by Eve Langlais
“Thank goodness that car missed you,” Marjorie blubbered against me.
She cared about me. It was a good feeling. I hugged her back.
“I can’t believe it, either. Talk about close.” Too close.
It surprised me Marjorie didn’t ask me how it was possible I remained unscathed. Had she seen the car scrape by the invisible wall? Or had the driver turned at the last minute? My mind tried to insist this was the truth. However, the facts didn’t support it. Explain the scream of metal and the paint flaking off its side. I could see specks of it on the sidewalk.
While I processed the facts, Marjorie released me and slipped an arm around my waist as she prattled on. Apparently, the near-miss had rattled her. “I can’t believe some people. Speeding as if our downtown strip is a racing track. They should put speed bumps in.”
I kept to myself the opinion that I didn’t think a speed bump would have stopped the driver. I wasn’t sure of much, except for one thing. They’d aimed for me intentionally.
Marjorie walked us back to the diner, and the curious faces in the window. Knowing they stared, I dug in my heels.
I halted at the door to the diner. “Maybe I should just go home.”
“Don’t be silly. You can’t drive yet.”
I wanted to deny the claim, and yet a simple glimpse at my shaking hands showed her correct. I needed a chance to calm down and unwind.
Returning to be alone in my shop didn’t appeal, and perhaps being around people would protect me. Shit only happened when I was alone.
Marjorie nudged me with kindness to get me moving. “Let’s get you inside where it’s warm and feed you something. Your nerves must be so shook.”
“I could use a coffee. And bacon.” Heaps of bacon. Which was better for me than the thickly iced red velvet cake under a dome.
Entering the diner, I immediately shrank, hating how everyone watched. I couldn’t even blame them. If I’d been the spectator in the window, I’d be curious, too.
Still, I examined with interest the checkered pattern on the floor as I shuffled for a spot where no one could actually look at me.
Please don’t talk to me.
Marjorie and Orville I could handle, but a stranger? Nope.
“Don’t worry, folks. Naomi is fine!” my friend announced.
Which I’m sure more than a few in the diner really didn’t care about. The morbid nature of people meant they would have preferred a different outcome with the car. Then they would have really had something to talk about.
As I decided on the farthest stool at the counter, Marjorie asked, “Has someone called the cops? That driver needs to be arrested. He could have killed her. Did anyone get a plate number?”
No one had. And I didn’t want to deal with Officer Murphy. He’d more than likely blame me for being in that car’s path.
“Come have a coffee with me,” I said, braving a few stares to turn and draw my friend’s attention.
“Of course. Right away.” She bustled behind the counter and filled up a cup for me and poured some cream until it turned tan. She knew how I liked it.
Before I took a sip, I put the hammer down on the police idea. “There is no point in filing a report. Nothing actually happened. They didn’t hit me. They barely mounted the sidewalk. And nothing was damaged. What are the police going to do?”
“You could have been killed.”
“Yup. But I wasn’t. Let it go.” I would chalk it up to par for the course. Murphy was right. Bad things kept happening around me.
I sipped my coffee and mournfully eyed the cake. With my nerves strung taut, all I wanted was something to eat.
Orville read my mind, and he gave me meat, all kinds of different bite-sized versions from chunks of chicken wrapped in bacon to little cubes of steak, marinated and fried. He spoiled me further with crispy baked broccoli, the oil and Parmesan he’d liberally doused it with giving it a crunchy texture, and the cheese dip had a hint of spice.
A few times he popped his head out and asked if I thought it good enough to add to the menu. I freely admit I groaned. In pleasure. Like I’d not groaned for sex in decades.
Sad. I know. But the flavor in my mouth pleasuring my taste buds helped.
I ate more than I should have, and yet it was low carb enough I’d not suffer any ill effects. Don’t judge. The after euphoria from eating calmed my nerves. It took the scream trapped in my throat and swallowed it down far enough I could manage conversation. When Marjorie paused long enough for me to say something that was.
