Masquerade

by Cambria Hebert

  “I’m supposed to go out with Sam this weekend. If I don’t go to Bible study tonight, Mom will never let me go out with him.”

  “Does she know about him yet?”

  “Uh, no.”

  “After school tomorrow?”

  “Thanks, Kimber.”

  “Don’t thank me! I cannot wait to see you in something besides a baggy sweatshirt!”

  I gave up on my meager wardrobe and flopped down on my bed. My cell chirped, and I grabbed it, opening the text. It was from Sam. Miss U.

  Miss U 2.

  C U n the AM B4 class?

  Can’t wait.

  “Heven! Time to go!” Mom called up the stairs.

  Have a gd nite. I quickly wrote then stuffed the phone in my pocket and left my room.

  I thrilled my mother by offering my help to Mrs. Bennet, the preschool Bible class teacher, who accepted right away. And, just my luck, they were having a special activity that night after classes, and she asked me to stay. The way my mother was smiling I figured it would go a long way to getting me out of the house with Sam this weekend.

  It was well after nine by the time we had everything cleaned up from the kids, and I was exhausted. I just wanted to go home and crawl into bed. The sooner I went to bed the sooner I would see Sam. We hadn’t been together long, but I couldn’t imagine my days without him. Just the few hours we’d been apart I missed him.

  The last thing to do before Mrs. Bennet drove me home was to take out the trash. I gathered the surprisingly full bag and hefted it out of the can. Outside, night had fallen and taken all the warmth in the air with it. I shivered as I hurried around the side of the church toward the dumpster. When I was almost there I heard a noise behind me. I looked over my shoulder but I was alone. After a few more steps I felt certain that someone or something was there.

  Watching.

  Waiting.

  It was just like that night. A sob caught in my throat but I swallowed it. Think! Last time I ran and I was pursued. So this time…

  I dropped the bag of trash abruptly and pivoted, walking back the way I came. Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement but nothing solid. “Who’s there?” I called, sounding braver than I felt.

  A low growl came out of the night.

  A whimper escaped me as I scanned the area. I was going to be attacked again. If that happened I wouldn’t survive. I glanced at the door to the church. I could do this. I sprang forward running as fast as I could toward the door, but something leapt in front of me blocking my way. I skidded to a stop, and it prowled closer. It was so dark I couldn’t tell what it was, but I knew that it was an animal, possibly a rabid dog. It was huge; its hulking shape was terrifying in the dark. It was a dark color – most likely black – because it blended in so well with the night. It peeled back its lips and pure white flashed in the night. I stifled a whimper when I took in the size of its fangs. It made sounds that I only heard on Animal Planet and the hairs on my arms stood up. Slowly, I backed away, but it followed.

  “Nice doggie.” I said, trying to get the animal to realize I wasn’t a threat and run away.

  It lunged. I squealed and took off toward the dumpster, jumping onto the ladder built on the side. I scrambled up as the animal snapped at my heels. Without looking back I jumped into the piles of trash and froze, trying to make as little noise as possible. A loud bang sent the metal of the dumpster vibrating around me. Again and again the animal barged into the side of the container. Was it trying to leap in after me? The inhuman sounds that keened through the night were somewhere between a growl and a scream. Agonizing fear rolled through me and I slapped my hands over my ears as tears rolled down my cheeks. Why was this happening? The metal of the dumpster was humming from the force of the hits; I was sure I would feel the force in my bones tomorrow. That is, if I lived until tomorrow.

  Suddenly, everything went quiet. I prayed the animal had given up and gone away.

  I couldn’t bring myself to climb out and see. I was paralyzed with fear and terrified of getting attacked. Slowly, I lowered my hands away from my ears and swiped at my tears. It was still there. I could hear it standing on the other side of the dumpster breathing. What was it doing? Why had it stopped? From nearby another sound cut through the dark. A long, lingering howl followed by a snarl that set me to shaking all over again. The animal just outside the dumpster made an answering sound – almost like a challenge; then it slammed itself into the side of the metal again, and I screamed. My scream set off another angry snarl, and I heard whatever else was out there race forward. The sound of bodies slamming together and gnashing teeth terrified me all over again, and I tried to sink even further into the filth that filled the container. Garbage was preferable to the beast that lingered outside. And what was even worse?

