Marked for Damnation

by S.A. Tadej

  Devin slowly led me through the thick trees. Although the whole area couldn’t of been more than thirty or so acres, it felt like a small forest. Turn back; the soft angelic male voice repeated itself in my head. Again I ignored it.

  Devin finally stopped at a small clearing in the middle of all the trees. He sat down atop a thick fallen tree trunk. I stood there staring at him, feeling more than a bit awkward. I had been with Jim for two years. He had been my only “real” boyfriend. Standing here now alone with Devin, I wasn’t sure how to act. So I just stood there stupidly. Devin patted the spot next to him. “Come sit by me,” he whispered. My legs felt shaky as I made my way over to him. As I took a seat, he smiled at me and my nervousness eased a bit. “So tell me about yourself.”

  I started telling him a little bit about my life. I was impressed with how intent he seemed to be listening. My pulse quickened as he moved his body closer to mine. His face was only about an inch away from mine now. He gazed into my eyes as I continued speaking. Without warning he leaned forward and barely touched my lips with his own. A thrill like an electric shock went through my body. I moaned and cleared my throat.

  “So, I’ve told you all about myself. Now it’s your turn,” I said.

  “What do you want to know?” Devin asked.

  “Everything,” I laughed.

  “There’s not really much to tell. I don’t remember much of my childhood.”

  “Well, do you have any brothers or sisters, aside from Damien?”

  “Damien’s not my real brother,” he snickered. “And yeah, I had a sister. She’s dead now. End of story.”

  “So is Damien your step brother then?”

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  With his evasive answers and the expression on his face, I could see that Devin wasn’t comfortable talking about himself. So I decided to give up for now. “We should get go...” I started to say as he cut me off with another kiss, this one a bit rougher. He inched away slowly, his gaze still on my face as I tried to catch my breath.

  A few moments later Devin rose and reached for my hand, helping me up. We walked slowly hand in hand back to my car where Gina and Damien were already waiting. Devin stopped a few feet from them, dropped my hand and turned to face me. He lightly ran his fingers through my hair, cupping the back of my head as he drew me closer. “I really like you, Nicole,” he whispered into my ear. He released his hold on me and grinned.

  At a loss for words, I just smiled and looked down, walking briskly back to my car. I started my car and sat watching Devin and Damien walk back towards the trees. That’s strange. Where’s his truck? I thought as I turned on the radio to glance at the time. “Oh my God, Gina, it’s nearly 3:00 am. We better hurry back. My mother is going to kill me,” I said as I put the car in drive and turned around, my tires spinning in the gravel.

  “So how was it?” Gina asked.

  I glanced over at Gina. “It was great. Devin is really sweet. And oh my God, so handsome!” I exclaimed. “How did you like Damien?”

  “He’s really cute and all, but I don’t think he really liked me.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Well he didn’t really talk to me much, just stared at me. It felt kind of awkward.”

  “Oh, Gina, you worry too much. He’s probably just shy.”

  “Maybe.”

  I cut the headlights before turning into my driveway. I parked the car near the back door, thinking it would be easier to go in unnoticed through the kitchen. Gina and I tiptoed through the kitchen and turned the corner to the stairs.

  “Where the hell have you been?”

  My heart jumped. A light turned on. Tommy was sitting in the recliner holding a beer bottle. “Jesus, Tommy, you scared me!” I exclaimed as I put my hand over my heart.

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  I looked over at Gina. “I was with Gina,” I said, motioning to my friend. “Duh.”

  “It’s almost 4:00 in the morning. From now on when you go out I wanna know where and with who.”

  “You’re not my father, Tommy,” I replied coldly as I grabbed Gina’s arm and headed up the stairs. I was so mad that he just embarrassed me in front of my friend by treating me like a child.

  “I’m not kidding, Nicole!” he yelled after me.

  “So how did it go?” Damien asked Devin.

  “There’s something different about her. She’s not like the others,” Devin responded.

  “Thought your charms worked on all women?” Damien said as he smiled sarcastically.

  “No, that’s not what I meant.”

