The Rift

by Skn Hammerstone

  “Where’s the girl?” the murderer asked.

  “They’re going to kill me,” I realized.

  “Sweetheart, you need to calm down and tell me what’s going on. Where are you and who is after you?” I was running as fast as I could now as their footsteps pounded the pavement behind me.

  “Help me!” I screamed, partially to Jesse and partially to anyone who could hear me.

  “I’m right here. I’m coming Rachael,” Jesse stated.

  “It’s too late,” I realized.

  “No, it’s not. You’re going to be alright,” but he was wrong. I let out a strangled cry, stopping suddenly as the first stab of the knife entered my back.

  “Rachael?” I dropped the phone as the knife stabbed me again. The third blow knocked me to the ground.

  “Rachael!” over and over again the blade ripped its way through my flesh.

  “Dude she’s dead,” someone said behind me. “Now let’s go tell the boss that we got them.” The blade made one last wound before the people who had attacked me left.

  “Rachael!” Jesse was still on the phone but I couldn’t move to get it. I didn’t know how long I laid there before I felt someone take my hand.

  “I’m so sorry, Rachael,” Josh was breathing hard and barely able to speak. “I tried.” Then he stopped breathing all together. The sirens came not long after that.

  “You’re going to be ok Rachael,” Jesse took my other hand; “You’re safe from them now.” The part of me witnessing the memory no longer seemed to be attached to the part of me lying on the ground. I was watching the scene play from outside of my body.

  “Rachael?” Jesse asked, concern replacing the comfort in his voice. “Rachael, please answer me.” It quickly changed to panic as he turned my body over and carefully rested his hand against the side of my throat.

  “No,” he shook his head. “No, this can’t be happening. Rachael wake up! Come on, you can’t die! Wake up!” Sirens began to come closer and closer but it was too late.

  “Rachael!” Jesse gathered my body in his arms, my blood staining the sleeves of his jacket and pants as he rested me on his lap, holding me tightly against himself. “Someone help me!” An ambulance pulled up and several paramedics got out and ran towards him. “You have to help her. You can’t let her die!”

  “It’s too late, son. She’s gone,” one of them told Jesse.

  “No,” he shook his head. “I was supposed to protect her. She can’t be dead. She just can’t.”

  The scene faded away from me and I found myself in my bed. The memory had played out and I was awake now. I knew where the scars had come from, although I had no idea how it was possible for me to have survived that. Josh had died beside me after defending me from people who wanted to kill me. I couldn’t fall back asleep now that I knew why this had all happened in the first place. I got up and quickly got dressed.

  The first pair of shoes I found were combat boots with a knife strapped inside one of them. I decided to keep it there in light of the strange guy at school even if Joshua claimed he was never there. The bite marks on my shoulder proved differently. At least I thought they had. As I moved the bandage aside there was no evidence that just a few days earlier I had been bitten by anything or anyone.

  That was unnerving. Yet another thing to add to the list of things I didn’t know if they were real or not. Maybe I was insane. I quietly went down the stairs and left the house. It was around three in the morning and cold but still light because of the moon. There was a well-worn path from my front door to the woods and I had a feeling that I had gone this way a lot before the accident. Well I guess it wasn’t really an accident though.

  I went into the woods where it was slightly darker, following the path. There were hardly any noises. Just the wind and a few owls. The path led deep into the trees and to Avery’s grave. It made sense that I came here often. I sat down next to the grave, reading the stone again.

  “In loving memory of Avery Douglas Taylor. First a son and a brother. Then a US Navy Marine. Semper Fidelis.”

  I didn’t regret knowing what had happened to Avery or what had happened to Josh and I most certainly did not agree with the doctor’s idea to make me find out on my own. Everything had come into its place now. I had tried to commit suicide because Josh had died next to me. Josh had been the one to die because Avery wasn’t there as he had already died in the field in Afghanistan. I dreamed about being in Hell because I felt guilty because of both of their deaths and Joshua, represented Josh, showing me what had happened. It was over now. I had found out all that I had needed to know.

