“This isn’t funny anymore. I've come to get you guys. We’re leaving in a minute.” He stood there and put the unlit cigarette in his mouth and pretended to take a drag before taking it out and putting it behind his ear. “I’ve got your clothes here Ryan. Seriously Dude, I don’t want to come any further and catch sight of your incredibly white arse. Or even worse, I don’t want to catch sight of yours Rachel.”
After standing for a minute with no response or noise his feet led the way. Was it him or had the volume of the music been turned down a bit? Firmly grabbing the bush he prised it apart and proceeded on. He passed a group of smaller trees in a spiny bush lined clearing. His feet were getting sore from treading on pine cones through such thin soles. “Rachel,” he called as he bashed his toe into a rock and fell to the ground. “Oh shit,” he cursed as he struggled to achieve a sitting position before nursing his stubbed toe. He felt around the dark floor and picked up a stone. He dropped it down before feeling around again. His touch met something long, cool and soft. He lifted it up, it was attached. Dropping it he got to his feet. Snakes, maybe it was a snake. Trying hard to focus, he squinted and tried to stare at the dark snake, there was no movement. He prodded it, it remained. As he tried once more to lift it from the centre of its body he fell forward towards it. “You’re a heavy snake,” he whispered. The clouds parted and the moon shone again to reveal a mass. “Sausages,” his drink addled mind struggled to process what lay before him. On his knees he took the mass and felt it more intricately. His fingers slid between the snakes fingers and the fit was near perfect. He dropped it and gasped for breath. “What the hell. Ryan, is that your hand?” He slapped the arm and pulled at the hand. “Ryan?” He parted the leafy mass and the only thing he saw was the moons reflection in Ryan’s open lifeless eyes. His breathing quickened as he let go of the arm and stood. Shaking he stepped back. Gasping for air he leaned to the side and heaved hard, vomiting up everything he had in him; a sobering reality setting in. Rubbing his eyes he turned in disbelief at what lay before him.
“Think Stephen, think,” once again, he kneeled down. His reluctant hand touched Ryan’s wrist. He tried to feel for a pulse but there was nothing. He tried to remember how to do CPR. An advert, he pictured Vinnie Jones in the CPR advert. Focusing on Vinnie Jones and not the body that lay before him, he stood, took the arm and with his weight behind him, dragged Ryan from under the bush. Kneeling again he began to thump hard and rhythmically at his chest, “Come on Ryan.” His hands were wet, sweat maybe. As he pumped he heard a squelch and the wetness flowed harder. His hands were soaking, his shirt was soaking. Opening his mouth no words would escape him, a metallic stale smell hung in the air. He lifted his arms up towards the light. Blackness covered them and continued to trickle up his sleeve. Glaring down at his splattered front he began to cry silently but violently, no noise escaping. He felt along Ryan’s naked body, first his chest, his arms and then his stomach. It was pierced. Shuffling backwards he curled up in a ball and sobbed, his silent sobs now turning into cries.
He’d done all he could, he now knew that he was covered in Ryan’s blood and was sat next to Ryan’s wounded dead body. Sobbing, he thought of Rachel. Had she done it? What had been happening back here while he’d been sat there drinking and sleeping all night? In the distance he heard another twig crack. He shuffled into the leafy recess where he had only seconds ago dragged Ryan’s body from and he closed his eyes. If something was out there, it wasn’t going to get him. His body trembled and his teeth chattered and he realised he was making a rustling noise himself.
Trying hard not to think about the reality he tried to picture being home at work in the pet supply store. He thought of Mrs. Jenkins who came by once a week for her Collie Stanley's dog meat and Angie, his favourite yummy mummy. Even Angie couldn't make him smile after what he'd seen. His future; he was going to University in September to do the engineering degree he’d deferred and decided now was the time to do it. He wanted that, he wanted a girlfriend one day, he wanted a family. Just normal things. “I don’t want much,” he whispered in a controlled sobbing way. He heard another crack; whatever was out there was near. Maybe Eve had been right, maybe there was someone out in the mountains, a man. He shook his head, maybe it was Rachel. Maybe Ryan had come on too strong, he was wrecked. Maybe he hurt her and she had defended herself. He rocked back and forth in attempt not to cry out. So many scenarios running through his head. Rachel, the man, Ryan’s body, Ryan’s blood, Rachel, cracking twigs, creatures hooting, rustling. Even with his eyes closed he couldn’t escape the one thing that haunted him now, the images of Ryan and thoughts of death were etched into his mind.