  “Well, what did you mean then?”

  “I’m not sure really,” Devin continued. “Like I said, there is something different about her.”

  “Maybe she’s the one Kya’s been looking for?” Damien wondered aloud.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t play dumb, Devin. You know what I’m talking about – the one with the mark.”

  Devin laughed. “Yeah, sure.”

  “Well don’t bring me along next time. I don’t have your control. I almost bit her friend’s head off.”

  Devin laughed again.

  “I don’t get it anyways. How come you don’t just kill them?” Damien continued.

  “You know I like to have fun with the pretty ones.”

  “Yeah, but why? Aren’t you afraid one of these times the girl will figure you out? And besides our orders are to kill the weak and turn the strong. Don’t forget that.”

  Devin laughed. “It’s the thrill of the chase. A hunting game really. I love the look of surprise when they find out what I am. And no, I haven’t forgotten my orders. I’m still obeying them. I don’t see any harm in having some fun while carrying them out.”

  Damien snickered and shook his head. “Come on. Lets go hunt. I’m hungry.”

  Chapter 5

  I had just finished eating dinner and doing the dishes when the telephone rang. “Hello?” I said as I answered the kitchen phone.

  “Nicole?” the familiar female voice said.

  “Yes, this is Nicole.”

  “Hi. This is Nora Waters calling again.”

  “Oh, hi. Have you found Jim?” There was a brief pause on the line. “Mrs. Waters, are you there?”

  “No, we haven’t found Jim. That was the reason I was calling. We’re organizing a search party to look for him. I was hoping that you would help.”

  “Yes, of course. When and where?” I asked.

  “Tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. on Old Farm Road. We figured we’d start there since that’s where his car was found.”

  “Okay, Mrs. Waters. See you then.”

  I hung up the phone feeling eerie. Jim still hadn’t returned home. Shivers crept down my spine as I realized that it had been five days since he had failed to return home. What if he was...? No! I refused to let my mind go there. Still, despite my attempts to stop it, images of the found skulls entered my mind. I have to clear my head; I thought as I grabbed my purse and keys and headed out the door.

  It was just starting to get dark when I got into my car and took off. I didn’t realize where I was going until I got there. The tire marks leading to the ditch came into view. Another vehicle was there. Tommy? What in the world was he doing here? He couldn’t possibly know that Jim hadn’t been found yet. I had only just found out myself.

  I parked my car over on the side of the road in front of Tommy’s and got out. Where was he? I shivered as images of what my brother had done to Jim after he hit me entered my mind. ‘I’ll kill you if you ever go near my sister again’. Isn’t that what he had said? But Tommy hadn’t known about Jim coming to the diner. How could he have? I never told him. So as far as he knew, Jim hadn’t come near me. Well, until I admitted it to my mother a few days ago. But that was after Jim was already missing.

  I to
ok my first step into the corn stalks, the gentle breeze whisking across the tops. I felt something slap me on the shoulder. My heart jumped as I quickly spun around. Corn stalks. It was only the top of the stalks slapping me in the wind. I caught my breath and resumed walking. A howl. That same blood curdling howl I had heard just days before. I shivered and pulled the zipper all the way up on the sweat jacket I was wearing. I looked out toward the endless rows of corn. What was that? I squinted to see but it was impossible at the distance I was at. I reached in my pocket and pulled out the tiny flashlight I had brought along. I flicked it on and turned it in the direction of the shadow I saw. A person? Tommy? No, the figure looked too wide to be Tommy! Jim perhaps? “Jim!” I called out as I ran in the direction of the person. “Jim! It’s me Nicole!” I shouted. “I’m so glad I found you.”

  As I drew nearer, I stopped dead in my tracks. It wasn’t Jim. What I saw surprised me. My heart thudded loudly in my chest. “Oh my God,” I whispered and swallowed hard. My legs felt like jelly and I thought I would pass out. When I finally willed my legs to move, I took off in a sprint. “Help! Somebody help!” I screamed as I tore through the corn stalks, each one slapping me wildly as I ran. I dared a look behind me and saw that he was running too, quickly gaining on me.

