by Cox, Suzanne
I pushed the throttle with my thumb, and we roared across the front yard and down the hill toward the trees. I gassed the machine harder at a bump in the yard, hearing Louise laughing in my ear. The tires flew inches off the ground and I couldn’t stop the squeal that came from deep inside of me.
“The path down there leads to a wider trail that goes all the way around the lake. You’ll go through a few people’s yard but as long as you’re respectful and don’t tear up their grass they won’t mind.”
I nodded, following her finger as she pointed toward the path. This would definitely be my mode of transportation this summer.
“I think you’ve got it now.” Louise patted me on the shoulder. “Take me to the house and you can keep riding.”
When we stopped next to the house Aunt Louise slid off the four-wheeler. “Take it easy, no wild riding. I’d make you wear a helmet, but I know you’d only take it off the minute you get out of sight. If I find you’ve been driving this thing carelessly you’ll wear a helmet or quit riding it. And believe me, around here, when you do something wrong sooner or later I’ll be told.”
I snapped my right hand to my forehead in a sharp military salute and grinned, choosing to ignore the ominous tone of Louise’s voice. “Yes, ma’am.”
Louise shook her head, smiling wryly. “I want you in this yard before dark.”
I frowned. “What is it with you and the dark thing? Do you think I’m afraid or that some creep’s going to get me?”
Louise grabbed my upper arm and squeezed a bit tighter than was comfortable. “I don’t think you’re afraid, but you could hit a tree in the dark. And does anyone ever really know about creeps? Or have you forgotten someone was killed here recently?”
She let go and I automatically rubbed my arm. Just when I thought Aunt Louise might be fun, she went all weird. Gunning the engine, I headed toward the trail that led to the lake, spewing gravel when I left the drive.
The sun had nearly disappeared behind the trees before I noticed. The ATV whipped around the curves and even threw mud against a tree when I spun in circles in a puddle. I’d been having so much fun flying along the trail, I hadn’t noticed the time. The moon, almost a complete circle except for a tiny chunk missing, glowed in the sky. Trouble, spelled L-O-U-I-S-E, would be waiting for me when I got home.
Whipping the ATV in the direction of Aunt Louise’s house, I pushed the gas and the engine died. Heat rose from the metal around my bare legs. I punched the start button and the engine rumbled, sputtered, then died. Adjusting my bottom on the seat, I wiped my sweaty palms on the hem of my T-shirt and punched the start button again.
Behind me, a tree limb cracked and bushes rattled. Good, someone was coming. Hopefully, they’d be an ATV mechanic. When I turned, the trail was empty. To the left side lay the lake, nothing but thick trees and bushes were on the right. No one was on the path, though the long shadows made it hard to see anything clearly. Maybe that was a person, way at the end. It was hard to tell. It could be the shadow of a tree. No, the shadow appeared to move a bit, surely that was a person. I licked my dry lips, but my tongue didn’t have much moisture on it.
The sheriff’s words about the woman being attacked echoed in my head. I took a deep breath.
“Hey, can you help me. This thing won’t start.”
Nothing moved and even the noisy crickets quieted. But what I thought was a person was now gone. The figure didn’t leave, but simply evaporated.
“Must have been a shadow.” I said out loud to the dead air.
My words echoed among the trees. I tried to take a deep breath, but that tight band was around my chest again and this time it wasn’t because of Aunt Louise watching me. My skin crawled and beads of cold sweat rolled from every pore. I felt as though I was waking up from one of my nightmares, only I wasn’t asleep. I jabbed the start button and, at last, the engine roared while the hair on my neck stood on end. I forced the machine forward, my ponytail streaking behind me in the wind. Suddenly, my head jerked backward and my rear rose inches off the seat from the force of whatever had hold of me. The only thing that kept me on the ATV was the death grip I had on the handle bars. Then, as quickly as I’d been caught I was free. I twisted to look behind me but saw nothing in the fading light. Probably a tree limb had snagged me. I mean, what else could it be. I wasn’t going to dwell on that thought.
