by Gary Lewis
Finally, the crowded beach parking gave way to the occasional pickup or SUV sitting alone among parking spaces that held only scraps of litter. The playful voices of screaming children splashing had departed behind them when they neared the peacefully quiet boat ramps.
"Here?" David asked.
Janice could feel the impatient anxiety fill the car with his breath. She pulled slowly into the darker, forested end to find a spot near the docks and they came to a dead stop.
Janice smiled and calmly turned to David. "No. Here." A few birds chirped just outside the car from above and a squirrel sprinted to carry its precious food up a large oak tree. The commotion of street traffic seemed a world away as yesterday and tomorrow faded from thought. Nothing existed but that eternal moment, ever-flowing with nature. David stared back with a light smile; his eyes now relaxed. The memories this place still held culminated to that one point in time and Janice couldn't help but wonder if David felt just as happy.
The gentle, rhythmic splash beckoned from outside the car. "Let's go," Janice said with excitement. She opened the driver side door as David hopped out to walk beside her and they strolled toward the docks.
"If you’re sure about this, I am too,” David said. This time his tone carried calmly through the air, deep with conviction. His words now supported her and held her up from within as his fingers slowly slipped between hers and a strong warmth thumped within her chest. She squeezed back and they continued onto the rickety boarded walkway that extended onto the water. As Janice removed her flip flops and sat at the edge to gradually dip her feet into the cool water, it soaked into her soul to wash away the pain. David took his spot beside her. There was no way to capture this feeling in a photo. Her memories of climbing onto the boat with her dad no longer chewed at her heart. She was no longer alone. The darkness was gone in this moment from which she could face the past. It was just her and now. Just us.
"Look," David said as he pointed to the right. "A turtle."
Janice looked out over the lake. Beyond, the roadway could be seen stretching across the distant bridge. Tiny cars came and went from a world that she knew she must inevitably return to. But not right now.
"Still with me, Jan?" he asked, bringing her back to his face.
"Remember when we were kids?" Janice asked while swishing her feet in slow, wide circles. "Dad used to take us fishing out here every other weekend."
"I used to always wonder why your mom never came along," he said while looking at his lap with a slight smile. He looked up to meet her eyes for a second before leaning back with a laugh. "Remember that huge catfish that almost dragged you off?" His chuckle became louder.
"Oh. Shut up!" she said, matching his laughter. "You couldn't pull that thing up either."
She heaved to give him a playful shove toward the lake. David braced harder than she thought he would and Janice slipped, smacking the surface of the water. The splash engulfed her in fear. Everything went silent. She rapidly flailed her arms and legs to find the surface. Her ability to swim left with the panic that leapt through her body. She was alone, struggling to find a way to escape the abyss. No matter how hard she splashed the surface for a split second of air, she couldn't regain control.
Janice felt her elbow knock into something. It was someone. Arms wrapped around her from behind and paddling feet kicked against hers with a controlled rhythm. She locked her jaw tight, trying hard to hold her lungs as the darkness became light and they splashed out into the air. Bursting into gasps and choking up water, Janice rushed to catch her breath as they propelled toward the bank and she could finally stand to run back onto land. Still gasping for air, she wiped at her eyes. Her clothes now soaking wet, sinuses stinging with water, she wobbled to catch her balance as David wrapped his arms around her shoulder to support her.
Amidst her dripping face, she couldn't tell if she had been crying as she noticed David was also huffing for air and the blurry world came into focus.
"I'm so sorry," she gasped. "I don't know what-"
"No," David said. "Sit down. It's okay." His wide eyes stared into hers. "I should've caught you, Jan."
Janice still choked to speak as she gasped to catch her breath. "Why are you apologizing? You saved me."
David lowered his face before raising his eyes once more. "I'm glad you're okay." His hand slowly slid over the back of hers and he wrapped his fingers around her wet palm and clasped tightly.
