by A. Giacomi
The match goes out, leaving me with a painful sore, which starts to heal and disappear immediately. Yeah, that’s what I thought it would do. Just couldn’t help checking it out.
I light another match and throw it into the garbage bin; the clothes catch fire rather quickly. As the small flames devour my shirt, I get in the shower and start to wash last night off my skin.
Blood pours off of me and down into the drain. I hope to hell it’s mine, but how can I be sure?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
ALEX
While Eve is showering, I try to keep busy. I clean our room, because whenever I’m agitated, the first thing I do is pick up some cleaning products. I find cleaning soothing.
As I Windex our full-length mirror, Cam watches the crowd below our window. He mentions that police officers are checking out the scene, taking pictures, collecting evidence, and beginning to clean up. I try not to listen too closely or I may have a heart attack. I just pray that none of this will connect to Eve.
It is scary knowing that my friend is in trouble and I can’t even protect her from herself.
As if I’m not agitated enough, the phone rings and makes me leap half a foot off the ground. I pick it up reluctantly. “Hello?”
Cam gazes over at me, his eyes begging to know who it is. “It’s Eve’s mom,” I whisper as I cover the receiver.
Cam walks off to the other end of the room, muttering sarcastically, “Fantastic!”
Mrs. Brenner’s voice is smooth and sweet as she delivers her news. “Hi, Alex honey, I’m afraid I have some bad news. Well, I guess it depends on how you look at it. Is Camy there with you?”
I make a face, which makes Cam look worried. I try to change it, but it’s too late. It’s obvious that this can’t be good.
I hand Cam the phone and wait for the aftermath. This day really can’t get any better.
After saying hello and listening for a few seconds, Cam begins to fight back tears.
Oh no, Cam never cries. I immediately go to him; he pushes me away, and I resort to sitting near him and waiting until he’s ready for my support.
He covers his face, trying to conceal his pain and his tears. I wish I knew what the news is. The suspense is killing me.
I take the phone from him once I realize he’s in too rough a state to continue talking to Mrs. Brenner.
“Hi, Jane, it’s me again. Cam needs a minute. What can I do?”
Mrs. Brenner exhales a large sigh. “There is nothing to do. Next will be the funeral arrangements. Alex, his dad was found outside of his house in pieces. It’s like some animal got hold of him. What animal does that? It’s some kind of monster.” I hear her choke back a few of her own tears.
I breathe unevenly and ask my next question. “Are they certain it was an animal? Is it possible he was murdered?” I’m not sure I want to know anymore. My hands shake as I wait for her response.
“Between you and me, I really don’t think the cops will look too far into this. Henry wasn’t a very good man. No one in town liked him much. So it would be a rather large list of suspects if anyone even cared to pursue it. They won’t suspect Cam because he has an alibi. He’s been at school, and you ladies can vouch for that.”
“So that’s it then?” I say with mixed relief and nausea.
“I think the case is closed. We’re just trying to help with the funeral arrangements now. We realize this is a lot for Cam, so tell him not to worry. Momma Brenner will handle everything.”
That woman must be some kind of angel.
“Thanks, Jane. I will talk to him when he’s a little more stable. Bye.” I hang up with a whimper. I don’t think Cam has made the connection yet, and I am thankful for that. It will be too much for him to handle right now.
He is crumpled up on Eve’s bed with his head in his hands. “Cam, I’m so sorry,” is all I can think to say. They are probably some of the most useless words at a time like this, but I just want him to know I care.
He looks up at me and seems as lost as a five-year-old in a department store.
“I know he was a horrible, horrible man, and I’m stupid, so stupid for being upset right now. I just can’t help it. He was all I had left, you know? He was still my father. Now I’m really alone. I have nothing.”
Cam doesn’t cry anymore, and he doesn’t speak. He simply gets up and leaves.
I don’t chase after him. I know he probably needs a long walk and then something to punch. I don’t feel the need to be the second item on that list.
My thoughts are now back on Eve. Why isn’t she done showering yet? We really need to talk. I hope she can remember something from last night. She needs to tell me she hasn’t done this, but I feel very secure in the knowledge I possess. I just really hope I am wrong.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
EVE
I finally find the courage to step out of the bathroom and out of my pity party momentarily. As I exit, I find Alex lying on her bed staring at the ceiling. I notice that Cam is gone, and I get this strange vibe that something more is up.
I sit next to Alex, about to ask my first string of questions, but then there is a knock at the door. Our eyes dart towards the door simultaneously. I’m only in a towel, but I can give less of a shit right now. I stomp towards the door and pull it open so fast I think I startle Claire Madison.
Our snooty, prissy, stalker Dorm Leader—or Overlord, as I like to call her—stands before me. Just the look of her makes me ill. She always has a smug smile or a know-it-all grin on her face.
What a bitch!
“What’s up, Claire?” I ask as impatiently as possible.
I feel Alex come up behind me in her watchful way. I know she is making sure I won’t say or do anything stupid.
Claire still seems a bit stunned as I tap my foot, maybe by my tone or how viciously I opened the door. I really just want to slam the door in her face.
