Under the Oak Tree

by Victoria Ashlee

  Before she stepped away from her car without her phone, she stopped, “Clay, I love you.”

  “I’m coming, Babe.”

  With those last words she ran into the dark trees. Her feet crunching on dried leaves. It was dark out, but the moon was leading her way. The crickets sang their song of the night, while she kept running.

  “Claire, I will find you.” Jason’s distant voice yelled out.

  It sent a shiver down her spine. She stopped dead in her tracks, looking around, trying to figure out where his voice came from. She was afraid if she ran faster, he would hear her feet. She slowly started for the clearing that she could see in the distance.

  “Come to me, and I won’t be mad.” Jason called out again.

  She thought her mind was playing tricks on her. His voice sounded like it was coming from every direction. Her breathing had risen; her tears had stopped from the adrenaline going through her. She didn’t want to play this game anymore; she took off toward the clearing, as fast as her feet could carry her.

  The moon hit her like a saving grace when its silver light landed on her skin. She could see the tree, the swing, the moon's reflection on the water. Clay wasn’t there yet. She stopped at the tree’s base, glancing back at the dark forest. Her fear was growing stronger as she waited for Jason to appear in the tree line.

  Chapter Thirty Four

  Clay

  Clay breached the end of the trees. Sanderson Field stretched out in front of him. The moon shining down caused a shadow over the oak tree in the distance. He couldn’t tell if she had made it yet. He feared yelling her name might give Jason a direction to run if he was following her.

  He was halfway across the field when he saw her silhouette under the tree. His steps picked up. When she spotted him, she started running towards him. She slammed into his arms like a miniature linebacker.

  “He’s following me.” She whimpered out, looking over her shoulder.

  Clay cupped her face, “Are you ok?”

  “I’m just scared.”

  “Clay!” Jason yelled, “I told you to stay away from her!”

  Clay grabbed Claire’s arm pushing her behind him. “Stay behind me.” He could feel her shaking. His eyes didn’t dare break away from Jason walking towards us; he looked down. Was that a…

  “Gun.” Claire’s voice was a whisper. “Jason go home! What are you doing?” She yelled, stepping from behind me.

  Jason’s long strides toward them were a little wobbly.

  “Are you drunk?” Clay snapped.

  He licked his lips, “Who cares? You sound like the whiney bitch beside you.”

  “Jason, what are you doing?” Claire's small voice asked again. She was afraid, but trying to confront him. “Where did you get the gun?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” He laughed a smug laugh, waving the gun around, “My sweet Claire, don’t you see? I’m coming to your rescue.” He carelessly waved the gun toward Clay. “He’s bad for you. I heard your scream from the road.”

  She furrowed her eyebrows, “I didn’t…” She gasped. “Jason, do not do this!”

  “Do what?” He clenched his jaw, “You are mine. Not his. I won’t allow you to embarrass me any longer.” He pointed the gun towards Clay again.

  Clay braced his hands, “Think about this, Jason. You do this...whatever it is that you’re thinking it won’t end well.”

  “Shut up!” He said through his teeth. “You don’t get to speak. You took my girl. You took my future.” He looked at her. “We were together five years, and you refused to let me touch you like you let him. You gave it away like it was nothing. Like the slut that you are,” He started walking towards her, pointing the gun while he talked, “You are nothing, but a whore just like his dead mother. Maybe you do deserve this.”

  He was 5 feet away, and Clay stepped in front of her, “Back the fuck off.” He wanted to beat the shit out of Jason when he brought up his mother, but he couldn’t put Claire in any more danger than they were already in.

  Claire stepped from behind him again, “Jason, this isn’t you. I fell out of love with you. How can you not see that? Would you rather have lived an empty life without love?”

  “Love is bullshit. I’d rather have you.” His voice strained, “But you thought you knew better, and chose this piece of shit.” He pointed the gun at Clay again. “If I end his life, then it will all be over. You don’t get to choose. I can choose for you.”