  I pushed my body to run faster, not looking back this time until I reached my car. What was that? He was carrying something. Shivers ran down my spine. I jumped in my car, struggling to get the key in the ignition with my shaking hands. I finally managed and the car roared to a start. I put the shifter in drive, floored the gas and quickly pulled back onto the road. Everything seemed to be in slow motion. I saw the headlights behind me and heard the horn beeping. Darkness.

  ***

  What was that horrible beeping noise? I opened my eyes and looked around. My mother was sitting next to me holding my hand. I tried to get up but felt a pulling sensation when I moved my arm. I looked down at my arm and saw an IV taped down to my hand. I looked at my mother again and her eyes widened.

  “Nicole!” she exclaimed as she squeezed my hand.

  “Mom,” I whispered. “Where am I?”

  “You’re in the hospital, sweetie.”

  “What am I doing here?” I asked, the weakness of my voice startling me.

  “You were in a car accident.”

  “Oh,” I said sleepily as my eyes closed again. A few moments later my eyes shot open. “Jim! I was looking for Jim. I have to find him, mom. I have to find him before it’s too late.”

  My mother looked over at me as she fought back tears. “Nicole, I’m sorry. Jim is...” her voice trailed off and she looked down, tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “Jim is what, mother?” I demanded, deep down already knowing the answer.

  “They found Jim’s body a few days ago, sweetie. I’m sorry,” my mother replied as she wiped tears from the corners of her eyes and leaned over to hug me.

  The image of Jim’s corpse crept into my mind. I shuddered. Then I remembered. Tommy. I had seen Tommy. He had had blood on him and he was carrying something big. I began to cry. Wait. Did my mother say they found his body a few days ago? Yes, she did. But that was impossible. Mrs. Waters had just called me that evening about the search party tomorrow.

  “Mom, that’s impossible. I was just out looking for him today.”

  She stared at me. “Nicole, honey, you have been in and out of consciousness the past three days.”

  I closed my eyes and felt a throbbing pain in my head. Yes, the car accident. Now I remembered. A horn blaring. Bright lights. Tires screeching on the pavement. The horrible crunch of metal. My head hitting the windshield. Glass breaking. Sirens. More lights.

  I looked over at my mother. “Was anyone else hurt?”

  “No, the driver of the other vehicle just had some minor cuts and bruises. He was treated and released.

  “Was it someone we know?”

  “No, it was some guy from out of town just passing through.”

  “How’s my car?”

  “Well you got bumped pretty hard in the rear. Tommy said the engine and all is still intact but it’s gonna need a lot of body work.”

  Tommy. Tommy opening my car door. ‘Don’t move, Nicole. We’re gonna get you some help. Just don’t move, okay?’ That’s what he had said to me. Red smears on his shirt. Yes, it was blood. I was sure of it.

  A knock at the door shook me out of my thoughts. A short, plump, balding man with thick glasses appeared. “How ya doing, Nicole? It’s good to see that you’re awake. I’m Dr. Phillips,” he said as he appeared next to my bed and offered his hand. He turned toward my mother. “Mrs. Lambert, hello.”

  She smiled and nodded.

  “Well, you suffered a pretty nasty bump to the head. Aside from that and a few cuts, scratches, and bruises, I’d say you were pretty lucky,” Dr. Phillips said. He turned toward my mother. “The CT scan showed some mild swelling but there shouldn’t be any permanent damage.” Then he turned back to me. “Well I’d say somebody was watching over you. I read the accident report and technically your injuries should have been much more severe. With the speed the other driver was doing when you pulled in front of him, it’s a miracle you didn’t fly through the windshield.”

  “When do I get to go home?” I interrupted.

  “Well your vitals all look good, so possibly tomorrow morning,” Dr. Phillips said as he retrieved a small flashlight from his coat pocket. He turned it on. “Okay, Nicole. I want you to follow the light. Can you do that for me?”

  “Yes,” I said as I rolled my eyes.

