by S. E. Akers
Naomi’s eyes shot open. “What the heck is that?!?” she demanded as Charlie pulled out his hunting crossbow.
“You told me that I was in charge of getting the bow and arrows,” Charlie responded with a face that was straighter than a ruler.
“At the DADGUM PARTY STORE!” Naomi bitched. “UGH!”
Charlie apologized for his “mistake” and lowered his head (to hide his laughter). “Well, Sweetie…what do you want me to do?” he asked, very convincingly.
“TAKE IT OFF! JUST TAKE IT OFF! UGH! You were supposed to be Cupid, not a redneck Rambo,” Naomi griped as she stormed out of the kitchen. “Who looks SEXUALLY CONFUSED!”
Charlie laid his weapon down on the prep-counter like a strategically-placed piece on a game board and flashed a proud grin. “I guess I just sunk her Battleship.” Even in love, Charlie had his limits.
“Nice touch,” I remarked as I ran my hand along the arch of his crossbow. “I could have used this earlier today,” I teased as I thought about Kara’s 4-foot white teddy. That huge red-satin heart sewn onto the center of its chest made the perfect target.
After the last pair of romantics had settled their check, the dining room was finally empty. I rushed Charlie and Naomi out the door. There was no need for them to delay their plans. Charlie had made reservations to take Naomi to a supper club in Bluefield for a few drinks, and then they were headed downtown to the old cinema for a midnight showing of An Affair to Remember. Naomi seemed pleased with the thought behind her fiancé’s arrangements. She claimed that flowers just died (and she needed one more clear vase sitting around her trailer like she did a hole in her head), cards were nothing more than empty words written by a stranger punchin’ a clock, and chocolates went straight to her ass. However, time spent with the one you love makes a memory that lasts forever.
Ten minutes and twenty-five quick puffs of air later, all the candles had been extinguished, the flowers pitched in the trash, and every soiled tablecloth had been placed in a large canvas sack to be laundered. I thought my mood would have improved after I’d snatched every last dangling heart from off the ceiling, but it didn’t. I was still grumpy as all get-out and still all-alone. Alone on Valentine’s Day. It wasn’t really the “no-boyfriend” thing that bothered me so much (though that didn’t help matters). It was the “Katie” thing. No body and now, no voice rattling in my head.
Three full moons… Almost a hundred days, I pondered wearily as I swept the floor. If I were cooped up in a rock with no end in sight, I would probably feel the same way… Maybe worse? Who knows how long she’ll stay pissed? I scanned around the lonely dining room, absorbing every ounce of its sad stillness, and let out a disgusted sigh. All-alone with my guilt was no place to be. I was ready to crawl under the covers so I could put it and my pity-party from Hell finally to bed!
With the dining room now checked off my list, I grabbed a trash bag and headed for the parking bays. The scene outside was even more depressing. And still — eerily still — with the exception of Frankie and the Four Seasons blaring from the outdoor speakers. A blast of night air whipped through the parking lot ominously, shaking all the Valentine decorations loose. The whirling wind howled as it scattered the paper hearts, right along with the rest of the garbage, further across the lot.
Perfect…
I raced through the bays, hurrying to toss every scrap into the trash bag before another surge of air forced me into a frustrating game of chase. My bag was almost half-full when I noticed a strange patch of fog pooling down the road. Warily, I stood there, simply watching it hover. It didn’t seem to be building or moving this way.
Innocent enough, I suppose…
If the fogbank didn’t send my nerves into a hard enough twist, something that tapped my shoulder sure did. Once my abrupt scream had played out, I whirled around to find myself standing face to face with Ty Smith. Frankie Valli crooning Walk Like a Man had drowned out the choke of the Helping Hands van.
“I’m sorry, Shiloh. I didn’t mean to scare you like that,” Ty insisted.
Since my lungs were out of air, I took a deep breath. “What are you doing here?”
“My deliveries ran late. I wanted to grab something to eat before I headed home.” Ty looked around the lot. “Where is everybody? There’s usually people here for another hour.”
“We closed early,” I replied. “Charlie and Naomi went to see a movie in Bluefield.”
