Willow

by Donna Lynn Hope

  “Why didn’t you keep it?” I asked.

  “Painting it was enough. Now someone else can enjoy it.” His eyes twinkled at me. “And there are always bills to pay.”

  Amber, who had been so quiet, spoke up. “Do you believe in the paranormal? If you had to guess, what would you say that figure was? Oh, and what about the ones who protected your sister, they were real wolves?”

  Ben chuckled at Amber’s inquisitiveness and stroked his beard. “I would not describe myself as the tin foil hat type, no, but if I hadn’t seen what I had, I would have never believed it. The woman did not look right.” He enunciated the last two words so strongly it was apparent the memory of his encounter with her still shook him. “She appeared to be human but while she was elegant in a balletic way, she was so dang creepy she looked like a walking corpse, or at least that’s what my 10-year-old mind conjured. I don’t know what she had in mind for my sister but it couldn’t have been good. As for the wolves, they looked like real wolves, no bigger in fact, but up close they were unbelievably frightening.” He seemed to shudder just thinking about it.

  “I believe you Ben,” Amber said. “There are things in this world that can’t be explained.” Turning to me, she sought my input. “What do you think?”

  I looked from Amber’s face to Ben’s. “I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the concept of mythical beasts since the consensus seems to be that they are fiction rather than fact. I mean, if they really existed, I think they would have been proven to be so by now, don’t you?”

  “But Willow, isn’t some lore based on truth, no matter how small?” Ben was politely challenging me. “Wouldn’t you say that some unexplained violence is the result of otherworldly beings?”

  I shook my head softly. “Not really. I think that’s just something people tell themselves because they can’t bear to think humanity can be so monstrous.”

  “Remember though,” Amber cautioned. “Ben experienced something firsthand and he might have more experience with this than we do.”

  Conceding to them I rose from my seat, brushed the crumbs from the table onto my plate, and thanked Ben as he took our plates into the kitchen. When he came back out we exchanged polite goodbyes and turned to open the door. Ben called out from behind the counter, “Keep your eyes open girls, even in a place like this there could be things that go bump in the night.”

  Amber and I exchanged knowing glances, bid him goodbye and headed back to Anne’s house. While we were walking Amber’s phone rang and she nudged me while silently mouthing Reece’s name.

  From what I could hear it seemed as though they were making plans.

  “Yes, she’s here,” Amber said. There was a brief pause as she listened.

  “I don’t know. I’ll ask her.” Amber glanced at me while still holding the phone to her ear. “Reece wants to know if you want to go out with us next weekend. There’s a bonfire...”

  “I’d like to check with Anne first but I don’t think we have any plans.”

  Amber returned her focus to Reece. “I think she’ll be able to come.”

  After a long pause she exclaimed out loud. “Oh really? I’ll pass along that bit of info.” She closed her phone and lifted her laughing eyes to meet mine.

  “Dare I ask?” I prompted.

  An amused grin danced around the edges of Amber’s mouth. “Reece’s dad was quite taken with your aunt.”

  I clasped my hands together and smiled inside. I hoped it was true.

  Chapter 13

  The week passed by monotonously. I hadn’t heard from Haven but I wasn’t about to call him inquiring about it either. As much as I liked him I didn’t want to give him the power to affect my emotions. I couldn’t afford that kind of uncertainty. Even with Anne, who was family, I was unsure where my roots were; I felt weak and insignificant in a large, lonely and threatening world.

  While I ruminated over life I looked down and noticed I was plucking lint from the throw pillow, enough that colored pieces of fabric had fallen like snow and collected on Anne’s cream-colored flokati rug. I knelt down to pick up the pieces and saw that dark was descending earlier than usual. I had to get ready.

  I felt indecision creep into my thoughts. I wondered if there was something wrong with me. Instead of going out with Amber and Reece, I wanted to stay home with Anne and enjoy our weekly tradition of making baked ziti and individual pumpkin cheesecakes. In the last several weeks we established a routine of cooking and baking together, amicably at that. She would make the cheesecake and while it was cooling she would combine sugar, water and whipping cream in a large pot until the taffy colored mixture bubbled into a thick caramel sauce. I would boil the pasta, fry the ground beef and assemble the salad. Sometimes we would talk, other times we would listen to music, which ranged from classical to pop.

  After dinner we would watch a movie or play a card game. The ritual had become commonplace in the last month and I began to look forward to the normality of it.

  Tonight however, Amber and Reece had talked me into going out and meeting up with some acquaintances from Gunnison. They said there wasn’t much of a plan but that they usually got together at one of the campsites and would chill around a fire. That seemed odd to me in light of how cold it was, fire or not, but I agreed to go.

  Anne was on the phone when I came downstairs. I scooted past her to the entryway where I zipped up my white down coat and wrapped a red scarf around my neck. I pulled on matching red gloves and tucked my jeans into my worn-out boots, which had seen much better days. I heard Anne giggle and looked up as she said goodbye and closed her phone.

  “You look happy,” I observed, noting her flushed expression.

  “That was Jericho,” she murmured, smiling again. “He was calling to ask me to dinner tomorrow night.”