  Faster than the speed of light, the gun sounded off. But, just before Jason pulled the trigger, the blonde hair that smelled of honey had stepped in front of Clay. Jason’s aim was bad; he would have missed him. Everything was in slow motion after that. He hit her straight in the stomach. She fell back, and Clay caught her. Her eyes were wide as she looked up at him. Tears started falling onto her perfectly pink cheeks. “Clay…” Her voice was helpless. “Clay, what…” She looked down at her stomach that she was holding; blood was seeping onto her white shirt.

  Clay looked up at Jason who was white as a ghost standing with his hands in his hair, “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” He had dropped the gun.

  “Call someone!” Clay yelled at him, snapping him from his clear panic attack. “Do something! Call your father! Call the police!”

  His dark eyes held Clay’s, “I can’t call him. This is your fault.”

  “Mine? What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “Clay…” Claire whispered again, her body falling limper.

  “It was self defense.” Jason said. Clay couldn’t believe what he was hearing. While Claire was bleeding from the gunshot, Jason was trying to figure out the lie he was going to tell.

  “Fuck this.” Clay picked her up in a cradle, and started running for the tree line. “I got you. Just hold on. Put your hands on the wound.”

  He ran through the trees as fast as his legs would carry him. His truck was at the bottom of the hill where the wooded area started.

  When he reached his truck, he put her in the passenger seat, grabbing an old t-shirt from the back, and pressing it to her stomach. “Claire, I need you to hold this. I’m going to have to drive. Can you do that?”

  She nodded her head, wincing from the pain, “I love you. I want you to know...”

  “Tell me after. You’re going to be ok.” He slammed the door shut, and ran around the truck.

  *

  Clay’s truck was going 100 MPH. His truck sped through every red-light, and every stop sign they came across. He was not losing her like this. Jason doesn’t get to take away her light. He wasn’t going to let it happen.

  “I don’t think I’m going to be ok…” She whispered again. “I don’t feel so good…” Her voice trailed off.

  “Hold on, Baby! We’re almost there.”

  She didn’t respond; her head rested against the side of the door, her eyes blinking shut.

  “Claire, wake up. Stay awake!” Panic was in his voice. He shook her. “Wake up!” Tears formed in his eyes, even the adrenalin couldn’t hold them back. “Wake up!” Clay never cried. He didn’t even cry when his mom left, but Claire was the light in his dark world. If it went out, he didn’t know how he would find his way back to the surface.

  His truck pulled in front of the hospital like a bat out of hell. He ran around the side, grabbing her in his arms. The towel on her stomach dropped. People were watching Clay in shock; they were both covered in her blood. He ran her into the hospital lobby, “Somebody fucking help me!”

  Two nurses ran up to him, another grabbed a gurney. A male nurse took her from Clay, “What happened?”

  “Gun shot.” It was all he could muster up to say.

  They quickly rolled her away from him. All he could hear was ringing in his ears, as he watched her disappear. He put both hands behind my head; he was trying to catch his breath. Tears kept coming.

  Another nurse walked up, “Are you hurt?”

  “No.”

  “Come sit.” She guided him to a bench, “We still need to check you
out. Can you tell me her name?”

  Clay sat down, “Claire Cunningham.”

  “Do you know your name?”

  He stared at the white linoleum flooring, “Clay Williams.”

  *

  Thirty minutes later, Clay sat with his elbows leaning on his knees, staring at the ground. His bloodstained shirt had dried. Three cops walked into the Emergency Room. He had a sickening feeling seeing them. He knew the hospital had to call the Police due to the gunshot, but he didn't think that’s why they came. A nurse pointed to him. Clay sat up straight.

  “Clay Williams?” One of the officers walked up with his hands on his hips.

  He stood, “Yes?”

  “Where were you tonight?” He asked.

  He gestured to his shirt, “Where does it look like? Don’t beat around the bush. You know why you’re here.”

  The officer placed a hand on his shoulder, guiding him to turn around, “Clay Williams you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Claire Cunningham. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and...”