“Oh,” Ty muttered, shifting his weight. An awkward lull filled the air between us. “So…how was your Valentine’s Day?”
Is he kidding? I held up my bag of trash and forced my mouth into a smile.
“That good, huh?” Ty cracked.
I nodded.
“Hang on a second.” Ty hurried over to his van and pulled out a dozen long-stemmed red roses that were tied together with a white satin ribbon. “Here.” He handed me the bouquet. “I had one left.”
This was even worse than the mistletoe. “Umm… Thank you.” Leave it to the compassionate boy-next-door to throw me a pity bouquet wrapped up in a bow. “How was yours?” I asked, aiming for polite.
“It was all right. Mr. Anderson surprised us with a donation of his prized roses this year. They were a big hit.”
“I’d say they were. Little old ladies all over Welch getting dinner and flowers for Valentine’s Day… I’m surprised you’re not covered in every shade of Mary Kay lipstick.”
“Oh, I had to stop by the Kwik-Serve and pick up some wipes after Mrs. Riley got a hold of me,” he laughed. “I smell like a few of them too.”
I leaned closer and took in a good whiff. “Yeah,” I giggled. “White Diamonds. Yvonne Harrison or Abigail Blaine?”
“Both. But I gave a full account of the attack to the officers. You can read about it in the paper tomorrow,” Ty teased.
“Just consider yourself lucky to be alive,” I added dramatically. “Maybe you should have brought Kara along for protection?”
“That would have resulted in a fatality. Mine… I broke up with her today,” Ty announced, rather proudly.
“You broke up with her?” I blurted. Oh THAT was smooth, Shi. “I mean, on Valentine’s Day?” I rephrased as I tied my bag.
“I just woke up this morning…and it felt like any other day. I wasn’t excited about it. I wasn’t excited about her. I haven’t been for some time. I stopped by her house before school and did it. She threw a fit too. She wouldn’t even give me back my class ring, and she made me promise not to tell anyone until tomorrow.”
“Oh,” I mumbled. “Well, who gave her the bear?”
“I don’t know. She could have bought it herself,” Ty chuckled and shook his head.
“That’s just…sad,” I replied, trying not to laugh.
“It may have been from Mike?” Ty said casually. “She’s been sneaking around with him for months. I just didn’t care enough to do anything about it. The only thing I’ve cared about is getting my memory back… All of them,” he added purposely.
The only memories Ty had lost were ones that included me. He knew it. I knew it. How the heck do you respond to something like that? On top of the break-up?
“I’d really like to get to know you again,” Ty said with an awkward laugh. “I think it would help…with my amnesia,” he added like he’d repeated it verbatim from his physician. “You’re going on the trip, aren’t you?”
“I’ve got a lot going on…a lot of studying,” I clarified, thinking about how all of Bea’s “extra-training” had been getting in the way of my schoolwork.
“You’ve got your eye on that first folding chair, don’t you?”
“Exactly,” I laughed. “That’s mine come Graduation.”
“You should go,” Ty blurted. “On the trip. I could get a crash-course on Shiloh Wallace in one week. You might help me trigger something. It’s weird not being able to remember you. It’s like I’m missing more than my memories.”
Suddenly the jukebox music stopped, leaving me to ponder
Ty’s sincere request in the stillness of the starless night. If anything could sway my decision, those humble blue eyes of his were a good start.
“I guess I should let you finish up. It looks like I’ve got a date with a microwave pizza,” Ty hinted as he turned to walk away.
“I suppose I could unofficially fix you something…since I haven’t closed the kitchen yet,” I added, trying not to seem too eager. “To thank you for the flowers.”
“Good thing I had one left,” Ty remarked with a grin. I spied the name “Greenbrooke Floral” stamped on the underside of the ribbon. Telepathy wasn’t necessary. These didn’t come from Mr. Anderson’s greenhouse.
“Yeah,” I said suspiciously. “Good thing.”
Suddenly, the sound of a faint rumble hailed our attention. Soon, several motorcycles approaching ushered in more than an unpleasant noise. Three leather-clad bikers rolled onto the lot, revving their engines. Their rough ’n rowdy act seemed to annoy Ty, however, I was used to this “occupational hazard”.
