“Yeah…outside for a bit. I’m going to get some fresh air.” My eyes drift to her towel and then back up at her. “Cooking again, I see. I bet it’s going to be great,” I respond, my back still partially towards her.
“No, not quite, but I will be shortly. Seems like I have some downtime too, today.”
“Isn’t it the best?”
“Mhm,” Helen responds with a smile. “Enjoy it while you can.”
“Believe me, I’m trying… Hey, I’m going to go outside for a bit and lounge around. I need some fresh air.”
“Okay, just be careful.”
“Do you guys have bears or something out here?”
“I’m sure we have wildlife, but no bears. Not that I know of. Snakes, though. Just stay on the property, and you should be okay. They’re more afraid of you than you are of them.”
“Thanks,” I respond flatly before opening the door and heading outside. Weird.
I walk out onto the property and veer towards the side of the house only to find Trent sitting on a bench near the work garage while eating an orange. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I respond. “What’s going on?” I sit on top the bench while he peels away at its outer layer.
“Nothing,” he answers without looking my way. “Just eating this.”
“Oh.” I rest my forearms on my knees and stare at the siding of the house at a loss for words. A subtle breeze flicks my hair back and rustles the trees that border the edge of their property. I follow the sound and twist my head to look into the forest. There’s nothing really. Not even a trail. I huff and turn my head back to him, slightly disappointed. “So, is it true about what they say?”
“…What are you talking about?” He stares me down, confusion evident in his eyes.
“The woods… Your mom said there’s a bunch of animals back there. Snakes.”
“Oh… Yeah, she probably said that because of me.” Trent rests his orange on the table and hikes up the leg to his pants and reveals his calf. It looks normal for the most part, but there’s a tiny strip of flesh with a different texture than the rest. “I got bit by a snake when I was a kid. You can barely see it. It’s been awhile. That scar is something I got from running back. Cut myself on a branch.”
“Wow. I bet your mom was worried.”
“Yeah,” he huffs. “She cursed my dad out for like, an hour straight. He was supposed to be watching me, but he was out doing something in his shed…working on a car.”
“So this was before Nathan then?”
“…Yeah, he wasn’t around then. I think I was nine or ten when it happened.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re okay. Animals can be vicious. Some are friendly, but sometimes the ones out in the wild take no prisoners. Survival of the fittest. You know those animals at the zoo? Well, if you were to release them out into the wild again, they wouldn’t make it. Nature is rough. It’s kinda like how a vast majority of us can’t survive outdoors for too long. We’re used to technology making our lives a thousand times easier.” I extend my legs in front of me and slip my hands between my thighs. “No offense, but the lack of tech is killing me, dude, I don’t know how you do it. Your generation is virtually raised by it.”
“It’s a waste of time. I use it at school and stuff, and it’s convenient, but my mom and dad make it just fine without it. Everyone just uses it for attention, anyway.”
“Social media? Yeah, it can be a monster, but everything has its uses.”
“Okay, but like, half of my class is obsessed with it. I don’t want to be sucked in. I’ve got things I want to do.”
“A dream of yours?”
“Yeah, I want to keep up the family business.”
“Oh, that’s cool. I’m sure you’ll be awesome at it. Maybe Nathan can help out, too.”
“He can’t even read.”
“Give him some time. At one point, you couldn’t, either.”
“Ha.”
“You know I’m right…but hey, that is something you want to do, right? Run your family’s business? Your dad isn’t forcing you, is he? I’m only asking because I started doing what my dad did. You have to be sure that your head is in the right place.”
“Your dad runs a business?”
“No, no he doesn’t…didn’t, but I chose the same career path as him. I’m just saying—make sure it’s something you want to do. And if you’re not sure, that’s totally okay, too. You have more than enough time to figure things out. I’m speaking from experience. You gotta live with your choices and stuff, so be happy with them. I know you hear old folks talking about regrets all the time,” I huff. “Don’t be like them. Have as little regrets as possible. Forge your own path.”
“So, do you like what you do?”
