The Beast Within
Melissa Crowe
Copyright 2012 Melissa Crowe
License Notes
Chapter 1
Karina twisted the corner of her napkin nervously around her index finger. She watched the rowers pass by the restaurant window in the harbour below. The awkward silence between her and Ian had become more prevalent over the last six months. Somewhere along the line they had run out of things to talk about and now they sat opposite each other like strangers. She knew this was the end. Why else would Ian bring her to such a nice restaurant on short notice? He was not known for his spontaneity, everything was planned out to the last detail. The sun was almost set, giving the harbour a red glow. What was that rhyme her mother told her as a child? Red sky at night, sailors delight. What was the second part, something about a warning? “Karina,” Ian’s strained voice brought her back to the present moment. She glanced up at the handsome man sitting opposite her. He ran his fingers through his thick sandy hair. A look of frustration furrowed his perfect brow, eyes searching for a waiter or anyone to come and break this awkward silence between them.
“Let’s take a walk?” he suggested after dinner.
Basinview curved along Harbour Drive, and was sheltered by hundred year old Norfolk Pines that stood guard over the harbour. Karina looked up at all the high rise apartment buildings that lined this exclusive part of town. Each building housed its own cafe on the sidewalk, where yuppies in yoga gear with toy poodles would sit and sip lattes and wait to be seen.
She took Ian’s hand; it was limp and lifeless in hers, emotionless. “Let’s sit,” he suggested, steering her toward a bench that faced the water’s edge. Karina knew where this was going. It had been coming for months. They had been slowly drifting apart, like the boats in the basin before them. “I’ve been thinking,” he started, then paused for a moment taking a deep breath “we should take a break. Take some time to clear our heads. Re-evaluate what we both want.” His eyes were focused on a pine cone on the ground and not on Karina. Did he really believe the words he was saying?
Karina nodded in agreement as she looked over the horizon “I think that’s a good idea,” her throat suddenly felt dry, making speaking painful. The voice that came out of her mouth didn’t sound like her own.
Ian turned sharply toward her, taken aback by her agreement. His face was stricken, almost pained. He seemed to think she would try harder to hold onto something they both knew was not there “Ok.” He answered hesitantly, his voice cracking with emotion. “I have to fly to Melbourne for the week. I’ll be back on Friday that should give you enough time to pack,” he added as he stood to take his leave. A momentary pause for Karina to add something, give him reason to stay, but there was just silence. The only sound was that of Ian’s footsteps growing fainter as he walked away.
Karina’s attention was focused on four rowers on the harbour as they came to shore. They dragged the long boat into the housing shed of the surf club. She wished she could leave her cares on the beach, just like the rowers. The red and green entry lights to the break wall flickered in the darkness, a warning to any who wanted to come back to reality from their adventures at sea. The lighthouse on the hill beside the break wall lit the night sky. She felt a connection with the lighthouse, lonely, hollow. Karina had felt this way for some time now.
A man jogging past did a double take at Karina. Stopping, he leaned on the bench Karina was sitting on, using the backrest for leverage as he stretched his calf muscles against the pavement trying to get her attention. “Hi,” he said to Karina casually.
Instinctively she clutched her bag in her lap and edged away from the tall, handsome man. His dark hair fell into his eyes and he brushed it away, showing his deep chocolate coloured eyes that you could lose yourself in. They were the eyes that would let you see the soul of the person. “Hi,” Karina stammered, she could feel the heat in her face and knew she was blushing as she quickly looked away.
“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” the man asked as he nodded out over the water. His deep voice was smooth as silk and made a pleasant chill run down Karina’s spine.
“What?” she asked.
The stranger pointed out over the horizon. “The skyline just after sunset.”
“Red sky at night, sailors delight.” Karina replied.
“Red sky in the morning, sailors warning.” He finished her sentence.
They locked on each other’s gaze; Karina felt her guard slipping and relaxed. He was not the type of guy she would go for, muscular, handsome strangers that she met while sitting alone on a park bench at night. Karina’s type was more a suit and tie, 9 – 5 office job kind of man. The one who could provide for you, give you the white picket fence and 2.3 kids. The type her parents wanted her to settle down and marry.
“I’m Xavier.” The stranger introduced, as he wiped his sweaty hand on his shirt, holding it out to Karina.
She thought about it for a moment, and then smiled taking his hand in hers. “Karina.” She felt a quiver run down her arm, like an electrical impulse when she touched his warm skin.
“So Karina,” Xavier said as he leant on his elbows against the back of the bench. “What are you doing out here all alone?”
She took a deep breath and looked out over the harbour. The waves slowly ebbed to the shore. “Thinking.”
Xavier seemed to follow her gaze. “I hope you’re not planning on throwing yourself in there,” he tilted his head toward the water.
“Oh, no, I’m not planning anything like that. You definitely won’t catch me in the water.” Karina put her hands up defensively. The truth was, Karina couldn’t swim. The open water terrified her.
Xavier laughed and his cheeks dimpled beside his mouth when he smiled. His whole face seemed to light up with an excitement Karina had not seen for a long time. Stop it! Karina silently scolded herself for having such thoughts about this man she knew nothing about.
“Well, maybe I will rescue you some other time then.” Xavier winked at Karina then jogged away. Mouth open, Karina’s eyes followed the man who faded into the shadows as he rounded the corner of the harbour and out of sight.
A passing silver cab slowed as it neared the bench Karina was sitting on. Only premium taxis worked this neighbourhood, the driver lowering his window “Can I give you a lift somewhere?” he called. Karina walked to the car, checking over her shoulder in the direction of Xavier and slid into the backseat “Wattle St, Centenary Estate.” Her voice was aloof. The cabbie nodded his head in understanding that Karina was not in the mood to discuss the weather and drove south west, out into the ‘burbs. Passing all the high-rises with the cafes and gyms, which were frequented by the ladies-who-lunch.
The taxi left town and into the new sub division called ‘Centenary Estate’ where the residents were two income households in middle management type jobs, overlooking nothing but their neighbour’s yard. The driveways would empty at 8am only to be re occupied by 6pm. Karina had never noticed it before, but all the houses looked to be made from the same blueprint with different colour schemes. Double garage, single story homes, with the tidy little letterbox in front and timber slat fences. The streets were narrow and cars had to manoeuvre around each other. The taxi pulled into the driveway, the driver kindly waiting until Karina was safely inside before he pulled away. As she stepped into the house, Karina noticed the lights were out. Ian was already gone.
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