Lake Redstone

by Hollyfield, J. D.

You know what? To heck with this. I’m outta here. If they all want to be slaughtered and end up on the wall of heads, that’s their problem. I throw my daggered eyes at Jim. “I’m leaving. You can come or stay. But I’m leaving.” He looks at me, then like a scaredy cat, steals a glance at Mick, who’s lining the cement island with red solo cups. “Oh, give me a break!” I throw my hands up.

  The door opens, and I turn toward it, hoping it’s Jerry. He’ll leave with me. As long as he doesn’t see those brownies. Instead, Redelle walks in. She stops next to Jim, standing way too close for my liking, spiking my already sharpened mood. She’s not small by any means, so when she leans into him, her head dips almost an inch to meet Jim’s ear.

  “If she’s leaving, you can show me how you take it.”

  My eyes almost burst. “Excuse me?” I hiss. Jim’s full mouth of beer expels all over Katie’s back. “What did you just say to my boyfriend?”

  “I said, if you’re leaving, maybe he can teach me how to play it. The game? I’ve never played. Big cups. Do you fill them to the rim?”

  I can’t even bother to pat Jim on the back as he continues to choke on his drink. Between my mindless friends and my mindless fake boyfriend and now this mindless Big Red hussy, who is trying to hit on my fake boyfriend in front of me, may I add, I’m gonna lose it! He might not be mine in reality, but he’s mine for the weekend, and I don’t plan on sharing him with anyone. Just the thought of her slimy hands near him has my jealousy radar ready to snap off the charts. “You know what?” I stick my chest out on a pout, throwing my arm around Jim. “I’m actually gonna stay.” Because I’m over the top, I lean in and lick his neck. Pulling back, I say, “He only likes when I show him how to take it anyway.” What? Ugh, that made no sense!

  Jim’s chest rumbles in a low chuckle as I tug him toward the table away from her hungry eyes and settle in a spot next to Poppy, which ends up being a rookie mistake because it leaves the other side of Jim open for Big Red.

  “How romantic, did you save a spot for me? Want to show me how you take it after all.”

  “I heard that!” I snap, sloping over the table to snarl at her.

  “I’m sorry, I just don’t understand how to play the game. Nothing wrong with asking a kind gentleman how to play it.” She bats her fake spider looking eyelashes at me.

  Does she think I’m dumb? “Yeah, the problem is you’re not asking him how to play it!” I snap, snatching up my solo cup and chugging the small amount of beer in it.

  “Hey! That’s for the game. No cheating.” Mick refills my cup. Bringing his hands together, he swipes them back and forth. “All right, let’s pair up and get this game started.” He surveys the teams as two random guests straggle in. One takes a spot next to Big Red while the other goes across from Mick. “Wait, not even teams. Yo, Katie, you and Jim gotta swap to the other side.”

  Ha! Take that, Big Red.

  Jim turns to me, gripping me by the waist and hauling me into him. My breath hitches as my breasts smash up against his hard chest. His head dips, and I melt in his arms, unable to pull my eyes away from his soft lips. “See ya on the flipside.” And then he kisses me hard and quick. He releases me, and I sway, taking a bit too long to recover. It’s been so long—okay, maybe never—since a guy’s kiss affected me in the way Jim’s does. My eyes slowly reopen as he makes it to the opposite side of the table. And he seals the deal as he winks at me, causing a massive flutter of butterflies in my belly.

  Poppy tilts into me. “You two are really cute together.”

  I’m still staring at him. He’s still staring at me. “Yeah, we are,” I reply as realization hits me. We are kinda cute together. He makes me laugh. He’s kind. He seems totally accepting to my unstable ways—and he’s so darn talented. The way he sang and played that guitar not only melted the panties right off me but left me with this deep level of appreciation and pride. We both share the same love for music, admittedly suck at charades, and care deeply for our friends. Ever since he confessed he’d like to go out on actual date once this is all said and done, in the back of my mind, I haven’t stopped thinking about it. What would I wear? Where would he take me? Definitely no Mexican on the first date. Spicy food is a toss-up for me. Oh my god, a date! My belly twirls like a ballerina at her dance recital, thinking about going on my first date with the boy I have a crush on. Do I have a crush on Jim? Yeah, he’s not real, but he is. This could all be an act. He was hired to be this way. My brows crease at the thought. What if I’m acting foolish? What if this is all make believe and I’m being naïve?

