by Tara Brown
His pace slowed to a step every minute as he scanned the forest behind me somewhere. I knew what he was doing even if I couldn’t see him and I knew then that he was a danger to me. There only a few feet away was the bad person who had drugged Giselle and inadvertently me. If I could get a glance of his face I knew I would know him. He and the not Wade guy were different people. I sensed the evil coming from this person. I knew everyone in our town that was near my age and there was no way someone was at the party that I didn’t know at least a little. I waited to see his face when he came around the trees so I could know my attacker and text it to Shane before he got me.
His step sounded like it was on top of me, I wanted to dash from the woods screaming but I knew my dash was more of a light jog at best and that in every horror movie I had ever seen the hiding person would have lived if they had just stayed hidden instead of letting the suspense and madness get to them.
“Aimee, are you here?” He spoke in a breathless whisper. I couldn’t even be certain it was a man’s voice.
“Aimee I saw you come into the woods. Aimee I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
He knew my name and he was watching me. There was something familiar about the way he whispered my name but I couldn’t put my finger on it. He must go to school with me, how else would he have seen me take Shane’s truck. I didn’t even swallow as the breaking of the twigs and leaves attempted to drive me insane. I waited till I heard his footsteps walk in a different direction and I reached into my pocket and grabbed my phone and clicked the sound off completely. I was glad I had worn a hoodie and not a jacket that made noise. I slowly put my hand back into my pocket and left it there, I knew nothing would make me leave this spot.
Suddenly through the brush I saw him, I wanted to run but I held my breath and sat very still. It was definitely a man or a guy my age at the least. He was built and tall like a football player. He wore a black fleece with the hood up and jeans. I couldn’t see his face but I could hear his breathing he was upset about not being able to find me.
“Aimee, come out come out wherever you are.” He spoke softly, almost as if he were disguising his voice. Suddenly a noise like a bird squawking rang out into the forest. Then it happened again. He cussed and pulled a cell phone out of his pocket, “Hello.” He answered abruptly still sounding horse as he spoke.
“Yeah, fine. I don’t care.”
“Okay good see you then.” He hung up the phone and looked around the forest more intensely.
When he turned his face to me I could see he was wearing sunglasses. He was white but that was all I going to get from him. I could see his lips very clearly, I would never forget them. They were thin lips, not my favorite kind.
“Aimee I know you want to play cat and mouse but we’re running out of time.” His voice sounded impatient no matter how hard he was trying to sound calm. I knew in my heart he was the one who had drugged me and now he wanted to finish what he had started. The idea of him touching me while I had been so drugged made me sick but I swallowed the bile back as I sat ever calm against my tree hidden in the brush.
I was starting to feel much attached to this tree as I sat there hiding, it was keeping me safe.
He crept around the bushes a bit longer and then I stopped being able to hear or see him. I knew what he was doing, he was sitting somewhere like me. He was trying to wait me out. But I was the girl who sat on the concrete for hours on end; this was not a game he would win.
My breaths were shallow and my heartbeat stayed steady to keep my senses heightened and alert. I didn’t hear a sound from the forest, which also told me he was still here.
The birds were not chirping because a predator was in the woods. I was thirsty, I was hungry, my back was cramping up and my legs were numb but I sat very still, like a statue and listened.
There was no sound, no creeping about, no breathing, no nothing but I still didn’t move.
Then like the angels were singing to me I heard the greatest sound in the world, “God dammed Aimee I had to walk home from friggen school. What the hell is taking you so long? Where are you?”
I wanted to jump up and shout I was over by the tree house but I knew the evil one was still in this forest somewhere. I hadn’t heard him leave, had I? I was starting to doubt myself as I panicked knowing my salvation was across the forest and he would leave soon.
I pulled my phone from my pocket softly and texted Shane with the sound off completely. The text hit his phone, his text tone was unmistakable it was Ralph Wiggum, "My cats breath smells like cat food." He had gotten it as his text ringtone when we were sitting in the restaurant after my sister left with Blake.
He started to walk through the forest obeying my text message perfectly till he reached my exact location.
I could see him looking around; his blue hoodie hovered directly above me.
I still felt terrified as I reached my hand from the bushes and Shane grabbed it pulling me from my spot. As I stood my legs buckled and I started to cry.
“It’s okay, I got you now.” He picked me up and carried me from the woods, I looked back at the forest seeing nothing but I noticed a very quick pace in Shane’s steps.
“I’m getting tired of carrying you out of these woods missy.” He was joking but I continued to sob into his shoulder. I felt safe but I was scared senseless.
Shane brought me into the house and sat me on the bar stool in the kitchen. He poured me a glass of lemonade and handed me a tissue. I wiped my eyes and told him exactly what had happened. His eyes widened as I told the tale and his face grew very angry when he started to put his own conclusions together.
