Blue Bell

by Sasha Fino

  One night by a full moon that lit up the sky… Ashbrook made a beach bonfire on the lonely beach. I kept my eyes wandering between his back and then out to the sea before us as I stood on the deck. The firelight lit up his face, my heart jumped. Here he was, bare-foot and sitting on the beach like he’s an ordinary everyday man. I almost can’t remember the evil things he’s done or the feelings of hatred I’ve had for the happenings at Blue Bell…

  Walking towards him, I say, “may I join you?” He turns his head to me. Seeing Dante’s eyes light bright full of love. Like he is looking at me just like the first time again.

  “I would love your company, my Audra,” He acknowledged while patting his hand on the sand wanting me to sit next to him.

  I smile at him, walking and sitting next to him. I couldn’t resist myself not to take my eyes off of him. I felt the electric

  waves washing between us.

  “I had been waiting for you to mosey out,” he confesses to me.

  “I took my time following your trail, Dante,” I tease him, hoping he doesn’t catch the double meaning of my words. “Indeed, you did.” He replied while I am looking upon the beauty of the stars.

  “The stars look outstanding tonight, it’s better than on the deck.”

  “No, you are the one that is outstanding… Audra” he remarked. I gaze back at him; he leaned in and kissed my lips soft leaving me wanting more.

  “It feels like I had been sitting here on this lonely beach for eternity waiting for you,” he whispers to me.

  Without a word, I inch closer to him. My fingers find his shirts button, I slowly unbutton his shirt to reveal Ashbrook ‘s entire chest glowing in the firelight.

  He took off his shirt, letting it fall to the sandy beach. “Let’s pretend that I finally found you at last. Yet, I could have only this one night with you,” I told him unzipping the back of my light pink dress. Foreplay with him was titillating. Putting his muscular arms on me beginning to kiss my lips. His hands found the back of my bra and unclasped it with one hand. I let it fall off of me enjoying the sweetness in his kisses and not caring that we were out in the open on a beach.

  “Lay down,” he whispers between kissing me and licking my neck, he keeps on and begins to caress my naked body as I lay on the beach. My heart racing as he arouses me. His lips move down to one of my bare bosoms, sucking on my nipple, I groan with enjoyment. Ashbrook took his sweet time going back and forth between my breasts.

  He stops and slips his gentle hand into my wet panties, stroking, making me squeal with delight, slipping one leg at time out of them.

  It is so exciting, being nude on the beach sand, hearing the waves crashing, and the fire crackling. I am feeling enchanted, speechless and captivated by all of this.

  Ashbrook gave me a mischievous look while he quickly unfastens his pants, taking sliding them down his legs…. I raise my hand to stroke his manhood which ends with him yelling out with pleasure in his voice. He kisses my mouth like tomorrow will never come. Ashbrook proceeds to position my body in ways that allow him to submerge his love right into my soul.

  Watching Ashbrook grab his pants, feeling for a condom to put on. He stops and looks at me.

  “Do you want this to happen, right here and now?” he softly whispers.

  I wrap my arms around him, embracing, pulling him towards me. Softly kissing him on his lips, giving him my answer. Ashbrook rises, pulling the condom on him. He leans in while I am feeling his manhood gently enter me. Thrusting into me in rhythm with the ocean waves as they hit the sand. I moan

  while he cries out his release; kissing every inch of my body; everything is dazzling around me.

  I lose track of time as while we climax many of times, I never wanted to stop, the sensations are so satisfying. I realize the fire has died down and that he has sunk into my soul. What ever will I do now, I contemplate…?

  His clutched my hand, put to his lips to kiss it, putting my hand on his heart.

  “You’re always in my heart, Audra.”

  I pushed my head closer to his heart removing my hand, listening to it pounding a million miles an hour. I love this man; I swear I shall love him forever. We lay there without a care in the world. Well almost no cares…

  “I feel like we swam in the ocean. Being so wet and all.” I teased him; Ashbrook lets out a huge laugh.