  My mother laughed. “Well, Doc, I’d say she’s already getting back to her old self. Her old sarcasm is returning.” I glared at my mother and she started laughing harder. “See what I mean?”

  “Well I should really call your brother and let him know that you’re awake now,” mom said as she reached for her cell phone and tried unsuccessfully to make the call. “Oh, right. Cell phones don’t work in the hospital.” She looked over at me. “Honey, excuse me for a moment. I’m just gonna step outside for a quick cigarette and call Tommy.” She leaned over me and kissed the top of my head.

  I waved my mother away and closed my eyes. The accident repeated itself in my mind again. This time it was slightly different though. Something shoved me back. Yes, I remembered it. Just as my head hit the windshield, something had pushed me back to my seat. It had a slight human form, but it was misty, like I could put my hand right through it. This bright white light with blue edges surrounded it. Although the body was misty, I could see the eyes clearly. They were blue. But not like any blue eyes I had ever seen. They were bright yet dark at the same time and seemed to glow. That doesn’t make sense, Nicole. But I knew it was true. I hadn’t been wearing my seatbelt. My car didn’t have airbags. Like Dr. Phillips had said, I should have flown right through the windshield. But “it” had stopped me –a bright white shimmering ball of light with bright blue eyes in it. Great, Nicole. Maybe they should examine my head a little more.

  I felt something cold in my fingers and realized I was holding onto the St. Michael medal I always wore around my neck. I forced the image of the accident from my mind and reached over for the TV remote, clicking it on. The news was on. I only half listened as they talked about big storms heading for the area. Then they started saying something about rising gas prices. I picked up a magazine that lay on the table next to me and started skimming through it. The next headline caught my attention. I dropped the magazine in my lap and it slid onto the floor.

  I sat there with my eyes wide and my mouth open as I listened intently. Funeral arrangements have been made for local college football star, Jim Waters. A photo of Jim in his football uniform was displayed in the upper right corner of the TV screen. Jim’s body had been found in a farmer’s field earlier this week, drained of all blood, along with the bodies of tw
o young females whom have yet to be identified. Authorities are saying that it resembles the deaths of the three young ladies in Memphis, Missouri. Could we have a wild animal at hand? Or do we have a sadistic serial killer at large?

  I brought my knees up to my chest and held them tightly to my body. The shakes hit me in a rush, my whole body suddenly trembling. Hot tears streamed down my face as I thought of Jim. Drained of all blood. What kind of sick, sadistic person could do such a thing? An image of Tommy entered my head. Blood. He had blood on his hands and on his shirt. “Please, God, no!” I shuddered as I tried to shake the image from my mind.

  “Well your brother has been doing the body work on your car. He said it’s going well and he should be finished soon,” my mother said as she reappeared in the hospital room. I just shrugged. I didn’t feel like talking about Tommy at the moment. “Oh, and your brother has a surprise for you when you get home.”

  Great.

  Chapter 6

  “Hey, sis! Good to see you back home. I came to see you last night but you were knocked out,” Tommy said as he looked me over. The way I looked at him bothered him. Was that fear he saw in my eyes? But why in the world would I be afraid of him of all people? Tommy reached for my arm and I pulled it back, that same uncertain look in my eyes.

  Tommy backed off and swallowed hard. “Um, I have a surprise for you.” I kept my distance and stood there staring at him suspiciously, trying to read past his spoken words. Tommy exhaled loudly. “Okay then. I’ll be right back,” he said as he ran up the stairs.

  A few moments later Tommy came creeping down the stairs holding a large golden retriever. I took a closer look and noticed that its paw was wrapped in gauze. Tommy laid her down gently on the carpet. I kneeled down to pet the dog. I lightly ran my fingers over the bandage and the dog whined. My heart sank. “Oh you poor thing! What happened to you?”

  “I found her out in the fields the night of your accident. I could see that she was hurt badly, so I brought her home and cleaned her up.”

  Found her in the fields. Hurt badly. Oh my God! That’s what he was carrying and that’s where the blood came from. I mean what was wrong with me? How could I suspect my own brother? I knew him better than that. Tommy could never kill anyone.