My knees buckled underneath me, and I sank into my father’s chair.
“It’s me…” I looked up at Caleb in horror, and he hurried to join me. “What if it’s been me this whole time, and he just doesn’t know what I look like?” He stared at me, and I could see the confusion on his face. “Before Matthew died, he told me someone was looking for me—that ‘he’ wouldn’t stop until he found me. The first time I saw that name, it was scratched into Crybaby Bridge.”
I remembered standing there, looking over the edge and imagining the woman and her baby trapped in the car as it sank into the river—never realizing that I had known them both—known the story far more than I thought.
“What do you know—about that place?” I had to hear it from him. Maybe if he said it, then it would be easier.
“A woman was escapin’ from her husband one night when she drove her car over the bridge, but it went over the edge…” He paused. “Her baby was never found.”
“My mother told me a woman surrounded in a blue light gave her a baby sixteen years ago.” I told him, and his eyes widened in surprise. “I think he wants her back.”
“But it’s a ghost story.” He insisted.
“I know.” I answered solemnly, knowing exactly what I was saying. I gazed down at the floor, my own eyes filling with tears as it occurred to me. “Every night, I drown…” I raised my head to glance at him. “…in my dreams. What if they’re memories?”
“If you’re a ghost,” he lifted his hand to caress my cheek, “how could I do this?” I blushed as he brought his hand back to his side.
“I don’t think it’s that simple.” I whispered, and he chuckled to himself.
“When is it ever?”
“I could be a shade or—or undead—” He stopped me before I could finish, silencing me with a kiss.
“Whatever you are, whatever happened that night—it made you special. It gave you—”
“Please don’t say ‘superpowers’.” I interrupted him, shaking my head.
“Why not?” He replied, taking hold of my hands. “Dead or alive, you can stop what’s going on.”
“I’m fifteen…How am I supposed to do anything?” I couldn’t help but wonder aloud.
“You can. I know you can.” He said; and for a moment, I believed him. And then, I didn’t.
“I don’t think it’s that simple.” I responded once again; but this time, he lowered his eyes and exhaled in what sounded like the troubled sigh of someone who understood.
“It never is.”
I stared up at the steeple as the bells rang, loud and clear in my ears; and one by one, the peals kept my heart from beating. I pushed the car door open and sighed, stepping out into the winter air. I looked out at the other black spots that riddled the great expanse of white that lay before me and wondered what we looked like from above.
I guess I wouldn’t know until the picture standing at the altar was mine.
“Melissa, honey, are you coming?” My mother’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and I realized that I hadn’t moved.
“Yeah.” My voice cracked as I spoke, and I cleared my throat before catching up to her. The church doors swallowed us as we walked inside, and I was welcomed with a warmth I hadn’t felt for days. There were so many people—it seemed unreal as I stepped down the aisle in silence, closer to the casket that looked all too familiar. Daffodils and lilacs. The definitions hidden in the petals all seemed so meaningless now. Innocence and happiness—they died the minute the three of us set foot on that island.
We’d lost more than we could have ever gained, and I’d left Cedar Crest Island more alone than I had ever been.
“Do you think—do you think she made it?”
I turned to face the doorway, suddenly standing in an empty sanctuary; and in the last pew, I saw him sitting there…beside a girl that I didn’t know anymore.
“She had to.” I insisted, my voice falling away into a whisper. “She had to.”
“How can you be sure?” His own voice trembled as he spoke, and I knew that he was fighting tears that came anyway. He gazed down at the daffodil he still held in his hands, and I saw his eyes gloss over as he tried to catch his breath.
“She’s my best friend…” I started. “If I went missing, she wouldn’t give up on me. I won’t give up on her.”
“Then I won’t.” He resolved; and when he lifted his eyes to look at me, I saw something different in them—something brighter.
I watched as the apparitions were replaced by the faces that had haunted me since the night the light in Matthew’s eyes had disappeared, and it was too much. Leaving my mother’s side, I sauntered back up the aisle and to the open doors, trying my best not to bump into anyone in the process. And as what little sunlight began to touch my face, I found myself staring into a pair of sad blue eyes.
“Connor…” I breathed, a little surprised to see him.
It’d been three days, but I could still see the tears streaming down his face—and hear his voice as he shouted at me in the darkness.
He lowered his eyes and silently walked past me, and I could feel my heart shattering in my chest. For a moment, I stood there, wordless as others shuffled into the church and out of the cold.
A year had changed so much.
I bit my lip as I hurried through the sea of black and into the white world beyond the doors, forcing back the tears I so desperately wanted to cry; and I leaned against the wall as I struggled to breathe.
“You were there, weren’t you?” I turned my head towards the one who had asked the question, blinking.
I didn’t recognize him.
“Yeah.” I nodded, whispering. He buried his hands in his pockets as he took a step towards me, his breath turning to puffs of mist as he spoke again.
“How’d you do it?” I looked at him sharply, twisting my face in confusion.
Only Caleb knew, only he had seen—or at least, that’s what I’d thought.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I told him, hoping he would leave me alone and join the others; but he stayed there, narrowing his brown eyes as he studied my face. I pulled myself up from the wall and stared at him in return, immediately remembering where I had seen him.
