Betwixt

by Melissa Pearl

  Tears are streaming down my face as his shoulders slump. My mother is quietly sobbing into her tea.

  "I love her." He drops to his knees. "She's my little girl. I love her so much and I'll never get to tell her."

  Burying his head in his hands, he sobs. His whole body shakes as loud moans come out of his body.

  Mom places her tea on the desk and kneels beside him, running a hand over his back and burying her head into his neck. They weep against each other and I can't help joining them.

  Covering my mouth, I let the tears stream unchecked.

  He loves me. My Dad actually loves me.

  "I'm sorry," I cry. "I'm sorry, Daddy."

  My head starts to sear with a sharp pain as my bed rushes towards me. I fall to my knees and cry out as the sobs and aches mingle together. I'm heading back to my body. Part of me wants it. I can't watch my father fall apart. Another part can't bear to leave.

  I open my eyes as my room goes blurry, there's no stopping this now. A soft whistle plays in the back of my brain as I'm pulled back. It sounds familiar, but I can't think where I've heard it.

  My parents fade and the whistling gets louder.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  I open my eyes. My tears evaporate as the whistling comes clear.

  The ringtone!

  I hold my breath and freeze. I try to turn my head to peer up the hill, but my neck is stiff. I have to suffice with shifting my eyes in that direction instead. It is dark, but I can see flashlight beams above me. The whistle rings again.

  "Are you just going to ignore it?" The voice wafts down to me through the clear night air.

  "Yes."

  "But what if it's..."

  "I'm not answering!"

  I try to listen carefully to see if I know the voices, but they are muffled at best. I strain to make out the rest of the conversation, forcing my scattered mind to follow whatever phrases I can capture.

  "I'm sorry..."

  "Stop apologizing!"

  "I - I messed up! We don't do that in our family."

  "You're damn right, we don't. Now where do you think you hit her?"

  My heart accelerates as the words register.

  "Over there, see the railing."

  "Some of that damage is older, but that blue paint might be from your car."

  Blue paint. Remember blue paint, Nicky. I close my eyes and try to burn it into my brain. I feel the thought floating away from me, but will it back. Dale will want to know. Remember this, Nicky. Don't you dare forget!

  "I hope we find her."

  There's a pregnant pause and I hold my breath, wanting to make sure I don't miss any information. "She probably won't be alive."

  Should I call for help?

  "Please don't say that."

  "You better hope she isn't?"

  I swallow back my scream. What did he just say?

  "What?"

  "Your life is over if this gets out. Do you understand?"

  "I..."

  "There'll be no chance of a scholarship. You'll be looking at juvenille detention... maybe even jail. I'm not going to let that happen to you."

  "What are you saying?"

  "We find her and bury her - dead or alive."

  Panicky breaths punch through my system and I have to fight to keep my body still. My limbs feel like they're on fire and I have to resist the urge to throw my jacket off. I reel my lucid mind in and scream at myself to stay silent and still.

  "All we have to do is sell that run away story until everyone in town believes us. It won't be hard."

  Terror swirls through my brain. They're going to kill me. Whoever those men are up the hill, they have come to finish the job. The idea of being buried alive is horrifying. I don't want it to end like that. I'd rather pass away in my own sweet time!

  My depressing death wish from before vanishes as my mind ticks with strategies of how to survive this. I try to scan the forest floor for some kind of weapon, quietly grasping for sticks with my clumsy, stiff fingers. The pain is excruciating and I'm so scared of making a noise that I soon give up.

  I don't want to die like this. I have to get back to Dale. He has to find me.

  Licking lips that are begging for water, I'm about to will myself back to him when I stop. No. I need to stay. I need to protect myself and make sure these guys don't bury me.

  My eyes search the darkness, scanning for dark shadows and shapes that could be the men.

  A torch beam grazes the ground to my right. I try to turn my head away as the light flitters past me, but I can't move fast enough. I close my eyes instead, willing them not to notice me.

