by Denise Daisy
Felicitas agreed knowing the night had been a bit awkward for him. Before he left she made him promise not to tell anyone where she was, especially her dad.
Grant volunteered to escort David to his truck. Felicitas figured he was re- enforcing the command for him not to reveal her whereabouts.
Rosie showed Felicitas upstairs to her room. It was quaint, country and comfortable but nothing like her familiar room at home. She sighed, a thousand thoughts raced through her head as she lay staring out the open window in to the midnight sky. But, she chose not to dwell on any of them. It took less than six seconds after sinking into the soft feather mattress for her to fall into a deep sleep.
Grant stood on the back porch and lit the cigarette he intended to smoke earlier. He took in a long draw as his eyes searched the woods behind the house. He knew they were coming. Tonight would be a long night.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It wasn’t hard for David to stay awake on the long drive home. He cranked up his music and sped down the interstate thrilled to be fleeing the bizarre place where he had spent the past several hours. He hesitated to leave Felicitas but she seemed convinced it was where she should be. He always knew her to be a stubborn girl, adamant about what she believed; never wavering. She was a dreamer with a huge imagination and after tonight he couldn’t fault her for it, she came by it naturally. He had never met a woman like Rosie or a man like Grant for that matter. David found himself laughing out loud at two grown adults who would put such faith in an old fairy tale and actually believe they were part of the story.
It was nearly two in the morning when he pulled his old beater into his gravel driveway parking it where he always did, in the grass lot beside the old shed. Even though he told his mother he would be sleeping at Danny’s he decided to come on home. He’d sneak in the back through the kitchen so not to wake her as he did all the times he stayed out after curfew.
“Where ya been?”
David whirled around surprised to see a familiar figure standing in the doorway of the old shed.
“Shit! What are you doing here?”
The familiar figure stepped out of the shadows and into the glow of the moonlight; the chilling look in their eyes didn’t set right with David.
“Where were you?” Even the sound of their voice was foreign. David took a step backward.
“Just out… ya know, hanging out with Danny.”
They grinned and stepped in a bit closer.
“Saw Danny a while ago… said he hadn’t seen you all night. Said you were someplace you didn’t want your mom or anyone else knowing. Where were you?”
David dismissed the inquiry and headed for the back door.
“Where I spend my time is none of your business.”
“Maybe not but my friends think it’s their business and they‘d like to know.”
On the heel of their words three more figures darted out of the shed; moving quickly, surrounding David.
He drew back at their presence. He had never seen them before. They weren’t any friends he regularly hung out with. These guys; for what David could see of them standing in the shadows, were much older, muscular, toned, and well groomed.
David knew he was close enough to his truck to dive for the door and retrieve the bat he kept behind the seat. He backed away from the threat inching his way closer to the ole rattletrap.
“Where did you take Taz?” The voice was accusing.
David didn’t answer. He lunged for his truck and grabbed the bat but before he could take a swing he crumbled over from a blow to his lower back causing him to lose his grip on his weapon. Strong hands grabbed the collar of his jacket and forced him against the side of the truck. One of the men reached into David’s jacket, pulled out the cell phone and tossed it to the figure who took a quick glance at the call history and grinned.
“Looks like you did talk to Taz today and looking at the time of her call it was right after she ran away. Could it be she called you so you could drive her somewhere?”
“She asked but I couldn’t. Besides I didn’t want to get involved.”
The deceiver laughed. “You, refusing to get involved with Felicitas? Now that‘s entirely abstruse. Everyone knows you’ve been in love with her your entire life. Why I believe you’d do anything for her; even lie as to her whereabouts.”
David had never heard his friend speak so properly, the choice of words, the voice, the actions were all foreign. Fear began to manifest as well as realization.
“Where is she?” The sadistic voice caused David’s blood to run cold.
He gave a swift kick into the legs of the brute that had him pinned against the truck but recoiled at the exploding pain, his attackers feet seemed to be made of iron. The man with the bat stepped forward and swung it hard against David’s knees sending him sprawling to the ground in agony. Another man grabbed him by his hair and pulled him back to his feet before hammering his fist in his jaw. Blood filled his mouth and oozed between his busted lips. His heart accelerated as panic set in. He had only been in a few scuffles as a kid and only one serious fight in junior high. The experience was nothing like this. These men were serious. A seed of dread began to take root.
The bitter taste of copper permeated in his mouth. He spit, intentionally spraying blood in the brutes face. The man retaliated forcing another powerful blow in David’s gut, doubling him over and sending him to the ground again. David lay in the dew soaked grass gasping for air. Tears of anger stung in his eyes as he felt a swift kick to the side of his face, cracking his jaw and dislocating his nose. A loud ringing vibrated in his head and in spite of his blurred vision he could see the deceiver’s feet walking toward him.
“Pick him up.”
One of the men obeyed and grabbed David by his collar pulling him to his feet holding him in place.
“Let’s try this again.” The voice was cold, emotionless.