  “Guess he liked the cupcakes, huh?” I knew full well that Jericho had been quite taken with Anne, enough that he had warned Reece to be on his best behavior around me. “Are you going?”

  “I told him I would let him know tomorrow,” she said, a mischievous smile gracing her face, “But yes, I intend to go.”

  “You’re making him sweat!” I blurted out in amazement.

  “Like you said, I had to get his attention. The rest was up to him.” She winked at me as she passed by and simultaneously we both heard the blare of a horn.

  “Can’t they come up to the door?” Anne asked disapprovingly.

  As if she had been heard, a knock followed. Anne, with her hands on her hips, watched as I opened the door to see Reece standing there.

  “Sorry about that,” he said to Anne. “We were just playing around.” He gestured to Amber who was waving from the front seat.

  Smiling but shaking her head, Anne turned to me. “Well, I’m sure you’ll have fun but please be safe, and Willow…you know what time to be home.”

  After we said our goodbye’s I picked up my tin full of homemade candy and followed Reece outside. As we approached his truck I saw that Amber was beaming with excitement. Once I was settled in back she pointed to the small cooler next to me. “Our contribution.”

  While I briefly looked at the cans of coke and the bag of chips, Reece slid into the driver’s seat and checked to see if we were ready.

  After a twenty minute drive we pulled off from the main road and onto a single lane dirt road. In the distance we could make out the flickering of lights. At one point some branches brushed against the side of the truck, startling everyone except Reece who wore an amused expression as Amber and I giggled and teased each other for being so skittish. When we drew near we saw there was quite a gathering already and while there were a couple of familiar faces, I didn’t know anyone else.

  After parking we gathered our folding chairs, candy and cooler and headed to the picnic table where all the food and drinks were kept. I knew people were watching but I didn’t feel comfortable looking at anyone. I felt a hand on my arm and heard Reece say, “Don’t worry. They won’t bite.”

  A
smile touched my lips. “Their bite is not what worries me.”

  Reece stopped and was about to say something when he shook his head and chuckled to himself. Holding my chair I followed Reece to where Amber had set hers up. She was already mingling but I drew inward, wondering why I seemed to diminish in a crowd. Reece sensed my hesitation and stayed with me. After sitting down I began to look around. Amber was talking with an Asian girl I recognized from school. She was with another student, her boyfriend probably since his arm was around her waist. There were a few girls huddled together by the fire where they were roasting marshmallows. They laughed as one caught on fire. Some young men were behind them. The shortest, a stocky but very fit young man with black hair, was staring at the pretty red head who was concentrating on cooling her marshmallow by blowing on it. The fire warmed her pale skin and danced off her tight red curls. I didn’t mean to stare but I found her lovely to look at. Her eyes briefly met mine and she gave the faintest of smiles; my face lit up in return. I also noticed a group of three who were clustered together near some trees. They were all wearing dark hoodies and were talking amongst themselves. Their faces were shadowed in darkness and one was smaller than the others. I felt Reece leave my side and watched as he went and retrieved two sodas from the cooler. While he was returning Amber stopped him and he began to chat with her.

  Feeling self-conscious as I stood by myself, I began to fidget and brushed my bangs out of my eyes. I directed my attention back to the trio and felt my heart leap as the one leaning against the tree with his hands in his pockets lifted his head enough that the fire disclosed his chiseled features. It was Haven and he was looking right at me but his expression was blank. I dropped my eyes and noticed that his companions had turned to look in my direction and I briefly made out Lacey’s face but didn’t recognize the other one. I was too shy to stare so I turned to look for Reece who caught my glance and came my way with Amber by his side. Ridiculous, I scolded myself. Here I was, almost an adult, and I couldn’t even be alone amongst strangers without needing someone to make me feel secure.

  Reece handed me a soda while my thoughts raged. It had been several days since I had seen Haven and I thought we had a great time together and then nothing. He must not have been interested and I didn’t want to worry about it or question myself further. I decided to put him out of mind and concentrate on my friends who seemed happy to be with me. And yet, I could feel his eyes on me and as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t bring myself to look back.

  At one point Amber and I went to the table to gather some goodies. We picked up napkins and paper plates and while she used a fork to pierce a hot dog, I picked out a large, soft pretzel. Someone had brought melon cubes on skewers and another had set out a plate full of brownies. Satisfied we had enough we returned to our chairs and ate around the crackling fire which every so often spit in the air with a sizzling hiss. Periodically I would meet Haven’s stares and before my nervous habits could give me away I would turn and engage someone in casual conversation, anything to keep from wondering.

  As I ate the last melon ball I heard Reece laugh out loud. “Enjoying that are you?” He was talking to Amber. When I looked over he threw his head back and laughed again. Amber had his full attention and she was shaking her head as she looked at him. That’s when I noticed she had just eaten the last of her hot dog. She looked over at me and rolled her eyes and I laughed with her.

  Moments later Reece switched places with Amber and sat down next to me. He pulled me towards him in a friendly hug. “Doing okay?” He asked. I assured him I was fine. That’s when a young man whistled and loudly announced, “It’s that time again.” While he spoke a girl began passing out candles and matches. She approached the trio but one of them lifted his hand and shook his head. The girl walked back to the circle, made her rounds and sat back down.

