by Weil, J. L.
He barely gave me a glance. “Who is that?” I asked softly for Chase’s ears only.
“That is a very pissed off Devin, Lexi’s dad. Shit,” he muttered under his breath.
I stiffened at his distress.
He was good looking for an old dude, with that distinguished Brad Pitt look going for him. There were traces of white in his hair and facial growth. “Where have you been?” he punctuated the words aimed at Chase.
This was not the first impression I had imagined.
“Out,” Chase responded shoulders squared, ready for a battle.
I really hoped there wasn’t going to be any bloodshed. There seemed to be some kind of internal argument here. And a little bit of an authority complex.
“Jesus Chase. What were you thinking?” He indicated at me with his fired up gaze.
“I wasn’t,” he admitted, not sounding at all sorry about it either.
“You know better, dammit. What if something happened? Did you happen to notice its dark out?”
Uh duh. It is night. What is up with these people? Where they some form of warped vampires. I mean seriously, I don’t get it.
Chase never flinched. I couldn’t say the same for me.
“I lost of track of time, but I rushed her home as soon as I realized my mistake. It’s fine. Nothing happened. She’s fine,” Chase defended.
Well not if you considered my mental state. I felt like we were being scolded, but I didn’t have the foggiest clue what we had done that was that wrong.
“That may be. But next time you won’t be so lucky. I’ve tried to warn you. Both you and Lexi. Travis is the only one who seems to get it, but he had to learn the hard way.”
Why did I get the sneaky suspicion that he was warning them about me? I seemed to be the common ground here. I kept my mouth tightly sealed regardless that I had plenty to say. Lexi’s dad terrified me. And I didn’t agree with the way he treated his nephew.
“You need to be more careful. Especially now.” Devin’s pointed gaze looked right at me.
“I know. Devin, it won’t happen again,” Chase assured.
“Damn right it won’t.”
Chase’s jaw flexed. His eyes started to do that thing again that he claimed they didn’t do. They flashed brightly in violence, lighting the darkness surrounding him like twin high beams on a car.
He stepped in front of me, putting himself between Devin and me. “You don’t want to push me right now,” he warned, his voice dropping low and dangerous.
The air around us vibrated in tension, thick enough to cut with a knife.
Devin nodded his head in some kind of understanding that was completely lost on me. I hated being the last to know what was going on. This whole conversation was freaking me out to the max, and I already had more than enough of freaking out for one day.
“Just be careful Chase.” Devin looked at me one last time and shook his head in disgrace.
With long strides, he ate up the lawn. The moment the door swung shut behind Devin I jumped down the Chase’s throat. Not with my tongue either.
“What the flying f is going on?” I asked to the shadow of his back.
He had yet to turn around and face me. I watched his shoulders move in even tempo with his breathing. Long. Deep. Breaths.
When he finally looked at me, I wished he hadn’t it. The menacing expression he wore was worse than being abandoned. The daggers aimed down at me made me shiver.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay away from us,” he warned.
“What makes you think you know what’s good for me?” God he knew how to flip my switch.
“If you value your life you will.”
“Are you threatening me?”
He shrugged. “Take it however you want.”
“You’re despicable. I never want to see you again.” I slammed the door as hard as I could in his face. Chase Winters could go to hell.
Chapter 7
The following week crawled by. There was less than a week before school started, and I was dreading it. Being the new girl sucked. At least at my old school it was easy to get lost in the crowd. At Hall High I would be an oddity. In the small school I pictured, everyone knew everyone, that’s how it was in town. Why would school be any different? Blending wouldn’t be an option.
At least I had Lexi.
Or did I?
Lexi called or texted me almost every day, she could tell something was amiss.
I felt bad for lying to her and making excuses, I just wasn’t in the mood for company. The rain we’d gotten for two days hadn’t helped. On the bright side, I got a lot of game time and that was worth its weight in gold.
Messing around on my Xbox account, I gained two new gamer friends this week from a match I played. The storm had knocked out our Internet access for the duration of the storm. So this was the first time I was able to connect back up. We’d become like old friends again much to my mom’s dismay.
It was sort of my heroine to an addict.
I went ape shit without it.
Since the rain ruined my plans of finishing the paint on my furniture, I decided to make it a top priority today. The sun was beaming through my window without a cloud in the sky. Plus I was sick of digging through a suitcase trying to find my bras and socks.
Slipping on an old t-shirt and shorts, I skipped downstairs.
My mom was sleeping and would be up soon to get ready for her shift. Clucking my tongue, I tried to remember where I had stuffed the art supplies I used to prime earlier. No simple task in a house that was still unorganized. Rummaging in the miscellaneous boxes in the laundry room, I found the one marked artsy fartsy.
Yup, that would be it.
Classy.
Gathering my paints and brushes, I opened the garage door. A stream of light lit the black musty space. After dragging each piece from the garage, a workout for my arms, I began to apply the base coat.
Not even twenty minutes into my tedious project, a shadow fell blocking my natural light. Looking up, I locked with a pair of eyes that could have been polished silver. There goes my solitude.
And my mood.
“What are you doing?” Chase asked, angling that dark head of his at the nightstand I was just about finished with.