I kept going, but my skin seemed to be trying to leap completely off my body. In response, every muscle fiber in me snapped tight. I never remembered being afraid of getting mugged or jumped in a blind alley in the city. Yet, here I was, in what should have been the safest place in the world, racing for my life. Wasn’t I? I left the lake behind, the engine of the ATV whining at top speed. The underbrush on the side of the trail seemed to be moving and even though I knew it was the wind, or at least my imagination, I couldn’t stop the nausea that rocked my stomach.
The path finally gave way to the yard where my aunt waited under the light of the porch. This was one lecture I’d take quietly.
The dirt and grass made a crunching sound as I slid to a stop. Aunt Louise jumped to the ground completely missing the last two steps.
“Are you alright?”
Nodding, I still couldn’t get my breath. I thought at any minute I might hurl the red beans and rice on my aunt’s bare feet. Sweat dripped from the handgrips as Louise caught my wrists and tugged, pulling my hands loose. The thick rubber dented inward where my fingers had been. I’d heard of adrenaline, but this was the first time I’d ever experience it. I glanced quickly toward Louise wondering if she’d be angry about the damaged handles, but she only frowned then raked back the strands of hair stuck to my sweaty face.
“You stayed out too late.”
I opened my mouth to answer but only a gurgle escaped. “I’ll put the four-wheeler in the shed. You go get a bath.”
I dragged myself off the seat without arguing. I was afraid I’d do something really stupid like throw up or cry, so I ran into the house.
Cool water from the showerhead washed the sweat down the drain, but I couldn’t get rid of the heaviness in my chest. An aching in my arms and especially my legs made it hard for me to stand. Finally, I sat in the floor of the shower, the water pouring over me. I was sick.
A knock on the bathroom door had me scrambling to my feet.
“You almost done in there?” Louise shouted.
“Uh, yeah, I’m finishing right now.”
Grabbing a towel and switching off the water at once, I jumped onto the bath mat. Aunt Louise was still in the hall, waiting, when I exited the bathroom.
“I think I’m sick.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I feel nauseous and I kind of ache. Maybe I’m getting the flu.”
“It’s summer. The flu isn’t going around.”
“So it’s the summer flu. It has to start somewhere with one person, you know, the whole patient zero thing.”
Aunt Louise didn’t move, didn’t pat me on the back or offer the least bit of sympathy. She only frowned. “You get the flu a lot?”
I wasn’t completely sure if that was a question or not, but I answered. “I’ve had it once or twice.”
She sniffed as though she wasn’t sure she believed me. She strode to my room and thrust the door open. “Go to bed and I’ll get you a couple ibuprofen for those aches in your arms and legs.”
Halfway to the bed I stopped and ran to the stairs. Aunt Louise was on the last step. “Hey, how did you know it was my arms and legs aching?”
Louise shrugged. “Typical flu symptoms.”
Shuffling to my room, I fell into the bed Louise had turned down for me and pulled the sheet to my neck.
***
The moonlight colored the grass and leaves a milky shade of green and black. Ahead, ripples shimmered on top of the lake. I stood on the path, not remembering leaving the house. I shouldn’t be here after dark, by myself. Aunt Louise would freak. Twigs crackled underfoot. I spun to face t
he trees behind me, my heart slamming against my chest so hard it hurt. They were coming. Eyes glowed amid the thick undergrowth. I reached for a stick but couldn’t seem to make my hands grab it. The trees and underbrush blurred before my eyes. I started walking in the direction of the house, then behind me a shadow leapt onto the path and I started to run. The thick, wet air clogged my nostrils and stuck to my skin. The backs of my legs tingled with a hot, slimy wetness. Whatever was here in these woods was right behind me, but I was too scared to turn around and look. I forced myself to go faster.
At the very core of my brain, I knew this was another nightmare. I never could wake myself when I realized I was dreaming. It didn’t matter. The house was ahead. I was going to make it. In an upstairs window a curtain moved. Great, now I was even getting busted by Aunt Louise in my dreams.
