by Jane West
I stole a quick glimpse at Bane. Just as I figured, he was brooding. Over what? I might be inexperienced with boys, but there was no doubt in my mind that Bane had his mind set on kissing me. I saw it in his eyes.
Then with no explanation, his whole demeanor changed, and he'd dismissed me like I was the hired help. I was stupid to think he would've been remotely interested in me. After all, I was the girl with the rusty bike.
When we reached my house, I was so relieved. The night had finally ended. I rushed the door open the second the wheels stopped rolling and leaped from the car. I twirled about face, hurling his jacket at him. He caught it in midair and tossed it to the floorboard. When our eyes locked, the anger in his dark blues churned like a brewing storm.
Using the universal language of all time, I flipped him off with the one finger salute and slammed the door to his precious car. I was sure he understood that!
I stormed off to the house. Spotting the lights in the window, I thought Sara might be home. The house was lit up like a Christmas tree. When I reached the door, I found it unlocked. I suddenly needed my mom.
As I shut the door behind me, I heard the car peeling out. “Great! Alert the whole neighborhood why don't you!”
After an instant had passed, I realized I was alone. Sara must've been here earlier. She might've needed her clothes. Since Sara had been seeing Francis, she'd been staying at his place, wherever that might be. Sara didn't like sharing her whereabouts. If I wanted to see her, I'd have to go to the diner.
I braced myself against the door and slid to the cool floor. Drawing my knees to my chest, I let myself have a good old fashion cry. The gates opened, and I sobbed. I wanted to go back to Texas. I missed my friends, Laurie and Becky.
Then I buried my head into the folds of my arms, propped on my knees. I stayed like that for a long while, sobbing, until I heard a light knock on the door.
Confessions from the Dead
I peeled myself off the floor. It took me a minute to gather myself. I felt drained. I wiped the tears from my face with the back of my hand and slowly opened the door.
“Hey Babee, I wanted ta check—” Ms. Noel stopped in the midsentence. “Oh, Catin, ya been cryin'!” Her forehead deepened with wrinkles.
I gave a faint smile. “I'll live.” I breathed a long sigh. “Come on in.” I stepped aside. I caught sight of two grocery bags in her arms. “Ms. Noel!” A pain of guilt struck. “I hope you didn't—” She stopped me before I could finish.
“Oh hush, Chile! It's not much, just a little gumbo and cornbread. Oh, and my sweet potato pie that you love,” she said and smiled as she entered. I grabbed the two sacks from her arms and we headed to the kitchen.
“What time is it?” My brain felt cloudy.
“It's mornin'!”
“Morning?” I peeked out the window. “It's not daylight!”
“Oh,” she waved her hand in the air like she was swatting flies. “I get up before those darn roosters.” Ms. Noel smiled. “I figured ya is awake since ya lights were on.”
“Oh, I hadn't made it to bed, to be honest.” I stretched. “I'll fix some coffee.” I must've dose off.
“Good lord, have mercy! Why on earth have you not gone to bed, Chile?”
I shrugged. “I had a bad night and—” My voice cracked. I didn't want to talk about it. I just didn't have it in me.
“You'll be fine, Babee after you get some rest.” Ms. Noel's face brightened with a broad smile. “Let me help fix the coffee.”
“It's okay. I don't mind. You feed me all the time. The least I can do is fix coffee.” I smiled, reaching for the cabinet, getting the coffee down.
Since moving here to Tangi, I felt blessed to have Ms. Noel. Although, I missed my friends in Texas, my friendship with Ms. Noel had made life here bearable.
After we had settled down at the table with coffee and a large dish of homemade pie, Ms. Noel asked, “What's troubling ya, Chile?” She smiled, but I could see that her pleasant display only masked her weariness.
“I had a misunderstanding with a couple of frenemies.” I eased out a torn sigh. “It was my bad. I should've known better.” I shrugged, staring at the curls of steam rising from my coffee.
“Was that the boy who dropped you off?”
I inhaled and exhaled. “Yes, ma'am, he drives a Corvette.”
“You know him from school too?”
“Kinda, I guess. He's hard to figure out. He has more personalities than Sybil.”