Janice's gasps finally settled into heavy breathing as her heart still pounded for more air. What's wrong with me? She closed her mouth and looked at him. "I used to be a good swimmer."
David wrapped his other arm around her back and scooted against her right side while they sat in the clumpy, damp sand. "You still are, Jan. It'll come back."
She bent her knees before slowly pushing herself up and they both stood, still dripping onto the ground. "I'm alright," she said while squeezing a trickling stream of water from the front of her shirt.
"You're never alone, Jan." his words punched through her chest, impacting her deep where it mattered most. She looked up at him through watery eyes and time stood still. The world would continue on, somewhere out there, but hers was here. David's arms spread open to her as she fell into his chest where he held her tightly.
#Vance#
Vance blasted the sound of heavy metal as his loud pickup barreled up the gravel road to Sarah's house. It was the least he could do for her painfully quiet neighborhood. He slowed down to ease into her driveway where David’s car was absent from the overgrown grass that clearly set her yard apart from the others.
"No point turning back now," he said as he killed the rumbling sound of his engine and hopped out to stride toward the porch. Just before meeting the front steps, he noticed a path of recently flattened grass heading around the house toward the backyard. She's out back. Walking quietly, he followed the trail around the side. Vance stopped as he rounded the corner to see Sarah's back turned a distance away at the door of her shed. He watched for a moment. Seems she's locking up. Vance wondered how he should announce his presence without startling her. Might be more fun to see her jump. He folded his arms and remained silently still.
"You just going to stand there and watch?" Sarah asked, her back still turned. "Or did you come to mow my lawn?"
Vance's eyes pressed in suspicion as he brought his hand to his chin. Could've snuck a deer just the same, no problem.
After a silent moment, Vance spoke. "How'd you know?"
"I'm sure the entire neighborhood heard you driving up here."
Vance paused to think for a second.
"Oh. Is that why you're here?" she asked. "To tell me what big ears I have?" Sarah turned to face him, crossing her arms as they stood in similar stance, staring one another down.
"You got me," he said. "That's it." He slowly rose his hand to point her down. "I know that it's you, Sarah." A wordless moment passed as he studied her reaction. There was none. Vance finally laughed. "Nah. I came to see if David was here."
She waved her arm in a half circle. "As you can see, he's not. Haven't heard from him in two days."
"So, before I hung out with him?” He nodded in thought. “Okay."
Sarah opened her mouth. "You and David were hanging out?” Her wide eyes continued to stare at him. “We should call Terry."
"Why?" he asked.
"It must really be the end times," she said.
As he gazed past Sarah, Vance noticed long marks dragged down the wooden door of her shed.
"What's got the two of you out together?" Her voice continued to annoyingly distract him. "A little bromance? Maybe a little monster hunting quality time together?"
Vance ignored her rambling as he walked in her direction.
"What is it?" she asked as he continued past her to feel the roughly torn wooden door and the busted frame around it, sliding his hand slowly to ascertain the direction of the claw marks.
"Crazy, huh?" She casually swung her arm. "And I just rep
ainted it last month."
"Whatever did this was..."
"A real prick, I know." Sarah dropped her arm to slap her side. "I mean who the hell do I get to pay for this? The devil?"
"What I'm saying is these are single swipes. The amount of force it would take to dig into... no, to gash right through this wood is... unreal."
"So you're pretty sure a bear couldn't have done that?" she asked.
"Pretty sure a lion couldn't." Vance took his time studying the way it had slashed through the wood. "It happened some time ago."
"Yeah. I know," she said. "I think I know which night it happened, actually."
"Are you sure it was dark out when this happened?" Vance asked. "Reason I'm asking, is David and I found a deer that was mauled in midday, up by the fire tower." He waited for a response from Sarah who instead just stared. "It didn't look like normal predation. Nothing was eaten from the carcass and that's not all. I think it likes to play with its food."
She huffed. "You literally just said nothing was eaten from it, then you referred to it as its food."
