by Dakota Lake
“I dunno some teenager, maybe my age or older, he said he lived near by.”
“He was lying, no one lives near by.” Seth said looking out the back window. I tried to hear if he was thinking anything but all I could hear in between him speaking was lyrics from eighties pop songs.
“Don't go strolling off on your own again okay,”
“So who do you think he was?”
“No one, he was probably just a hiker wondered a little to far from the main trails.” Yes because he really looked dressed for hiking but I didn’t say that out loud. And the fact he just told me no one would hike up this far. But he seemed agitated so I thought it best to drop the subject of the boy in the forest.
“So who does Gunner belong to?”
“A.....friend” he said after a pause.
“So why do you have him?”
“The guy lives on trailer park outside town the dog kept escaping and running off, so he thought it would be best to move the dog away encase it got hit by a car or bit someone. The cabin seemed like the best place, I owe him a few favours anyway. Don't worry, personally I think he's harmless he just likes to growl at strangers, he's a good guard dog and he loves it up here he disappears for hours in theses woods.” I nodded still checking his face for any imperfections but there were none. I spent the rest of the afternoon in my room unpacking a few things I wanted to wear. The window in my room had a seat with a cushion on, I found myself sitting gazing out trying to come up with answers to explain Seth's face but I kept coming up blank it was impossible to heal that fast. I had watched the sun go down from my window my mind constantly slipping back to the boy in the forest. I didn't even know his name. Seth knocked on the door which pulled me out of my random daydreaming.
“So I have to go out I’m meeting some friends from work at the bowling alley and I don’t really want you staying here on your own, it can get a bit lonely up here at night. I don't want to come home and find you hiding under the bed.” he joked.
“Seth I’m not a little kid any more the dark doesn’t frighten me anymore. You can leave me alone by myself. This doesn’t have anything to do with the boy I bumped into in the forest does it? I'm sure if he was planning to kidnap, torture and kill me he would of made his move back then. I’m sure I’ll be fine here. I’ll probably just watch a movie.”
My thoughts flashed back to the other figure across the river but I quickly shook those thoughts away otherwise sleeping tonight would be impossible......it was a deer......a deer shaped like a person.
“I'd still prefer it if you came with me. You might even meet some kids your own age down there, it's usually crawling with teenagers in the evenings.”
He had said teenagers hung out there. If I was lucky I might even run into the boy from the forest, probably not but it was worth a shot.
“Fine I have nothing better to do anyway.” I said hopping off the seat.
“I'll be waiting downstairs when you're ready,”
I freshened up in the bathroom retouching my eyes, I didn't know why I was making so much effort the chances of seeing him were probably slim to none. But there was something about him, dark and mysterious, I was having a hard time getting him out of my head, not that I really wanted to anyway.
I changed out of my pyjama bottoms and into my skinny black jeans, a red and black stripy vest top and an oversized black jumper, finished off with my black heel high tops. I heard a vehicle pull up outside the cabin as I made my way down the stairs which creaked under my feet as I went. I stopped at the bottom Seth wasn’t around and the lights were all off except for the light coming from the outside porch. I walked over to the front door it was slightly ajar.
I peeked through the gap, Micah was getting out of his truck. What was he doing here? He was still dressed in dark clothing it reminded me a lot like the boy I had seen earlier. Micah strolled up the steps, even the way he walked irritated me he acted so superior to everyone. I felt bad for the eavesdropping I was about to do but something was going on that these two weren’t telling me about and if it involved me I wanted to know what it was.
Micah leaned back against the railing he had an energy drink in his hand fiddling with the lid, I couldn’t see Seth he must have been sitting on the bench nearer the wall.
“Why didn’t you answer your cell?” Seth asked sounding annoyed with him.
“I've been busy. What's up?” Micah asked.
“She went for a walk earlier along the river,”
“So that’s it the big emergency she went for a walk, what did she trip and bump her knee?” “No she took the dog with her and said she bumped into some teenage boy down there.” I could see Micah from this angle his cocky expression had changed to a frown.
“What! No one walks in these woods it's too far out. So how bad is it should we expect the dog warden tomorrow or is there something I need to take care of in the woods.” he said tilting his head towards the trees.
I couldn’t believe he had just said that was he joking?
“Ha ha funny but no that's not it. See that’s what I thought no one comes up here who could it possibly be and apparently the dog seemed to like this boy they even played fetch together. So what was he doing here?”
“How should I know? I've been at the club all day.” Micah replied.
Club. What club was he talking about?
“Micah you know I want to keep her away from all this. There was no reason for him to be up here.”
“I might of mentioned you had a rough night, he probably just dropped by to check everything was all right,” Micah said taking a sip of his drink.
“Well he doesn’t need to, I’m quite capable of keeping an eye on my own sister when she’s here.” Seth sounded agitated.
“We both know that’s not true you were probably sleeping last night off until after lunch or am I wrong?”
Something nudged my leg it was Gunner trying to get past I moved back quietly and the dog opened the door wide enough for himself to fit through. If either one of them came over to the door they would see me, I moved back and hopped up a few steps then came back down them making as much noise as I could with my shoes.