Ms. Noel leaned back in her chair and sighed. “Babee, ya gotta be careful who ta trust.”
I caught something there, a hidden meaning. “Hmm… do you know this boy?”
Ms. Noel reached over, sliced a piece of pie and placed it into one of the small plates, then slid it over to me. She laid the knife down and answered, “Fannie has been talkin'.”
I leaned in. “Why do I get a sneaky feeling there's something you're not telling me?”
Her lips thinned. “Fannie says ya were goin' to meet a dark haired boy, blued eyed. She senses a darkness lurking amidst him.”
Suddenly I felt a tingle on the back of my neck. “What kind of darkness?”
Ms. Noel shook her head. “I can't be for sure, but nothin' good comes from the dark.”
I twisted my lips into a frown. “Fannie needn't worry. I won't be seeing him anymore.” Somehow, no matter how much I wanted to believe myself, my heart had different plans in store.
“Catin, ya like this boy?”
I lifted my shoulder into a short shrug, hiding behind my lashes. “I don't know, maybe.”
She reached across and patted my hand. “Don't worry, Babee. Ya feel better after ya get some sleep.”
My brows puckered. “Can I ask you something?”
Her eyes lit up “Sure!”
“At the fair, when I'd trailed off on my own, there was an older man dressed in a black suit, wearing shades.” I swallowed, trying to calm myself. “I think he was following me.”
“Why do ya think that?”
“I first spotted him standing alone, staring at me,” chills rushed over me as I recalled what happened, “But it was not until I started walking that I realized he was tailing me.”
“Oh, my heavens! How did ya get rid of him?”
“That's when the blue-eyed boy in the Corvette showed up. I think he might've saved my life.” I chewed my bottom lip as I realized just how much trouble I could've been in if Bane hadn't shown up.
“My goodness, Chile! I think so too.” She clenched her chest.
I paused, “Do you know anyone fitting this man's description?”
“No, but I have a sneaky feeling ya mom'n'em knows more than she's tellin'.”
“My mom has no connections to his man. How would she know?” I rubbed my temples, feeling a throbbing headache coming.
“Your mom'n'em has a heavy spirit circling her. She's a keeper of secrets.”
“What do you think she's hiding?”
Ms. Noel's brows pulled down into a frown. “I can't say for sure, but I know ya mom'n'em is full of untold truths.”
“I'd rather keep this between us for now.” My gut twisted. Sara had a white washed grave full of ugly secrets. “Is there anything you can do? Like read my palm or look into your crystal ball?”
“Sometimes we have ta catch when catch can!”
I wrinkled my nose, not understanding. “What do you mean?” Ms. Noel had a wealth of odd idioms.
“Chile, we need ta find out who this snake is while it's fresh.” She drew in a deep breath. “Do ya have a white candle?”
“Hmm, wait! Sara has one in her bedroom. She won't even notice it's gone. Like, she's ever home, anyway.” I jumped from my chair and darted upstairs.
Only a handful of seconds and I made it back with a white candle in hand. I placed it on the table and grabbed matches from the drawer next to the stove. I held the small box up and asked, “Shall I light the candle?” I smiled.
“Yes, since this man i
s locked ta ya, ya need to light it. First, let's clear the table and dim the lights. Spirits gravitate ta the light much like bugs ta a light bulb at night.”
“Okay, you know best.” After I had cleared the table, I flipped off the light switch. All of a sudden, blackness doused us. Only a soft stream of moonlight filtered through the window, giving a silver sheen to Ms. Noel's face.
I took my seat across from Ms. Noel and exhaled to ease my pounding heart.
“Catin, are ya sure ya want ta do this?”
There was a deep sense of shame that stirred within me from the last time we sat at a table and I needed to make amends. “I know I didn't handle myself very well last time.” I flushed miserably. “I'm sorry for the way I behaved. I was frightened, but I'm stronger now.”
Ms. Noel smiled. “Chile, it's all forgiven.” She took my hand and squeezed it. “This is different! The door we're knockin' on will come from a dark place. Make sure this is what ya want. There's no goin' back, Catin.”