Hyperventilating, he began to shake and panic, he had to get help. He forced himself to stand before turning to run. As he stood he caught a glimpse of a figure emerging beside him. Too stout for Rachel. Eve had been right, there was a man. The tremors ran through his knees, his arms felt like jelly as he stumbled back the way he’d came. Was it the way he came? All he could see was darkness. Disorientated, he stopped and turned around. Where’s the music coming from? He couldn’t hear it, maybe it was turned off. Maybe they had all gone and he had been left behind. In the distance he saw a light flicker; that was the way. He heard rustling behind him, he needed to run faster, the flip flops were slowing him down. He kicked them off to the side and carried on running. His whole body weight pushed his feet onto the solid curvy pine cones. Pine splinters stuck in his foot. Stumbling off track he emerged in a clearing and was faced by Rachel’s body. She lay still, tape around her mouth, her wrists bound with rope. He stumbled towards her, dropped to his knees and began to pull at the binds on her wrists. He felt a shallow pulse. “Rachel, wake up,” he shook her. She did not wake up.
Thwack. His head spun before he fell back on to the hard ground. Above him stood a man, the whites of his eyes shone in the moonlight. He was holding up something long that caught the light. Metal; shiny. As the moon lit up the clearing he saw no fear or regret in the man’s eyes. Was this his end? He grabbed hold of a handful of grit and threw it upwards, half of it falling back down into his gaping mouth. The beast that stood above him growled. Stephen attempted to turn onto his front so that he could stand and run. He had to warn the others, he kneeled then stood. Beside him he saw the man struggling and rubbing his eyes. As Stephen stood, the world was spinning. He closed his eyes and rubbed his head. Blood, his head was cracked. He dropped to his knees, the vertigo was too much to fight against. The man beast roared with anger and he felt a sharp pain in his upper back. He coughed and spluttered before falling face down onto the floor. He felt his ear get brushed and the click of a lighter as a smell of smoke filled the air. “I’m sorry Rachel,” he said in his mind as his thoughts turned to blackness.
Chapter 25
Selina lay on her back gazing at the stars, everything spun for a moment. She closed her eyes and tried to divert her attention from the unpleasant wooziness that was kicking in. Throat dry, she swallowed with difficulty. Water, she needed water. In order to get water she needed to open her eyes, sit up and ask for some. She pushed herself up to a sitting position and opened one eye. “Even my hair's falling out.” She grabbed the hair extension, screwed it up in her hand and threw it to her side. She part opened the other eye. The world wasn’t spinning which was good. Then, pound; pound. The blood pumped through her body in time with her thumping head. “Evie, I’m getting a hangover already,” she said. There was no answer.
Confused, Selina forced her head to turn. She spotted Eve with Kevin standing by the water’s edge. He had his arm around her; she pulled away and looked over towards the light. She was saying something, speaking fast, erratically. Selina couldn’t hear her, all she could see was their moving lips. She watched as Kevin stroked her face and kissed her once on the lips. “Evie,” she called in a croaky voice that was barely able to escape. The need for water was becoming urgent, she needed it now.
Turning her head she spotted Mehmet, why did he
look so angry? Were they arguing? It looks as though we’ve all had too much, she thought. Maybe Mehmet could get her some water. She placed her hands on the floor and tried to push herself up. Spinning again, she dropped back to the floor. Flat on her back she closed her eyes and rolled over onto her front. She placed her elbows down on the ground and leaned her head in her hands. It was best that she stayed floor bound for a while until she’d awoken properly. She coughed to try and alleviate the dryness in her throat before opening her eyes once again. The world was now the right way up. She watched as Celile shouted and Sadik pushed her aside. In one swift motion he grabbed Mehmet and punched him hard. The young man stepped back, shaking, aghast. He used his arm to wipe his bloody nose. “Mehmet.” She pushed herself up and forced her unwilling body onto its feet. She swayed for a moment and the world was spinning again. Blood pumped hard through her body. Head throbbing harder, she took a step. “What are they doing to you? Stop it.”