  My mood, like the titanic, plummets, and that warm, fluttery feeling ices over. My eyes harden, and I pull my frigid stare away from Jim. I pick up my cup and slam back the small amount of beer.

  “Casey, knock it off!” Mick complains and refills my cup. I slam it back again. Poppy fights the cup out of my hand and places it away from me.

  “Babe, you okay?” I look back at Jim, still wearing that cute, carefree smile. No, everything is not okay, I want you to actually like me and wanna date me, because even though I paid you to be here, I really want you to like me.

  “Yep, just dandy,” I reply instead. He doesn’t buy my answer because his eyes transform, holding a bit of concern in them.

  “Pity. Still uneven. I’ll just have to go to the other side.” Big Hussy interrupts the moment as she slithers her way across the table next to Jim. Leaning in, her voice husky as she says, “So, open wide and take a big gulp? Is that how it works?”

  I’m going to murder her. I grab the beer can to throw at her head—

  “Okay, ready?” Mick interrupts my plan to take her out and the game begins. Mick slams his beer and flips his cup within seconds. Katie, who’s across from him, does the same, and is just as fast. Poppy completes hers flawlessly, and I’m up. I’m normally a world champ at this, but I slam the beer, and instead of focusing on my form, I can’t stop staring at the way Big Red keeps stroking her cup up and down. I hear her ask Jim to show her how to hold it, and my fingers clench, knocking my cup off the table.

  “Come on, Case. What the hell!” Mick battles me. I huff, bending down to snatch my cup and slam it back on the table. I slide it to the tip of the table, and with my index finger, pop it up. It lands perfectly on its head, and I smile, lifting my victorious eyes to Jim. That’s when I see it.

  That big ol’…

  “Hey, you can’t dump the beer down your chest. You have to drink it,” Mick complains.

  My eyes see red. “That’s enough! We’re leaving.”

  I’m about to crawl over the table and slap that smug look off her face. When I try, an aching in my groin reminds me of my pulled muscle and I grunt, making my way around the table instead. I’m prepared to throw Jim over my shoulder to get him away from her, when, shockingly, he throws her hand off his shoulder and meets me halfway. His hand extends, and I thread my fingers between his.

  “Not so fast.” Herman’s bean stock frame steps in front of me, blocking the door. The music shuts off, bringing an unsettling energy to the room. “Before you leave, there is something you have access to that I desire to possess. In return for my hospitality, I require you to retrieve it for me.”

  Everyone has morbid visions of how they think they’ll die. Okay, maybe only me, and I swore I was going to kick it doing something epic. Like body surfing or fighting a shark. So…I’d probably slip off a bar and break my neck trying to reenact the movie scene from Coyote Ugly. But it was never anything close as to what my mind is conjuring up right now. “Yeah, you’re not squeezing my head in one of those wall frames.” I’ve had enough. I’ve hit my weirdo level for the day and I’m getting us out of here. My hands thrust forward, and I push past him. I reach for the door handle and put all my weight into it pulling it open. Problem is, it doesn’t budge. I tug harder, but no luck. Panic shoots up my arms and down my spine as I struggle with the knob. “What the…why’s the door locked?”

  “Like I said, you have something I wan
t.”

  The air in the room thickens. The mood shifts from carefree to ominous as all eyes capture the seriousness of Herman’s stare. Jim forces a smile on his face and takes a slow step toward him. “Hey, man, it’s all good. Let’s just call it a night.”

  The cold stare Herman holds in his dark eyes tells me he’s not ready to call it a night. Poppy slowly places her drink on the island. “And what would that something be?” she asks, working her negotiation skills. I’m quite familiar with them since she’s used those skills to talk me down from many bar tables when I’ve attempted jumping from one to another. If anyone can talk this psycho down, it’s her.

  “A Hootie and the Blowfish koozie.”

  Mick spits out his full mouth of beer across the table, hitting the random old lady in the face. “Koozie?” He coughs, and Poppy smacks his back.

  “Yeah, say again?” Katie speaks up.

