“Not much, we’re here now so we’ll all get drinks. Just behind these trees we reach the most beautiful clearing in the forest,” he shouted as the jeep trundled up next to the parked cars.
Rachel stood and began to film, “Wow, this place is amazing.” Through the trees ahead she could see the glistening pool. Surrounding them were thousands of pine trees that seemed to reach into the clouds.
The early afternoon heat had turned into a late afternoon scorcher. Eve watched as a petite woman weaved in and out of the bony shrubs. The woman waved as she approached. “Welcome. I’m Celile. We have food for you. You must come with me,” she called.
“Where’s my Dad?” Mehmet called. Celile replied in Turkish. Eve watched as their conversation turned from jovial to bordering angry within a few moments. He slammed the jeep door and wiped his brow. Walking over to the woman he guided her towards a tree where their conversation continued.
Eve shuddered. She was allowing her doubts about the day to creep back in. She was transformed back to the old woman on their first day, 'people are not always good, trust what you think.' Then she thought of White Suit and his icy glare outside the shop, then the melon seller showing fear with every gesture. Maybe this was their way, something cultural that she didn’t understand. She looked at Kevin and he kissed her, she smiled. They were on holiday, it was fun, and there was nothing wrong she told herself.
“I don’t know what they’re so peeved about.” Selina shouted, “Mehmet, when’s this party starting?” He waved back but still his eyes remained focused on Celile. He stomped back over to the jeep and opened the back door. They all got out except Ryan and Stephen. “Can someone get him off me?” Ryan yelled.
Rachel put her camera back into the case and stepped back onto the jeep. She shoved Ryan; his head dropped to the floor and landed with a light thud. “What? Who?” He cried as he stared at her, squinting to focus.
“We’re here,” Rachel said. Ryan flinched as the sun caught his eye. Stephen moved out of the seat where he’d been trapped for the whole journey and jumped out of the jeep before Ryan could position his head back in his lap.
“Oh. Here,” Ryan yawned as he stretched his arms out and grabbed his bag of beers. “Great, lets start partying,” he said as he stumbled off the jeep, still yawning. A small lizard scurried off under the parked car.
“I can’t believe he’s drank so much already,” Eve whispered to Kevin as they followed Celile to the pool. Eve laughed and looked up at Kevin as Ryan tripped over a rock. She felt him squeeze her hand twice; he looked back at her and laughed. She planted a quick kiss on the side of his head. It had only been a few days but they already had the code, the hand squeeze code. Above her the trees rustled with the movement of many birds that nested and landed on the branches. It was so alive with nature. She inhaled; the pine aroma cleaned her airways.
Ryan stumbled again but this time he crashed into the back of Stephen, grabbed his shorts and pulled him backwards. “Sorry mate.” Eve squeezed Kevin’s hand again just to make sure it was their code. He squeezed back. She looked at him and laughed. Eve watched as Stephen straightened his shorts and stormed off ahead. “You could’ve helped me,” Ryan shouted as he pulled himself back to a vertical position.
Moments later, they arrived at the clearing. Eve flinched as a loud squawking sound came from above. She looked up, a bird of prey. “It’s an eagle,” Stephen shouted.
“So what. Can we get a drink?” Ryan replied.
“I think you’ve had enough for now,” Eve said. “You’re struggling to walk.”
“Oh little Miss Party Pooper. We’re on ho-li-day,” he replied.
“Here,” the woman called as she tossed a bottle of water across to Ryan. He automatically held out his hands to catch it but he missed and it landed on the gritty earth below. He gave her a long confused look and with his mouth wide open he squinted. “Drink it. It will stop you getting ill.” He stooped down, picked up the water and began to guzzle it down.
“Who’s the Party Pooper now?” Eve laughed as she brushed past Ryan. The party had barely started and he was already hammered. “Mmm, food looks good.”
The air was now filled with a savoury smell from the barbecue. A man wearing a crisp white apron stood up from behind the table. “This is Sadik, he’s the chef,” Celile said. Eve watched as the man looked up and forced a smile back.
