡¯s a sixteen-year-old boy. Trust me, as long as the boobs aren¡¯t attached to a dude, I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll care.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°I know I¡¯m right,¡± Kerrie smiled and closed her eyes. ¡°Just don¡¯t plan it. if it happens, let it happen. Just be prepared.¡±


    ¡°Yes, mom.¡±


    ¡°Fuck you.¡±


    ¡°No thanks, I laughed.


    It was great to hang out with Kerrie again. I missed her blunt advice, and just being able to rip on each other without having to include the boys.


    A wave of regret flowed over me as I thought about our fight the other night in the woods and how hurt she had sounded that I hadn¡¯t returned her calls. I really had been a shitty friend.


    ¡°Hey, Kerrie? About the other night¡­¡± She peeked an eye open and I noticed that her gaze was harder than usual. She had to still be a bit pissed at me, though it wasn¡¯t enough to prevail over our usual shenanigans.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really, really sorry I was an asshole. No excuses, this time. I should¡¯ve been there, and I wasn¡¯t. I won¡¯t ever abandon you like that again.¡±


    Kerrie closed her eyes and I could hear the intake of air as she inhaled. I could tell my apology, though sincere, had brought up rancid feelings. Her hands balled into fists on my comforter for a second before they relaxed again.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s just not talk about it, anymore,¡± she ground out. ¡°I appreciate the apology, it¡¯s still fresh, though.¡±


    ¡°Gotcha,¡± I reached out and patted her shin. I didn¡¯t think going in for a hug was a good idea. She still looked tense.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Kerrie pulled herself up to sit and pulled her phone out from her pocket. She looked down at the small screen and smirked. ¡°The boys are bored.¡±


    ¡°Sucks to be them,¡± I looked over at my own phone on my desk and saw it vibrate as a text came in. ¡°I¡¯m only allowed to have you over. I¡¯m still on house arrest until I go back to school.¡±


    ¡°When is that, anyway? Mom still hasn¡¯t told me anything about when I can go back to the general population.¡±


    ¡°Probably Friday. I need to collect my homework and get caught up. Janice wants me to stick to school and home as much as possible.¡± I lunged a leg out and off the bed so I could cross the space to my desk without having to fully get up. I wrapped my fingers around the cool plastic of my phone and hopped my leg back, so I was sitting again.


    ¡°Janice still hates Ray?¡± I could practically hear Kerrie¡¯s eyes roll.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think she hates him, but she doesn¡¯t see him as a necessary time investment¡­or dance for that matter. Basically, anything fun is a no-go.¡±


    ¡°Right, well, that¡¯s Janice.¡± Kerrie¡¯s fingers tapped away on the number pad of her phone erratically as she sent out a text.


    I checked my own phone¡¯s message:


    New Message from: Ray


    Hey, babe. You busy today? Sam and I are bored.


    I made a face at my phone and dropped it on the bed. He knew I was on lockdown and that Kerrie was my only allowed visitor. I was slightly annoyed he would even tempt me with the idea of hanging out when he knew I damn well couldn¡¯t.


    I picked up my phone and typed a response. The small click of my keys came hard and fast. I wasn¡¯t fucking around with my response. It was bad enough I couldn¡¯t escape the house, or see him. Him trying to get me to break the rules with how cool Janice was being was torture.


    Sent Message: Ray


    Babe, I can¡¯t. you know Janice said I¡¯m on house arrest. Anyway, Kerrie¡¯s here already.


    I dropped my phone again and felt eyes on me. I looked up to see Kerrie grin as she saw I was off my phone.


    ¡°Ray?¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°Samuel?¡±


    She nodded back.


    ¡°It¡¯s kind of sad that they can¡¯t entertain themselves.¡± Kerrie laughed. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s kinda cute on one hand, but on the other just pitiful.¡±


    ¡°I think Samuel likes you,¡± I grinned. It was obvious there was something there. Kerrie was one of the only girls at school who hadn¡¯t fallen victim to Samuel¡¯s serial kiss list. At least not to my knowledge.


    In fact, she usually treated him like an annoyance. I mean, he ripped on her more than anyone else, but I always thought that meant Samuel had taken a liking to her. kind of the third grade ¡®if-you-like-someone-pick-on-them¡¯ thing.


    Then there were the times that the childish nature of his went away and he looked at her wish some sort of reverence. It was strange and I could never figure it out.


    ¡°Samuel only thinks he likes me,¡± Kerrie drawled. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s capable of actual feeling.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. He seems kind of keen on being on your good side,¡± I shrugged. ¡°You don¡¯t see Samuel texting me to see what I¡¯m doing on a regular basis.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because Samuel isn¡¯t trying to hit it again,¡± her voice was small, like she hoped I wouldn¡¯t hear her from a couple feet away.


    ¡°What?¡± My attention snapped to her face and I saw it: a look of self-disapproval that was almost heartbreaking. She drew her knees to her chest, and latched her arms around them. She couldn¡¯t or wouldn¡¯t look at me.


    ¡°Oh honey, you didn¡¯t.¡±


    Silence and a fleeting moment of eye contact revealed so much shame that I was the one to look away first.


    ¡°When did this happen? How did I not know about this?¡±


    ¡°You weren¡¯t really talking to me at the time,¡± she mumbled.


    ¡°So, you let Samuel stick it in you?¡± I gasped.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t like that¡­it was, well¡­I¡¯m not quite sure what it was.¡± She fidgeted with her hands as she spoke, and I could tell she felt awkward about it. it wouldn¡¯t be cool of me to make her feel worse about the situation, so I opted for the only other thing that came to mind:


    ¡°How was it?¡±


    ¡°I dunno¡­it was my first time. Pretty sure it wasn¡¯t his, but I didn¡¯t ask. It was okay I guess.¡±


    ¡°Did you¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he made sure I did, but it was just¡­it¡¯s Samuel, ya know? He¡¯s the town¡¯s man-slut. He¡¯s ray¡¯s best friend. I¡¯ve known him since we were in grade school, it was just¡­weird.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± I looked down at my phone as it vibrated against my shin. I didn¡¯t quite know how to respond to that. I couldn¡¯t imagine having sex with anyone I wasn¡¯t in love with. Kerrie was always the more exuberant ¡®try-anything-once¡¯ kind of person. Because of that I didn¡¯t find it out of character for her to have random sex, I just didn¡¯t think it¡¯d be with one of our close friends.


    ¡°Now he keeps texting me and checking all the time to see what I¡¯m doing, like it¡¯s any of his business.¡± I looked back up to find her face screwed up like Doonan¡¯s. ¡°Like, no, dude. You don¡¯t have any business being where you¡¯re not needed.¡±


    ¡°I knew something was up with how much he has been picking on you, but the last thing I thought was sex.¡±


    ¡°You and me both. It just¡­we were hanging out at his place, and Hattie was out and it just happened.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he wants it to happen again.?¡±


    ¡°Oh he does. I know that much. But it¡¯s not. I was upset over Alys, and he was there, and I don¡¯t think he realizes it, but I totally used him and I feel bad for it.¡± Kerrie sniffed and I could see her eyes had gone glassy.


    I scooted closer so I was sitting next to her and put a hand on her shoulder, ignoring the vibration of my phone. Ray could wait.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think of how my needs would affect him,¡± Kerrie¡¯s hair flopped down as she hung her head and spoke into her lap. ¡°I think he¡¯s attached now, like in a different way than just being friends.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re not?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m so confused. I don¡¯t want a relationship, and I know he¡¯s not really a relationship guy¡ªso where the fuck do we go from here?¡±


    ¡°Good question,¡± I sighed and rubbed her back. ¡°I think you two need to talk.¡±


    ¡°Ugh,¡± Kerrie dropped her phone onto the bed and swung her head to look at me. ¡°That sounds awful.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll help, though,¡± I persisted knowing that she was ready to cave. ¡°You have enough conflict with your parents, you need to iron things out with Samuel. Maybe then you¡¯ll have an extra ear when you need one.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± the corners of her lips turned up into a soft smile. ¡°It¡¯d be interesting ot see him actually being a caring person.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s capable¡­I think he¡¯s just guarded.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re still texting,¡± the up-turn in her voice clearly stated that she wanted to get the conversation out of the way as soon as possible.


    ¡°You can go meet up if you want, but I¡¯m going to stay here. I don¡¯t want to get into it with Janice.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡± She hopped off the bed and stood there, phone in hand. I knew in her head she was already out the door and I didn¡¯t want to guilt her into staying because I was on lockdown.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s fine¡ª¡±


    ¡°I mean, I could stay. I did just get her a little bit ago¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be weird all day. This is a big deal, and I want you to be okay more than I want company.¡±


    Kerrie¡¯s expression melted into a loving smile. She lunged at me and knocked me back into the pillows. I hit my head on the bedside table pretty hard due to the impact and squealed in pain.


    ¡°Sorry!¡± Kerrie mumbled from right below my chin. Air was becoming hard to get with how hard she was squeezing me, and soon I was gasping.


    ¡°Air¡ª¡± I wheezed and she let go to push herself off me.


    ¡°You¡¯re the best, Soph, I swear.¡± Kerrie grinned and began typing a text, no doubt to tell Samuel she was free to meet up. I hoped things would go well and she wouldn¡¯t shoot herself in the foot by being unintentionally bitchy.


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± I waved her off with one hand and rubbed the back of my head with the other. Waves of pain radiated through my head and now I had a minor headache.


    Kerrie sprinted out the door and down the stairs. She was so loud I was glad Janice wasn¡¯t home to yell at us for impersonating elephants. A moment later the door closed, and she was gone.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± I frowned. I didn¡¯t want to be home alone.


    I finally sat back up and lurched to grab my phone from the end of the bed. I had four new texts from Ray. Each one begged me to come over. The last one was the hardest to read:


    New Message from: Ray


    Same left to meet Kerrie. Sure you don¡¯t want company?


    Crap in a hat.


    I didn¡¯t want anymore temptation to break the rules. Janice¡¯s house felt cold when the boys weren¡¯t home and now, I was being stalked by a pale creature that could appear at will. I was less apt to want to be here by myself.


    Plus, reporters. There was no way anyone was getting in or out of here without being seen, and I wouldn¡¯t put it past Janice to use them as a means to figure out if I had followed the rules.


    I typed a quick reply:


    Message Sent: Ray


    Can¡¯t. Janice would kill me. I¡¯ll see you when I can.

 Chapter Six

    I barely slept the last two nights. It came for me every night not long after my head hit the pillow and held me prisoner until it was full. There was nothing I could do about it. I had to sleep at some point. I felt like I had willingly given myself up to it every time I laid down.


    Each night it tried to either get me to kill Janice and the boys. It urged me to smother the twins and cut into Janice¡¯s flesh. My thoughts would run wild as it spoke. I would picture myself standing with one of the boy¡¯s pillows between their beds, playing eenie-meenie-miney-mo to figure out who to snuff out first.


    I could feel my arms tensing like they were trying to fight off the meager strength of an eight-year-old, and I began to cry. I didn¡¯t like the sensations, or the fact that the monster chuckled and said something about ¡®a good meal awaits¡¯.


    Even the thought of harming Janice made me feel sick. Sure she could be an outright cunt¡ªbut she was better this week, and I felt if I kept in line, she would stay that way. I wanted the opportunity to have a good relationship with my foster mom, not ¡®peel her like the orange she is¡¯ like the creature suggested.


    Of course, I always denied it what it wanted. I would never, ever hurt the boys or Janice. I knew I didn¡¯t have it in me. I wasn¡¯t a fighter. Whenever I¡¯d been in fights, I always either went down quick, or didn¡¯t last long.


    The creature never seemed to get upset that I said ¡®no¡¯, it would just switch to feeding off me, and I wondered if asking me to kill was a tactic to work me up so its ¡®food¡¯ tasted better.


    By the fourth night it visited I stopped screaming into my pillow after. I would just lie there and shake myself to sleep as I pressed my abused ear into the pillow, pressing it against the fluff to numb the pain.


    When I woke up Friday morning I hopped out of bed and immediately sprayed my room with the rest of the can of Fabereeze that I¡¯d stolen from Janice. She¡¯d commented yesterday about my room, again, and I wasn¡¯t going to give her reason to do it again today.


    Thankfully I was up earlier than the others. Today was the day Janice decided it was time for me to go back to school, and though I welcomed the idea of getting to leave the house, after checking with the others, only Samuel would be there.


    Birdie was insistent that Kerrie keep her Christian therapy appointment for the day, even though they had her in hour long sessions every day since we found Matty. Kerrie joked that Birdie had the poor therapist booked solid for her. She said it was helping, that she had a better grasp on her thoughts, now.


    What she didn¡¯t talk about was how her conversation with Samuel had gone. I had texted her later in the day but didn¡¯t receive a reply until that night. She just said it went ¡®okay¡¯ but never anything more than that, no matter how much I prodded.


    Some fucking best friend, huh?


    Ray wasn¡¯t coming because of Frank. The reporters had left me alone after forty-eight hours of not having left the house, and with no idea when I would come out? They dipped. The borders of the Vena¡¯s lawn were crawling with journalists, gawkers and a few news stations that hadn¡¯t given up, yet.


    From what Ray told me, Frank had nearly gotten into a fist fight as he tried to get out to pick up groceries. The news van blocking him in tried to extort an interview in exchange for moving. Luckily, Sheriff Doonan had been making the rounds between the four of us to check in and had arrived in enough time to keep Frank from doing something stupid.


    The reporter had shouted something like: ¡®we¡¯ll get your son eventually¡¯ as he was being escorted to his driver¡¯s seat. Frank took that as a challenge. Ray was on lockdown until further notice.


    I had put on my makeup that morning with the intention of not walking into Green Glen High looking like a zombie. At the rate I was going, I¡¯d have to buy new concealer in a week and I¡¯d just opened this one two weeks ago.


    My plan was to try and act like everything was fine, and to stick as close to Samuel as possible.


    People rarely fucked with Samuel because for our age he was tall and built like a brick house. I hoped his presence would be a deterrent in the two classes we had together.


    Lunch was what I was most worried about. I was lucky that Samuel had it the same period I did, but our usual table was in the cafeteria. In the middle of everything. We hadn¡¯t ironed out the details, but I planned on hiding in the little alcove outside the art rooms. Barely anyone sat there so I could avoid as many stares as possible.


    My ten-minute warning for Hattie and Samuel¡¯s arrival beeped. I had two more steps before I would feel comfortable enough to show my face. Eyebrows and eyes.


    The eyebrows were as simple as brushing them through with a clean mascara wand, but my eyes were going to be the issue. I felt the need for the ¡®look-at-me-I-have-my-shit-together¡¯ness¡¯ of winged liner, but I wasn¡¯t sure I had the time. My application on Janice had taken ten minutes, but I wasn¡¯t as sleep deprived and anxious as I was this morning.


    It crossed my mind as I grabbed my liner pen that it was stupid of me to try and look put together. It would be safe to assume people would expect me to look like a fucking mess. Would they think I was weird because I showed up with a full face on? Would they think I didn¡¯t care about Matty?


    Fuck it.


    The next few minutes were filled whispered cursing as I did my best to make my inky black wings even. I didn¡¯t care what anyone said¡ªwinged liner was an art. I was pretty good at it, so I had time to add a layer of waterproof mascara and beat the clock.


    The doorbell rang just as I finished up. It made me jump and almost stab myself in the eye.


    Great start to the day.


    Once everything was put away, and the heft of my backpack was secure on my shoulders I bounded downstairs to the door. Janice and the boys had left by now. The house was too quiet for them to be there, and the door would have been answered before Samuel could have rang the bell again.


    ¡°Coming!¡± I called out from the bottom of the stairs.


    I heard a very loud ¡®heh heh heh¡¯ through the glass pane in the door and rolled my eyes. Of course Samuel would make what I said into a dirty joke.


    My keys jingled as I grabbed them off the hook. The boys had a play-date at a friend¡¯s after school so I would be home alone until Janice got off work. I was filled with both excitement and dread. The smell had started to move around the house as of yesterday, which meant the creature was exploring. I didn¡¯t want to spend the afternoon de-scenting the entire house.


    I opened the door to Samuel leaned against the porch pillar. His hands were jammed deep within the pockets of his favorite deep purple sweater. It made the white cactus patterned dress shirt he had underneath pop.


    ¡°Sup, prick? Interesting outfit.¡±


    ¡°Fuck off, Soph.¡± Samuel laughed and jerked his head for me to follow him to Hattie¡¯s waiting convertible. I locked up and jogged to catch up on the way to the car and waved at Hattie as soon as she could see me. Her emphatic return wave made me smile. It had been a while since I¡¯d been greeted so excitedly by someone over the age of eight.


    ¡°Get in front,¡± Hattie ordered and leaned to pop open the door and move the seat forward so Samuel could squish into the back. He grumbled about the arrangement but didn¡¯t argue.


    ¡°How¡¯re you, darling?¡± Hattie asked as I pushed the seat back. The leather of the interior squeaked when I put my weight on it. I dropped my backpack on the floor by my feet and shut the door behind me, eager to get away from the house.


    ¡°Been better. Having trouble sleeping.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear, have you talked to anyone?¡±


    ¡°No, not really¡­I¡¯ve been on house arrest.¡±


    ¡°You really should find someone to talk to, it helps. Trust me, I¡¯m old,¡± Hattie cackled.


    My lips parted into a grin. I loved Hattie¡¯s laugh. It was borderline contagious. Even Samuel chuckled from the backseat.


    Once out of the driveway, Hattie toe down the road to the highway. She blew through stop signs as she went and earned a few angry looks from people as they walked their dogs.  Hattie paid them no mind and kept her speed all the way to the exit gate.


    ¡°So it¡¯s just you two today, huh?¡± Hattie questioned.


    ¡°Yeah, Ker and Ray have stuff,¡± Samuel mumbled.


    ¡°You two look after each other, then. Keep together when you can and check in often. It¡¯s not going to be a fun day.¡±


    ¡°That was the plan,¡± I replied. ¡°We were going to walk to classes together and eat lunch somewhere more out of the way.¡±


    ¡°Where you thinkin¡¯?¡± Samuel asked.


    ¡°Art alcove.¡±


    ¡°Deal. You head there, and I¡¯ll grab food.¡±


    ¡°Works for me.¡±


    ¡°Well look at you two getting along and making plans,¡± Hattie removed her hands from the wheel to clap lightly. She used her knee to keep the car straight.


    It was out of the norm for Samuel to be so accommodating. He usually spent his time between classes chasing down another girl or two, and lunch was reserved for making out in an empty practice room. I thought I would have to beg him to take a break from his routine to keep me company.


    I wanted to ask him what was up, but not with Hattie within ear shot. She didn¡¯t know about his girl chasing, and I wasn¡¯t going to be the one to ¡®out¡¯ him.


    ¡°Well, I am traumatized,¡± Samuel snorted.


    ¡°Speaking of, how was your cry?¡± I turned in my seat to get a read on his expression.


    ¡°Non-existent.¡± He pursed his lips and folded his thick arms across his chest.


    ¡°Your pants are on fire, Sammy!¡± Hattie crowed.


    ¡°Oh shit, she got you!¡± I turned around as I giggled and caught a twinkle in Hattie¡¯s eyes in the rear-view mirror.


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°You going to quit being a baby? We¡¯re almost there,¡± Hattie nodded to the sign we were about to pass on the right side of the road: Green Glen High, Next Right.


    My stomach flipped at the thought of leaving the safety of Hattie¡¯s convertible. I didn¡¯t do well with attention unless I was on the stage. That was different, though. I asked for that¡ªwelcomed it even. This, however, was not anything close to that. This was akin to being a fish in a glass bowl.


    Hattie turned down the paved road that lead to the front of the school. The road was lined with students who lived close enough to walk. They were all headed to a massive two-story building. I looked at the open-air walkways between the two halves of the main building as groups of my peers gathered to gossip.


    It crossed my mind that Matty was very likely still the topic of discussion in a few of these groups. The papers had been running with the story. They followed the investigation as close as they could while the Sheriff ran interference. The news station out of Salem also had updates every evening that put a spotlight on our little town.


    The car rolled to a stop in front of one of the ramps that lead from the parking lot to the school. A hand on my knee brought my attention back to Hattie, who gave me a hopeful smile.


    ¡°Have a good day, dear.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Hattie. You, too.¡± I got out of the car so Samuel could follow. The chill of the slight breeze made me shiver and pull today¡¯s flannel closer around me as I waited for Samuel to say his goodbyes to his grandmother.


    ¡°Move it,¡± Samuel grunted and poked my back to get me out of his way. I heeded his request and stepped closer to the waist high brick wall that surrounded the parking lot.


    Samuel stepped out of the car as gracefully as someone of his size could and stepped up next to me. thus far I hadn¡¯t drawn any real attention. I blended in relatively easily. Samuel, however, due to his height and clothing choices drew eyes.


    People had noticed both of us as we walked up the ramp to the main level of the school. Hushed whispers, outright gawking and not-so-subtle points rippled from group to group as we made our way to the ground level breezeway to find our lockers.


    Though he had longer legs, and could out-pace me easily, Samuel kept in step with me as he did his best to make sure I wasn¡¯t left out in the cold. He was used to the attention¡ªin fact, he welcomed it. He was always bouncing from group to group meeting new people and maintaining older connections.


    It would probably be easier for him to get through the day if I weren¡¯t around. As I looked up at him to check his status, he seemed confident. I felt like I looked downright guilty¡ªlike I had been the one to put Matty in the bag.


    ¡°Calm down, dude,¡± Samuel whispered. ¡°Your face is all red.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± I took a deep breath and let it ¡®woosh¡¯ out slowly as I tried to even my breathing out.


    ¡°Keep doing that, we gotta stop for a sec.¡±


    Samuel veered left to his locker and put in his combination. I stood in the empty spot next to him, looked at the floor and pretended I didn¡¯t exist. I could head the loud whispering of people around us:


    ¡°Wow, they¡¯re finally here.¡±


    ¡°Where are the other two?¡±


    ¡°Maybe they¡¯re still being questioned?¡±


    ¡°You think they had something to do with it?¡±


    ¡°I hear she and the dead kid had a thing.¡±


    I froze at the last whisper. That was something I had been afraid of. Several of the kids in my grade lived down my street. On a few occasions they had seen Matty and I outside my house talking. It bothered me that just because Matty and I were close that it instantly meant something was going on.


    Samuel nudged me with his elbow. I looked up, frown still on my face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen. Ignore it.¡± His voice was slightly chastising. ¡°You¡¯re just going to drive yourself crazy.


    Too late.


    Samuel slammed the locker shut. The noise was loud enough to make the group next to us jump and stop their hushed conversation. Samuel smirked down at me and nodded for us to continue to my locker across the breezeway.


    I lead the was past the stairs and onto the small patch of grass that separated the two wide sidewalks. We were about half-way across when a high-pitched bubbly voice called out over the mindless chatter of the rest of the school.


    ¡°Samuel! Wait up!¡± He groaned and put a hand on my shoulder for me to stop, and from the look on his face when I turned, it was my job to be supportive.


    The fire red hair of Jacklyn Forbes appeared as a crowd of kids in our grade parted like the seas for her. I nearly groaned out loud as well, knowing I¡¯d have to spend more than the usual dance class with her today. There wasn¡¯t anything wrong with Jacklyn, she was just an intensely competitive person and being around her drained me.


    Attached to her hip, as always, was her best friend, Clare Hewett. She seemed as excited about the idea of spending her morning and Samuel and I as we were of dealing with Jacklyn.