  “Larry Rodgers took what was rightfully mine. I brought him into my home while entertaining Darrius Rucker and his band. Darrius signed a koozie, and Larry unjustly left the premises with it. I want it back.”

  A pregnant pause silences the room until Jim bursts out laughing. He bends forward, taking his hand to his chest. “Oh man. Good one, bro. Signed koozie. You got us there. I really thought Case was right there for a sec and you wanted our heads on a display.” Jim works out his fit of laughter and straightens. His eyes scan the room to see no one else has followed in on the humor.

  Yep, everyone is still stiff as a bone.

  “Oh…shit.” Jason’s eyes are focused directly at the dartboard. “That face. It’s the owner of the lake house. That’s Larry Rodgers.”

  Herman speaks up. “That autograph is a priceless artifact in my eyes. It was signed before Darrius foolishly tried to pursue his solo career. He should have never taken it. Its rightful home is in my museum.”

  “Yeah…so, I’m pretty certain they got back together. Why don’t you just get another—”

  “That’s not the point!” Herman snaps.

  Poppy shakes her head. “Okay, you’re saying you’re trying to keep us hostage for a silly koozie? Just ask for it back. Go get it. Shoot, file a police report. But this is getting a bit ridiculous.”

  Big Red steps forward, her watchful eyes taking in Poppy, trying to suck out her soul. “No one leaves until we get that koozie. Which doesn’t seem like a bad thing.” She licks her bright red lips and lurches closer to Jim with a hungry look in her eyes. Everyone stands motionless, eyes traveling from one to another, muddled, in shock, and simply unsure what to do next. We’re seriously being held hostage over a stupid koozie!

  “Okay fine, have it! Why do we care?” I say.

  Jim, Poppy, and Katie all nod in agreeance.

  Mick, on the other hand, does not. “Yeah, but if it’s locked up in that case, it has to be important to the owners too. Not sure we should—”

  “Shut up, Mick!” we scream in unison.

  “Ah, so you’ve seen it. I knew that Hygiene bastard had it. Bring it to me. My daughter will escort one of you. The rest of you don’t leave this bunker until I have my hands on the koozie.” He points to Jim. “You. Get me my prized possession.”

  Hell no. The way Red’s licking her lips, mentally eating Jim alive, she isn’t going anywhere with my man, let alone making it out of this room alive. It’s so gosh darn rude! I need to think. I’ve dodged bouncers, cops, godawful dates…I need to figure out how to dodge this life or death situation.

  “And what if we don’t give in? You’re also stuck in here,” I start in on him.

  Herman crosses his arms over his chest. “I will stuff you all into the tomb and wait for the next renters to fulfil my request.”

  My mouth isn’t the only one that falls open. Brows up, crinkled, a vast variety of expressions that scream one thing.

  Confusion.

  All around.

  “What tomb?” Someone just had to ask.

  Herman’s eyes land on the center island. So do ours. It doesn’t take long for all pieces to fall into place. The cement island is far from the perfect flippy cup table, and more like a large casket. Poppy jumps back, dropping her cup.

  Katie also steps away from the table. “Okay! To heck with this. Have all the koozies you want! Shit, I stole the ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder’ one, but you can have it! Just let us go.”

  We’re back to freaking out. The air gets thicker with apprehension, and I swear it’s harder to breathe. Long gone is the cool demeanor Poppy held, and in its place, uncertainty. Oh fudge, if she’s panicked, it’s not good for any of us.

  Mick looks just as freaked. He’s lost in a trance of thought. His panicked eyes say he’s probably thinking about how he’ll never model again. I actually manage to roll my eyes and take in Katie, who now looks the least panicked as she picks up all the beer filled solo cups and chugs them. When my eyes finally land on Jim, his are searing into me. Time stops. My heart flutters a beat. His body language is relaxed. His hands rest casually in his shorts pockets. He stares at me. So angelic. So calm. So hot. God, we’re all about to die and I can’t help but think about ripping my shirt off and jumping his bones.

