Bats in the Belfry

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Bats in the Belfry Page 12

by S C Jones


  “Sorry, I don’t have tickles, but I’m not opposed to you trying,” he said wiggling his brows. They had spent most of the day on the beach playing around and talking. After she knowingly failed her final exam, she rushed right out of the exam room, and over to the hospital to find him waiting in the same spot under the tree. They ran off soon after she finished visiting with her father.

  His face softened when they both turned to the water. The sun was beginning to set, and in the hues of oranges and yellows she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else or with anyone else, but every time she looked at his smile or his beautiful eyes all she could think was, would they always be here? She knew what she wanted, but did he? “When are you going to leave this place?” she asked in a faint almost non-existent voice, but by the look of realization on his face, she knew he heard her.

  She didn’t want to ruin the day maybe even the moment, but she needed to know if she was setting herself up for a future or for failure. He moved away, and took a seat staring out into the ocean. The tide was low, the calm water only making little noise when it rushed onto the shore. Lane moved to sit next to him not turning away as she waited for him to break her heart with his answer. “I need to know why you stay. Why I’m not enough for you to want to leave this place.”

  “You are enough. You’re more than enough, Lane I just—”

  “Can’t,” she continued defeated, closing her eyes. “I wish…I could say I’m okay with you not even wanting to try—”

  “I didn’t say that, Lane," he said sounding annoyed.

  “Same difference, Cole. I’m fighting a losing battle here, because I feel like I’m the only one fighting for something that’ll never exist beyond those walls. I don’t want to be angry, but it’s the only thing I can feel and I know you’re trying to fix you, but you can fix you outside this place, with me.” He kept staring ahead so she continued. “I would have been okay not meeting you, not knowing you existed and could make me feel like… this, but you’re here. You're right here, why won’t you try?” she said hopelessly falling back into the sand and closing her eyes. The tears slid freely down her cheeks so she placed her arm over them to hide it.

  She was surprised she said all that, because she wasn’t planning on coming here, and asking the same question to expect him to give a different answer. She knew what he would say, and in return she would say okay and come back next week with the same hope in her heart that maybe this time would be a yes, but instead she'd said it. She wanted him to know how much she was hurting without him. She didn’t want to be pathetic about it, but really what choice did she have.

  He sighed, shoulders slumping forward. “It’s not as simple as me getting up and walking out… You have to understand—”

  “Understand what exactly?” She sat up, and looked at him as he gazed at her with pleading eyes. She was past upset, and it was time he knew it. “You haven’t said anything but you can’t. How am I supposed to understand that? Help. Me. Understand why you can’t,” she pleaded.

  He pulled his legs up moving his hand over his head before looking up at the sky, as if battling with himself. “I’m selfish okay,” he yelled. “I knew this would happen, I knew how I felt about you and I pushed you into something that I shouldn’t have, not thinking it would come to this. I only wanted to talk to you. Then I really had to know you again because I’ve always been in love with the girl, who had the biggest brown eyes and most beautiful red hair, and a smile that lit up the world whenever she decided to share it. She stole my heart and then we became nothing but thoughts. You were right in front of me and I couldn’t let her go again, Lane.”

  She blinked at him confused by what he was saying. Looking at him closely, from his body to the rugged facial hair that had grown during the past few weeks, to his sad eyes begging her for something she couldn’t quite place. She brought her hand up to his chin and traced his jaw with her thumb before turning his head towards the water. With a gasp, her hand moved to cover her mouth, because right there behind his left ear was the birthmark, she remembered seeing for the first time the day he came home from the hospital after having his head shaved for eighteen stitches. He had fallen from a tree in his back yard, almost cracking his skull open. She didn’t know how she didn’t notice it before, but there it was, the little penny shaped birthmark.

  “Scott,” she whispered from behind her hand.

  He smiled timidly letting her know her guess was right. “You forgot about me.”

  She shook her head dropping her hand. “I never forgot… I just didn’t want to remember,” she said between a sob.

  “Because of what he did?” he asked sadly.

  “You knew?”

  “He told me, some years ago when I went to visit him in jail. I couldn’t believe that he did that to you, of all people. I told him I never wanted to see him again, that he was a sorry excuse of a man and that I was never going to forgive him." His voice hitched. "He took you away from me and I’m so sorry I left you that day. I’m so sorry I put you there and let him hurt you. I was your friend I should have protected you.” His eyes glossed over while he hung his head in shame.

  She inhaled. “But it wasn’t your fault.”

  “Then why’d you stop talking to me?” he asked hurt.

  “Because I couldn’t… I couldn’t look at you without seeing him… telling me how good I feel and how he wished he could do it again and again. It hurt. I couldn’t look at you without feeling pain, Scott. I'm sorry."

  He pulled her forward allowing her to sob against his chest. “I’m so sorry, Lanie. Please forgive me for what he did, for what I did,” he whispered kisses in her hair.

