“I know, I know,” Liam answered.
“Colonel… Dean… The Dean-meister,” Mark cooed. “You’re good. I had you pegged as being near the garbage cans.”
“Way off.” The answering voice came from a different position. “Your senses are about as dull as your nickname.”
Mark changed his position to match the new location of the Colonel.
“Okay, Sarah. Here’s a good opportunity,” Ben suddenly whispered in my ear. “I’m going to run straight for the can. I want you to wait two seconds then run that way around the field, halfway to the other side. Then run in for the kill. I’ll try to keep Mark busy.”
“But he’ll be waiting for us,” I said.
“Trust me, he’s completely spooked by Dad at the moment. Ready?”
“No.” Didn’t he realize we were in the wrong place for an attack?
“Set…”
“Dang it.” I shifted, readying my body near the fallen tree.
“Go.”
Benjamin swiftly leaped over the log and around the tree to the right, running straight for Mark. Ignoring his count, I recalculated the attack in my mind and ran at a different angle, locating the exact halfway point to the field.
My steps were quick and silent, unlike Benjamin’s, and soon enough I heard Mark eagerly call out to him. I dared a glance to Ben who made an effort to weave his way in toward the target. The two were on the opposite side of the defensive circle now, creating the perfect opening. Timing it just right, I claimed my opportunity and broke through the tree line, sprinting toward my mark.
Adrenaline pulsed through my veins; I could see everything so perfectly, my path clearly marked in my head.
Ben was keeping Mark busy, but I knew it would only last a few seconds more. Mark howled his victory when he tagged Benjamin then twisted sharply when he heard the snow crunch under my boots. Only ten yards away from the can, Mark rounded the circle on me. This would be close, but I would win. I knew it. That was until my necklace went cold beneath my clothes. A painful burning sensation pulled at my chest, causing me to hesitate for a split second.
“Go, go, go!” Ben hollered, but something was wrong. Despite my desire to win, I slowed, scanning for a threat. I passed over the line of protection just as Mark’s hand fell short of connecting to my jacket. At the same time, a snowball coming in from the wrong direction skimmed my nose, nicking the very tip harmlessly, but creaming the side of Mark’s face with a sickening smack.
Mark bellowed.
I stopped short of the can and turned. Mark had sunk to his knees, his hand over his face but pulled it back to look at his gloves. Black dripped down his face, looking at first like mud, but I knew what it was.
I rushed over to Mark and quickly unwrapped my scarf from around my neck and placed it over his wound.
“What happened?” Ben fell to his knees besides me. I could hear the intake of his breath.
“It looked like a snowball, but it couldn’t have caused this. It came from over there.” I pointed behind me.
The Colonel appeared out of nowhere. He stooped down and picked something off from the ground. “That is one nasty rock.” He wiped snow from a very heavy, jagged rock almost the size of a baseball. “Alright, game over. Who threw the last snowball?” the Colonel yelled as he lifted the offending object overhead.
I turned as the remaining people came out of their hiding places. Judi was the first to answer. “I can speak for Becca, Michelle, and myself.”
“I didn’t do it, man. You know I wouldn’t,” David answered humbly, walking over to Mark.
“It was the guy over by me. He was just over there,” Reed announced shyly, pointing to where the snowball had come. “I thought he was part of the group but then he took off. He threw it.”
“Are you sure?” the Colonel asked.
“Yes.” Reed didn’t hesitate in answering. “It’s no one here.”
Benjamin looked doubtful, almost accusatory, as he stared at the fifteen-year-old Reed. Judi came over and put her arm around Mark. “Come on, handsome. Let’s go clean you up.”
“It’s no biggie. Maybe it’ll leave an awesome scar like Ben’s.”
“Very funny, man,” Ben said, although the playfulness was gone from his voice. “You can tell everyone it was from a wicked game of Kick the Can.”
We all walked into the house where Monica sat on the couch reading a book. The moment she saw the gash on Mark’s head and the blood on his cheek, she turned pale, jumped up, and ran to the bathroom.