She was still freaking out about the car and pondered aloud the same thing troubling me. Was the person behind the wheel the same one trying to ruin my store?
“Are you sure you didn’t see them?”
I’d racked my memories over and over, the brightness of those lights causing me to squint, making it impossible to see. Someone obviously drove, but I never got a glimpse. I shook my head.
“I’ll bet it’s that prick ex of yours,” she declared.
Martin? Was it stupid that I didn’t think it was him? He would make a logical enemy. Yet a hit and run seemed a tad too impersonal given his level of hate.
I gave Marjorie another scenario. “There is a possibility it truly was an accident. Don’t forget it snowed a bit earlier. They might have hit a patch of black ice and skidded.”
“Maybe.” She didn’t bother masking her skepticism.
She knew the car had targeted me, but I didn’t want her to worry. I didn’t want any of my friends involved. I couldn’t deny the many dangerous coincidences stacking up around me. A woman could only be so unlucky before she realized there was an effort to eliminate her. But what if, in this person’s vendetta, one of my friends or my daughter got hurt?
I couldn’t help remembering the demon of the previous night. Those creatures with the beaks. I’d barely survived and only because I’d managed to get the house to activate some weird defense system. Would it protect Winnie, too?
As for the car, what if I’d not been alone on the sidewalk? It could have been Trish or Marjorie or even Orville or Darryl by my side. Would my invisible wall have shielded them, too?
Were the two incidents even related? Tonight, someone human had to have been behind the wheel. Unless a demon could drive a car? The very idea almost set me off. I held tight the hysterical laughter bubbling inside.
Nothing about this was funny.
The patrons left the diner, and I gave Orville and Marjorie a hand tidying up. I didn’t argue at all when Orville insisted on walking me to my car.
Used to his usual silence, he surprised me. “This place is dangerous for you.”
My lips twisted. “You don’t say. And yet at the same time, I’ve not actually been hurt.” Nothing lasting at any rate. The attack by those monsters felt like a dream now.
A harrumph noise rumbled. “It’s only a matter of time.”
“I’m sure my run of bad luck will end soon.”
He slewed a gaze my way. “Do you believe that?”
Not really, but I couldn’t lie to him, so I said nothing.
When we reached my car, he spoke again. “I’ll drive.” Mark it on a calendar. Orville was being my friend.
“What? Why would you do that?”
“To keep you safe.”
The niceness of it had me throwing my arms around Orville and giving him the biggest hug. He stiffened, and I realized just how solid he was.
“You can’t drive, because then you’ll be stuck at my place. I’ll be okay.”
He frowned. “Fine, then give me a ride to my car, and I’ll follow you home.” He truly was worried.
So was I. Worried that he would get caught up in the mess that circled me. Things appeared to be culminating. I didn’t want him suffering from any backlash.
“Don’t be silly. I’m fine.” I put my hand on his arm. “I’ll text when I get home.”
“You’d better.” He stepped aside as I slid behind Betsy’s wheel.
I
waved as I turned from the alley onto the street. I couldn’t wait to get home where comfy pajamas and my bed awaited. Maybe my cat would even deign to snuggle me. Independent furball. More and more, he’d been disappearing on me. I could only hope he always found his way home.
A light snow started within minutes of me leaving the main road, slowing me down. I knew better than to speed. Once I hit the lonely trail to my house, it fell thick enough to bounce off my headlights, making it hard to see far ahead. Ever see the Millennium Falcon going into light speed? Same effect but less cool in reality and minus a cuddly Chewie.
Around a slight bend, the ass end of my car swung. A heart-stopping moment until I regained control. After that I crawled. It still wasn’t slow enough to prevent the accident.
20
Something dashed across the road—a tall shape, two-legged, and dressed in dark clothing.
Instinct kicked in. I jammed the brake pedal. The car tried to abruptly halt, but instead it spun, as if the front end were a pivot. Around and around. I screamed.
