The Girl and the Grove

by Eric Smith

  Leila exhaled.

  “Let’s go.”

  THREAD: PROVIDING ENDANGERED ANIMAL EVIDENCE (HELP?)

  SUBFORUM: PHILADELPHIA

  PROVIDING ENDANGERED ANIMAL EVIDENCE (HELP?)

  Posted by A Dash of Paprika

  AUGUST 27th, 2017 | 5:02PM

  Hey all! One of the key things we need to do in the next few days is dig up some evidence that endangered animals exist around the mansion, the gardens, and the grove. WithouttheY and I are looking for a mouse, because that’s the hardest animal to find.

  Anyone have any tips? Toothless suggested building a live trap. It’s a Southeastern Pennsylvania, field mouse, if that helps. We have evidence that they live in the park, but a live one will really help us prove our point, it seems.

  RE: PROVIDING ENDANGERED ANIMAL EVIDENCE (HELP?)

  Posted by Dr. Cordova

  AUGUST 27th, 2017 | 6:09PM

  Hey, Paprika. I have a Google Alert set up for that mouse, as my life is very exciting, and a friend in University City mentioned seeing evidence of one come through her vet office, but I couldn’t get a comment on it from anyone. I’m sending you a DM.

  RE: PROVIDING ENDANGERED ANIMAL EVIDENCE (HELP?)

  Posted by A Dash of Paprika

  AUGUST 27th, 2017 | 6:17PM

  OH MY GOD WHAT REALLY. I’LL MESSAGE YOU NOW! THANK YOU!

  RE: PROVIDING ENDANGERED ANIMAL EVIDENCE (HELP?)

  Posted by JessicaLa99

  AUGUST 27th, 2017 | 7:00PM

  Enjoy your shitty building and old-ass trees while you can. Tick tock.

  RE: PROVIDING ENDANGERED ANIMAL EVIDENCE (HELP?)

  Posted by A Dash of Paprika

  AUGUST 27th, 2017 | 7:15PM

  You know what, I’m not even going to ban you this time. I’ve sent you a photo of a dumpster on fire. That’s you. You’re a dumpster fire of a person.

  ECO-ACTIVISTS MESSAGE BOARD: PERSONAL MESSAGES [USER: WITHOUTTHEY]

  FROM

  SUBJECT

  DATE

  DR. CORDOVA

  ABOUT THAT MOUSEHi Paprika, hi WithouttheY,

  When you started sounding off about the possible endangered mouse in the region, I picked up on it right away.

  My team of conservationists and I at the Academy of Natural Sciences have been monitoring the endangered and at-risk animals in the park for some time now, and anything posing a risk to areas that they call home is of course the subject of immediate concern.

  What evidence do you have that the mice are in the park?

  8/27

  WITHOUTTHEY

  RE: ABOUT THAT MOUSE

  Hi Dr. Cordova!

  We’re so happy to hear from you but, well, the evidence we have is a dead mouse, unfortunately.

  8/27

  A DASH OF PAPRIKA

  RE: ABOUT THAT MOUSE

  Our friend’s owl ate it and threw it up, and there was poison on it.

  8/27

  DR. CORDOVA

  RE: ABOUT THAT MOUSE

  I’m less weirded out about the owl and the friend who owns one, than I am about the poison. You’re sure?

  8/27

  WITHOUTTHEY

  RE: ABOUT THAT MOUSE

  Positive. It almost killed his owl. He’ll pull through. The owl. The friend, too.

  8/27

  DR. CORDOVA

  RE: ABOUT THAT MOUSE

  That’s good, on all accounts. The poison though, that’s worrisome, especially in that area. There shouldn’t be any poison anywhere near those grounds.

  We want to see whatever is left of that mouse, and if you find anything in the woods over the next day like you’re planning, swing by immediately. I’ll get a team ready to come out to investigate and see if we can halt the construction over the next few days. You can drop off the remains tonight; I’m staying here late, if you’re available.

  It’s the Thomas Mansion area, yes? Just confirming.

  8/27

  WITHOUTTHEY

  RE: ABOUT THAT MOUSE

  This is amazing news, thank you Dr. Cordova!