“What did I do?” Mark asked, confusion marring his brow.
James just shook his head as he followed after his sick, pregnant wife.
It didn’t take long for Mark’s good-natured personality to come back full force. He started a lively debate over who could have done such a despicable thing. Everyone took turns weighing in.
Some spoke of an angry hermit who lived alone in the thick of the trees and loved to frighten children. A few told the story of a man often seen walking up and down the street at night in a drunken rage, cursing and yelling at anyone who passed. Most swore that the forest was haunted and that Mark was attacked by none other than the ghost of John Stilman, the old town’s butcher, who died over forty years ago.
Hot chocolate smothered in whipped cream worked to soothe most everyone’s excited nerves, except for mine. They were content with blaming the event on urban myths, folklore, and supernatural hauntings. Their logical minds told them it was safer to do so. I knew otherwise.
Slowly, people left, the time just passing ten o’clock when the last of the guests made their way home. Exhaustion from two days without sleep settled over me, but while the family prepared for bed, I stayed in the family room by myself finishing my drink and staring off hypnotically into the dark night.
Images and ideas hovered inside my head as I mulled over all the stories that were discussed. All seemed as unreal and improbable as the next, but looking out into the blackness of the night and the eerie stillness of the trees, one couldn’t help but believe things that would seem ridiculous during the bright light of day.
Small white flecks floated down from the heavens. I stood utterly still watching as they descended, taking their peaceful time, before landing softly upon the already-frozen floor beneath them.
A movement caught my attention as an outline, then a shape, dislodged itself from the shadows of the trees and walked into plain view. My breath escaped me as I watched him come, graceful even through the freshly-fallen snow, stopping just yards away from the window where I stood.
His ghostly white face was plain to see in the moonlight, but deadly and terrifying to behold. His beauty surpassed anything I had ever seen. Black eyes smiled at me, excitement playing within, letting me know that he had found me.
The glass mug slipped from my fingers and fell to the ground with a crash, but it was barely audible over the frantic beating of my heart. Jonathan’s lips twisted, one hand lifted as if to wave. I took an automatic step back, but he shook his head and beckoned me forward with his finger.
“Sarah. Are you okay?” Benjamin’s voice was concerned, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of Jonathan, who put a finger up to his lips and then slowly disappeared back into the shadows from where he came.
No, I wasn’t okay. Jonathan had found me and now he waited just outside the house. It wasn’t hard to figure out now who had been in the forest and thrown the snow-covered rock to draw first blood. It was him all along. It had been aimed at me and poor Mark was the innocent bystander. Jonathan was trying to get my attention. Well, now he had it. My full, undivided attention.
What a fool I was for thinking I could escape him, run away from the choices I had to make and flee my destiny. Not only was I wrong, but I had repeated the same mistake as my father by trying to hide from everything and everyone. Now I had brought Jonathan here and put Benjamin’s family in danger. But what kind of danger? What was he truly capable of? Elisa had called me their Defender, but wha
t did that mean? How could I defend my friends? I silently berated myself for getting carried away and not asking when I had the chance.
I looked down at the pieces of broken glass, barely aware of my surroundings. “I’m sorry, Ben. It just slipped. I’ll get something to clean it up.”
I moved to step around the mess, but Benjamin stopped me, his brows pinched together as he studied my face. Without warning, he scooped me up in his arms, walking down the darkened rooms of the house and up the stairs. Lethargy pulled at my body, and I decided not to fight sleep—or Benjamin. My head fell against his chest and my eyes closed against their will.
Thankful for the luxury of having a room to myself, I allowed Benjamin to set me down on the soft mattress. I watched, bemused, as he unlatched my boots. He carefully pulled off each one, setting them on the ground. Then he slipped off my cold, partially-wet socks and wrapped my feet in a towel from off the dresser. He removed my jacket and helped me to stand as he stripped the rest of my snow gear. I stopped him as he reached my ski cap.