  “There was never anything to forgive,” she mumbled wrapping her arms around him. The day Scott left, she tried not to think about him. Tried not to wonder if he was happy, if he had a girlfriend and good friends. If he remembered her, and thought about her whenever he picked up his guitar and played her song. She had loved him the moment he said, ‘hi,’ the morning that moving van pulled away, and she had loved him every day after his father had hurt her, but she couldn’t look at him without feeling pain. And that was the worst part of the whole ordeal. She had to give up her friend, and her first love, in order to feel sane.

  “You were the last person I was ever expecting to see again,” she murmured leaning away to look up at him. “I always thought you were gone and would never coming back.”

  “I was, seeing as the only thing left for me here wanted nothing to do with me, I saw no reason to come back.”

  “I’m sorry, I just couldn’t.”

  “I know, and I understand. I just wished you’d have told me.”

  “I couldn’t talk about it, not even to you. Why’d you come back now?”

  “My…dad wanted to see me. I guess to confess his sins or something. After I went to see him, I just never left.”

  “Have you been to see him since?” She didn’t want to ask, but something inside her had to know.

  “He ah…died a month after I went to see him. He got into a fight and some guy bashed his head in on the concrete.” Lane didn’t like thinking bad about others, but she knew Mr. Knight deserved it. She was glad to hear he was taken out of the world before he had a chance to hurt anymore girls like her.

  “I’m so sorry for what he did.”

  “I never blamed you, Scott. You looked so much like him; I would panic whenever I saw you. It was like my mind kept flashing back and forth between the incident. I figured the best way was to have no contact, and then maybe the nightmares and fear would go away. Then you left three months later and he was arrested.”

  “Maybe it was for the best, but I still missed you.”

  “I missed you too.” There was a moment of silence between them as they watched the world get darker and darker. Night fell, and the beach was completely dark, with the only lights coming from the facility in the distance. The cold air, left Lane with a slight shiver, but her sweater kept most of it at bay. />
  “Why’d have me think you were someone else, Cole?” she asked skeptically.

  “Technically I am Cole. It was the name my mother always called me, after her father Cole Samuel.”

  “So why didn't she name you Cole in the first place?"

  He chuckled. “That was the great debate, between her and my father, I guess. My father hated my mother's father and he thought Scott was a better fit. To answer your previous question, I didn’t tell you because I wanted to see if you remembered anything at all, if with a little time you’d remember me.”

  “I admit, there was something familiar about you, but every time Scott would pop into my head, I’d brush it out and say it’s not possible because he’s long gone.”

  He touched a strand of hair pushing it behind her ear. "I was always right here.”

  “All along and wouldn’t tell me, you’re evil. What happened to your hair and your glasses?” She moved her hand along his shaven head.

  He chuckled. “I shaved my head two years ago, thought it was a nice change so I kept it short, and I wear contacts mostly.”

  “Well you look good, really different, but good.”

  He smiled and shook his head. “So different I was practically undercover,” he said playfully wrapping an arm around her. They both went silent for a while. He held her tighter amazed they were together again. It was sad though, that his dream had finally come true, and yet none of it was real. If only he had found her sooner, maybe she could have helped him. Maybe they could have helped each other. “Hey, there was always something I wanted to know,” he asked.

  She shifted her head and found his eyes. “Yeah, what’s that?”

  “Where’d you go that night?”

  Confused her smile faltered. “What night are you talking about?”

  “The night you went missing… You don’t remember?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m clueless there and nothing comes to mind.”

  He looked at her serious expression. “Your dad called me at school to find out if you were with me. He said you had snuck out, went to some party and hadn't returned.”

  “I don’t remember,” she mumbled with this nagging feeling at the pit of her stomach, trying to force its way to the surface.

  “Lane you were gone for two days. They searched for you, and then you showed up saying you were at a friend’s house and you lost your phone. I couldn’t leave because of school, but he called and told me what happened and that you were okay. You sure you don’t remember any of this?”

  She shook her head vaguely remembering a bazaar dream she had. It was more like a nightmare, like one of those movies you see on TV, where people are held against their will. She could only remember bits and pieces, but it seemed so real at the time, she had to force herself to forget. It wasn't real, it couldn't have been real.

  “When I say run you run…Run.”

  Like a gun shot going off in her head, she leaped from his side, eyes-wide while taking a couple steps back. “I…ahh…I…ahh have to go.”

  “What why? What’s wrong?”

  She started backing away when he got to his feet and started moving toward her. “I have to…run. There’s something I need to figure out. Don’t worry I’ll be back,” she said taking off into a run down the dark beach.

  Fifteen

  Olivia

  Six Years ago….

  “My house is just two streets over.”

  “I know,” he said, but he didn’t look at her. If he did, he wouldn’t have the nerve to do what needed to be done. She’d seen his face and knew his name, he couldn’t drop her off and pretend none of it happened, because it did, and it was too late.

  His playful demeanor had changed, and so did the air around them. Red flags were going off everywhere, and suddenly all Olivia could think about was getting away from this guy. She could see the blue paint of her house up ahead, and her hand automatically went for the door handle, ready to push it open once the car stopped. “That’s it, right there,” she said in a rush as they quickly approached it.

