Chapter 2

It was always awkward being the first one into Mr. Winters� classroom. Something about the old man just gave you a very unwelcome feeling. Every student would agree, though none would dare say anything to him. It wasn�t that he was unpleasant. Quite to the contrary, Mr. Winters was a very cheerful man when around his students. Yet, the first one to enter the room could sometimes glimpse his other side. The side that sat in silence, staring at old pictures he kept in his desk, and idly fondling the dog tags beneath his white collared shirt.
        Some students made up stories about it. The most popular was that Mr. Winters must have been a prisoner in Vietnam, killed over a hundred people, went crazy, and become a school teacher. This was likely due to the long , perfectly straight scar that ran from the outer corner of his right eye, back past his ear, disappearing under his short, salt and pepper hair.
        The man�s demeanor and appearance ignited the imagination no doubt, but Mark always reminded himself not to stare, or do anything that might be misconstrued as disrespectful around Mr. Winters. The man was a hero as far as he was concerned.
        
        Mr. Winters snapped out of his reverie as the next few students came through the doorway, and pushed shut the open desk drawer before him. His grey eyes flitted back and forth between them while they found their seats, and when the bell rang, he shut them for a moment, then stood and checked the attendance roster.
        �I decided that since I didn�t have a strict lesson plan prepared for today, I would let all of you get a start on your reports. For those of you that don�t yet have a subject, the school library is just next door.�
        Mr. Winters sat back down as he was speaking, and took a few folders out of his desk, then looked up and cleared his throat slightly.
        �Go ahead.�
        A few people pulled books out of their binders, while the rest, including Mark, went across the hall to the school library. Just as Mark got up from his desk, Sunny brushed past him roughly, almost forcing him back into his seat. Waiting another moment, Mark straightened and gathered his things, but Mr. Winters stopped him just as he got to the door.
        �Mark, come here a moment.�
        Mark obediently walked over to the desk.
        �That�s not the first time he�s done that to you, is it?� Mr. Winters asked.
        �No.�
        �Do you want something done about it?�
        �No.�
        �What do you plan to do?�
        �I don�t know. I probably shouldn�t fight in school.�
        �No,� the old man got up from his desk and walked Mark towards the door, �Fighting is wrong, and not to be done at school. I wouldn�t want you to think that I approve of fighting.�
        �Violence never solves anything.� Mark added, hoping this would strike his teacher as wisdom, coming from a youth.
        �Well, that�s not exactly true Mark. Violence may not be the right answer to solving life�s problems, but at least it�s an answer. If you go through a test of multiple choice, and mark nothing on the questions you�re unsure of, you�re bound to get them wrong, and fail. But, if you guess, or put down the answers you think might be right, well, you�re bound to get some of them aren�t you?� He smiled half-heartedly, �Do you understand what I�m saying Mark?�
        �I guess so. So you�re saying that it�s better to do something you know is wrong, than to do nothing at all?�
        �I�m saying that sometimes standing up for yourself involves more than just standing.�
        �So what should I do?� Mark asked.
        �I can�t tell you that Mark. But I can tell you one thing. I was once a bit like you, and it took something terrible that happened to me to make me change. Don�t wait for that to happen to you Mark, or you may regret it for the rest of your life.�
        �Thanks sir.�
        �Never mind, just go on and do your work.� The old vet gave Mark a pat on the shoulder as he went back into his classroom.
        
