Clawing Free

by Josh Roberts

  She froze as the wind whipped the trees violently all around her. Every second seemed to notch up its intensity and force. “No!” she screamed, rain threatening to choke her. “Leave me alone!”

  Then a rasping voice croaked, “Elisabeth!” Deep in her subconscious, she registered a newness in the voice. It was darker than in the previous vision, a palpable hatred oozing from it, completely lacking the peace she’d felt before. This voice belonged to someone different.

  “No!” she cried, covering her ears and clamping her eyes shut. “I won’t listen!”

  Then the constricting began and the voltage rose. The immense being was going to simultaneously electrocute and suffocate her to death.

  “Let me go!” she screamed as the wind howled, and lightning struck a tree thirty feet to her right with an ear-splitting crash. Ducking, she tried to get beneath whatever was encircling her. But everywhere she turned, she felt it pulling inward and shocking her when she came in contact with it.

  A full-blown thunderstorm blazed around and above her. Gales dragged horizontal torrents across the cliff as thunderclaps came in rapid succession and lightning exploded fir trees all around, giving the illusion of a fireworks display gone horribly wrong.

  Panicking, she clawed at the invisible assailant, attempting to ignore the horrible burning sensation coursing through her body from the current. But the huge noose was taut, and she could no longer move. Electricity felt as though it would light her on fire from the inside out as the air began to leave her body.

  Then she heard it, the voice from her first vision, the voice of peace. “Lissy.” Then louder, more authoritatively, “Stop!”

  At the word, a final blast of lighting fired in the distance, and the intensity of the situation died instantly. The wind ceased to howl, the storm dried up, and the electricity was gone. She was able to move freely again. The clearing was at peace.

  Looking around for any sign of what had attacked her, she found nothing. The clearing looked exactly how she remembered it from the decade before.

  She pondered at why the voice that had calmed the storm was so markedly different from that which had spoken only moments prior. It was as if there were not one, but two beings reaching out to her in this wretched place. But why? Was she being toyed with? Or was she caught in the middle of them?

  Her mind raced. What should she do now? The first time the vision had just ended, she hadn’t had the freedom to move around or leave the clearing. The realization gave her the sense that she wasn’t yet finished with the encounter. A crushing anxiety swelled in her chest. Feeling short of breath, she inhaled, trying to satiate her lungs screaming at her for more air. It didn’t help. She began to feel lightheaded.

  Turning from the forest and the boulder, she approached the edge of the cliff, although she wasn’t really sure why. A fresh terror filled her when she looked out at the lake below and saw the surface of the water break. The moon’s reflection rippled up and down over the growing waves caused by something of immeasurable size rising out of the water. A switch flipped and the storm began to rage once more, pouring water over Lissy and over the lake. It was as if some unidentifiable force could simply trigger the downpour at will.

  “Lissy?”

  She jumped and whipped her head around. Standing directly beside her, at the edge of the cliff, was Neil—the man whose back she’d seen in the first vision. One second there had been no one, and the next, he was there. She glanced back at the water.

  “Neil, run!” she screamed as a massive shadowy figure slid from the depths. It was as if darkness had taken form with no features, just a huge, sinuous shadow.

  Neil only stared, dumbfounded, at the shadow arising from the lake. She tried to pull him, but he just stood there, like a shell.

  The thing ascended in seconds. It was already above the cliff’s edge, hovering between them and the moon—consuming it—leaving Lissy and Neil standing amid the darkness.

  “We have to go, Neil!”

  “Lissy, what is it?” He didn’t see it. How could he not see it?

  “Neil, we need to—”

  The shadow swooped down like a hawk, slamming into her and sending her flying toward the trees. She landed with a thud, wincing in pain.

  * * *

  When she opened her eyes, she was no longer on the cliff, and the sun was shining once again.

  “Lissy, snap out of it.” Neil was on his knees, holding her in his lap. They were in the middle of the alley behind the market.

  “Lissy!”

  “I’m okay.”

  “You’re okay? You don’t seem okay.” He helped her sit up.

  “I’m okay,” she repeated. “How long have I been out?”

  “A few minutes.” He touched her head and she winced. “You need to get this checked out. This is the second time in—”

  “I’m fine,” she interrupted.

  “Lissy, you’re not fine. You just face-planted into the asphalt. There’s blood all over you.” He helped her stand.

  “I’m not going to a doctor.”

  “Lis, you—”

  “David said Mia experienced freak-outs, right?”

  Neil froze, obviously making the connection.

  “I don’t know what’s happening,” she said, “but I don’t think this is something a doctor can fix.”

  He stared at her, seeing that she wasn’t going to give in. “Let’s get you cleaned up then.”

  11

  August 21, 2019

  Following the second vision, Lissy slept hard. Although she wasn’t actually running or fighting for her life, the vision had sucked as much energy from her as if she had been. When she finally woke, it was already after noon. Neil had folded his blanket and left it neatly on the couch. He also made her breakfast, bacon and English muffins, both of which were cold from sitting on the counter for so long. She hadn’t had bacon in the fridge, so she assumed he must have gone out and then returned to make her food. Next to the cold muffins was a newspaper, also something he must have picked up that morning. Big block letters on the front read “Cougar Mauls Men at Pine Bluff.”