“Seth,” I called.
“Out here, Rubes,” I went out onto the porch.
“Do you always dress like you're going to a funeral?” Micah asked.
I automatically looked down at myself I couldn’t help it then I glanced up at Seth who was shaking his head.
“Ignore him. You look fine.” I looked back at Micah who was also dressed in black. “You're one to talk you're wearing the same colour.” I snapped back at him.
“Yeah but the difference is I look good in this, it just makes you look really really pale” he said looking cocky.
Micah was unbelievably rude. Seth was right he didn’t know how to act normal he had no filter on what came out of his mouth.
“Now now, remember to be nice she is my little sister after all.”
Micah huffed and walked back to his truck.
“Have I done something to upset him?”
“No you haven’t. He just has a dislike for everything and everyone, he hates being here. You'll get used to him and if he gives you any lip you have my permission to smack him. Gunner inside.” Seth said locking the door behind the dog. Seth reached up and was trying to pick something from behind the light fitting on the wall I couldn’t see what though.
“Why doesn’t he move if he doesn’t like it round here?” I asked watching Micah's rear lights fade into the trees.
“Because he can't go back home. Here spare key.” he said chucking it at me I managed to catch it out the air.
I wasn’t surprised he couldn’t go back home. It probably had something to do with the way he spoke to everyone like they were dirt, his parents had probably kicked him out.
On the ride over I started mulling over everything that was happening. I glanced over at my brother his face still looked the same. I could only go on what I had seen out of the wind
ow last night. Had I really imagined it? I sat there fiddling with the thumb hole in my jumper.
Firstly Micah was a crazy person and had just hinted at burying a body in the forest. Seth trusted him, I wasn’t so sure.
Secondly Seth and Micah both knew what I could do. Micah was different somehow and that's why I couldn’t hear his thoughts but the second time I tried I succeeded and caught a glimpse of what? A memory?
I heard the both of them talking about me to confirm it. They both knew about my ability but hadn’t said anything to me about it but why?
Thirdly Seth had some strange healing power. Was that even possible? But if I could read minds and according to Micah maybe see things in peoples heads I suppose it would be classed as mental powers, did that mean Seth possibly had physical powers?
Fourthly that boy in the forest had come over to keep an eye on me....really? Had he been following me the whole time?
Seth and Micah obviously knew him, was he the same person Micah told on the cell to stay away from me, why would he say that to someone I had never met?
I looked out the window glad I hadn’t stayed behind in the cabin on my own, what if there were more strange people lurking around in the forest. The thought sent a chill up my spine and I could feel goosebumps running along my arms. I quickly turned away from the window. There were so many things I couldn’t figure out just thinking about it this much was starting to give me a headache. I glanced over at my brother he was tapping a beat on the steering wheel, he must have fixed the radio as it was now blaring out something rocky which he was enjoying. All I could hear was him singing full volume in his head he wasn’t letting anything slip, he was purposely singing to drain out any wondering thoughts I might hear.
Chapter Five
We arrived at the bowling alley outside there was a big sign that read 'Big Dave's Bowl' underneath it read 'Family Food and Fun' the parking lot was jam packed.
“So the thing is my friends are a pretty rough bunch from work and we usually sit in the bar area, they don’t let kids on that side,” he said as he pulled out his wallet picking notes out. “Here's some money for food you must be hungry there’s not much in the cabin I’ll go grocery shopping tomorrow.”
“So basically you're dropping me off in the kiddie section, while you have drinks with your friends.”
“Sorry it's just for tonight, we only hang out once a week and I didn’t like leaving you back at the cabin on your own. I promise we will hang out tomorrow.....no wait I have work.” “Seth I was joking, it's fine you don’t need to babysit me for the week. I don’t expect you to drop everything because I’m here. I know you have work and everything, I’d be happy if we just got to watch one game together okay,” I said smiling, he looked relieved I wasn’t mad at him. He tried to hand me the money. “You know I have some of my own I could use.” Seth shook his head. “Don't be stupid it's just money and I have enough to buy you dinner so take it already.” He pushed it back into my hand. I was about to get out but froze with the door half open.
“Seth did you ring mom?” I looked at him in a state of panic.
“Yeah I already spoke to her.” He chuckled hopping out the truck, I followed him. “and....” I was waiting for him to tell me how she went crazy and exploded, me leaving without telling her like that.
“Well she wasn’t too pleased about the whole thing but like I said what’s she going to do about it. She expects you back on Saturday.”
I pulled out my cell, she hadn’t even left a message me. There was nothing. I was surprised, but she was probably fuming saving it all for me when I got back...great! With everything that had been going on since I arrived I had completely forgotten about Seth ringing her. Well I was here and like Seth said there's nothing she could do about it now so I would just have to brace myself for her full fury for when I got back. But for tonight I was putting it to the back of my mind my head was already over crowded with a million other thoughts.
Inside the place was huge, I looked around taking it all in. In front was a six lane bowling alley the bar was further back and to the right there were entertainment tables for older children with arcade games and past that there was a big play area for toddlers.