"Well, whatever. There's a good chance this thing is diurnal."
Sarah's mouth opened with her wide eyes. "This can’t be."
Vance waited for what she had to say next.
"I can't believe this," she said. "You actually can use big words sometimes."
"Look. All I mean is don't let your guard down... even in the daylight."
"Listen," Sarah said. "Not to change the subject or anything, but..." Vance could tell by the tone of her voice that it couldn't be anything good.
"What is it now?" he asked.
"I'm just saying." Sarah tilted her head at him with a cheek pressing half grin. "If David isn't home, he isn't here and he's not with you, then..."
Vance turned his head and shot his eyes sideways at her. "I don't care." He moved his hand in a flat, vertical motion in front of him before sweeping it aside. "Want nothing to do with her."
Sarah gave a smirk. "Oh. Damaged goods, huh?"
Her smartassery was beginning to get on Vance's last nerve. "Listen," he said. "Not to change the subject or anything, but..." he mockingly challenged her before lightening up to a smile.
Sarah placed her fists on her hips and held her chest out. "What is it now?" she asked in a deep, manly voice.
"Mind if I use your laptop to order a new set of brakes for the truck? The site is stupid on my phone." Vance waited, ready for some wisecrack about how he couldn't afford a computer or internet. But there was none.
"Sure, but don't take too long. I have to check out a dryer for a tenant."
Inside, Vance noticed how cold she kept her house. "Should've brought my jacket," he said, propped back at her dining room table on Sarah’s laptop where he scrolled through social media while waiting for his order confirmation. Sarah didn't say anything. Vance watched as she paced around, cleaning the countertops and sink.
"Must be nice," he remarked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.
"I mean having a place nice enough to have to worry about all that."
Sarah walked over and lifted Vance's glass of orange juice he'd set on the table and slid the coaster underneath. "Oh, boo-hoo. Cry me a river," she shot back. "I worked hard for everything I have." The air got silent as she relentlessly wiped down the table surface. "There's no family to look out for me at the end of the day." He remained quiet as he watched her flip her hand up in the air while she continued. "So what? Your mom died and now you live in a trailer park with your dad.” Sarah looked away and continued cleaning. “Shit happens,” she said. “I never had a family."
Vance felt hot inside. "No wonder you keep the thermostat so low. Must be tough living with yourself."
A few minutes went by as Vance switched tabs, looking over the football team's page. Then he checked his social media messages while Sarah compulsively straightened up the living room.
"Guess that's it," he said. He closed the laptop and stood to leave. Sarah seemed deaf to him, still sweeping away at the floor.
"Hey, I shouldn't have said that," Vance said, raising out his palm. "You're right. Everything you have was built with your own two hands." He rubbed the back of his head and cleared his throat. "I just don't know how you hold it together so great. Wish I had that... and I guess it makes me kind of mad that I don’t." He put one hand in his pocket as he glanced for the door, just beyond her. “Guess what I’m tryin’ to say is I really look up to what you do here.”
Sarah dropped the broom against the wall and looked at him with round eyes for what seemed like forever.
Shocked that she actually stopped cleaning, Vance threw his palms out to face her. "Whoa. Not goin’ to hit me, are ya?"
"No," she said softly. She briskly turned her face away toward the wall where the broom leaned. "Thank you." She gently grasped the broom, still turned away from him.
On his way out the front door, Vance clasped the frame and turned to lean his head back inside. Sarah's face was still turned from view. "But if having a family there for me means a fat, lazy drunk that yells and beats the shit out of me for everything..." He paused to look at the back of her blonde hair as she stood, a statue, clasping at the standing broom. "I'd rather take my chances on my own." He casually slung himself back from the door as he walked away. The tall grass seemed to welcome his stride as he neared his red pickup and the gentle click of Sarah’s door closed behind him.
