Regina

by Mary Ann Moody

  Chapter Twenty-six

  “A full moon tonight on Friday the thirteenth! YEAH!” Renee screamed into the phone.

  “I heard you!” I laughed back. “I think everyone in the house heard you!”

  “Like I care! I’m so freaking excited to see you tomorrow! Jane said to send you her love and hugs for a safe trip. What time is your flight arriving at Kennedy?” She asked.

  “Eight. Still meeting me at out front?” I asked her.

  “Hells yeah, we’ll be there. I made a sign!” Renee laughed.

  We talked for another thirty minutes about my return to New York the next day. I had my bags packed and ready for my flight. Everything sat by my door, neatly stacked and labeled. It wasn’t so difficult to get everything packed up. I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to fit my clothes. Since I gave Katie most of last season’s garments, my suitcase was surprisingly light. I did have some outfits that I bought from local stores here, but there was no way I was taking anything from this place.

  Speaking of Katie, she was taking my sudden departure surprisingly well. We had grown pretty close over the past four months and her determination that we would see each other again was irritating. There was no way I would return to this place unless grandpa asked me to. At this point, I didn’t care anymore about my dreams or this town. I wanted to get the hell out of here. I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake by not confronting my parents about the video, but I desperately wanted the family I had before we came to Lee. I was willing to forget about it, for now. As far as the video and the other evidence I had, I couldn’t bring myself to destroy it. The wedding picture, letter, and the video. My brain screamed at me to keep it to myself, showing Bill was enough.

  After my parents told me we could leave, I saw Bill the next day. I confessed the woman in the video was my mother. Bill didn’t want me to go home, but I had to. Besides, whatever it was that affected my mother that night hadn’t returned.

  “The only information I found regarding any law was a science fiction book. It has nothing to do with you, I’m sure of it. As far as the haunting, I researched the town’s history back and forth, and found nothing that could explain it. Ed Harlen, my research guy, hasn’t heard of it either. We’ll keep looking though.

  “As far as witches, cults or other supernatural worship, I can’t find any around here. The pig was a definite sign of occult worship. It seems as if the ceremony your parents engaged in was an ancient one. So ancient, in fact, that it surprises me they spoke english. A ceremony of this magnitude requires the original language of when the spell was created. If english is truly the language used when the spell was created, then who created it? Did you ever suspect your parents were possibly occultists before?” Bill asked delicately.

  “No, and I’m still not sure they are!”

  “What?” Bill gasped.

  “I mean, what if they’re under some sort of influence? What if they don’t know they’re doing this to me? What sort of ceremony were they performing?” I asked. “They’ve never been mixed up with this stuff before.”

  “An ancient binding ceremony. If they did it properly, the spell would bind a soul to a person or place. Let me show you some translations.” Bill wheeled himself to his computer and started clicking away frantically.

  “So? What would that mean?”

  “It would mean the person would have no choice where they lived or who they lived with. The spell prohibits them from leaving.” Just as those words came out of Bill’s mouth, his hands stopped moving on the keyboard, and he turned around. Our wide our eyes met, I knew exactly what he was thinking. “Oh shit, Regina!”

  “No Bill. I know what you’re thinking, but why would my parents want to ‘bind’ me to that town?”

  “You’re not thinking about it right, Regina! They weren’t trying to bind you to Lee. They were trying to bind you to something called ‘law’ or ‘the law’. What the hell is the law?”

  I shrugged. “The police?”

  “No. It couldn’t be something like that.” Bill turned back around and began typing again. “Regina, I’m going to call some friends of mine and get some more information on this Law. I’ll let you once I know something. I’m positive if I find the Law…….”

  “No worries Bill. I don’t care anymore. I’m so happy I’m leaving this place, I don’t think I’ll ever return.”

  “I know. The next time we meet will be in New York.” Bill laughed. “Do you remember our safe plan?”

  “How could I forget?” I chuckled. Bill said I was to call him before my flight left Austin and again after I arrived landed safely in New York. He said if he didn’t get both calls, he would go to the police. He even offered to hire someone to travel with me to ensure I arrived home. It was a sweet offer, but I declined it. Bill did promise to visit me in two weeks to make sure everything with my parents was back to normal. It made me feel so much better to have Bill in my life. I don’t know what would’ve happened to me if I hadn’t found him.

  “See you in New York, Bill!” I kissed him on his cheek and gave him another massive hug. We parted with reluctance.

  Before I went home to get ready for the dance, I decided to drive on the back roads one last time. It would be my farewell to all those terrible dreams and visions. Mom and dad said we would come back to Lee to visit, but I knew it would never happen. Once they got back into their lives in the city, they would forget all about this place and the people forced to live in it.