I swallowed and blew out a puff of breath. I didn't even begin to understand the magick world of spooks and bad juju. Keeping that in mind, I believed the only way to put this to rest was to find the answer. That meant I needed to find out who the man in black was, and why he was stalking me and I couldn't feel any safer than having Ms. Noel's guidance. “I'm prepared.” I nodded, giving her the go-ahead.
“Okay, let's place the candle in the center of the table and light it, Catin.
I took out a match from the box. My fingers were fumbling. I had to strike the box a couple of times before the matchstick struck. Soon the candle came to life, casting shadows on the walls.
“Now let's gather hands, leaving the white candle in the center of the table. Whatever happens, do not break contact.”
“I won't let go. I promise.” I could barely hear myself think from my pounding heart. I wouldn't lie; messing with the supernatural frightened me.
“All right,” Ms. Noel smiled. “Let's get started. Close ya eyes and clear ya head. Picture this man in ya mind just like ya were back at the festival. Lock ya mind on that image and freeze-frame it.”
“Okay.” I followed Ms. Noel's directions.
After several minutes, Ms. Noel asked. “What are ya seein', Catin?”
I began to shake as the fearful image built in my mind. “I see him. He's standing by the lemonade stand. Again, I sensed he wasn't human.”
“Open ya knowing eyes, ya internal eyes, Catin. Look for clues,” Ms. Noel nudged.
“I'll try.” I sat back, breathing in and out, allowing the quiet to take over my mind. A few moments passed as the clutter cleared and my focus became more apparent.
With each breath, I kept sinking deeper and deeper into the bowels of my mind. It was like a roller coaster traveling through an electric tunnel, spiraling down at torque speed.
It was as if the sky had dropped me. I was there at the fair, standing. I could feel the dirt under my feet. The smell of corn dogs and cotton candy drifted in the air. A light breeze tousled my hair, roaring laughter, girls screaming over the blaring music, neon lights blanketing the grounds as it all flooded my senses.
Then my eyes landed on him. I stalled, staring at the man in black. Like a magnet pulling me, I edged closer. Now only a few feet from him, I paused, studying his features.
The stranger turned to me. At first, he moved his lip, similar to a dream. I strained to hear him. I stepped closer as I came into earshot.
Unexpectedly, his words vibrated inside my head.
“Hello, Dream Angel, I am coming for you.”
He reached up and removed his dark shades. Immediately, I gasped and the vision shattered.
I jolted back in my chair. Fear bulleted through me. I lifted my eyes to Ms. Noel, breathless. “I saw him—and his eyes!”
“What did ya see?” Ms. Noel mirrored my fear.
I shivered as a sense of eyes watching brushed over me. “He's not human!”
Ms. Noel's eyes rounded. “Why do ya say that, Catin?”
“He pulled his shades off and revealed his eyes to me.” I shook my head in disbelief. “His eyes were unnatural!”
“What did you see?”
“Besides the part that the color of his eyes was yellow, his pupils were like a feline's, vertical, like a cat.”
“Lord have mercy!” Ms. Noel's eyes darted to the candle and then back to my face. “Did he say anything?”
“Yes! He called me Dream Angel.” A tense silence enveloped the kitchen. Then I just said it aloud, “And he's coming for me!”
Ms. Noel's breath drew in a harsh intake. “Let's not jump to conclusions just yet.” She paused. “Did he say anything else?”
“No. That was it.” Fear gnawed at my insides. “Do you think this man is the one my father tried to warn me about?” I bit my bottom lip, trying to prevent a full-blown panic.
“I can't be certain. I'll speak with Fannie. She may have heard something from the other side about this stranger.”
“Please talk to her! None of this makes any sense to me.” I couldn't take another minute in the dark.
The candle was flickering low. I jumped from my chair and jerked on the chain from the ceiling. The small bulb from the ceiling shed its generous light over us.
I felt edgy. I needed to busy myself. I grabbed up the pie and wrapped it up in saran wrap. Then I snatched up the pot of coffee and poured Ms. Noel and myself another cup. Even still, it didn't knock the chill off my shoulders.
“I'll try to find out if Fannie has heard anything.” Ms. Noel kept talking.