Steering didn’t do a thing; neither did pumping the brake. My car did a full spin, dizzying enough I closed my eyes and felt it as we flung into another spin then lurched to a stopped. Rocked. Thumped and finally tilted before it stilled.
The breath expelled from me, and for a moment, I could not suck another one in. When I finally managed to heave in some air, I almost choked. My lungs constricted. I focused on not panicking. Breathe, in, out. I spent a few seconds calming myself before I opened my eyes, half expecting to see someone haranguing me for almost hitting them. I saw no one. Nothing.
Where had the jerk who’d caused the accident gone? Would they come back?
For a moment, that was all I could think of as I sat in my car, a sitting duck of a target.
Did I want to get murdered on the side of the road?
The very idea had me laughing suddenly. A touch hysterically. Way to panic over nothing. I didn’t see anyone. Whomever had startled me appeared to have disappeared. And people thought you only had to watch out for jaywalkers in the city.
I took a deep breath. Time to figure out how to escape my newest mess.
The good news? Alive. Uninjured, if a little shook.
The bad? I’d landed in a ditch on an angle.
Perhaps I could drive out. Everything still appeared to work. My headlights shone, and the engine purred.
Hitting the gas resulted in some noise and a tiny jolt of movement, then nothing but spinning tires. Great. I was officially stuck.
Dammit. I slammed the steering wheel and let out a litany of curses that would have made a sailor blush. Apparently, I had a better vocabulary than expected after years of being repressed.
“This is getting to be so unfair. Why me?” I screamed to the steering wheel. “Why does shit keep piling on me?”
The pity party came with friends: frustration, anger, despair, and even a bit of fatality. The kind I’d not experienced since Martin shattered my world.
What was the point of even trying?
Why bother? Obviously, the universe was out to get me.
Wahn. Wahn. Wahn. The tiny violin played.
Poor Naomi. Giving up again.
You don’t understand.
Do you think you’re the only person who has to deal with adversity?
I don’t know what to do anymore.
Then start with the simplest thing.
Simple. What about this situation was simple?
I’d crashed my car.
And?
Would I seriously give up after what I’d already survived? Sure, things didn’t look great right now. My car leaned in a ditch at a disturbing angle, yet despite that, I appeared to have no injuries. Nor was I too far from home.
“Half full,” I muttered, looking for the positive.
I turned off my car and pocketed the key. I hated how dark it was outside. A good thing I had a flashlight in my purse. Because of the incidents at the store and the house, I’d bought several. One for my purse, one that I left in the storage room at the store, another pair for the bathroom and my nightstand.
I pulled out the flashlight before doing anything, now wishing I’d thought to also buy the kind with the elasticized band I could wear around my head. I’d have to keep a grip on it. I wedged it between my teeth as I unbuckled and opened my door. It took some shoving because of the angle of my car. The passenger door wouldn’t have worked given the way Betsy leaned.
Once I got my side open, I had to hold it lest it slam shut on me. I emerged on the incline of the ditch, my foot sliding in the snow layering the ground.
Boots. When would I finally get a pair? I really should ask the house if it had some stashed somewhere. I did have some thin gloves, and my jacket had a hood. I zipped up to the chin and in general made myself as warm as possible while juggling my thin beam of light. It didn’t do much to dispel the shadows. It might even be making them worse.
As I stood on the snowy road, feeling the flakes clinging to my lashes, I eyed both directions. Which way was home? The car had spun around, and I’d closed my eyes. I had no idea which way to go. No landmarks appeared to help and the falling white stuff blanketed everything. Including me.
My flashlight stuttered.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” I threatened, and I swear it brightened. I tucked it in a breast pocket, aiming its beam skyward and highlighting the never-ending fall of snow.
A dug around my purse and located my phone. It had over seventy percent of battery. Tons to get me home.
If I had a signal.