    She had been close with Samuel and Ray two years before, during her and Ray¡¯s brief relationship. That was until she cheated on Ray and was ousted from the group by Samuel and Kerrie. I think she saw me as ¡®the replacement¡¯.


    ¡°Hey, Jackie,¡± Samuel mumbled.


    ¡°Oh my god. Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°It sucks, but I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? Maybe we could hang out at lunch and talk?¡±


    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m eating lunch with Sophia today.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ray?¡± Clare asked.


    None of your fucking business.


    ¡°Frank kept him home,¡± I answered.


    ¡°Gotcha¡­well, I hope he¡¯s okay. I know it¡¯s weird coming from me, but could you tell him that?¡±


    No.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    I did my best to give Clare a friendly smile, but I just couldn¡¯t do it. I really didn¡¯t want to be the bitchy girlfriend, but just having her around made me irrationally irritated. On one hand, if she hadn¡¯t cheated on Ray, who knows if we¡¯d be together. On the other, I felt it was my duty to hate her on Ray¡¯s behalf.


    ¡°Can I ask¡­how bad was it?¡± Jacklyn¡¯s cautious voice brought me back to the conversation.


    ¡°Bad. That¡¯s all I¡¯m going to say.¡± Samuel left no room for discussion.


    ¡°Sophia?¡±


    I shook my head. I wasn¡¯t going to give them a single syllable on the subject. It wasn¡¯t any of their business and I wasn¡¯t going to give into their information mongering.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Clare prodded, ¡°everyone¡¯s dying to know.¡±


    ¡°No! None of you cared about Matty when he was alive, so you have no rights to his death!¡± I snapped and took a threatening step toward Clare.


    She had sixty pounds on me easy and could probably beat my ass¡ªbut part of me thought that if I made an example out of her and won, that everyone else would leave me alone.


    Samuel was quick on the draw, however, and grabbed a fist full of the back of my shirt, including my bra, to keep me in place. There wasn¡¯t any way for me to move forward now.


    Still, she got the point and took a big step back behind Jacklyn who seemed rather upset at the lack of attention she was getting from Samuel her overly plucked eyebrows knitted together as she watched him hold me back instead of continuing their conversation.


    ¡°We could eat lunch together. I¡¯m sure Sophia wouldn¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Sophia would¡ª¡± I get jerked back again to shut me up.


    ¡°Actually, we were planning on staying low key today,¡± he released me once I relaxed the tension in my body and half turned back to Jacklyn. ¡°Still processing, ya know?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± I wanted to wince at the saccharin quality to her voice as she reached out and put a hand on Samuel¡¯s forearm to rub the soft material there. ¡°Just know I¡¯m here for you if you need to talk. I miss hanging out.¡±


    You miss his tongue down your throat.


    ¡°Right,¡± the unease in his voice was clear as day, but Jacklyn didn¡¯t seem to care or notice. She was still caught up in the false promises and fumbling hand of her time with Samuel two weeks ago¡ªbefore this all started.


    The bell rang and cut through the spell that Samuel¡¯s arm seemed to have on Jacklyn. She flipped a strand of her box-dyed hair over her shoulder and gave us both the widest fake smile I¡¯d ever seen.


    ¡°Shit, well, guess we¡¯d better go. C¡¯mon Clare. See you later, Samuel!¡±


    ¡°Bye,¡± he mumbled.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Regretting your life choices, yet?¡± I asked as soon as the two were far enough away that my question wouldn¡¯t come back to bite me in the ass.


    ¡°Shut up. Let¡¯s go to class.¡±


    I snickered and followed him down the walkway to one of the open doorways that funneled the students of Green Glen High indoors. I could grab my books from my locker after class. There was a decent bubble of space between the two of us and everyone else, as if touching us would make them the next victim.


    It was nice not having to knock into anyone on my way to English, but at the same time it gave me that distinct ¡®fish-in-a-bowl¡¯ feeling I¡¯d been worried about on my way here.


    Samuel stopped at the entrance to my classroom and bit me a silent farewell. Unfortunately, this was one of the classes we didn¡¯t have together, so I would have to conjugate verbs on my own.


    The room was half full when I entered. It left plenty of seats for me to choose from. One was a prime spot in the back by the windows. I made a beeline to it while I tried to ignore the aura of silence I seemed to exude.


    I dropped into the wooden seat and grabbed my phone from my bag. I hadn¡¯t checked my messages since before I did my makeup, and had no idea if Ray or Kerrie checking in like they¡¯d promised the night before.


    I had two from Ray. Both asking how things were going and one from Kerrie who wished me ¡®good luck¡¯.


    I tapped out a ¡®thanks¡¯ to Kerrie before I answered Ray.


    Message Sent: Ray


    Feeling drained. Need cuddles. Meet at our spot after dance?


    It would be hard to meet in that clearing again, but it was honestly the only place I could think of for all of us to get together. It would be a bit of a walk for him, and he¡¯d have to slip past Frank, but I knew he was dying to get out of the house.


    Class started before I got my response. Mr. Russ welcomed me back in front of everyone. Heat rose in my cheeks as the class turned to stare at me like I was going to randomly start spurting facts about the crime scene. When that didn¡¯t happen, they all seemed to give up and go back to ignoring me, which was preferable.


    The rest of the morning went on as more of the same. Only one or two kids had the balls to come up and ask questions. They were met with a clenched jaw and blank stare on my part. Everyone got the point, though, and by fourth period, no one approached me anymore.


    The lunch bell rang. My classmates flew out the door to the cafeteria leaving Samuel and I in the back of the class as we waited for it to be quiet enough to not be jostled on our way out.


    Samuel headed off to get food while I took the short walk to the little hexagonal grass patch that was the art alcove. I got there before any of the art kids showed up so I could grab one of the coveted doorway spots.


    I sat, tented my legs and pulled out my phone. I hadn¡¯t had the chance to check since I¡¯d messaged Ray before first period.


    There was the response I was looking for. Ray said he would be there come hell or high water.


    This week was the longest we had gone without seeing each other since we started dating. I knew from all the extra texts and late-night phone calls that he wasn¡¯t faring any better than I was.


    In the middle of replying to Ray, I heard the scuffle of sneakers on concrete. I didn¡¯t bother to look up because I thought it was one of the art kids migrating back to their mothership, but when a shadow fell over me and blocked what little sun there was, I paused.


    Thomas Guzman was standing above me with a cautious smile. I didn¡¯t know how he found where I was. The only person I told was Samuel and I knew he wouldn¡¯t out our plan. He knew how anxious I was about today.


    ¡°May I sit?¡± Thomas asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for someone.¡±


    ¡°Samuel Peppard?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°The lines are long; he¡¯ll be a bit. Here, I¡¯ll keep you company.¡±


    Thomas planted his ass right where he was standing and brought his bag onto his lap to use as an armrest. I rolled my eyes back to my phone and continued with my text to Ray.


    ¡°How¡¯s it being back?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Shitty.¡±


    ¡°Oh come on, it can¡¯t be that bad.¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s been staring at me all day,¡± I mumble. ¡°It¡¯s shitty.¡±


    ¡°I guess that would suck. Sorry about that. How¡¯re Ray and Kerrie? They¡¯re not here today.¡±


    ¡°What do you want, Thomas?¡± I dropped my phone into my lap, already exasperated with the inane questions. Thomas had never spoken to me before and I knew the only reason he was here now was because I was an easy target.


    ¡°I wanted to make sure you were okay. Everyone knows what happened to Matthew. I heard you were there.¡±


    ¡°And you want a candid interview for the paper?¡±


    Thomas beamed what I guess was supposed to be an endearing smile.


    ¡°It would help me out a lot. I¡¯m the one writing the ¡®in memoriam¡¯ piece for Matthew.¡±


    ¡°If I wouldn¡¯t talk to an actual journalist, what makes you think I¡¯d talk with you?


    ¡°Seriously, where do you get off asking me for anything when you¡¯ve never said ¡®hi¡¯ to me before?¡±


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d like to talk about Matthew and let us know what he was like as a person. People are really shaken up about this.¡±


    ¡°People are just worried they¡¯re next,¡± I snorted. ¡°No one really cares about Matty. They just want to be able to say they knew something about him so when they go off to college they can tell their new friends about the kid they ¡®knew¡¯ from back home that was murdered.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a dour way to look at it,¡± Thomas¡¯ exaggerated blink did little to conceal the surprise at my words.


    ¡°It¡¯s true. Where was the outcry when Matty would show up covered in bruises? No one cared then¡ªno one really cares now. I¡¯m tired of the fake sympathy on his behalf.¡±


    ¡°Can I quote you on that?¡± Thomas asked.


    ¡°No! Get the fuck outta here, Thomas,¡± Samuel snapped. His hands were loaded up with food for the both of us. Thomas glared up as Samuel but didn¡¯t argue and left without further word.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I mumbled as Samuel handed me a peach tea and a chocolate chip muffin¡ªtwo of my favorite comfort foods.


    ¡°No problem,¡± he sat across from me against the other side of the door frame and began to munch on a basket of fries.


    ¡°Ray and Kerrie are meeting us at the clearing after I get out of dance,¡± I popped open the metal lid of my tea and took a long drink.


    ¡°Cool. I¡¯ll let Gran know I¡¯m walking you home.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for everything today, dude. I know you probably have things you¡¯d rather be doing than making sure I don¡¯t flip out and jump off the breezeway.¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± he shrugged. ¡°I mean, I did promise Ray I¡¯d look after you and all, but I would be around even if I hadn¡¯t. I know I don¡¯t say it much but you guys are my best friend and I¡­fuck. I care, you know?¡±


    I giggled at that last part. I couldn¡¯t help it. It was rare for Samuel to express anything other than sarcasm or humor in general when he was around us. The idea of Samuel trying to open-up and share real human feelings was a foreign concept.


    ¡°Nice delivery.¡±


    ¡°Oh, fuck off,¡± he threw a fry at me.


    ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± I picked the fry off my shirt and threw it back at him.


    We sat in silence for a few minutes while I dissected my muffin, and Samuel shoved fries into his mouth. I occasionally tapped out a text to Ray or Kerrie, solidified plans, and made sure Janice knew I was to walk home today. No response from her other than ¡®no reporters¡¯.


    I was almost done with the top of the muffin when the familiar flash of Samuel¡¯s camera went off. My eyes shot up to see him stare down at the screen as he lined up his next shot.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good lighting right now. Makes your shirt look nice.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and before?¡± I tilted my head.


    ¡°Total trash, but that¡¯s what you get when you thrift everything.¡± He snorted.


    ¡°Not all of us have a parental figure that¡¯s cool with sending you to the mall with three hundred dollars for school clothes, Mr. Couture.¡±


    ¡°True, but you could at least try a bit. They gotta have something that¡¯ll work with your figure for a buck ninety-nine.¡±


    The camera went off again, blinding me.


    ¡°God you¡¯re an asshole. I like the way I dress, and anyway, what do you care?¡± I set my muffin to the ground. I didn¡¯t want him to get a shot of me with my face stuffed.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re a pretty girl, and you hide it. I don¡¯t understand. Usually women let themselves go after they¡¯re married and you¡¯re starting at what¡ªsixteen?¡±


    Samuel got the point and put the camera down. I saw him hit the little power button, so I knew it was safe to continue to eat. I scooted back so I was more upright and considered his statement.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t let myself go, Sam, I just don¡¯t like my figure okay? I feel like a twig covered in skin, and I¡¯d rather not show that off.¡±


    The frown on Samuel¡¯s face deepened as my sentence went on. By the end of it he looked borderline pissed off. The dimple in his chin was out in full force and his bushy unkempt brows nearly touched.


    ¡°Goddammit.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to get real with you, here, and this stays between us alright?¡± He looked around the alcove and when he saw no one was paying us a bit of attention, he turned back to me.


    ¡°¡­Okay.¡±


    What the fuck is he about to say?


    Samuel straightened the collar of his cactus patterned shirt and took a deep breath before he began:


    ¡°It fucking kills me that you feel like that. I hate hearing when girls have such low opinions of their bodies, or their face, or any of it. It sucks.¡±


    My mouth opened slightly as I took in his opening statement. That was not what I was expecting. I was thinking it was going to be some serious personal admission.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not going to apologize for how I feel, Sam. It¡¯s just how it is.¡±


    ¡°But it shouldn¡¯t be. You should be proud of the body you have. You¡¯re athletic¡ªyou dance, it¡¯s a byproduct of your hard work and your dreams and shit!¡±


    His hands flailed as he talked and made grand gestures. The only other time I saw him talk like this was when he was really into some stupid TV show and had to explain the entire plot to us.


    ¡°That¡¯s a nice way to look at it, I guess,¡± I shrugged.


    ¡°Tell me¡­what¡¯s your biggest insecurity?¡±


    ¡°What? No!¡±


    ¡°Fucking humor me, okay?¡±


    My shoulders sagged and I peeked up at his expectant face through a curtain of my hair.


    ¡°My boobs.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°¡¯Cause they¡¯re small,¡± I groaned.


    ¡°Fuckin¡¯¡­so what¡ªthey¡¯re still boobs! Trust me, I¡¯m a dude and a small boob is just as amazing as a big one. Any guy is just fuckin¡¯ elated to see them!¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Seriously. Size doesn¡¯t matter, and if any dude gets down on you for having small tits¡ªfuck ¡®em. Well, no, actually don¡¯t fuck them¡ªbut you know what I mean.¡±


    ¡°Thank¡¯s, Sam.¡± I folded my arms across my chest feeling increasingly weird about the conversation.


    ¡°You know why I get with so many girls?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re a man-whore?¡±


    ¡°Call it what you want,¡± he sighed, ¡°but I do it because ever girl has those insecurities about something. Their stomach, their legs, their boobs¡ªwhatever. They all deserve to know their insecurities don¡¯t mean a damn thing in the long run because someone will appreciate it even if they can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and that someone is you?¡±


    ¡°Damn right,¡± he shook a lock of hair from his face and smiled. ¡° You know Lisa in sophomore year?¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Hates her stomach. Thinks it¡¯s not flat enough. She thought I¡¯d thing it was grous and wouldn¡¯t let me near it while we were hooking up. By the end of the week I was loving on that tummy and she asked for more.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s way too much info¡­but nice, I guess?¡±


    ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is,¡± he rocks back and forth in place as he straightened up, ¡°I want the girls here to know that no matter what they think of themselves, that someone out there will love that the most. For most of them I¡¯m their first step to that realization.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re doing them a service?¡±


    ¡°I like to think of it as I¡¯m helping them see their true beauty¡­if you tell anyone I said that, I¡¯ll deny it.¡±


    ¡°Why? I mean yeah it¡¯s a God-complex thing to take it upon yourself to show ¡®self-love¡¯ to the entire female population of Green Glen, but from how you¡¯re speaking¡­God, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m going to say this: it¡¯s sincere.¡±


    ¡°Because it doesn¡¯t work if everyone knows what I¡¯m about. Gotta sneak in the good vibes when they¡¯re least expecting it.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s what you¡¯re calling it?¡± I giggle. ¡°¡¯Good vibes¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Oh, shut up, I¡¯m trying to be serious, here.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, sorry. I mean I get it, but I dunno, it can¡¯t be that easy, can it?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Samuel leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. He looked fully invested in our conversation.


    ¡°Just doing¡­stuff and then accepting that part of your body?¡±


    ¡°For some, no. Others, yes. If your main issue is if Ray will like your boobs or not¡ªtrust me on this one thing: he would literally die just to see them.¡±


    My cheeks grew hot, and I knew I was at least pink in the face.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Guys talk, that¡¯s all I¡¯m saying.¡±


    ¡°No! You can¡¯t just stop there!¡± I leaned forward and tried to smack his chest like Hattie did to hopefully knock some sense into him, but he caught my hand and swatted it before I could connect.


    ¡°Yes, I can. If you want to hear more, talk to Ray.¡±


    ¡°What? No!¡±


    There was no way I was going to go up to ray and ask him what was covered in ¡®guy talk¡¯. It was weird enough knowing he talked to Samuel about wanting to see my boobs, but if there was anything more explicit, I would probably die of embarrassment.


    The bell rang.


    Oh, thank God.


    I gathered my forgotten muffin and shoved my half-drunk tea bottle along with my phone into my bag and stood. No more of this ridiculously awkward conversation.


    ¡°Thanks for the pep-talk, Sam. It¡­helped?¡±


    ¡°No problem, slugger.¡±


    ¡°God you suck,¡± I laughed as we exited the alcove to our next class.


    Samuel was stood outside the locker room when I stepped out, still dressed in my dance pants and leotard. I had to take them home to wash, so I didn¡¯t want to waste time changing out and just threw my flannel on to thwart the cold.


    I felt exposed as I stepped out. Echoes of our conversation at lunch came back to haunt me. I didn¡¯t want Samuel to think the lack of a baggy shirt was some sort of win on his part.


    I was nearly always wearing something two sizes too big, except for when I was dancing. My instructor demanded clean lines and quickly nixed my comfier dancewear.


    If he noticed, Samuel said nothing. He just offered me his elbow to take, which was unusual but nice. Knowing he would have stuck by me on his own accord? I accepted the chivalrous gesture happily.


    ¡°How goes the dancing?¡± He questioned as we walked off campus to the highway.


    ¡°Eh, not bad. Jacklyn pulled a muscle trying to kick higher than me, so that was fun to see.¡±


    ¡°She really that bad?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not bad, but as soon as I got the solo for the showcase, she turned her showboating up to eleven.¡±


    ¡°Wow. Didn¡¯t know dance was so competitive¡­¡± Samuel let out a low whistle.


    ¡°It¡¯s stupid competitive, if you let it be. I just try to out-do myself and leave it at that.¡±


    ¡°Good plan, dude. It¡¯ll keep someone from attacking your knee with a pipe before the show.¡± He mimed swinging something at an invisible person in front of us.


    ¡°That has yet to be seen.¡±


    We chatted our way down the drive to the highway among the groups of fellow students that had stayed after school for various activities. I think Samuel was the only one that just stayed to hang out. Everyone else I could spot was on some sort of team, or in a program.


    ¡°What¡¯d you do while I was in class?¡±


    ¡°Made out with Suzy Keller in the alcove.¡±


    ¡°Ahhh¡­what were we teaching her to love about herself?¡±


    ¡°Her neck. She thinks its too long. I covered every inch of that beautiful giraffe¡¯s neck.¡± He smirked and made kissy nosies.


    ¡°You¡¯re disgusting,¡± I laughed.


    ¡°Fun fact: she¡¯s a biter,¡± he pulled down the collar of his shirt to reveal a deep purple and blue hickey. My eyes widened at the sheer size of it. it was at least the size of a ping pong ball.


    ¡°What the fuck? Seriously? Did you get in a fight with a lamprey?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much,¡± he let go of his collar and the bruise disappeared.


    ¡°So gross,¡± I shivered. I¡¯d gotten a small hickey on my collar bone from Ray once. Janice saw it and flipped. She said it was a disrespectful and dirty practice. Thus, began he half-hearted Ray ban. It left a bit of an impression, and ever since when he traveled to my neck while making out, I got paranoid.


    We crossed the highway with a group of other students and went South to our clearing. It was a bit of a walk. We had to go past Main Street and a couple neighborhoods, but nothing we couldn¡¯t traverse in a half an hour if we didn¡¯t make any stops.


    My pocket buzzed. Ray was in the clearing and amazingly enough, so was Kerrie. I didn¡¯t ask how they got there¡ªI was just happy they both managed to get out. I was aching to kiss my boyfriend and hug my bestie.


    I relayed the information to Samuel who nodded and grabbed his camera from the pocket of his sweater. I was surprised I had only seen it once at lunch. Ever since he¡¯d gotten the damn thing it¡¯d been in someone¡¯s face. Now, it was pointed into the forest to Samuel¡¯s right as he took snapshots of the woods.


    ¡°You think photography is going to be your thing?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m planning on. Then I can make out with models.¡±


    ¡°One track mind, huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just fuckin¡¯ with ya. But seriously, though. It¡¯s what I want to go to college for. I have some candid shots I took of you, Ker and Ray a while back that turned out pretty good, and they got me thinking.¡±


    ¡°Really? Can I see them?¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll bring them Monday.¡±


    An increasingly familiar rotten smell hit my nostrils as we strolled. We continued walking in silence while I internally pleaded with the creature to go away and leave me alone. It remained silent from wherever it was hiding in plain sight, but I had this nagging feeling it could hear me.


    All the while, Samuel was taking shot after shot of the woods. He barely cast a glance at the small screen on the back of the camera to check his work. I clutched his arm a little harder in my fear and hoped that my proximity to someone that hadn¡¯t seen it would keep the monster at bay.


    ¡°Dude, did you eat eggs this morning?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± my frown deepened. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because something fuckin¡¯ reeks.¡±


    ¡°Not me, probably roadkill or something,¡± I lied, hoping he¡¯d buy it.


    ¡°I¡¯ve smelled roadkill before and this ain¡¯t that,¡± Samuel paused and checked the bottom of his pristine sneakers to find nothing.


    ¡°Well I don¡¯t know then. That¡¯s the best I got.¡± I hoped he wouldn¡¯t hear the slight tremor in my voice. There was no way I would willingly divulge what had turned into my greatest secret.


    Samuel looked around for a moment more as he tried to sus out the source of the stench before he gave up and continued. This time he kept his eyes down at his camera to check the shots he¡¯d gotten.


    We made it past the first stretch of woods and onto the edge of Main Street. It was mostly empty except a few groups of senior classmates outside the coffee shop. They gossiped about the day¡¯s events while some older pedestrians passed.


    We were at the crosswalk. As we waited for the light, I heard Samuel mutter something unintelligible under his breath. I didn¡¯t think anything of it. I was to focused on the fact that the smell was still strong, and we had left the woods a few shops behind.


    ¡°What the fuck?¡± This time his words were clearer.


    ¡°Sup?¡± I questioned as I looked off down the other side of the street to check if any cars were headed our way.


    He flipped quickly though various pictures of the Oregon forest. The tees were in different spots in each shot. The one constant in the photos, however, was a large light gray form in the background. Its head and shoulders peeked from nowhere. The rest of its body just disappeared into a few muddled pixels on the screen.


    ¡°Shit,¡± I muttered while Samuel took one of the clearer shots of the figure and used the buttons on the camera to zoom in on the form. Giant egg-like head, vertical moth sporting a head full of jagged teeth¡­yup. I knew it.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Samuel squinted down at the screen and lifted my arm that still held onto him in the process. He looked between the screen and I, and even went as far as to tilt the camera so I could see better.


    ¡°Ummmm¡­no idea.¡± It wasn¡¯t a total lie. I still had no idea what the monster was.


    The light finally changed, and I had to nudge Samuel to get him moving since he was locked onto the camera¡¯s screen as he stared at the creature he accidently caught on film.


    ¡°Thirty pictures of this thing,¡± he marveled.


    ¡°Hmmm,¡± I nodded in response and looked around the intersection for anywhere it could be hidden. I couldn¡¯t see anywhere it could go except for doorways for stores---and if it was there, I couldn¡¯t tell.


    There was a growing anxiety about the last half of our journey. It was a good fifteen-minute walk from where the buildings of Main Street ended and our clearing¡­with a whole lot of woods in the middle.


    I glanced between the shoulder of the road ahead and the camera and breathed a sigh of relief as Samuel deleted the pictures of the creature. Hope filled me as he turned the camera in his hands.


    Maybe he¡¯ll put it away?