  “I didn’t try to murder her.” Clay snapped. “You have the wrong person.”

  “We have a witness.” One of the other cops said, as the one who was cuffing him continued with his rights.

  “If you have a witness then you know I didn’t do this!” Clay yelled.

  “They saw you when they heard Claire scream. Don’t lie; it’s only going to hurt you.”

  His stomach dropped. Jason would spin his story. There was no way Clay was getting out of this. Alan Matthew’s son would never go down for this.

  “Where’s the gun?” Clay snapped. “Finger print the damn gun!”

  “Please be quiet, Mr. Williams.” The officer walked him out of the ER toward a patrol car; putting him in the back.

  “Can you tell me if she’s ok?” Clay asked when they got into the car.

  The officer adjusted his rearview mirror, “I don’t think her well being is your concern.”

  “The hell it is! I’m the only one who gives a damn about her!” Clay yelled, clearly losing his patience. He leaned back against the seat. He knew if he didn’t calm down, he was going to make this worse. “Please, be ok,” He whispered.

  Both officer’s looked at each other, and then started to drive.

  Clay watched the hospital disappear into the distance. Claire was somewhere inside, probably already in surgery. He felt sick, angry, worried; He felt everything all at once.

  *

  It had been hours since Clay had been booked. With a void of emotion, Clay answered every question they asked him; his name, address, date of birth. They fingerprinted him, and he stood in front of the camera where the flash made black dots in his eyes. He spoke to his father, explaining what had happened, and that he needed an attorney. He sat in the cold jail cell, leaning his head up against the wall. He didn’t know how he was going to get out of this. Claire and Jason’s fathers were some of the best attorneys in the area. Neither one of them liked Clay, and they had friends in every corner of Louisiana.

  A door opened, and an officer walked in, “Funny, finding you here.”

  Clay recognized him as one of Jason’s friends, “What do you want?”

  “I just wanted to see it with my own eyes; that you were actually behind bars.”

  “Fuck you.” Clay snapped.

  “I thought you might like to know the update on Claire.” He said smugly. “But, clearly you’re ungrateful.”

  Clay stood, “Is she ok?”

  Jason’s friend stared back at Clay, shaking his head, “She didn’t make it to the surgery table.”

  The same ringing that Clay heard in the hospital returned to him. He felt the world moving under him. He stepped back in shock.

  Jason’s friend turned to walk away, “I’ll let you have some time alone with that news.”

  Clay leaned against the concrete wall, and slid down to the floor. He was strong; everything in his life made him strong. This was different. He was helpless. He felt his chest constrict; tears started to well up in his eyes, his breathing started to rise. “I love you.” His voice cracked, as he spoke to no one, but Claire; even though she was miles away. “I love you, Claire. I never got to tell you….but I do love you.” He clutched his chest, realizing he was having a panic attack. Claire was the love of his life, and in that moment he realized he would never see her blue eyes again.

  “Let me out of here!” He screamed through his tears, knowing his plea would go unanswered. “Claire,” He whispered. “Don’t leave me. Please, don’t leave…”

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Claire

  It was the next day, Claire didn’t wake until late in the afternoon. When her eyes fluttered open, she was hit with a wave of pain. She saw her parents first, then realized she was in a hospital bed. She didn’t remember getting here. The last thing she remembered was being in Clay’s truck.

  “Wh-where’s Clay?” She croaked out.

  Her mom jumped from her seat, “You’re awake.” She waved at Claire’s father. “Go get the nurse.”

  “Clay?” She said again.

  Claire’s mom touched her forehead, “He’s been arrested, Honey. He can’t get to you now.”

  Claire tried to shake her head from side to side, but she was so tired. “No.”

  A nurse and doctor walked in, following her father. The doctor spoke to her; he checked her eyes, and asked her a few run of the mill questions to make sure her brain was still functioning correctly.

  “The bruises are old; can you tell me how you got them?” The doctor asked.

  Claire stared up at the doctor, very aware that her parents were in the same room. “Yes.”