“Um, yes hi. Just wanted to check in on you ladies. I’m sure you’ve heard all the commotion downstairs? Quite a scene, huh? Well, I’m glad you ladies are okay.”
Sure she is. I roll my eyes right in front of her.
She’s not turning to leave, so I’m guessing she wants to say more. Just great!
“Is Cam here, by any chance? I wanted to drop off the sci-fi movie night flier for him. I checked his dorm, but he wasn’t there.”
What a creeper. She has no shame.
I grab the flier out of her hand and tell her, “Yup, I will absolutely make sure Cam gets this. Thanks so much.”
I’m about to shut the door when I see her beginning to sniff the air.
What the hell is she doing? I raise an eyebrow and look at Alex. She shrugs.
Claire continues to sniff the air until she arrives at the bathroom door. She turns around and crosses her arms at us. “You ladies know the rules of this dorm, right?”
Oh, there is that smug-as-shit look again. I could just tear her face off.
“Why do I smell smoke coming from your bathroom? Smoking inside the dorm rooms is a safety hazard and is prohibited!”
My blood is boiling, and Alex knows that I’m about to flip out, which is why she’s holding my arm in a very beseeching way.
Sorry, Alex, I have my limits!
“Okay, Claire bear, it’s an aromatherapy candle, and you can bite me! I know you’re hoping to find something scandalous, but you won’t, okay?! Now leave before I…”
Claire only smiles more when I say this. “Before you do what, exactly? I’m just following protocol, and you just gave me a reason to watch you closer.”
She turns to leave, but before her grand exit, she adds a platinum blonde hair flip and throws us a quick line.
“Oh and ladies, Cam really shouldn’t be sleeping over. I better not find him here again. This is a ladies’ only dormitory. You could be expelled,
you know?”
With the final word, she makes her way out the door and down the hall.
She may not turn around or care, but I still yell some choice words after her. One of my favourites is “stupid tits.” Not very mature, I admit, but I have never been the most mature person.
I know Claire doesn’t want Cam here because she is a jealous psycho who doesn’t want anyone else to have him.
Alex looks at me, horrified. “Was that all very necessary, Eve? I mean, we’re already in a heap of shit over here. Do we need more enemies? Do we?”
I can see the truth in what she is saying and feel a little bad, but only slightly.
“Sorry, Alex, I’ll try to control my temper a bit better next time. Why did she stop by looking for Cam, anyway?”
Alex bites her lip. “Well, he’s sort of going on a date with her next week.”
I think my head nearly pops off my shoulders.
“What?!” I exclaim in total shock.
Alex waves her hands in a “keep it down” manner.
“When we were looking for you last night, she showed up and wouldn’t leave until Cam promised her some one-on-one time. He made the supreme sacrifice.”
I slap my forehead in disbelief. “Oh, Al, how could you let him do that for me? Poor guy has to go on a date with his crazy stalker? Really!? Oh, we’re terrible friends.”
Alex hugs me with a bit of a chuckle. “Well, Cam’s an extremely good friend, if you think about it… Look, Eve, let’s forget about Claire for a second. We have more important things to talk about. For one, do you remember anything about last night yet?”
I close my eyes and try to remember. I squeeze my brain hard, but all I can see is a vague image of me running. I can’t remember a location or anything.
“No hun, I don’t remember anything yet.”
Alex looks at me, a bit flustered. “Well, I hope you remember soon. I really think you might have done something horrible last night, and I hope it’s not true.”
“Like what, Al?”
She looks at the floor and chooses her next words carefully. “Eve, I got a call this morning from your mom. She said Cam’s dad is dead. Some animal attacked him and tore him apart last night.”
The silence is heavy after that. I can understand what she’s saying, but I don’t want to believe it. I think I sit there horrified for a long time.
When I snap out of it, I ask, “Is my appointment still on with Dr. August tomorrow?”
She nods. “Yeah, it’s still on alright. We need some answers before this all gets even worse. I sure hope he can help.”
All I can think is, Me too!
CHAPTER TWENTY
ALEX
The next day, I drag Eve to Dr. August’s office. Cam doesn’t join us; he doesn’t feel like being around anyone yet. I understand but hope it will pass because I desperately need his help. I glance over at Eve before we enter the office. I can sense she’s afraid to tell Dr. August anything, but we have to try something.
“Eve, it will be fine,” I say, but she doesn’t seem reassured.
Dr. August answers the door immediately and hugs us both like long lost family.
“Great to see you too, Doc,” Eve says with a giggle, which I join in on.
Dr. August always knows how to keep things light, even things of a more serious nature.
“Come have a seat, ladies, and we’ll talk about whatever you need to! I haven’t seen you ladies in quite some time. We need to catch up!”
Eve looks a bit green. I don’t think she’ll start talking voluntarily, so I try to kick us off.
“Dr. August, we noticed something strange about Eve after we returned from Egypt. I’m sure you remember what happened to her?”
“Of course, I do! How is the scar doing, Eve? I hope it didn’t heal badly. Let me see.”
Eve immediately covers her arm with her hand, which leaves Dr. August with a baffled look on his face.