  I saw I needed gas in the truck. If I remembered correctly, there was a convenience store when you drove into Lee. It was owned by the widow, Shirley Riggs. Mom said she worked there with Shirley while she was in high school. Shirley was an attractive lady in her early fifties. The single men mostly went to her store to flirt with her in hopes she would give them her attention, but her heart would always belong to her deceased husband. I parked in the front of the store and ran inside. I saw Shirley sitting to the right when I walked into the store. She sat behind a table, counting the day’s totals. Her red hair shined brightly in the light and her makeup was flawless. I didn’t recognize the other lady behind the register. Her hazel eyes looked at me briefly as I came inside. On my way to the coolers in the back, I heard a familiar voice. I grabbed bottled water from the cooler and titled my head to the left, trying to listen closer. I knew that voice! I walked the aisles, trying to find him.

  “Ha-V!” I shouted. It was Javier Juanson. He was once my best friend at the Will Lawson Academy. As a joke everyone spelled his name Ha-V instead of the traditional Javier. I loved him so much as a friend, but he moved away two years ago. What was he doing in this town? I felt so much warmth rush over me that I was almost in tears when I saw him. At first, he didn’t seem to hear me. “Ha-V? What are you doing here?”

  Ha-V looked at me for a moment. His eyes looked confused, as if he didn’t know who I was. His gaze seemed to be looking me right in the eyes, but a little above. My forehead? I scrunched my eyebrows together and put my hand automatically to my head. Did I have something on me?

  This was definitely Ha-V. This was my friend that I cared for as a best friend and brother for many years. I couldn’t mistake him for another. His looks were not the same but it was definitely Ha-V. His brown hair was straight, long, and parted in the middle. He wore a blue and white striped shirt. It fit his muscular frame magnificently. He had on black jeans with black cowboy boots. Wow, Ha-V sure changed a lot in two years. He must have felt the same about me because he still didn’t seem to recognize me.

  “It’s Regina.” I paused. “We went to Will Lawson together? Freshman year?”

  Just as quickly as the look of confusion came, it was gone. His voice was full of confidence. “Regina! Yes, we did go there together, of course. How are you?

  I don’t remember my response. This guy wasn’t the Ha-V I use to love like a brother. Gone were his lively voice, his bright eyes, and crazy hands. Ha-V always had a habit of using his hands when he talk
ed, it added to his charm. My friend had certainly changed. He was replaced with a dark, well reserved man. Even his eyes seemed darker.

  “Well, you have to excuse my eyes. I had surgery to correct them.” He said.

  I blushed. Getting caught staring is embarrassing!

  “So, what brings you to Lee? The fine cuisine, country shopping, and early closing hours are hard to resist.” I said with a giggle.

  Ha-V giggled and reached out to hug me. It felt so good to be with a friend who I cared about. The feeling of Ha-V’s arms around me made me miss home. I felt compelled to leave Lee with Ha-V right then and there. The warm hug he gave me felt like my old life wrapped itself around me. All I had to do was get through the dance tonight and I would be home.

  “I came to see a friend. This is Raini and Jenn.” He nodded to his friends.

  “Well, this is a cool coincidence! Are you girls from here? I haven’t seen you at school?” I asked.

  “No, we’re from Tomball.” Jenn said. She, too, stared at some spot over my eyes.

  I looked closely at the one called Jenn. I couldn’t tell if I had seen her before, but something about her was familiar. Her thin pale face was lifeless. I noticed her bones stuck out of her shoulders. Misery filled her face and she looked at me hungrily. I felt a little uneasy and shifted my focus back to Ha-V.

  “I miss everyone from home and it is awesome to see you here! I’m leaving tomorrow to go back home, but I’ll be back. Actually, I won’t be back.” I couldn’t stop myself from giggling.

  “Well, if it’s your last night in Lee, come with us. We’re heading out to the old country club.” He said. His eyes filled with sympathy.

  The old country club? Where was that? Though it didn’t really matter, I’d give anything to get out with friends. I didn’t care if I made it to the dance with Katie.

  “Sure. I’d love to. Thanks, Havs.”

  As we drove away in Ha-V’s car, I felt so much better. I was getting away with friends. I was going to have fun, and not think about the video and its aftermath. His nice little Toyota had no problem getting us out of town quickly. Ha-V rocked the Foo Fighters as we drove at high speed towards the country club. I’ve been down these roads for four months now and I didn’t remember a country club.

  I sat in the backseat with Raini. She didn’t talk much. The black haired girl seemed shy, but I wondered what she had to be shy about. She had dainty facial features and a perfectly trim body. I stared outside the car window to get a sense of where we were. I tried to make conversation between the group, but no one seemed interested.

