Lurker

by Stefan Petrucha

She turned on her away message and leaned back in the chair, looking at the cell phone sitting on her desk. It was nearly seven, and she needed to be ready for Dale’s call. Things like this demanded preparation.

  She decided not to pick up on the first ring. That would be lame. She probably wouldn’t pick up on the second ring either. In fact, she might let it go to voice mail and then call him back. But that was lame, too.

  When the phone trilled, she decided to wait for the third ring.

  “Hey,” she said.

  “Hey. How’s it going?”

  “Good. Just doing some homework.”

  “Tell me about it,” Dale said. “I’ve got a bunch of pages to read for Stahlman tomorrow.”

  Then, there was a long silence. Mandy’s nerves jangled, and she just couldn’t sit there any longer. So she stood up and started pacing, trying to figure out something to say.

  “Laurel still there?” Dale asked.

  “No, we just walked home together. She didn’t come over.”

  “Oh,” he said. “You’re kind of quiet.”

  “Don’t really know what to say.”

  “Me either,” Dale admitted. “It’s weird, right?”

  “Yeah, kind of,” Mandy said, completing a lap. She noticed someone had instant messaged her, even though her away message was on.

  Kyle, she thought. It had to be him.

  She stared at the screen, wondering if she should kill the away message. With the awkward silences between her and Dale, she almost wanted to. Maybe Kyle had news about college, or wanted to talk about their date Saturday night. Of course, it might not be him at all. Drew and Laurel IMed all the time. Mandy returned to the chair and reached for the mouse, pausing when Dale finally spoke.

  “It’s like all of this stuff is running through my head, but I don’t know what to say first. We always used to have such great conversations, and now, I can’t even get a sentence out, and it’s just too weird. You know what I mean? I’ve got a bunch of stuff in my head, but it’s all stupid, and all I want is for things to be the way they were.”

  Mandy bit down on her lower lip. She pulled her hand away from the mouse.

  “So do I,” she said.

  11

  Mimi’s was the finest restaurant in Elmwood. Mandy’s parents celebrated anniversaries at Mimi’s and everyone else spoke about it with great reverence, but Mandy had never dined there before, never seen the romantic red walls and the lily-shaped crystal light sconces. The scarlet walls and carpet ate much of the light cast by these fixtures and the tiny flickering tabletop candles. Following Dale through the elegant room, she felt under-dressed. Oh, her black dress was beautiful and it had cost quite a bit, but she still didn’t think it appropriate for the amazing restaurant. She couldn’t imagine anything she owned being appropriate for this place.

  After school the day before, she and Dale had gone to Corey’s for coffee and chatted, mending some of the damage that had been done, and he’d suggested they go out for a nice dinner. Speaking to him on the phone Tuesday night had been awkward, even after they’d both said how much they missed each other. But yesterday at Corey’s had been better, and tonight looked like it was going to be simply incredible.

  Dale looked stunning in his gray suit and blue silk shirt. Just like a movie star, Mandy thought, unable to manage the jitters of excitement in her stomach. She felt certain that everyone was staring at her. Additionally, she was afraid she might trip and fall on her face or bump into something. Everything was just so perfect.

  Once the maître d’ seated them, Dale unfolded his napkin and dropped it into his lap. “Is this okay?” he asked.

  “Okay?” Mandy asked. “It’s wonderful.”

  “Cool,” Dale said. “I mean, we never came here before, and I thought you might like it.”

  “I love it. But how did you get a reservation? Isn’t it booked through the next millennium?”

  “Just weekends,” he said. “School nights aren’t all that hard to book.”

  “You come here a lot?” Mandy asked. And if so, why is this the first time you’re bringing me here?

  “My dad likes the trout,” Dale said. “We come out here every few weeks, so they kind of know me. I don’t mention it much, because people already think I’m a spoiled ass.” He laughed. “Anyway, if you like shrimp, the scampi is good. I guess everything is good. Just get what you want. Next time it’s back to burgers and fries.”

  “The shrimp sounds nice,” Mandy said, gazing over the table at Dale. He looked even more handsome in the flickering candlelight, more mature somehow.