    No such luck. He began to snap away at the woods again, but this time he checked the screen between shots. I sighed and kept my sight straight ahead. I didn¡¯t want to bait the monster in the woods with my attention.


    The smell was still rather strong, so I had no illusions that it wasn¡¯t nearby. I just hoped that it would give up its stalking and go back wherever it hid when it wasn¡¯t stinking up my life.


    An occasional car zoomed by, but other than that, the highway was dead. Adults would be getting out of work, soon, and that meant more cover in a sense. We just had to wait it out.


    We trudged along, still arm-in-arm while Samuel continuously checked the woods via his camera. It had been a while without a word from him. I was beginning to think we were in the clear when he gasped and stopped us in our tracks.


    ¡°What?¡± My heart sunk. Samuel wasn¡¯t a ¡®gasp¡¯y person.


    ¡°Watch,¡± he lowered the camera a bit for my ease of view and snapped another photo of the forest to his right. The quick preview popped up instantly and showed the monster had kept pace with us, its giant head faced out direction while the profile of its body showed off its swollen belly.


    ¡°It just appeared again,¡± he whispered conspiratorially. ¡°I think it¡¯s been following us this entire time.¡±


    Well no shit.


    He took another shot, and when the preview popped up the creature was closer. It now directly faced us with its entire gangly body. One leg in front of the other headed our way.


    Another photo.


    Closer still. It was nearly out of the forest, now. A tentacle appendage was wrapped around a nearby tree like it was pulling itself out of the trees.


    Samuel tensed and shook off my arm. I could hear a slight wheeze as his breathing increased. I didn¡¯t open my mouth to try and calm him. I was glad in some perverse way that I wasn¡¯t the only one that could see this thing.


    He flicked the slider on the camera that switched the mode from picture to video and hit the record button.


    The camera clicked over and the screen lit up with a view of the creature as it shambled out of the trees. Its giant taloned feet dug into the pine needles that covered the ground not five feet from us.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Samuel backed up into me as he tried to get further away, and I went with him. I had a few feet of wiggle room before I would hit the pavement of the highway.


    The monster kept coming, though, one shaky step at a time as it drew closer. It wasn¡¯t until it opened its vertical lips and blasted us full on with its rotten breath that we ran.


    It wasn¡¯t even an agreed upon decision. There wasn¡¯t a shared glance or cue to run. We both just booked it down the highway to the clearing full tilt, slipping on a carpet of slick pine needles as we went.


    Scream caught in my throat, I couldn¡¯t do anything more than take heavy breaths as I struggled to keep up with Samuel and his longer stride. The only advantage I had was that my dance pants allowed me more movement than his tighter ones did, but he was still a good few feet ahead of me.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± I looked up from Samuel¡¯s heels to see the monster as it stood in our path just a few yards ahead of us. Its arms were open like it wanted to give us a giant hug. This time there was no camera to filter though. It was just there, head tilted at an unnatural angle as it dared us to keep going.


    Fuck that.


    ¡°Woods!¡± I screamed.


    Samuel veered right on a dime and burst into the forest, barely having stayed out of the monster¡¯s reach. The woods came at us fast and harsh. Low hanging branches and thorns on bushes tore into us as we whipped past them.


    I could hear a high stream of curses from Samuel while he forged a path. He had an arm raised in front of his face to stop the whip like branches from cutting into him.


    My legs got the worst of it. the then stretchy fabric of my dance wear did nothing to stop brambles and pokey ends from tearing into my legs.


    The woods got worse the deeper we went. With no path to guide us we were on our own, going solely in the general direction of the clearing. The noise of our mad dash through the forest was loud in my ears¡ªbut that wasn¡¯t all I heard.


    Off to the right, deeper into the woods, something was moving with us. I couldn¡¯t tell with the cacophony if it was keeping pace or not, but we weren¡¯t alone out here. Be it a scared deer, or the monster watching our progress, I wasn¡¯t sure. I wanted to warn Samuel that we had company but thought better of it. I didn¡¯t want whatever it was to fall off my radar and start being quiet.


    Samuel with camera still in hand motored on ahead of me. He had gained distance because the bushes that caught my pants every step I took had slowed me down. He was still at an adrenaline-fueled sprint, and I was pretty sure he wasn¡¯t thinking about anything but how to get the fuck away from the creature. That¡¯s why when he went down a moment later, I wasn¡¯t too surprised.


    One second he was at full tilt, the next I saw him spring forward and hit the hard earth. His camera flew a few feet ahead of him.


    I was just close enough that I both saw and heard his ankle break. The glistening white bone poked out through his dark denim skinny jeans in jagged pieces. Samuel screamed and curled into a ball as he clutched his leg just above the break.


    As I barreled down on Samuel, I slowed my speed in increments so I wouldn¡¯t end up on the ground next to him. The sounds I had heard in the woods drew closer. I didn¡¯t dare look to see who or what it was. My only priority was to see if I could get Samuel up.


    I wasn¡¯t fast enough. The mysterious noise was ahead of me and was sure to get there before I was. It occurred to me right then that if it were anything scared by our rampage through the woods that it would be moving the opposite direction, not toward my prone friend.


    Samuel had been screaming since he¡¯d gone down, but this time it was words:


    ¡°Sophie! Go! Go! Leave me!¡±


    I hesitated until the snaps of leaves and twigs that weren¡¯t coming from under my feet reminded me that whatever was coming wasn¡¯t good. As much as I hoped there would be a bit more time for me to at least argue with him, I didn¡¯t have that.


    I picked up my pace.


    My feet throbbed as I passed Samuel on my way to the clearing. My moto boots weren¡¯t made for the kind of wear I was putting them through, and it didn¡¯t help that the inside of the sole was slippery.


    As I tore my way through the forest, my chest heaved. I did my best to split my attention between the ground so I wouldn¡¯t trip or watching the trees.


    I hadn¡¯t made it too far past Samuel when a new round of screams began, but these weren¡¯t screams of pain. These brimmed with terror. My eyes watered from a combination of cold and fear. I felt like shit for having left him there for whatever had him now.


    There was a break in the trees ahead and I knew I was about to hit the path to Old Green Glen High. It would only be a few short seconds until I was at the clearing where Ray and Kerrie would be.


    Samuel¡¯s screams echoed through the trees as they chased me out onto the loose dirt of the path that I crossed in three giant leaps.


    I could hear Ray and Kerrie before I could see them through the maze of trees. There was an air of panic about their voices as the cries trailed behind me. I didn¡¯t have the lung capacity to warn them of my incoming, all of that was focused on making sure I moved as fast as possible.


    I just hoped I didn¡¯t run into Betty.

 Chapter Seven

    Finally, I could see them. Only a few mismatched rows of trees stood between me and my friends. They both looked in my direction as they tried to peer through the foliage to get a look at what was headed their way.


    Ray caught sight of me first. His faced screwed up into a mask of worry.


    ¡°Sophia? What¡¯s going on?¡± He called out right as I broke through into the clearing. I collapsed onto my hands and knees as I tried my best to catch my breath.


    Samuel¡¯s screams ceased and left nothing but unearthly silence.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Kerrie¡¯s voice tremored.


    ¡°Samuel.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean,¡± Ray was on his way to me, but stopped mid-stride as I lunged at Kerrie¡¯s legs to stop her from leaving the clearing.


    ¡°Let go!¡± She kicked and flailed at me as she tried to get me to let go of her jean clad legs. I grabbed onto her belt and pulled her down to the forest floor next to me.


    ¡°Kerrie, no,¡± I snapped.


    ¡°I have to go,¡± Two large tears ran down her pink cheeks.


    ¡°What if something happens to you, too?¡± Ray dropped to his knees and pulled Kerrie to him. He hated it when girls cried. ¡°We need to figure this out before anything else.¡±


    As soon as all the fight was gone from Kerrie¡¯s body, Ray ended the embrace and scooted between us to put a hand on my shoulder as well.


    ¡°Now¡ªSoph. What happened?¡±


    I did my best to recount the details, monster and all for Ray and Kerrie. As soon as I made mention of the monster, Kerrie lifted her head and brushed back her dirty blonde hair that she¡¯d been hiding behind to glare at me. every subsequent mention of it made her eyes narrow further into slits.


    Ray, however, having dealt with my ranting on the subject before seemed worried.


    ¡°She¡¯s fucking lost it,¡± Kerrie shirked her shoulder out of Ray¡¯s grasp and stood. ¡°Monsters? Come on.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t just me¡ªSamuel saw it, too!¡±


    ¡°Then your crazy is catching,¡± Kerrie stepped back and folded her arms. Her eyes kept flitting between me and the woods at my back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t, Kerrie¡ªyou don¡¯t know what¡¯s back there,¡± I warned. Truth be told, I had no idea what was back there, but my gut told me it wasn¡¯t good.


    ¡°The important part, guys, is what happened to Samuel,¡± Ray looked between the two of us. his expression killed any further squabbling as he channeled Frank. ¡°You said you heard something in the woods?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I nodded and took another gulp of chilly air. ¡°It was headed right at Samuel when I ran past.¡±


    ¡°And you just left him there.¡± Kerrie¡¯s voice was flat.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to¡ªhe told me to keep going¡ªand, fuck it¡ªKerrie, I¡¯m terrified! I¡¯m not going to make award winning decisions right now.¡±


    ¡°Insane people usually don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Ker,¡± Ray pointed at her. ¡°Fuckin¡¯ quit.¡±


    A twig snapped close by and caught our attention. My head whipped back in the direction I had come from. Running didn¡¯t seem like an option. My legs were on fire and my feet ached. If I had to more at more than a hobble, it would be as a last resort.


    ¡°The fuck,¡± Ray stood and squared his shoulders as he scanned the woods for the source of the noise.


    I followed his gaze and just barely caught a glimpse of a tanned hand as it moved out from behind a tree to toss something metallic into the clearing. The object landed heavily without bouncing and skidded to a stop a few inches from Ray¡¯s feet.


    The noise in the woods receded. I was pretty sure the person who¡¯s hand I saw had left, but we all waited a few moments until the sound of movement stopped.


    My eyes widened at the sight of Samuel¡¯s camera. It stared at me from it¡¯s place on the slick leaves of the clearing. I could tell it was still on because of the lens popped out, and the recording light was still on.


    There was a shiny red fingerprint on the curved front of the camera. My heart sank. The last time I saw that shade of red was when we found Matty, and I didn¡¯t think I could go through that again. Not now. Anytime would be too soon, but not even a week after? No.


    ¡°Is that?¡± Ray choked.


    ¡°Yup,¡± I breathed.


    Ray snatched the camera off the ground and turned it in his hands to press the record button again to stop the video.


    ¡°Seven minutes and forty-two seconds,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Oh god,¡± I nearly puked in my mouth.


    ¡°What?¡± Kerrie stepped forward and peered over out shoulders at the camera.


    ¡°That means it was recording while Samuel was screaming.¡± Ray answered for me.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± she put a hand on his shoulder, ¡°don¡¯t watch it.¡±


    ¡°Well, why else would whoever did this give us the camera?¡± Ray flipped through the menu of recorded files and found the last one on the memory card.


    ¡°Uhm, to fuck us up royally? What if that is Samuel dying on there?¡±


    ¡°There has to be a reason they want us to see,¡± Ray insisted as he looked back over his shoulder at his childhood friend.


    ¡°He¡¯s right. What if there¡¯s a clue and we can figure out who did this. This fucker probably killed Matty, too.¡±


    ¡°Then this should go to the police, like, now,¡± Kerrie reached into her shallow jeans pocket to grab her phone.


    A twig nearby cracked. We all froze.


    After a few moments of silence, I looked up at Kerrie:


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re alone, and I don¡¯t think the cops are an option.¡±


    Kerrie let out a shaky breath and nodded, ¡°okay, no cops.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Ray stared off in the direction of where the snap came from, his vision locked on the slight open space between the tops of the bushes and the bottoms of the tree canopy.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just do this,¡± I swallowed loudly.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Ray pushed the play button on the small interface. The camera took a second to load and then we were looking at Samuel screaming on the forest floor with me in the background running at the camera.


    The exchange of us as he told me to leave him was next, which sickeningly enough made me feel a bit better¡ªI had video evidence to back me up on that, at least.


    What pulled a horrified gasp from the three of us was a few moments after I ran past, the mysterious noise in the woods pushed through the bushes and stared down at Samuel with dark, shining eyes. These were the eyes of someone who was interested in a dying baby bird, not someone who was out to help.


    The man that stood over Samuel was dressed in a disheveled long sleeve work shirt that probably hadn¡¯t been changed in weeks, and a pair of blood-stained khakis. His hair was greasy and unkempt, and he had a thick layer of stubble on his face.


    He turned and looked off into he woods behind him, and from the bit of his jaw that I could see, he was talking to someone¡ªbut I couldn¡¯t hear a word. I guess the camera couldn¡¯t pick it up. The man then looked directly at the camera and smiled.


    He walked up to the camera and the view changed as it was lifted off the ground and into the air. Samuel was still on the ground, writhing in pain during all this, which was being ignored by the man.


    The camera picked up a noise¡ªI wasn¡¯t sure what it was, but it was oddly familiar in a way. I could have sworn I¡¯d heard it before. All I knew for sure was that it brought a new swell of panic to Samuel who¡¯s screams intensified at whatever just happened out of the camera¡¯s view.


    ¡°What the fuck? What are you doing?¡± Samuel¡¯s face was beet red from screaming.


    ¡°You know,¡± the man responded in a tone that was unnervingly calm. It was quiet, like the voice one would attribute to someone like an accountant or a generally nerdy profession. It wasn¡¯t what I would figure the voice of a killer to be like.


    The camera began to move as the man walked up to Samuel who desperately tried to get away from where he was. He pulled at the soft earth with his hands and pushed with his good leg, belly to the ground. He did his best to get the hell out of dodge before the man could get anywhere near him.


    Unfortunately, there wasn¡¯t a way that Samuel could have achieved his goal. in a few quick steps from the man, he stood over Samuel as he stared down at the back of my friend¡¯s deep purple sweater.


    Then it all became clear what the noise was as the shining tip of a knife slid its way into the view of the camera with Samuel none-the-wiser as he screamed into the dirt.


    ¡°Two,¡± the man spoke just loud enough for the camera to pick up before he plunged the knife down into Samuel¡¯s back. It could have just been the angle of the camera, but the knife looked huge. Almost Betty¡¯s size. The force put behind it buried the knife almost to the hilt. Samuel¡¯s screams turned to terror as he tried to turn to see the man that stood over him.


    The knife hit again, and again. each time it sunk into Samuel he cried out in pain and fear as he continued to try and crawl away. After one more swing of the knife to the small of his back, though, his legs gave up.


    All the while the man muttered indistinctly to himself. Though close to the camera¡¯s microphone, he might as well have been speaking Latin. The only thing my ears registered clearly were Samuel¡¯s cries for help.


    The deep purple of his sweater was now a muted berry color thanks to the mass of penetration wounds, his cries were weaker now. Each yelp was full of sputtering and gurgling as blood filled his lungs.


    We continued to watch as the knife was driven into Samuel over and over. The man mercilessly cut Samuel to ribbons despite his pleas for the killer to stop. This went on for another couple minutes before one last gurgling cough. Samuel stilled and his body relaxed.


    The killer wiped the blade off on Samuel¡¯s jeans and must have stowed it because the next thing we saw was the killer¡¯s face now from arm¡¯s length.


    His deadened expression was only different due to being covered in blood splatter. He took a breath, let out a sign and spoke:


    ¡°Sorry for your loss. I had to. You¡¯ll understand.¡±


    ¡°Turn it off.¡± I ordered.


    Ray obliged and hit the power button. The lens popped back into the body of the camera and stilled.


    I looked over at Ray through a haze of disbelief and tears. My hand slid into his and he squeezed it so tight I thought my fingers might break. There weren¡¯t enough tears to express the loss I was feeling right now.


    Despite his penchant for making out with anything with breasts, Samuel was a sweet, reserved guy who genuinely cared for his friends¡­and he was gone.


    ¡°What the fuck,¡± Kerrie whispered from behind us. I heard her collapse backward onto the hard earth. ¡°No, not him,¡± she breathed.


    Oh shit.


    I turned to look back at Kerrie who stared blankly off the way I had entered the clearing. Her expression was a blank as the killer¡¯s, save for the twitch of her chin as she fought to keep her tears within her.


    ¡°Kerrie, you¡­¡±


    I was about to ask her if she was okay but stopped. Of course, she wasn¡¯t okay. None of us were okay. I still wanted to say something to my friend that just a few days earlier had divulged her tentative feelings for Samuel. Now I couldn¡¯t find anything that fit.


    Kerrie just shook her head in response. Knelt next to her and placed a heavy hand on her knee. Even though it was all I could do to keep myself together¡ªshe had lost three people close to her now, and she needed my support.


    We were all silent. On my part, as I looked between the camera that held our friend¡¯s last moments and the two that were still among the living, I waited for someone to say something.


    By the looks on their faces, they wanted someone else to make a move. All of us paralyzed by fear.


    Finally, Ray spoke, but it wasn¡¯t what I was expecting to come out of him. Instead it was another question. One that I never expected to send chills down my spine:


    ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡±


    I paled as the putrid stench of the monster washed over us. my exhaustion left me as a new wave of adrenaline hit my system. I shot up from my prone position and spun as I looked for the smell¡¯s source.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Kerrie had the back of a hand to her nose as she did her best to keep the rancid stench out.


    ¡°You know the monster you keep telling me doesn¡¯t exist?¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re smelling it right now,¡± I took a few steps closer to the edge of the clearing close to the road. A bush a few feet away rattled in response. I smiled wryly as I backed up. Now I knew where it was.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Kerrie¡¯s voice wavered as she tried not to wretch.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything,¡± Ray responded. From the volume of his statement I could tell he was on his feet and faced in my direction.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t want us to see it,¡± my hand shook as I pointed to the area of space, I was sure it occupied. ¡°But it¡¯s there.¡±


    A rattle from the South of the clearing behind Kerrie and Ray all made us jump. They backed up closer to where I was, all the while, their heads whipped between the two areas the sounds came from.


    ¡°Then what¡¯s that?¡±


    Good point.


    As far as I knew, it was just the monster occupying a new area of space, but another rustle to my left told me otherwise. Either there were multiples of them¡ªwhich I didn¡¯t think possible, or it was something or someone else.


    The entire time I considered the option of multiple creatures, the rustling in the bushes grew louder. They violently shook as whatever was tin them got ready to come out.


    ¡°No clue.¡±


    ¡°Well how the hell do we get out of here?¡± Kerrie whimpered.


    ¡°We run. Old school,¡± I breathed hoping whatever it was couldn¡¯t hear me.


    ¡°No one gets left behind, no matter what,¡± Ray added.


    Kerrie and I both made noises of agreement. There was no way I could do that again. it was hard enough the first time and I already felt enough guilt.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Kerrie pulled her purse off her shoulder and into her hand, ready to drop it as soon as one of us gave the word.


    ¡°Go!¡±


    I launched myself into the woods. My knees instantly screamed at me to stop it¡ªit was way too soon for me to be on the run again. I pulled the straps of my backpack to loosen them so I could drop the weight and move quicker. The fabric of the straps stuck to the thick material of my flannel and took the over shirt with it on the way to the ground.


    The cold bit my arms as I ran. I did my best to keep up with Ray and Kerrie who were ahead of me. Neither of them were still recovering from a mad sprint just minutes before, so they fared better. Their arms pumped and their heels almost hit their asses as they booked it to the old school.


    There was movement behind me, but it was a way off. It was nowhere near as close as it had been during the first leg of the chase, so that gave me some hope I wouldn¡¯t end up on the receiving end of a knife.


    Leaves kicked up from the feet of my friends hit me in the face as we weaved through and between the trees and bushes on our way to the school. I had to constantly swipe them from my face to continue and be able to see. Dust got in my eye and took a good portion of my visibility with it.


    I swore as I let out a breath and changed direction. I was going to head up the dirt path that lead directly to the gate of the school.


    I should have let Ray and Kerrie know, but I didn¡¯t think. I just didn¡¯t want to get blinded by rogue dust particles on my way to safety, and not being behind them was a good start to that end.


    I hit the path and turned left back in the direction of the school. My right eye wept as it tried to clear the dirt from itself, but I couldn¡¯t stop to aid the process. There was no telling where danger would be coming from at this point.


    The debris free path aided my pace greatly. I came up on the gate fast, and as a bonus I could keep some sort of tabs on Ray and Kerrie by the crashing I heard in the trees ahead of me. They were incredibly close to the gate and I began to see the bushes move as they neared the edge of the woods along the path.


    Kerrie lifted the gate to get the post out of the hole it sat in, but only enough to get it to move. The metal scraped along the dirt which ruined the mystery of our location. When the gate was open far enough for Ray to slip through, he pushed from the other side to give me enough room to just keep on. That was the best I could hope for right now, because I knew if I stopped, I wouldn¡¯t be able to keep going.


    I bounded through the mouth of the gate and onto the cracked black top. My boots slapped hard against the asphalt. I could hear the ¡®thwacks¡¯ of Ray and Kerrie from behind me as I crossed the parking lot to the ominous black doorway at the front of the school.


    The building¡¯s broken windows peered down at me as I neared. Bits of charred windowsill, soot and graffiti marred the outside of the otherwise unmolested building.


    I took the steps to the entrance two at a time a burst through the open doorway. The debris and clutter on the floor of the hall caused me to skid as I put on the breaks. I scraped my hand as I tried not to fall while I ground to a full stop.


    Ray and Kerrie were hot on my heels and had issues slowing down. Ray opted to baseball slide past me into the half wall where the office was, and Kerrie simply used the wall next to him to do the stop for her.


    ¡°Where do we go?¡± My question was choppy due to my deep heaving breaths.


    ¡°I have an idea,¡± Ray scrambled to his feet and brushed off the side of his DCU pants. He reached for my hand and set off down the hall to the cafeteria. The doors were wide open and showcased crispy tables and the lunch line opposite the entrance of the room.


    It took all my willpower to continue along with Ray¡¯s quick steps. My legs were done. It felt like I had simultaneously pulled all my muscles. I knew if I lived to see tomorrow that the next day would be worse.


    ¡°What¡¯s the grand plan?¡± Kerrie whispered from behind us.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± Ray hissed back and checked over his shoulder for any sign of something behind us.


    We walked through the wreckage of the lunch room and let Ray guide us to the swinging double doors that enclosed the kitchen. I gazed at the dingy pots and pans as we walked to the back of the room to two giant steel doors.


    ¡°Oh, good thinking,¡± Kerrie knocked on one of the doors. It sounded solid enough, but I didn¡¯t want to put it to the test and rather just hoped the monster or whatever else could have followed us wouldn¡¯t figure out the plan.


    ¡°Now, which one,¡± Ray opened the door closest to the lunch room. He pulled on the metal handle with both hands to pop the seal that had been created from over a decade¡¯s worth of inactivity.


    The door swung open silently and in an instant, we were hit with a smell that rivaled that of the creature. Ray gagged and slammed it shut again.


    Kerrie and I looked at each other, both of our faces read ¡®maybe-this-isn¡¯t-such-a-good-idea-after-all¡¯. Still, since it was the only idea brought to the table, we didn¡¯t have room to complain.


    Ray went to the other door and repeated the process. Again we were hit with a smell, but this was more mold and rotten vegetables instead of meat. Not pleasant by any means, but better. He opened the door wider and we took a long look inside the fridge who¡¯s walls were lined with shelves covered in clear bins of fuzzy mold where there should have been produce.