“This fucker goes to our school, how else would he have seen you take my truck. Aimee he was invited to MY house and drugged MY friends and you.” He paced and ranted shaking his hands and shouting. He separated me from his friends, I wasn’t one of his friends? I tried to be polite and sip the lemonade but I gagged and put it down. I guessed it would be joining the ranks of the veggie burger.
Finally he called my dad and told him to come and pick me up at his house for our trip to Portland.
I sipped the hot tea he made me instead of the lemonade after he noticed I couldn’t drink it and watched out the windows looking for any sort of shadows or movements.
I didn’t know what to do to get my safety back but I was worried for myself and for Giselle in the city. I knew the hospital had good security as it was a children’s hospital but I wasn’t sure it would be enough, this creep was pretty good.
“Thanks for coming for me.” I whispered after a long time.
Shane smiled down at me, “Aimee you’re my date for the dance, where will I find a date with this short of notice.” I punch his arm hurting my hand.
I didn’t have a dress picked out and had decided I would find one in the city. “What color dress should I get?” I wanted the conversation to be light, I missed Giselle.
He shrugged, “I'm color blind so pick whatever you want and pick out some shit for me that matches.”
I laughed, “You are not.” I knew he was but I wanted to pretend I had forgotten.
He nodded, “Seriously don’t you remember in fifth grade when Mr. Banks made me do the color blind test in front of everyone else cause I chose a different path than you all?”
I giggled not that I was giggling sort of girl but I did totally remember the day and was trying to spare him his dignity. Shane didn’t seem to care about dignity. Again it was something about him I liked a lot.
His eyes lit up, “You remember that day, god that was awful. My mom had told him I was color blind so he thought he would have fun with it I guess.” He ran his hands through his messy hair and smiled brightly, “I got my revenge.”
I furrowed my brow, “How?”
He blushed and suddenly his smile took a dangerous turn, “I deflowered his daughter.” The sentence made me feel sick but I remembered we were friends and friends could talk about this sort of thing, lord knew Alise did all
the time, I was certain she had deflowered her share of virgins. I cringed thinking about the one she was currently with.
“Maryellen?” I frowned at him, there was no way he deflowered that girl. She had been Miss Filomi and easily made Giselle look common.
He nodded, “Yup she was my first girlfriend. I was in ninth grade and she was in tenth.”
I shook my head, I would have remembered it. I stalked him like a lion in ninth grade, “No way. She’s a supermodel now. She is smoking hot.”
He grinned the cheesiest grin I knew he not only spoke the truth but also was having a dirty flashback as we spoke.
“Oh my god. Does he know?”
The grin got bigger as if that were even possible, “He caught us once, greatest moment of my life. She’s a bit weird, likes to do it in weird places. She flies her freak flag let’s just say. The relationship was a secret and then she broke up with me. I couldn’t even brag a little to anyone, no one believed me.”
I covered my eyes, “No Maryellen was such a nice girl. And I'm disgusted you were having sex in ninth grade.”
He chuckled his fully belly chuckle, it sounded like he should be fat instead of ripped.
I jumped as a knock on the door interrupted us.
Shane’s eyes grew serious as he walked to the door and peeked through the window. He unlocked the door and greeted my dad, “Mr. James come on in.”
Her dad smiled at me as he shook Shane’s hand, I could see the worry all over his face.
“I called the police Aimee, I know nothing happened and they understand that but they’re as worried as I am and its better for them to have a full handle on what’s going on okay.”
I nodded feeling the reality of the situation hit me again. It had been pleasant, fun even, sitting in the kitchen with Shane laughing at his indiscretions but when the reality set back in it hit like a ton of bricks.
“They’re coming here Shane, I hope you don’t mind. They should be here any minute.” My dad walked into the house and put a hand on my shoulder, “How’s it going kiddo?”
I nodded, “I’m good if I don’t think about it.”
He agreed, “I think most things are like that.”
Shane walked around the bar and started to make some coffee in his mom’s expensive coffee maker. The huge stainless steel contraption looked like it belonged in a barista and Shane had a cup of coffee for my dad within seconds.
“Here you go sir, cream or sugar?”
My dad shook his head, “No thanks son, black is perfect.” He sipped his coffee while we all looked out at the back yard. “This is a good cup of coffee.”
Shane nodded patting the machine softly; “Yeah my mom bought it in Seattle. It cost more than my truck I think.”
My dad laughed.
“Where’s Alise?” I asked knowing the answer.
“She is at Blake’s house. His parents are letting her stay over, they know about the situation and that we need to go see Giselle. She is not to leave their house until we arrive home.” my dad spoke as if he had an awful taste in his mouth and I knew it was my sister’s way of twisting a bad situation to her advantage.