  “You look really beautiful,” he told her. He reached over the table and took her hand. “Really,” he said.

  “Thank you.”

  When the waiter arrived to take their orders, he called Dale, “Master Dale,” which made him scowl and blush. Mandy giggled, but got it under control quickly, seeing how self-conscious Dale felt. Though she scanned the menu a dozen times (and everything looked sooo good), she ordered the scampi.

  After the waiter left them, they fell into an easy conversation, talking about school and their friends. Soon, Mandy forgot about the elegant room and thoughts of her inadequate dress, and just enjoyed speaking with Dale. He seemed to have changed so much in the last few weeks. His jokes weren’t as crude, and he actually seemed to be listening when she spoke.

  “So, you three are just going to fly off to Brazil after graduation?” Dale asked.

  “Not necessarily Brazil. We could end up in Europe. I haven’t even talked it over with them yet, but we may not all go to the same college. Then, who knows what’s going to happen to us? We should have some kind of great memory together, you know?”

  “Sure,” he said, though he didn’t seem convinced. “What brought all of this up?”

  “Nicki mostly,” Mandy said. Of course, she couldn’t mention her chats with Kyle. “I was thinking about all the things she won’t get to do. Then, I started thinking about everything I wanted to do.”

  Dale nodded his head, looked at his plate. “I guess we’ve all done a lot of thinking since that night. The first thing I noticed when we got back to school was how nice everyone was being, right? Everyone was kind of quiet and really polite. And I got that, because I felt the same way. The thing is, it’s only been two weeks and school is getting back to normal, like everyone is mostly over it and the kids are acting like themselves again.”

  This observation seemed to worry Dale. Mandy thought she knew why. He didn’t want to be the way he was before Nicki’s death. He’d discovered things about himself and his family, and it really changed him. Now though, he was concerned the change was only temporary. She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it tightly.

  “She was online that night,” Dale said. “Before that bastard kidnapped her, she was online. I saw her on my buddy list.”

  Thinking about Dale on the computer that night stung Mandy. She remembered far too clearly what he was doing. Still, she didn’t remember Nicki being signed on, though by the time she got home to her own computer and buddy list, her fight with Dale was the only thing in her head.

  “I always considered my list like a kind of party,” Dale said. “I could just hang out and chat, and it’s like all of my friends were right there, all the time, watching out for each other and having a good time. But Nicki was there, surrounded by all of us, and then she was just gone.”

  Mandy held his hand tighter. She didn’t know what to say. She certainly was not going to bring up Kyle and how she told herself he wasn’t real just because she only knew him through lines of text. That was the last thing they needed tonight.

  “Wow, that killed the conversation,” Dale said, letting loose another nervous laugh. “Let’s find something a little less Poe to talk about.”

  “Well,” Mandy said, “are you doing anything cool this weekend?”

  “I don’t know,” Dale said. “Are we?”

  They stood on Mandy’s porch, kissing. As always
, Dale held her just tight enough, and from his lips and tongue a tingling charge filled Mandy, who held the back of his head, fearing he might pull away. Their date had been perfect, like something out of a movie. She hated that they had school in the morning, hated that it was only eleven o’clock and they were saying good night. She crushed her lips to his, forgetting that her parents might open the door any second. The kiss seemed to go on forever, yet it still ended too soon.

  “I’ll pick you up in the morning,” Dale said.

  Mandy nodded, not yet able to speak. He kissed her again, a quick peck on the lips.

  “Good night,” he said.

  “’Night,” she managed.

  She watched him walk back to his car, saw him climb in behind the wheel. He waved good night, and she waved back. Then, Dale pulled away, leaving Mandy trembling with exhilaration, fumbling for her house keys.

  Upstairs in her room, Mandy looked at her computer. She probably had a ton of e-mails from Drew and Laurel. Both had insisted she call or IM the second she got home to download the details of her date, but she wanted to keep this feeling to herself for a while, felt like holding it close and tight so it wasn’t lost. Instead of signing on, she shut the machine down.

