Dark Mind

by Jennifer Chase

  Emily opened her eyes, stared straight up at the night. She reflected that the moon looked more beautiful than it ever had before. She felt strangely calm. Famous poets and writers had speculated about life’s final moments, surmising it’s calming effect on the body and mind, and contemplating where the soul went.

  Many memories floated through her mind about her investigations, people she had met, Rick’s infectious smile and undying love, and her parents. She lingered on her childhood with her parents. Fun times and family outings bronzed their way into her remembrance. Even though more than twenty years had passed, she pictured their faces and conversations like it was yesterday.

  A tear rolled down the side of her face and over her temple, the flow of sweet salt mixed with the metallic blood. So many things she wished she could have talked to her mom about, but never would. Emily’s hope was that she would be reunited with her parents and all the innocent victims she couldn’t save in time.

  She closed her eyes and waited.

  A soft rustling noise caught her attention.

  Emily snapped her eyes open. She wasn’t sure if she was hallucinating or not, but a woman sat on one of the low rock walls, her summer dress rippled gently in the evening breeze. The woman held a book on her lap and began to read. Emily recognized the woman immediately as her mother and one of the last things she ever read to her, ironically, it was a passage from the Bible, Psalm 24:4.

  In a soft, calming voice she recited, “Even thought I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me…”

  She looked up from the book and smiled at Emily. Her sweet, calming voice helped Emily to remain at peace. It was as if no time had passed since she had seen her mother. Her bright face and gentle eyes stared at her for a moment, and then she slowly disappeared like a morning mist.

  A dark shadow replaced the area where the figure had appeared.

  Painful to recall, Emily turned her head away and closed her eyes again. It was almost unbearable to see the vision of her mother, but the mind played tricks on the brain and the heart when death crept closer.

  Finality nipped at Emily’s consciousness and she knew that when Matt returned he wouldn’t be merciful and humane, but torturous and cruel.

  Quick footsteps padded against the ground and drew near.

  It was time.

  * * * * *

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Saturday 0105 Hours

  Rick stood on the bow of the fast moving boat heading along the Na’Pali coast with the moonlight leading the way. The Coast Guard and local KPD rescue boats followed in sync. The familiar spray off the ocean usually calmed the mind, but tonight it brought dread. The tide expelled a rough and choppy current causing the boat to rise and tip from side to side in a slight nauseating motion.

  As the wind blew by Rick’s body and glanced off his windbreaker, he could almost hear Emily’s voice in the air telling him that it was okay if he didn’t find her in time. He shut out such words from his mind and waited.

  Loud voices conversed along the starboard side and specific orders barked instructions.

  Jordan and Lani left Rick alone to gather his thoughts. Rick kept running the time spent with Matt Compton in his mind and his recollection couldn’t pinpoint the sly, predatory nature of the serial killer. It didn’t add up, but at the same time it made perfect sense. He gripped the railing to steady himself, not because of the rough waters, but because he thought he’d collapse and be of no use to anyone – especially Emily.

  Two KPD police officers readied themselves with additional ammo for their Glocks and shotguns, taking no chances of what was in store once they reached land. They seemed to enjoy the thought of catching a notorious killer and chatted with one another as they loaded their weapons. Jordan joined in on their conversation and seemed to fit right in to their discussion.

  Lani joined Rick at the railing, quiet and stoic as he watched the moonlight reflecting off of the waves.

  “Any news?” Rick asked.

  “According to records, it seems that Matt Compton originally grew up here on Kauai, but he was hospitalized in a mental institution near Honolulu when he was seventeen and then let out at twenty-one.”

  “Psychotic?”

  Lani began. “From what information that they were willing to give us, he had been misdiagnosed with Schizophrenia, treated for it, and was more likely suffering from another affliction of bi-polar disorder, according to the administrator at the ward.” He looked out to the choppy sea. “If you ask me, he’s a clear cut psychopath who duped the doctors into thinking whatever he wanted.”

  The information Lani confirmed fit the profile Emily created, but that didn’t make Rick feel any better. She was up against a clever, merciless individual. “None of us had any clue and we spent time with him.”

  Lani studied Rick’s face. “You couldn’t have known, none of you.”

  Rick gazed at the water, felt slightly seasick, but pushed the uncomfortable feeling aside and concentrated on rescuing Emily.

  Lani continued, “We found out which boat Matt used and we’re looking out for it as we go.”

  “I appreciate that.” Rick paused. “Sorry, I gave you such a hard time the other night.”

  For the first time since Rick had met Lani, he smiled. “No apologies necessary.” He walked toward the stern and quietly gave orders to the other officers. It was almost humorous as Rick watched the tall, stocky police officer navigate around the moving boat towering over everyone else.

  * * * * *

  Lani stood at the helm and watched ahead for any boat sighting. The waves kept building in power and size. His police career had been tame comparatively speaking, but after everything he’d witnessed in the last week told him that this crisis wouldn’t end on a positive note.

  Losing Alex, one of his sweetest, dearest friends, made him more pessimistic in what lay ahead and the next crime scene he had to process. His photographic memory of visiting each murder location overwhelmed him and he quietly prayed that Emily would be safe, however unlikely.