    ¡°This is disgusting,¡± Kerrie retched.


    ¡°its this, the meat locker, or a knife,¡± Ray put a hand on Kerrie¡¯s back and guided her into the walk-in. I followed without complaint. I had smelled worse than this before.


    The empty back wall of the fridge was cold against my back though this place hadn¡¯t had power in years. I slid myself down the floor smack dab in the center of the wall and watched as Ray shut us in using the emergency handle on the inside of the door.


    The room went pitch black and I didn¡¯t have my backpack, so my phone was missing in action. I heard someone shuffle their way to me, so I pulled my legs in to make myself as small as possible, so no one would trip over me and smash face first into a bucket of mold.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Ray muttered. I could hear him rummage around in his pockets and that was when I realized that though Kerrie and I had kept our phone in our bags, Ray¡¯s was always in his pocket.


    The dim light of Ray¡¯s RAZ3R illuminated the walk-in.


    ¡°Holy shit¡ªcall the fucking cops!¡± Kerrie hissed from next to me and she dropped down to the floor.


    ¡°What do you think I¡¯m doing,¡± he snapped back. I could hear the phone¡¯s volume decrease as he repeatedly pressed the corresponding button. I appreciated that. It¡¯d be stupid of us to be caught now because of his phone rang.


    I wanted to tell him to calm down, but that seemed like a bad idea. His face was screwed up into an expression I couldn¡¯t read. He looked downright terrifying lit up by the small screen in his hand. I didn¡¯t want that ire pointed at me.


    ¡°No signal in here,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Kerrie spat and dropped her face into her hands.


    Ray faced his phone in our direction so he could see where to walk. He dropped down on my left against the wall so I was sandwiched between them, and closed his phone, letting darkness envelope us again.


    ¡°We¡¯ll wait it out.¡±


    ¡°If it is a monster, what makes you think we can wait it out?¡±


    ¡°Even monsters have to sleep¡­right?¡± His voice grew louder as he turned to ask me a question I hadn¡¯t thought about. Whenever I had seen the thing, it was wide awake, and from my nightly visits, my guess was it slept during the day¡­but that didn¡¯t explain today.


    But it wasn¡¯t around all the time. That didn¡¯t necessarily mean sleep, but it went somewhere other than where I was for a little while.


    The muffled sound of swinging doors hit my ear before I could answer. We tensed in unison. I burrowed myself into Ray¡¯s shoulder for support, and Kerrie in turn leaned against me.


    The quiet sound of shoes against the tile of the kitchen floor stuck in my ears. The only thing I could think was that the killer had been the other noise in the woods and had chased us along with the creature.


    Hot spots of tears dripped onto my sleeve as Kerrie cried silently. I reached out a hand and wrapped my arm back around her to pull her close.


    The steps stopped close to the door of the walk-in and my breath caught in my throat. If I were looking for someone, I¡¯d check anywhere they could fit¡­so the fridge and freezer would be the obvious place to check. But still, as we sat and waited to be discovered¡­nothing.


    ¡°Do you know where they are?¡± The killer¡¯s voice was recognizable through the thick metal door. I squeezed my eyes shut and listened hard. ¡°Well what good are you, then?¡±


    Huh? Who is he talking to?


    ¡°What do you think I¡¯m doing?¡±


    ¡°Who is he talking to?¡± Kerrie whispered and was immediately shushed by Ray.


    I shrugged to answer her. I hadn¡¯t a clue who he would be talking to, but it wasn¡¯t a partner. If who he was talking to another person, we would be able to hear them as well. No. this was something else entirely.


    There was a certain inflection in the killer¡¯s voice that reminded me of myself when I spoke to my monster. It was a mixture of fear and irritation. It dropped from every syllable¡ªI knew that tone well.


    I remembered how my monster said it fed off negative emotions. Who better to follow around than a psycho freak killer?


    As much as I wanted to share my new theory with Ray and Kerrie I didn¡¯t dare speak. I could hear the killer as he moved about the kitchen and opened cupboards as he searched.


    Then the whistling started. It was the Toreador song. I knew it from my musical history class I took the previous year. The way it echoed through the kitchen made it sound like there were multiple people out there. Even as it hit the steel door of the walk-in, in made goosebumps rise on my skin.


    It seemed like it took forever for the killer to check the kitchen. Ray didn¡¯t have his phone out so there was no way to tell time, but was long enough for my ass to doze off.


    Still he never came for the walk-ins, and I couldn¡¯t figure out how we hadn¡¯t been found yet. it was like he knew we were there but wasn¡¯t ready to finish us off. Like he was waiting for our fear to reach a fever pitch and ripen us before he took those last steps.


    All the while he whistled. The same tune over and over. It drilled into my brain and gave me chills at the same time. It was the sound of my worst nightmares brought to life.


    ¡°They¡¯re not here,¡± the killer finally spoke again. ¡°This is going to take all night.¡±


    I tilted my head so my ear was closer to the door. I wanted to see if I could hear whoever the killer was talking to.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you help?¡± The killer asked. After a small pause, he continued:


    ¡°You¡¯re always hungry.¡±


    The sound of clanging pots and pans made the three of us jump. I didn¡¯t know which unnerved me more: the killer becoming emotional now, or him having been deadpan while he slaughtered Samuel.


    The whistling started up again but was further away now. He must be off to check the rest of the school. Kerrie¡¯s shoulders relaxed a bit from under my arm. Now that he was out of the next room, I think we all felt like we could breathe.


    We spent the next several hours sat in silence as we waited for the sound of our impending doom. The Toreador would fade in and out of our scope of hearing as the killer swept the building. There was never a span of time long enough we felt safe enough to make a break for it.


    Then silence.


    We sat there, all of us leaned forward on our haunches as we did our best to listen for any sort of noise from outside our little box of safety. Finally, when my back started to ache from sitting in the same position for so long, I turned to Ray and whispered:


    ¡°What time is it?¡±


    Ray reached deep into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Kerrie leaned around me to get a look at the screen as it powered back to life. The sudden light, dim as it was, was almost too much for my eyes.


    After they adjusted I could see the big bold letters next to the clock on his home screen:


    Two a.m. Thirty missed calls.


    Already? We¡¯ve been here for seven hours?


    ¡°Fuck. We need to get the hell out of here,¡± Ray murmured.


    ¡°How? He keeps coming back!¡± Kerrie stretched her legs out in front of her and rubbed her quads.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since he¡¯s been here,¡± Ray responded. ¡°I think he¡¯s gone.¡±


    ¡°Well we have to get out of here eventually,¡± I cut in. ¡°We need to get home. The cops need to know about Samuel.¡±


    ¡°I think now¡¯s the time,¡± Ray gathered his legs under him and readied himself to stand. I put a hand on his bent knee and rubbed the thick material of his pants with my thumb.


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    ¡°No, but like you said¡ªwe need to get out of here. Your house is the closest. We should all head there,¡± he straightened fully and groaned as he did so. Ray shook his legs to wake them up, and took the first few shaky steps to the door.


    Kerrie and I followed after we made sure our deadened legs wouldn¡¯t give up on us half-way to the exit of the walk-in. mine were killing me from a mixture of running and the cramped position we had put ourselves in for the past seven months.


    I hobbled to Ray whose phone was still out to give us some light to move by. My steps were jerky and stilted, but I didn¡¯t feel like I was going to collapse just yet.


    When we were all gathered by the door, Ray put a hand on the emergency handle and pocketed his phone again. Bathed in darkness once more, I could hear the small ¡®tings¡¯ of his nails as they hit the stainless steel while he debated on opening the door.


    ¡°Right. When the door opens, we book it down the path to Sophie¡¯s.¡± Ray¡¯s tone left no room to argue, so I just nodded into the dark, though he couldn¡¯t see me.


    Ray pulled the handle and pushed the door open. It silently swung to reveal the darkened kitchen, illuminated only by way of the cafeteria windows. He stepped out gingerly and looked around. By the way his jaw was set I could tell he was waiting for something to happen.


    Kerrie and I followed in tandem. We did our best to stay right on Ray¡¯s heels. We kept from calling out our position with light steps as to not scrape the scraps of tile against the floor.


    We moved like this through the school all the way to the front door. Any sort of noise, our own fault or not, was cause for us to stop while we tried to figure out if it was the killer, or the creature. I barely took a breath until I could see the black outside the door frame.


    The frosty air of the outside hit us and instantly wracked me with a violent shiver. I really felt the lack of a shirt, now and wasn¡¯t quite ready to run, yet. though my legs had a much-needed rest they were still sore and rubbery from earlier¡­but when Ray trotted off, I followed dutifully down the steps and into the parking lot.


    We didn¡¯t really pick up pace after that. There didn¡¯t seem to be a need to. Wherever the killer was, or the monster was¡ªit wasn¡¯t here. There were normal forest noises as we jogged down the path to the highway, but nothing more than that.


    I was relieved when we reached the highway. Though it was dead at this time of night, for some reason I felt safer as we crossed over to the other side of the two lanes to get to my neighborhood.


    We continued at a light jog until we got to the end of the street that connected to mine. Red and blue lights reflected off the stop sign on the corner and my heart sank. I never thought I would be the kind of person to wish harm on a stranger, but I hoped it was a neighbor¡¯s house and not mine.


    I broke into a full sprint as I tried to get the quickest answer possibly. I narrowly avoided a fall as I rounded the corner and saw the Sheriff¡¯s SUV outside my house. The twins were sat in the back of the open hatch and my heart sunk further.


    Where the fuck is Janice?


    I sped off to the SUV as fast as my jelly legs would carry me. My aim was right at Bruce and Jayden. They saw me approach and their sleepy eyes lit up. Bruce reached for a hug, and Jayden copied him. I crashed into their open arms and nearly knocked the three of us back into the cargo hold.


    ¡°Sophie! Where were you?¡±


    ¡°Mommy was upset!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain later,¡± I soothed and kissed them both on the top of their heads. ¡°I gotta go deal with Mom and Sheriff Doonan.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Bruce looked sad.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be back, though, right?¡±


    ¡°For sure,¡± I gave them another tight squeeze before I let go and went to the house.


    The front door was open, and Deputy Gomez stood guard. When he saw me, his shoulders drooped, and his brow furrowed. He turned his head to his radio and spoke into it: ¡°Sophia just showed up¡ªshe has Ray Vena and Kerrie Jeffers with her.¡±


    I paused at the bottom of the porch steps and waited. From the flurry of activity inside, I could tell I probably wasn¡¯t welcome in, especially since the boys were outside.


    Sheriff Doonan appeared at the door, her blonde hair shone in the porch light. Her lips were turned into a sharp scowl. She looked us up and down and sighed heavily:


    ¡°What have you three been up to, now? You realize your parents and I have been looking for you all night, right?¡±


    I looked to Ray and Kerrie. I didn¡¯t know how to begin to describe what happened today. They looked at me and shrugged.


    Fucking great.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Samuel Peppard? Hattie¡¯s having a coronary,¡± Doonan prodded.


    I don¡¯t know if it was the mention of Samuel, or the fact that I had run more today than I ever had in my life, but my legs gave out and I fell to the concrete path onto my left side and burst into tears.


    ¡°Samuel¡¯s dead,¡± I forced the words out of me, worried if I didn¡¯t say it then I wouldn¡¯t be able to say it at all. It was different saying things to Kerrie and Ray¡ªthey were there. They saw the footage and we were in it together.


    The Sheriff? She was just a part of the aftermath. She was an outsider who¡¯s only job was to clean up the killer¡¯s mess.


    ¡°What?¡± The Sherriff¡¯s tone changed to disbelief.


    ¡°He¡¯s dead,¡± Kerrie sniffled¡ªshe was on the road to lose it, too.


    ¡°He¡¯s in the woods to the North of the path to the old school,¡± Ray interjected. ¡°His camera is in a clearing to the South of the path. There¡¯s a video on there of¡­of the murder.¡±


    ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    ¡°About six or so,¡± Ray continued answering questions. I was amid a full-on break down, wailing on the nearly icy concrete, and Kerrie wasn¡¯t far behind. Ray and the Sheriff had to raise their voices over my loud crying and Kerrie¡¯s increasingly jagged breaths.


    ¡°What? Why on God¡¯s green earth am I just hearing about this, now?¡±


    ¡°Because the guy that killed Samuel came after us,¡± Ray responded. ¡°We¡¯ve been hiding in the walk-in fridge at the old high school all night.¡±


    ¡°Christ,¡± the porch creaked. I looked up to see that Doonan had rested her full weight on one of the pillars for the porch. She seemed as exhausted as I felt. In the past few weeks, Green Glen had seen more death than it had in years.


    Doonan spoke into her shoulder mounted radio and sent a call for units to respond to the area Ray told her about. It was hard to hear her advise that forensics would be necessary, and to let Salem know to head on down, now.


    ¡°Why are you guys here,¡± I asked finally. I felt like I had a grasp on my sobbing, though I still had tears in my eyes.


    ¡°A man broke in. Janice found him talking to the boys when she woke up to get a drink. He pushed her down the stairs on his way out. She¡¯s fine. Just a sprained wrist and bad attitude.¡±


    ¡°What did he look like?¡±


    ¡°From what Janice said, some unshaven guy in a dirty dress shirt and khakis.¡± Doonan read the details from a notepad.


    ¡°That¡¯s the guy that killed Samuel,¡± Ray tried to pull me to my feet now that I was a bit more even.


    ¡°That¡¯s the guy on the video we saw¡ªif you find the camera¡ªyou¡¯ll see what he looks like!¡±


    ¡°Wait¡ªhe shows his face?¡± Doonan relayed the new information over the radio, ill-concealed excitement in her voice. On one hand it bothered me how she got a kick out of this, but on the other, I understood. She had a lead, now.


    I nodded in response while my stomach churned. That creep had been in my house with the boys and Janice. He probably stopped in to look for me, but I couldn¡¯t figure out why he left the twins and Janice alive.


    Maybe he isn¡¯t scared of being identified?


    The thought hit my brain and sent me into a fresh panic. If he¡¯s not scared to show his face, that means he¡¯s well hidden and hard to find. Or, if he¡¯s not, he¡¯s close to being done with whatever his mission is and he doesn¡¯t care if Doonan gets close.


    ¡°I need to speak to Janice.¡± My knees cartoonishly knocked together where I stood, but I had to know what happened while we¡¯d been hiding.


    ¡°She¡¯s in the den,¡± Doonan moved so I could climb the steps and go inside.


    I made it to the carpet of the den without issue and saw Janice sat on the couch, a mug of tea in had as she stared blank faced at the TV. She looked like a wreck, and I felt like shit for my part of why the killer had been here.


    The couch cushion to her left sank under my weight. I relished the feeling of softness under me for the first time in nearly a day. It bordered on magical and I nearly lost track of what I was here to do.


    ¡°Janice?¡± I reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. She shirked it off and stared down into her mug.


    ¡°Why have you brought this on us?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? I didn¡¯t do anything to this guy¡ªI don¡¯t know why he¡¯s coming after my friends and I!¡±


    ¡°This man was here looking for you¡ªI found him in the boy¡¯s room. He was talking to them, trying to get them to ¡®play a game¡¯. Lord knows what he meant,¡± Janice visibly shuddered.


    ¡°They¡¯re okay, though,¡± I offered. ¡°They don¡¯t seem bothered, anyway.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re young and don¡¯t realize how bad tonight was. Just like they¡¯re young and don¡¯t realize what a strain having you here has caused this family. Especially now.¡±


    ¡°Janice¡ªI¡­I¡¯m not trying to be a strain. I¡¯m always trying to help. I don¡¯t know why this is happening, and I¡¯m sorry it is.¡± Tears pricked in the corners of my eyes again while I tried not to break down in front of her. I didn¡¯t want to be accused of ¡®emotional blackmail¡¯.


    ¡°Sorry doesn¡¯t change the fact that someone came into the house looking for you and could have hurt the boys¡ªand did hurt me. Fucker pushed me down the stairs when he ran off.¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Am I okay? Seriously? No, I¡¯m not okay. My home has been violated and I don¡¯t have a way to fix that¡­except get rid of the cause.¡±


    ¡°Janice, please don¡¯t. I don¡¯t want to go. The chance of me finding somewhere in Green Glen are like zero!¡±


    ¡°And we¡¯ll all be safer for it.¡±


    The tears that threatened to fall finally did. There wasn¡¯t any way to talk her out of this. She couldn¡¯t even look at me, and I didn¡¯t blame her. I had brought this, willing or not, on her and the boys.


    ¡°So what? Should I pack?¡±


    ¡°I already called social services. They¡¯re looking for a place for you, but it¡¯s going to take a few days. They asked if you could stay here while they looked. I guess they¡¯re full up.¡±


    ¡°So, am I on house arrest?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, Sophia, I really don¡¯t care what you do,¡± Janice finally turned to look at me, her tired eyes boring into mine. She looked exhausted in every sense of the word and I couldn¡¯t blame her for that either.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay out of your way,¡± I promised. ¡°Just let me know if you need me to do anything.¡±


    Her head bobbed in agreement as I got up to leave. I couldn¡¯t find it in me to argue to stay. It wouldn¡¯t do any good. Despite all the ways I tried to help her and the boys, she finally had the excuse she was looking for to get rid of me without guilt.


    ¡°Is it cool if I stay with Ray for a couple days?¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t care.¡±


    Great talking to you, Janice.

 Chapter Eight

    I stepped back out onto the porch. Tears rolled down my face as I stumbled into a confused Ray¡¯s arms. I feared if I spoke about that shit show of a conversation, I would loose it completely. The only thing I uttered was:


    ¡°Can I stay with you for a few days?¡±


    At the least I would be able to spend time with him before I would be shuttled off to God-knows-where to live with a random family and must start all over.


    ¡°Sure, babe. I¡¯m pretty sure mom and dad won¡¯t mind,¡± he rubbed my back slowly as he tried his best to make my tears stop. That only served to make them fall harder. What would I do when I didn¡¯t have anyone I trusted nearby?


    Sheriff Doonan cleared her throat to bring our attention back to her. I wiped my face with the back of my hand and turned to her.


    ¡°Is Janice okay with this?¡±


    ¡°She said she didn¡¯t care¡ªask her.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Doonan headed off into the house to speak with my ex-foster mother, and left us with the deputy.


    ¡°Went that bad?¡± Kerrie reached out to give my arm a reassuring rub.


    ¡°She¡¯s getting rid of me,¡± I sputtered into a sob and hid my face in my hands.


    ¡°What? Oh babe,¡± Ray brought me back into his embrace and squeezed me tight. ¡°How can she do that?¡±


    ¡°Easily. I put her and the boys in danger, and she doesn¡¯t want to deal with that, anymore,¡± my response was muffled by my hands. ¡°She¡¯s just waiting for child services to find a place for me.¡±


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Kerrie muttered, and I felt her hug me from behind. She and Ray effectively cocooned me in a show of affection and solidarity.


    I peeked my face out from behind my hands to see Kerrie¡¯s uncomfortable expression right new to my face. She never got this close to Ray and I could tell it bothered her, but nonetheless I appreciated the support.


    ¡°Thanks, guys,¡± I sniffed and wiped my nose with the side of my hand.


    ¡°No problem. We¡¯ll figure something out,¡± Kerrie smiled softly at me and took my thanks as a sign she could let go. She stepped back a few paces and was instantly bathed in the headlights of Frank¡¯s truck.


    ¡°Oh, shit,¡± Ray muttered.


    I wrapped my arms around Ray¡¯s waist and settled in. I didn¡¯t want to stand on my own just yet. Ray¡¯s usual habit to put distance between him and I when his parents were around was thwarted for the time being.


    The headlights cut off and the driver¡¯s door opened. Frank hopped out and walked in our direction, purpose and intent in every step. His heavy brows were closely knitted together and the scowl on his face made him terrifying.


    I could feel Ray shrink as his father approached, and though I never knew Frank to lay a hand on anyone, he sure looked like he was about to.


    Kerrie turned just in time to see Frank¡¯s large arm swing out. His hand hit home gently on the back of her neck as he guided her our direction. His other arm wrapped around Ray and I. Once again we were smooshed together but this time it was against Frank¡¯s broad chest as he hugged the three of us, head bowed.


    ¡°Thank fucking Christ,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Dad?¡± Ray¡¯s voice came out small and scared.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you ever do that to me again¡ªany of you. Do you hear me?¡± Frank¡¯s voice wavered.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Our answer came in unison.


    Frank sniffed once more and let the three of us go. He rubbed his nose, wiped un-shed tears from his eyes and that was that. Back to business.


    ¡°Dad, can Sophia come stay with us for a bit? Janice doesn¡¯t want her in the house,¡± Ray looked up at Frank expectantly.


    Frank stiffened and glared at the open door of the house.


    ¡°That fucking woman¡­yeah, yeah. She¡¯s always welcome. You know that.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go get your stuff, Soph,¡± Kerrie headed off to the front door. I was glad I didn¡¯t have to go in alone. I pulled away from Ray and went in after Kerrie.


    ¡°Hey, Sophia¡ªsend the Sherrif out, will ya?¡± Frank asked.


    ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    The Sheriff was in the middle of the conversation with Janice who looked much less frazzled.


    I hated her.


    ¡°Hey Sheriff Doonan, Frank wants to talk to you, he¡¯s out front.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, kid. I¡¯ll be right out,¡± she gave me a sad smile having probably heard my fate.


    Janice wouldn¡¯t even look my direction.


    The whole upstairs reeked of the monster and as far as I was concerned, it could stay that way. Kerrie paled as the smell hit her and began to look around in the dark doorways as she tried to spot the culprit.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to find anything,¡± I told her and moved past the boy¡¯s room into mine where the smell was at its worst.


    ¡°How are you not freaked out right now¡ªwait, this is the smell from when I came to visit,¡± Kerrie burst in, hand under her nose. She looked around my room and again couldn¡¯t find anything, so she settled for taking a seat on my bed to watch as I grabbed my duffel bag.


    ¡°This has been my life since we found Matty,¡± I explained blandly. There wasn¡¯t anything else to say.


    ¡°How? How come you didn¡¯t say anything?¡±


    ¡°Would you have believed me?¡±


    ¡°¡­Probably not,¡± she looked to her feet and sighed.


    ¡°It¡¯s my monster,¡± I started. ¡°I don¡¯t know how but when I freaked out the night we found Matty, I created it. It shows up when I go to bed and talks to me. It tries to tell me things about people and wants me to do things¡­¡±


    The concern on her face was enough to get me to stop there. I did sound insane when I spoke the truth out loud. There was no doubt about that.


    ¡°Are you still on your meds?¡± Kerrie asked slowly.


    ¡°Yeah¡­it doesn¡¯t help,¡± I sighed and grabbed a week worth of jeans from my closet. If there was anything that could be said for child services, it was that they were slow as molasses when it came to doing anything. I¡¯d spend as much of that time at the Vena¡¯s as I could.


    ¡°Does Ray know?¡±


    ¡°He knows some. I only told you because, well¡­you kind of walked into it.¡±


    ¡°Why would this thing want us dead? It was chasing us along with that freak that killed Samuel and Matty!¡±


    ¡°No idea. Usually when it visits it, I dunno¡­feeds off my fear¡­didn¡¯t figure it¡¯d want me dead. Nothing to eat, then.¡± I shoved my jeans into one side of the duffel, I wanted to keep enough space for everything else I would need to bring.


    ¡°It what?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it,¡± I gulped. I regretted opening-up to Kerrie. She had started to ask questions I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to answer without being shipped off to the asylum.


