Please Lock Me Up (Something Is Out There, Book 2)

by Timothy Cox

  ‘Dad…what would you do?’ She asked. And waited for an answer, maybe see him come walking down the dark road, waving at her. She didn’t even ask what her boyfriend would have done, because she knew the answer already, his voice spoke in her head: Don’t rely on those big wa wa phones. Make sure you take a sturdy map. ‘Can I please have a map?’ She asked, chuckling under her arms. She didn’t even know how to read a map, what was the point?

  Her thoughts drifted to more serious questions that needed answering. Why was the door open when she woke up? Why can’t she find her cell? She shook her head knowing the answers to those questions; the bread crumps were there, one plus one equals two, she just didn’t want to believe it.

  (10)

  She felt alone in the car, scared, and unable to move much. After making sure the doors were locked for the fifth time, she went to the back seat and crawled into a little ball, too afraid to sit upright and look outside. There was no point looking through the glass when all you could see was blackness, trees that all turned into one color, an ill-navy blue that was fueled by the moon’s luminosity. From where she sat, she could peer up and look at the sky. There was not a single cloud or fog, only thousands of glittery stars and a big white rock. She watched the moon make its way through the sky, moving away from her like she was some deadly curse. After many thoughts, she came to the conclusion that she wasn’t going to walk outside in the dark. Her best option was to wait the darkness out and venture in daylight. She didn’t know what creatures were out there at night, she already saw a fox, and the thing saw her. She tried recollecting any stories about foxes eating humans and couldn’t come up with anything. She didn’t know much about them, other than that they ran around scurrying in secrecy, not revealing much. She wondered if they ate meat, and remembered watching a documentary once, they do have sharp teeth so–

  Her ears turned like two satellites – pointing at the back. She heard the unmistakable sound of her ringtone playing. She closed her eyes and counted to five, thinking that this was some kind of dream but when she opened them, she still heard it playing, even louder. The sound was coming from inside the car boot, she knew it. What she didn’t know was why her cell was in the boot, she couldn’t remember putting it in there.

  The ringtone stopped. And started.

  She had the weirdest urge to jump out the car and get it, but there was something else stopping her. It was intense confusion with drops of unknown that shackled her bones to seat. She was aware that she wasn’t thinking much, too much of her focus was on her surroundings: the feel of leather beneath her, a ringtone melody that she hasn’t changed since Christmas, her rapid breathing, and aware of her own body position – a crawled up fetus.

  ‘C’mon Melissa.’ She said trying to pump herself up. She swayed her body left to right trying to get the blood flowing, trying to get some movement going. The faster she swayed the more she spoke; trying to convince a mind that was too stubborn, too scared to get up. She gave up after a while, the more she told herself to get up the more she shied away. She knew her body better than anyone, trying to force her to do something only made her more stubborn.

  The ringtone kept playing on repeat for an awfully long time, until it finally stopped. Not once did she close her eyes while it sang, her eyes wide open, staring at the seat in front of her with lazy eyes – wondering if it was possible to scratch the leather open. But she didn’t. All she did was listen to it play all the way through, listen to it go silent and count to three. Then do it all over again. She knew exactly why she did it. She was too scared to do anything else, too scared to sit upright and look out the window, maybe see a person standing there smiling.

  Her stomach growled and her eyes closed, the only thing she wanted to see now was morning light.

  (11)

  Birds chirping was the first thing she heard. Her sleepy eyes opened and she saw creamy leather in front of her. She pried her sweaty face from the seat and looked outside.

  It was a beautiful morning, sky blue with painted pink lines, only a single cloud the shape of a cup drifting far on the horizon. The warm colorful morning also made everything stand out. The trees looked wet and fresh, green more greener and the brown more browner. She could also see clearly between the slits of the trees, light sparkling, and insects flying.

