Embracing Life
Page 11
“I will be right here, Melanie. I will give you this time to get what you need, but know this, I will be watching. If I see you talk, touch, or even as much a motion to anyone, I will come for you, and your behavior will be dealt with accordingly,” he warns as his finger pushes my chin.
All I can do is nod my head. I have questioned myself so many times over the last five years. What did I do to provoke him? Am I truly to blame? Sighing deep, I lower my head. A flash of light catches my eye as I begin to turn. I would recognize that anywhere. He has a gun. Panic shoots through my body. He has a damn gun!
My eyes dart between him and the silver flash, and he notices. He grabs my neck once more as his hand slides to the gun rested under his left leg. I never noticed it before. Where did it come from?
“Your punishment if you disobey,” he deadpans. Right then, I inhale all the remaining oxygen within the car. Solidly, I nod as I slide my body to the car door and slowly exit.
The air around me is fresh and cold with the lingering smell of rain. I breathe deep as I make my way to the front of the store. I don’t look back. I have to get into the safety of the store. Reaching for the handle of the old, rusted, and dingy green door, I suddenly remember that I do not have my purse, which, of course, is the key to buying anything these days.
“Breath Melanie, Breathe,” the calming voice says, invading my mind. His voice is constant, giving me just a little strength.
Sucking all the air I can, I make my way back to the car. Steven looks bewildered and maybe a little relieved. His eyes looked pleased. He thinks I have changed my mind. Slowly, I open the door to my car, and his body shifts to grasp the wheel. I look right at him as I move the passenger seat forward to reach my purse.
“I forgot my purse. Sorry,” I gasp.
He says nothing. His eyes remain locked on to me. I push the passenger seat further into place, and I see my cell phone, lying face down, in the floorboard. My purse is open, the contents sprawled along the back seat. I clear my throat, turn towards him, and smile, lowering my upper body into the car to reach for the items I so desperately need. My wallet and notebook have slipped out, and I graze the items, allowing them to fall to the floor. They pile neatly on top of my phone. In a rush, I stuff the items, as well as my lifeline, into the oversized bag. My notebook spreads and falls. Grasping a page as it tumbles, I feel his hand on my wrist.
“You won’t need that, Mel. Now go! We don’t have a lot of time.”
I drop the notebook and slowly back out of the car. The water that coats my car, soaks my legs as I drag my body upwards. Once again, we catch each other’s eyes. My jeans soak in the liquid, bearing the cold sensation on my sensitive skin. I walk back towards the little store and take a deep, cleansing breath as I step through the door. Scanning the stark store floor before me, the shelves are barely stocked. Dust covered trinkets of all shapes and sizes line the walls. The clock above the counter chimes 5:00, breaking me from my thoughts. There is no one at the cash register. I hear no voices, just the ever present ticking of the clock.
Slowly walking around the store, eyes forward, I reach into my purse and grab my phone. As I grip the small device deep within my purse, I glance towards the store window. The cold, brisk air outside creates steam from the exhaust blowing wistfully into the air. Glancing down at the phone, the indicator light flashes green to red in rapid succession. My battery is low. Missed calls, voicemails, and text messages fill the screen. Numbers I do not recognize teamed with messages and calls from Katie and Mike. My hand shakes as I stab the number one, but the connection is poor.
I resort to a text message, but I have to think hard to whom I can send it too. Mike? Katie? The unknown? No! It has to be Mike, my brother, my protector of sorts. It’s not his voice that I hear streaming through my mind. It’s Josh’s. As I type, his face fills my head. The distant memory of those beautiful blue eyes, eyes that are overfilled with love for me, flood my mind.
The details stream through me as type. Mike will know exactly what to do. Steven told me where he had moored his boat, so I can at least give them my next destination.
Mike I hope you get this. Steven is here. Mike, he found me. He has a boat docked at Cruiser. Help me...My battery is dying. Help me Mike!
I hit send, hoping and praying that he receives my message. Moving towards the front of the store, I glance up. Steven is still in the front seat, staring at me. I can’t see his eyes, but I feel the heat of his glare. My hand shakes as I hold the box up to show him I have what I came in for. He gives me an acknowledging nod and turns once more to the front of the vehicle. Approaching the counter, still with no cashier or assistant of any kind, my eyes drift to the sound of the tick tock. Cigarettes engulf the back wall. His favorite cigarette beams at me, laughing at me and reminding me of his taste and the stench that once filled my lungs. NO! I scold myself.
There is a small bell nestled on the side of the counter. I strike it once, and it rings through the store, but still, no one comes. I hit it again and again and again. But still no one comes. Impatience infuriates me. I go to strike the bell once more, but I am stopped by a cool wind, lapping at my fragile body. I shiver as it engulfs me. I follow the breeze to the back of the store. There’s a door and light. The sun shines in, reflecting off the glass. Rays of light bounce around the room. My heart skips, and my lungs seize as I embrace the sight before me. I take a mindless step in the direction of the heartwarming glow. With each mousy step, my heart surges, urging me forward. My eyes follow each bouncing ray, and I am hypnotized.