“So are you going to be all right?” he asked, I nodded looking around for somewhere to sit. “I'll be over there if you want me” He motioned with his head and strolled off.
I found an empty table near one of the lanes. There was a menu on the table and a young girl came over to take my order. I decided on the double cheeseburger with chips I was staving I hadn’t eaten since breakfast and that had only been a slice of toast. I played a few games on my cell while I waited.
“Hello,” a friendly voice said.
I looked up to see a girl standing at the end of the table I hadn’t even noticed her. “Hi,” I replied.
She was tall, skinny with long dark brown hair that fell around her shoulders and down most of her back complete with thick bangs. She looked to be about the same age as me.
“Sorry if I seem nosey, it's just that we saw you sitting over here on your own and wondered if you wanted to come and sit with us or are you waiting for someone?”
She pointed at a table further down.
What are they doing now? I heard her thinking.
She was looking back at the table at the two boys. The blonde one was throwing something in the air across the table and the curly brown haired boy was trying to catch it in his mouth failing terribly. There was another girl with shorter straight brown hair with red streaks shaking her head watching the two boys messing about. They looked like fun and the girl standing next to me seemed nice.
“Sure I just ordered some food but I’m on my own.” I said sliding out.
“Cool we just ordered, I’m Caitlin by the way,”
“Ruby,”
“That’s a pretty name, come on I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
She skipped ahead of me and stopped at the end of their table waiting for me to catch up. “Everyone this is Ruby, Ruby this is Aimee......”
“No no no, Caitlin introduce us properly, here I’ll do it,” the curly haired boy interrupted “This is Aimee our school....slut” he said mouthing the last part and using his hand as a wall to shield what he was saying but Aimee obviously had a good idea that he hadn't said anything nice. “Robbie I'm warning you I will physically hurt you one day so bad you wont be able to use that filthy little mouth of yours,” she said pinching him in the arm. She then slung her arm round his neck.
“This is Robbie our school sleaze, he is completely deluded in thinking every girl loves him.” She put her hand up to her mouth to shield it from Robbie and mouthed, “They don’t.” The blonde haired boy across the table started laughing at Robbie who was giving Aimee a disgusted look shaking his head. She smiled at him, crossed her arms and leaned back in the seat. “And this is Josh.” Caitlin said.
“Hey,” I said to no one in particular.
Josh jumped up and shot round to the other side of the table next to Robbie, Caitlin slid into the empty seat and patted the spot next to her for me.
“So do you go to Heaven's Point High? I’ve never seen you there,” Caitlin asked. “No I’m just visiting my brother for the week he's over there somewhere,” I said looking in his general direction.
“FOOD!” Robbie said loud enough that the people around us turned their heads in our direction. Everyone had ordered burger and chips except Caitlin she had ordered a veggie burger. They all seemed a friendly bunch that genuinely liked me and when I heard Caitlin's thoughts this only backed that up. Caitlin's thoughts were of Aimee and how surprised she was that Aimee was being so nice to me. Apparently Aimee was known to have an attitude and a bad mouth on her and didn’t welcome newcomers. So I must be doing something right for her to like me. Robbie was a bit of a show off and his thoughts consisted mainly of girls, girls and more girls. He was rating girls on a scale from one to ten that he had seen walking past from his school. Gross!
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Aimee was definitely right about him. Josh was quieter and he only had one thing on his mind and that was Caitlin he obviously had a huge crush on her.
After we had eaten Aimee and the boys went over to the air hockey table leaving me and Caitlin chatting, she was showing me pictures of her dachshunds that she called her crazy sausage dogs when I noticed my brother strolling towards us.
“Hey I have somewhere I have to be,” he said shoving his hands in his pockets, waiting for me. It wasn’t like I had a choice when I left as he was the one with the car. So I had to go with him whether I wanted to go now or not.
Going to be late!
I was glad I was the only one who could hear him what was the rush, late to what exactly? I smiled and turned to Caitlin she did a sad pout with her lips.
“Maybe I'll see you guys again before I leave.” I said standing up.
“Wait let me give you my number,” Caitlin said.
I sat back down and pulled my cell out, Caitlin keyed in her number as Seth's cell started ringing. “Rube's are you all right to go with Micah?” he asked, cell to his ear.
“Err yeah I guess,” I replied, not that I really wanted to get in a car with Micah but if it meant staying a bit longer with my newly made friends I would just have to put up with him on the way home.
Aimee joined us again at the table along with the boys and we spent the next hour just chatting. I got to hear all about their school, the teachers and how much they were all looking forward to going back next week. It was a shame I wouldn’t be here for any of it.
“Right well we have to get going soccer practise tomorrow, up early,” Josh said grabbing his bag. “You girls coming tomorrow?”
I think everyone noticed he was mainly directing that question at Caitlin. Say yes, I heard Josh thinking.
“Yeah Josh we'll be there.” Aimee, chirped in.
I noticed Caitlin had turned a rosy pink and was trying to avoid looking at him, she was instead looking at her bracelet spinning it around her wrist.
“Ruby you should come with us,” Aimee said.