  “Audra do you care that I’m your School’s Headmaster?”

  I let a small a laugh, “You don’t act like you are while you’re ravishing me. And about you robbing the cradle…” I trail off in my thoughts…

  “My pals will envy me because you are truthfully the best I’ve ever had, my good woman.” he tells me.

  I raise up on my elbow to look at him, seeing my reflection

  in his eyes, I am loving the ability to touch his face.

  “We better go inside and get some sleep,” I told him. Grabbing our clothes; we ran back into the cottage. Once back in, Ashbrook took my hand and without a word lead me to his bed, starting to make love once more while crawling into bed.

  Senior Year: 2010

  This is a year that I always want to go back in time and repeat. I get goosebumps upon my skin when thinking back to my Senior Year at Blue Bell. Let’s say I’ve got damn lucky. I returned to Blue Bell for my senior year there. Something evil hangs in the air that force my fearful of being at the school. That darkness has left me unsteady and anxious.

  Every chance I’ve gotten I slept in Dante’s arms to feel safe at night. I think that maybe since he claims to love me, he won’t hurt me… Until Ms. Santana caught me red handed one morning when I was sneaking out of Ashbrook’s bedroom at 5 am. Ms. Santana wasn’t pleased to see me. She pulled me right into her own bedroom to screamed at me for loving man with no heart or soul. She wanted to know, “don’t you see the danger that lurks here?” She screams at me that I’ve crossed into a danger zone with Ashbrook. She went on claiming she’s very disappointed me. “I’ve thought you’re the girl who’s fighting spirit would change things and not give in to her worst enemy.”

  I’ve replied, “I love him, and Ashbrook loves me back, you don’t know him like I do now,” I whisper to her as I cry.

  “I know that guy, baby, for almost 10 years, you need to watch your step! Audra, please end it with Dante. You’re like a daughter to me.”

  “I’m sorry I can’t, Ms. Santana.” I left her speechless.

  I never told Ashbrook or anyone on what I am planning. I had to find a loophole to not get him in trouble because I had been underage while he started to take me to his bed. Mr. Corsair, Ms. Santana, Lindsay, Bryce, Britney, Lionel, Trent, Matt and I still worked on Bloodline while we hold our meetings in the dark corner of the library. Going over what had happened or who had seen coming and going from the school and the brothel. I explained to them what my grandma told me; of the murders of girls by someone to make it looked like they had committed suicide over the years.

  Because of what’s happened we finally decide to reach out to the news and see if they can investigate more than we have been able to…

  Lindsey, Lionel and I did the unthinkable we reached out via an email a CNN reporter by the name of Lori Richards. We had chosen her since she is the first woman to solo anchor a prime-time network nightly newscast, she is the best chance to get the story out, we believe.

  We were shocked, Lori emailed us right back wanting to help. She told us we would have turn over significant dirt for her to go on. So, one night on I snuck on to Ashbrook’s computer and I downloaded all the files to a flash drive while he slept. Under advisement of my attorney, I still cannot say what I found, but it makes me sick and angry at Ashbrook. However, I know I have to keep acting as if everything is okay between us… and in some messed up way, I wish it was still good. I know, I know…I am messed up…

  What Lindsey, Lionel, and I agreed to was for everything we turned over to Lori Richards stay between us three. It’s too huge for Bloodline or the school newspaper to know
.

  Christmas break was upon us quickly and the investigation was not completed so we were ordered to go on as if nothing was happening. I traveled home to visit my family and on Christmas Eve I held my new little sister, Madison. The holidays had come quickly and I was thankful for the break to allow me to forget what’s going on with school. Being able to act as a caring sister is a delight, filling my heart, I finally had the family that I had

  wished for years ago.

  I’ve started to realize that Ms. Weaver had been informed on my love affair with Dante. She was being very mean and made my life hell. She constantly made rude comments to me in and out of the classroom. I started hating her.