  Now there seemed to be two of them.

  Sam

  The interior of the truck smelled like her. For me it was a scent that once tasted, I would never forget and something I would always seek out. Until I laid eyes on her I never thought feelings like this were real. Before her my life was a barren landscape. A world in black and white. Even as a child nothing seemed as vivid as it does now.

  The first time I saw her had been an accident. I was racing through the woods, attempting to run away from what I am, from the life I lived. Before I even heard her, I caught her scent and I was lost. I stopped running and turned, seeking out what called to me. When I found her my life changed.

  She was riding a horse, the animal was large and powerful looking, but it was she who commanded the attention. She was sitting in the saddle full of confidence and grace. Her light blond hair floated out around her and flirted with the breeze. It had been late summer and her skin was kissed by the sun; she was wearing a top that bared her shoulders and arms.

  As I watched, the horse seemed to sense my presence and dance beneath the canopy of green the trees provided. In fluid, calm movements she leaned forward and spoke stroking her hand along the horse’s neck.

  “Settle, Jasper. We’re safe.”

  Envy speared through me. I wanted to be that horse. I wanted her to stroke me the way she did it. The intensity of my reaction scared me, and I wanted to flee.

  Yet I was rooted where I stood.

  I felt as though an invisible tether reached out of me and went directly to her. It tugged at me as I stood there, begging me to close the distance, for just one chance to see her smile.

  Of course, I denied myself the urge. She was too good for me. My parents made it clear that I wasn’t good enough for anyone. Besides, what a shame it would be to taint such beauty with such a beast. Instead I settled on watching her from afar. I haunted the woods like a ghost just praying to catch a glimpse of her. Then, it wasn’t enough and the fleeting glances that I caught became teasing and taunting. I wanted more.

  So I followed her.

  I stalked her.

  I let her presence fill up every hole inside me. And that first time I saw her smile I knew that I loved her. Unfortunately, my love ruined her life.

  Beneath the hood of the truck, a strange noise grinded and pulled me from my memory. I glanced down at the gauges and realized that I had been going over seventy miles an hour. Way too fast for this old truck. If I wanted it to last then I couldn’t drive it the way I wanted to drive. And since I didn’t have any money to buy something new, I needed it to last. With a regretful glance at the speedometer I let off the gas.

  I felt edgy tonight. I counted the minutes until my shift was over at work so I could get here and reassure myself that she was okay. She had no idea of the danger that she was in. She had no idea what kind of monster was obsessed with her. But I did.

  Because I was a monster too.

  The only difference is that I don’t want to hurt her. And because of that I am in this situation. I’m trapped. I’m caught in a web of lies so thick that I might never get out. If I told Heven the truth she would push me away, she would hate me for life. I could accept her hatred, but not h
er absence.

  I’m the only thing standing between her and death.

  As I got closer to the church my heart began to hammer in my chest. Uncomfortable, I rolled down the window and let the air rush in. Something wasn’t right. I slammed my foot down on the gas, ignoring the groaning of the engine and prayed I wouldn’t be too late.

  I heard a cry and then a snarl and my skin started to burn. Had. To. Get. Out.

  The front of the church came into view, and I swerved to the curb and leapt out of the truck. I tossed aside my shirt and pants as I went and broke into a run. I could hear her crying and I could hear loud banging and growling. At least she was still alive. I wasn’t too late. I rounded the corner, resisting the pain in my joints and the fire in my veins.

  The monster was toying with her, knowing that I would be here, knowing that I would see. As if on cue our eyes met. The challenge was there. Anger ripped through me and I let it out, the sounds burning my throat. My cry was met with another, and I raced forward.