    ¡°That bad?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    I looked through my closet and hunted down the baggiest t-shirts I could find. I wanted to be as comfortable as possible. Which also meant sweatpants. I could probably have gotten away with packing only those, since I didn¡¯t think Frank as going to let us out, but my jeans were already in my bag. I had no energy to unpack them.


    Once my shirts, over shirts, underwear and sweats were packed, I grabbed my makeup bag to bring all the basics. Eyeliner, mascara, deodorant and lipbalm. After that I took my medications and put the bottles in with my makeup before throwing the bag in the duffel.


    The entire time I was doing that, I could feel Kerrie¡¯s wary eyes on my back. I knew she was put-off by the secret I divulged, and I really couldn¡¯t blame her for that. I¡¯d look at someone like that if they told me they were being fed on by a monster.


    ¡°Ready,¡± I announced and slung the beast of a bag over my shoulder. Kerrie stood quickly and left without a word. I grimaced and followed her.


    Well that was a good friendship while it lasted.


    I stomped down the stairs just to be an ass to Janice, and out onto the porch. Frank and the Sheriff were deep in a discussion about what happened with Samuel. Frank wanted intel, and oddly enough she¡¯d given him more information than what I¡¯d seen her give any other civilian about a case. Frank was highly respected in town for his service, so I guess that had something to do with it.


    Ray held out a hand for me to take. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go put that in the truck.¡±


    Hand-in-hand, and with Kerrie on Ray¡¯s other side we went down the steep drive to the truck. Frank had parked right behind the Sheriff so when I passed into their field of view, the twins immediately called out for me.


    Ray took my bag so I could say goodbye, and Kerrie followed him. I went to the twins alone, not quite sure how to say I wasn¡¯t going to live with them anymore. We had grown quite close over the past year and a half, especially after their father had left and I wasn¡¯t sure they could handle another ¡®desertion¡¯.


    ¡°Sophie! Can we go in yet? It¡¯s cold,¡± Bruce was snuggled up with Jayden under one of the itchy wool blankets all cops seemed to have.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m tired,¡± Jayden echoed.


    ¡°Sorry guys, not quite yet. Mom is still talking with the sheriff,¡± I put a hand on either side of them and leaned in with a sad smile. ¡°Hey, I gotta tell you guys something really quick, okay? It¡¯s important.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    ¡°Wassup?¡±


    I laughed at Brucey¡¯s lack of annunciation. It drove Janice nuts, but I thought it was charming. No matter how much she told me to chastise it out of him, I never did.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to stay with Ray for a while, okay? I¡¯m not going to be at the house for a while. Just you and Mom. Okay?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Jayden¡¯s forlorn tone broke my damn heart. He was a bit more emotionally developed than Bruce and really felt things hard when he was upset. Tears pricked in the corners of his bright hazel eyes and his chin did the scrunchy thing that happened whenever someone tried not to cry.


    ¡°Because Mom wants to spend some time with just you guys,¡± I said, proud of my gross over-generalization. It wasn¡¯t an outright lie, but they didn¡¯t need to know the gory details. I didn¡¯t want to cause a rift between them and Janice.


    ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Bruce smiled.


    ¡°Why?¡± Jayden sounded suspicious.


    I sighed.


    ¡°Your Mom was really scared by what happened tonight and just wants it to be family for a while.¡±


    ¡°But you are family!¡± Bruce insisted. He threw off his side of the blanket, and reached out his scrawny arms to wrap them around my neck.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go, Sophie!¡± Jayden kept his part of the blanket on but clung to my arm. I was trapped in place by two eight-year-olds and I loved every second of it. I always wanted to know what it would be like to have siblings and now I guess I did.


    It became hard to see as tears blurred my vision due to the show of affection, but I didn¡¯t want to cry in front of the boys and make them think something was wrong. It wasn¡¯t my place to tell them I was going to be gone for good. Janice made that bed¡ªshe could lie in it.


    Another car pulled up. Its yellowed lights blinded the boys who squinted and released me so they could block their eyes. I took a step out of arms reach as the lights shut off.


    ¡°Cover back up, I¡¯ll make sure Mom knows you¡¯re sleepy,¡± I blew them both a kiss and jogged up to the house where Frank looked to have just finished up with the Sheriff.


    ¡°Hey, Sheriff Doonan? The twins are cold and exhausted. They¡¯re asking for Janice and want to go to bed.¡±


    ¡°Oh shit,¡± the Sheriff rubbed her face and sighed deeply. ¡°I forgot they were out there.¡± She walked into the house and I thought I heard her mumble something to the tune of ¡®not good with kids¡¯.


    I rolled my eyes and left for the truck with Frank¡¯s heavy hand on my shoulder. There was a bit of a commotion back by the truck bed, and as I neared, I could see why:


    Birdie and the Reverend had arrived.


    ¡°¡ªgive me that, Kerrie Anne! You snuck out,¡± the Reverend was red in the face and the cords in his neck were popped out. Birdie just stood there meekly as Kerrie got read the riot act from her father.


    ¡°Samuel was murdered, Dad! Doesn¡¯t that kind of trump me meeting my friends after a week of house arrest?¡± Kerrie glowered up at her father who was, as always, in pastor garb.


    The Reverend sputtered for a few moments, caught off guard by Kerrie¡¯s retort. His face was borderline purple, which looked off with his white hair. His usually kind eyes were ablaze with anger and wide enough I could see the whites all the way around his irises.


    Finally he settled on:


    ¡°You are my child! You don¡¯t get to turn this back on me!¡±


    ¡°Oh, so when I¡¯m in trouble, I¡¯m your child, but when you find out I also like girls, you want nothing to do with me? Great¡ªthanks for clearing that up.¡± Kerrie tossed a swath of hair behind her shoulders and folded her arms.


    Go Kerrie!


    I tried to hide my grin at what I knew we both saw as a triumph. She had been dying to lay into her father for weeks now and finally had an excuse to do so.


    ¡°Kerrie Anne!¡± Birdie gasped, and yup. Pearl clutch.


    ¡°Don¡¯t defend him,¡± Kerrie spat. ¡°You¡¯re tired of this, too. I can tell. Trying to make awkward conversations at dinner. Having to choose between spending time with me or him because he won¡¯t be in the same room with me? This needs to stop!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t speak to your mother like that,¡± the Reverend¡¯s orders fell on deaf ears. Kerrie slid her stony gaze over to him and shook her head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t treat me like a piece of dog crap on your shoe!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± the Reverend looked to Birdie, ¡°tell her!¡±


    ¡°Birdie glanced up at her husband, then to her daughter before she lowered her gaze to the ground.


    That was its own answer. The Reverend swore under his breath and mumbled that he would ¡®be in the car¡¯ and stormed off to the sedan.


    ¡°Thanks, Mom,¡± Kerrie¡¯s soft voice was barely audible in the still of the night.


    ¡°It¡¯s a start,¡± Birdie pulled Kerrie into a hug.


    Frank cleared his throat after he gave the Jeffers¡¯ some time and spared us from a longer than necessary awkward encounter. Birdie released her daughter and looked up to Frank with an air of annoyance.


    ¡°Yes, Frank?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to say, we should talk about what to do about keeping the kids safe. That creep that killed Samuel and probably Matthew broke into Sophia¡¯s house earlier this evening.¡±


    Birdie choked back a gasp and looked around Frank at the house as if her stare would reveal the identity of the killer.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s okay, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, for the most part¡­but I really think we should talk. Not now, but tomorrow, maybe?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Tomorrow,¡± Birdie nodded frantically.


    ¡°Good. Let¡¯s get these kids home,¡± Frank looked to Ray and I and motioned to the truck. ¡°Get in the cab.¡±


    ¡°See ya, Kerrie,¡± Ray called out and went for the passenger door.


    ¡°Bye,¡± I smiled at Kerrie and offered her a small wave before I climbed into the back seat. It was cramped and I had to sit sideways, but it was warm.


    Ray pushed the seat back and hopped in. he peered back at me between the seat and the door frame, an impish smile on his face.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Sleep over, again?¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± I rolled my eyes but couldn¡¯t hold back the grin that desperately fought its way to the surface. As horrible as the past day had been, I was glad I was headed home with people that cared about me.


    The driver¡¯s side door opened, and Frank hopped in. he started the truck without a word and drove off through the neighborhood to the highway.


    We plodded into the Vena¡¯s foyer about ten minutes later. My ears were still ringing from the verbal reaming we¡¯d gotten on the first leg of the way home. Frank swore up and down he would not let us off easy for scaring him and Anita to death.


    The second part of the drive was just as loud. His rant about Janice and her decision to send me away was pure gold. I didn¡¯t know there were enough swear words to fill a three-minute span of time.


    He made sure I verbalized that what happened wasn¡¯t my fault before I got out of the truck. I thought it was nice he cared enough to make sure I didn¡¯t hold myself responsible for things outside my control.


    As soon as Ray walked through the door, Anita practically flew out of the great room and launched herself at her son. Thankfully, Ray wasn¡¯t caught too off guard and was able to easily keep them both from smashing to the floor.


    ¡°Thank the spirits you two are alright,¡± Anita blubbered and pulled me into a hug as well. I put an arm around her shoulders with an uneasy smile. I wasn¡¯t used to all the hugging that had been going on tonight.


    ¡°We¡¯re fine, Ma.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t sass your mother,¡± Frank tapped the back of Ray¡¯s head as he passed with my bag on his way upstairs.


    Anita released us from the hug but kept us no more than an arm¡¯s length away. She looked us over from head to toe and tutted at my torn dance pants and lack of a sweater.


    ¡°You should go get in the shower and get changed for bed,¡± she instructed and pushed me at the stairs. ¡°I¡¯ll make you and Ray something to eat. It¡¯ll be ready when  you get out.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Anita,¡± I smiled sleepily at her and went upstairs to collect some sleep clothes to change into.


    I caught Frank in the hall as he left the guestroom.


    ¡°Anita¡¯s making food,¡± I yawned as I spoke, the full force of my exhaustion hit me all at once.


    ¡°Great,¡± he ruffled my already tangled hair on the way by. ¡°Go get cleaned up, kid.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± I entered the guest room and went for my bag that was placed neatly on the foot of my bed. I wasn¡¯t too excited to be back in the room where I¡¯d had my first close encounter with my monster, but I didn¡¯t have another option.


    My hands reached around and found some underwear. The softest shirt I¡¯d packed and some heather gray sweats.


    This¡¯ll do.


    Back down the hall, I locked myself in the bathroom. The wad of clean clothes was set on the edge of the vanity before I went for the shower controls. This was my least favorite part of staying at someone else¡¯s house¡ªfiguring out the shower. It always took forever.


    The knobs turned easily and though it took me a bit to figure out what mixture made the perfect scalding temperature, I finally got it and was able to sus out how to make the water stream down from the shower head instead of the faucet.


    As soon as I stripped, I was under the hot water. My muscles sang with appreciation. I¡¯d been cold for so long I swore I forgot what actual warmth felt like.


    The shivers I¡¯d been ignoring stopped and I finally felt okay to search through the bottles on the built-in ledges for shampoo. I found Anita¡¯s green apple and pear herbal mixture and thought I¡¯d give it a try.


    My arms screamed at me as I worked every inch of my long hair into a lather. I also picked out the bits of twigs and leaves that had nestled themselves into the strands on the way through the woods. That took a while. I swore half the damn forest was in my hair.


    When I was done, I washed out the lather and tended to the scrapes on my legs with body wash. I probably should have asked for Neosporin, but my legs were already having issue holding me up as is and I didn¡¯t want to hit the stairs more than I had to.


    I didn¡¯t turn off the water until the air was so steam logged that I could barely breathe. My lungs struggled to draw a decent breath as I stepped out onto the bath mat to grab a towel and dry myself off.


    For the night being as horrible as it was, I felt somewhat content as I got dressed. Other than feeling the loss of Samuel, the only cloud over my head was that this serenity I was feeling wouldn¡¯t last, either do to a maniac with a knife, or by way of children¡¯s services. I did my best to convince myself to deal with those when the time came and just to be happy with where I was right now.


    I was safe, I was with people that cared about me, and I finally felt cleansed of the day for the most part. I wished I could share my conversation with Janice, with Samuel¡ªhe¡¯d be sure to have some hilarious opinion on the matter.


    I tried to think of what he¡¯d say as I cracked the door for some air and towel dried my hair. I didn¡¯t want to soak my pillows when I finally got to lay down. I hoped that would be soon.


    My hunger lessened as me need for sleep grew. I knew I probably should head down and eat, but I needed to shut down more.


    The floor of the hall creaked as I made my way back to my room to grab my meds so I could take them before I ate. The three pills felt heavy in my hand. I didn¡¯t know why I took them anymore¡ªthey didn¡¯t make what I saw or heard go away. They just made me tired all the time and gave me stomach aches in the morning.


    On my way back to the stairs, I could see into Ray¡¯s room. The desk light he kept on next to his giant bean bag was on and spotlighted a glass of water perched on the small table where it sat.


    Perfect.


    I veered into Ray¡¯s room, grabbed the glass and filled my mouth with water so I could drop the pills in. I had done this enough that I could take all three at once. It lessened the chalky taste that they all had.


    With that done I looked around the room while I set the glass back on the table. It was eclectic and messy as always. Almost every flat surface had stuff strewn on it and it smelled vaguely like the cologne Frank and gotten Ray for his last birthday since he was ¡®becoming a man¡¯.


    It was cozy in here, a mixture of fabrics, colors, and textures. I didn¡¯t want to leave. My legs were near the point they were going to give out again, and as much as I wanted to spend all the time I could with the Vena¡¯s I needed to rest.


    I shuffled over to the bed and pulled the patchwork quilt that Anita had made for Ray when he was a baby off the mattress and into my arms. It was one of those perfect blankets. Not too thick, or too thin, soft, and large enough to cover me while I curled up in my second favorite spot to be in here: the bean bag chair.


    I didn¡¯t think it would be fair to take Ray¡¯s bed. the bean bag chair was just as comfortable and nearly as wide. I could fit in it without touching the floor and with the quilt it would be the perfect place to crash.


    I flopped onto the black velvet and drew my legs to my chest. I spread the quilt over my body and left just my eyes out from under the blanket.


    Oh God. This is what I need.


    I yawned immediately. Yeah, there was no will in me to move from this spot for at least a few hours. My eyes shut firmly and left me with the flesh-toned glow of the light through my eyelids. My hand briefly left the warmth of the quilt to angle the light away from the bean bag before I tucked it back under my chin.


    That¡¯s perfect.


    I drifted off quickly. It was interesting to feel myself slip further and further from consciousness. All too soon I said goodbye to the soothing sounds of Ray¡¯s room and headed for the peaceful quiet of sleep.


    It was the harsh light through the bay window that woke me up. I felt like I could have kept sleeping for years, but not with the room being as bright as it was.


    I was snuggled into the bean bag, still curled into myself. there was a curious pressure against my shins. It asked to be investigated. My arm stretched out from under the quilt and down my leg to the pressure.


    Soft, short hair under my fingers pulled a sleepy smile from me. I cracked open an eye, despite my distance for the sun and saw Ray laid out on the floor under his comforter.


    I ran my short nails through his black hair lightly. I wanted to show my affection without waking him. His dark brows furrowed and twitched in response, so I stilled. I had no idea when he came up and found me here, so I didn¡¯t want to wake him.


    After a few moments his expression relaxed. I stroked his hair some more. It was his favorite thing I did while we relaxed and watched TV or a movie¡­besides making out.


    Ray ¡®hmmm¡¯d and stirred again. I stilled once more and paused mid-stroke. My fingers were still wound in his slightly stiff hair, unwashed from the previous day. There was still product in it that he used to slick the longer parts back.


    ¡°Why¡¯d you stop,¡± he mumbled and pushed his limbs out into a large stretch. His head lifted slightly from my legs due to the force before he relaxed again.


    ¡°I was trying not to wake you up,¡± I whispered back and tugged lightly on the shock of hair that was still in my grasp.


    ¡°Ship has sailed. Keep going,¡± his voice was raspy and thick with sleep.


    ¡°Wow, needy much?¡± I giggled quietly and resumed my earlier action.


    ¡°Yup,¡± he tented his legs and pushed himself, so his head rested on my knee. ¡°Better,¡± he yawned and from his profile I could see him smile.


    ¡°Sorry I passed out last night,¡± I lightly raked my nails across his scalp as I spoke. ¡°I just needed it.¡±


    ¡°¡¯S okay, babe,¡± Ray reached a bare arm out from under his own blanket and motioned for my other hand. I pulled my arm out from under me and put my hand in his. He was warm and strong, and I could feel my body relax just that much more under his touch. ¡°We saved a plate in the fridge for whenever you want it.¡±


    ¡°Cool, I yawned and squinted down at him through the sunlight. ¡°You need some fucking curtains.¡±


    ¡°Well if you had passed out on the bed like a normal person, it wouldn¡¯t be bothering you,¡± he chuckled.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to take your bed,¡± I tapped the top of his head with a flat hand. ¡°where would you have slept?¡±


    ¡°After my parents passed out? In my bed.¡± He shrugged. ¡°There¡¯s more than enough space.¡±


    ¡°And then Frank kills us when he wakes up to piss and sees us on the same mattress.¡±


    ¡°He knows I¡¯m on the floor near you,¡± Ray tented his legs again. the comforter slipped down his bare chest, now open to the cool air of the room.


    ¡°That¡¯s different. I¡¯m a human cocoon and this bean bag only fits one. No ¡®shenanigans¡¯ can occur.¡± I rolled my eyes. There was a difference between having slept on the floor near me and the two of us cuddled up on the bed together.


    ¡°Two can fit on the bean bag.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see how.¡±


    ¡°Wanna bet?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re gunna lose,¡± I warned him, but he was already up.


    Ray stood and I noticed he was just in basketball shorts. My face heated slightly as he blocked the sun from view with his upper body. He wasn¡¯t muscular in the way Samuel was. Samuel went for bulk¡ªRay went for lean and compact muscle.


    His mussed hair really added to the look as he cracked his knuckles and rolled his neck to get the kinks out. he stooped over me and grinned like a hungry jackal before he went in for the kill.


    In just a matter of a few seconds he had lifted me from my cozy spot on the bean bag, lifted me into his arms and dropped us both back into it with him between me and the soft velvet.


    The chair was so wide, that even with me sat sideways across Ray, my feet still had something to perch on, and my shoulders rested against it as well.


    I looked up at Ray, wide eyed. He rarely, if ever, showed off his strength like this. He usually saved it for wrestling. I had no idea what had gotten into him this morning. He was being more forward than I was used to.


    He gazed back at me, a rather wide smirk on his face. That, the tousled hair and the fact my arm was pressed up against his smooth chest caused my face to redden further.


    ¡°Told you,¡± he breathed.


    ¡°Huh¡­not too upset I was wrong.¡±


    ¡°What do I win?¡± His eyebrows lifted. I know what he wanted¡ªwhat he always wanted. There was barely a month that went by that he didn¡¯t bring it up¡ªusually it was in a playful manner. He wanted to take things to the next level.


    I knew I was going to be gone soon, and that put things in a different light. I didn¡¯t have the time I once thought I had to work up the guts, get over my fears, and show myself to someone like that.


    Now I felt like I had next to no option. I knew I wanted my first time to be with Ray¡ªand the expiration date on our relationship was near its end. I didn¡¯t want that choice to be taken from me, too.


    ¡°Me. Naked. Tomorrow.¡±


    I could have laughed at the bewildered expression on his face. That was probably the last answer he was expecting. I leaned up and kissed the corner of his lips. It was the best chance to snap him out of whatever fantasy he was having and bring him back to the here and now.


    ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re not fucking with me?¡± The kiss did the trick. His eyes unglazed and he scrutinized my face.


    ¡°Seriously,¡± I grinned.


    ¡°Holy shit,¡± his eyes lit up like he¡¯d won the lottery¡­which I guess if I looked at myself in a certain light¡ªhe had. He leaned down and planted his thin lips to my temple. A hum of happiness erupted from him as soon as his lips made contact.


    ¡°You¡¯re too cute,¡± I giggled.


    ¡°I¡¯m not cute¡ªI¡¯m sexy, and fuckable, apparently.¡±


    ¡°That too,¡± I assured him.


    ¡°Why not today?¡±


    I shrugged. I didn¡¯t want to tell him that I felt I needed a full twenty-four hours to psych myself up for this.


    ¡°Alright, well, I¡¯ll steal a condom from their room. I know they have them in there.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Mom doesn¡¯t like herself when she¡¯s on birth control, and they don¡¯t want more kids.¡± Ray shrugged.


    ¡°Ahh. Lucky for us, then. I don¡¯t think we¡¯re getting out of here for the next few days,¡± I sighed. I didn¡¯t have a way to contact Kerrie to tell her the big news. Our phones were somewhere on the forest floor.


    ¡°Yup,¡± Ray leaned his head back against the bean bag and closed his eyes. ¡°Now if only I could sleep until tomorrow. The day is going to drag.¡±


    ¡°Sorry babe, you¡¯ll just have to deal,¡± I threw the blanket off me and sat up. The chill of the room hit my arms and made me shiver.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Bathroom,¡± I responded and used his shoulders to push me up and onto my feet. ¡°Then I think I¡¯m going to grab some food. Maybe let jet outside.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll meet you downstairs then,¡± Ray sounded slightly upset I left his lap.


    ¡°Why¡¯re you all pouty?¡± I chuckled. His bottom lip stuck out and his eyes were all big and sad.


    ¡°I was comfy,¡± Ray shrugged the quilt off him and piled it up on the side of the bean bag. He looked down at his feet and sighed heavily.


    I don¡¯t know what possessed me to do so, but one second I nudged his calf with my foot, and the next I flashed my boobs at him when he looked up. Nothing more than a quick peek, it wasn¡¯t like I stood there with my tits hanging out¡ªespecially when the door was cracked open. Just enough that from the shocked expression I got in return, he had seen what I intended.


    ¡°Happy, now?¡±


    Ray nodded and gave me the stupidest beaming grin I had ever seen. If I had known it was this easy to make him happy¡­I don¡¯t know. I doubt I would have promised the Full Monty any earlier, but I¡¯d have had more fun with teases and tidbits.


    ¡°Good,¡± I patted him on the top of his head and went down the hall and laughed to myself quietly. It was hilarious how a simple flash of the nipple could change the mood of a sixteen-year old boy.


    Samuel and Kerrie were right.


    I hit the foyer about ten minutes later. I had decided to get dressed and put some makeup on. I felt weirder about being bare faced in front of Ray than I did about flashing him, which was odd. I usually kept my chest so obscured because of my feelings about my breasts that you couldn¡¯t tell I had any at all.


    Now makeup was the issue?


    Christ, I¡¯m back-asswards.


    I decided to forego the flannel today since I didn¡¯t think frank would let us leave the house and just settled for a pair of dark jeans and the tightest t-shirt I packed, which was only one size too big. No sense in hiding my boobs now. As much as the sweats would be comfier, and the shirt was one of my least worn, I wanted to keep Ray¡¯s mind on tomorrow.


    Jett met me at the entrance to the great room with a soft ¡®boof¡¯ and a tail wag. I patted the top of his head gently and ran my palm over the ridge there with a smile.


    ¡°Morning, handsome,¡± I gave the white stripe that ran between his eyes a kiss.


    ¡°Should I be jealous?¡± Ray called out from the kitchen.


    ¡°Naw, I only have eyes for you, babe.¡±


    The microwave beeped. I skirted around Jett to make it into the kitchen as fast as possible. The scent of bacon drew me into the light, airy kitchen.