  Still, no sense of calm or accomplishment came over me like it should have. I didn’t feel any different. A rustling in the leaves beside me caught my attention but when I turned, there was nothing there. I would have decided it was the wind if there hadn’t been another sound on my other side. A sound like a low growl. I slowly moved to a crouching position and reached for the knife in my boot. I looked down, thinking it had fallen out, but there was no way that could have happened.

  It had been tightly strapped in by a buckle that was now undone. Someone had taken it right out from under me and I hadn’t even felt or seen it happen. A cold chill ran through me. No animal could have done that. I stood as footsteps came from in front of me.

  “Who’s there?” I asked. I had a terrible feeling that this was no accidental encounter. There was no response as a middle-sized man walked out of the trees in front of me. He looked up and my heart jolted. It was the same guy who had bitten me. His eyes glowed red and his teeth were bared like some kind of animal’s fangs. There were strange burn patterns across his skin that formed what looked like some kind of Greek or Hebrew words and in his hand he held my knife.

  “Looking for this?” he hissed. More people, both male and female, began to come out of the trees. All of them had the glowing eyes, the fang-like teeth, and the burns, although they each seemed to spell out something different. Several of them were making the same growling sounds that I had heard before.

  “No little protector this time, I see. Time to feed on her flesh,” he gave an evil smile. I quickly looked around as they began to approach. There was a slight opening behind me. I could make a dash for it and I might escape them. With no time for mistakes or second chances, I ran for the opening, slamming into a person I didn’t see. They fell back, attempting to latch their teeth onto me as I continued to run.

  I could hear them behind me but I couldn’t take any time to look back. I had to keep running. Even running as fast as I could, I wasn’t losing them. They continued to come, some of them getting closer to me. My lungs started to burn and my legs were growing tired but I had to keep going. I just had to get to a building where I could lock them out, whatever they were.

  They definitely weren’t human. I didn’t know what they were. All I knew was that they were dangerous. I broke free of the woods with them right behind me. I had to get far enough ahead, with my house right in front of me, to be able to open the door, get inside, and shut and lock that same door. I forced my body to go faster than it was supposed to; jumping over the few stairs and wrenching open the door. I had just enough time to get inside and slam the door shut, turning the lock.

  The second the door was locked, they began to pound on it and the surrounding walls.

  “We will get you Rachael Taylor!” I heard the leader snarl. “As soon as you are alone, we will be waiting.” I leaned against the door to keep it closed, noticing a huge gash across my leg for the first time.

  “What is going on?” my mom ran down the stairs. I didn’t answer as I clutched my shin to my chest, the blood pouring out around my hands.

  “Oh my god!” She moved over to me. “What did you do?”

  “I don’t know,” the blood began to drip onto the floor, forming a circle around me.

  “Ok, I’m calling 911.” She left to get a phone as I let my head drop back against the door again, still trying to catch my breath. But I
couldn’t truly relax knowing that something was hunting me.

  19

  They called the psychiatrist into the ER after the cops took my story. Well more like after the cops took my description. They had cleaned out the 8 inch gash but were still contemplating whether or not to use stitches or staples. I was pretty sure my Mom was still talking to the cops.

  “So explain to me what these people looked like,” he told me.

  “They had red, glowing eyes,” how many times was I going to have to give them this description? “They had fangs and burns all over their skin in strange patterns and some of them were growling.”

  “And they spoke like you and me?” he asked.

  “Their voices were guttural and strange,” I said.

  “Are you sure?” he didn’t believe me and neither did the cops or they wouldn’t have had him brought in.

  “Yes. I’m sure,” I stated.

  “Have you seen anything else that doesn’t seem normal?” he questioned, glancing at his notes.

  “Yes,” I answered hesitantly.

  “What would that be?”