Eve dragged Kevin to the water's edge and watched. The clearness of the water showed how deep it was. A school of small fish swam away from her shadow. She bent down and felt the temperature. Icy cold, she shivered. She flicked some of the water at Kevin’s face. He grabbed her and kissed her. Sweat poured down her forehead, icy cold water would help to cool them down. Pulling away from his kiss she said, “This is so beautiful, we should go in.”
“Please do go in. You will love it,” Celile called over to her. Eve waved back at the woman.
“We should do as we’re told.” Eve removed her tee-shirt, then her shorts before kicking off her sandals to reveal her orange swimsuit. The pool was calm, she could do this, she could swim in a pool. She positioned herself on the water's edge. “There’s only one way to do this,” she shouted as she jumped into the pool feet first. As she broke through the surface, she felt the water's icy fingers caress her whole body. Opening her eyes she could see the fish in the distance. To her right the water was cloudier, the waterfall she thought. She swam towards it and allowed the water to pull her up to the surface. She came up from the ice gasping and trod water under the best view she’d had that day. The water cascaded over the rocks above; as it landed it splashed cool flecks across her face. “Come in, it’s great,” She yelled.
“I’m on my way,” Kevin yelled as he dived into the pool and met her over by the waterfall. Within minutes the rest of the group were stripping down and entering the pool. They yelled, they screamed at the cold shock, they laughed and played. “I’m having the best time ever,” Kevin said as he swam up to Eve. Her heart skipped a beat as they kissed.
*****
Hours had passed; they’d eaten, drank a lot and danced a lot. A light was positioned behind the table and Turkish music played in the background. Selina and Mehmet gyrated in the clearing, arms entwined, her grabbing at his hair, him holding her bottom. Ryan sat under a tree next to Rachel. Eve smelt the sweet smoke that came from their direction. He looked better than he did earlier that day. When they first arrived he had been almost comatose but now he seemed relaxed. She watched as Rachel took a drag of the roll up and passed it back to Ryan. Her dilated pupils stared at him, her mouth laughed at the joke that never was. All of them were either drunk or stoned.
Stephen was splayed out on a fold up chair with a spilt can of lager beside him, his snoring body was been silently attacked by more mosquitoes. Eve pulled out some repellent from her bag and sprayed it over his flesh. “I love you Eve,” Kevin whispered as she came back over to him.
Eve gazed deep in to the eyes behind the glasses, he loved her, she could tell. Her heartbeat became erratic and a shiver ran through her body. For years she had known him, for years he had been in her life. Both of them too shy to ever make a move. He had been a dependable best friend through her teen years. She knew there was always something special between them, but she never predicted how strong or quick those feelings would develop once they had spent a few years apart after leaving high school. She smiled and touched his hand, he was always the one. Looking back she knew that now, at least she hoped that he was.
When she had met Justin and fell for his charms, then suffered the wrath of everyone over their relationship and had Harry; she had always speculated at the 'what ifs' when it came to Kevin. He was the one she let slip away during her journey into adulthood. During her depressed year she had thought of him often but could never have made the first move back into his life. She was young with a child, trying to make her way into some sort of respectful existence. Even her new job and evening classes hadn't pushed away the haters,
she had too much to prove back then and felt that any contact with Kevin would've been littered with 'I told you so.' She should've known better, he wasn't like that, she had been stupid again. Eve rubbed the back of her neck while still looking at Kevin. "I'm getting worried now Eve," he said as he smiled back.
“I love you too, I've always loved you,” she whispered as she leaned forward and kissed him. He played with the back of her sun dried hair and stroked her face. The light around them flickered as insects fluttered in front of it. She grabbed him and held him tight. She had never felt so much love for someone except Harry. Harry! She pulled away from Kevin and grabbed her phone, it was just gone nine. “I’ve got to call Harry,” she said as she stood and walked off leaving him sat alone.