  She climbed out and stretched her legs, soaking up the fresh morning air. She was very aware of her tormented night – but looking around made her feel so more vitalized, fresh, and ready for the day. She put her arms behind her head and stretched, hearing the bones crack. When she turned looking at the road ahead and the road behind, she made a promise to herself. Today was the day she was getting out of the forest, there was no way she was going to spend another night in her car in a fetus position, looking at the stars and moon go by. With that in mind she opened the boot.

  She saw her phone and grabbed it. Before turning it on she had a weird feeling that the battery was going to be dead, maybe that was the reason it stopped ringing. She closed her eyes and pressed the button, hoping that when she opened her eyes that a screen will be on. Her one eye opened, then both. The phone was working and with more battery life than she expected: at least another day’s worth. She scrolled through her missed calls and saw who it was, her boyfriend. There was even a text message:

  -Ian-

  Baby you ok? X

  She frowned and scrolled to see what time she received them. These were old messages and missed calls – only coming through now. She sighed and had a feeling that her phone was still acting weird, she tried making a call and sure enough the thing went silent. She slid it in her pocket telling herself that she wasn’t going to get angry, all her focus had to be on getting out, even if that meant walking on foot. She climbed back in the car and looked for the keys she threw away, and found them beneath the seat.

  ‘Please make my day.’ The key went in the ignition. She wasn’t going to close her eyes this time or do some silly counting, she was starting to think that it jinxed her. The key turned. Nothing happened. Same old dead sound.

  She climbed out and took a deep breath. She stretched her neck and knew what she needed to do: get anything valuable from the car and start walking.

  While trekking, she didn’t offer much thought to what happened last night. It was late night, a lot of emotions, so she probably put the cell in the boot herself, climbed in from the passenger side and forgot to close the door. That was the only logical explanation for everything, and one she believed in. She shuddered to think otherwise.

  A few birds flew overhead and landed on a tree, giving food to their young. Melissa stopped to rest her legs and observed how the birds worked together to feed the chicks. The mother stuffed worms down their throats while the father stood on the tip of the branch, overlooking what was happening and keeping guard. Looking at the birds eating reminded her of food, and thinking of food made her stomach growl. She put her hands on her stomach and felt like she had lost weight. While she stood on the road thinking about how good food will be, she heard the sound of an engine.

  Her neck whipped around. She looked both ways not knowing which way it was coming, not even sure if it was a car engine. She scanned the sky for anything and saw nothing. The sound of engine disappeared, muffled between forest. She felt her stomach drop thinking that it–

  A window glinted in the distance. Her heart raced. It was coming her way.

  She ran towards it waving her hands in the air like a lunatic, screaming like it was her last hour on earth. For a second she almost thought the car was going to drive past her but then it came to a sudden halt – soot shooting and waves of dust flying.

  She ran to the car. The door opened before she reached it.

  A man climbed out with lightning speed. His legs were as thin as his arms. His neck skin stretched. He wore several clothing layered to make himself look larger and a hat with the letter T backwards.

  ‘Man I almost drove you flat like animal skin!’ He said looking at his
car. He turned. ‘Oh.’ He adjusted his cap around. ‘So sorry ma’am I didn’t…see you.’

  She sighed with relief. ‘You don’t understand how glad I’m to see you.’

  ‘You are?’ His lips stretched apart, like he was used to smiling a lot. He kicked the ground. ‘Well it sure makes me–’

  ‘My name’s Melissa, you don’t understand I’ve been lost around here.’

  He cocked his head and chuckled. ‘Well that ain’t no surprise to me ma’am, we get folks around here gettin lost all the time.’

  ‘Thank God. Can you help me get out of here?’

  ‘Of course!’ He waved his hands towards his car. ‘Did you come alone?’

  ‘Yes I was supposed to meet my boyfriend, but I got lost.’

  ‘Oh I see.’ He went around and opened the door for her. ‘Well get in and we’ll get you out.’

  She climbed in. When he closed the door, a smell became apparent. She didn’t know what it was but the warm air inside made it stuffy and thick. A few magazines lay flat on his side. She saw him walk around the car and noticed the dangling medallion on the rear view mirror. He climbed in.