  Claire’s mom stepped forward, “She’s tired. Can’t you ask her questions in a little while?”

  The doctor looked at her mom, and then back to Claire, “Do you want to answer the questions now?”

  She thought about it for a moment. If she spoke, and said that it was Jason, her parents might argue. As much as she loved her parents, in this moment, she didn’t trust them to have her best interest. She shook her head no.

  “Alright, we will be back to check on you.” The doctor gave her a knowing smile. She hoped he understood.

  *

  A few hours passed, it was almost dinner time now. Her parents wouldn’t answer her when she asked about Clay, which infuriated her. All they told her was that he was arrested. She yelled at them, telling them that they had the wrong person. Her mom dismissed her, saying that Claire was just tired; that she had been through something traumatic, and her thoughts were foggy. So, Claire stopped talking. Her parents spoke around her, as if she weren’t there.

  “Knock, Knock.” A nurse walked in. “You have a visitor.”

  Claire smiled, “Really?” Part of her was hoping it was Clay, and he was miraculously released from jail. She was torturing herself with these thoughts. Then she thought maybe it was Logan. Whoever it was, she was happy to have any interruption from listening to her parents.

  “Hey.” The deep familiar voice said.

  Claire’s stomach dropped when she saw him. She thought she was going to throw up. Every word was taken from her. All she could do was scream; she kicked back on the bed forcing herself against the headboard as far as possible. Pain shot through her body. “No! No! Make him leave! Get away!”

  Jason froze, “Claire, what’s wrong?”

  Her Mom stood, “She’s still a little disoriented.” She tried to take Claire’s hand, “Claire, honey, it’s Jason; your fiancé.”

  “I don’t know him. I don’t want him near me!” She continued to yell.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?” Claire’s mom’s panicked eyes looked toward Jason. “Do you not recognize him?” She looked at the nurse. “Could she have memory loss?”

  “Some memories could be foggy from the stress that it put on her mind. She was out for a long time. She passed out in the truck on the way to the hospital. Lack of
oxygen can do a lot to the mind.”

  Claire looked back and forth between the nurse and her Mom. Her father was sitting silent in the chair with his arms crossed, watching the scene unfold in front of him.

  “OUT!!! I want everyone out!” Claire screamed.

  The entire room went silent. Everyone’s eyes were on her. Her mom’s hand was clutching her chest.

  “This is too much stress on her.” The nurse finally spoke up. “Let’s let her rest.” She started to usher her family out of the room.

  Claire’s father’s eyes went from Claire to Jason, “Jason, let’s take a walk.” He said, as he stood.

  Jason nodded, “Yes sir.”

  “A walk?!” She yelled, when they reached the door. “He’s the one who shot me!”

  The nurse’s face dropped. It was as if the air in the room became thick. Claire’s parents both stared at her. Jason looked white as a ghost. Her Mom finally spoke up, “Stop saying that nonsense. You know very well that he was protecting you.”

  Claire grinded her teeth, “Clay was protecting me!”

  Her Mom finally snapped, “I don’t want to hear his name! Stop. You need to rest. Your memories will return.”

  Claire sighed, looking up at the ceiling, holding back the tears that had formed, “Just leave me alone. Just leave.”

  “Ok, everyone, clear the room.” The nurse said firmly. They slowly left the room, one by one.

  The nurse returned, shutting the door behind her. Claire watched her walk around the room, doing pointless tasks. She stopped, and turned to her. “Did he hurt you?”

  Claire let a few seconds pass, as her chest rose and fell from the anxiety that had filled her. “I want to talk to the police.”

  The nurse stepped forward; concern was in her eyes, “Claire, you and I both know his family is very close with the police in this town.”

  “I have to try.” She whispered.

  The nurse gave her a flat smile, “Ok. I will arrange it for you.”

  “Don’t tell my parents.” Claire said, just as the Nurse reached for the door handle.

  “I understand.” She nodded. “I know Clay. He would never do something like this.”