He looked back at her and a tear was falling down his face, blood trickled onto the floor. She had to get to him, shield him from his attackers. Both Celile and Sadik had left him behind and injured while they stood to one side talking. Concentrating hard, she placed one foot in front of the other and staggered to where Mehmet was standing.
“I’m so sorry,” he wailed as he battled with the mucous and blood that fell from his nose. “I’m so sorry, I can’t take this anymore.”
Once again, the trees began to sway; Selina fell to the floor by Mehmet and grabbed his hand on the way down. He slid down the tree and sat next to her, grabbing her hand back.
“They hit you.” She said slurring each word. Mehmet cried harder before taking Selina’s head in his hands and holding her tightly. She felt his warm grip, breathed in his musky sweaty smell and allowed herself to be comforted in his arms. Whatever was happening would sort itself out. Tomorrow would be another day, although she’d never drink this much again. Tomorrow was a new start.
Chapter 26
“We’ve got to do something now,” Eve said. “The jeep isn’t far. If the keys are in it, we can take it and get help. We will get the cops then come back for the others.”
“We can’t leave them. Stephen, Rachel and Ryan are out there somewhere,” Kevin replied.
“I know, but have you noticed that anyone who goes down that path doesn’t come back? We have to go. I’m going to get Selina.”
Eve walked over to where Selina and Mehmet sat embracing under a tree. She kneeled down and shook Selina. “Sel, we’re going for a walk, come with us. It will help you sober up.”
Mehmet looked up at her with his sad, blood smeared face. He lifted Selina’s chin. “Selina, please go with your friends.” He gave Eve a knowing look, almost pleading with her to take Selina to safety.
“Let go of me, I’m not going anywhere Evie,” Selina replied as she half looked up. “If I move I’m going to be sick.”
“It doesn’t matter Sel. Be sick and we can walk. Please try.” Eve pleaded.
Selina stayed buried in Mehmet’s arms and placed her hand out before turning away.
“No, go for a walk on your own. I’m not coming,” she said from Mehmet’s muffled underarm.
Mehmet began to sob, his eyes red as he threw his head back against the tree trunk in despair. “But Selina, you need to go.”
“Shut up,” she said as she began to snore. Eve watched as Mehmet held her tight and sobbed harder. His desperate hands became tangled in her hair as he stroked her.
A tear emerged from the corner of Eve’s eye. “Please keep her safe.” She kneeled down and kissed Selina on the head and walked back towards Kevin. She watched as Celile and Sadik continued their bickering to one side, too engaged to even notice her as she passed them. On reaching Kevin, she threw her arms around him and held him tight.
“I don’t know what’s going on here; I just know I have to get out of this with you. I have to be with you Eve,” he said as he grabbed her and embraced her back, hard.
She felt his stubbly chin press on her forehead and enjoyed the moment, wrapped safely in is arms. She pictured what they had seen. Sadik whacked Mehmet hard in the face, his bloody nose. It had been hard convincing Kevin that their situation was urgent but now she’d succeeded, she shivered at the prospect of what the next few minutes held. Eve knew that they needed to sneak off inconspicuously, get in the jeep and drive to the nearest police station. She was sure they passed a small village with a police station and police check area but she couldn’t remember in which direction. They had taken so many twists and turns it was doubtful that they would even find a main road but they had to try. It was stay here and get embroiled in whatever was going down or make a run for it. It was survival. She held onto Kevin and tears began to flow down her face and land on Kevin’s arms soaking part of his cotton shirt.
“There’s something I have to tell you, that can’t wait. I was waiting for a better moment.”
Eve pulled away from his embrace and looked tearfully into his eyes. “Am I going to like it,” she forced a smile and cried at the same time.
“I hope so.” He paused and looked away towards the water. Frowning, he opened his mouth and then closed it again.