“Sorry guys, we’re closed!” I yelled over the roar of their engines, doubting they’d heard a thing. They cut their motors not a second later. One of the bikers leaned towards me, forcing Ty to flank my side.
A gruff-looking guy with a yellowy-white beard longer than my ponytail whipped off his half-helmet. “What’s that, darlin’?” he asked.
“She said they’re closed,” Ty asserted. His rigid stance forced the other guys off their bikes. You could hear the sound of their muscles contacting under their leather jackets. A pissing-contest in the middle of the lot was the last thing I needed right now. More mess to clean.
A bald-headed biker covered in tattoos cracked his knuckles. “That so, pretty-boy?” he posed.
“Yes,” I interrupted, before Ty could say another word. “The manager has already locked up the freezers,” I fibbed. I spotted a gruesome-looking spiked iron ball dangling between his handlebars. I quickly tapped into his brainwaves. Gosh… He had used it too. Definitely not for “show”, I noted uneasily.
“So you can cruise on down the road now,” Ty interjected. The bikers strutted closer. This situation needed defusing quickly.
“You know, you guys should be spendin’ the evenin’ with your ladies anyway,” I scolded playfully as I wedged myself between Ty and the ringleader, eager to provoke a smile.
He glanced at his pack and motioned them back. “We would be, if they weren’t mean as snakes and looked like you,” the biker added with a wink as he hopped back on his bike. He gave his engine a long rev as he smiled at me, and then like a shot, he sped off with his gang in tow, but not before he circled around and tried to give my rear an inappropriate smack. He missed, but only because I’d already read his mind. That didn’t sit too well with Ty. I had to grab his arm when he tried to take a swipe at the guy. We watched as they barreled down the road and disappeared into the thick cloud of fog. Soon the night air was as silent as it was before, but way more awkward. I didn’t need any special powers to sense Ty’s wounded pride. That his face emitted naturally.
“Why don’t you go grab a pitcher and put these in some water for me?” Though his stare remained on the ground I detected a hint of a smile. “Those kind of guys stop by here all the time. They’d take a little female attention over a tussle with a high-school jock any old day.”
Ty took the flowers. “I think I would too,” he said and gave my butt a playful slap before he headed off across the parking lot. That one I didn’t see coming, but admittedly, I wouldn’t have stopped it if I had. Once Ty was inside and well out of view, a smile stretched across my face.
Maybe my evening will end on a high-note after all?
I hurried to collect the last of the trash littering the lot and rounded the corner of the building. No sooner than I’d tossed the garbage bag into the dumpster, I heard a faint rumbling sound approaching from the distance. Another one? I peered around the corner to see one of the bikers pulling back onto the lot. He stopped a few feet from me.
“We really are closed,” I informed the biker as I locked up the dumpster, not even looking his way. He shut off his engine and hopped off his chopper, totally ignoring me.
“I’m not here to eat,” the guy remarked as he pulled off his leather gloves and threw them down on his seat.
“The men’s on the other side,” I said flatly with a glance, hoping a bathroom-break was the only thing his hand reaching for my rear had worked up. Unexpectedly, a heavy iron chain wrapped around my neck before I knew what was happening. With one hard yank, it clenched my throat and an agonizing jolt rocked my entire body. He jerked me towards him and whirled me around. Through the foulness of his heavy breaths, I looked into the rough man’s eyes, unhinged by the two pools of black staring back at me.
Oh no…
“He doesn’t like to be ignored,” the possessed biker whispered in a low, rolling growl. He gave the chain leash another tug. “Come on,” he bellowed. “He’s waiting for you.”
I slumped towards my attacker. The iron links had taken a gruesome toll on my strength. I tried to reach for my hilt but was backhanded and pinned on the ground within a second.
The next thing I knew, Tanner was calling me. Of all freaking times! I couldn’t answer him without my amethyst. I’d left it at Bea’s. Luckily it was easy to ignore his repeated attempts with a muscle-clad biker punching the crap out of me.