###
Heavy clouds rolled in to envelop the night sky above Pine Bluff. Into the dead of night, the town remained calm except for the occasional clap of thunder and the light patter of rain. The noisy animals of the forest and fields roamed safely and the residents slept peacefully through the passing darkness. Maybe the moon-shrouding dark matter that swirled in the sky above town had concealed the cravings from the beast’s belly, or perhaps this time it had become full with a soul of its own.
Chapter 12
#Sarah#
The early morning light found Sarah wrestling to pick herself up from the couch. Several dented, empty beer cans sat beside the filled ashtray on her otherwise spotless living room table. Though the comfy cushions begged her to sink back into her dreams, the incessant crowing from the neighbors' roosters told her that it wasn't going to happen today. "Just what I need. Another cock telling me what to do." The sound of tires crackling up the gravel road caught her attention. Sarah bounced up from the couch and snapped out of her morning haze to look out the window. "Just the people who live up the road," she said.
After a few failed attempts at her long unlock code, she checked the group chat. David hadn't been active for over twenty-four hours. The last messages were Vance and Terry going back and forth about the deer, the fire tower camera and something about a stake out. A giggle escaped her chest when she saw how Vance spelled it. Steak out… He might as well have written takeout. It didn't seem like a bad idea, her stomach told her with a slight growl while she grabbed a towel and began to run a steaming hot shower.
"I still can't believe you said it," Sarah whispered while looking at her screen. She spent a few minutes thinking of what to text him before finally settling for, "Thank you for helping with my yardwork yesterday." A loud ding sounded from her laptop in the other room. "Doofus forgot to sign out yesterday." She smiled with a slight roll of her eyes before letting out a long sigh. “Of all the people…” Her words resounded through the mist that steamed her bathroom mirror, hiding the expression she held from the world.
After setting her phone down on the bathroom sink top and throwing off her shirt, she adjusted the temperature of the now scalding hot water. Old scars striped across her legs. They were a reminder that there would never be anyone she could fully trust, that savior from pain always led to new ways to suffer. There was only one way anyone could ever escape it all.
After her shower, the sound of her phone buzzing on the table caught her attention. She hurried to check it. Terry. She lowered the phone along with
her eyes. "What's everyone doing today? I'd like to go over the stake out area while it's cool out," the message read in group chat. Janice is the only other one who’s seen it and she sure as hell isn’t going to do anything proactive. "Meet me at the Sunset in an hour," Sarah typed before she gave her hair a quick brush and strode out the door.
###
Despite the morning traffic, it didn't take her long to reach the Sunset Diner. Though she narrowly avoided breakfast rush, the restaurant was still busy as she took a seat. "Coffee, no cream or sugar, two eggs over easy with toast and a waffle," she said as she waved away the menu dismissively. The red-haired waitress nodded before robotically pacing back to the counter. "Bet if I lit a cigarette in here, she'd remember me," Sarah said.
The crackling chatter of radio noise caught her attention as she looked up to see a police uniform. Officer Benning stood in front of the table. His arms crossed as he stared down at where she sat.
"I don't remember ordering bacon," she said before sipping at her coffee.
He placed his hand on the table and leaned over to speak quietly. "I've got my eye on y'all," he said with an unbroken stare in her face. "First the cattle, then the lumber yard, and those missing kids. I'm going to nail you little shits to the wall for all this. Only a matter of time."
Sarah's heart beat faster as she struggled to maintain her composure.
Officer Benning rose up and tipped his hat. "Enjoy your breakfast, miss," he said loudly before pacing over to the bar to greet the regulars and order.
Sarah scarfed down her food, left the cash for the tab on the table and rushed to the parking lot. As she shoved through the door, she ran straight into Terry, colliding with him in the doorway.
"What's wrong, Sarah?" he asked as he held the door.
"I'll tell you on the way. Let's go," she said quickly, tugging at Terry’s arm. As she pulled back at him, they stumbled into the blind beggar. Sarah gasped as she was startled back a couple feet.