“I’m putting the last coat on, nosey. Don’t you have someone else to bug?” I scooted the bucket I was sitting on trying to allow for more light.
“Well aren’t you a ray of sunshine,” he said examining my work.
“Should I be? I am pretty sure that last time we talked, you told me to stay away from you. Voilà. Your wish is my command.” I was feeling pretty snarky.
His brows drew together as he sized me up, probably wondering if it was my time of the month.
Guys were so hard to understand.
And guys like Chase, were impossible to understand.
I shielded the sun from my eyes and watched him. He was so tall.
His lips lifted at the corners. “I said if you knew what was good for you. It’s obvious you are one of the girls that don’t listen to reason.”
“Obviously,” I dragged out. Then I did what any girl would do.
I flicked my paintbrush at him, splattering his white t-shirt with silver metallic paint.
“You are definitely going to pay for that,” he threatened in a halfhearted attempt.
“It’s no more than you deserve,” I reasoned.
“Maybe,” he agreed astonishingly.
“Umm excuse-a-moi. Did you just admit that you might have been wrong?”
“Funny.” He examined the damage, which wasn’t as bad as it could have been. There was a tiny splat of paint marring his cheek.
I busted out laughing. It was just the most comical thing to see jerk-of-the-year with paint on his beautiful face.
“You think this is funny?” he asked.
I couldn’t even respond, I was in such hysterics. It had been so long since I laughed with such zeal. Before my dad beca
me a drunk. I clutched my stomach because it was starting to cramp.
He stood by and just watched me convulse with laughter. “Are you going insane?”
Taking in a gulp of air, I grinned widely. “Here, let me get it.” I took my finger and wiped at the spot. It only made it worse, smearing it. A giggle slipped out.
“Is it gone?” His voice was soft.
I shook my head, the ponytail swinging with my movements. “Not quite.” I licked the end of my finger and moved in closer. Then I pressed it against his cheek again, clearing the remaining paint.
“Did you just wipe your spit on me?” he asked, his grey irises twinkling, and his breath heating my face.
Shit. Not again.
My toes curled. My stomach swirled. My hormones went into overdrive.
“It’s good for the skin,” I implied.
He leaned back on the garage. “What have you been doing all week locked up in that house?”
“Xbox,” I replied, returning to my chore.
“What do you play?”
“What don’t I play is more the question.” The brush moved in long easy strides under my hand. “I’m a total gamer,” I admitted, unashamed at my geekdom.
He rolled his eyes. “God, you and Travis are made for each other. He monopolizes the TV downstairs all day with that damn war game.”
“You mean Call of Duty?” I supplied.
“Whatever,” he said completely uninterested.
It made me grin. The awkwardness that I was sure would be there the next time we saw each other was nowhere to be found.
Strange.
“I kind of pegged you for a smarty pants not a gamer,” he commented. “Did you know that the Indians named this place the valley of the spring? It is located at the only point were the high bluffs from Spring Creek are closest together.”
“What other kind of useless knowledge do you have stored up there in that hothead of yours?” I was enthralled by his voice.
He changed the subject. “Are these other two pieces done?” he asked.
“Yeah, they should be dry by now.”
“Good.” He lifted the dresser like it was paperweight.
I tried desperately not to notice the muscles straining through his shirt or be impressed.
And I failed splendidly.
Standing in front of the door, he cleared his throat.
I jumped up tearing my gaze from his chest and grabbed the handle. “Thanks,” I smiled sheepishly and confused.
One minute he was threatening me, the next he was sweet and helpful.
The second Chase went home, I felt achingly alone in this quiet house with all its creepy noises. What I needed was an activity. After being cooped up inside for most of the week, I decided to go explore the world. I had yet to leave my yard since we moved here. It was past time I learned my way around.
Changing into some old jeans and a pair of cozy tennis shoes, I headed out the back door. My legs were begging for some exercise. If I didn’t use them for some strenuous activity I wouldn’t be able to sleep again.
I refused to believe that Chase had anything to do with my restlessness.
The front of my house was all bland with wheat fields, but in the backyard it was nothing but miles of woods. Some ten-year-old boy would have a hay day back here with all these towering trees. They were perfect for climbing and tree houses, large, thick branches, yet low enough for you to climb.
I wasn’t feeling that adventurous today. My feet were staying on the ground.
The sun was still high and providing plenty of light. No need for a flashlight. I didn’t plan on being gone that long, just a swift hike around the property and back again.
Maybe I should have left a breadcrumb trail.
Dried brown leaves crunched and twigs snapped as I entered into the forest. It was so serene, as if nothing had touched it. There was a reflective quality in walking alone with nature. With each step I took farther, a piece of the unease I was feeling slipped away. Being the new girl, feeling out of my element, the emotional loss of my dad.
Then there was Chase. It all fell back to him.
Shaking him from my head, I stopped and took in my surroundings, realizing I had daydreamed for most of the walk. Typical. My sense of direction was lost somewhere between a new school and my teetering emotions.