  We met head on, slamming into one another. The giant beast towered over me, but I held myself in check, even though it hurt and even though my limbs shook with need.

  I slammed the monster into the asphalt, trying to dodge the swipe of its claws. I couldn’t. Pain lanced through my side, and I realized if I wanted to win this fight, I couldn’t hold back. Inhuman sounds roared out of my throat and a battle began.

  You should never have come here. I told you to leave her alone.

  I sent the monster hurling away, only to have it come back. Our arms locked together and I brought my legs up between us and kicked. I felt bones give way but a few broken bones wouldn’t be enough to convey my message.

  When I threw off the monster, I lunged, hovering over it, and sank my teeth into a fur coated neck.

  I’m not playing games with you. I will kill you right now and this will be over.

  Suddenly, I found myself lying against the hard ground, teeth snapped at my face and soulless eyes seemed to laugh down at me. Not ready to admit defeat, I lashed out catching my opponent by surprise.

  We went at it again and again, rolling across the ground, landing punches and taking hits.

  Through the snarling and the shrieking a small sound stopped me cold. A small hiccup. Heven. She could hear this fight and was probably paralyzed with fear. Who knew how long it would take her to recover from this. Because of my distraction I took a hit to the side of my head. Automatically I roared and flipped myself off the ground. In one swift movement I locked my opponent in a hold and dragged the body away from the container and into a line of nearby trees. When released, my captive sunk razor sharp teeth into my leg, but I bit back a howl and punched out, connecting with flesh and heard another crunch of bone.

  The hateful eyes that watched me glazed over, but not before a streak of shock shot through them. Then it turned tail and ran away.

  I thought about giving chase. I wanted to rip it apart and scatter the pieces. I was so angry I could do it. But I couldn’t leave her here alone, shivering and scared to death while sitting in a trash heap waiting to die.

  Heven, what have I done to you?

  I raced back through the parking lot, sticking to the shadows, moving with stealth and silence. I barely noticed the cuts on my side; they had already stopped bleeding and would be healed soon. I hurried to dress, thankful that my clothes seemed to be unruffled and wouldn’t look like I had been fighting. On my way back around the side of the building I heard a woman calling out for Heven.

  Shit. I didn’t want anyone in my way.

  With a deep breath I told myself to chill, and I stepped out of the shadows.

  “Excuse me, Ma’am? Is everything alright?”

  The woman calling out for Heven jumped and pressed a hand to her chest. “Who are you?”

  “I’m a friend of Heven’s, I heard you calling for her.”

  The woman’s obvious distress over Heven won out over her surprise at seeing me. “She came out to take out the trash…she’s been gone a long time. I shouldn’t have let her come out here alone.” The woman wrung her hands, clearly upset. Little did she know if she had come out with Heven, she would now be dead.

  “I’ll help you find her,” I volunteered. It took everything in me not to race to the dumpster and give away that I knew exactly where she was. Instead I poked around for a minute before going over and climbing up the ladder. Thanks to my enhanced vision I could see her in the dark.

  The sight both tore my heart and sent flames of anger licking at my insides. She was so small and helpless looking. She was curled into a ball, with her hands balled into fists and hugged tightly to her chest. Tears streaked her cheeks. I could see the rapid rising and falling of her chest and the shaking of her limbs. I leapt down into the container, silently vowing to make things right.

  Even if it was the last thing I did.

  Heven

  I was crying before, but as soon as I heard his voice I started sobbing. He was here, and I was safe. Suddenly the dumpster vibrated again, but I wasn’t afraid anymore. My feeling of safety around Sam eclipsed the fear I felt of whatever else was out there. But then I realized that Sam was now in danger too. My lips worked, but no sound came out except for a small squeak.

  Then he was there, pulling me up and against his chest. “Heven?” I hardly recognized his voice – which was strained and full of anxiety – but I knew the feel of him, and I dug my hands into his back, trying to get him closer. “It’s all right now,” he soothed.