  “Where is this club at?” I shouted. The windows were open and it was hard to hear anyone over the music.

  “You’ll see!” He answered. This really wasn’t fun. Maybe Ha-V saw the disappointment in my face or felt my isolation. He rolled up the windows and turned down the music to have a conversation with me. “How is the gang back at old Lawson?”

  I meant to answer him, but I saw we turned off the main road. I never saw this road before. We were on highway two-ninety, but we turned off a different road to get on the back roads. Everything was different, but I had a strange sensation I had been here before on this road. I began looking out the window harder, trying to find a landmark that would jog my memory. It was fully dark now and hard to see, so I squinted harder.

  “Regina? Did you hear me?” Ha-V asked.

  “Sorry, I didn’t. I…I have the strangest feeling I’ve been down this road before, but I don’t remember driving it.”

  “That’s okay.” He laughed. “I asked if you were still seeing that guy, Daryl.”

  “Oh no!” I laughed. “He and I stopped seeing each other about four months after you left the Academy. I started seeing Jeff Hamrel after that. We were together for less than a year.” I stopped. My feelings about the breakup and not speaking to each other left me feeling terribly guilty.

  “Were?” Our eyes met in the rearview mirror. “Did you break up?”

  “Yes. I broke up with him for a guy here. I don’t think you would know him. His name is Steven Rank.” I said.

  The girls perked up a little when I said Steven’s name. I wondered if they know him?

  “I don’t know him.” Ha-V said. “Must be a pretty awesome guy if you broke up with Jeff for him.”

  “That’s the funny thing Ha-V, Steven isn’t an awesome guy. I thought he was at first, but I can’t tell you why I began liking him in the first place. I almost felt compelled to.” I blurted.

  The little confessional we were having worked, I didn’t remember the way we came and had no idea where we were. At this point, I didn’t care. I finally admitted to myself and everyone in this car that I didn’t know why I was ever with Steven, and what compelled me to break up with Jeff for him.

  “Hormones.” Ha-V called from the front seat.

  This time everyone laughed. The good feelings came back and I relaxed in the seat. I looked over at Raini and Jenn. They laughed and looked at each other as if they got the true joke and I didn’t. Before I could think about it further, Ha-V slowed down.

  He turned right down a private driveway and after a mile, we drove up to the back of an enormous house. The black roof was above the tree line and towered over the wide backyard. Light tan and white stones covered the outside walls. White decorative lights were strung from the trees to the house. I saw a couple of people sitting on the patio furniture in the backyard as we drove up. This place sure didn’t look old.

  “You sure this isn’t the ‘new’ country club?” I joked.

  He stopped the car, and I wondered what was going on when a man stepped up to Ha-V’s window.

  Where did he come from?

  Ha-V rolled down his window and told the guy we were here for the party. My nerves untwined when he said this. A party! I started to get excited now. I could have one last blast before I leave. My mind raced with the guest list. Who was coming? Katie hadn’t spoken to me in days, I wondered if she would be here. Then again, tonight was the dance, so I didn’t think she would be here.

  In my excitement, I never noticed the guard eyeing me with amazement.

  Ha-V rolled up the window and backed up. He said we had to park in the woods behind the house. I knew this method, it kept the cars from view in case a neighbor wanted to get nosy. Ha-V parked us on a dirt road deep in the forest. As we left the car behind, we put the location in our cell phone maps. Ha-V gave me the keys when we got out. At this point I had two sets of keys, Ha-V’s and mine. My truck was in the parking lot of Shirley’s.

  “Don’t want you to get left behind.” He said, his face hidden in the darkness.

  We were walking to the house/club when a voice called from the woods. We stopped and heard a call of help from the forest.

  “That’s Jeremy.” Jenn said. “I think he’s lost. Wait here, I’ll go get him.”

  Jenn took off into the woods and the three of us waited for a few minutes. We made small talk when I noticed the light coming from the other side of the trees. Was it the party?

  “Hey! I think I see light! Maybe we’re not too far away.” I said and walked to the tree line. Nobody seemed to be paying attention to what I was doing.

  Through the bushes and branches I saw three people go into the backdoor and into the club. I looked behind me and saw the rest of the group talking. Jenn was about to come through the trees with the lost guest. Ha-V and Raini were watching the opposite direction. I took the opportunity to step through the trees and up to the house.

  It was romantic with the soft lights and warm colors on the stones. The grass was wet and smelled fresh as if it had been cut today. Rose bushes lined the right side of the house. I closed my eyes and inhaled the country air. I stopped when I heard the sucking noise.

  On the patio, there were two people entwined on the couch. The patio furniture was light blue cushions on white wicker. A man and a woman were making out in the chairs. I didn’t want to disturb them s
o I looked away. However, I was close to the club and could see into one of the windows.