  He picked up the magazines and threw it on the floor where there was a toilet roll. He shut the door and started the car. The engine roared loud enough to make the seats hop.

  ‘So I guess you didn’t walk through them woods did you.’ He chuckled quietly.

  She didn’t know if he was joking or being serious. ‘My car should be down the road.’

  He nodded. ‘It’s a good thing I came out today. Lot people come down from those big cities thinking that the woods do them good.’ He slapped the dashboard which made her look at him. ‘Then they get lost like a cat in the rain!’ He laughed and looked at her. ‘Don’t worry, as I said, it a good thing I came out. We’ll get you home.’

  ‘Thank you, I really appreciate it.’

  ‘My name Phil by the way.’ He gave her a hand to shake. ‘What’s your name?’

  It felt like shaking a hand made out of sandpaper. ‘Melissa.’ She smiled.

  He slapped the dashboard again which a few coins fall. ‘Oh yes! You said didn’t you. You have to excuse me, I didn’t go to school.’ He looked at her and waited for her to laugh. When she didn’t he looked back in front and squeezed the steering wheel. ‘So where did you say the car was?’

  ‘Shouldn’t be long. I walked quite far.’

  He looked at her legs. And then at her window. ‘I don’t know how people do it. Walking that is.’ He kissed the palm of his hand and touched the radio. ‘This baby been taking care of me for a long time.’

  She smiled and nodded. She looked outside her window as the conversation went quiet and watched all the trees go by. She was amazed at how far she had walked, and could hear her stomach growl; reminding her of how–

  ‘How hungry are you?’ He asked.

  ‘I haven’t eaten anything–’

  ‘You serious? Tell me joking?’ He stretched his head forward and looked at the pink sky. ‘We need to get you some breakfast.’

  ‘It’s really no big deal I would rather–’

  He brushed it off. ‘Now come on, let’s not be over modest.’ He smiled and looked at her up and down. ‘Lemme take a guess I bet you’re one of those city girls.’

  Her mind kept reminding her that the sooner she was out of all this mess, the sooner she can see her family and boyfriend. The stomach on the other hand, kept reminding her of how hungry she was. Really hungry. She held her stomach as it growled. ‘I guess food will be nice.’

  The car suddenly stopped – if she didn’t have her seatbelt on she would have hit her head on the window. He turned to her excited. ‘That’s great, I’ll take us to get some food.’

  She wiped the hair from her face.

  ‘My big brother Jessie. We’re actually heading in that direction, the food is absolutely fant–’

  ‘I don’t mean to be rude…but how far and how long will it take?’

  His eye twitched up and down, he looked at her like she was some ungrateful bitch that had balls to say something like that in his car. And smiled. ‘It’s not that far, don’t worry.’

  (12)

  They took a few turns that Melissa didn’t even know existed, and drove into a driveway that had wood poles protruding as art. The house came into view.

  It was just a normal looking house, a little bigger than the average, but very normal. It was its surroundings that made it look strange. A perfectly looking family house surrounded by woodland, in the middle of nowhere. She saw a lonely toy: a rocking horse, on the grass, far away from the house.

  ‘Does your brother have any children?’

  He looked at where she was looking at and laughed. ‘Oh that, no no. That was there when we moved in a few life time’s ago. You know, you move in people leave their stuff yadayada.’

  The car stopped and they both climbed out. She still couldn’t believe that she was finally rescued, out of that forest, away from all that walking. She thought the man was a little weird, but it was a lot better than being stuck in the forest. Her plan was to fill her stomach and be gone.

  ‘Watch your step now ma’am.’ He pointed. ‘That step over there ain’t what it used to be. Damn kids just come ‘ere and terrorize.’ They walked up, he offered a hand but she said she was fine. ‘I’m going to start shooting soon, take a head off and spike it, sure gives them a sore sight to look at.’ He laughed and looked at her, then pulled a more serious face. ‘In a nice way of course.’