    My plate was already placed on the table that sat in the breakfast nook. Ray was in the chair across from it. His leg bounced as he waited for me, still only in his shorts.


    ¡°Oh, breakfast and a show, then? Lucky me,¡± I grinned and took my seat. I stared at the plate of bacon, eggs and waffles. My stomach growled. I wasn¡¯t sure this was going to be enough to sate me but from the noises upstairs, either Frank or Anita would be down soon enough.


    ¡°I aim to please,¡± Ray pointed to my plate. ¡°I slaved over a hot microwave for that, ya know.¡±


    ¡°I can tell. It¡¯s very toasty,¡± I grabbed the fork laid out next to the plate and dug in.


    Breakfast fare was my favorite part of eating at the Vena¡¯s house. Frank always said he had enough shitty powdered eggs in the Marines to last a lifetime. He always cooked things he was served often while he was in but got a kick out of doing them better.


    I guess the biggest affront to cooking was the breakfast food since that¡¯s what he mainly chose. None of us minded, though. It was always delicious and was usually followed up by the four of us chilling on the couch as we watched some stupid horror movie.


    Ray smiled as he watched me eat. I wondered if that¡¯s what love was¡ªbeing so stupidly entertained as you watch your partner do something as simple as eating. If it was, then Ray loved me a lot because he never took his eyes off me. Not even when a grumbled ¡®good morning¡¯ came from across the kitchen.


    ¡°Hey Frank! Great eggs,¡± I covered my mouth as I spoke.


    ¡°Thanks. They were better five hours ago when they were fresh,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Couldn¡¯t make it back down?¡±


    ¡°Stairs would have been a problem. I took my meds and just passed out where I was standing.¡±


    ¡°Gotcha. Have a good night on the floor, Mr. Heart-Eyes?¡±


    Ray finally tore his gaze off me to glare at Frank, as if it wasn¡¯t obvious the nickname suited him.


    ¡°Yeah, it was fine,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°Oh don¡¯t be crabby,¡± Frank swatted the air in Ray¡¯s direction. ¡°Risking pain for you mate is an admirable thing.¡± Ray perked up at the compliment and I went back to my waffle.


    ¡°Morning, kids,¡± Anita bustled into the kitchen. She looked haggard for how fast she moved. Her hair was up in a giant bun and she wore a flowing skirt and coordinating t-shirt, more accurately, the same one she¡¯d been wearing the night before.


    She headed over to Frank and leaned her head on his arm.


    ¡°Coffee?¡±


    ¡°Working on it.¡± He kissed the top of her head and went back to shovel grounds into the filter. I looked at Ray and smiled. I hoped that would be us one day in the future after our careers and dreams were taken care of. Just to be happy enough in our relationship that we didn¡¯t need anything else.


    Ray smirked back at me and my stomach flipped. He had suddenly gotten good at the sexy-smile thing. Or I was just super aware of it now. I wasn¡¯t sure, but it worked alarmingly well for him.


    ¡°So, news,¡± Frank announced over the newly percolating pot of coffee. ¡°Sophia, the Sheriff and her boys found your and Kerrie¡¯s bags and phones. We¡¯re going to head out in a bit to go pick it up and get groceries. I figure while you¡¯re here, we¡¯ll make this a party.¡±


    ¡°Sweetness,¡± I beamed at Frank and Anita, genuinely excited for the next few days.


    After breakfast we all collapsed in the living room on various pieces of furniture to watch a stupid Adam Sandler movie. We all agreed real life was horrific enough as is and skipped out on our tradition of a horror movie. By the time the movie was done, it was mid-afternoon and time to head down to the Sheriff¡¯s station.


    I went downstairs with Ray in tow after I grabbed a flannel from my bag for going out when we saw Anita at the open door. I could hear Frank on the porch as he yelled at someone further away from the sound of the return shouts.


    ¡°Ma?¡± Ray moved around me to stand next to Anita at the door and immediately the commotion outside grew louder. Multiple voices shouted Ray¡¯s name and even a few asked for me.


    Reporters. Great.


    I walked up to the frosted glass and peeked my head out of the frame. I could see a news truck all the way from Salem, and some locals down at the end of the driveway as well.


    Franks hulking frame blocked most of them but at least one saw me and decided to announce that to the rest of the flock.


    ¡°What the¡ª¡° Frank turned and saw Ray and I as we peeked outside and pointed to the back of the house. His eyes managed to be both wide and menacing. I wasn¡¯t going to argue.


    We walked hand-in-hand to the living room and squished onto the one sofa cushion Jett hadn¡¯t taken up to wait and be told what-was-what. Ray looked down at the flannel in my hands and sighed:


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re going anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Probably not,¡± I threw the shirt behind me at the back of the couch. There was no point to hold onto it if we were going to be stuck inside.


    The front door slammed. We both jumped and froze as Frank strode into the room, his hands clenched into fists.


    ¡°I fucking hate reporters,¡± he growled.


    Anita walked in after him and leaned against the entry to the living room. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan? We need to go grocery shopping no matter what.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± Frank looked to the ceiling like it was going to tell him the answer.


    ¡°We can leave them here,¡± Anita suggested. ¡°They¡¯re sixteen. If they don¡¯t answer the door, what¡¯s the harm?¡±


    Frank blinked a few times then looked back to his wife.


    ¡°You want to leave them here alone?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re good kids, and besides¡ªJet¡¯ll bite the shit out of whoever steps in here,¡± Anita¡¯s lips curved into a smile as she approached Frank and wrapped her slim arms around his waist.


    Frank stared at us for a long moment. It was one of the most uncomfortable moments of my life. Its like he knew we had made the decision to have sex; like he saw into our souls.


    Finally, his shoulders relaxed, and he looked down at Anita:


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll be fine,¡± she assured him, gave him a peck on the bicep and let him go. ¡°Go start the truck, dear.¡±


    Frank looked at the two of us again and did the whole ¡®I¡¯m watching you¡¯ thing with his hands before he left to the truck without a word.


    Anita stood there, arms folded until we all heard the front door open and close. Franks muffled yells barely made it through the thick wood. She looked at Ray and simply said:


    ¡°Remember what we talked about.¡±


    Ray went red and nodded. I frowned and looked between the two of them. Ray did anything possibly to avoid eye contact and Anita had this creepy knowing smile, which I hesitantly returned.


    When I heard the door lock behind her, I turned to Ray, a brow arched.


    ¡°What just happened?¡±


    ¡°Uhhh, we pretty much got permission,¡± he looked at the floor. his cheeks were now a stunning shade of rose.


    ¡°For?¡±


    ¡°To have sex while they¡¯re gone.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I paled. Had she heard our conversation this morning? Were we easier to read than I thought? I had so many questions and it didn¡¯t look like Ray wanted to answer any of them.


    ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s uhhh¡­.she¡¯s¡­yeah.¡±


    ¡°Did she hear us this morning?¡±


    ¡°No. At least I don¡¯t think so. She¡¯s thought this was the direction we were headed for a while, now. Remember when I disappeared the night we found Matty and Dad was talking to the other parents? I was getting an in-depth sex talk from mom.¡±


    ¡°Christ,¡± I ran a hand through my tangled hair. This was not how I had expected the day to go.


    As I combed through the knots with my fingers, I began to mull over the new turn of events. Sure, this wasn¡¯t what I was expecting, but it wasn¡¯t a bad thing. Ray and I were alone, finally. I had Anita¡¯s blessing to deflower her son and most importantly, I didn¡¯t have to worry about being walked in on.


    The more I thought about it, the more excited I became. My stomach did little flips as I settled on what I wanted to do.


    ¡°Meet you upstairs?¡± I slid my gaze over to Ray to watch his reaction go from one of painful awkwardness to sheer elation. I did my best not to laugh at the comical transition, and only let out a small ¡®heh¡¯.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to go get ready,¡± I didn¡¯t quite know what ¡®getting ready¡¯ for your first time entailed, but I would figure it out. I felt I at least needed some Chapstick and maybe a breath mint.

 Chapter Nine

    I ran off upstairs and left Ray on the couch. I think he was still too surprised to move so that gave me some wiggle room to get ready.


    I really wish I had my phone. If I did I would frantically text Kerrie and try to figure out what the hell I was going to do to prepare for this. Do you prepare for this?


    Fuck, I don¡¯t know. Maybe you should just let this happen and go with the flow?


    Is that what I should do? I was so used to going full stop as soon as things got too heated that I wasn¡¯t sure how to just ¡®let it happen¡¯.


    I closed the guest room door and began to pace. I had nothing¡ªliterally nothing sexy to wear. My clothing choice was abysmal at best.


    How in the hell do I pull this off?


    I groaned quietly in frustration and dug through my makeup bag for Chapstick and a mirror so I could check my face. I crawled into the center of the bed and began to primp.


    My winged liner was even, my lashes bold and the Chapstick gave my lips a nice sheen. I wasn¡¯t going to chance running into Ray before I was ready¡ªotherwise I would have taken advantage of the mirror in the bathroom to try and calm my frizzy hair down.


    The sheets moved with me a bit as I slid down the end of the bed to the closet and caught a glimpse of something inside. I dropped everything into my makeup bag and went over to pull the doors open.


    The red satin nightgown.


    That sneaky bitch.


    I grabbed the silky affair off the hanger and started to strip. I heard steps out in the hall to Frank and Anita¡¯s room. I briefly panicked. Did they return for something?


    ¡°Where the fuck are they?¡±


    Oh. Ray¡¯s grabbing protection.


    I continued to strip and after a minor mental crisis about whether I should go bra-less or not, decided to go without. I figured he had already seen my boobs¡ªwhat was the point in the extra layer?


    The keyhole in the front of the nightgown did me some justice. At least, it seemed like it was. Maybe I was just in a better mood from when I last wore it.


    I thought back to my conversation with Samuel about Ray just wanting to be able to see them, so I figured on that front I was doing well.


    Samuel¡­


    I paused and looked down at the floor. No doubt Ray would be triumphantly texting his best friend right now if there would be someone there to receive it. while the thought normally would have bothered me, I would give anything for Samuel to be aware of what was about to happen.


    Matty, too.


    I mulled over my stance on the nightgown. Was it creepy? It was his mom¡¯s nightgown. It wasn¡¯t my first choice but it was the best option I thought I had. I didn¡¯t like the way it billowed around my non-existent curves but¡­


    No, this isn¡¯t right. This isn¡¯t me.


    I stripped again and went back through my bag to look for the one lowly tank top I had packed for my PJs in case hell froze over and Frank turned on the heat. It was white, had lacy straps and was semi-sheer.


    Good enough.


    I grabbed my black floral pajama pants and changed into those. They did an okay job of hugging my ass, that along with my tank top, I had a shape.


    Samuel would be cheering me on if he could see me now.


    ¡®It might not be perfect, but it¡¯s yours. Love it.¡¯


    Or at least, I think that¡¯s what he would say.


    I heard Ray walk back down the hall to his room and decided that this was as good as things were going to get. I wasn¡¯t a hundred percent happy with my appearance, but I hoped Ray would be happy enough that he wouldn¡¯t care.


    The door creaked as it opened and ruined any chance of a stealthy exit. Ray opened his door from down the hall and stepped out, already shirtless. I was too nervous to smile back at him, and just looked at the floor instead.


    ¡°You okay?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t figure out what to wear,¡± I mumbled.


    ¡°You look amazing. Come here,¡± he held out a hand for me to take. I stepped slowly to meet up with him and felt his gaze on me every step of the way. I put my hand in his and let him lead me into his room. He shut the door behind us and wrapped me up in his arms, his chin rested on the top of my head.


    ¡°You know we don¡¯t have to do this if you don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± I kissed his bare chest and sighed. ¡°I just think I¡¯m thinking too much about everything.¡±


    ¡°I can help with that,¡± he laced his fingers through my hair and pulled gently. My head followed his direction easily and our lips met a moment later.


    His kiss was sweet and passionate, and after I took a second to gain my bearings, I responded in kind. His tongue flitted across my lower lip as it tried to gain access to my mouth. I whimpered and let him have it.


    There was a low pull in my stomach that I usually did my best to ignore. This time, I felt okay to give into it, and less scared of the feeling. I pulled Ray closer by his bony hips.


    Ray pressed into me as our tongues clashed, an unfamiliar hardness dug into my stomach right below my belly button. I gasped into the kiss.


    Sure, I had felt him get hard before, but not with the promise of something more. It put things on a level I couldn¡¯t describe as anything but ¡®more¡¯.


    Ray broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to mine.


    ¡°Bed?¡±


    I nodded against him and smiled. Nerves coursed through me as we walked over to the full-size mattress. He looked amazing in just his jeans, but I wanted them off. In a moment of brazenness, I reached around him and popped open the button of his pants. The heavy fabric dropped an inch or so.


    Ray looked back at me, eyes wide. He didn¡¯t expect that move, either. I smiled sweetly back at him and batted my lashes as I tried to look innocent.


    He took the hint and the denim fell to the floor and left him in nothing but plaid boxers. We both flushed at his sudden nakedness, never having gotten anywhere near this close before.


    He hopped back onto the bed and pulled me between his legs. His arms slid around my waist and up under the hem of my tank top. His eyes asked for my permission, and I nodded, though I was secretly terrified to be without anything to cover my chest.


    He pulled up the thin cotton, and my arms lifted to help him out. my eyes screwed shut as the fabric passed my face, and I could feel my nipples harden at the sudden cold.


    ¡°Beautiful,¡± he whispered.


    I cracked an eye open and saw him look me up and down. His eyes were hungry. I felt super-heated from all the attention. I wasn¡¯t used to being looked at like this.


    Ray¡¯s hands ran up my sides, his nails grazed my skin on the way to my chest and gave rise to goosebumps and a small tremor through my body. The warmth of his hands on my chest sent me through a new wave of sensations.


    My head dropped back as the pull in my lower regions grew. I panted lightly though the urge to make some sort of noise nagged at me. For some reason, it was stuck in my head that the only time sex was loud was if you were doing porn. I knew that probably wasn¡¯t true, but I still didn¡¯t want to seem like I was a try hard. I wanted our first encounter to be honest.


    I ran my hands up Ray¡¯s muscular arms to his shoulders. My nails dug into the soft flesh there. Ray grunted, an oddly sensual sound, and leaned back on the bed. My grip on his shoulders took me with him.


    Ray wormed his way back so more of him was on the mattress. Ifollowed him and straddled his pelvis. My core hovered above the bulge in his boxers.


    Ray¡¯s hands went from my breasts to my hips. His eyes were glazed over and I knew what was coming before he even pushed down and connected our lower halves.


    I gasped again. the ache I felt was temporarily sated by the pressure of Ray¡¯s hard on against me but gave rise to a new one as well. One I couldn¡¯t place just yet as he used his arm muscles to grind me against him.


    ¡°Oh fuck,¡± I moaned and ran my hands down his chest to his stomach, so I was more upright. The much-needed addition to the pressure connecting us pulled a swear from Ray as well.


    That set me off more than anything. The feeling that something I did made him feel good. It was that power surge I had ignored until now, too scared of what would come after I gave into it.


    I cracked open my eyes to see him lying there, his own face a picture of pure bliss. He bit his lip to keep himself restrained. I both loved and hated that. I didn¡¯t want restrained anywhere near me right now.


    ¡°Now,¡± I uttered through a groan.


    ¡°What?¡± Ray¡¯s eyes shot open.


    ¡°I want you now,¡± I hoped further elaboration would spur him into action.


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    Fuck off, Ray.


    ¡°Yes, now,¡± I rolled off him and moved up to the pillows he had piled against the headboard and caught the gleam of a condom wrapper on the bedside table.


    I didn¡¯t know where the sudden meekness on Ray¡¯s part came from, and had I not been heady with desire it would have been adorable, I¡¯m sure. However, in this moment, it almost made my blood boil.


    He sat up in just enough time to get hit with my pants, my underwear fell out of them and down his back at the sudden stop in motion.


    Ray turned slowly to see me completely naked on his bed, his eyes widened, and his jaw dropped like we were in some stupid teen movie. Despite my promise to him, I don¡¯t think he thought he¡¯d get this far.


    ¡°Well?¡± I pointed to the condom.


    ¡°Shit, shit¡­okay,¡± he hopped off the bed and after giving me an awkward look, discarded his boxers. Now he was in my state: naked with nothing to hide.


    There was a moment where the absurdity of how genitals were shaped crossed my mind, I had to try extra hard not to stare like there was something wrong with what Ray had. It was just what health class had prepared me for, and though after I got over my first in-person penis, a brief flash of ¡®how-the-hell-is-this-supposed-to-fit-inside-me¡¯ crossed my mind.


    While I had my mini-crisis, Ray tore the foil of the wrapper and grabbed the clear rubber without so much of a face at how slick it was. He rolled it onto himself, no fuss made about the situation whatsoever and wiped his lubricated hands off on the comforter.


    Then he began his approach. I was near panicking as he climbed his way onto the bed on all fours and loomed over me. I felt so small and half hoped the mattress would swallow me whole.


    Then he cupped my face. His bright blue eyes burned into mine and all my fears melted away. I did want this as much as he did. I unequivocally wanted my first time to be with Ray Vena because no matter how scary the process was because I knew, though he hadn¡¯t said it yet, that he loved me.


    With use of my dance flexibility, I parted my legs for him and managed not to kick him in the dick while moving my legs around his. Once they were out of the way, I nodded that I was ready.


    It was the oddest sensation to be in pain and yet want the pain. Tears pricked in the corners of my eyes as he pushed inside me slowly. I grabbed his biceps and dug my nails in to try and relieve myself somewhat.


    I heard him hiss, but I couldn¡¯t tell if it was from my nails, or from feeling me around him. I hoped it was from my death grip on his arms. I couldn¡¯t quite get over him enjoying himself while all I felt was a burning pain.


    Finally, his hip bones hit mine and very faintly under the pain was the answer to that feeling that had started earlier.


    It had a name: full.


    Ray leaned down and kissed the corners of my eyes. The tears left with his lips. The pain ebbed and I thanked whatever being in the sky that it would be over soon.


    I tilted my head back and caught his lips with mine. My hands roamed his body. I wanted to feel all of him as our tongues worked against one another. Somewhere in there my hips twitched. He began to move again.


    It still hurt, but not as bad as he slid back out and the feeling of full went with it.


    Ray groaned into the kiss on his way back in, his hand hooked around my right leg and pulled it up over his shoulder. It broke the kiss, but gave me room to moan as he hit an all new depth I didn¡¯t think was possible.


    ¡°Faster?¡± I breathed.


    In the back of my mind I was worried about Frank coming home and catching us. the forefront of my mind was just concerned with the feeling building within me each time he thrust into me.


    Ray, ever the good listener, picked up the pace. The mixture of my own arousal and the lubrication of the condom made doing so an easy affair. My toes twitched on their own accord as we moved together, my hands wound themselves into my hair.


    I was near my peak, I panted and moaned quietly into the cavernous room, lost in the sensations the encounter brought.


    Then, Ray swore and stilled. His previous thrust had been particularly hard, and I had yelped in surprise at the suddenness of it all.


    We hadn¡¯t even been going at it for that long, and I thought I would¡¯ve had a little more warning before he came. I had been close, but not ready myself.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The look on Ray¡¯s face said it all: he felt like shit. His eyes were wide with panic and his mouth was contorted into the deepest frown I¡¯d seen on him to date.


    ¡°Soph, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± his voice was pleading for me not to be angry with him.


    I wavered between anger and disappointment for my first time not ending with the mind shattering orgasm I was near and trying to understand that it was his first time, too. I knew ray well enough to know that blowing his load early wasn¡¯t planned¡ªthat he had fully intended to give me what I wanted. I was levelheaded enough for that¡ªbut it didn¡¯t mean I wasn¡¯t a little upset my chance at satisfaction was taken from me.


    Kerrie was right. First times suck.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not. It¡¯s really not, shit,¡± he searched my face as he looked for something to tell him I wasn¡¯t pissed.


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t help it,¡± my voice was blank and lifeless. I really wanted to cry¡ªbut was determined not to make this worse.


    ¡°I swear I couldn¡¯t,¡± he leaned down and kissed my forehead.


    ¡°Could you, ya know¡­get out of me?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Oh¡­yeah,¡± he pulled out and removed the condom without getting anything on the bed. I watched with wavering emotions. On one hand I was ready to collect my clothes and head to the guest room for a well-deserved break. On the other, I figured I could settle for literally kicking him off the bed and be fine.


    However, before I got up the nerve to do either, he had tossed the condom in the trash near his desk and laid down next to me. he still looked upset.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, babe,¡± Ray whispered.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°You really mad?¡±


    ¡°Trying not to be,¡± came my honest reply.


    Ray sighed and pulled me to him. I only gave slight resistance which he easily overcame and soon I had one of his hairy legs over mine and his forearm aligned with my spine.


    ¡°I was trying to save this for when we were lying in post-sex comas, but I feel like it needs to be said¡­especially now.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°I love you, Sophia McLellan. Even when you¡¯re mad at me.¡±


    I giggled. No boy had ever told me they loved me, and I truly didn¡¯t expect it after a sexual encounter like this, but somehow, it was perfect. It was mine, and it was true.


    ¡°I love you, too. Even when I¡¯m mad at you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± he chuckled and kissed my cheek like he used to when we first dated. It was brief and shy. It brought back so many good memories over the last year.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t make a hab¡ª¡±


    The sound of breaking glass from downstairs stopped me and my whole body tensed. Ray shot up and rolled over me to the side of the bed his clothes were on. He motioned for me to stay where I was and got dressed. Jett¡¯s barking only served to set me more on edge.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me naked and alone,¡± I pleaded.


    Ray¡¯s only response was to grab my discarded clothes and toss them onto the bed for me. he was in the process of pulling up his jeans when Jett yelped.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Ray reached into his desk and grabbed his cell phone. He tossed that at me as well. ¡°Call the cops.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± I fumbled to open the flip phone with one hand while I went for my underwear with the other. I had a brief dilemma between getting dressed first, or call the Sheriff¡¯s station before clothes made their way onto my body.


    I settled on clothes and pulled my underwear on while Ray slid on a pair of slippers and left the room. I listened to his steps. I wanted to dial 9-1-1 by the time he reached the foyer.


    Thankfully, I managed to pull my pajama pants and tank top on in half that time. I rolled off the bed to the floor and dialed. The floor creaked as I went to my room to grab a shirt to go over my tank top. I didn¡¯t want everyone and their mother to see my nipples when they arrived.


    ¡°Green Glen Sheriff¡¯s station,¡± the kind voice of Linda the desk clerk came through the phone.


    ¡°Hello, this is Sophia McLellan. I¡¯m at the Vena¡¯s house at 7286 E. Bramble. I think someone is trying to break in downstairs.¡± My voice shook as I tried to explain what was going on. My hands were just as bad. I hoped to occupy myself by doing my best to find a t-shirt to match my pajama pants to pass the growing amount of time Ray was gone.


    ¡°Oh my,¡± Linda gasped, and I could hear her cover the receiver and call out to whomever else was in the room and address the situation. After a moment she came back:


    ¡°Is it just you in the house?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Ray Vena, and their dog. I don¡¯t know if anyone made it in or not¡ªRay¡¯s downstairs checking it out.¡±


    Another muffled moment and a loud swear from someone else in the room. I winced and settled on a coral shirt that matched the flowers on my pants.