  "This is impossible. We're not going to be able to search this whole area by torchlight?"

  A frustrated sigh follows.

  "It's safer this way."

  "You want to do this all night? How are we going to explain it to Mom?"

  A loud curse echoes through the air. "We'll come back in the morning, have a proper hunt and finish this. It's time to put this mistake of yours behind us." The voice drops low and menacing. "And God help me, if you ever do something like this again, I'll strap you so hard you'll be walking funny for the rest of your life."

  Fear permeates the air around me. Whoever he is talking to, totally believes what was just said. I can sense his consternation even though he is all the way at the top of the hill. I know he hit me with his car and I know he deserves to be punished, but right this second, I almost feel sorry for him.

  I listen to a car engine firing up and then wait an eternity for it to drive away. My heart slowly returns to it's normal thud, but the heebie-jeebies are still massacring my system. Come the morning, I was a dead girl.

  "Dale," I whisper. "What do I do?"

  Shivers make my muscles quiver, but my body can barely shake. I'm growing weak. My parched throat needs water. The limbs that were throbbing yesterday are starting to go numb. My sluggish eyes struggle to stay open.

  "Dale. I can't let them do this to me. My parents won't survive death by murder. What do I do?"

  A tear slides down my cheek, but I don't have the energy to brush it away.

  "I need you to find me." My head lolls to the side. "Find me. Please find me."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  "Find me."

  I open my eyes and I'm lying on Dale's bed. Sitting up, I see the room is empty. I run my hands over his neatly made bed and scan his desk for homework. He's already gone.

  No.

  I jump off the bed and rush out the door. The kitchen is empty, so is the dining room. I can hear his mother humming to herself in the bedroom upstairs. I'm about to run outside to see if his car is still in the driveway when I hear a flushing sound.

  "Okay, Mom. I'm off to school."

  "Have a good day, sweetheart."

  "Will do."

  Racing up the stairs, I follow the sound of his voice and nearly collide with Dale.

  "Help me."

  He tumbles backwards at the sound of my voice and lands on his book bag.

  "Sweetie?" His mother comes out of her bedroom, looking worried. "Are you okay?"

  "Yeah." He smiles. "I just slipped."

  He stands up and brushes himself off.

  Mrs. Finnigan's worry evaporates as he gives her a wink. She smiles back and watches him descend the stairs. I hold my tongue until we're outside.

  "You've got to help me. They're trying to find me. They're going to look for me today and bury my body so no one will ever know the truth."

  Dale unlocks his door, concern marring his features.

  "Nicole," he says softly, "calm down. Start from the beginning."

  "Okay." I climb over to the passenger seat and lick my lips. "You were asleep so I went home last night."

  "I figured." He buckles his seatbelt and starts the car.

  "While I was there, I went back to my body."

  "How are you doing?" He glances in my direction.

  "Not great." I struggle to say the words, knowing t
hey'll disappoint him.

  His eyebrows bunch together as he brakes at the end of his road and flicks the indicator. "We're running out of time."

  "That's not our biggest problem... well I mean it kind of is... but not because I won't make it, but they might beat you there."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "The cellphone. The whistle. It brought me back to my body last night. I heard it ringing in my head and then I woke up and they were up on the hill with flashlights looking for me."

  "Who was?"

  "I don't know. It was two guys, one sounded older and the other one wants a scholarship."

  "You're not making any sense."

  I take a breath and force myself to slow down.

  "He said that if anyone finds out he hit me he'll have no chance of getting a scholarship and will be sent to juvie, maybe even jail."

  "Okay, so it was high school student."

  "Yeah, I think so."

  "And obviously someone from Big Bear High, right?"

  "I guess we can assume that."

  Dale frowns.

  "Oh, blue paint!"

  "What?"

  "He said there was blue paint on the guardrail, which was probably from the car."

  Dale nods and shoots me a quick smile.

  "Blue paint."

  I smile back at him.