  We stand there entranced with one another for a few more seconds until his eyes shift over my shoulder. When they return, his own demeanor changes. His eyes speak to me. Telling me—

  The door opens behind me and Jerry walks in. “Hey. Why’s everyone—”

  “GO!” Jim hollers, then barrels into Herman, knocking into him. That’s my cue to run. I twist, setting my foot, and push off, running out of the bunker. No one else thinks twice and jumps into action. Poppy grabs Mick. Katie pushes the poor old lady over and runs through the open door. I hear the heavy breathing and screaming of Big Red, but I don’t stop. The pathway is steep and barely lit. The adrenaline cycling through me has me sprinting at an impressive pace, but I can’t see where I’m going. Searching out each rock while keeping my focus trained ahead is almost impossible.

  “Shit, I lost my sandal!” Katie cusses. I make the mistake of stealing a glance behind me as she trips, bumping into Jerry. The domino affect takes seconds but feels like a slow-motion scene out of a movie. Complete havoc ensues as Katie fumbles over her bare foot and grabs for anything to keep her steady. That anything is Jerry—who misses the next rock and trips sideways, falling into the abyss of blackness, taking out a bush.

  “Oh my god, Jerry!” I yell, but Jim is there, catching hold for him.

  “Just keep going! I got this. Get down to the boat.” He waves me off as he goes in for Jerry. Katie bends down to pull her remaining sandal off and whips it into the bushes, then starts at a full sprint. Mick and Poppy are hot on her trail, and end up blowing past me, and I become the caboose of the getaway train.

  My feet smack against the rocks, making headway down the path when the lighting starts to flicker, then the entire walkway goes dark. I can’t see a damn thing. My heart is like a hammer slamming against my chest. My eyes try to stay focused on the silhouettes in front of me until they fade into the darkness of the night. The rumble of the boat’s engine ruffles my eardrums, sending a jolt through me. How did they get so far ahead of me? Jim is behind me, right? There’s no way I’m all alone out here. I coach myself not to do it. Don’t look back for Jim. It’s the number two no-no in a scary movie. You never look back. I’m seconds away from dying of a panic attack. But I’m even closer to having a heart attack if I don’t turn around and confirm the sound of shoes hitting rock behind me are Jim’s.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  My heartbeat is like a bass drum. My lungs are putting in more work than they have since high school track, forcing quick pants of air in and out of my tight chest.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  I have to be close. I hit the bend where the walkway curves around a stone-built fireplace, bringing me to the last leg of the path. The lake appears in the distance,
the glow of the moon shining on the boat like heaven’s savoir in my eyes.

  Ten more yards. I can do this. Voices travel up the hill, my name bouncing off the walls of the surrounding rock.

  Eight more yards.

  Six more yards.

  Two…

  My feet hit the dock, and I’m almost home free. Relief floods through me as I see my friends waving at me, Mick in the driver’s seat, idling and ready to get the hell out of here.

  Twenty more feet and—

  “Case.”

  My heart detonates inside my chest and explodes into a million pieces as terror shoots up my throat. I scream at the sound of my name being called from the shadows and slip, throwing myself off the side of the dock. I barely have time to suck air into my lungs before I crash under the water into complete darkness. Having a heart attack and drowning would not have been my second guess, aside from shark wars, at how I die, but here we are. My body seizes, the panic causing my muscles to paralyze. Unable to swim, I sink deeper into the water, the temperature quickly dropping the lower I go. Goodbye, world. Goodbye, hours of DVR’d reality shows I’ll never get to watch. Goodbye, unlimited taco Tues—

  I jolt back to reality when two hands wrap around my waist. Drowning is one thing—being captured and tortured is definitely not on my bucket list. I go berserk and struggle as the sea monster kicks, pulling us up to the surface. As we break the water’s lining, I choke out a startled cry. “Don’t murder me! I don’t even like Hootie—”

  “Case, it’s me. You’re fine.”

  My eyes burst open wide, searching through the darkness of the night for the familiarity of his features. “Jim?”

  “Yeah.” I take him in, never more thankful to see him and—wack!

  “Ouch!”

  “Why’d you just pop out of the bushes like a mad killer and scare the life outta me!”

  “I didn’t mean to. I was hiding. Redelle almost got me up there, so I had to jump in the bushes to avoid her. But when I did, I landed on some hidden slide which shot me all the way down here. I hit the bottom hard and think I knocked myself out for a second.”