  It was time for the spring dance. To my surprise, Ashbrook asked for a dance with him in front of everyone. The song “Careless Whisper by Wham” began playing and we started to dance. Ashbrook was full of questions that he already knew the answers too… “had I started Bloodline, and why am I’m even in on it when I say I love him”. I began trying to tell him that I not going behind his back. I was so nervous telling Ashbrook my plan was to protect him and to not cause him to go to jail. I explained shakily… I’ve come to love him deeply. He didn’t trust my words. And really, thinking about it…how could he have?

  Ashbrook stopped dancing and told me to pick a side, him or Bloodline. I utter Bloodline because even though I love him, I still know what is right and what I have promised my friends… “I’m done with you, Audra. You’ve been sleeping with me to make me weak and foolish. I won’t tolerate you anymore!” he roared at me storming away while I stood there listened to the end of the song that always is symbolic to me.

  “So I’m never gonna dance again

  The way I danced with you

  Now that you’re gone

  Now that you’re gone

  Now that you’re gone

  What I did that was so wrong?

  So wrong that you had to leave me alone?”

  I wept right there in the middle of the dance looking like a fool.

  The next day, everyone knows the love affair between Ashbrook and myself. I have so many mixed emotions, however, I mostly didn’t care anymore what anyone thought. I’ve been hurt by him. Then I learned he had sex with Ms. Weaver right after leaving me alone on the dance floor. It’s the talk of the school, the girls in my class try read me the riot act for claiming to be someone that I wasn’t.

  I’ve tried everything to talk to Ashbrook, but he acts like I’m not there, ignoring me. How the hell did all this blow up in my face?

  Later that day, I find out Ms. Santana filled a pink slip for me to see him in his office. Ashbrook and I had the shouting match and that spread like wildfire through the school. Now causing rumors, one of them had been that we had sex after the fight, it wasn’t true. The worst one had happened to be that I had gotten pregnant by Headmaster Ashbrook. Unfortunately, that one is true, I found out I’m pregnant on the morning of the day of my Dad and Charlotte’s wedding.

  I had gone home for the wedding. It was all very romantic between Dad and Charlotte; each wrote their wedding vows giving their hearts to one another on our mansion’s grounds. The fresh spring flowers surrounded Dad and Charlotte, and they shared their first kiss as man and wife. I was moved by tears. Everybody who’s anybody had to be at the wedding of the year to the Portland’s elite. Their reception was charming and held inside our mansion grand ballroom. All of my friends were there with their parents, a few of them haven’t seen me since 8th grade. I even saw Josh, making small talk with him.

  At the end of the wedding day, I was so tired and just wanted to be alone. Perhaps it was my pregnancy, or it’s my mind was overload seeing all my beautiful friend’s together for the first time in years. All of them had been talking on the subject of their excellent high school that they all go to and their plans for college all the while I stood there being pregnant, but couldn’t’ say it out loud.

  I had to lie telling how great and superb Blue Bell is and yes, I’m thrilled to be there. I could not dare to tell all them that my Headmaster got me pregnant, the pure wickedness within the school walls. I just kept wishing that I should have had to stay home and go to high school with them. Here while telling this tale, I’ve found myself feeling that yet again.

  Sitting out on the terrace all alone to rest my mind. Grandma joined me and ask me If I had still been dreaming of Dana and had I found the box? I started to sob knowing that I let my grandma down. Telling her everything of Bloodline group and the whole Ashbrook and what had happened since last, we had talked

  “It’s had been complicated like a damn soap opera. And to put the cherry on top, I’ve taken a pregnancy test. I’m having a baby, Grandma. I am pregnant!” I whispered to her. She starts to cry hugging me close her and trying to console me. “Have you told your Dad and Charlotte or anyone?”

  “No, grandma. It’s their wedding day. I don’t want to drop it like it’s a terrible wedding gift, you two will be grandparents in 9 months.” I reply on a slight tone of voice. Looking across the estate, I could see my friends laughing about something that

  was funny between them all.

  “Do you want this baby, we can go live at our beach house, and you can have this baby, and you will never go back to that Blue Bell!” Grandma asked as she pulled my attention back to her.