He looked at me concerned, “Did you get a good look at him?”
I shook my head, “No he had a dark fleece on with a hood, sunglasses and he spoke raspy so I wouldn’t be able to recognize his voice if I tried. He knew my name; he was tall like Shane’s height and build and white. He was wearing jeans, dark jeans. His lips, they were so thin, cruel and thin. His phone rang with a squawking bird, it was black I think maybe a Blackberry.”
My dad looked at Shane, “Sounds like every one of your friends including you.”
Shane nodded, “I think at this point everyone should be on the list of suspects. I am certain the police will say the same thing. Though for the record I have nice lips and an Iphone.”
I smiled at Shane, “I know it isn’t you.”
He smiled back but my dad’s eyes were not as trusting as he watched us.
The doorbell interrupted, “The police.” My dad spoke softly.
Shane walked to the door opening it this time without looking.
Two police officers entered the house shaking Shane’s hand and introducing themselves.
I recognized one of them instantly as the police officer who had asked Giselle and me questions in the hospital.
He smiled at me kindly, “Hi Aimee, how are you feeling?” He asked as he walked into the house.
I sighed, “Good, I feel pretty good. I’m a lot better; I just wish this was over though.”
The other officer nodded, “Yes you’ve been through enough I think.”
My dad laughed sarcastically, “Oh more than.”
The older officer who I had never met before smiled at my dad, “And how is dad holding up?”
My dad shook his head, “Our family doesn’t need any extra drama, not this year.”
The police officer whose nametag said Williams gave my dad a knowing look. They appeared to have some sort of a relationship I didn’t know about.
“Coffee guys?” Shane asked breaking the sorrow hanging in the air.
“Yes please.” The young police officer chimed in, his name was Constable Bindley.
“Aimee, Corporal Williams here was with your mom at the end,” my dad said quietly as he held his hand out to the tall older looking man.
I felt my throat get thick as his eyes looked at me full of emotion. I nodded dropping my vision to the counter top.
“I’m sorry for your loss.” His words hung in the air with the rest of the tension as Shane handed out coffees and put some cream and sugar on the counter.
Constable Bindley sipped his coffee, “I guess all we really need here is a statement, Shane were you here when it happened?”
Shane shook his head, “I was walking home from school, and Aimee had my truck.”
I smiled at the hint of bitterness in his voice.
“So Aimee you tell it exactly the way it happened and if no one else could talk while we have the tape recorder going that would be great. Ready?” The corporal asked.
I nodded taking a deep breath and began at the start, ghosts and all.
Chapter Four - THE WORD IS HAMTARD…
The three and half hour drive gave me more than enough time to consider the essence of life. My dad didn’t need to talk which was nice; we could ride in quiet contemplation instead of try desperately to fill the air. My dad wasn’t a talker on a good day so his version of small talk always ended up feeling more like a guessing game.
The only thing he wanted to know was about the mystery man in my hazy memories. I told him at this point it was more like a dream than reality.
Now that we were on the last fifteen minutes of the drive, nearing the hospital I was excited and scared, I had to tell Giselle the worst news, not only had some psycho try to kill us but now he was hunting us. I dreaded telling her this news but the hospital needed to know this was a possibility. The police from home had called the hospital and put them on high alert but it didn’t change things, Giselle needed the full story. It sickened me to have to stress her out more than she currently was.
Dad dropped me off at the entrance and went to the hotel to check us in for the night.
The children’s hospital was like an amusement park of doom; pictures and paintings lined the walls with murals of the sunny days and beaches these children might not ever see again. I swallowed a huge lump to ensure I wasn’t weepy before I even saw her. I walked to the main reception, a super friendly lady smiled at me, “Hello there what can I help you with?”
I smiled back nervously, “I am looking for my friend, Giselle Benoit, uhm she’s on the fifth floor in room five twelve. She told me I had to check in here.”
The receptionist smiled brightly, “Yes let’s just get you suited up and you can right up.” She stood and walked to a door and opened it, “Just put your stuff in a bag and fill a locker.”
I walked into the nice changing roo
m where a full outfit was laid out for me and the receptionist closed the door leaving me to change. I had no idea I would have to change out of my clothes, it worried me that Giselle was that sick that even my clothes were a threat.
I put on my colorful cotton scrubs and booties then did my hair in the cap and my mask. I stuffed my things into the cotton bag provided and put it in a locker. I brought my cell phone and my bankcard. I stuffed them into the side of my bra and closed the locker. I put the gloves on and looked at myself, I smiled under the mask, as I wanted to be a doctor seeing myself ready for surgery was a tiny bit exciting.