    ¡°The Sheriff¡¯s on her way,¡± Linda came back, her voice even and calm as ever. ¡°She wants you to stay upstairs, and if Ray comes back up, keep him there with you until the Sheriff arrives.¡±


    ¡°Do you know when that¡¯ll be?¡± I wandered to the window that overlooked the backyard and searched the woods it backed up to. There was a clear spot in the hedges that made up the fence that looked pushed aside to form a path.


    ¡°Five minutes? Probably sooner.¡± Linda sounded sure. ¡°They¡¯ve already left, and Bramble isn¡¯t far from the station.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± I pulled the phone from my ear and did my best to listen out for any sound from Ray or Jett. I didn¡¯t hear anything and that bothered me.


    I walked back down the hall to Ray¡¯s room, curious to see if we still had news crews outside. I peeked out the corner of the window and glanced down at the end of the drive. There were fewer of them now, but the Salem news station was still out there.


    Shit, what¡¯re they going to think when the cops show? Did they hear anything?


    I cracked Ray¡¯s window open and could hear sirens as they closed in. They were going to be here in way under five minutes. The journalists on the sidewalk looked around. They were talking to each other, probably trying to figure out where the sirens were off to.


    My feet slapped against the hardwood floors as I moved to the top of the stairs. The best thing I could think of to do was camp out on the top step and wait for a knock on the door.


    ¡°You still with me, Sophia,¡± Linda¡¯s voice crackled over the connection.


    ¡°Yeah, just waiting for the Sheriff. Haven¡¯t heard from Ray, yet. I¡¯m worried.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s fine, dear.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­well that hasn¡¯t been the running theme for the month has it?¡± I snapped.


    ¡°I guess it hasn¡¯t¡­I¡¯m sorry about your friends.¡± Linda¡¯s placating voice only made me more upset.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s sorry, but no one has been able to do a fucking thing about it,¡± I yelled and hung up the phone. All this fear was tiring. I felt like I hadn¡¯t been truly calm in a long time and I felt worn down. I just wanted someone, police or not, to find the fucking maniac responsible and end this one way or another.


    The only bright spot from the past few days I could think of was my lack of a visit from my monster the night before. I¡¯d slept an entire five hours without being woken up to guttural whispers and a tentacle in my face. I just didn¡¯t want to dwell on it too long, in fear tonight was twice as bad.


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± I looked up from the bottom step where my gaze was fixed to see Ray perched by the end of the banister. His hands were speckled with blood.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± My eyes widened, and I scooted down a few steps to see if I could find any cuts on him.


    ¡°Jett stepped on some broken glass and cut his paw. It bled a lot, but he¡¯s bandaged up on the couch now.¡± Ray tilted his head and looked me over. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Cops are on the way,¡± I shrugged. I didn¡¯t want to admit I snapped on poor Linda.


    ¡°Good. No one is in here from what I can see, but someone did throw a brick with a note on it through the back door.¡± There was a look in his eye I couldn¡¯t place. It was dark, somehow, which was not what I was used to seeing from Ray.


    ¡°What¡¯d it say?¡± I went down a few more steps to the bottom of the stairs only to have him put a hand up to stop me.


    ¡°There¡¯s glass everywhere. I wouldn¡¯t come down here without shoes.¡± He turned and grabbed my boots from near the door and placed them a couple steps below me.


    ¡°The note?¡± I questioned again.


    He sighed and nodded for me to follow him. I slid my feet into my boots and scrambled after him to the Arcadia door between the kitchen and great room. On the floor I saw a garden brick with a piece of yellow lined paper tied to with what looked like a strip of netting from one of the laundry bags the school used.


    I wouldn¡¯t touch it until the Sheriff sees it,¡± he warned.


    I waved off his comment and stooped to snatch the note from the brick. It slid away from the weight easily and unfolded to show two very sketchy depictions of my monster. There were differences between the two drawings, like placements of the scars that marred the light gray flesh of the creature. They were in opposing places. The most telling was how much teeth each one had.


    The one labeled ¡®little¡¯ only had five teeth. The one labeled ¡®mine¡¯, however, had its mouth opened with what looked to be hundreds of small jagged teeth ringing its mouth.


    ¡°The fuck?¡± My brow furrowed as I looked over the page. Both images were familiar. I was sure I had encountered both these creatures. The one called ¡®little¡¯, I felt was meant to be a depiction of my monster. The scars on the head were in the right places for it to be.


    So that would mean¡­


    A thunderous knock at the door broke my train of thought and made me jump. Jett barked but stayed on the couch with his injured paw tucked beneath him.


    ¡°Ray Vena and Sophia McLellan! This is Green Glen Sheriff¡¯s Department! Open up!¡±


    Ray pointed at Jett, told him to stay, and walked to the door. I looked back to the paper in my hand and marveled at the drawings. They were uncannily accurate in their representation of the creatures and enough care and detail had been put into it to make me see there was a notable difference between the two.


    I wasn¡¯t the only one with a monster visiting me.


    It would also explain the one thing I couldn¡¯t figure out about the walk home with Samuel, yesterday: why would my monster have chased us into the path of the killer? It didn¡¯t make sense to me, then, and now I knew why. It was the killer¡¯s monster all along. I had just been too scared to see it.


    I wanted to tell Ray what was going on, but now was not the time. I turned to see Sheriff Doonan stride over, hand outstretched for the note.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± my empty apology hung in the air between us. she ignored me and snatched the drawing from my hand and took a long hard look. After a bit she turned to me, her eyes piercing mine over her sunglasses.


    ¡°Any idea what this means?¡±


    ¡°Only that he¡¯s crazy,¡± I shrugged.


    I couldn¡¯t tell her what I knew, or else I¡¯d be on a bus to the mental health facility in Salem for sure.


    ¡°Then go sit on the couch out of the way while we check this out,¡± she ordered.


    Glass shards crunched in the carpet as far as the coffee table. Anita was going to have a hell of a time cleaning up. I vowed to help her as much as she would allow.


    After I saw the paper, I knew the reason why he had been here. He wanted to communicate with the other person that suffered the same affliction he did.


    The couch sunk down as I sat and leaned against Jett¡¯s rump. I wanted to leave some room for Ray whenever he came back in. Jett whined and licked my hand.


    ¡°I know, you¡¯re hurt,¡± I rubbed his pointed ears and hoped I could bring a small amount of comfort to the giant beast.


    ¡°Did you happen to see anything?¡± The Sheriff asked. The question pulled my attention back the other direction.


    ¡°No, I looked outside from upstairs and all I noticed was a path through the hedges into the woods.¡±


    ¡°Ray said he didn¡¯t see anything either,¡± Doonan sighed and looked at the brick.


    ¡°Why is this guy so intent on hurting you kids?¡±


    ¡°I wish I knew.¡±


    Though the realization we were both dealing with the same issue had come to light, I still couldn¡¯t come up with anything that would tell me why he had chosen my friends and I. There had to be a reason why.


    I had to know. Maybe that was the key to get him to stop, or better yet¡ªcatch him. He had to have somewhere to rest. There was no way he could sleep out in the cold. I wanted to find that place, wait until he was gone, and see if I could piece together why this all had happened.


    Both murders happened close to the old high school. That couldn¡¯t be a coincidence. He had to be bunkered down somewhere near there. That would make a search party easier, but what really helped was the netting attached to the brick¡¯s note.


    I knew when we had explored the old school last summer with the others that there was an old sports and laundry shed on the grounds that was around the back of the building where the old fields were. That netting could have easily been in that shed.


    I smiled to myself. I felt better now that I had some sort of plan. The hard part would be to get out of the house to enact it, and ket Kerrie to go along with it. I felt shitty about it, but Ray was easy to get to go along. He wouldn¡¯t let me go without him.


    ¡°What are you grinning about?¡± Ray plopped down next to me and slung an arm over my shoulder. I hadn¡¯t noticed him enter the room.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you later.¡±


    ¡°Oooh, secrets,¡± he looked over at the Sheriff who squinted into the daylight to catch the path made in the hedge.


    ¡°Your phone is on the stairs,¡± I nudged him with my elbow. ¡°You should call your parents.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. They have your stuff, by the way,¡± the Sheriff sounded distracted.


    I folded my legs up onto the couch and waited for Ray to come back. It was weird not being able to relax here. I wasn¡¯t used to it. the presence of the Sheriff and her men threw me off. I felt like all I could do was sit, stare at the blank TV and wait.


    Ray returned, phone to his ear. I could hear frank through the tiny speaker, his voice raised as I figured it would be. Ray did his best to calm Frank down and told him the current state of things. No we weren¡¯t alone. Yes, the Sheriff was here. No, don¡¯t abandon the groceries in the parking lot, we need the food.


    Doonan rolled her eyes and held out her hand for the phone, which Ray gave willingly before he returned to the empty half-cushion on the couch.


    ¡°Frank,¡± the Sheriff snapped. The muffled garble of swears from the phone stopped. ¡°I¡¯ve got it under control. Just get here when you can. The kids are safe.¡±


    Doonan hung up the phone and tossed it back to Ray.


    ¡°Thanks, Sheriff,¡± Ray gave her a curt nod before collapsed against my shoulder. ¡°Hell of a day, huh?¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t all bad,¡± I whispered.


    I could feel his dopey grin against my shoulder.


    Man, he¡¯s easy to please.


    I ran a hand through his hair and sighed. If Frank and Anita were putting groceries in the car when Ray called, they¡¯d be here in no time. The grocery store wasn¡¯t far, and I know how Frank drove when stressed. He¡¯d be way above the speed limit for sure.


    Mostly, I wanted my phone back so I could talk to Kerrie. So much had happened in the past couple hours and she was behind on best friend news. The longest we had ever gone without talking was when we were asleep¡ªbarring the two weeks where I broke friend protocol.


    My head hit the back cushion and I closed my eyes. I was tired again. Sleep probably wouldn¡¯t happen for a while with all the deputies and Frank stomping about.


    Five minutes later, Frank¡¯s truck screamed into the driveway. I could hear panicked journalists through the open front door.


    Ray and I both stood and headed to the front. My goal was to help Anita with groceries, but as we got to the porch, frank came around the back of the truck. His arms were absolutely loaded with bags. It was a great visual with his fiery expression. There had to have been two weeks of food that hung from his arms.


    ¡°Move,¡± he ordered.


    We backed up and sat on the stairs to give Frank room to pass. He moved through the foyer and down the hall to the Sheriff. We knew he had seen the mess when: ¡°shit on a stick!¡± rang through the bottom floor.


    Ray snickered right as Anita walked through the door with more groceries hung from her arms, and my school bag on her shoulders.


    ¡°Need help?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Sure,¡± she smiled and offered me the bags on her left arm. I took them and headed off to the kitchen. I knew where most everything went, so I felt okay to put things away.


    As I walked through the living room, I saw Frank hunkered down by Jett as he checked the dressing on his paw. He was getting a tongue bath from the grateful dog as he tended to the wound. I grinned. Though his body language reeked of tension, the ear-splitting smile on Frank¡¯s face showed he was just glad his dog was okay.


    The kitchen island was covered in bags, so I put my armload on the breakfast nook¡¯s table. As I began to unpack, I became more and more excited for the next few days. I unloaded s¡¯mores supplies and various bags of junk food. Food I only got when I was here.


    The contents of the bags all found their homes swiftly, with only a small break taken when Anita dumped my bag off on the counter with the rest of the food. I stuffed all the bags into one of their counterparts and grabbed my phone from the pocket of my backpack.


    Five unread messages.


    All were from Kerrie who had gotten her stuff back a mere hour before I had. She wanted to know how we were doing and asked me to text her back as soon as I could.


    I tapped out a quick rundown of the situation, sex omitted, finished with the groceries, and walked out to the great room.


    Ray was back on the couch and Anita was at work getting the glass off the floor. I didn¡¯t want to disturb her, so I went the long way around the coffee table when another buzz went off in my hand.


    ¡°Hey Anita, I know it¡¯s probably a ¡®no¡¯, but can Kerrie come over for a bit? Things are still hard at her place.¡±


    Anita paused in her work as she looked to the ceiling for a bit to mull it over. After a moment she scoped out the sea of glass on the floor.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea right now, sweetie. Maybe tomorrow. Frank¡¯s really stressed right now, and we need to clean and¡­it¡¯s just not a good time.¡±


    I nodded. It was understandable for her to say ¡®no¡¯, but it did put a kink in my plans. I really wanted to be able to share the day with Kerrie, but I guess it would have to be done via text.


    Sure enough, as I turned the screen to check the unread message, there was a request to stop by. I told her what Anita said and dropped my phone into my lap.


    ¡°Hey, tomorrow¡¯s not too far away,¡± Ray said.


    ¡°I know, it¡¯s cool,¡± I watched as Anita swept. She diligently brushed every shard of glass on the hardwood into a small pile. Her skirt swayed from her rocking movement. The light that came through the door gave away where chunks of glass were in the light carpet. It was going to take a lot more work to make the floor safe for Jett and bare feet.


    ¡°Do you want help vacuuming, mom?¡± Ray was off the couch before she even responded. He grabbed the vacuum from the closet beneath the stairs to start the chore.


    I grabbed my phone again and began to type:


    Sent Message: Kerrie


    The killer sent me a message. He has a monster, too.


    New Message from: Kerrie


    Now he¡¯s sending messages. What does this guy want?


    Sent Message: Kerrie


    I don¡¯t know. But we¡¯re going to find out.


    New Message from: Kerrie


    Whatever it is, No!


    Sent Message: Kerrie


    You haven¡¯t heard my plan, yet.


    New Message from: Kerrie


    I don¡¯t have to. Tell the Sheriff, have her do it.


    Sent Message: Kerrie


    She has no idea what she¡¯s doing. She can¡¯t help.


    New Message from: Kerrie


    I know where he¡¯s hiding. I¡¯m going there and figuring out what he wants with us.


    New Message from: Kerrie


    You¡¯re not serious. That¡¯s so stupid, Soph.


    Sent Message: Kerrie


    Dead serious. You can stay home then, and Ray and I will go check it out.


    New Message from: Kerrie


    Goddammit. No, Sophia.


    Sent Message: Kerrie


    I¡¯m going. With or without you.


    By now the vacuum had been going for a while and there was less of that gravelly noise that happened when it picked up a shard of glass.


    Ray made his third pass by me while Anita dumped the pile of larger glass pieces into the trash can for Frank to take out once he was done with the Sheriff.


    I wanted for the circus to be over so I could share my plan. I would have gone right then if I thought I had any chance of getting out unseen.


    There was somewhere deep within me that hoped that if the killer was caught that Janice would re-think sending me away. Green Glen was the closest thing I¡¯d had to a home in a long time and there was no way I would give it up without a fight.

 Chapter Ten

    It was past midnight. I had been in bed for a few hours now as I watched the clouds pass over the trees. Though I was beyond tired, my excitement about tomorrow kept me up.


    We had spent the weekend down in the great room after the glass was cleaned watching silly movies and eating until we were stuffed. It was a lot of fun, though Frank was on high alert more than usual. Ray and I had escorts everywhere we went which left us no opportunity to try and see if sex would be a success a second time around.


    The door was to be fixed tomorrow so Anita convinced Frank to let us go to school so we wouldn¡¯t be in the way. Frank only agreed because he didn¡¯t want us alone upstairs all day.


    That was fine by me.


    I was finally going to know why this had happened. Why Matty and Samuel were killed. I needed to make sense of this, and I hoped I would find something in the Killer¡¯s lair.


    I rolled over to try and get my mind to shut off. Maybe then I could try and get some sleep before the sun peeked back over the forest.


    Nothing.


    Fuck.


    Then the smell of the creature wafted from over the foot of the bed and I knew I was in for a long night.


    Last night had been the worst by far. I¡¯d gone to bed early because I was tired from my low-key party with the Vena¡¯s and it¡¯d fed long enough to gain two teeth. My ear had been in pain all day today from its violent feeding.


    It said something about ¡®making up for lost time¡¯, and I knew it was pissed I¡¯d had Ray¡¯s company the night before.


    Tonight, I prayed it would be quick. I needed all the rest I could get for tomorrow.


    It stepped out of the shadow in the corner of the room and wobbled its way over to me. Four of the six teeth matched perfectly with the killer¡¯s drawing. The scars were in the correct places, too. It made me wonder how he knew my monster better than I did.


    If the killer had one of these things, maybe the creatures found each other somehow? Like some sort of creepy ass meet-up in the woods.


    I shuddered at the thought of a group of these things together, bobbing their bulbous heads as they mind-spoke about how to torture their human counterparts.


    I laid there as it neared. I hoped it would be quick so I could cry myself to sleep and be up and ready for tomorrow.


    Don¡¯t go.


    Why not?


    Cannot protect.


    Like you protect me anyway.


    Slowed them down in woods. Would have caught you.


    Right. Whatever.


    Other me is stronger. Cannot fight it long.


    ¡®Other you¡¯. Okay, you mean the one with more teeth.


    Had years, decades to feed. Makes it stronger.


    They¡¯re at the school, aren¡¯t they?


    Not telling.


    That¡¯s a ¡®yes¡¯ in my book.


    Don¡¯t go.


    I don¡¯t have to listen to you.


    It was right up in my face at this point, its rancid breath blasted me as its mouth erratically opened and closed as it chomped on the air between us. It tried to scare me into going along with its wants, but that wasn¡¯t going to happen. My mind was set. The only wild card was Kerrie at this point as far as I was concerned.


    The thing that bothered me most about this encounter was that I was more terrified of the man in the woods than I was about the eyeless creature before me. Right now, I was just annoyed. Knowing it needed me, knowing I kept it alive seemed to neuter any fear I had for the creature.


    Just get it over with. I¡¯m tired.


    As you wish.


    ¡°Wake up, my loves! School today!¡± Anita sang from the hall.


    I groaned and rolled over. It was six-thirty in the morning if the clock was to be believed, and I wasn¡¯t prepared.


    School wasn¡¯t in the cards for us today. We were going to get dropped off, then split and head to where I was sure the killer was hidden. Ray already had Betty in his backpack hidden between binders to keep her from being obvious, and Kerrie was still unsure about the entire thing.


    Her bid to go to the Sheriff with my idea fell on deaf ears. There was no way I was letting her ruin, or worse¡ªspill my plan and then have her do nothing with it. I had no proof¡ªjust a hunch and a strand of netting.


    I scrambled out of bed to get my clothes on. The smell of breakfast was faint¡ªbut it was there. Frank decided last night he was going to make biscuits and gravy for our first day back. Something about ¡®brain food¡¯. Either way the smell of the gravy made my stomach growl.


    I shut my door and grabbed some jeans and my white tank top from the other day. Something about today made me want to show off a bit. I still brought a flannel to wear over it, but I like the idea of form fitting clothes now that I felt less ashamed of my attributes.


    After I ran my fingers through my hair, I caught Ray in the bathroom as he brushed his teeth. He smiled at me with a mouth full of foam.


    ¡°Morning, babe,¡± I nudged him with my hip and grabbed my own tooth brush.


    ¡°Morning,¡± his answer was obscured by his mouth of suds. He spit into the sink and washed out his mouth. ¡°Ready for today?¡±


    ¡°Yes and no,¡± I answered.


    ¡°Same here. I got my part ready,¡± he rubbed the small of my back and left after he said he¡¯d see me downstairs.


    My phone buzzed in my pocket as I scrubbed. I took out the navy blue brick and checked the screen:


    New Message from: Kerrie


    I hate this. But fine. Can¡¯t let you do this alone. See you at school.


    Yes.


    I felt better now that I knew Kerrie was in, though I was pretty sure her decision was made as she pictured herself alone all day at school.


    I washed out my mouth and went downstairs. I could hear Frank, Anita and Ray as they laughed in the kitchen. It was my favorite sound to hear¡ªand as much as I loved being a guest here, the fact that this wasn¡¯t permanent tore at my heart a bit.


    ¡°Sophia! Finally,¡± Frank grinned from the stove top and passed me a steaming plate of biscuits and gravy.


    ¡°Hey, it takes effort to look this disheveled,¡± I responded and moved past him to the table where Ray and Anita sat, already halfway through their plates.


    ¡°Well, you do a fine job.¡± I sat and shook my head. It was great to see Frank in a good mood after the brick and door incident. I felt bad I was going to ruin it by taking Ray off to almost certain danger.


    ¡°She looks great, doesn¡¯t she, Ray?¡± Anita gestured to my shirt with her fork. ¡°She¡¯s wearing actual clothes and not cotton sacks.¡±


    ¡°Say the woman who lives in maxi-dresses and full skirts,¡± I snorted.


    Anita laughed and shrugged. She knew I wasn¡¯t wrong in my summation of her attire.


    ¡°I like to be comfortable.¡±


    ¡°Me, too.¡± I took a large bite of my breakfast and melted back into the chair. It was just as delicious as it smelled, and I was grateful Frank loved to cook in the mornings. This would keep me going for a good chunk of the day.


    ¡°So, you kids are picking up homework today, right?¡± Anita looked between the two of us and Ray froze. He hated lying to his mom, and I knew it was at full speed as he tried to figure out how to avoid it.


    ¡°If it¡¯s ready. We haven¡¯t told anyone we¡¯d be back today,¡± I supplied after I swallowed. ¡°Sometimes teachers can be kind of scatter brained, you know?¡±


    ¡°Dealing with you apes, its no wonder,¡± Frank griped. ¡°High School kids can be the worst.¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± Ray glared.


    ¡°What? I was one¡­once,¡± Frank shrugged and cut into his own plate, making the food into chunks to consume it faster.


    ¡°Hey, Frank, if you find your stone tablets, can I borrow some notes on chemistry?¡± I smiled.


    ¡°Fuck off.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s about that time,¡± Anita¡¯s gaze was on the clock over the stove.


    ¡°Fuck; I just sat down,¡± Frank grumbled and began to inhale his food at an inhuman pace. It was a miraculous and horrifying thing to see.


    ¡°You kiss that?¡± Ray sounded astonished as we got up from out seats to go get shoes and backpacks.


    ¡°Every day,¡± Anita¡¯s dreamy voice followed us out into the great room and down the hall.


    ¡°Your parents are disgustingly cute,¡± I grinned and used a hand to brace myself as I stepped into my boots.


    ¡°Get used to it. That¡¯ll be us one day,¡± came Ray¡¯s off-handed reply.


    My eyes widened. It wasn¡¯t a proposal, and maybe he wasn¡¯t serious seeing as how the entire tone for the morning had been light, but his comment sent butterflies through my stomach. His parents were what I saw as relationship goals, and Ray knew it, so I couldn¡¯t help but feel what he said was a bit more pointed than it sounded.


    ¡°That¡¯s us, now.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± he grinned. ¡°But I¡¯ll be all jacked from the Marines, and we¡¯ll have all the kids.¡± His tone got husky as he spoke and I felt his presence loom behind me as I struggled with my second boot.


    Ray¡¯s strong arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me back into his body. His other hand moved my hair aside to plant a kiss on my neck.


    ¡°Babe¡ªstop, Frank¡¯s gunna see!¡±


    ¡°Too late!¡± We both jumped and turned to see Frank with his eyes covered by a hand. ¡°That¡¯s it, you¡¯ve blinded me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come off it,¡± Ray grumbled.


    ¡°You know I¡¯m kidding.¡±


    ¡°So! School?¡± I grabbed my backpack, double checked that my phone was in my pocked and opened the door. I didn¡¯t want this conversation to continue any longer than it already had.


    I started to feel nervous about what we were about to do as we sped down the main drive for the school. Kerrie was right. This was a bad idea, but this was the only plan we had. I was tired of the blood, and loss.