The woods took on a gloomy aura. Believe it or not, a mist swirled over the moss and the rocky ground. Talk about mystical. Pulling my cell phone out of my pocket, I checked the clock. Time had vanished fast, which explained the fading darkness that snuck up on me.
Okay, not a big deal. I just needed to go back the way I’d come. Hastily.
Backtracking, I felt my confidence start to waver. Doubt slipped in. Maybe this wasn’t the right way, but I wasn’t about to give up. With each step I took, I became more certain that I was screwed.
And crazy lost.
No need to panic. Yet.
I had my cell phone. I would just call Lexi. Retrieving the phone again, I punched in her number.
Shit.
No service. Of course. There is never service in this God-forsaken stupid country hellhole.
Okay think, I scolded. I know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. My bedroom has a clear view of the sunrise every morning, along with a fantastic view of Chase’s bedroom.
Totally beside the point.
But it meant that the road in front of my house faced north. So if I kept the declining sun on my left, I should hit my road some time. Was walking alone in the woods safer than walking the street at night?
At this point I don’t think it mattered.
Now that I had the sun in my sights, I started walking again. My feet ached, my head hurt, and I could feel the rise of tears burning the back of my throat. This day had gone down the crapper.
And then the nightmare began. The same howl from the other night rang out in the near distance behind me, somewhere in the forest, with me.
Now it was time to panic.
I waited a beat before I took off at a dead run.
Every muscle in my body was tense with fear, making my movements clumsy. Sure I wasn’t the most graceful person, but add a good dose of terror and I am klutz.
Leaves smacked my cheeks and arms, but I didn’t notice. I was running on pure adrenaline. So it was no surprise when my feet tangled in some brush, sending me sprawling over the solid ground. My elbows skidded over rocks, wood slivers cutting into my flesh. I called out as the pain stung my eyes. Covered in dirt, leaves jumbled in my hair, I pushed myself to my feet. Blood tricked down one of my arms.
Ugh that was going to leave a few nasty bruises and scrapes. How was going to explain that to my mom?
The animal cried again, only closer this time. It wasn’t even a normal howl, and sounded more like a tortured soul.
Scrambling, I ignored the pain cutting through me with movement, and forced myself to keep running. The seconds turned to minutes as my pounding feet were accompanied by something much stealthier. Its movements graceful compared to my clumsy loud-ass feet.
Turning my head around, I scanned behind me looking for a wolf or some other kind of wild beast. Whatever it was, it was nipping at my heels, gaining ground fast.
The sun was all but gone. Nightfall submerged the forest, making it nearly impossible for me to see. I could hear the puffy and heavy breathing before it appeared in front of me. Skidding to a stop, I realized I was royally screwed.
Its red eyes pierced through the blackness, as it stalked me on all fours, circling its prey. A sob escaped my trembling lips. This was like no dog I’d ever seen. Black as spades, his sheer size alone was ungodly, disgusting foam dripped from its teeth, down its matted and scared muzzle. Maybe it was a scientific experiment gone very wrong – a rabid dog.
Whatever it was, it wasn’t friendly and only made my fear spike.
Its front paw stomped on the dirt floor.
Without warning the creature lunged in the ai
r and in perfect precision took me to the ground with it. Its heavy paws pinned my chest, razor sharp teeth barred, and it drooled something that smelled like sewage. And probably burned like acid. I didn’t want to find out.
It growled low in its throat, eyes staring at my neck. If I didn’t do something soon, it was going to gash into that exposed flesh, tearing into a vital vein.
I was going to die.
My mom’s face flashed into my mind. She was going to be devastated. I was all that she had left, and I couldn’t leave her alone. She needed me.
Its jaw snapped in my face, and there was no way I could stop the instinctual flinch. I thought for sure it was going to maul my face. Twisting my head to the side, I closed my eyes, sharp pain radiated through my shoulder as it sunk its teeth into my flesh. I screamed from the intense throbbing, like poison blazing my arm.
The blood thirsty hound-like creature was jostled from my bucking, easing some of its weight off my crushing chest. It was all I needed. This probably wasn’t the smartest plan, but it was the only one I had.
With the sting radiating down my arm, I opened my eyes. Bringing the heel of my foot up underneath it, I used all the strength I had left behind the kick that I delivered to its chest and neck. It yelped, rolling off me before crashing into the trunk of a tree. I didn’t wait to see what happened next.
Bolting to my feet, I took off again. My lungs were heaving in loud pained sobs. Even over my own breathing, I could hear the racing thump of paws behind me. That thing had recovered far too quickly, and I didn’t have a clue if there were any more of those things out there.
My body was starting to shriek at me as I stumbled. The shooting pain in my arm was blurring my vision and impairing my movements even more. I knew it wasn’t long before I wouldn’t be able to stay conscious. I’ve never fainted, so of course this would be a hell of a time to start.
As I was just about to give up, every ounce of my energy depleted, a blur of movement shot out of nowhere straight at me.
No. Not again. I shrieked inside my head. A warm hand snaked out from behind me, covering my mouth.
My eyes bulged.
“Shhhh, don’t scream,” a voice whispered, tickling my ear with his breath. Even faced with the worse kind of horror, even faced with death, I knew that voice.
