Chapter 1
“Remember I want you home by eleven, no later.”
I can still hear the words my Great Grandmother Roselyn had said before I left that night. I check my watch; it’s getting close, I’m going to be late, and she will no doubt be waiting by the door. Sneaking in is never an option with her. She will know. She has a sixth sense about her or maybe it is the stacks of books on the supernatural that she reads late into the night that holds her position by the door until I arrive. I can imagine her sitting on the small sofa at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for me, flipping through various books on aliens, werewolves, and vampires.
“Did you seriously just check your watch? I swear that woman has you on lock down.” Bryn takes another sip out of the red solo cup she holds as I pretend to fit in at this house party when all I really want to do is be alone. Bryn wanted to come, and thought I needed an official release from my break-up with Drew, so she got her way. It’s hard saying no to someone that has been your best friend since you were seven.
“She just worries about…” I couldn’t go any further because she didn’t need to know what my grandmother worries about. No one needed to know because if they did, I would surely spend the last days of my youth in foster care. I lean back on the light blue couch I’m sharing with Bryn and try to bring myself out of my break-up funk, focusing on the party happening around me while I drink and avoid eye contact. I don’t want anyone to try and talk to me. I look into the dining room and see my classmates lining up to take shots sitting on the large rectangle oak table. It is beautiful with claw-like feet and a light blue tablecloth resting on it. In the center I notice a candle in a large gold candle holder. On each side on the table my classmates sit with their shot glasses in front of them. Their laughs fill the room, but I can’t hear what is being said over the music playing.
“You’re practically eighteen,” she adds after taking another sip. I don’t bother commenting. Her eyes go to the dining room, and I can tell she wants to join them by the way a smile forms on her lips as she was watches them. I want her to go and have fun, but I know she won’t if I don’t.
Bryn doesn’t answer to anyone, and therefore don’t feel that I should either. It’s not that her parents aren’t at home because they are, but they are always working, so Bryn is by herself a lot. She is like me; she doesn’t have any siblings.
“Meghan.”
I know that voice. I draw an exasperated sigh before looking up. “What?” My sharp response doesn’t sugarcoat how I feel nor does my tightly pursed lips. It is plain as day. I am annoyed. Drew is the last person I wanted to see.
“I’m sorry about what happened. I never meant…” His eyes water but no tears come.
“If ‘to hurt you’ follows that I swear,” Bryn doesn’t bother finishing her sentence. She gives me a look. “You, okay?” I nod. She quickly leaves, and I’m not sure if it’s because she doesn’t like Drew or simply the fact that she needs to refill her cup.
“You know I care about you, right?” I can barely hear him above the music.
His eyes plead for me to understand, and I briefly wonder what I had seen in him all those months ago when I fell hard and fast. Now all I see is the pain he caused me and the sight of Jen Harper in her bra and panties on top of him. I swallow hard and quickly stand, maybe a little too quickly. The room is spinning, but there is no way I am going to fall in front of him. Why the hell am I drunk off of one cup? The stuff is lethal. “I’m not doing this now.”
My legs carry me away with as much dignity as I can muster considering I am more than a little drunk. What I need was some fresh air. I manage to push my way through the crowded room, spilling someone’s drink in the process. “I’m sorry,” I call back quickly without bothering to slow down. I feel as if I’m holding my breath, and even though I seem to be breathing normally, I just can’t seem to get enough air. I throw the door open with a twist of a knob, and as the warm night air enters, I feel my anxiety lessen. The music becomes muffled as I make my way to the oak tree that stands in the front yard. I lean against it and slowly make my way to the ground. It’s almost peaceful if not for the occasional laugh from inside the house. The small house party of five turned into twenty or so, and if not for Bryn, I wouldn’t have come. Crowds aren’t my thing, and I briefly wonder if it had been a set up all along with Bryn desperately wanting to get out the house and dragging me along in her little adventure.
The snap of a branch catches my attention, but when I look up, there’s nothing there, only the trees keeping me comfy while the others drink more of the concoction that got me here in the first place.
I hold my head, knowing the dull pain that is starting will be so much worse by morning. Why did I always get myself into these situations? It’s like I love to torture myself. As crazy as it sounds, my head seems as clear as day when thoughts of Drew enter my mind. Where he is concerned, I throw caution to the wind like always and land flat on my face. Just what I get for falling for the guy who gets props for…how shall I put this so that I can make myself feel better…knowing the language of love. Ugh…just the thought makes me sick. I’m such a loser.
Another branch snaps in the distance. My head comes up fast, but I don’t see anything. Nothing but trees like before, but my heart speeds up anyway. A cold feeling creeps into my body, giving me a chill unlike any chill I’ve felt before. I shiver inward, watching as I see my breath escape in little smoke clouds, which isn’t weird at all, but when you add the fact it is ninety degrees outside, the weird factor goes up a few notches. My fingertips start to ache, and by the time I look down at them, they’re numb. Frostbite in the summer. I have seen, or much rather felt enough. It’s time to go. I squinch my eyes, looking towards the woods for a second time, but all I see is darkness until the clouds seem to move at just the right time, revealing a shadow of someone or something. Little hairs on my arms stand to attention while I try to pull my body upward, but my toes feel the same numbness as my fingers. It hurts to put weight on my feet, so I sit back down and look out into the woods, the direction where I last saw the shadow.
“I was wondering where you went.” Drew attempts to join me. His eyes seem sad, as if he cares that he broke me, I mean, really broke me. He gives me a slight smile, but at this moment, I’m more worried about the shadow and who or what is out there. I am beginning to think like my grandmother.
“Help me stand.” My eyes are still focused on the woods. I have never been so glad to see someone, even if it is Drew.
“I really think we should talk about what happened. You never really gave me a chance…”
“Drew, just help me get in the house.” I cut him off because there is no way I am giving him a chance, and no way I am going to stay outside talking to him about it.
“Not until we talk.” He’s determined to get a conversation with me, which is what got us together in the first place. As archaic as it may sound, I like how he lets me know he isn’t giving up on us, even though I constantly tell him he has no chance.
“We’ll talk later. Just help me— now.” My eyes don’t leave the woods because I feel that if I look away, something will come…come for me. His arms go around me and lift me with ease. His touch isn’t so revolting since I’m using him to get what I want.
I look back as we make it through the front door, but I don’t see anything. The shadow is gone along with the cold creepy feeling, but my grandmother’s warnings come to mind… ‘They came for me, and they’ll come for you too.’