Inside, I ran water in the bathroom sink, though I didn’t remember how I got there. I’d probably slept through that part. Wiping off sweat and grime, I laughed and tossed the washcloth in the dirty clothes basket. Bathing in my dream, that was new. The smile left my face. It was happening here, just like it did at home, and it was getting worse. I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t figure out how to wake up when things got scary, no matter how much I wanted to.
Chapter Six
The pillow vibrated beneath my ear in an even pattern, matching Aunt Louise’s steps as she walked along the hall from her bedroom to where I slept. I scrunched my eyelids together. If I pretended to be deeply asleep when she came to wake me, maybe she’d let me sleep in today. The door rattled and clicked then swished open.
“Time to get ready, Alexis.”
I made a snoring sound into the pillow.
“I know you’re awake, stop pretending.”
Flipping onto my back, I stared at the ceiling. “I might still be sick. I could have the flu.”
“You’re not sick. And don’t leave the window open all night again. It’s too hot for it and you let all the air conditioning go right out.
I hadn’t touched the window and I sat up to say so, but my heart sank. The window was wide open. “I must have done it while I was sleepwalking.”
Louise snorted. “Do that a lot do you?”
“You said my mom told you I had problems with sleepwalking.”
“I meant do you go around opening the windows in your sleep.”
How much had my mom told her about my sleepwalking problem? I was hoping it would miraculously disappear while I was here. If opening a window was all I had done, Louise should be grateful, but I didn’t tell her so.
She banged the window closed and rotated the lock. “Let’s get going. We leave in thirty minutes.”
“But what if I’m sick?”
Louise stopped and crossed her arms. “Are you sick?”
I considered. If I acted sick I might miss working, but today I was supposed to go to Channing’s house and I sure wouldn’t get to do that if I said felt bad.
“Nah, I’m feeling better.”
Aunt Louise nodded. When she passed through the door she grabbed an ancient key from the lock.
“Wait, you locked me in my room?”
“You do have that sleep walking problem. I didn’t want you wandering around and falling down the steps, or maybe even getting outside.”
I opened my mouth to argue but I could see by the look on her face it wouldn’t matter. Scuffing to the bathroom I took a quick shower. After drying off, I opened the top of the wicker hamper to toss in my towel. A pink rag with little flowers on it lay on top. For a brief moment I could see myself in front of the mirror last night wiping sweat and dirt from my body with that same little rag. But, that had been a dream, hadn’t it? I glanced at the sink, shaking my head. Sleepwalking. I’d been having a nightmare and came in here while I was asleep. With the window open, the room had gotten hot. That’s what had led me to sleepwalk into the bathroom and wipe with the rag.
I left the bathroom and rubbed my finger over the lock on the bedroom door, then smiled. The stupid thing didn’t even work. I’d been able to get to the bathroom last night with no problem, even though Louise thought I was firmly imprisoned. I’d keep that bit of information to myself. Then I stopped short and glanced back to the bathroom. What if I’d really been outside? What if I’d been out the other night? The night the woman was killed. Was it possible? My chest tightened and my breath came in short gasps. After the past few months I had to admit it was possible, anything was possible.
***
That afternoon I rocked the ATV across a huge bump and bounced off the ground. I laughed and revved the engine. Thank goodness my flu symptoms had completed left so I didn’t have to miss out on Channing’s party. Just ahead, someone was walking on the path. The hot afternoon sun glinted on red hair. It was Brynna Sanford. I slowed, then finally stopped and killed the engine.
“Hi.” Brynna said.
“Hi, what are you doing here?”
“I live down there.” She pointed in the direction I was heading.
“Oh.”
“My house is next to Channing’s, which I guess is where you’re going.”
She guessed right, but she didn’t have to be psychic to know that.
“Yeah, she invited me over for awhile. What’s in the bag?” I pointed to a clear plastic bag in Brynna’s hand.
The other girl shook the collection of green leaves. “It’s some wild herbs I’m collecting. We cook with them sometimes.”