“I got it,” I said, giving him a half-smile. He nodded, turning down the multi-layered covers, then gathered up my wet things and quit the room.
My gaze went to the window, the curtains already closed for the night. I braved a glance outside. My breath released in an audible sigh when I saw that Jonathan was not there and that the second story dropped straight down with nothing to climb.
Aaron had said he couldn’t come in if I didn’t invite him, and I had no intention of doing so. I had time. Very little time, but I could come up with a plan. I had to.
I rummaged through my suitcase until I found a clean set of clothes and my brush and walked back to the dresser mirror. My cheeks and nose were still red from the cold, but my skin looked as pale as death. Frustrated, I removed the black beanie and drew the messy bun, now matted to my skull, down from the top of my head. I brushed until my hair crackled with electricity from the bristles, then calmed the static with my fingers.
Grabbing my phone from my bag, I ignored all of the missed calls and texts, set my alarm, and laid it on the nightstand.
As I went for my long pajamas, I heard the bedroom door crack open. I inhaled, turning sharply towards the intruder, my thoughts automatically expecting to see the same haunting black eyes that I always saw.
Benjamin paused just at the threshold only for a moment before stepping in and closing the door behind him, locking the doorknob as it clicked shut. My gaze narrowed and I wondered if I should be angry that he had entered the privacy of my room. To the contrary, my face warmed as he perused my body, his gaze following my long hair that now cascaded to my waist.
I realized that I was being given another chance, another opportunity—but did I want it? Did I want him?
Tempted, I tried relaxing my ridged stance but despite all effort my fists still pushed against his chest as he stepped into my proximity.
One strong hand reached behind my neck, but I blocked him clasping my hand down on his wrist. Confusion crossed over his features.
“You’re so hard to read,” he whispered, examining every inch of my face.
Was I? I hesitated, then slowly released my grip and lowered my arms to my side, hoping he would be able to translate that action, unsure of what it meant myself. Carefully, he leaned in, pausing just before brushing his lips against mine. Warmth pricked as his breath blew against my mouth, and this time, I didn’t make him work so hard for the fitting response.
As I kissed him back, I indulged in the stimulating sensation of his touch as one hand, and then the other, gripped the sides of my waist. Twisting my hips, he guided me a few steps, until my legs hit the mattress of the bed. Soft fingers moved up my side, grabbing my shoulders, then without warning, he pushed me down upon the bed. My eyes opened wide when his body pressed against me. Strong arms kept his chest hovered over mine as he continued his pursuit of my mouth.
He broke away. “If I knew you’d let me, I would take you right now,” he growled against my cheek. He moved to kiss just under my jawline, tracing down my neck.
Apprehension caused my body to stiffen. How had we made it this far already? Agitated, I realized that once again, I wouldn’t be able to give him what he wanted. I stopped him before he could get far.
“Benjamin.” It was less than a whisper, but it was enough.
He moaned unhappily, lifting his face to mine. “I don’t get it,” he breathed. “Wasn’t it you who wanted to be alone, just the two of us? Why did you even come with me?”
“It wasn’t for this,” I said, and although I could see how he had come to this conclusion, it made no less difference in my mind. He had made too hasty a jump. His irritation crumbled when he saw my steely resolve, leaving him looking confused and lost. My heart sank, seeing pain return to the sweet face I remembered from the hospital. I needed to leave.
“Listen, Benjamin. It’s… complicated.”
“Obviously.” He sat up, giving a sigh of resignation. He then moved the covers over my body, tucking me into bed. He paused before kissing the corner of my brow. “Good night, Sarah,” he whispered before turning off the lamp and leaving the room.
My eyes flashed open. After hearing the doorknob release, I quickly went and locked the door. I wasn’t going to let Jonathan in, and I sure as heck wouldn’t let Benjamin back in either. I looked over at the clock. It was almost midnight. There was nothing to be done about Jonathan now. I would be too afraid to face him in the dark, but I knew I could find the courage to do what was needed in the bright light of day. I was sure of it. Tomorrow I would face Jonathan, and this time I wouldn’t run. I gripped Elisa’s dreamcatcher in the palm of my hand and prayed that tonight I might be able to sleep undisturbed, even if it was for the last time.