    The Sheriff had failed Matty before he died, and I wasn¡¯t over that. I didn¡¯t trust her or her mob of goons to listen if I told them my suspicion. They¡¯d just watch us closer, keep us from going to the old school, and then any one of us could be next.


    No. This had to be done my way.


    The truck slowed, and I caught sight of Kerrie as she waited at the top of one of the sloped sidewalks to the school. Ray hopped out so I could open my door.


    ¡°Remember¡ªwe¡¯re picking you up today,¡± Frank called out.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± I stepped out onto the asphalt and looked around. It was a repeat of last week. The stares, the whispers.


    Ray took my hand and lead me up to Kerrie who looked me over and smirked before she waved to Frank.


    ¡°So, lovebirds, we still going to be stupid today?¡± Kerrie folded her arms, immediately unamused.


    I looked to Ray¡¯s backpack with Bettie packed within and nodded back to her. Ray backed me up with a confirmation head-bob.


    ¡°Out the back we go, then,¡± I took a deep breath and stepped to the breezeway to the fields behind the school. There were several paths that lead through the neighborhoods on either side of the property so the students that lived nearby had a shorter walk and could avoid the highway.


    The school was short staffed enough that the only real deterrent for skipping was a phone call home, so I didn¡¯t foresee an issue if we were back for Frank to pick us up.


    Kerrie grumbled the entire way, arms still folded as we squeezed through throngs of students and out to the fields. Ray just had this unsure smile on his face, like he wanted to be supportive of my idea but was focused on all the errors and holes in my plan.


    We made it to the small path that connected to the neighborhood next to the school in no time. It was close to the bell, so there were minimal people for us to pass and look at us strangely as we left the institution.


    The forested part of the path came up on us. the large maple trees on either side darkened the path, and caused a swell of panic to rise in my chest. I hadn¡¯t been in the woods since Samuel¡¯s death. Even though my plan deemed it necessary, I wasn¡¯t totally ready for the woods.


    I let out a long breath as the fence for the neighborhood came into sight. I hadn¡¯t smelled the monsters, or heard anything in the woods, but I still felt relief to be somewhat back into civilization.


    ¡°Oh man, Dad¡¯s going to kill me,¡± Ray mumbled as we stepped onto the paved sidewalk.


    ¡°Better him than, you know, the killer,¡± Kerrie hitched her bag higher onto her shoulders.


    ¡°Guys, we¡¯ll be fine. We¡¯ll wait and see if there¡¯s anyone around¡ªif not, we¡¯ll look and gather evidence if there is any. If he¡¯s there¡ªwe call the Sheriff. Simple as that.¡±


    ¡°Man did I never think I would hope to see that guy again,¡± Kerrie sighed.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°We better be,¡± she looked down at me with a frown.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    It took us an hour and a half to get to the old path to the burned-out high school since we had to avoid the main thoroughfare as much as possible. Along the way things had lightened up somewhat and I even got Kerrie to laugh and joke a bit.


    That all changed when we were back on that cursed patch of land. All of us quieted down. It seemed wrong to joke where two of our friends had died.


    We stepped through the woods as silently as we could. Ray and I no longer held hands, so we could move bushes out of the way of the other two as we changed who was in front constantly.


    As soon as one of us got overwhelmed with potentially being the first to encounter an otherworldly being, or the killer, we would trade.


    Betty made her appearance from Ray¡¯s backpack as soon as we had made it across the highway and into the woods. She gleamed in the small beams of light that made it through the forest canopy. Though Ray was silent and serious, I did catch a small smile or two whenever he would bring Betty up to check her out.


    I was in front when we made it to the fence around the parking lot of the old school. This would be the scariest part¡ªthere was a lot of open area between us and the trees that would shield us from view. The entire school and the shed we were on the hunt for was inside the fence. Our only option was the parking lot.


    ¡°At a run?¡± Ray asked as he peered across the slab of broken asphalt to the trees at the back of the school.


    ¡°No, let¡¯s take a leisurely stroll,¡± Kerrie stuck her head over his shoulder to see what he saw. ¡°Of course, we run.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be a bitch about it, I was just making sure,¡± he nudged her off with his shoulder and turned to me.


    ¡°Last chance to back out.¡±


    ¡°We need to do this. We need to know what¡¯s going on.¡±


    ¡°¡¯We?¡¯¡± Kerrie balked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know why Samuel died?¡± I asked.


    Kerrie shut her mouth and looked at the dirt.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ray let out a deep breath and we all slipped sideways through the opening in the fence.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do this,¡± I put my hands on the straps of my bag to keep them from sliding down as we took off and ran across the lot. I could hear the soft soles of my boots as they slapped against the black top, and two nearly identical sets of harder shoes as Ray and Kerrie followed behind me.


    The school came up fast, and my memory of our night in the walk-in flashed through my mind. I never want to go back in there, or in that kitchen if I could help it. though, last resort, we still had a good hide out if it came down to it.


    Ray and Kerrie with their longer legs both passed me right as we were about ten yards from the trees we were headed for. I kept my eye along the side of the school and hoped to not see eyes among the trees. Thankfully I made it to the fenced off portion of the woods without seeing anything and hopped my way through the opening in the bushes that was made by Ray and Kerrie.


    ¡°Hard part done,¡± I whispered and got a thumbs up from Ray and a roll of the eyes from Kerrie. I moved between them to the West where the old fields were. I knew it was behind the soccer field, and that was one of the first fields we would come across.


    There was a noticeable lack of normal forest sounds as we went, like we were the only living beings within ear sot. That both creeped me out and calmed me. If nothing else moved, that meant he wasn¡¯t nearby.


    Or he was sleeping.


    Either way was fine with me, it just changed how the rest of the afternoon went.


    The soccer field was overgrown and full of wild grass and weeds, but it was easier to move through thanks to Betty¡¯s sharp blade. Ray seemed to have fun as he cut us a path through the center of the pitch.


    Kerrie looked increasingly agitated the closer we got to the shed. Her brows were knit together in the center, and the corners of her full lips were turned down. She picked at her cuticles the entire way across the field and I wondered if I should let her continue, or if I should emulate Birdie and try to stop her.


    The small path off the far side of the soccer field was cleared out. the dark upturned earth showed it was used recently. I got excited when I saw the prints seemed to be moving away rather than in our direction.


    ¡°Hurry,¡± I quickened my pace to a brisk walk and hitched up my bag as we moved closer to the laundry shed. As I neared, I began to see more detail than just the wooden slats that made up the outside of the building.


    The door was a faded and chipped blue, and the trip had little to no remnants of the gold paint that had been their last time we visited. The windows on either side of the door were cracked, but not broken. They were dark.


    Hopefully no one¡¯s home.


    I stepped on some vegetation as I went to the left window and cupped my hands around my eyes. I pressed my face to the glass. It was as I remembered¡ªa long row of now defunct washers and dryers in the back along with a secondary door, bags of old sporting equipment strewn about and something new:


    Behind one of the bags of balls, I could see the corner of a blanket. It was old and looked to have holes in the duvet cover. I couldn¡¯t think of a reason why a comforter would be in here unless the killer had gotten a hold of it while he looked for a way to make his lair more comfortable.


    ¡°I see a blanket. This is where he sleeps.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? Maybe it¡¯s just something left over from the fire?¡± Kerrie sounded hopeful.


    ¡°No, but this has to be where he¡¯s hiding. I don¡¯t see anyone so we¡¯ll be fine. Just be quiet.¡±


    ¡°Get in, get evidence, get out,¡± Ray added.


    ¡°Right,¡± Kerrie muttered and repeated Ray¡¯s statement like a mantra, like she didn¡¯t want to forget it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do this,¡± I swallowed and crept to the door and turned the rusty knob. It creaked loudly and blew whatever cover we might have had, but I still didn¡¯t smell anything or see any movement from the shed.


    ¡°He¡¯s not here,¡± I said after I had held my breath and counted to ten to give the killer time to make a move.


    Nothing.


    We entered and fanned out. Kerrie went to the back, I went to the blanket, and Ray stayed near the door to check through various bags and piles of stuff there.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to check in,¡± Ray whispered loudly. Kerrie shot him a thumbs up in return and I did the same.


    The shed was a mess of grungy fast food wrappers, containers from takeout, and other things that looked like they¡¯d been found in the garbage.


    As I neared the comforter, I saw it was set up over some old gym mats. The killer had made himself a little nest in the middle of the trash heap.


    The blanket was turned down at the top as if it were on a real bed and laid out smooth. The corners were boxed as best they could atop the pile of mats, and there were a couple old laundry bags at the head of the bed for pillows.


    Surround the bed were piles of recreational ball bags set up to nestle around three sides of the mats. On top of those, and wedged within the crevices were sheets of old paper with scrawling on them:


    It¡¯s here. Always here.


    Why does it want me to kill?


    It says if I do it will leave.


    I don¡¯t want to do this.


    It never stops talking.


    I need quiet.


    Among what looked to be broken bits of terrifying poetry were quick sketches of the monster I had come to know so well¡ªthis one, however, in every picture had a wide-open mouth and rows of teeth going back into its throat.


    My eyes widened as I kept looking through papers. Some of them were more journal like pages. More coherent. They detailed the murders of Alys, Matty and Samuel.


    I winced as I read through what he¡¯d done and how it was all in search to stop the constant voice in his mind.


    At that moment I felt lucky. My monster, though it sapped my energy with nightly feedings seemed to stay quiet most of the time.


    Why was mine so quiet and his so loud?


    Was it how long he had his monster around? Do they become louder as time goes on?


    I feared my monster would one day put me in the same place as this man. Alone and on the run, constantly searching for silence by way of a knife.


    I learned a lot about the killer¡ªhow he had killed his sister when he was a teen because his monster promised him a normal life. How he went to a psychiatric facility for the second time in his life because he was insistent that his monster was real.


    Was this a look into my future? Mine asked me to kill, but it backed down and just fed off me when I said no. Maybe it agreed that I didn¡¯t have it in me to kill. But by the more coherent pieces of journaling I found, had the rest been absent, I would have think the same for the killer.


    I was still looking through his things ten minutes later. We had checked in every two minutes. Each time, Ray would whisper loudly to ask for us and we¡¯d say ¡®here¡¯ as a response like it was a morbid roll call.


    Occasionally Kerrie would make a noise in the back as she looked through the debris scattered about. I was guilty of rustling papers, but Ray was the only silent one. Whenever I would look his direction, he was always slow and deliberate in his movements.


    The only thing we couldn¡¯t control was the broken latch on the back door by Kerrie. The wind that whipped through the forest made it open and slam shut every now and again.


    There wasn¡¯t much in the way outside the shed either. there weren¡¯t any normal forest sounds¡ªit was like someone hit the mute button on the world. No birds or murderous squirrels.


    That¡¯s what made it so hard that we didn¡¯t hear anything. Everything was in our favor. We¡¯d ticked all the boxes, but still, somehow, he got in.


    ¡°You invaded my home,¡± a foreign voice said from Ray¡¯s direction.


    I whirled and stood, crumpled papers still in my hands as I saw the killer. He was still in the same clothing from the video with a hunting knife, that rivaled Betty, to Ray¡¯s neck.


    The blade rested right above his Adam¡¯s apple and every time Ray breathed too deep, I could see the edge press further into his skin.


    ¡°Oh shit,¡± Kerrie breathed from behind me. the wind had picked up and I heard the door creak open and bang against the back of the shed.


    The squeak of sneaker on concrete floated to my ears, and the killer¡¯s eyes widened as his mouth formed a near perfect ¡®O¡¯.


    His knife arm whipped back as he lunged after Kerrie out the front door of the shed. I watched as Ray wobbled, a thick red line across his neck and then dropped to his knees.


    ¡°Ray!¡± I screamed and dropped everything I had for evidence in my possession and ran to his side. the line was now generously oozing and there was a gurgle whenever he took a shuddering breath.


    Ray¡¯s hands circled his neck to put pressure there, as he looked at me wide eyed. The blood came thick and fast through his fingers and down his front.


    The only thing I could think to do other than call the cops was rip off my flannel and press it to the wound over his hands, all the while I begged for him to let go for just a second so the fabric could do its job.


    ¡°Baby, please I need to call the cops and I can¡¯t do both,¡± I pleaded. I ended up having to forcibly remove his hands from his neck and re-place them on top of the flannel.


    My hands now covered in Ray¡¯s blood were nearly too slick to keep ahold of my phone due to the curves of it. it took precious seconds for me to turn the screen on and dial the number for the Sheriff.


    I got up and stepped around Ray to the front door of the shed and shut it. there was no lock so as I waited for Linda, or someone at the office to pick up, I tried to drag the bench next to the door in front to keep it closed.


    ¡°Hello? Green Glen Sheriff¡¯s Depart¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hello? Hello! This is Sophia McLellan. I need the Sheriff and an ambulance, now. Ray Vena is hurt!¡±


    The bench¡¯s metal legs screeched against the concrete floor as I drug it one handed the few inches that would make all the difference for Ray and I¡¯s survival.


    ¡°What? Sophia¡ª¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re at the sport¡¯s shed for the old high school¡ªsend them, now! The killer might have Kerrie Jeffers¡ª¡±


    ¡°Sophia, I need you to calm down¡ª¡± Linda was trying to be her usual calm self, like how she had been when the killer had broken Ray¡¯s Arcadia door, but I could hear an edge of panic in her voice and the sound of her furiously scribbling something.


    ¡°Calm down? No¡ªthe fucking guy slit Ray¡¯s throat! He¡¯s dying¡ªget someone out here, now!¡± I yelled into the brick phone as I zoomed past Ray to the back door that was still open and stuck to the side of the building due to the wind.


    How the hell was I going to keep that closed?


    Betty.


    She wasn¡¯t going to help with the door, but I would find it in me, and dig deep to kill to keep Ray and I alive. I turned on a dime and went back to where Betty was discarded on the floor and stooped to grab her. I gripped her tight in my off hand before I headed to the center of the room and began to pace. If the killer was going to come back to finish the job, he¡¯d have to get through me.


    ¡°He¡ªhe did what?¡±


    ¡°Slit his fucking throat, now are they coming or not?¡±


    ¡°Is Ray breathing?¡±


    I turned to look at Ray who had started to slump. The blood from the gash had turned my flannel a dark crimson and I could see he was fading from how much he¡¯d lost.


    ¡°Yes, but he¡¯s not doing well¡ªjust please, I could only block one door, I don¡¯t know where he and Kerrie went¡ª¡±


    ¡°You say Kerrie isn¡¯t with you?¡±


    ¡°No! She ran and he chased her, I have no idea.¡± My chin began to tremble. My walls were breaking down. I wasn¡¯t cool under pressure like Kerrie usually was. I couldn¡¯t recount this without feeling overwhelming guilt.


    If I¡¯d just listened to Kerrie, Ray would be in Math right now.


    ¡°Sophia? The boys are on their way¡ªjust stay put and we¡¯ll be with you, soon.¡±


    ¡°Please hurry! I don¡¯t know when he¡¯s coming back,¡± I sniveled.


    ¡°They¡¯re coming as fast as they can. Just stay with me, keep checking in,¡± Linda soothed.


    My feet kicked up the papers I¡¯d dropped as I paced between the wall of the shed and the killer¡¯s bed. I pulled the phone from my ear and listened hard for any sound. Nothing. It was just as quiet as it had been before the killer had shown up.


    Not like the quiet meant safety anymore.


    That¡¯s when I heard the most glorious sound. Sirens. A pack of them. Help was on the way, and relief washed over me. Maybe there was a chance that Ray would make it out alive.


    I hoped that since I could hear the sirens clear as day that the killer could and would abandon his hunt for Kerrie¡ªif he hadn¡¯t already caught her. it would be stupid for him to come back here knowing he¡¯d been found, but I didn¡¯t put too much stock in someone so far gone.


    ¡°You still with me, Sophia?¡± Linda asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡ª¡±


    The gurgling wheeze from Ray was becoming louder from behind me. I didn¡¯t know exactly how much damage was done, but it was enough to get blood into his airway from the sound of it.


    I backed up, not daring to look away from the wide-open back door until I felt Ray¡¯s presence behind me.


    ¡°Ray¡ªone tap on my leg for ¡®yes¡¯, two for ¡®no¡¯, okay?¡±


    Tap.


    ¡°Can you breathe?¡±


    Tap.


    ¡°Are you still putting pressure?¡±


    Tap.


    ¡°Can you speak?¡±


    Tap. Tap.


    ¡°Ray¡¯s voice is gone,¡± I murmured. ¡°They¡¯re sending an ambulance, right?¡± I asked Linda.


    My eyes watered. What if he couldn¡¯t speak to me again. what if my stupid fucking plan had taken his voice from him. He wouldn¡¯t be able to go into the Marines¡ªI would have robbed him of his dreams.


    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s one on the way,¡± Linda was even and calm. How she could do that was beyond me.


    There was a loud bang, from the door in the back, and the sirens screamed in my ear. It made me jump and nearly step back onto Ray.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I cried and moved forward, away from him, so I wouldn¡¯t hut him anymore than I already had. I¡¯d done enough. He was on his knees bleeding because of me, and Kerrie¡ªwho knew what happened to her?


    The sirens reached a fever pitch as they rolled onto the field outside through the tall grass. The cruisers flattened the blades as they fanned out. Deputies hopped out from various cars, a few moved into the woods and several in my direction.


    Thank Christ.


    ¡°Linda, they¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Hang up, hon, they got you.¡±


    I did as told, and put my bloody phone in my pocket.


    ¡°Betty,¡± Ray sputtered. I turned and watched him wipe blood from his lips.


    Fuck.


    I still had his favorite possession in my hand. She¡¯d get taken for sure if I didn¡¯t do something. I had to do this for him.


    My bag was closest. I grabbed it and ripped the zipper open to jam Betty in between the binders. She fit diagonally, but just barely. As far as I could figure, our bags wouldn¡¯t be checked so she was safe.


    I had just zipped my bag up when the deputies pounded on the front door of the shed. I turned. It was deputy Gomez.


    ¡°Sophia! Open the door!¡±


    Some other deputies moved around the side of the building, I could see them move from window to window, but Gomez was closer. Ray needed help, now.


    The bench moved back into place easier with the help of two hands. The sound it made was horrible, though. I was nearly knocked over by Gomez as soon as the door was free to swing open. I stumbled back as he ran past to kneel at Ray¡¯s side and check the wound.


    There was a different siren, and I looked out to see the ambulance promised. The paramedics got out and grabbed their massive bags.


    I ran out the door, tears of relief in my eyes as the stone-faced men came my direction.


    ¡°Here¡ªhe¡¯s in here,¡± I began to ramble about how we put pressure on the wound, but it was still bleeding badly. I told them that he couldn¡¯t talk but responded through taps.


    They just nodded and gave me a placating ¡®we got this¡¯ and brushed past me to the shed. I was about to follow and had even turned to do so when I was stopped by a hard hand on my shoulder. I jumped and turned to see Sheriff Doonan. She stood there looking pissier than I¡¯d ever seen her.


    ¡°McLellan,¡± she growled.


    ¡°Y-Yes?¡±


    Then a swath of dirty blonde hair appeared from behind the Sheriff. I frowned and side stepped to see Kerrie as she stood there, makeup all over her face from crying.


    ¡°Oh my god! Kare! You¡¯re okay,¡± I moved to hug her, but she slapped my hand away as violently as the night we found Matty.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fucking touch me!¡± She spat and devolved into tears again.


    ¡°McLellan, Jeffers told us everything.¡±


    Still in wide-eyed shock, I looked from Kerrie to the Sheriff. What all did she tell them?


    ¡°Jeffers, you stay here, McLellan¡ª¡± the Sheriff reached out and gripped my upper arm and yanked me to her. ¡°You¡¯re coming with me.¡±


    ¡°I have to check on Ray,¡± I said, and leaned away from her grip as she walked me to her SUV.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not. If I so much as see you leave the side of my cruiser,¡± she growls and wheels me back to the front of the SUV. ¡°Things are going to be much, much worse for you than they already are, you hear me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± I mutter.


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± Doonan looked utterly perplexed as I tried to look her in the eye. ¡°Why, Sophia. I mean, you¡¯re a smart kid, why on God¡¯s green earth would you ever do this? And to involve Jeffers and Vena?¡±


    I shrugged and looked at my feet. I wasn¡¯t going to tell her that I didn¡¯t believe in her or her men. That would just piss her off even more, and from the look she was giving me now that her short-lived confusion had worn off, she was already at her breaking point.


    ¡°The other day, the killer contacted me.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? That picture?¡±


    ¡°No¡­well, yes¡ª¡±


    ¡°What did it mean?¡±


    ¡°We¡­he¡­those things on the paper¡­they¡¯re real.¡± My eyes locked with Doonan¡¯s. ¡°He has one. It¡¯s the reason he¡¯s killing. The monster tells him to kill, and he does because his mind is so loud that he just wants peace¡ªhe wants a life.¡±


    ¡°And yours?¡± The hesitation in the Sheriff¡¯s tone was only outweighed by her curiosity.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t tell me to kill or anything,¡± I lied. ¡°It just kind of¡­my upset, this whole thing¡­it feeds on it. While it does, it talks to me.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°You can tell when its around, of when it¡¯s been somewhere because of the smell¡ª¡±


    ¡°So, these monsters smell?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, like death and trash and rot.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful. So, Sophia¡ªI need to work this, and I¡¯ll check up on Ray for you, but I need you to sit in my cruiser, okay?¡± Doonan spoke slowly and carefully like I¡¯m some dumb ass five-year-old. I know it¡¯s because I just pretty much could have started to babble and play in the dirt like I¡¯d lost my mind for all she cared.


    ¡°Yeah, fine,¡± I run a hand through my hair and move over to the side door of the SUV and hop in the front passenger seat. No way I was going to get in the back¡ªthose doors lock on their own.


    The Sheriff ran off to the laundry shed and I sink low in my seat. I fucked up.


    I royally fucked up and there was nothing I could do to fix this. The tears are immediate and I sobbed hysterically in Doonan¡¯s cruiser with the sirens and radio chatter for background noise.


    By the time my throat was raw, and I could barely get out a croak, they still hadn¡¯t found the killer¡ªit seemed like he¡¯d just disappeared. Even the dogs couldn¡¯t pick up the scent. Ray, as far as I¡¯d heard when they were loading him in, was still alive.


    That just made me cry harder; relief this time.


    I needed to see him. All the apologies in the world wouldn¡¯t be enough, but I had to start to make up for what I¡¯d done. He wouldn¡¯t be on his way to the hospital if it weren¡¯t for me.


    I finally sat back up just in time for Doonan to open the door, her brow narrowed.


    ¡°Backseat, McLellan.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because we need to get you checked out. I saw the papers in there¡ªthat guy¡¯s sick and if you¡¯re seeing the same shit, well¡ªwe need to get you some help.¡±


    My jaw dropped and I shook my head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t you need Janice¡¯s permission?¡±


    ¡°Nope. Not with this. Plus, with those little boys in the house, I doubt getting you checked out would be a problem.¡±


    ¡°Fuck¡ªSheriff, I¡¯m fine I swear. I really don¡¯t need¡ª¡±


    ¡°You purposefully put your friends in danger to go hunt a serial murderer because you both see the same monster. You¡¯re not fine.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°No ¡®but¡¯s,¡± Doonan made the universal ¡®zip it¡¯ sign and then spoke into her radio on her shoulder: ¡°please advise the hospital, I¡¯m bringing in a fifty-five eighty-five. Sixteen-year-old female minor.¡±


    Shit.