  She nodded.

  ‘Now before we go in. Let me just give you a quick heads up. My brother can be a little…’ He licked his lips and looked at her.

  ‘Can be?’

  ‘A little weird, you know.’ He ran his hand around his head. ‘Just don’t tell him that.’ He said with a straight face.

  The door opened. She went in first.

  ‘Jessie we home!’

  She stood in the corner and stared at the wooden staircase. Just by looking at it, she could imagine the noise it made when stepped on. She walked backwards and noticed that the carpet was so old that it left dusty footprints.

  ‘Jessie I said we home!’ He looked at her. ‘Sorry about this my damn brother prob–’

  A door opened somewhere and a voice spoke. ‘What do you mean we? What did I tell you about bringing things home?’

  Melissa couldn’t tell where the voice was coming from. She was trying to build a mental picture of his brother. His voice was a lot deeper.

  ‘I brought some company that all.’ Phil said. ‘Don’t raise your voice like that, she’s a pretty lady.’

  She gave an awkward smile.

  A man walked around the corner holding a spoon. ‘Oh hi I didn’t know we were having company.’

  ‘Her name is Melissa.’ Phil said. ‘I found her walking on the road all alone, she’s lost.’

  ‘Not another one.’ He walked over while wiping chocolate on his trousers. ‘The name is Jessie.’

  ‘Melissa, nice to meet you, listen I don’t want to cause any extra trouble but–’

  ‘Phil go clean up.’

  ‘But I don’t want a shower now.’ He said crossing his arms.

  ‘Not a shower you dummy, just wash your hands. To eat.’

  He walked up the stairs like a kid throwing a tantrum.

  ‘I hope my brother didn’t cause you any trouble.’ Jessie said.

  ‘No not at all, he was very kind to bring me over.’

  ‘I see. He can be a little strange sometimes especially around new people. He loves brining stray things home, cats, dogs, you name it. Last week he brought three baby rats.’ They walked inside the kitchen. ‘And I told him to throw it out. Guess what he did?’

  She smiled.

  ‘He put all three of ‘em in a box. Snuck it up to his room and kept it there for days.’ He pulled a chair from the table. ‘Please sit.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘So I went to clean his room and guess what
I found?’ He shook his head and chuckled. He picked up the bowl and started mixing the flower with chocolate. ‘A stinking box with three baby rats.’ He laughed and scraped the bowl harder. ‘More like three-squashed-fur-a-box if you ask me.’ He went over to the fridge. ‘So what can I get you to eat?’

  She opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

  He looked around smiling. ‘Only kidding.’

  She chuckled. ‘Funny, almost had me there.’ Her laughter faded away and she scratched her head, feeling tired, hungry, and still thinking furiously over her family and loved ones. ‘Anything, I don’t mind.’

  ‘I hope you like egg and bacon because that’s what I made.’

  ‘Sure…don’t mind.’

  Phil stormed in excited. ‘What we having Jessie?’

  ‘Christ what did I tell you about walking around naked?’

  She felt glad that her chair was facing the opposite way.

  ‘Go put on clothes now!’

  He walked off and mumbled something.

  Melissa watched him make something, and could feel an awkward silence. ‘So, what you making?’

  ‘Chocolate cake. Trying out a new recipe.’

  ‘I see.’ She said, looking around. The kitchen was small and just as dusty as the hall. Cook books lay in the corner with webs, dishes were stacked up like tall towers, the fridge made a strange humming noise, and the table cloth in front of her had holes all over. ‘You don’t seem like the cooking kind.’

  ‘Oh?’ He opened a cupboard and got out plates. ‘A lot of people say that. I take it as a compliment.’

  ‘How far are we from Ail town?’

  She could hear him laugh with lips closed. He turned. ‘Ail Town is long gone. Burned down by the fire.’

  She frowned and shook her head. ‘So there isn’t any town?’

  ‘Nope. How much egg do you want?’