  “I say a boy at school grab a desk and it started smoking,” I admitted, “and one of the people who attacked me tonight bit me at school.”

  “Do you have marks from this?” I winced, realizing just how insane I was sounding.

  “No.”

  “Rachael, sometimes out minds play tricks on us…” he began but I knew what he really meant.

  “I’m not crazy,” I interrupted him. It was probably to reassure myself more than him.

  “That’s not what I’m saying,” he changed his methods, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

  “What are you saying then?” I questioned.

  “With your recent experiences,” he started again. I wanted so badly to just leave. I wanted it all to go away. I wanted to be dead.

  “Rachael!” I turned as Jesse came into the room.

  “So sorry to interrupt but the doctor’s coming back to stitch up that interesting looking injury and he wants you out,” he explained.

  “I happen to be a doctor and I am supposed to be here,” the psychiatrist told him.

  “Hey, Doctor’s orders, not mine,” Jesse shrugged in defeat. The psychiatrist stood and walked out. Jesse made a face that I think was supposed to be an imitation of the psychiatrist. As soon as he was gone, Jesse shut the door.

  “What a weirdo,” he commented.

  “I’m guessing the doctor didn’t actually want him to leave,” It was a statement. I already knew.

  “I have no idea what doctor is even supposed to be in here,” Jesse told me. “So,” he sat down on the table next to me, “How are you on this fine spring night?”

  “Horrible,” I answered.

  “That looks absolutely awful,” he decided.

  “I know,” I agreed. He put his arm around me to bring me closer and I leaned my head against his shoulder. “Everyone thinks I’m insane.”

  “I don’t,” he said, “I think you are simply misunderstood.”

  “You are required to say that,” I wasn’t sure if it was just a tact to make me feel better or not.

  “Nope. I honestly believe it,” he said with confidence. The doctor came in then with my Mom.

  “We’re going to have to put some stitches in that. Hospital rules say that only one person is allowed in the room with you,” he said. He looked at Jesse expectantly but he was wrong.

  “I want Jesse to stay with me,” I wasn’t keen on being with my mom even if she had told me about Josh. From what Avery had said on the video, I hadn’t gotten along with my mom even before the bridge, I certainly didn’t get along with her after.

  “Are you sure?” the doctor wanted to know. I guess most people would have chosen their mom.

  “Yes,” I told him.

  “Ok,” he turned to my Mom. “Mrs. Taylor.” She gave me an irritated look before leaving the room.

  “Just relax and it might be better if you didn’t watch,” the doctor injected something in my leg and then began to arrange his tools.

  “And Jesse is it?” the doctor asked and he nodded. “If she tries to grab the needle or move, please stop her.”

  “Sure,” Jesse agreed. I doubted that he would need to. I started to relax as whatever the doctor had given me set in but as soon as he started my whole body stiffened. It hadn’t completely kicked in yet.

  “Here,” Jesse held out his hand to me and I took it. Strangely enough I immediately relaxed. I no longer felt the needle either. I knew it was because the drugs had kicked in but it felt like it was him. But that was crazy, right?

  20

  “I’m not completely sure, but with these strange things she’s seeing, the disturbing dreams, suicidal tendencies, and holes in her memory; I believe that Rachael has schizophrenia,” the psychiatrist informed Mrs. Taylor.

  “Schizophrenia?” Mrs. Taylor asked, not sure how to react, “Are you sure?”

  “I’m not completely sure. In order to ensure the best treatment, however, I recommend that she be moved temporarily to an asylum.”

  “You want to put her in a place for crazy people?” she still couldn’t quite believe it.

  “An asylum, and yes, but temporarily,” he agreed, “just until we can help her overcome this.”

  “You can’t put her in there. Give her medicine or time. She can get over this,” she pleaded. Jesse looked up from the chair he sat in, in the waiting room of the hospital.

  “If your daughter continues with this erratic and dangerous behavior, you won’t have a choice.”