No signal, everywhere she walked it was the same. A little circle with a line through it. She trudged across to the cars. She had a flicker, one bar. Quickly she dialled the number but before the call had connected, the signal dropped again. She walked farther away. Scurrying back up the dirt track they had come down, she was soon in darkness. The only light that she had was that from her phone. It had plenty of light but still no signal. She leaned against a tree and wept. She had let Harry down. She saw in her mind his little face waiting for her call. She then saw in her mind his little upset face when his father told him that Mummy Eve hadn’t called even thought she’d promised. Would he hate her for it? She placed the phone in her pocket and allowed her eyes to adjust to the darkness. The clear night sky twinkled with a few stars. She could see the light by the pool flickering in the distance.
There was a rustle behind her. “Who’s there?” Silence. “Is that you Kevin?” Again silence. There was another rustle. Her heart beat hard and fast. Rooted to the spot, she tried once again to latch on to the rustling sound. A branch snapped. She ran fast, back towards the light. As she tried to look back she stumbled and fell into some warm arms. Screaming, she hit the body hard.
“Eve, it’s me. You’ve been gone a while. I was worried,” Kevin said as he comforted her.
“I heard something in the bushes,” she replied weeping.
“And I’m sure we’re not alone out here, animals, birds,” he smiled.
She looked up at him; her heart was now running at normal speed. “I got spooked. It was so dark. I couldn’t get through to Harry. He’s going to think I don’t care,” she yelled as she burst into tears.
“Of course he’s not. Look at me,” he said as he placed his hand on her chin and looked her in the eye. “You are a wonderful mother and he loves you.” She fell into his embrace and enjoyed been comforted. She would call Harry first thing. Tell him how much she loved him and explain that she couldn’t call him even thought it had hurt her heart not to. He would understand, at least she hoped he would.
*****
That was close. Guz’s hands shook as he placed the knife down. She would be the hardest one to control. Why had she not drunk as much as the others? Why was she so alert? Mehmet was right. Some of them looked good. The one who came close would be worth a bit and the drunken one with Mehmet. He stared over and saw Sadik stroke a loose strand of hair that had fallen from Celile’s bun. She removed the clip and allowed her hair to cascade over her shoulders and down her back. Sadik stroked her mane again. Grabbing the knife he stabbed it violently into the earth below. He panted hard and spittle escaped from his mouth and dribbled down his chin. He wiped it off with his arm.
He slouched back down, watching, waiting for the right time. He had to be there as soon as they broke the crowd and some of them began to move alone. They were now ready for easy picking.
Chapter 18
“Hey. Is it time to go yet?” Eve shouted as she sat up from the floor.
Ignored by them all except Kevin, he replied. “I don’t think anyone’s listening.”
“It’s gone eleven, I’ve had enough of being here now. I want to go back.”
To her right, Mehmet and Selina lay on a rug laughing and kissing. Behind her, Ryan and Rachel still giggled at nothing as they ate crisps. Stephen had turned his bag into a pillow and lay on the floor snoring.
“Here, why don’t you have a drink and enjoy yourself,” Celile said as she approached from behind and held a bottle of beer in front of Eve’s face.
“No, I mean no thank you. I’ve had enough and I’m a bit tired.”
“Anyone would think you were older than your friends,” Celile said without smiling.
Eve turned her head and looked at the small woman. “No, thank you. I don’t want a drink. It may seem old to you for me not to want a drink, but I’ve had enough and I’d rather go.”
Celile went back to the table that her and Sadik had been sat behind and pulled out a full bottle of Vodka. “Your friend here wants to go. Do you all want to go or shall we crack this open and it’s on us?” She shouted as she pointed at Eve.
Ryan, Rachel and Selina looked up. “Like hell we’re going anywhere,” shouted Ryan. “Crack it open and turn up the music,” he yelled.
Celile broke the seal on the bottle and took a swig, all the time she kept her eyes focused on Eve. “Have some Honey. You’ll feel much better,” she said as she thrust the bottle into Eve’s hand.
“She said no,” Kevin said as he grabbed the bottle from Eve and handed it back at Celile. The woman was then beckoned over by Selina; she headed over to her, glancing back at Eve as she did. “Let them have their fun, this can’t go on forever,” he said with a smile. She felt his delicate fingers tease her hair as she snuggled into his chest on the floor.