  Mandy changed into a nightshirt with a picture of a lamb on the front and lay on her bed. Against the dimly lit ceiling, she replayed her date, seeing Dale in his nice gray suit, and the restaurant with its waiters dressed in tuxedos. It was all so wonderful. Things were back to the way they should be.

  Except for Kyle, she thought. She still had to chat with him, needed to cancel their date for Saturday night. She couldn’t go out with him now, and he probably wouldn’t want to chat anymore once he knew Mandy had a boyfriend. The whole mess made her feel queasy. It would be easier to just send him an e-mail, but that was lame. He’d be back from California tomorrow. After school, she would explain things. She knew he’d understand.

  Then everything really would be back to normal.

  12

  In Friday morning gym class, Laurel tried to get as much information as she could between Mr. Lombard’s instructions on Tae Kwan Do techniques. Mandy was still high from the date and wanted to tell Laurel everything, but knew it would have to wait until lunch. In the meantime, she let out a few juicy details—about Dale, about their dinner—just to drive Laurel nuts.

  In the cafeteria, once Drew joined them, she told her friends everything, starting with Dale’s phone call after school telling her to dress up, then about arriving at Mimi’s and feeling like a total looz in her dress. She told them about the restaurant and the food and the conversation and the kiss good night. At first, Drew interrupted a lot, wanting to talk about similar moments she and Jacob shared. After Laurel threatened to make her eat her own hair, Drew quieted.

  “And you think the leopard really changed his spots?” Laurel asked.

  “I do,” Mandy said. “I can’t explain it, but Nicki’s dying really affected him. He’s romantic and sweet, but he’s still Dale, you know?”

  “Sounds like we have a winner,” Laurel said. “Now, what about voting the other one off the island o’ Mandy?”

  “Ugh,” Mandy said. “I know. I’m doing it tonight after school.”

  “What are you going to tell him?” Drew asked.

  “The truth.”

  “Never a good idea,” Laurel said. “But it’s your life. Do what you have to.”

  That night, Mandy stared at her buddy list, more specifically at Kyle’s username. I so don’t want to do this, she thought. How am I supposed to just say ‘Hi, I never want to chat with you again’? Uncomfortable, Mandy shifted in her chair and took a deep breath. Just like a bandage. It’s better to yank and get it over with.

  MC9010025: Hey. Are U back?

  No, Mandy thought, don’t use webspeak. She wanted Kyle to know that she was serious and using a bunch of symbols in place of words would look lame, like it was just another stupid chat.

  Kylenevers: Back. Glad 2 b home.

  MC9010025: That’s good.

  Kylenevers: I had a great idea.

  MC9010025: What’s that?

  Kylenevers: Well, we’re getting together tomorrow night, right?

  MC9010025: Kyle, we have to chat about something.

  Kylenevers: Plenty of time 4 that. I was thinking we’d have dinner in the park. U know, kind of a moonlight picnic.

  MC9010025: That sounds really nice, Kyle. But I can’t

  Kylenevers: What do u mean? Don’t u want to meet?

  MC9010025: My boyfriend and I got back together. I was trying to tell you.

  Kylenevers: Oh. U never mentioned a boyfriend.

  MC9010025: We broke up. Long story. But we’re back together now.

  Kylenevers: K

  MC9010025: No, it’s not okay. I feel terrible about this

  Kylenevers: We’ll still meet

  MC9010025: You don’t understand, Kyle. I can’t.

  Kylenevers: U don’t want 2 hurt him

  MC9010025: No.

  Kylenevers: But it’s ok 2 hurt me?

  MC9010025: I don’t want to hurt you.

  Kylenevers: What if I want 2 hurt u?

  MC9010025: Don’t say that.

  Kylenevers: Why not?

  MC9010025: Because you’re just mad right now. You’re angry at me because of all of this, but it will pass. You hardly know me.

  Kylenevers: That’s not true. I know ur smart

  MC9010025: Thnx

  Kylenevers: And funny

  MC9010025: Kyle don’t. I feel awful

  Kylenevers: And warm.

  MC9010025: I don’t feel very warm right now.