The biker drew his fist back swiftly for one more forceful blow aimed at my face. All of a sudden, he let out an ear-splitting howl, just before he collapsed. I spotted an arrow sticking out of his thigh as he whimpered and writhed on the ground. I whirled my head towards the direction of the Drive-In. To my sheer surprise, there stood Ty, holding Charlie’s crossbow. You just have to love those daddies who drag their sons into the woods to hunt. Ty raced over and punched the biker in the face, knocking him clean out. He helped me unwrap the chain from around my neck.
“Are you OKAY ?!?” Ty asked anxiously.
“I’m fine,” I replied as I rubbed my aching neck. He helped me to my feet and began checking my throat.
“What the Hell did he do that for?” Ty demanded. I spun around and stared at the fogbank. It was rolling closer and growing in size. Another motorcycle came racing out of the murky mist. We both jumped out of his way as he charged at us. While the sky above churned with fury, I contemplated summoning a bolt. My mind urged me to, but my heart cried out an adamant, “No”. If Ty was starting to come around, I didn’t want to have to erase his memory — not again.
The biker made a quick u-turn and zoomed towards us, with me in his sights. Ty pushed me out of the way when the grisly man jumped off his bike. They went rolling on the ground, under the metal canopy that stretched from each end of the lot. Ty got in a few lucky punches, but the possessed biker’s newfound supernatural-strength outmatched the strapping jock. A jab to his gut sent Ty keeling to the ground. I ran over to one of the posts and gave it a swift kick. Before the roof collapsed, I swiftly grabbed Ty and pulled him out of the way. Sparks exploded from the lights as the metal section crashed to the ground. The biker lay buried underneath the twisted pile of metal and rubble, somewhere. Suddenly a section of the debris began to shake. I grabbed the crossbow lying nearby and pulled the arrow out of the other biker. It was bloody, but the copper tip was still in one-piece and wickedly razor sharp. I eyed the turquoise inlay as I loaded the arrow. Within seconds, the biker burst out of the pile of rubble. He snarled like a rabid dog and jumped around freakishly, taunting me with several animal-like growls. I couldn’t get a clear shot. He was too fast to track.
Let’s see how well these things work. I closed my eyes and mentally focused on my attacker, not even attempting to look. As soon as I pulled back on the trigger, the air was silent for a second, followed by a thud-like “crash”. I opened my eyes and dropped the crossbow. The magical arrow got him all right — straight through his heart.
Damn…
I shook Ty repeatedly. “Are you okay
?”
Ty’s eyes fluttered as he started to rouse. “I’m all right. How about you?”
“I’m fine, but—” The roar of another motorcycle coming our way derailed my thought. The last biker… I jumped up and spotted him barreling down the road. Strangely, the mist was following him, like he was leading the murky cloud this way. I spotted something else, the frightful-looking spiked ball. Sparks were flying from off the pavement as he swung it back and forth against each side of the highway.
“Come on,” I ordered as I pulled Ty off the ground with one hard jerk.
“What’s going on?” Ty asked, still trying to catch his breath.
“Move!” I yelled as I pushed him towards the building’s glass side-door. I didn’t lock it. What good would that do? I pulled Ty behind the counter and ducked down.
“What the Hell is their problem?” Ty asked. I flashed him a blank stare, unwilling to answer and apprehensive of what was to come.
“Just stay down, Ty,” I ordered as I rose for a peek. I didn’t hear anything outside. It was quiet, too quiet, and the scene looked even worse. The thick, billowy black fog had engulfed everything outside. You couldn’t see anything moving at all. All that separated us from a hellish-hotbed were wide sections of fragile paneled-glass. I spotted something coming towards us just as Ty was about to rise. My eyes exploded as the glass shattered. I threw him back down onto the floor, barely avoiding the spiked iron ball as it passed over our heads and crashed into the wall.
“SHIT!” Ty yelled as we watched the chain retract and the ball went back out of the store, taking a huge chunk of the sheetrock with it. “All this over not getting served?”
I peered out from behind the counter to see the fog spilling slowly into the front of the restaurant. “Back to the kitchen,” I urged as I took off crawling.