  * * * * *

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Saturday 0135 Hours

  Quick footsteps approached from the trail.

  Emily had no other choice but to wait for her fate.

  The moonlight brightened like a new bulb in a fixture, which cast even more illumination on the dense jungle. It was easy to see the sloping and various sizes of the ancient rock walls. They looked inviting and interesting, instead of dark and sinister.

  The footsteps abruptly stopped.

  Emily turned her head to the left and expected to see Matt standing there with an even bigger knife in his hand.

  No one stood, watched, or waiting over Emily.

  A cool trickle of sweat drenched the back of Emily’s neck. She could feel her arms force goose bumps to rise in intensity and automatically her entire body shuddered, tugging at the restraints in the process. A strange sensitivity overcame her mind, a feeling of uncertainty that she never felt before even on the most difficult investigations. But, her anger surfaced and fueled the dwindling energy left in her body.

  As her mind focused to who or what approached, Emily lost interest in the pain in her chest and arms. She helplessly waited as prey for her hunter. Her rational mind couldn’t process the evidence, but the island did have some interesting and mysterious qualities to it with folklore and cultural traditions. The sounds in the jungle became unreliable and played tricks on the mind. It was obvious how nature inspired stories passed down through the generations.

  Emily’s pulse raced, she closed her eyes and calmed her body and mind, still hoping that she could find a way to free herself. She couldn’t, and wouldn’t, die like this.

  Slow footsteps neared and appeared to hesitate before continuing closer.

  “Emele…” Said an out of breath voice.

  Emily opened her eyes and stared face to face with the old H
awaiian man. His crooked, toothless smile gleamed at her. “How’d you…?” She began to ask.

  “Shhhh, he come back, you must go.” He retrieved a small folding knife from his loose short’s pocket and quickly sawed through Emily’s restraints.

  She blinked in surprise at her rescuer, but didn’t protest.

  Emily wondered if her mind had finally splintered and she conjured up this old man as an imaginary friend. She sat up as he worked on her ankle restraints. Her rib cage throbbed and the side of her neck stung with a sharp pain in sync with her blood pressure. Instinctively, she reached her right fingertips to her neck and felt the sticky, ragged wound. Luckily the bleeding had stopped.

  The old man hurried to the thicker jungle areas pushing branches and vines out of his way.

  “Wait.” Emily insisted as she stood up. “Please.”

  He stopped and turned to look at her.

  “What’s your name?” She asked.

  “Aukai.” He smiled and nodded at her. “Emele… he pupule… go… akahele Emele…” He turned and disappeared into the thickets of trees.

  Emily watched the old man vanish, but felt a loss knowing that she wouldn’t see him again. She noted that he was like her guardian angel and maybe someday she would thank him.

  Suddenly, she felt exposed standing in the moonlight, so she quickly searched for anything that would prove to be a weapon. Nothing. A faint, familiar whistle caught her attention. Matt was on his way and when he found her gone, he would hunt her down and slaughter her out of sheer rage.

  Emily, barefoot and shivering in her bathing suit top and shorts, jogged to where Aukai vanished and felt strongly that this trail led around to the beach. The boat was the only way to escape safely. In her mind, she thanked the mysterious old man over and over again.

  The jagged rocks on the trail pressed against her feet and caused her to stumble. She stubbed her toes, but kept an even pace no matter the pain.

  * * * * *

  Keolo’ewa.

  Matt picked up his pace as he carried a few more items of kindling and household items to make their next stop into the next dimension a dramatic one. He felt pleased with his decision and the perfect sacrifice that the gods would be proud of him.

  As he neared the location, something looked different.

  No, it couldn’t be?

  He dropped his supplies and ran to the perfectly constructed temple location.

  Emily vanished.

  He walked in agitated circles and mumbled his concerns. “No, I must have done something wrong. She couldn’t have escaped.” He looked up at the sky with his hands outreached. “Why!” Dropping to his knees, he examined the ropes and saw they had been cut. “NO!”

  Keolo’ewa.

  * * * * *

  The savage yell echoed through the trees. The hunter’s beastly cries continued to reverberate all around her. Emily stopped in her tracks, listening to the strangled, demented voice and estimated that she had maybe a ten-minute lead on him – more realistically about five minutes.

  Her head ached, her stomach rumbled from lack of food, and her driving spirit pushed her legs to move onward. She licked her lips and wished she had a sip of water, but the boat probably carried some supplies and food.

  The hypnotic sound of the waves rolled in like thunder. The brightness of the moon acted as a natural guide with a simple trek to the beach. The terrain changed slightly from the dirt and rocks to a sandy mixture easier on Emily’s feet. She glanced down and saw that her feet bled, but didn’t bother to stop to tend to them.

  Squeezing her eyes every once in a while, helped with her blurry vision caused by her increasing headache and lack of blood. The next step pressed into a deep pile of sand and Emily saw the boat anchored just about a hundred yards from the beach.

  Another half human wail reverberated down the trail and onto the beach. The wounded demonic sound haunted her, but she ran to the water and took a moment to catch her breath before embarking on a quick swim to the boat.