  Very clearly, I saw a man pull a young woman close as if to kiss her. His hands were on each side of her face, looking deeply into her eyes as he pulled her close to his face, but he pulled his head to her neck as she came closer and bit into her, causing her to scream out. Her body went stiff as he drank. Her arms were outstretched, palms down while she stood on her tip toes. I gasped and turned around in horror. My first thought was, I didn’t really see that, but I knew what I saw was real so I backed away from the spot I was standing in. On the patio couch, where the couple lay in a lover’s embrace, I realized he was taking her blood, too. He sucked her blood from her body as I slithered back into the shadows like a snake. Her muffled screams were low, but unmistakable.

  When I was safely behind the trees, I rushed back to Ha-V and the girls. I felt my hair bounce as I ran. I didn’t see anyone. They had to be here! I didn’t see or hear them approach the house. I searched the dark shadows frantically for them. They were walking into a place with killers! I’m not sure what kind of killers they were, monsters maybe? I let my mind go frantic with worry while I searched.

  “Regina.” Ha-V’s voice called from behind me.

  I spun around to find Ha-V near the car. Raini, Jenn, and two guys followed him. They looked at me strangely. I’m sure I did look bad with sticks in my hair and sweat pouring out of my head. My breathing came fast and I couldn’t seem to catch it.

  “Go!” I tried to shout as low as possible. “Go back to the car.”

  I ran to them. I had to get them back into the car and away from here. If they chose not to come with me, I had the keys and I would leave them if I had to.

  “What? Did the party get busted?” One of the guys asked. His blonde hair was short and glowed in the moonlight. His perfect white teeth shined brightly back at me when he smiled.

  “They’re killing people!” I said in a loud whisper.

  Silence. The group stared at me while they processed this. Then they laughed.

  “Yeah right!” The blonde guy said. “You’re high.”

  “I’m not high! I know what I saw! There is a guy sucking this girls’ neck on the patio and another one doing it inside! I saw it!”

  Everyone looked at each other with their eyes raised. Someone said, “Sounds like they were making out.”

  I spun around towards the car and called to them over my shoulder. “I don’t care what you believe! I’m leaving. If anyone wants to come with me, then we are going now!”

  A hand grabbed my elbow and held me in place. I turned around to see Ha-V. He said, “No one is going anywhere just yet. Not until we check this out.”

  As he said that, the two men I saw drinking blood from the women came through the trees and into the clearing we stood in. They visually surveyed the group and stopped when they came to my face. Something about me made their face fill with extreme joy. I almost relaxed until a small bit of blood leaked out from one of their mouths when they smiled.

  Fear told me to be stupid and run, so I did. I spun on my boot heels and ran for the car, except I spun in the wrong direction and didn’t see the car. My footsteps crunched the leaves noisily as I ran as fast as I could into the woods. The running footsteps behind me were catching up. I could hear their breathing as they got closer. Fear propelled me faster and I dodged through the trees with accuracy. I looked back and saw an empty forest.

  I stopped and searched for a place to hide so I could catch my breath. If I could get my phone out, I could check my compass and hike out of here, but I knew that was out of the question until I found out what happened to the others. I had to stop, catch my breath and think. I’m pretty physically fit, but I’m not use to running through the woods. Hiding From Killers 101 is not a course I could take at Will Lawson.

  I heard footsteps and I crouched under some bushes, out of sight. I held my breath and waited for voices, but none came. The woods were completely quiet. I stayed completely still as the bush poked my chest. A shadow came above the bush and I looked up to see her. She was a beautiful woman with silky brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. Her dark blue leather cat suit accentuated her perfect figure. She stared down at me with humor in her eyes. I don’t know why but I felt the need to get up and run.

  She was right behind me, giving pursuit as I ran through the dark forest. I couldn’t see in front of me and had no idea how I managed to make it without killing myself. She stayed behind me the whole time like a perfect machine. I stopped and shifted to the left to follow the creek. The water helped me figure out my location, but I didn’t have long to think because the girl leaped high in the air and ended up right in front of me.

  I screamed and skidded to the right. The creek was in front of me and I started to cross it.

  “Anna!” The woman shouted.

  I stopped and gasped for breath while looking around. There wasn’t anyone else here. Who was she calling for?

  She came up behind me and softly turned me around. I saw the kindness in her expression.

  “It’s me, Sarah.” Her voice came out smooth . I felt paralyzed by her. “No harm will come to you, Anna. I’m sorry to do this.”

  She breathed out a gas from her mouth. Before I could run away or scream, I breathed in the fumes and dropped into the darkness.