  “I know,” he said reassuringly, and once again his stone face didn't budge. As she looked at the house now through the rear view mirror, she turned in her seat watching as it got further away. He passed it, quickly pressing on the accelerator and maneuvering out of her neighborhood.

  “Let me out,” she said calmly gazing blankly through the windscreen, but it wasn’t loud enough for him to hear. “Let me out now!” she yelled, grabbing his attention while pulling on the door, trying to get it open. It was locked. He didn’t look fazed by her sudden outburst, with his head remaining forward and a slight tick in his jaw.

  They were out of her street within minutes, and heading down the main road toward downtown. She lifted up, and pulled her phone from the back pocket of her skirt before dialing 911, but he quickly grabbed it before she could press call. Pulling the battery out he flung both the battery and the phone out the window. “What do you want from me?... Let me out! Let me out now!” she yelled banging on everything she could put her hands on, but he was suddenly a statue refusing to budge.

  Twenty minutes later the rain had stopped as he pulled into a dark alleyway opposite an old pizza joint, she once visited with her dad. To her disappointment there was no one around, no cars on the street, nothing that could possibly rescue her from the impending doom she was facing. When he cut the engine pulling her attention back, she watched him as he took the keys from the ignition and got out locking her in.

  She watched as he went around the hood coming to a stop before yanking her door open, and pulling her out by her upper arm toward the back of the car. She struggled trying to get out of his grip, but he was too strong, holding on so tight almost cutting her circulation. Every time she shifted or tried to pull away, he would hold on tighter making the pain worst.

  He held both her hands behind her back, and opened the trunk revealing some rope and a piece of cloth. It was then she began sobbing, pulling harder against his hold, but nothing worked, he was too strong. “Please…please let me go,” she sobbed when he grabbed the rope, and began tying her hands together behind her back.

  “Don’t pull on them or they’ll cut through your skin,” he warned in a toneless voice never once looking her in the face.

  “Please let me go. I won’t tell anyone I promise…just please let me go. I want to go home,” she begged, but it was useless. He grabbed the cloth and tied it over her eyes taking away her sight. She started shaking because even without seeing she knew what was coming next.

  He pushed her forward, and told her to lift her legs to get into the trunk. She did what he said because what choice did she truly have. She couldn’t fight him, she couldn’t run, and there was no one around who could save her. There was no other choice.

  Once she was in, on her side with her knees pulled up to her stomach, she waited for the slam of the door. Of all the fucked up things to get caught up in, this wasn't on her list. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and she had to know if he felt anything, for what he was about to do. “I hope you’re happy for taking my life away,” she mumbled. She didn’t know if he heard or even if he cared, but she wanted him to know that he wasn’t God, and he shouldn’t want what wasn’t his to take.

  After a long moment where nothing happened, she still knew the trunk was open, and maybe he was still there rethinking his actions. Maybe he would even let her go, but all hope died the moment he said, “I’m sorry, O.” There was no hope.

  One hour she thought. That was how long she’d been in the trunk. She started counting the moment he started the car and pulled away. He made no stops, but kept driving, sometimes speeding up then slowing down while making a lot of turns. After that hour she gave up, and tried thinking of anything else to stop her mind from going into that deep dark place where there was no hope for a situation like this. What does one do when in a situation like this? She thought.

  She never thought she’d be one of those girls who were pl
astered all over the news missing and presumed dead. That was what happened when you disobeyed, and thought that you knew better. Lane would have never gotten herself into this mess she thought, trying to make herself as comfortable as one could be in the back of a trunk.

  Trying to think positive thoughts that didn’t all end in her being either raped or murdered, she paddled around in her mind with thoughts of Cas. He didn’t seem like the cold-hearted killer type, in fact he seemed nice and quiet interesting in the little thirty minute talk they shared. Maybe it wasn’t him that was going to do it, maybe he worked for someone else, and that someone was the one calling all the shots. The car went through something and she bounced causing her head to slam back onto the grainy carpet. That was the third time that had happen, and her head was beginning to hurt along with everything else that was wrong with her at the moment. Her mouth was dry, and she'd been holding pee since she left the party nearly two and a half hours ago.

  Suddenly the car came to a slow stop on a gravel road, and she listened as the door opened then shut, and two voices traveled from the front of the car toward the back in conversation. One of them was Cas. “I have the last one.”

  “How old is she?” said a stern male voice standing so close she could understand every word.

  “Seventeen, I think.”

  “Is she beautiful?”

  “See for yourself.” She listened to their footsteps hard against the gravel as the trunk was suddenly jerked open, allowing a gust of cool air to hit her bare legs. A hand grabbed her chin turning her head harshly from left to right, before brushing the hair gently from her face. For a brief moment no one said anything as they both analyzed every feature of her face.

  “Wow, she is beautiful. What color are her eyes?”

  “Brown.”

  “He’s going to pay a lot for this one. I would pay a lot of money to have this one myself… No one saw you right?”

 

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