  And yes, the Thomas Mansion. There’s a garden in the back, and through that, you’ll find the path to the big grove with the old trees.

  8/27

  A DASH OF PAPRIKA

  RE: ABOUT THAT MOUSE

  Yes, thank you! Just echoing what WithouttheY said. Happy to have you on our team. We’ll be right over.

  8/27

  XXIII

  “Long day,” Landon said as his truck slowed down in front of Leila’s house, the little blue dot on his smartphone’s GPS stopping as they did. The truck still had the faint smell of decomposing, partially digested mouse, from when Sarika accidentally opened the container after hitting a bump on the drive to the museum.

  “Are we really reduced to small talk already?” Leila asked, grinning.

  “Ah, geez,” Landon mumbled, running his hand over the back of his head. He turned the key in the ignition, and his truck’s rumbling faded into the warm evening. “I’m just not the best at this, okay?” He smiled awkwardly and shrugged.

  He reached over and put his hand on hers. She flinched, closing her hand, and then put it back, grabbing his. She felt a momentary push against what she wanted to do, a tension rising in her chest, and willed it to go away. Then she leaned over the middle of the car and kissed him on the cheek, his stubble scratching against her face.

  She sat back, unbuckled her seatbelt, and pulled out her phone.

  “Damn.”

  “Is it bad?”

  “It’s five-missed-calls bad.”

  “Oof.” Landon opened his door, hopped out of the truck, and walked around the front. He looked at Leila through the large window, gave her a wink, and then opened the passenger-side door. “Well, after you.”

  “What?” Leila asked, looking at him incredulously. “What are you doing?”

  “Um, walking you to the door?” He shrugged and held out a hand.

  Leila blushed and took it. Her hand felt small in his large, rough grip. She hopped out of the truck, stumbled a little on something in the road, and landed pressed up against Landon with her hands on his chest. She looked up and caught him smiling down at her, his teeth bright white, his eyes playful. Her feet shifted, and the noise of something crunching caused her to look down.

  Leaves were scattered everywhere, deep enough to hide her feet, twigs and small branches all around her. She looked down the street and gasped.

  “Now that is bad,” Landon said, his tone soft and afraid.

  All the trees along the usually green street that Liz and Jon lived on were completely bare. The trees reached towards the sky, their empty branches like skeletons, empty of anything. The streets were full of leaves, all brown or faded yellow, crumbling away.

  “Everything is dying,” Leila said.

  “Not everything,” Landon said firmly. He turned to her and put his arms on her shoulders. “We’ve got time. We can fix this.”

  Leila exhaled and grabbed Landon’s hand, pulling him along, tugging him toward the house.

  “Hey, wait. I’m supposed to walk you to the front door,” Landon said, pulling back a little.

  “Maybe I’m taking you to meet the . . .” Leila stopped, searchi
ng. “Meet the parents.” She shook her head, it still felt weird, but not as weird as it’d been. “Jon and Liz. I told Jon about you. Maybe if they see you I won’t be in five-missed-calls-trouble, and will only be in late-because-you-met-a-nice-boy-that-wants-to-save-the-Earth trouble.”

  She was walking up the small front steps on the stoop that led into the old brownstone when Landon stopped walking.

  “Landon, what—”

  She turned around, and now, standing on the step, she was almost looking at Landon face-to-face. He smiled, lowering his head a little, and looked up at her with his deep-brown eyes. He bit his lip before he spoke.

  “It’s nice to see you,” he grinned. “You know, up here.”

  “Shut up,” Leila laughed, pushing him a little.

  And then his arm reached out, and his hand found the back of her neck, his fingers slipping through her thick, black curls. She gasped, fighting the urge to stiffen up, to push away, and he quickly let go and stepped back.

  “I’m . . . I’m sorry,” Landon said, his eyes wide. “I just thought, you know, the moment felt right, and—”

  Leila jumped off the stoop and grabbed Landon’s jacket, pulling him back towards the stairs.