        The school library was right in the middle of the second floor, where the two stairwells met, leading up from the cafeteria on either side. On that side, it looked down upon the cafeteria from a wall of glass windows where bean bag chairs were placed with recliners for those who had time during study halls to sit and relax. In the center there were long tables with lamps for studying, and on either side, rows of bookshelves lined up and along the walls. Behind the library was a computer lab, one of three on the second floor. It was locked, and you had to sign the roster to get the librarian, Mrs. Gregory, to let you in.
        Mark wandered through the isles of bookshelves until he found the fiction section, then started idly browsing for something to catch his interest. He stayed low so as to avoid the detection of Sunny and his friends, who sat in the bean bag chairs, flipping a paper football back and forth between them. Just as he found a volume of Sherlock Holmes, he saw her. She was sitting at one of the tables, reading quietly, her soft black hair falling around her face. A boy came up and sat just diagonal from her. He looked like a Freshman, but a little tall for his age perhaps. He sat nervously until he mustered the courage, then leaned over the table and whispered something to her.
        She looked up, smiling, and replied. Mark didn�t hear what she said, but it had a profound effect on the boy, who stood shakily, and backed away. Mark furrowed his brows, trying to get a better look when her eyes locked on his, and he nearly fell against the bookcase behind him. He got to his feet and grabbed a book at random, walking out of the isle as though nothing had happened.

        Seventh hour came too quickly. Mark could not have prepared himself after the incident in the library. He needed more time to think. Too late! There she sat, right there at his table, smiling that perfect smile, and staring at him with those amazing eyes so that he nearly lost his balance as she drew him in.
        �Hey Mark! You ready to get to work?� she asked cheerily.
        �Yea,� he mumbled, sitting down in the most unassuming fashion he could muster.
        �Right, well I started to work on the tree, but it�s just so detailed. I don�t know if I can make it match.�
        �Well uh, it doesn�t really have to match�exactly.�
        �Really? What do you mean?�
        While Mark described to Tala the different ways of drawing tree�s, from old oaks, to weeping willows, and snowy pines, the rest of the class began to filter in through the hallway. The first few only glanced their way, but by the time Aaron Milton came through, later than usual, there were quite a few stray eyes focused in their direction.
        �Right, so you mean, they just keep splitting out, and getting thinner, and I can add leaves wherever I want, right?�
        �Yea�pretty much.� Mark looked around, trying not to catch anyone�s eyes.�
        �Mark, what�s wrong?�
        �Nothing, I was just thinking.�
        �A lot of people here like to stare, you know that?� she said clearly, forcing a few stares back to their tables.
        �Yea, sometimes.�
        �Hey what do you think of Aaron Milton? He does a lot of paintings huh?�
        Mark�s heart sank.
        �Yea, he sure does a lot. Usually one every day or two.�
        �You think he�ll ever do anything good?�        
        �I think that�what?�
        �You don�t actually like his paintings do you?�
        Mark could have laughed out loud, �Not really.�
        �Thank God!� she exhaled, �I was hoping you weren�t another member of that guy�s fan club. I tried talking to some of the girls in Trigonometry, and they�re all obsessed with him! I swear!�
        �Trig?� Mark asked suddenly.
        �Yea, my parents insisted I take it to get me ready for college or something. I don�t like it, but it�s pretty easy.�
        �So you�re a senior this year?�
        �I know, right? Time goes by too quickly doesn�t it? Seems like just yesterday we were Juniors.�
        �I�m a Junior this year.�
        �Oh, I�m sorry.� she laughed, �You seemed a little older to me.�
        Mark looked down bashfully.
        �So anyways, I was wondering if you weren�t too busy, you might help me this weekend.�
        A cold lump settled in the back of Mark�s throat. �This weekend? Like, where?�
        �Well you�re place or mine, it doesn�t really matter. Where do you live anyways?�
        �A farm, about twelve miles down the highway in that direction.� He pointed out the window to the South.
        �Really? I�ve never been on a farm. That�s perfect! You think you could give me the grand tour?�
        �Sure. I mean, I�d have to ask my folks first.�
        �Right, well, here�s my phone number at home.� She scrawled it quickly on a piece of notepaper. �Give me a call when you find out.�
        �Of course.�

