Masquerade

by Cambria Hebert

  Unfortunately, my satisfaction was short lived, and I blacked out.

  When I opened my eyes the first thing I saw was the stars. Then I felt an enormous pressure on my chest, like someone was sitting on me. Then, Sam’s face filled my sight, and I stared up at him, breathless. My face and limbs were numb from the cold. I opened my mouth to breathe or speak but nothing happened. Swiftly, Sam flipped me onto my side and water poured out of my mouth. I gagged and coughed, gasping for precious oxygen to fill my lungs.

  “That’s my girl,” Sam murmured, his voice sounded strained. “That’s it, breathe.”

  My throat and lungs burned, and I coughed some more. Sam hunched over me, rubbing my back and whispering words of encouragement. I collapsed back onto the deck, exhausted. I heard someone screaming and noticed a commotion just off to my side. Then Sam was shoved aside, and a dripping wet Kimber shoved her face close to mine.

  “Oh my God, Heven! Are you okay? I was so worried!” Her hands pushed at my wet hair, and she checked me over for injury. “Should I call 9-1-1? I am so sorry! I don’t know what I was thinking!”

  “I’m okay,” I whispered, grabbing at her flailing hands.

  She collapsed on top of me, the strands of her hair felt like icicles against my already frozen skin. I wanted to push her away, but I couldn’t seem to find the strength. But then Sam was lifting her away and crouching over me.

  “Hey, beautiful.” He tried to smile but it didn’t reach his eyes. “What happened?” he asked, trailing a finger down my cheek. His skin was blissfully warm, and I turned my face toward his hand. He splayed his palm out, cupping my face and looked at me expectantly.

  I tried to explain, but my teeth were chattering together.

  “She can’t swim.” Kimber wailed from behind him.

  “So you brought her out to the end of a dock?” Sam asked, standing to face her.

  She had the grace to look embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Heven, I just wasn’t thinking. I just wanted to…I don’t know, I wasn’t thinking, I’m so sorry!”

  Sam made a rude noise and turned his back on her. I had managed to sit up but was still shaking from the cold. He pulled off his sweatshirt and yanked it down over my head. Delicious heat surrounded me. “Relax, honey. Just breathe and try and get warm.” He sank down onto the deck and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his lap. My shivers eased immediately; his warmth was exactly what I needed. I noticed that there was a crowd gathered around where the dock met the yard, but I didn’t care. I closed my eyes and leaned into Sam’s chest.

  I heard footsteps pounding across the deck, and I opened my eyes to see Cole running towards us. “I was up in the house – what happened?” He gaped at Kimber standing there all wet and in her bra.

  “I just wanted to have a little girl time; I just thought we could talk,” Kimber cried, throwing herself into Cole’s arms.

  “Why are you guys so wet?” he asked, shifting Kimber into one arm so he could bend and pick up her shirt. “And why are you half naked?”

  “I f-f-fell in,” I stammered and Kimber began to cry.

  “Geez, Heven.” Cole sighed.

  “Are you feeling okay? Can you walk?” Sam asked me.

  “I think so,” I said, trying to climb out of his lap. He tightened his grip.

  “We should go,” Sam said, talking more to my friends than to me. Instead of allowing me to stand, he stood up, taking me with him, holding me against his chest.

  “I can walk,” I told him, half-heartedly.

  “I know,” he said simply and began walking toward the house.

  “Wait!” Kimber exclaimed, running after us. “Let’s go change into some dry clothes.”

  I stared at Kimber, trying to decide if I should be mad or not.

  “It’s the least I can do,” she begged, wiping at the tears on her cheeks. “I feel awful.”

  I kind of thought she should feel awful. But still. She was my best friend, and it was her birthday. Even after she said those things to me I still didn’t believe that she wanted me to drown. So I nodded, and we made our way to the back door of the house.

  I looked like a drowned rat. My clothes were rumpled and soaked, my hair was plastered to my head, and my skin was an unnaturally pale shade. And to top it all off, I felt odd. Something wasn’t right…but I couldn’t figure out what it was. I figured that it was because I just almost drowned and tried to push the feeling away.