  Lissy swallowed hard and continued reading as Lee detailed how a large mountain lion had attacked three hunters near Pine Bluff, killing one and maiming a second before the third was finally able to take down the animal with multiple gunshots to its massive body.

  “A cougar,” Lee wrote, “is not surprising to find in mountains; however, a cougar of this size is. It was twenty to thirty percent larger than the average mountain lion and weighed more than thirty percent more than average.” The article culminated in a sentence stating that local law enforcement believe the cat to have been involved in the recent death of Melissa Atwell. Upon reading the words, emotion engulfed her. Was Jack saying a mountain lion had killed Melissa? Or that it left the claw marks on her body? Neither worked. Something just felt off. What she’d seen didn’t look like a cat attack. How could the sheriff say something so stupid? At that point, Lissy no longer believed the sheriff to be inept; she believed him to be a liar. There was no way that cougar had been what clawed up Melissa. Predatory cats don’t just beat on dead bodies and then walk away. And how did a cat tie into her visions—of which she was becoming convinced were somehow related to the deaths at the lake. It didn’t line up. The sheriff didn’t want there to be a problem in his town, so he was ignoring it, sweeping it under the rug.

  Lissy threw on fresh clothes, pulled her hair into a ponytail, and went outside. She could see Neil wrapping trout inside the market as she descended the stairs. She would talk to him later. First, she was going to talk to the sheriff.

  The car’s brakes chirped as Lissy pulled into a space in front of the small sheriff’s office. She spotted Porter climbing into his truck a couple of spaces over. Anxiety flooded her as she thought about confronting the fiery man, but with it came the recollection of Melissa’s body, bloody and disfigured. Letting those thoughts fuel her, she climbed out of the car.

 
; “A cougar, Jack? Are you kidding me?” She attempted to force down the nagging feeling that she shouldn’t be doing this or that people would think she was losing her mind. If she was losing her mind, so was David, because mountain lions don’t flip Jeeps.

  Already sitting in the truck, he slammed the door in front of her and peered at her through the window. She stared him dead in the eyes until he finally opened the window.

  “Elisabeth, you need to leave this alone. We closed the case on the girl and—”

  Lissy snapped, “The girl? Her name was Melissa, and you know she didn’t kill herself. Same way you know a cat wasn’t responsible for those markings.” She stepped toward the open window, only a few inches from him now. “What is it, Jack? You afraid of the truth? Are you afraid something, or someone, is murdering these people and you’ll have to deal with it? Losing tourists? What is it that’s making you want this to go away?”

  Porter grit his teeth. “Step back, Elisabeth.”

  “I’m not going away, Jack. You can’t just pretend there’s not more going on here!” She was shouting now.

  He shifted the truck into gear. “I’m not wasting my time looking for monsters. The gir—Melissa—is dead.” He thought for a moment, hesitating, then added, “So is your sister. Move on, hon.”

  With that, he accelerated, rapidly sending the truck backward. Then, cranking the wheel hard, he whipped the large vehicle around and sped off.

  Lissy was dumbfounded. He was so sure she was only pushing the issue because of Mia; it made her wonder for a second if he was right. She felt an overwhelming number of conflicting emotions, and chief among them was confusion.

  Climbing back into her car, she sat, staring through the windshield at the station’s brick wall. She had no desire to drive back home. She wasn’t sure if the location had anything to do with the visions, but she knew they had both happened right outside the apartment. The thought of having another one brought her such intense fear she began to panic. She couldn’t go home— she wouldn’t.

  Taking out her phone, she called Rose. She’d stayed with her and Albert a couple of times in the past when Todd was having work done on the market. Trying to speak calmly, she asked Rose if she would mind her using their spare bedroom for a couple of days. Rose said yes without asking a single question. One of the gentlest people Lissy had ever met, but also one of the most private. Along with the desire for privacy in her own life, she protected it in the lives of those she cared about, a trait that Lissy truly respected.

  After ending the call, Lissy was about to pull out when Logan exited the sheriff’s office, a small box in hand.

  His face brightened upon seeing her. “Hey, Lissy!” He waved.

  She tried to conceal her frustration at the sheriff, knowing Logan probably had no official say in the matter.

  “Hi, Logan,” she said, stepping out of the car.

  He stopped, standing a few feet away. “What brings you here?” He wasn’t prying, just making conversation.

  She considered making something up but knew he would probably talk to Jack about the incident later anyway.

  “Read about the cat.”

  “Oh that.” His face became solemn. She wasn’t sure if it was because he didn’t believe it either, or because he did, and the deaths of those involved saddened him.

  She decided to try to get a feel for how much he trusted Jack on the matter. If he was totally bought in, it may lend credence to the idea that she was pressing the issue because it felt so similar to her sister’s story. If he didn’t align with Jack, then it could mean that she was right, and the sheriff was just refusing to let Melissa’s death be something more than suicide because he was afraid of the consequences that would entail. Or perhaps even afraid of being murdered himself.