“Yeah…for the most part. It has its ups and downs, but so does everything. In the long run, I think I’m doing more good than bad.”
“What is it that you do, anyway?”
“I make the world a better place.” Trent’s brows draw together and I chuckle. “I’m a teacher…,” I say flatly. “Well, trying to become one. I was in school for it but took a break after some personal drama. Elementary education. Once I get my degree, I’m going to work with the little ones. I’m thinking kindergarten.”
“Is that what your dad taught?”
“No, he worked with an older crowd. High school.”
“Well, I really like what my parents do. I believe in it. They do what they do because they have a purpose and they don’t answer to anyone.”
“Yeah, they’re their own bosses. It’s pretty neat. Not a lot of people can say that, plus the culinary skills are an epic plus. I don’t want to gross you out again, but you do remember what I said at lunch, right?”
“Yeah.” Trent waves his hand dismissively.
“Good,” I snicker.
Just as I finish speaking, I see Frank pull up in his truck to the property with who I can only imagine is his friend, trailing behind him. I retract my feet from the edge of the bench’s seat and bring them back to their usual resting position.
“Your dad’s back early, dude,” I say to Trent, my eyes focused on Frank as his vehicle comes to a halt. “And his friend’s here, too,” I mumble as I watch them leave their vehicles and walk towards us.
“The big guy behind my dad, that’s Bruce.”
“Yeah, I figured.” My eyes hone in on the plastic bag the burly man carries in his hand. Frank told me he knew what was wrong. The only reason they’d be here now is if they cut work. No complaints here.
Frank waves once he gets a little bit closer and I do the same before hopping off the bench and walking over to greet them. “Funny seeing you out here. I thought you’d be inside with your pal,” Frank says endearingly.
“Wanted to stretch my legs for a bit…catch some fresh air.” I half-heartedly shrug with a smile.
“Nothing gotcha’, huh?” Frank laughs. “Helen swears that the animals out here are dangerous, but honestly, they’re more afraid of you then you are of them.” I almost want to ask him about the snake bite, but I hold my tongue. I don’t want to bring up anything that could potentially embarrass his son.
“She did tell me to be careful.”
“Sure, you should always be. But remember that you’re the boss,” he responds nonchalantly, “unless you’re dealing with a predator, they’ll only attack when backed up against a wall. Oh, and this is Bruce by the way.” Frank twists his torso and points to the man awkwardly standing next to him. “Didn’t want to be rude.” Bruce steps forward and extends his hand my way.
“I’m Bruce.” He smiles.
“Sailor,” I say after placing my hand in his and giving it a respectable shake. I know I’m not the biggest, but his hand in comparison to mine is a bit unnerving. To him, I’m probably no different than Nathan or Trent. If I had to guess, he’s pushing two-fifty, easily. “Nice to meet you. I appreciate everything you’re doing.”
“It’s no problem. Just happy to help.” Frank p
uts a hand on top of his shoulder and shakes it in that weird way that guys do.
“Yeah, when I told him about what happened, he decided he wanted to help. Turns out another worker owed him a favor and told him he could take the rest of his shift.”
“Neat.” I clap my hands together. “That’s great, actually.” I notice Frank stir and then softly sigh. “You okay? Mr. Frank?” He doesn’t hear me.
“Trent, where’s your brother?” Frank asks sternly.
“Inside, in his room…sleeping. Mom gave him his medicine already.”
“All right,” he responds, his voice, calmer. “Why don’t you let your mother know that Bruce’s here and that we’re going to start working soon.” I turn back towards Trent and watch him as he holds his gaze with his father.
“Yes, sir,” Trent answers, flatly and lethargically stands to his feet.
Damn. It’s like that kid can never catch a break.
I watch Trent as he slugs through the gravel and makes his way through the back door of his house. After he’s gone, I promptly return my sights to the two men in front of me.
“Maybe you should let your friend know that we’re back,” Frank says, dragging his words. “We got it from here. Bruce knows what he’s doing.” Seriously? He knows good and well that I want to help. “You’re going to be out of here before you know it. Best to get everything in order. We’ll see you at dinner.”