  “What about being the girl who’s vow to close that damn school, prostitution ring, and sex trafficking down for once and for all, grandma,” I question her.

  “Do you want your baby, my child? We can make so that Ashbrook, never has to know this baby is his.”

  “Yes, I do with all my heart and soul. But I have to go back there to finish my mission. Afterward, I want to hide with you, Grandma and have my baby. Give me a few weeks, I will get out for good. I know I got into Dartmouth, but doesn’t matter to me, now. I had enough school drama to last a lifetime. I can go to Mt. Hood Community College. It will take me some time

  with a baby.”

  “Alright, we will figure out how you can go back to school once you’ve had the baby. Be careful now you have two souls within you, my Audra.”

  I returned to Blue Bell knowing, I had to act fast and I had to go into the woods that I came to fear the first chance I had. I quietly tell Ms. Santana and Lindsey that I’m pregnant and ask them to keep it to themselves. At a Bloodline meeting, I’ve apprised that I’ll be going to that trap door in the woods all by myself to prevent anyone else from being harmed. Mr. Corsair, Ms. Santana, Lindsay, Bryce, Britney, Lionel, Trent, and Matt gave me a hard time, objecting to my mission. Calling this a suicide mission for me to go on alone, they insisted that a guy must go with me. I’ve told them this “I know what I am getting into but I need to do this on my own.” No one was happy. It was against all of their better judgments for them to let me do this.

  Lionel and Lindsey bug me to go along with me all week, I always told them no. It’s my calling not there’s! I finally break down and explain to them that I’m the one that Dana come to me in dreams. In fact, they all warn me every time they see me.

  Ms. Santana reminded me I have another life in me. Like I didn’t know that…ugh…

  I told her that I’m aware of it and nothing will stop me. Ashbrook and I haven’t spoked a word to each other since I’ve returned from the wedding. I hardly ever see him in the halls and I know that Ms. Weaver is with him now. Chloe told me, he’s spending a lot of time at the brothel, drinking, have lots of sex with all of the girl’s right under Ms. Weaver’s nose.

  Ashbrook wanted her as well. She turns him down, told him no because she’s my friend. He did own it, after all. Ashbrook forced her one night. Chloe told me she worried it might hurt me to know. I told her, she didn’t and I was much more worried about what he did to her…. Chloe claimed she felt Ashbrook had turned into a real monster now; something dangerous behind his eyes. She and Lindsay are terrified of Ashbrook and the way he is acting at the brothel.

  Receiving an email from Lori Ric
hards that same week, she is coming to meet us three by the side of the main road outside of the school to talk to us and pick up the flash drive to review on the same night that I want to go in the woods. They me told to put it off, but I say no because time was of the essence for me. We planned that Lindsay and Lionel would meet Lori to give her the flash drive and talk with her. I will go under that trap door for the last time to close Blue Bell for good.

  The night of my journey into the woods came. Handing the flash drive to Lindsay while we hugged each other wishing good luck to another. Lionel ran to me, and he passionately kisses me on the lips, telling me that he always loved me. I was speechless

  walking away saying nothing to Lionel.

  I went into these woods for last time wearing a backpack, holding a camping lantern. Frightened of what will become of me. I’ve made sure that no one-tailed me. Hiking fast looking for the trap door. It took a good three hours to find the trap door.

  I’ve got that same sick feeling that something horrible will happen after I go in there. Taking a long deep breath in, letting it out. Opening the door and climbing in. I began looking for something that Dana had been telling me about, that box. The room looked the same as I found it years ago, a full-size bloody bed. Pictures of dead nude girls on the walls. Like they were champion trophies. Smelling like hell, looking the same as I remember. Why did the Police never take everything out of this devil hole just after we found the bodies? My heart is pounding.

  “Dana, where is it? Where’s did you hide it years ago!” I yell aloud.

  “Under that rug, Audra.” hearing her voice in my mind and but yet, I looked around for Dana.