After a few awkward moments, I coax Eve to show him. She rolls up her sleeve and raises her arm to him without a word or any eye contact. Dr. August observes the arm carefully and touches its surface, almost intrigued. When he’s done, he sits back in his chair with an air of disbelief.
“How did you manage to heal so quickly and without a mark to show for it? I must know your secret!” He says it half joking but must notice we don’t share in his hilarity because he’s quick to hide his smirk.
“Eve, talk to me. Tell me everything, dear.”
She has trouble looking at him, but at least she starts talking.
“There’s so much to say. Where do I begin?” She bites her lip nervously then begins her list of events. “I was healed by the plane ride home. It was so strange. Also, a few weeks back, I was hit by a car and experienced the same type of rapid healing. I burned my finger this morning and watched it heal faster than ever. I feel nauseous most days. When I eat I’m never full. Except for this morning, I felt great!”
I give Eve a look of disgust because I have a very good clue as to why she might be feeling so good today. Ewww.
Eve bows her head shamefully as if she’s read my thoughts.
I look back at Dr. August to find that his mouth is hanging wide open.
“This is not possible, Eve! You must show me!” He looks a bit pale.
Eve hesitates for a moment, then shrugs. “Sure, what the hell. Hand me a match, Doc. I’ll show you something interesting.”
Dr. August shuffles through his drawer and finds a lighter. He hands it to Eve with shaking hands.
Eve ignites the lighter and holds the flame under her left palm. She cringes and moans as her flesh bubbles but keeps the lighter steady, making the burn as severe as possible. I gag as the smell of burning flesh fills the room; I have never smelt that before and will be glad to never smell it again.
It seems like she’s holding the lighter on that one spot forever. She must really want to show us the full extent of this healing talent.
When she raises her palm to us, I almost throw up. Her skin is badly blistered, a bit charred, and bleeding. It looks disgusting.
“Now watch carefully,” she says, as though she’s a magician introducing a magic trick.
I stare as the blisters begin to shrink. The skin becomes pinker, and all evidence of injury disappears before I can say, “Mississippi.”
We stare in disbelief and awe.
The silence is broken when Dr. August abruptly jumps out of his chair and begins to pace back and forth, mumbling, “This is not possible,” over and over.
“Please, Doctor, tell us something. We need your help,” I beg, hoping he will calm down and not call any other doctors to check on Eve.
When he finally sits back down, he does not look like the same cheerful man. He takes Eve’s hand from across his desk. “I am so sorry, darling. If this is what I fear it is, then there is no cure. I must go now, ladies, but if you return tomorrow morning, I shall tell you, show you, everything.”
He leaves the office in a hurry, leaving us wide-eyed and dumbfounded.
“He knows something, Alex. I can’t believe he knows something.”
Eve looks as though someone has just died. I can sense she may never be the same after tomorrow’s revelation. What life can she imagine beyond this strange new illness? Blessing? Curse? I’m not a negative person, but I am realistic, and I know in my soul that this can only get worse.
***
I hug her as we walk back to the dorm. She accepts my embrace and my silence.
When we arrive back, I encourage her to get some rest, and as she naps, I pray that she may get some kind of normal back in her life someday. But how will that ever happen?
Eve can never return to her old life. I know this, and I cry in the bathroom with that realization. I won’t dare let Eve hear my sobs of concern.
I’m sure she has enough of her own tears to shed.
What Eve needs right now is strong friends, friends that can handle anything, and I am hoping I can be that for her. I don’t know if she will still be Eve after all this, and I might not know how to save her, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
EVE
It’s Alex’s turn for a shower, and I am thankful for the time alone, even just to stare at the ceiling and not talk about my current state for a little while.
My favourite poster is positioned above me, and there is a small visitor climbing over it. A tiny spider crawls around in search of something, and I’m sure I watch him walk from one end of the ceiling to the other.
My spider-watch is interrupted by a knock on the door. What now? I really don’t feel like answering, but I hope it is Cam, so I rise to check it out.
When I open the door, I am supremely disappointed to find Claire on the other side. She really doesn’t have anything better to do, does she?
“Hi, Claire, what’s up?” I try to say it in the politest way possible, but it doesn’t sound as sincere as I intend.
She ignores my greeting and gets right to the point. “Is Cameron here?”
Oh right, she probably wants to discuss “date night” with Cam.
“You know he doesn’t live here, right? Did you check his dorm?” She looks a bit frustrated. As frustrated as a kitten can look, I suppose.
“I tried his dorm. His roommate Mark said he hadn’t been there all day. So I thought I would check here…” Her explanation continues, but I can’t seem to focus on anything else but her mouth moving.
My glance moves all over her face. Her cheeks are full but not full enough. Her arms look fuller and soft. I think I stare too long and start drooling because Claire’s pretty face looks especially concerned when I look back up.
I think I see her mouth the words, “You okay?” and then I lose it.
This insatiable hunger hits me all at once, and I can’t resist tearing into that lovely fleshy arm. I feel my teeth hit the flesh, and it excites me. Something inside me is alive.