The night of Adrienne’s party—the night she’d disappeared—he’d been there, too.
“It’s something, isn’t it? That you keep finding yourself in these situations.” And then I understood. I knew exactly what he was saying.
“I’m sorry—who are you?” I squinted at him, the anger he had incited audible in my voice. I crossed my arms when he inspected me with his eyes one last time, squirming underneath my skin as if I had been violated.
“I’d rather not say. You might be going to my funeral next.” He remarked and stepped backward before turning to leave, but Connor intercepted him. “You gonna let me pass?” Tension thickened the air as they merely stared at each other; and when Connor didn’t move, he brushed past him.
“How familiar are you with the human anatomy?” Connor asked him, nonchalant when he gripped his arm, forcing him back to where he had stood before. “Not much?” He continued when he didn’t answer. “This, right here,” he pointed to the stranger’s neck, “is called the jugular vein. If I compress it just right, I could cause temporary hypoxia. Do you know what that means?” He paused, but there was no response; and I saw him lean in to whisper in his ear. “When you wake up, we’ll be gone; and you’re gonna have a headache.” The other young man tore away from him; and with a look that I could only determine as fear, he walked away. Connor set his gaze on me and fixed the collar of his suit.
“How’d you know that was going to work?” I inquired, remaining where I was. He glanced down at his shoes and then back to my face.
“I didn’t.” He threw up his hands as he shrugged. “But guys like him don’t really argue with science.” I grinned a little at his words, and he joined me at the wall. “Are you okay?” I thought for a moment, debating i
n my head whether or not I should tell him; but the way he looked at me—it wouldn’t be fair not to.
“There’s something you should know.”
Chapter Ten
“Do You Like Stories?”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath and lifted the glass up from the table. “Here we go.” I tipped it over, and the water spilled out of the glass and onto the wooden surface. I narrowed my eyes as I stared at the puddle in silence, but it didn’t move.
“Something’s supposed to be happening, right?” Connor spoke, and I placed my hand on my forehead with a sigh.
“I don’t know why it’s not working.” I replied, frustrated.
“Well, what usually makes it happen?” He whispered the question, and I shrugged in response.
“I have no idea.”
“Melissa, what are you doing?” I looked up from the table to find my mother hovering over us.
“Nothing.” I answered hurriedly and reached for the towel on my lap to sop up the water.
“Well, make sure you’re ready when your father comes back from the ranch.” She set her hand on my shoulder. “We’ll be leaving right away so we can get back before the storm.” I watched as she returned to the kitchen to place another batch of gingerbread cookies into the oven.
“Storm?” Connor repeated, a hint of confusion in his light blue eyes.
“It’s nothing.” I told him. “The weatherman said we’ll get a few more inches over Christmas.” He nodded. “I’ll be back.” I said as I stood and stepped into the kitchen to put the towel away.
“I’m glad you two are talking again.” My mother remarked, and I grinned to myself.
“Me too.” I set the towel down when the doorbell rang and sprinted to answer it, but Connor was already at the door.
“Whoa!” He exclaimed once he opened it, and two little boys rushed to nearly tackle me in an embrace.
“Hi, Tyler! Hi, Trenton!” I wrapped my arms around them both and glanced up when I heard Caleb’s voice.
“Careful, guys. Don’t squeeze too hard.” He turned to Connor and held out his hand for him to shake it. “The name’s Caleb. Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, sure.” Connor spoke as he did, smiling kindly as he gestured to himself. “I’m Connor.” He closed the door; and Caleb stepped into the living room, unwrapping his red scarf from around his neck.
“Thanks for invitin’ us, Mrs. Moonwater.” He said. “We really appreciate it.”
“Of course.” She responded as she left the kitchen to give him a hug, cautious not to get any flour on his clothes. “Why don’t you sit down? We’re just waiting for Melissa’s father; and then, we’ll be on our way.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He answered and did as she suggested, following his brothers to one of the couches.
“Do you like him?” I whispered when Connor met me by the kitchen counter.
“Yeah.” He started and watched the twins marvel at the Christmas tree standing in the corner of the room. “He seems pretty cool—” He stopped and smiled when he caught sight of my face. “You do.”
“What?” I furrowed my brow in an attempt to deny it, but the blood was already rushing to my face.
“Congratulations,” he quipped, patting me on the back, “you’ve got yourself your first boyfriend.” He left my side to join the boys in the living room, and I couldn’t help but grin to myself at the thought of it.
“Why are you standin’ over there? Come here, and sit with us.” Caleb invited me, beckoning me forward; and I couldn’t say no.
I passed the window frosted over with ice, the Christmas lights on the other side blurring into a sea of gold, red, and green. Outside, the soft moonlight set the snowy ground aglow; and I sighed at how beautiful it was.
There was something about Christmas Eve that seemed so magical. I didn’t want it to go away.
“Melissa?” I turned at the sound of my name. Connor was standing by a row of glass shelves, holding up a Santa Claus doll. “What do you think?” He asked when he pushed the button in the back, and I laughed when a rap version of “Here Comes Santa Claus” began to play.