I held it up high, shook it, walked a few feet in both directions, trying to get it to do something. Give me a signal to call someone, load a freaking map.
Nope. Nothing. The storm impeded it.
The phone almost went for a ride, but I clutched it tight rather than throw it against something hard.
What now? I might have started cursing again, only a greenish glow lighting the falling snow to my left caught my attention. I’d seen something like that before on the lake. I never did find out what caused it. Hadn’t even thought of the night when I’d ended up on the shore gaping as the center of the massive body of water illuminated. Probably some boats.
At night in a snowstorm?
I didn’t really care why there were lights or what they were doing. If I found the lake, I’d find my cottage. I just had to follow the shoreline.
I trudged through the snow, the trees lightening the falling load. Even so, my shoes quickly filled with icy wetness, chilling me to the bone. The eerie light acted as my beacon and gave me something to think about other than how miserable I was. The last time I’d seen that green light was just before I discovered Maddy the lake monster was a machine. That was the night Jace had warned me to leave Cambden but wouldn’t explain why. He was a company man who kept his secrets close.
There was a lot about the mining operation that made little sense. Such as, why all the secrecy? How had they managed to keep the knowledge from everyone in town?
Small towns were notorious for their lack of privacy. Yet not only did the mill manage to renovate its main building, but it ran tests with a patent-pending machine monster that people mistook for a real one. Either Airgeadsféar excelled at public relations or the townsfolk were under some kind of forgetting spell.
An even bigger surprise was now that the Airgeadsféar mining operation was common knowledge, no one had really stepped forward to protest it. Surely some environmental group, or even a nature-minded person, would have issues with what they were doing? Maybe I would be the person to object because I didn’t know if I could sit back and let Airgeadsféar ruin the lake.
The green glow extinguished suddenly, and I paused. Gaped. Gone? It couldn’t be gone already. I was still in the woods. Probably more lost than before.
I pulled out the flashlight I’d stowed and lit it. It only served to make my situation worse. I had no idea which way to go.
Flicker. Flicker.
Poof. The flashlight died and left me in the dark. Alone. At night. In a storm. Had this been what happened to my grandma?
It chilled me to even think about it, especially knowing the outcome.
“Dammit. I am not dying tonight.” I might have started cursing again except, as my eyes adjusted, I realized I could kind of see.
The falling snow had lightened to a trickle, and the trees thinned. Despite there being clouds overhead, the snow around me sparkled in contrast to the dark mass ahead that had to be the lake, not yet frozen but getting closer by the chilly day.
I ran for the dark mass and laughed out loud as I found the shore. I knew which direction to go now. I wasn’t lost anymore. It eased something inside me. Screw the Reaper. He wouldn’t be taking my soul this night.
As I stared out over the dark expanse of water, the waves, sluggish and cold, lapped on the beach. Soon it would turn to ice. Maybe I’d get some skates and see if I remembered how to stay upright. Maybe I’d teach Winnie to skate, too.
As I trudged along the shore, the snow stopped completely. Everything stilled. As the clouds passed, the moon appeared, shining a pale light down. It illuminated enough that a quick turn of my head meant I saw something moving in the woods. Too tall to be an animal. Seemingly two-legged as well.
Was it the person who’d dashed across the road shadowing me? Was it Jace being weird again? Me being paranoid? Why would anyone be out here?
I kept slogging, casting furtive glances at the woods, sometimes catching hints of movement in the shadows.
The air chilled. Got downright frigid to the point my breath almost turned into icicles. My lashes frosted. Having passed the point of chattering a while ago, my teeth clenched tight enough my jaw ached.
The lake went still. I only realized it because the gentle sound of rolling waves stopped. A glance at its surface showed it flat except for a hump highlighted by moonlight. A hump that heaved toward me.
My gaze flicked to the woods. Would I find shelter there?
Maybe, but I might also get lost. And what if the shadow stalker meant me harm?
What should I do?