  While Kimber pawed through her extensive closet, I shut myself in the bathroom and made use of the hair dryer. My perfectly tasseled waves were gone, and I wasn’t even going to bother to get them back. I wished I could pull the blond mass up on my head and call it a night, but I couldn’t. I dried it until it was only slightly damp and brushed it out, knowing that it would have to do. I used Kimber’s face wash without asking, needing to get the lake water off me and not caring if she minded. When I was done I stepped out of the bathroom. Kimber was standing at the foot of her bed fully changed into dry clothes. Her hair was brushed out and pulled up high, like I wished to style mine.

  “I got you some dry clothes.” She motioned to a pile on the bed. “Just leave your outfit here. I’ll wash it for you.”

  “That’s not necessary.” I walked to the bed and looked down at a pair of black yoga pants, a white tee and a pink GAP hoodie.

  “I thought the pants would fit you better. I know my jeans are too big.”

  I nodded and began changing. When I pulled off Sam’s sweatshirt and looked down I realized that something was missing. Something important. My bracelet was gone. What if it fell off in the lake? What if it was gone forever? I should have known better than to wear it tonight with the clasp so undependable. This is why I was feeling so off. This is what was wrong. I wouldn’t feel right again until that bracelet was back where it belonged.

  “Heven,” Kimber began, drawing my attention away. She looked more sober now than she had all night.

  “What were you thinking?” I cut her off, angry. “You scared me on purpose.”

  “No! I wouldn’t do that. I never meant for you to get hurt.”

  “Well, I did.” I snatched up the sweatshirt and shook it, hoping the bracelet was lost inside. It wasn’t. I grabbed my wet clothes and went around the bed.

  “Please,” Kimber said softly, grabbing my arm. I turned back. “I had way too much to drink. I don’t know what came over me. I didn’t mean any of that stuff I said out there. You’re my best friend. I’m sorry.”

  I laughed a humorless laugh. “You think saying sorry is going to wipe away everything you just said and did?” I glanced down at the floor, hoping to catch sight of my bracelet. It wasn’t there and it made me even madder. “You might have been drunk when you said those things, but you know what? Alcohol doesn’t lie, if anything it loosens your tongue. You might not have wanted to say those things to me but on some level you meant them.”

  “No – I –” Kimber began, but I sliced my hand through the air and cut her off.

  “Just save it, okay? I almost drowned, and I’m too tired to hear your excuses.” I tossed the pink hoodie aside, choosing to put Sam’s sweatshirt back on. It smelled like him, and suddenly I wanted to see his face.

  “I didn’t mean for you to fall in. I guess I just got scared that you were becoming popular again, and I would be back in your shadow.”

  I actually appreciated her honest answer. “You’ll never be in my shadow, Kimber. I am sorry that you ever felt that way. You should have said something before.”

  “You forgive me?”

  I sighed heavily. “Of course I do.” Even though I was still mad, I decided to let it go. Kimber was too good of a friend to let a drunken tirade ruin our friendship.

  She sprang forward and hugged me. “Thank you! I love you.”

  “Love you too.” I grinned.

  “Let’s go shopping next weekend for prom. I’ll help you find a totally hot dress.” That was Kimber’s way of making things up to me.


  “Deal,” I agreed. But all I really wanted was my bracelet back. I decided not to tell Kimber just then that my bracelet was gone. What was the point? I already made her feel guilty enough, why make it worse?

  “Good. Now let’s get some cake!” Kimber swung open the bedroom door and made a sound of surprise. I peeked around her and saw Sam sitting in the hall with his back against the wall. When he saw me he stood and took a step forward.

  “You’ve been waiting out here the entire time?” Kimber asked.

  “I just wanted to make sure she was okay.” Sam said, not taking his eyes off me when he spoke.

  Kimber looked between the two of us and then took off downstairs calling, “I’m cutting the cake!”

  “We better go,” I told him. “If I don’t see her cut the cake, she’ll be pissed.” I said the words lightly, but deep down it bothered me because, now, I knew that it was true.