        Mark�s head swam at the end of the day. He felt like he was floating to his locker, all the way down the stairs, and through the bustling cafeteria. She was waiting for him at the doors on the left side of the main offices. She was so out of place there, like a diamond in a pile of rocks, or a rose in a garden of weeds. Every head turned as students passed her by. Every pair of eyes, male and female alike, lingered on her.
        He was almost there. He had almost reached her, when suddenly, and very violently, something struck his right leg. It happened as if in slow motion, but in reality he fell very quickly, almost too quickly to throw out his hands and catch himself. Before striking the ground he recognized Sunny�s black Nike shoe hooked around his. A sprinkle of laughter fluttered about for a moment, as a few random people recognized what they assumed was his clumsiness.
        �Oh s**t man! You gotta be more careful!� Sunny laughed as he headed out the doors.
        He was quickly intercepted.
        �Wow, that was slick!� Tala said, stepping in his way, while glancing down at Mark.
        Sunny paused, obviously trapped by both her appearance and her interjection.
        �Who are you?�
        �Tala Black, nice to meet you!� she smiled earnestly taking his hand.
        Lucas stood awkwardly behind his leader, clearly wishing to say something to Tala himself.
        �You new here then?�
        �Just came in yesterday. I�ve been looking for someone to show me around.�
        �Cool.� Sunny tried to take on a nonchalant tone.
        �So you guys wanna go to the movies this weekend or something?� she asked.
        �Why not? Yea, we can do that.� Sunny nodded to Lucas with a grin.
        �Right, have fun with that.� Tala quickly brushed by him towards Mark who had gotten up and brushed himself off. �I�ll be over at Mark�s place. He�s helping me with my art project. You should see his work, he�s really talented.�
        Sunny was speechless for a moment. Lucas didn�t speak either. Mark tried hard not to laugh, but once she took his hand in hers was also at a loss for words.
        �Oh by the way, he�s usually very agile. I would be surprised to see him trip like that again.�
        With that she looked over at Mark and winked, the two of them proceeding outside to the parking lot.
        �You didn�t have to do that.� Mark said quickly, trying not to sound ungrateful.
        �I can�t wait to see you do it.� she smiled, squeezing his hand before letting go and getting into her car.
        �Don�t forget to call me, ok?�
        �Ok.� He watched her drive off, nearly missing his bus ride home.
        

        Sunny said nothing to Mark on the bus. In fact, he almost seemed cautious about even looking at him, walking briskly past him and getting straight off when Bill stopped in front of his house. The twins were their usual selves on the ride home. Mike sat next to his friends near the back, chattering on about car engines. Laura quietly stared out the window, like Mark.
        When the bus finally rolled to a stop on Chester road, Mark rushed outside, heart racing as he sprinted towards the house. He wanted to ask his mother right away, to avoid the twins or his brother hearing it. Alice was just outside, pinning up the wet laundry on the clothes line behind the house and next to the back porch. The clothes line swayed with the trees overhead as the wind kicked up.
        �Hey kids. How was school?� Alice greeted without looking up.
        �Mom, would it be alright if I had a friend over this tonight?� Mark got right to the point.
        �What? Who?� Alice brushed aside a long white towel to see him.
        �Her name is Tala, and she�s new around here. I�m helping her with her art project.�
        Alice smiled, �Well of course you can. Just remember to finish your chores early.�
        �Right away.� Mark rushed off to the milk house.
        He finished feeding the calves and the heifers around five o�clock, then came inside the house, picked up the phone and called the number Tala had given him. At first he could hear nothing, but then the ringing started. His heart beat harder with every second as the piercing sounds sent electric signals through his nerves. He fought himself to stay calm.
        Mike and Laura were still outside finishing their chores. Hank and Tyler were in the barn. Alice was the only one in the house, but Mark�s mother was always tactful and didn�t worry him in the slightest. Looking out the screen doors to the back porch, Mark noticed the apple tree starting to sway, some of it�s leaves breaking off and flying away. Suddenly a voice came over the other line.
        �Hello?�
        His voice caught in his throat. This was a mistake! He shouldn�t have called her! But then, if he hadn�t, she might have been upset. He didn�t want her to be upset either. He had to say something! Quick!
        �Hello?� Mark squeaked.
        �Who is this?� Tala asked.
        �Uh, this is Mark.�
        �Mark?�
        �Hi.�
        �So what did your folks say? Mine are alright with it, so long as I�m home before ten.�
        �Yea, my mother said it�s fine. So�when did you want to��
        �Oh, I�ll head over right now. It�s still pretty nice out. We�re supposed to get rain later tonight, but we have a little time.�
        �Alright.�
        �Well, I�ll see ya in a bit. Bye.� She hung up the phone.
        Mark set down the receiver, staring at his mother as she pulled out the dinner plates and silverware. She smiled warmly.
        �So when will your friend be arriving?�
        �In a bit, I think.� Mark said breathlessly.
        �She should be just in time for dinner. Are you alright, honey?�
        �Yea, I�m fine, mom. I�m just gonna sit down for a bit.�
        �Oh, could you go outside and get everyone? Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes.�
        �Sure.�
        About five minutes later, the twins were finished with their chores, and started heading in for dinner. Hank and Tyler, on the other hand, had just started milking, and said they would be in later that evening as usual. Mark came back in and started to set the table. Alice went back to stirring the hamburger gravy over the stove, and added some ranch dressing to the mashed potatoes.
        Just then the twins came up the stairs. Alice muttered something about washing their hands, and the two went to the bathroom, the sound of the faucet turning on snapping Mark out of his daze.
        There was a knocking at the door. His heart skipped a beat. A cold feeling crept into his stomach. Mark stood without thinking, and went across the living room to the front door. His head swam as he opened it.
        He found himself almost at eye level with her. Her eyes enchanted him. He found his feet awkwardly rooted in place.
        