  The young man explained the rules of the game and said by the time we were done telling our tales, all the candles should be extinguished. I leaned in front of Reece until I got Amber’s attention. “I don’t know this game.”

  She shook her head in agreement, “I don’t either.”

  “You there…” a voice thundered.

  I looked up to see the young man gesturing in my direction. Feeling a sudden flush of embarrassment at having been singled out I remained silent.

  “Why don’t you start,” he challenged.

  “I don’t have a story to tell.”

  From across the fire a female voice interjected, “Everyone has a story.”

  “Well I don’t.” I sounded as irritated as I felt.

  From my side Reece pulled his hands together as he spoke, “I’ve got one.” Leave it to Reece to rescue me! Crossing my arms across my chest I bent my head to look at the dirt, all the while wishing I was better at social situations. I looked up through the fire and saw that Haven was watching me. His face was as severe as ever. Through the shadows of the trees and the shade of his black hood I could even see that his eyes had softened. What was he thinking? I could not figure him out. Warm one day, cold the next. Close one day, distant the next. His actions were nothing but divergent. I looked down again, this time feeling a flush from the inside rather than from the fire before me. Amber reached behind Reece and nudged me. Reluctantly, I lit my candle and Reece followed with his until all the candles in the circle were gleaming.

  “The Bible says, ‘We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and the rulers of the darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places’. While I’ve always been led to believe this refers to angels and demons, I was also told that there are physical forces with abnormal powers, some meant for good, others meant for evil.” Reece paused and looked around the circle.

  Someone snorted, “Oh great a Bible thumper! Are you a right winger, too?”

  The redhead with the hypnotically dancing curls flashed a look of censure towards the rude dissenter and spoke up. “Interesting tale; but if the spiritual forces you speak of are angels and demons, what are the physical ones?”

  “Republicans and Democrats,” someone chortled, drawing a sharp jab from the girl next to him.

  Reece was grinning at no one person, obviously not affected by the opinions of others.

  The redhead kept looking at him, expecting an answer. “That’s an interesting myth,” she said politely. “But it’s not a personal story.”

  Feeling just as intrigued I put my hand on his knee and whispered in his ear, “If you’re willing, I’d like to know more.”

  I could feel him tense up and not wanting to pressure him I withdrew my hand but without looking my way he reached for me and returned my hand to his knee, creating conflicting emotions within me. His hand on mine felt warm and protective but the rest of me felt tense and unsure. Why was this happening? Why couldn’t I be more decisive and better suited to just one person rather than feel such a tug-of-war between two people, one of which didn’t even seem to appreciate my presence like the young man sitting beside me – the one covering my hand with his. Why did everything have to be so complicated or was I the one making it so?

  I continued to muse while Reece picked up where he had left off. “JC was fifteen when he went on a summer camping trip with his dad at Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina.”

  “Loser,” Someone stated, this time being hushed by more than one person.

  Reece didn’t acknowledge him and his hand gripped mine tighter than before. I flinched from the change in pressure, tilted my head and caught a glimpse of Amber whose face was tight and uncharacteristically pained. Remembering her words of affection for Reece, I pulled my hand away and began adjusting my red scarf. The last thing I wanted to do was alienate a friend. I looked up to see Haven watching, his face was just as taut as Amber’s. I looked away quickly. What was it to him?

  Reece’s words drew me from my thoughts. “JC and his dad spent a day hiking and set up their tent near a stream. It was nearing midnight when the howling started. At first unnerv
ed they eventually relaxed and decided that if they felt threatened they would retreat to their car and leave. That’s when JC’s dad told him that a few months before he had been a part of a hunting party that had tracked and killed two wolves - an alpha male and alpha female. According to his dad, the mated pair had killed a beautiful young woman, and to keep others safe, had to be hunted down.”

  Reece’s voice trailed off while he stared into the fire. I looked up to see that everyone was waiting with rapt attention. The red-head stared, almost as if she were stunned. Someone coughed, as if to politely prompt Reece to continue. I looked for the source and found it in the attractive dark-skinned man who was holding the Asian girl close to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and was holding one of his hands. She too was looking into the fire and the way her body molded to her partner made me wonder what that kind of harmony must be like and if I would ever know such trust.

  Reece’s voice interrupted my thoughts once more. “The howling stopped completely and was replaced by an unnatural silence. Even the stream seemed to give pause. At that point JC felt something was really off and told his dad they should go to the car immediately but his dad said something to the effect of, ‘It’s nothing to worry about,’ and in the minutes that followed all hell broke loose.”

  Just then someone’s phone rang and nearly all the girls screamed, drawing chuckles from most of the guys.

  To my surprise, one of the trio spoke from under the veil of darkness, his tone was deep and his voice firm. “They were something more than wolves, weren’t they? The woman they killed was different, too.”

  He emerged from the darkness just enough that I could faintly make out his face: prominent cheekbones and fair eyebrows that were arched above his piercing eyes – eyes that seemed to reflect the fire in its ferocity.