“Really, I thought it might be marijuana.”
Brynna’s eyes darkened and that perfect clear skin went deep red. Her lips tightened and she stared at me, not answering.
I snorted. “Don’t get all mad, I was only kidding.”
“I don’t joke about some things.”
“So, how do you know what’s wild herbs and what’s poison or just grass and weeds.”
“Well, you see,” she tilted her head slightly to one side. “We have these things called books in our house and I read them. You could probably use the herb one because it’s mostly pictures.”
I ground my teeth but couldn’t come up with an adequate response. “I think I’ll go now.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
I started the four-wheeler and took off, leaving Brynna smiling in a puff of dust. So, unpopular girls could be mean too. Who knew? I wouldn’t admit it to Brynna, but I’d like to know herbs and other things, wild things, that grew in the woods and were edible. Nobody at home grew stuff that they ate. The idea of it was interesting. If you ever had to live in the wild you’d be able to eat. Not that I had any intention of living in the wild, but you never knew what might happen, like an apocalypse. I frowned. I doubted if I’d ever have a discussion of world ending events with Channing and her friends. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
I couldn’t have gone more than two hundred yards when I saw it. Just to the right, in the edge of the woods, a huge hybrid wolf dog that was probably part German Shepherd. It was the biggest dog or dog like animal I’d ever seen, even bigger than the one from the cemetery. I slowed the four-wheeler ready to take off at the first sign of attack. But the animal only stood there, watching.
My hands tightened on the rubber hand grips. Brynna. I might not like her so much, but I couldn’t leave her out here on foot with this animal lurking around. Twisting my head to keep my eye on the wolf dog, I made a wide turn and went back the way I’d just come, looking for Brynna. Well past where I’d run into her, I stopped. She was gone. I shouted for her over the rumbling of the engine. I was too afraid to turn it off in case the animal came running up and I couldn’t get it restarted. She wasn’t here.
Worried, but unsure where to look, I turned and gassed the engine heading toward Channing’s house. I didn’t know the area well enough and there was likely another trail off of the one I was on that Brynna had taken. When I passed the place the wolf dog had been, it was gone.
***
Channing guzzled her third appletini while I sloshed the
green liquid on the sides of my glass.
“If you’ll hurry up and finish that first one you can have another.”
“I’m fine. I don’t want to miss my turn on the jet ski.”
“Damn right. They are taking a long time.”
I leaned back in the padded lounge chair as the other girl poured drink number four from a plastic container that she had iced down in a cooler. The air was hot, and my swimsuit was still damp from the dip I’d taken in the lake to cool off. I’d become adept at not drinking while still appearing to be drinking. It hadn’t taken long for me to learn that even moderate quantities of alcohol made my nightmares worse, unbearably worse. I preferred to fake going along with the crowd rather than dealing with the other. For a second I thought of just refusing the drink, but I doubted Channing would understand that. My friends in Chicago hadn’t so I’d pretended to go along.
Previously, I had virtually no friends. Oh, all right. Scratch virtually. I simply had no friends, period. Pretending to drink was a small price to pay to have a few people to be with, to be somebody instead of invisible.
From behind a point of land to the right, the jet skis appeared, and Channing whooped as Jana and Celina came to a spraying stop in front of us. Water washed onto the wooden decking where we were sunning.
“Finally, you guys were gone forever.” Channing took the life jacket from Celina and straddled the machine.
“Guess who’s riding on the other side of the point with Myles?” Celina didn’t wait for her friend to answer. “Eric!”
“Channing’s been interested in him for awhile.” Jana whispered to me as she handed over the life vest.
“I’m not interested in him. If I really wanted to date him I would.” Channing, who could obviously hear a pin drop at fifty feet, glared at Jana.
The other girl wasn’t bothered by the wicked stare. “She says he’s playing hard to get.” Jana continued in a low voice.
Channing downed the last of her drink and set the glass on the deck. “It’s just him and Myles, huh?