  Once again I tried to warn him, but all that came out were deep sobs. He didn’t demand to know why I was crying or why I was in the trash, and he didn’t try to force me out. He simply sank down into the trash with me and held on.

  “I found her!” he called over my tears.

  “Heven! Are you hurt?” Mrs. Bennet yelled. I completely forgot about her. Had she seen what had happened? Had she heard the horrible sounds of fighting?

  I shook my head in response to her question, not realizing she couldn’t see me. “She’s fine,” Sam called.

  “Thank goodness!”

  “What happened?” Sam whispered against my ear.

  “There was an animal. It tried to attack me.”

  “An animal?”

  I nodded. “I was so scared. It…it tried to get in here.”

  “You’re safe now,” he murmured, stroking my hair.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” I sniffled.

  “I wish I’d been here sooner.”

  “How did you know I was here?”

  “I didn’t. I just got off work and drove by in case you might still be here. When I got here I heard that lady calling for you.”

  “I was hiding.”

  “I know. It was good thinking.”

  “You found me.”

  “I heard you crying.”

  I took a fistful of his shirt. “It was just like last time.”

  “You remember?” He stilled and suddenly seemed tense.

  “No. But I remember feeling afraid and alone…” a shudder went through me.

  “You’re not alone anymore,” he vowed. “Let’s get you out of here.”

  He helped me up and climbed down the ladder first, standing at the bottom with his arms up in case I fell. Mrs. Bennet was pacing on the pavement, and when I hit the ground, she swept me into a hug. “I was so worried! What happened?”

  “There was a dog out here, and it tried to attack me. I climbed in the dumpster to hide.”

  “Oh, dear. It probably smelled the leftover food in the trash and wanted it.”

  We all looked at the trash bag still lying on the ground where I’d dropped it. It was untouched.

  “You probably scared it away before it could have its meal,” Sam told Mrs. Bennet.

  “Who are you?” Mrs. Bennet asked. Now that she knew I was safe, I could see her switching to chaperon.

  “I’m Sam Kavanagh.” He held out his hand. “I’m a friend of Heven’s from school.
She told me she would be here, and I wanted to return a book she lent me in class today.”

  “Hello,” Mrs. Bennet responded. I could see her taking in his Planet Fitness T-shirt and khakis. Even though he was dirty and rumpled, the proof he had a job went a long way in gaining him some brownie points with her. “I would have been here sooner, but I just got off work.” Sam explained to Mrs. Bennet.

  “Very commendable for such a young man to have a job.”

  “Mrs. Bennet, would it be okay if Sam took me home? It would give us a chance to discuss the assignment I lent him the book for.”

  “Well, I don’t know…” I could see her debating whether or not Sam was trustable. I held my tongue knowing if I begged she might say no. She seemed to come to a decision and nod. “Go straight home.”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” I said, trying to calm my shaking insides.

  “I’ll help you to your car, Ma’am.” Sam said placing a hand at the small of my back and guiding me along with him toward Mrs. Bennett’s car. His hand was warm against my back, and I shivered. He watched me out of the corner of his eye as he helped the lady into her car and shut the door. He gave her wave as she drove off then he turned toward me.

  “Are you hurt?” he asked, the sound of his deep voice brushed over me.

  “No.”

  Without another word he guided me around the front of the building and toward his waiting truck. My stomach cramped with nerves – afraid that whatever had attacked me would come back. I glanced at Sam. He didn’t show the least bit of anxiety, and it made me relax. If Sam thought we were safe then we were.

  Once inside the truck he turned the ignition but instead of driving away he dropped his hands and turned toward me. “Come here,” he commanded softly, and I couldn’t comply fast enough. I fit myself against him, breathing in his scent and sighed. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head and murmured something too low for me to understand then he put the truck into drive and pulled out of the parking lot.

  The next thing I knew he was nudging me awake. “You’re home,” he whispered.