“Tell me where Felicitas is and I won’t send my friends in after your mother.” David spit again, this time the blood sprayed across the deceiver’s face.
“Go to Hell.”
The deceiver wiped the blood from their face and smirked. A click of their mouth and a nod toward the house signaled the man with the bat to the back door.
David grew sick. Anger raged inside of him. The person standing in front of him was cold-blooded, heartless. They had no conscience; neither did the men who stood with them. They were going to kill him and his mother if he didn’t co- operate.
“Okay,” he gasped.
The deceiver smiled and motioned the thug back.
“Good choice.”
The man holding David threw him inside the truck then slid in to the driver’s seat pushing David to the middle. Deceiver rode in the passenger seat pinning David between them. The other two men climbed in the back.
They drove about a mile before pulling over so the two men could jump from the bed and mount motorcycles hidden within the trees. They pulled onto the road following the jalopy. Once they were back in route the deceiver resumed the manic plan.
“So David I need you to fill me in so there will be no surprises when we arrive. I am guessing Taz is with her grandmother Rosie am I right?”
David nodded weakly. His head throbbed with the slightest move.
“Is there a man with them? A country fellow in his early forties? Unshaven?
He nodded again.
The figure opened David’s phone.
“Let’s send a text shall we? And to whom shall we send it? I’d guess Taz’s annoying and overly opinionated friend Esther would be a good first choice.”
They pressed the keys while verbally speaking the message they were preparing to send.
“Essie your friend has flown the coup again. She asked me to drive her to her grandmothers. The lady is wacked! There’s a man there too. I don’t trust him. I think he’s the one she’s been seeing. He’s bad news if you ask me he has Taz under his control. If Taz is your friend better get some help out there A
SAP. I had to leave her but don’t feel good about it. Call me tomorrow when you get this.”
An alarm signaled the message was sent.
“Let’s send one more. Her heart broken boyfriend Ian, whom she betrayed will be the recipient of this one.”
Again the deceiver spoke the text as they typed.
“Ian your girlfriend needs some serious help. She ran off again tonight. I took her to her grandmothers. If you can, try and get her out of there. They’re crazy. They have convinced her she is part of some crazy fairy tale. There is a weird man staying there. I don’t trust him. I think he is the one she’s been seeing. I think he’s using some kind of drugs on her. He acts suspicious of me ‘cause I don’t believe his crazy legend. He already threatened me once saying I was marked for death whatever that means. I think he is following me. I’m a bit freaked out right now. Call me.”
The deceiver sent the text and placed the phone back in David’s pocket.
The small seed of dread turned to full grown terror. There was only one reason this deceiver would be covering their bases with a text; they planned on killing him and pinning the blame on Grant. David’s mind searched for a way to escape. He mulled over every possibility but considering his weakened state and the three monsters with the deceiver, any chance of surviving seemed hopeless. For the first time he felt like crying.
The driver pulled the truck into the lot of the diner.
David pointed out the windshield; his hand trembling as he slurred his words.
“You can take the gravel road on the left side or there’s a path in the back that leads to the house.”
“Check it out.” Deceiver commanded.
The driver disappeared behind the café and into the darkness.
David laughed inwardly choking on the blood pooling in his mouth.
“Their story’s real…Felicitas is telling the truth, she did get pregnant in a dream.”
Deceiver said nothing while staring defiantly out into the darkness.
David hugged his throbbing stomach and continued.
“I should have believed her. She’s the epitome of everything pure and good. You‘re nothing like her.”
The deceiver mocked. “You don’t have a clue as to who I really am. Do you? I could care less about Felicitas. I only want one thing from her and your death will help me get it. Once every one hears that her insane scheme got you killed then she will lose all credibility. Her damn guardian will be arrested for murder and sex with a minor and then will be taken far away from her. Of course I will be there to console and support her through her pregnancy and as soon as her baby is born I will kill her and the little bastard.”
David leaned his head against the seat and wanted to sob but dared not do it in front of the deceiver. Grant was right; he had been marked and he was going to die, it would take nothing short of a miracle to get him out of this. If only he had stayed at Rosie’s and believed their harebrained story. Felicitas had never lied to him before. He should have trusted in who she was. Now he had led the enemy right to her. He thought of his mother and how for years it had been just him and her living alone out in the country, struggling without the support of a father but managing and always looking forward to a better day. Tears stung at his eyes when he thought of his mother and how she came to every one of his games and how proud she was of him. He hoped the pain of his death wouldn’t destroy her. He closed his eyes and offered up a small plea to God to either help him out of this terrible ordeal or at least take his soul to heaven.
The driver returned with a nod of affirmation. He turned the truck around and headed back about a mile before pulling off the road and driving another half mile across the rugged terrain. Deceiver patted David on the back as the truck came to a stop.
“You’ve been a tremendous help. I’m sure Taz would be proud.”