25
Final Stand
I woke to the early morning glow of a new day and a wave of gratitude rested over me. Elisa’s dreamcatcher had done its job and now, with a few hours of sleep, I felt a new energy and sense of purpose. The questions that had been swirling in my mind and muddling my thoughts now seemed focused upon one point: Jonathan. He was the riddle and the key all in one.
I arose before the others woke and dressed quickly. Taking my knives, I tucked one into my boot and the other in my pocket. Like a ghost, I crept noiselessly out of the Bradshaw home and into the white outdoors. Heavy clouds created a thick blanket of air that enveloped me in its warmth, and I felt no chill through my jacket or jeans.
Jonathan had killed Ian—Aaron had confirmed that suspicion for me—and there would be no retribution for it.
I assume you realize by now that calling the police wouldn’t have been an option, Aaron’s voice rang through my head.
So if calling the authorities wasn’t a choice, what could I do? Surely there had to be a way to get revenge, and I would find that way.
But first I had to know why. Why had he done it? Aaron didn’t know. Laith and Elisa wanted to help, but by taking me away. Everyone’s answer seemed to be to run, but running wouldn’t get me what I sought. There was only one way of getting the full truth. I had to hear that truth from Jonathan himself—and then I would destroy him. Somehow.
I paced to where I had last seen him and stood in the exact spot, looking up at the house through the window. Then I turned and skimmed over the snowy landscape. Knowing there would be no tracks to follow, I set out towards the trees, searching for anything that would give me a direction, some sign as to where he had traveled.
I stopped when I realized: he would find me.
I took a deep breath and released it heavily, sending a puff of white into the air. Abandoning the effort to tread lightly, I went deeper into the forest, humming a tune to assist in Jonathan’s search. Scarcely watching where I walked, I hiked through the terrain, unconcerned when it became denser and harder to travel without aid. I snapped a dead branch from a nearby tree and used it as a tool to keep me from sinking too deeply into the snow, then moved on.
Someone tsked, t
he sound more like a snap of a twig being broken. I tried to ignore the rush of adrenaline that pumped through my veins at the sound of his voice.
“Please stop. You have a horrible voice. Not one of your many talents, my darling.”
I complied with his request but continued walking. My gaze darted about me, trying to locate him, but he remained unseen. “You’re either incredibly brave or dreadfully stupid to come out here by yourself, Sarah.” Uncertainty seeped into my chest as I deliberated over which of the two I was, but I pushed it away. This is what I had wanted. And I had been right.
“I knew you would come,” I said, with counterfeit confidence.
He laughed softly. “And I knew you would come. Isn’t it strangely wonderful how well we know each other?”
I shifted in the direction of his voice, and an idea came to me.
“Yes.” I softened my tone, slowing my pace. “I feel like we know each other well.”
“But I wonder at your motives for seeking me.” His voice resonated through the forest, making it difficult to pinpoint his exact position.
“Should I have a reason not to seek you, Jonathan? I thought we could talk things over. Can you tell me why we shouldn’t?” It was a reckless idea, but if I could keep him talking…
“I tried that, remember? But I have to commend you, this was a beautiful place to try and hide from me,” he said appreciatively. His words now emanated from an entirely different place and from somewhere higher. I turned in a circle, looking for a good vantage point. To the north the mountain jutted sharply then levelled, making it a perfect spot to survey the area. I trekked up the steep incline.
“Yes, I ran away. And you were right, Jonathan. You said that something had been kept from me. But when finally faced with the possibility of learning what it was, I got scared and ran. I needed some space. That is all.” Two truths and a lie. “How did you find me, anyway?”
“Shhh. Can’t reveal all my secrets just yet.”
“But you’ll reveal others?” I dared to inquire.
Personal Demons Page 24