  Kylenevers: Sure u do. When I slice open your belly and stick my hands inside, I’m sure you’ll feel very warm. And then you’ll get cold, as cold as the night air. But I’ll keep cutting.

  Mandy jerked away from the monitor as if the text tried to lunge out and grab her throat. A high squeal leaped behind her lips, and she struggled to keep from screaming. It was a joke. A sick joke. It had to be. She reached toward the keyboard with trembling fingers.

  MC9010025: That’s not funny.

  Kylenevers: Nicki didn’t think so either, but I think it’s hilarious.

  Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…

  Now Mandy did scream. She shoved away from the desk, stumbling over the chair as she tried to put distance between herself and the monitor. Her mind raced. Her heart fluttered like a hummingbird’s wings against her ribs. No. No. No, she thought. It couldn’t be Kyle. The man that killed Nicki was old, stooped and grotesque. She saw him on the video. Everyone saw him. A man with a witch’s face. Kyle looked nothing like him, and the picture must have come from Kyle. He posed for her exactly as she asked, with the hairbrush, saluting. He was young and handsome and…the picture changed. No. Pictures don’t just change. No way.

  “No,” she cried to the room.

  A cold chill clung to her skin like an icy rash. She trembled violently beneath it. Call help, she thought. Figure this out later, but for now, call help. You’re alone in the house.

  Mandy approached the desk as she might a hive of bees. Slow steps brought her shaking to the edge. She snatched the cell phone from the desk, then leaped back. She fumbled the device open and punched in 911, then hit send and put the phone to her ear.

  “Still want to chat on the phone?” a high rasping voice asked. Then a piercing stutter erupted through the speaker. “Hahahahahahahahahahaha.”

  She screamed and threw the phone across the room, repulsed by the laughter crawling through it. Her skin tightened and goose-pimpled. Mandy hugged herself against the sensation, but she felt dirty, as if she’d just squirmed out of the Witchman’s filthy embrace.

  Mandy looked around the bedroom, uncertain what to do. She tried to get her heartbeat under control by taking deep, ragged breaths. Tears burned her eyes, blurred her vision. She wiped the hot tears away frantically so she could see.

  Get out of
the house, she told herself. Go to a neighbor’s, use their phone. If Kyle knows my cell number, he probably knows my home number and my address!

  What if I want 2 hurt u?

  Oh God, she thought. Mandy sprinted from the bedroom and into the hall. She hit the stairs running, flying blindly down them, her only thought to get someplace else, someplace safe. She slid on the tiles, slowing herself to unlock the front door. Her fingers slipped on the deadbolt handle. Slipped again. Finally, it turned and she grasped the knob, threw the door open, and raced forward, right into his arms.

  “Mandy,” Dale said. “Mandy. Hey, come on. Calm down. It’s just me.”

  Struggling blindly against the guy holding her, not yet able to see Dale where she’d seen Kyle only moments before, Mandy threw an arm out and hit her boyfriend’s shoulder as hard as she could.

  “Hey!” Dale yelped, shaking her hard until she was really seeing him. “Hey,” he said, his voice quieter, soothing. “It’s me.”

  Recognition settled over her. Relieved to be held by familiar and welcomed hands, Mandy stopped struggling. More than anything, she just wanted to fall into his arms and be held until the fear passed, but there was no time.

  “Come on,” she said, pulling out of Dale’s grasp. She turned and closed the front door. “We have to go.”

  Dale looked concerned, but he wasn’t ready to move just yet. His instinct to protect her had kicked in, and he looked ready for a fight. “Go where? What’s going on? Is someone in your house?”

  “No, it’s just…”

  Mandy took more deep breaths and shook her hands before her to break out the last of the panic. Dale was here. She wasn’t alone, and that was something. He had his cell phone. Kyle wouldn’t have that number; there would be no way for him to have it. She never mentioned Dale by name in their chats. They could call the police and wait together.

  Inside, Mandy realized that Dale might be hurt if she told him the truth. She had, after all, chatted with Kyle for weeks. Dale would take that as cheating, but she couldn’t worry about that right now. If he hadn’t been doing the same thing, Mandy never would have replied to Kyle.