I try my best to not looked pissed after being boxed-out from assisting with the maintenance of my own car. “Yeah, sure. Just fill me in on everything, after. We’re a long way from home.”
“Of course.”
After stating my piece, I march back into the house to wait it out. I update Val on the recent developments and make sure that everything is ready to go. We didn’t bring much inside. Most of our stuff is in my car, another reason why I’d like to be around. I don’t think they’d steal from us. It’d be pretty pathetic, actually.
In between TV shows I talk with Val to pass the time, this is supposed to be about her, anyway, right? Who knows if I’ll ever see her again.
Chapter 9: The Final Farewell
“Girls! Dinner’s ready!” Helen calls out from downstairs.
“Finally,” Val proclaims. “Salvation at last.”
“Hey, Val… You’re a positive person, you know that? Don’t ever change.”
“What?”
“Really, I mean it. You’re positive—upbeat. I mean, who would take time out for a friend, a whole trip, just to make sure they’re doing okay?”
“Well, it depends on the friend, I’m sure.”
“No, you’re not getting it,” I pause to sigh. “I’ve been thinking about the trip and everything so far, and even though we had a little set back, it’s been nice. I don’t want to turn this into a sob fest or anything, so just let me say this—thank you for thinking about me. I needed this. I really needed this…and if the first couple days are any indicator as to how the rest of the trip is going to be, I’ll remember it forever.”
“What are friends for?” Val replies with a smile.
“Okay, look, I know I started this, but I hate being mushy. Let’s just eat and hit the road so we can do epic shit, kay?”
“Ha. Right.”
“Girls?”
“Helen, probably thinks we passed out or something. Poor thing,” I say to Valerie. “Coming!”
Val and I head downstairs to the dining area where we find everything already set up for the meal to come. Steak and potatoes seem to be the main dish, but there’s macaroni and an assortment of greens available to choose from, too. They certainly pulled out all the stops. The gang’s all here as well. Helen, Frank, Nathan, Trent, and Bruce. I didn’t even realize Nathan and Trent were downstairs. They probably helped with the setup. I pull up a chair, and Val sits right beside me. Both of our plates are decked out already. A nice touch for a farewell dinner.
“Looks like you two made it,” Helen says with a chuckle as Val and I man our silverware and prepare to dig in.
“Hey, last time I checked, being on vacation means being on your own time.” Frank laughs. “Did you expect them to bolt down here?”
“Sorry, Val and I were just double checking that we had everything ready to go.”
“I just don’t want them to be on the road all that late. It’s already getting dark.”
“It’s not like they can stay another day. They’re on a trip, sweetie.”
“We’ll be fine, honestly,” I say before biting into my steak.
“I agree.” Frank raises his glass towards me and takes a sip. “They’re grown women, Helen. They managed to get here, didn’t they?”
“It’s a nice offer, but your husband is right. We still have some sight-seeing to do.” Val digs into her mac and cheese and shovels a petite portion into her mouth. “This is really good by the way.” After she finishes chewing, she takes a sip of water from her glass.
“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Frank asks. “After all this time, I still haven’t gotten used to it,” Frank says as he points to her with his fork, “and I’m not just talking about the cooking.”
“Aww.”
“Get a room, guys, seriously,” Trent responds. From the other side of the table, Bruce chuckles and shakes his head as he picks at his meal.
“So with the car and everything.” I pause to sip. “It was just the belt?” I ask Bruce.
“Yup. We’ll crank it up after we’re done. It was an easy fix, just needed the right tools and a bit of patience.”
“Cool, cool.” I tilt my head to the side. “That’s Valerie by the way.”
“You didn’t introduce them, Frank?”
“Only Sailor was around.”
“Nice to meet you,” Valerie responds to Bruce.
“Pleasure’s mine,” Bruce answers succinctly.
“Thanks for fixing everything.”
“Not a problem. Not a problem at all.”
“Whew…I think.” Valerie’s body bobs uneasily, and I instantly shift my gaze her way.
“Val? Val, you okay? Are you sick? Val?”