There was something wrong. Why couldn’t anyone else see it? They had fed them a feast, given them watermelon, given them drinks, opened up a bottle of exported vodka. Was it generosity or was there something else going on? They can’t have made any money on the excursion and the way that woman had tried to force the drink on her wasn’t right but no one else could see. Eve lay down, put her head on her elbow and gazed around. The light flickered as insects fluttered in front of it. The whole night seemed surreal creating an uneasiness in her stomach.
Needing to pass the time, she closed her eyes and imagined she was at home watching Disney films with Harry. His most recent obsession was with Pinocchio. She smiled as she remembered their last weekend together. They had been sitting on the sofa, his little body snuggled up to hers under his favourite blue blanket. They ate chocolate buttons and laughed as the wooden boy's nose had grown. She had stoked his soft hair until he’d fallen asleep in her arms. She would do that again as soon as she could except this time Kevin would be there. She pictured Kevin with them having a movie night; they could order pizza or even go out for pizza.
“Smoke?” A voice whispered in her ear. Eve looked up. Celile now had a roll up, the same type that Ryan and Rachel were smoking earlier that evening. “It’s good stuff, we’ve got more if you need it,” she smiled. “Let us treat you while you are here.” She looked around, Kevin slept next to her.
“I really don’t want any,” Eve replied.
“You should have a bit; it will make you enjoy yourself. All your friends are enjoying themselves.”
Maybe she was a bit tense. Eve had never smoked before, let alone smoked drugs. She thought of Harry and how she’d let him down if she took it. She watched everyone else, all so serene and having so much fun. She took the roll up and held it in her hand.
“Celile? I need help putting this table down,” Sadik called.
“Okay, I’m coming," she said as she looked back.
Eve forced herself to cough hard and fast. She rubbed her eyes, smudging what was left of her eyeliner into her face.
“See, it is nice isn’t it? Celile said as she turned back to Eve. “Keep it and have the rest.”
“Thanks,” Eve replied as the woman walked back. She pushed the lit end into the earth and extinguished it. Her pretending to smoke the spliff had at least got Celile to leave her alone. She stretched her legs and yawned. What she wouldn’t do to be back at the villa. She look
ed around, Rachel was now rubbing Ryan’s crotch over the top of his shorts. Selina was giggling and drinking from the vodka bottle. They would have so many regrets the next day, Eve thought. Celile and Sadik were putting down the fold up tables and filling up a bag with rubbish. Maybe they were getting ready to go Eve hoped as she stared at the dark pool in front of her. She took a swig from the bottle of water beside her and placed the empty bottle back down.
Fidgeting, she could no longer get comfortable with her full bladder. She looked around, aiming to seek out a quiet spot to relieve the aching. She opened her beach bag and took out a bit of tissue, there was no way she could wait until they got back to the villa and the journey would be horrendous with a full bladder. She looked up at the stars, they were twinkling brightly, at least there would be a little bit of light to help her navigate the shrubs.
She stood carefully so that Kevin could stay at rest. So tired from the day, he was now sleeping peacefully. Not being able to resist she knelt and gently kissed him on the cheek, he stirred but then went back to sleep. To her side were her pumps, she put them on. She stood and walked to her left along the water's edge. The dirt pathway became thinner the farther away she walked. Using her phone to light up the earth beneath her, she trod onwards. The music became distant, she was far enough away to have a wee without being disturbed. She turned behind a clump of shrubs. First she took off her tee-shirt, then pulled down her swimsuit and shorts. She stooped as she listened intently to the laughter and music. She heard Selina scream playfully in the distance. As she stood she heard that familiar crack in the bushes. Similar to the noise she’d heard earlier that evening. Animals, she said to herself. In the distance, she could see that everyone was still at the party, no one was missing. It was her imagination. She pulled her swimsuit and her shorts back up.
Another crack. This time louder, closer. It was a well defined crack, one that would have been made by a large animal. Shaking, she turned to see the outline of a figure. Lit up by starlight only, she couldn’t make out any features. Her stomach tightened as her heart raced. The figure took another step closer and vanished behind the tree that was right beside her. She turned and ran, screaming as she reached the dirt path and screaming as she reached the clearing. The music had been turned up. Why had the music been turned up?
Whispers Beneath the Pines Page 9