“Are you okay?”
“When I said I love you. I meant I really love you and I want us to make it out of here and be together. I’ve always loved you Eve. I should've listened to you earlier, I should-” she watched as he looked away, his hair fluttered as the gentle breeze caught it.
She grabbed him and kissed him hard. “Let’s do this. I love you and we’re going to get out of this hell.”
Kevin took his glasses out of his shirt pocket and placed them on before holding her hand. Eve led Kevin towards the edge of the clearing. Sadik looked up at her. “I’ve left my mosquito lotion in the jeep,” she said as she passed him. He stared at her; they stood there as if they were waiting to be dismissed. Sadik nodded and looked away. As they got out of sight, they began to hurry, they parted shrubs; kicked pine cones out the way; stepped over branches. It wasn’t too far, just a couple of minutes away.
Eventually they reached the jeep and two cars. “There has to be keys in one of these vehicles. Get looking.” Kevin called as they parted. Eve started with the car farthest away as Kevin tried the jeep. The door was locked, she looked through the windows and tried to focus under the moonlight, there were no keys in the ignition. The back seat contained an empty bottle of cola and a bag, not much use.
“There’s nothing in this car,” she called as she hurried over to the other car.
“Nor this jeep. Just Ryan's empty beer cans from earlier and a bag with water in it."
“I’ll have the water, we might need it. We may be on foot if we can’t get out of here by car.”
“What? Everything’s miles away.” Kevin replied.
“I’ll take it. You just never know,” she said as she took the bottle out of his hand. They both scrambled to the next car, again it was locked. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, there was no signal but a message had come through earlier. She waved it about hoping for just one bar. “Please, come on,” she yelled as she shook it. One bar would solve all their problems, she could call for help. Her phone beeped, the battery was running low. She looked down at the message.
‘He was waiting for your call!!!!’
The phone went blank, the signal had gone.
“What was that?”
“I had a message earlier from Harry’s Dad. I did try to call him, you know I tried to call him and I couldn’t get a signal.” She said as she began to sob hard. “Harry hates me.”
Kevin ran over and lifted up her chin. “He doesn’t hate you Eve. He loves you. We have to get out of here and then you can call him,” Kevin said as he kissed her on the head. “And I love you too and we’re all going to be fine. It has to be fine, I haven’t met Harry yet,” he smiled. “But we have to go.”
“Hello, you two. Did you find what you were looking for?” Celile said.
Eve stepped away from Kevin. There was a crackling noise in the bushes. “Yes, we’re just heading back now. I wanted my water,” she said as she pointed to the bottle.
“I thought you said bug spray." She paused as she stared at Eve. "Never mind, it doesn't matter. You can stay here as long as you like. I’m going in a second, you can make out then,” Celile smiled.
“It’s okay, we want to go back, don’t we Kevin.” She said as she squeezed his hand.
He squeezed back. “Yes, we’ll follow you.”
“Great, I just need to get something from the car,” she said as she turned away.
Eve and Kevin walked back towards the clearing. “We should get the keys off her and take the car.” Eve said. They both stopped, Kevin looked at Eve and she looked at him both knowing what it was they had to do. She bent down and picked up a rock from the floor, Kevin took it off her. Eve walked behind Kevin back towards the car, trying not to make a sound. Celile was bent over fumbling for something on the floor of the back seat. “I though you were both heading back,” she said without turning.
Eve stepped back and frowned at Kevin, he held the rock down by his side, gripping it.
He shuddered; he heard Sadik talking as he emerged through the trees in the dark. He held the rock by his side. Celile turned around and smiled and passed Sadik the bag she was holding. Sadik stared at them.
“I’ve just got my water. Thought we’d wait for Celile.” Eve smiled as she turned with Kevin to go back. The two of them started walking, not looking back. All Eve could hear was Celile and Sadik's footsteps close behind them. They began uttering words in Turkish and rummaging through Celile’s bag. They were been marched back. Eve turned and was sure she saw a glint of metal mixed up with all Celile’s clutter in the bag. Her heart sank as she shouted, “Race you back Kevin.”
Whispers Beneath the Pines Page 12