“Something’s not…” She moves her silverware away from her and places her fingertips on the side of her head.
“Valerie? Val, can you hear me?” I ask, but she doesn’t respond. A few seconds later, her body goes limp, and her head crashes onto the table. “Valerie? Valerie?” I glance across the table and notice a set of unshaken eyes staring at me apathetically. Frank, Helen, Bruce…Trent. Nathan, the youngest one seems to be the only person with any sense of humanity. “Guys?!” I shoot up from my chair to shake her, but my body responds lethargically. “Valerie?” Bruce raises his hands from his plate and arches his fingers into a pyramid while continuing to stare at me with empty eyes.
“She’s taking longer than the other girl, Helen,” Frank says nonchalantly and takes a bite out of his steak. “Her friend was quick to fall.”
Shit…she’s drugged. That means…
“You motherfuckers!” I balance myself against my chair and desperately reach for my knife as whatever they poisoned us with continues to gain ground.
“I can take her out.”
“She’ll pass out soon enough, Bruce. Just wait,” Helen calmly responds. “No need to panic. It’s highly potent.”
I manage to grab the knife from my plate, but no one in the room feels the least bit afraid. Instead, they watch me like I’m a wounded animal buying time before my last breath.
“Maybe you should have put in a little bit more.”
“I put in more than enough. Give it some time. She can’t fight it forever.”
I can barely hold myself up under the weight of the drugs and throwing my only source of protection isn’t an option. There’s no way I can hit a target in my condition.
Nathan begins to cry, and my vision begins to blur. My knees buckle as I try my best to stay conscious. I’m fading fast. I need to do something, quick.
“Ah, there we go. Looks like so
meone is about to go beddy-bye.” Helen smiles.
With the last of my energy, I push away from the table, desperate to attack, but I fall to the floor in a daze, defeated. I lose track of time for a moment, but the dull pain radiating from my skull is just enough to keep me up for a little while longer.
“See? She just needed more time.” Her voice carries a distorted echo to it and seems to bounce around in my mind, making it impossible to concentrate.
I try to move, but my body fails to respond as they circle me, their feet pounding against the floorboards. The sound of a door opening behind me registers in my ear. The basement door. Not long after that, I hear one of them pick up Valerie while I lay helplessly on the ground.
“Quite the fighter, this one, eh?” Frank picks me up and dangles me over his shoulder as my conscious continues to fade.
“Val…erie…”
“It won’t be a problem, babe, just get her downstairs. She’s no threat to us like this. Trent, open the door for them.”
“Yeah, yeah.” My body lifelessly bobs in its descent down the stairs.
Family business, eh?
I try to hold on, but Nathan’s screams and my own resolve aren’t enough to carry my flame. Against my will, my body gives in to chemical-induced drowsiness despite my burning desire to do more, and then, everything turns black.
****
“Is he ready to go?”
“Almost.”
Bruce and Helen’s conversation stirs me from my sleep, and immediately I’m made aware of Vartal’s presence. Not a good sign.
Easy does it, dear. You’re bleeding. It seems you managed to land yourself in another predicament due to your inadequacy, although I must say…this was rather unexpected. You’re a prop for a ritual, both you and your friend. You won’t bleed out on my watch, your friend, however…well, I can make no guarantees for her survival.
When I opened my eyes, part of me was hoping that this was a dream, but it became painfully clear that this is now my reality.
I regain my footing and try to move, but my wrists are bolted to the basement wall by rusted cuffs, pinning me with my arms spread wide. I look over to my left as I shake at my bindings, cognizant of the blood pouring down my side, damping my clothes... Valerie has the same wound, too. A footed bowl with what I can only assume is our pooled blood, rests on a small, elevated table between us. “Fuck…Valerie, I’ll get us out of this, you hear me? Valerie!” I tense at my bindings and feel them nudge ever so slightly, but stop once my head begins to spin. The drugs. The effects are minor, but Vartal hasn’t burned through it all quite yet.
Sailor Ray and the Beautiful Lie (The Pact Book 3) Page 11