  “Hey?” He grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers and pulling me around to face him. “What’s wrong?”

  Without warning my eyes filled with tears. Sam let out a low curse and pulled me against his chest. “It’s okay,” he murmured.

  “No, it isn’t.” I sniffled. “I’m a horrible person.” I wiped my face against his shirt.

  “Why would you be a horrible person?” I could hear the laughter in his voice, and I pulled back. His smile died on his lips.

  “Hey,” he whispered. “Tell me.” He caught a stray tear with his thumb and brought it to his lips. I watched fascinated. “Heven?” he prompted after a few silent moments.

  I took a deep breath. “I lost my bracelet. I think it fell off in the lake.” I looked at the floor not wanting to see the disappointment in his face when I said the words. I was afraid that he would think that I was careless with it, or that it didn’t mean anything to me.

  “Damn clasp,” he murmured then tilted my chin up so he could look into my eyes. The gold was a little deeper tonight, and it reminded me of the burnished gold color of the fall leaves that made Maine so famous. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll find it.”

  I shook my head. “It’s probably at the bottom of the lake.”

  “Maybe not. Maybe it fell off before that.” He took my hand and began leading me away, toward the party.

  “I feel kind of empty without it.” I whispered.

  He squeezed my hand as we walked out onto the deck where a huge cake burning with candles sat, and everyone gathered around while Kimber blew them out. I made sure that she could see me before she started cutting the cake and handing out large slices.

  After almost drowning, losing my bracelet and hearing the awful things Kimber said to me, I was ready to go home. Instead I was sitting here pushing cake around on my plate.

  “Are you okay, Hev?” Cole leaned over to ask me.

  “I’m fine.” I said, pushing the uneaten cake away. “I lost my bracelet.”

  “Oh, no!” Kimber gasped. “I know how much it means to you. I am so sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” Underneath the table Sam squeezed my fingers.

  “I’ll go ask the DJ if anyone turned it in to him.” Kimber said, jumping up.

  “You don’t have to do that,” I said.

  “It’s the least I can do.” She argued. I didn’t say anything else because she was right.

  Before she walked away, a guy in our class came up to the table. “Hey, guys. Have any of you seen Andi around?”

  “Sorry, Sean, I haven’t.” I said. Everyone else shook their heads.

  His shoulders sagged, “I can’t find her and she isn’t answering any of my calls or texts.”

  “When’s the last time you saw her?” Sam asked.

  “Right before the blackout. We were dancing, the lights went out and when they came back on she was gone.”

  “I was just on my way to the DJ booth. Come with me, and we will have the DJ page her. Maybe she went off with friends and lost track of time.” Kimber told him.

  He nodded, but his eyes were worried. I watched them disappear into the crowd and an uneasy feeling came over me.

  Sam stood up from the table. “I’m going to go look for your bracelet.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “No. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

  “I want to help.”

  “Please,” he sounded weary. “Just stay up here.”

  “You act like I need to be watched or something. This is my best friend’s house. I have been here a thousand times. I know the place better than you do.”

  “I don’t think you need to be watched, Heven.” He said patiently. “But you almost drowned, it’s chilly, and now there’s a girl missing.”

  “Missing? She isn’t missing. She probably just wandered off, drunk.”

  He nodded, but his eyes said something else.

  “As much as I hate to admit it, dude’s got a point.” Cole said.

  We both looked over at him, forgetting that he had even been listening.

  “Fine,” I muttered and looked at Sam. “Go. I’ll stay up here.”

  “Thank you. I’ll be right back.” He kissed my forehead then brushed a stray piece of hair out of my face.

  Dammit, how was I supposed to be mad when he treated me with such tenderness?

  “Hurry back.” I whispered. He smiled then turned and walked away.

  I sat down next to Cole, watching Sam gracefully forage through the grass. Suddenly, I felt as if I was being watched. I turned my head to see Cole staring at me with a funny look on his face. “What’s the matter?” I asked.

  “You really like that guy, huh?” he said, glancing in Sam’s direction.

  “Yea, I do.”

  “I just don’t get it,” he muttered.