  The steady waves rolled in sequence and gained some momentum even as she watched. The tide increased and would soon be too choppy to swim safely.

  Emily took a step as the ocean washed over her feet, stinging and warm. She hurried toward the shallows as rocks and coral cut her feet, but she didn’t care. It invigorated her and she moved onward and submerged herself completely into the water. Her strength had dwindled from her ordeal, but her determination amplified.

  Pushing away the thoughts fate had dealt her, Emily soon reached the boat. Battling a few intense groups of waves, slapping against her face and body, she gripped the ladder of the boat. It took all of her strength to pull her body up, taking one rung at a time, she hoisted herself onto the boat.

  Her legs shaky as her feet landed squarely on the deck.

  It was almost over. The boat rocked back and forth, which intensified her feeling of uneasiness. She quickly took a look around and cleared each area to make sure she was alone.

  In a duffle bag, she found packs of nuts and crackers along with several sealed bottles of water for the trip, and a first aid kit. But her first order was to get the boat safely away from the shore and headed back to civilization.

  Flashing numbers caught her attention down by the port side of the boat.

  As she approached the glaring alarm, it read: 05:00. Upon closer inspection, she realized the number coincided with an assembled explosive device. Wires, small computer boards, and sealed tubes, wound around the timing device, readied itself for detonation. Never seeing an actual bomb before, it scared Emily because it was the final fear of the unknown.

  She ran toward the stern to turn on the ignition of the boat – nothing happened. She tried again with the same result.

  Her mind raced.

  Did she need a code? Was the boat going to blow up if it turned over? Should she hide in the jungle until morning?

  Emily let out a sigh and half whimper. She already felt defeated and more alone than ever in her life. She didn’t know what to do. “No!” She pounded her fists on the stern’s console.

  “Emily, you have surprised me more than I could have ever dreamed.” Matt stood dripping wet on the starboard side, eyes dark like coal, and smile wicked and loathing. “This worked out better than I had imagined.”

  Emily backed up and glanced overboard. She would make her escape and swim for as long as her body could take her.

  Matt picked up a small remote. “Stay where you are. I will blow the boat with both of us.”

  Emily froze.

  * * * * *

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Saturday 0235 Hours

  Rick cursed their bad luck and let everyone aboard know how he felt. They had wasted almost a half an hour on an abandoned boat that had nothing to do with Emily’s disappearance. They were still twenty minutes from the beaches of their destination.

  His muscles tensed and he barely kept his composure. The thought of losing Emily was a possibility and he didn’t want to even contemplate it. “Damn it!” He seethed and took his place near the stern and held on tightly to the railing out of absolute will.

  Lani yelled for the captain to continue their journey south. The boat lurched forward and they were finally on their way again. The trio of boats moved as fast as they dared with the ocean swell increasing, which slowed their rapid pace by at least twenty percent.

  The raw power of the ocean was awesome and treacherous.

  Jordan approached and said. “We’ll get there.”

  Rick ignored his comment, knowing he meant well, but he wasn’t in the mood for any of Jordan’s stories or wisecracks. He only blamed himself for the predicament they found themselves in and wanted desperately to make things right, anything to bring back yesterday and have those moments to do over again.

  It was as if Jordan heard his private thoughts, he remained quiet.

  * * * * *

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Saturday 0245 Hours

  “You can
run, but you can never hide from me - ever.” Matt approached Emily.

  “Don’t you see? It’s not meant to be, and they’ll be angry for this.” Emily said in a flat tone never averting his unrelenting stare, waiting for the attack.

  Matt broke into a wide smile and laughed heartedly. “Oh Emily, you can’t analyze me and you’ll only know me when we are together.”

  “It’ll never happen.”

  “I’ve taken care of the details already, but I’m sure that you already know that.” He showed her a small remote control.

  “And?” Emily challenged him.

  Matt lunged at Emily grabbing her arm and pushed her backward next to the side opening of the hatch. She grimaced, never allowing him to hear her suffer the pain.

  He whispered into her ear. “You’re mine for eternity and you have no choice. They have spoken on the issue.” The sweet smell of tropical fruit emitted from his breath as Emily fought the gag reflex from her empty stomach.

  She raised her gaze and glared at Matt. “I don’t think so…” She replied.

  In an instant, before either of them blinked, she swung a fishing gaff that rested against the wall next to her. The short metal hook struck Matt on the side of the head with a hard thump. He fell to his right side, desperately grappling with anything that would break his fall, but he only clutched air. Blood darkened his sandy hair as he hit the deck hard with a heartfelt groan.

  Emily seized the opportunity as she ran toward the side, slung her left leg over the railing as a hard tug pulled her down to the deck. Matt groped her leg several times to secure a stronger hold on her.

  The boat swayed and bounced with the ocean, throwing Emily and Matt onto the deck scuttling on their backsides.

  Matt slid a couple of feet away from Emily before the boat righted itself again.

  Scrambling, as she pumped her legs to push her body into the upright position, he made another bold move by jumping on her. Both went down hard, binoculars and life preservers scattered around them.