  "So all we have to do now is look for a blue car with scratches on the bumper."

  "Yeah." I nod as we slowly drive through Big Bear Village.

  "That should be simple enough." Dale brakes to let a mother with her stroller cross the road.

  I glance out the window and frown.

  "Unless the driver's put their car into hiding or already taken it to the shop."

  "Enough with the negativity. I know you're scared, but what happened last night is probably a good thing. At least we have something concrete to search for."

  I spot Mrs. Hutton as Dale accelerates away. Pushing her shades into her hair, she smiles at the man walking by. Stepping down from the curb, she rounds the car and unlocks the door of her SUV.

  Dale continues plotting out strategy as we make our way to school.

  "You're right though, they may not have their car at school, but I know that everyone has to submit details of their car - make, model and registration."

  "Where?"

  "Up at the office. I had to fill in this form when I arrived. There has to be a record of it somewhere."

  "Yeah, but how are we going to get to it?"

  "I don't know Invisible Woman, how are we?"

  Dale gives me a sly smile and I shake my head.

  *****

  "Oh come on." Dale says yet again as he slams the door closed after me.

  "What's your problem?" The girl beside him frowns.

  "Sorry." Dale blushes. "Just talking to myself."

  "Weirdo," she mumbles while scuttling away. Dale rolls his eyes and pockets the keys.

  "You can do this," he whispers as we ascend the stairs.

  "How do you know that?"

  "I just know."

  He gives me a warm smile and heads towards the office.

  He opens the door for me, pretending to actually hold it for someone else. She smiles sweetly at him. I give her a dark look and glance over her shoulder to see Adam walking towards us. He's filing along with a bunch of kids who have just gotten off the bus.

  "Let's go," Dale mumbles, leading me to the office.

  I so don't want to do this. I don't even know if I can.

  "Just stay calm. Let me do the talking." I give him a droll look, which he acts as though he can see, by shooting me a cheeky smile.

  "Good morning, Miss Garcia." Dale saunters up to the young office lady. She has been working here for about six months and all the guys try to flirt with her because she's hot. Dale is obviously no exception.

  "Mr. Finnigan." She smiles sweetly. "How are you doing today?"

  "I'm good." He leans on the counter. "I was just wondering if you could help me. I wanted to check what details I handed in for my car last year. Mr. Nelson keeps pulling me up and asking for my student ID."

  Her nose wrinkles.

  "Sorry about that. He's never been great with faces, but he does check the parking lot for illegal cars most days, I'm surprised he doesn't remember yours."

  "Me too, which is why I'm wondering if I wrote down the wrong registration number or something."

  "Let me have a look." She waves her mouse and pulls up a fresh screen.

  Dale tips his head in the direction he thinks I'm standing. I wince back at his very pointed look that tells me to get my butt behind her and check out what she can see.

  I reluctantly climb over the barrier, but end up slipping and falling straight through it.

  "Ewww! That so creeps me out! I just fell straight through that thing." I shiver and let out another noise of disgust.

  Dale bites his lips together and covers his mouth in an attempt to stop laughing.

  "Shut up." I shoot him some quick daggers then lean over Miss Garcia's shoulder. "Okay, so she's scanning a list of cars. There's yours."

  I glance up at him. He shoots me a look that screams, you're not looking for mine!

  Rolling my eyes, I glance back at the screen. Blue, blue, blue.

  I can't jot down notes so just start calling out students' names. Dale scrambles for a pen as he tries to listen to both Miss Garcia and myself.

  "Terri Hemming, blue Saturn Astra, plate number 3HPV968."

  "And I see your registration plate number is 7ADK249."

  Dale scribbles down the information.

  "Nicholas Evans, blue Dodge Dakota, 6PQR842."

  I see Adam's name pop up and I'm hesitant to say anything.

  "Is that all of them?" Dale asks.

  Miss Garcia looks confused.

  "I can't see the end of the page, I need her to scroll down."