They jumped from the truck and climbed on one of the motorcycles and waited. The driver pulled a gun from his jacket. A deafening blast. The smell of burning powder. David felt cold. He fell back on the seat and stared at the stars through the open window. They were beautiful. The throbbing in his body seemed to lessen along with the terror that had been present. He felt his swollen lip curl into a crooked smile as a strange peace began to flood his mind. An animalistic hiss roared from the man followed by extreme heat and the shattering of glass. Then the sound of motorcycles driving off into the distance. Thick smoke billowed into the cab as flames licked at the windows.
With his last bit of strength he scooted over and fell from the truck inching his body as far away from the burning vehicle as his strength would allow. Then with much effort he pulled his phone from his pocket and blinked his eyes clearing his vision trying to focus in on the screen. He laughed relieved; choking on the blood forcing its way into his throat.
One bar…enough to place a call. He closed his eyes to retrieve a mental image of something he had seen only hours before. The old rotary phone he used at Rosie’s house and the black numbers printed on a narrow strip of white paper fastened to the front. His fingers shook in his feeble attempt to press the keys. A click and then a ring….a second…..a third…..a fourth.
“Hello?”
David gasped for air choking on his blood.
“They‘re coming.”
His hand lost all strength, the phone fell beside him. The stars were no longer visible, there was only utter darkness.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Grant made sure the shotguns were loaded before going outside. He tossed one to Rosie who caught it like a pro keeping it aimed high as they headed out doors. He would not allow Felicitas to stay behind insisting that they all leave together just in case the cry for help was a trap to lure Grant away. Felicitas wouldn’t hear of staying behind anyway, once Rosie woke her and suggested that David might be in trouble she jumped out of bed and nearly beat both Grant and Rosie out the door.
It was four-thirty in the morning and the night sky was slowly making its transformation from deep black to violet. The chilling night left a light frost on the ground; Felicitas could see her breath when she exhaled. She didn’t want to waste a moment changing clothes, so she threw on a short silk robe her grandmother gave her over her borrowed gown. She shivered as she climbed in Grants truck her bare legs touching the cold leather seats.
Grant peeled out of the driveway and headed down the one lane road with Rosie directing him which way to go. She reasoned if David had made the call from his cell then he had to be at least a mile away in order to get service. Anything past that was a dead zone. She also instructed them to look for smoke, saying the caller did not hang up and she distinctly heard a roaring fire in the background.
Felicitas strained her eyes looking into the dark sky. Smoke would be almost impossible to see. She wrapped her arms around herself trying to keep her body from trembling as uncontrollably as it was. Grant had cranked up the heater but the warm air blasting through the vents could not calm the dread she was feeling over David.
Felicitas had been sleeping soundly and never heard the phone ringing. According to Rosie David called and tried to say something but she couldn’t make out what it was. She could tell by the look on Grants face that he feared the worst. His words to David earlier that evening, that he had been marked for death, kept playing over in her head. If anything had happened to him she would never forgive herself for getting him involved.
Grant jerked the truck off the road and headed across an empty field.
“Fire.” he said pointing in the distance.
Seeing the orange glow of flames ahead caused her heart to drop into her stomach.
Grant floored the truck driving it as fast as he could across the uneven terrain. The second time her head hit the roof of the cab Rosie reminded Grant of Felicitas pregnant state; asking him to take it a tad slower. He navigated a couple more bumps and plowed through a bit more brush before the sight of the burning truck came into view.
The vision of the old beater in flames nearly caused Feli
citas heart to stop. She climbed over Rosie scrambling to get out of the truck and raced barefoot through the wet grass toward the burning vehicle. Grant and Rosie followed close behind still aiming their guns in caution.
Felicitas spotted his body first.
“David!” She fell onto the ground beside him, screaming in protest as she cradled his head in her arms. “Oh my God is he dead?”
Grant knelt beside her, examining David’s wounds.
“He’s lost a lot of blood. If we don’t get him to the hospital he will be.”
Scooping David’s lifeless body in his arms, Grant raced for the truck carefully laying him in the bed. Felicitas climbed into the back never leaving David’s side. Grant opened his mouth in protest but one look from Felicitas and he knew he could not refuse her. He climbed in joining her and told Rosie to drive instructing her to take it easy across the field so the imbedded bullet wouldn’t dislodge and travel.
Felicitas placed David’s head in her lap cushioning it from banging against the cold metal bed of the truck. Tears poured down her cheeks as she looked up at Grant.
“Who did this to him?”
“My guess is the Drakes.”
“Where are they?” She screamed her words over the wind now that Rosie was on the main road and driving at an increased speed.
“Where are they? I want to see them!”
“You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“Yes I do! I’m not afraid; the oracle said they weren’t allowed to kill me while I’m pregnant. I want to talk to them.”
Grant laughed. “You want to talk to them? Honey they aint much for talkin’ or listenin’. They can’t kill you now but it doesn’t mean they can’t take you with them. Some things could be worse than death. They want one thing and they’ll stop at nothing’ to get it and by the look of your friend here, I’d say it took them awhile to get what they wanted. They have ways of finding out things. They knew David helped you and knew where you’re hidin’ place was. I’d say it took some time but they finally beat it out of him.”