  “Do you think the cat killed Melissa Atwell?” The words came out blunter than she’d intended. He looked a little stunned.

  “Um . . . I really shouldn’t talk about it with you, Lissy.”

  She nodded. “I get it. It’s just . . . something about it just isn’t sitting right with me. You know?”

  He tilted his head back and considered something. “Jack’ll kill me if he finds out about this”—he paused, hesitating—“but I’m actually taking these things over to Melissa’s husband right now. Do you wanna ride along?”

  Logan’s invitation threw her. “Why?”

  His cheeks reddened a shade. Apparently, he thought the proposition would make more sense to her than it had. It occurred to Lissy that perhaps he was just excited to be around her again.

  She added, “It might not be such a great idea, Logan.”

  “Yeah. You’re probably right. I was just thinking . . . I don’t know. You might be able to help him cope. Since you’ve been through something . . . similar.”

  She thought about her sister climbing into David’s Jeep the last time she saw her and wondered at the final memory Melissa’s husband had of his wife. Had they fought? Or was it a kiss on the cheek before he left for the city? Or maybe she had been suicidal, although Lissy couldn’t believe it. The idea started to appeal to Lissy. Melissa’s husband may be able to shed enough light on his wife’s death for Lissy to put the whole thing behind her. Or prove that she wasn’t insane. Either would be better than staying in the dark.

  “I’ll go.”

  Logan looked genuinely surprised at her sudden change of heart.

  She went on, “I’m not sure I can help. But I’d like to meet him.”

  “Okay then.”

  The ride to the Atwell’s house wasn’t as bad as Lissy expected it to be. Logan stayed pretty quiet for the majority of the trip, asking only a few questions about her week, such as how her job was and if she had seen her mother recently. She wasn’t sure if he was treading lightly or if he just wasn’t much for small talk. Either way, she appreciated it.

  They pulled into the driveway of a small house seated among an outcropping of similar builds on the edge of town. The houses nested on the side of a small hill were the closest thing Mitchum had to a suburban complex; although, in actuality, the “complex” consisted of only several homes on a mountainside that happened to be in close proximity to one another. The Atwell’s house was only about half a mile from Neil’s aunt and uncle’s, where he’d grown up.

  Lissy jumped down from the tall truck and walked alongside Logan to the front door, remembering having just done this with Neil at David’s trailer a couple of days before. The thought filled her with panic. The trip to David’s had only managed to stir the pot, not to tame the urge inside her telling her to push deeper to find answers about Melissa’s death. She realized if this meeting had the same effect, she would be tempted to go even further down the rabbit hole, something she’d been attempting to refrain from in relation to Mia’s disappearance for the last eleven years. She needed to let it go.

  “Logan, I’m gonna go—”

  The front door opened before they even reached it, and before Lissy could tell Logan she needed to leave. Melissa’s husband stood just inside.

  “Hey, Logan,” he said. “Come in.” Then, looking at Lissy, “I’m sorry I don’t—”

  “I’m Lissy, Oullette,” she interjected nervously. “I . . .” She hesitated to speak the words. “I found Melissa.”

  His eyes widened in unexpected grief. He glanced at Logan, then back to her. “I see. Come in, please. I’m sorry, I’m Henry. Sorry, I just—” He choked up a little. “Sorry.”

  Lissy gave him an understanding half smile as she and Logan entered the house.

  They followed Henry through the entryway and past some stairs. She recognized the layout as the same one Neil’s uncle lived in.

  When they reached the kitchen, Logan handed the box containing Melissa’s belongings to Henry.

  “Her clothes weren’t salvageable, but I put her jewelry, cellphone, and the contents of her pockets in here, as there was no indication of foul play.” Logan shot Lissy a glance as he spoke the last few words. She wo
ndered if they were his words, or Porter’s.

  Henry took the box and stood there, limp, holding it but not opening it. Tears began to spill from his eyes.

  “I’m so sorry,” he said. “It’s just that . . . this is all that’s left of my wife.” He sniffed and tried to compose himself.

  Lissy fidgeted with her hands nervously. She wasn’t great at handling these types of conversations with people she knew, but when it came to comforting a complete stranger, she was completely out of her depth. She shot Logan a glance.

  “I’m sorry, Henry. I can’t even imagine what you must be feeling right now.”

  Henry nodded, sitting the box on the counter.

  “I don’t even know what to do with this house now. It was Melissa’s idea to move up here. She was so excited.” He looked up at Lissy. “I’m rambling.”

  Lissy’s hand moved up and down her bicep, squeezing it anxiously. “No, no. I’d actually love to hear more about Melissa.” She meant it. She was compelled by the idea that perhaps knowing more about the woman might bring her closer to knowing whether her death was somehow linked to Mia’s.

  The trio moved to the kitchen table and sat.

  “I’d offer you a drink, but the fridge is empty. Melissa hadn’t even gone shopping yet, but she was up hiking on the cliffs. That’s how she was: all spirit, all the time. She’d find adventure in anything, and the adventure would always come first. She was childlike in that way. It was one of the things that made me fall in love with her.” He ran a hand through his unkempt hair.

  “She sounds like a great person to be around,” Logan replied.