“That’s ridiculous. Put it down.” But my objection only seemed to encourage him.
“Well, in that case, I’ll make you wait for your birthday—”
“If you buy that for me, I’m going to kill you.” I jokingly threatened him, and he set it back where he had found it.
“Fine.” He returned to me, wearing a clever smile on his face. “I’ll find something else.”
“You know, it’s only a couple more days.” I murmured and traced the face of a porcelain angel with my finger.
Whatever was coming—whatever all of this was leading up to, it wouldn’t be long now.
“I know.” He replied. “But you’re forgetting something.” I looked up at him, surprised.
“What?” I couldn’t think of what it was.
“Mr. Oakman—how is he involved in this?” Connor asked as we moved on to the wooden tables, pretending to look at the snow globes. “This started happening in the fifties.”
“He’s eighty, now.” I began. “So that would mean that he was twenty-one when April Lawson went missing.” I lifted a globe up from the table and turned it over in my hands.
The base was white and heavy like limestone, and the snow that shifted inside sparkled like a handful of diamonds.
“But what about you?” He glanced at me, immediately returning his gaze to the table.
“He’s a widower…” My voice trailed away as the thought suddenly occurred to me.
“Melissa,” we fell silent when my mother called for me, and I turned my head in her direction, “I think I’ve found a winner.” She stepped towards me, gingerly carrying something golden in her hands. When she drew closer, I realized it was an ornament gilded in filigrees and pearlescent swans; and it reminded me of a Fabergé egg.
“It’s perfect.” I nodded, agreeing with her.
“Great. I’ll be at the check-out counter. Let me know if there’s anything else you want to get before we leave.” She said before walking back to the front of the store.
“I can’t believe she’s not your mom.” He breathed, and I let out a sigh of my own.
“You and me, both.” I drifted away from the snow globes and settled in the corner, where little boxes made of silver and frosted glass sat on wooden shelves on the walls. I lifted the lid of one of them, taken by surprise when “Carol of the Bells” began to play.
It was strange—how something that I once loved so much seemed so ominous now.
“Hey.” I jumped, and the hand that had found itself on my shoulder pulled away. “I’m sorry.” Caleb chuckled. “Did I scare you?”
“A little bit.” I answered, my cheeks reddening in embarrassment.
“Well, it looks like it’s time to take off.” He stole a glance at my mother over his shoulder and smiled at the sight of his brothers carrying her things. “Did you find anythin’?” I withdrew my hand from the music box and brought it back to my side.
“No.” I shook my head. “But it’s fine. I don’t need anything.”
Why would I? In a week, I could be gone.
He wrapped his arm around me, speaking; and it was almost like he knew what I was thinking.
But, of course, I was never good at hiding my feelings.
“It’s Christmas Eve.” He started as we walked down one of the aisles to doors. “You shouldn’t be afraid to be happy.” He turned to me, sincere. “Not even for a minute.” I nodded.
He was right.
“I won’t.”
“All right. Let’s get in the car before the storm comes.” My father called out to us, and we hurried out of the store and into the winter night.
“We strongly advise that you stay inside your homes. This blizzard has created some very dangerous conditions outside; but if you need to travel tonight, take extreme caution. We are anticipating that this storm will end tomorrow morning; but until then,
stay tuned.”
My father set the remote down on the table as my mother hastened down the stairs. I looked up at her from the couch, holding Tyler and Trenton close as if I could protect them from the storm that raged outside.
“I’ve straightened up the guest room for the boys, and I brought some pillows and blankets down if you two want sleep on our couches.” She handed Connor and Caleb a pair of folded up comforters. “I’m sorry we can’t take you boys home. Did you call your parents and tell them you’re staying with us?” Caleb nodded in response.
“I called my mom as soon we got here.” Connor replied.
“What do we do, now?” I wondered aloud, no doubt asking the question that everyone had on their minds; and my mother sighed, the sound masked by the sudden howling of the wind.
“Wait it out.”
Gravel. That’s what it sounded like. Gravel hitting my window again and again. And the wind—screaming relentlessly on the other side of my walls.
I sat up, unable to sleep, and wondered when it all would end.
Oh, I wished it would end.
But the hail kept falling, and the wind refused to stop. I stared up at the ceiling—at the stars that glowed light blue in the darkness.
I would never get to sleep this way.
I pushed the covers away from my legs and set my feet on the wooden floor, biting my lip when the boards creaked beneath my weight. I slipped my pink fuzzy house shoes on; and pulling my robe over my shoulders, I turned the doorknob and tiptoed outside.
It was silent, except for the blizzard that ravaged the streets outside.
I stepped past the guest room and headed toward the stairs, immediately stopping in my tracks when I realized that the door was wide open.
“Trenton? Tyler?” I whispered their names, but no one answered. “Caleb!” I darted down the stairs in a panic and fell to my knees when I reached the couch pushed up against the wall. “Caleb!” I exclaimed as I laid my hands on his arm to jostle him awake. He jerked at my touch, and his eyes slowly fluttered open.
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