I handed Ms. Noel's cup to her and seated myself back down at the table. “I appreciate your help.” I took a slow sip. The coffee was a bit stale but as crazy as it sounded, it seemed to sooth me.
“Don't fret none, we gonna get ta the bottom of this.” Ms. Noel smiled, attempting to ease my mind.
I was thankful I had Ms. Noel. If I'd gone to Sara, she would've laughed at me and told me to take two aspirins and call a shrink.
Ms. Noel was a loyal friend, and she'd do everything in her power to help me. Even still, my stomach churned in a cold knot. I had an eerie feeling this wouldn't be the last that I'd hear from the man in black. I suddenly shivered.
My Life Sucks
Since it was still before daylight and I was off work today, I climbed into my bed and fell asleep.
When my eyes popped opened, my memories of the early morning with Ms. Noel came barreling through my mind. I rolled over and looked at the clock. “Damn!” Straight up noon, I flopped back, staring at the stark white ceiling. I tugged a pillow over my face hoping to clear my brain. Regardless, I couldn't get the MIB, the man in black, out of my head.
I stilled a moment, listening. The house was too quiet. I blew out a sigh and thought of Dad. I leaned over and pulled out a picture that I'd kept hidden in my nightstand. It was the only one left. Sara had destroyed all the others. I sat up, drawing my knees to my chest. I cradled the picture in my hands. I was eight and happy back then. My world filled with cartoons and ice cream, life was good then. My thumb brushed across my dad's face. A sudden tear fell from my cheek.
I remembered the day we took this picture. Dad and I were posing in front of the local drugstore. The sales clerk took the picture for us. The store kept an old fashion soda fountain in the back. Dad ordered Black Walnut and a Bubble Gum Jubilee for me. I got that flavor every time.
It wasn't long after this picture was taken that dad had died. He was jogging on a back road near our farm in Oklahoma. The road was practically useless for travel unless you were a farmer driving a tractor. The passage had seen its better days back when horse and buggy were the means of travel. Considering all the potholes and erosion after years gone by, most traffic took the highway.
In the police report, it stated that Dad was jogging on the path when he was killed by a hit and run driver. I didn't doubt their findings. What I doubted was that the old thoroughfare was too narrow for modern vehicles to pass thro
ugh. I couldn't tell you how many times I'd looked at the pictures the police had taken of the crime scene. Despite everything, I kept coming back to the same conclusion, it was an impossible feat.
I let out a despairing sigh. I took one more glance at my dad's picture and quickly stashed it away in my hiding spot.
I decided to get dressed and take an adventure. Since the only means of transportation was my bike, I wouldn't be going too far. It didn't matter. At least I'd be out of the house taking in the fresh air and sunshine. I'd grab my journal. Maybe do some writing, you know, dear diary stuff!
Before I knew it, I was whizzing away on my bike heading to where ever. I stopped off at Ms. Noel's to let her know I was all right, no need to worry her any further.
I headed downtown. I'd forgotten that shops didn't open on Sunday. The only place that seemed to have life was Mudbug Café. I thought later I'd drop by and grab a bite to eat and see how Sara was doing.
I needed to talk to her about rent. I managed to put back most of my checks knowing rent was right around the corner. Since I didn't know the landlord's name or a contact number, my hands were tied. Knowing Sara's track record, neglecting bills, and the little fact that she hadn't been home in weeks made me more than a little leery.
I didn't want to go too far. I had my fill of the woods after last night. There was a park just past the grocery store on the outskirts of town. I thought I'd go there and lay out on a blanket, soaking up the sun's rays and write in my journal.
Before I knew it, I'd reached my designation and had my blanket spread out over the bristled grass. I stretched across, flat on my tummy, feet up, ankles crossed with my notebook and a pen in hand.
The park was completely empty. I delighted in the idea of having it to myself. I opened to my last page where I'd left off over a week ago. I was behind with my daily logs.
I stared at the blank page, undecided on what to write. My mind drifted to Aidan Bane. He was beautiful, I'll give him that, but there was much more to him than what met the eye. Bane was a mystery of a man and a vault full of secrets.
What should I write? I tapped the pen to my lips.