  I didn’t have a response to that, so I turned back to watch Sam. He didn’t have to get it. I did.

  “Hey, Hev.” he said, touching my arm. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “It’s ok.”

  “But I feel it is my duty as your friend to inform you that you will not be winning any Olympic swimming medals anytime soon. My two-year-old cousin swims better than you.” He grinned, and I smacked him playfully on the arm.

  “You know I can’t swim,” I said.

  “Maybe I can call up my cousin and have him give you a few lessons, you can pay him in goldfish.”

  Sam

  I tried to appear casual as I looked through the grass. This entire night had been a great lesson in control for me. Sometimes it scared me – how good I had become at lying. I didn’t bother to wish for a normal life because that wasn’t going to happen. But, I did wish that I could be honest with Heven about myself and for her to still want to be with me. Was it really fair of me to ask her to live a life that would be so chaotic?

  I pushed the thoughts aside and concentrated on my task. I looked back over my shoulder to where I left Heven. She was still sitting on the deck and Cole was talking, making faces, and she was smiling. I hated that guy. He acted like he was so much better than everyone else, like he was good. There was something about that goodness that really ticked me off. But there was one other thing that really got to me about Cole. He was normal. He could give her normal. But he would never love her like I do.

  Focus.

  Checking once more that Heven – or anyone else – was no longer looking my way I ducked into the trees. The monster was out here. Waiting. That little stunt earlier with the truck was just the monster’s way of saying that it was watching and that it was back. I had a very bad feeling that the girl who couldn’t be found – Andi – was dead.

  I didn’t bother trying to be quiet as I went deeper into the trees. I wasn’t trying to hide. The monster knew I was here and knew that I would come. I took a deep breath to pinpoint where it was hiding so we could get this confrontation done with. I needed to get back to Heven. There were the normal smells of the night and the woods of course, but there was something else too…something that seemed to latch onto the inside of my nose and wouldn’
t let go.

  I began pushing further through the trees, hurrying, but half afraid of what I would find. Seconds later my eyes focused on something lying up ahead. I ran forward then stopped.

  And looked down in shock.

  Pale blond hair, streaked with blood, covered most of the girl’s face. Her arms and legs were bent at odd, unnatural angles. There were deep, bleeding gouges all over what was once flawless skin. But those sights weren’t the worst part. No, the worst part was the blood crusted charm bracelet that hung around the girl’s wrist.

  My knees threatened to buckle, but I refused to let them.

  I felt blood, hot and urgent, rushing through my veins, pumping up my insides and surging energy through my limbs. I blinked, trying to clear my eyes and when they cleared my stomach revolted. Deep anguish settled on my chest.

  No.

  I just saw her with Cole; I thought was safe. How could he let anything happen to her? The monster better have killed Cole too because if he is still breathing, I will make him wish he wasn’t.

  I turned to run, to escape the sight, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t leave her here alone. How was I going to live with this? I stared down, swallowing past the lump in my throat. Then, a sound reached my ears through the dark.

  My head snapped up.

  Again. Please, God, again.

  The sound floated to my ears once more, and this time I did fall to my knees.

  Heven’s laughter filled my ears, and I bit back a strangled sob.

  It isn’t her. She’s alive.

  The pressure in my chest eased, and I forced myself to get it together. I didn’t have time for this. I looked back again at the crumpled body lying in the grass. It was easy to see why I thought this girl was Heven. She looked just like her with long, very light-blond hair and slender limbs. Around one of her wrists sat Heven’s silver bracelet. Heven’s bracelet with the skeleton key charms. It was bloody. I reached down and grasped it. It came easily, as if it knew that this wasn’t where it belonged.

  I stuffed it into my pocket and continued to stare down at the horrible sight, and I felt terrible knowing she died in Heven’s place. Her skin was tan…and from here I could see a lot of it. If I had been thinking straight before, I would have realized that Heven wouldn’t wear something so revealing. Then I realized that her outfit hadn’t been revealing, but that her clothing was shredded. Scraps of fabric littered the forest floor and left her body vulnerable and invaded.