  “Wha—” he started, as Leila stepped back up on the step. Now face-to-face again, she pulled him towards her, tugging on the thick leather of his jacket. Her mouth found his, and he kissed her back, his hand finding its way to her neck again, his fingers inching their way up through her hair.

  Landon gasped, pulling away from the kiss, and stumbled back once more.

  “What?” Leila asked, stepping off the stoop. “It’s okay, I’m sorry, I—”

  Landon held up his hand, his eyes wide.

  In the fading dusk, Leila saw a large patch of hair in his hands.

  Black, wild, full of curls.

  Leila moved her hand up along the back of her head. Where she normally had hair, she now felt a missing patch, the hair gone and her skin smooth. A few odd splotches of hair remained, like someone had shaved her head with a dull blade. She ran her fingers toward the top of her head, and when she pulled away, a hefty part of her hair came with it.

  “Leila?” Landon ventured, taking a step forward.

  She screamed, the hair tumbling from her hands, as Landon reached the stairs. The lights in her home lit up and the front door quickly swung back.

  “Wh-what’s happening to me?” Leila screamed, looking at Landon frantically. Landon looked up, his eyes connecting with someone in back of her, and before she could turn to see who it was, Jon bounded down the stairs.

  “Get off of her!” Jon shouted, shoving Landon, who stumbled and fell back on the sidewalk leading to the house.

  “Jon! No!” Leila shouted, her sobs still stuck in her throat.

  “Leila, get inside!” Lisabeth’s voice exclaimed. Her hands appeared suddenly on Leila’s shoulders, tugging her inside the home.

  Landon got to his feet and held out his hand, his palms up. He stepped back, clearly trying to calm Jon down. Leila could see the thin, white scars on his palms, the puffy lines along his forearms, as his jacket shifted up.

  “Who are you? What did you do to my daughter?” Jon shouted, taking another step toward Landon.

  “Liz, let me go! Jon!” Leila shouted, wrestling free from Lisabeth. “Jon, stop it!” She grabbed Jon’s arm, tugging back at him. “That’s Landon, that’s the guy I was talking about.”

  Jon looked at Leila, and her heart felt like it was going to stop. Instead of fury in his eyes, instead of a red-faced, rage-filled man, she saw him full of . . . terror. He looked terrified. His eyes glassed over and his mouth quivered as though he were about to cry. He softened, and threw his arms around Leila, hugging her in tightly, his face burying itself against her neck.

  “Jon, careful, I—” Leila started.

  “I’m sorry, oh God, I’m sorry, I was so worried, you hadn’t called us back today, and I . . .” he drifted off and looked up at Landon. “Oh, oh my, I don’t even know what to say right now. I’m so embarrassed. Can I hug you, too? Is that weird?”

  Landon looked over at Leila, and she urged him on with a look, nodding her head towards Jon. Landon made a face and walked over towards them, and Jon awkwardly hugged the two of them at once.

  Landon stepped away.

  “It’s okay, I’m fine,” Landon said, nodding at Jon. He walked back to Leila. “Are you okay?”

  “What happened?” Liz asked, stepping down the front steps.

  “Yes, why the screaming?” Jon pressed, moving closer to them. Leila gently pushed away from Landon, her breath quick, her heart pounding.

  “I . . . I don’t know what’s happening,” Leila said, the rush of the confrontation fading into the back of her mind, replaced with the fact that her hair had just fallen out in Landon’s hands. “One moment we were,” she looked up at Landon, who promptly stared down at his feet. “It just fell out.” She looked up at Jon, who stared at her with worry. “Oh, God.”

  She reached up and wiped long strands of hair off of Jon’s face, her curls stuck on his cheek and chin and neck from hugging her.

  “Come on, let’s get inside,” Jon, hugging Leila from the side. “Whatever it is, it’ll be okay. It’ll be—”

  Jon’s eyes went wide.

  Leila felt it.

  The odd feeling of movement on top of her head, of something not quite being rooted the way it was supposed to, like a loose tooth coming undone or an old fingernail falling off. Of something there, and then suddenly completely gone.