  21

  “Everyone thinks there’s something wrong with me,” I said. When had this chair in a burning field of rock become so comfortable and welcoming?

  “Is there?” Joshua asked.

  “No,” I wasn’t completely sure but I was going to act like it. I mean, who saw things like I did with no proof that they existed? Apparently when the cops had investigated the scene, the only footprints there were my own.

  “No, I don’t believe there is either,” he sounded sure even if I wasn’t.

  “Are the things that I’m seeing really there?” I questioned. Joshua was beginning to become the fountain of all knowledge that I needed.

  “If you believe that they are real, then they are,” he said cryptically.

  “That doesn’t help me,” I told him.

  “It wasn’t supposed to.”

  “Then why say it?” I wanted to know.

  “Because you are so desperate to have just one person agree with you and give you the confidence to know that what you are seeing is real,” he explained. “But no one will so you go to the only being left that you can talk to, knowing that he won’t care.”

  “I didn’t come to you. You won’t let me go,” I corrected.

  “As I have every right to do. You’re my property, in case you had forgotten,” he responded.

  “Why do you have to be so cruel? If you don’t want me either kill me or let me go!” I said angrily.

  “No,” his answer was calm. “Because I do want you.”

  “Why?”

  “You don’t need to know that,” he told me. “And as far as I’m concerned, you never do.”

  22

  The gash on my leg had forced a rather painful limp into my walk but I ignored the glances of the other students as I went to my locker. So now they found me interesting. Good to know. Jesse wasn’t in the first class we had, which seemed odd to me. Even odder was the fact that Nicholas wasn’t there either. I left my first class and went to history, still wondering where both of them were and hoping that Jesse hadn’t followed through with any of his threats or he would be the one I was visiting in the hospital and not the other way around. It wasn’t him. He seemed like a normal person, but Nicholas was a lot stronger than a normal guy and that didn’t bode well for a fight between the two of them.

  I had left the photos in my history book and I glanced through them, not really
listening to what the teacher was saying. I had stopped doing that a long time ago. I expected it to be boring. What I did not expect was my phone to start loudly ringing in the middle of class.

  “Ms. Taylor,” the teacher glared at me. “Is that completely necessary?”

  “Sorry,” I took out the phone to reject the call but froze when I saw who it was from. It was Josh. The very same Josh that I had watched die.

  “Ms. Taylor,” the teacher repeated. I rejected the call and shoved the phone back in my pocket. This was impossible.

  “Thank you,” he went back to his lecture, but even if I had been listening before, I couldn’t now. Josh was dead. At least that was what I had been led to believe. Was the memory Joshua had showed me some kind of cover up? What was going on? And if Josh really wasn’t dead, how could he leave me alone when I had tried to kill myself? The phone buzzed several minutes later to inform me of a voicemail.

  Why hadn’t it been able to buzz when he called? As soon as the bell rang I left the class and began to listen to the message. Any message from a dead man must be worth listening to.

  “Rachael?” it was Josh and he sounded worried and panicked. “Voice mail? Really? You are in a great deal of danger right now!” he sounded like he was moving as he talked. “You need to watch everything and everyone. If you’re not with Jesse: find him! Whatever you do, don’t go anywhere alone. Good God Rachael, do you have any idea what the hell you have gotten yourself into this time?”

  “What did you think you were doing?” What was he talking about? I had no idea what I had gotten myself into in response to his question. “I don’t even know what to do to help you. I’m…”

  “Hello Joshua,” I knew that voice.

  “Back off!” Josh ordered.

  “I don’t think we are going to do that,” he told him. It was definitely the creature that had attacked me twice now. “I thought we had disposed of you a long time ago.”

  “Tell Rachael we’re coming for her right after we’re done with you.”

  “Not going to happen,” there was some growling then and human cries before the message ended. It had only been 20 minutes since the message had been left but I had no idea where they were. They could be coming for me right now. The phone rang as soon as the message ended and I quickly answered it without looking to see who it was.