My phone chimes, thrusting me out of my wandering mind. It must not have died. I place my hand in my purse to retrieve it. Steven!
“Move Mel!” His voice pushes me forward. Glancing back, I see the car, and the shadow that once inhabited it is no longer there. Steven! Snapping my body around, my eyes search the scene. I don’t see him. He is not there! “Run Mel!” the urgency in his voice makes me jump.
I start to move slowly at first still very aware of my surroundings. But overdrive kicks in, and I run. With my head down, I run. I am running for my life. I can see the door to the back right in front of me, and I know I only have seconds to I make it. My pulse races and my lungs strain. Light blinds me as I push my way onto the street. I don’t stop. I can’t! Lights flash before me, but I don’t stop. Car horns blare as I race across the street. I still don’t stop!
“Melanie! Melanie, stop! Wait, Mel. Please stop” His voice clouds my mind as I run. “Melanie, baby, stop!” I am confused. The voice grows louder. It’s telling me to stop, but he told me to run. Which one do I believe? Which do I follow? Damn it! I don’t know!
The sound is like warm honey. It’s so smooth, unlike the sharp, deep tone I have heard for the last four hours. Glancing up long enough to gauge my location, the pier comes into view. My body feels numb. I hear nothing but the whooshing sound of the wind as it flows over me. Reaching the pier, I stop. I freeze. My body is tired.
Walking closer and closer to the edge of the pier, the voice that guided me returns, but it’s muffled.
“Mel.”
The water below is choppy and a dirty green. The rain from earlier has stirred it up. I lower myself down, ignoring the slight rumble of thunder above me and the nausea that has hit me full on. My breaths are staggered. My body is cold and numb but tight. I am tense yet drained. Fatigue and the shock of today is finally setting in, taking a toll on my weary body. My eyelids become heavy, and the darkness of the tunnel invades. Every fiber of my body is telling me I need to rest, but my mind is still in overdrive. I still have the feeling that I need to run. I am my very own contradiction at play.
As I lay my weary body down on the pier, the skies break and rain comes belting down. The muffled voice returns, and it sounds so distant. Over and over, the voice calls my name. Josh! Those blue sea-like eyes soothe my thoughts. Closing my eyes, I feel the rain as it flows over my body. The cold touch of each drop cleanses me.
“Melanie, baby,”
drifts through the cold wind that whips at my face, and tears fall from my burning eyes.
“Josh,” I cry. “Thank you,” I whisper as I allow the darkness to consume me. I am slowly drifting now. I finally feel safe enough to sleep, and sleep I will.
###
I love you Melanie,” the voice echoes, shadowing the nightmare brimming on the edge of my consciousness.
His blue orbs flash in the darkness, blazing brightly and blocking out the red globes which burn my soul from within. The feather-light touch heals the scars from the scorching grip of torment.
“Melanie.” I follow the voice, and in the distance, a black image forms, with glowing, peaceful eyes peering deep inside me.
“Josh,” I whisper, but the figure doesn’t move. With every step I take, the image moves further and further from me.
“Josh!” I scream, but still it moves away.
BEHIND EVERY WRITER IS A strong team of people who won’t nothing more than to see an author succeed.
I can say that I have that team, without them there would be no Nicky Jayne, without them there would be no book. I give my trust over to them every day to review and edit my work. I appreciate all that they do, never letting me down. Whether it’s the first draft or the final edit, their honesty and support has never faltered. I am truly blessed to have these people by my side.
To my beta readers, without your patience and your knowledge. Thank you for being strong enough to guide me. Without your honest opinions, none of this would have been possible.
To my editor, there is no limit to the amount of gratitude I have for you. You gave it to me straight, you did everything you promised and more… You gave me the courage and strength to continue.
Alissa… If I don’t tell you every day, I should! Thank you… For EVERYTHING… I miss you dearly
A huge shout out to my girls “Hot Tamales” you girls rock... You stood by me when I was the craziest book possessed even... You held me up when I needed it the most.
There are many people in this little unit that are more than just friends to me, they are family. To the men and women of the 58th Rescue Squadron. Thank you for all that you do!
To my best friend, my number one fan, my one and only. My loving husband. I can honestly say with my hand on my heart, there would be no me if it wasn’t for you. Thank you for saving me in every way possible. I love you more today than I did yesterday and will love even more than that tomorrow.
Nicky Jayne, lives in Las Vegas Nevada with her husband and two boys. She serves alongside her husband in the silent ranks of a military wife.
Like her at:
www.facebook.com/nicky.jayne.56
Follow @JayneNicky on twitter for new releases and updates.
Table of Contents
1 melanie
2 josh
3 katie
4 josh
5 melanie
6 josh
7 josh
8 josh
9 melanie
10 melanie
11 melanie
12 melanie
13 melanie
14 melanie
15 melanie
16 melanie
17 melanie
18 melanie
19 melanie
Embracing Love
acknowledgement
About author