  With a terrible, heart-wrenching, slick sound, Leila felt the curls slide off the top of her head and fall in a pile around her feet. She took a step back and lifted a hand to her head, running her palm over the smooth surface. Bits of hair still clung here and there, but for the most part, it was utterly gone.

  Leila looked up at Jon, her heart racing, panic surging through her.

  “D-Dad?” she muttered. She lost her footing, feeling woozy, and Jon quickly grabbed her and held her up.

  “Liz!” Jon shouted, the sound of a sob in the back of his throat forced down as he yelled.

  “Hospital! Now!” Liz yelled.

  “Come on, my keys are still in the truck,” Landon said. “Plus, I’ve got some emergency lights for the roof.”

  Leila felt Jon rushing her forward, and she clumsily pressed her feet against the ground, trying to walk. Lisabeth came up behind them and wrapped an arm around her waist. Jon placed her in the passenger seat of Landon’s truck and closed the door behind her.

  “No, don’t, Dad, don’t leave,” Leila said, watching Jon move away from the window. Jon bolted back to her, and reached in, grabbing her hands.

  “We’ll be right behind you. Right behind you,” Jon said, his eyes hard and focused. Intense. He looked to Landon. “Drive safe, that’s my daughter you’ve got in there.”

  He let go of Leila’s hand, and she leaned back in the car seat and closed her eyes.

  She wondered if this was how the trees felt.

  XXIV

  “Honestly, we’ll have to do a few more tests,” the nurse said, standing at the side of Leila’s hospital bed with a clipboard in her hand. She looked a lot like the veterinarian, Dr. Saft, only with lighter hair and wrinkles along the edges of her eyes, like someone who spent a lot of time wincing at things and hearing bad news. “But we’re having a hard time finding anything really wrong that would have led to the hair loss.”

  “Kids don’t just lose a full head of hair when they are perfectly healthy,” Lisabeth said, sitting in a teal, cushioned chair next to the bed. Jon stood next to her, his arms crossed, leaning against the wall. Leila turned to Liz and noticed her red eyes and tired face. She’d clearly been there all night. “It has to be something.”

  “We’re going to run some more tests. The first bl
ood sample came back contaminated with . . .” she flipped through pages on her clipboard and shook her head. “Well, there was an error. But right now we see no reason why she can’t go home later this afternoon while we review her lab results.”

  “Home?” Lisabeth stood up so quickly the chair squeaked across the floor. “Are you fucking kidding me? Something is wrong here.”

  “Liz,” Jon said, his tone quiet and comforting. “Come on, now—”

  “Don’t,” Lisabeth said, turning to him, one finger up to shush him.

  “Listen, Mrs. Kline, we genuinely see no reason to keep her here right now. We’re going to wrap up some tests, and we can likely discharge her later in the day. It could be a late-stage advancement of what might be vitiligo, if that’s what the birthmark on her face is. Late color loss and alopecia is a possibility. Or it could be exposure to some kind of chemical. We’ll figure this all out in the lab work, but right now, the best thing for her is a lot of rest.”

  “Is there a mirror? Can one of you show me a mirror?” Leila asked, stretching. She looked around, and scowled. “Did Landon leave?”

  “He just left, darling,” Lisabeth said, fishing in her purse and handing Leila a small compact mirror.

  Leila flipped open the mirror. She gasped at her reflection. She was bald. At least, practically bald. Bits of hair still clung here and there, but they were just little wisps. The birthmark on her cheek seemed to have grown even more. It looked like it pushed up from her cheek and moved up along her scalp above her ear. Had it always been this big, just hidden under her hair?

  “Fuck,” Leila said, snapping the mirror shut, tears welling up in her eyes. “What the hell is going on?”

  “That’s what we’re trying to find out,” the nurse said. “But like I said, head home. Get some rest. And drink lots of fluids. You were terribly dehydrated when you came in.”

  “I was?” Leila asked, looking to Lisabeth, who nodded.

  “That’s why you fainted, they think,” Liz said, shrugging. Something buzzed and Liz pulled her phone out of her pocket. A smile crept over her face. She looked up at Leila, warmly, and showed the phone to Jon, who smiled.