  "I'm sorry?" Miss Garcia frowns. "Did I miss a number?"

  "You do it," Dale replies.

  What?

  "Excuse me?" Miss Garcia tips her head.

  "I'm sorry." Dale gives her a charming smile. "I meant, could you repeat it."

  I look at the little ball on top of the mouse. All I'd have to do is flick it.

  I glance at Dale making a total fool of himself on my behalf.

  Biting my lip, I reach for the mouse then stop. "I can't do it while she's looking at the screen, it'll totally freak her out."

  Clearing his throat Dale steps back from the desk. "Let me just go make sure I've got this right." He waves the paper in the air, buying me some time and hopefully a distraction.

  I wait in agitated silence as Miss Garcia potters around her desk. All I can hope is that she leaves the screen up for me to see. The phone starts ringing and she turns to answer it. I take my chance. Looking at my finger, I will it to move the mouse.

  I'm sure if I was flesh and blood right now my lip would be bleeding. I am biting the crap out of it as I reach for the mouse.

  My finger goes straight through the first time.

  I bite my lip even harder. Glancing at Miss Garcia, I can hear her wrapping up the call and turning back to face the screen.

  Please! Move!

  I flick the ball of the mouse and watch it turn. The page darts to the end. Letting out a surprised laugh, I squat down to quickly memorize the last three blues I see.

  Dale breezes back in.

  "It's right." He raises his hands. "I don't know what Mr. Nelson's problem is."

  Miss Garcia chuckles.

  "I'll see if I can bend his ear." She winks.

  "Thanks Miss Garcia, you're the best."

  Worried I'll forget the names if they keep talking for much longer, I hold my breath and just walk straight through the barrier.

  Ugh!

  "Let's go." I call over my shoulder.

  "Have a great day." Dale waves then pushes the door extra wide as he's leaving the room.

  "Okay, Annie Spencer, blue
Dodge Avenger, can't remember the registration but it starts with a five, I think. There's also Philippa Wright... she has a blue Mercury? Yeah, a Mercury Cougar." I snap my fingers.

  "Any others?" Dale scribbles down the info as he walks out to the parking lot.

  "Yeah... two." I hesitate. "Um... Micheal Bishop."

  "I know his car."

  "And..."

  Dale pauses at the door. "And?"

  "Adam Hutton, midnight blue Ford Mustang."

  With a frown, Dale nods his head. I notice he doesn't add it to the list as we sneak down the stairs to the parking lot. Ducking behind a Jeep Wrangler, Dale checks the school entrance and windows for any teachers before bobbing up to quickly scan the cars.

  "I see Michael's car. Let's check that one first."

  We creep around the cars. Bobbing down by his front right bumper, we look for any damage or new paint jobs. There doesn't seem to be any.

  "Looks like we can cross him off the list." Dale pulls out his pen and puts a line through the name. Dale goes to stand again but I stop him.

  "Let me. At least teachers can't spot me." I stand tall and train my eyes on anything blue. "I see a blue Saturn. Is that on the list?"

  "Yes, Terri. Let's go look."

  Her car is fine as well.

  We spend the next half hour checking every blue car we can find. They all seem totally fine. We slump back in our original spot.

  "What's left?" I'm a little disheartened as Dale scans his list.

  "Just Nicholas Evans."

  "And Adam," I whisper.

  "Nicole." Dale warns me.

  "I'm sorry, but why isn't car his car here?"

  "His mom has it. How many times do we have to have this conversation?"

  "She doesn’t, I saw her getting into her own car in Big Bear Village today. And when we first got to school, I saw Adam getting off the bus."

  Dale's head whips in the direction of my voice.

  "You actually saw him getting off the bus?"

  "No, not actually, but he was walking with a bunch of kids who had just gotten off the bus."

  "It still doesn't mean it's him."

  "No, it doesn't, but if it was... his car would probably be where?"

  I can sense Dale's reticence. I don't want to push him, but for all I know those guys are driving to my spot right now.