        �Hold on, how did she get here so fast?� he suddenly thought, �I forgot to give her directions!�

        �Hey, how�s it going?� she greeted him.
        �Hi�great. Oh, let me take your coat.�
        His legs started to work again after she shed her thin brown jacket and handed it to him. He led her inside and hung her coat in the laundry room closet. She was dressed modestly, as before. She wore a dark red, long sleeved shirt with a single buttoned collar, and tan Capri pants. Her dark hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and a simple beaded necklace hung around her elegant neck.
        Alice turned from the stove.
        �Oh, so you�re the one Mark�s been talking about! Well, I�m very happy to meet you!�
        Mark quickly motioned towards his mother, �This is my mom, Alice. Mom, this is Tala.�
        �It�s a pleasure to meet you too Alice. You have a beautiful home.�
        �Well thank you! Now, you two go ahead and have a seat at the table. Dinner will be on in a minute when the twinlets are ready.�
        Mike and Laura were already peeking out of the bathroom as Mark and Tala made their way through the kitchen to the dining room table. The screen doors were shut, but the blinds were open, allowing a full view of the back porch, the apple tree, and all the way back to the horizon where hill met dale.
        �What a view.� Tala said with sincere awe, �It�s no wonder your family is so talented with all of this to inspire you. Did you paint all of these Mrs. Kane?� she asked, motioning towards the walls of the dining room, and adjoining living room.
        �Not all of them. A few are from my mother, and that horse above the piano was done by Renee.�
        �They�re incredible. I can see where Mark gets his talent.�
        �Well aren�t you sweet.�
        Mark blushed as Tala looked back to him. She was making a flawless impression upon his mother, which he supposed really wasn�t that hard. Alice had a soft heart in most respects. All sunshine all the time. It was in her nature to like people.
        Mike and Laura came in and sat across from Mark and Tala. Mark quickly introduced them and they exchanged delicate handshakes before Alice brought the mashed potatoes and hamburger gravy to the table and sat down at the head of the table. They said a quick grace, and then began to eat, all the while, Tala complimenting Alice�s cooking, praising their family, the beauty of the farm and the surrounding countryside. When they were finished, she insisted on helping to clear the table which Mark did as well as it only seemed proper. That done, Tala turned to Mark and asked if he could give her a walk around the farm.
        Mark fetched her jacket from the closet and slipped into his own blue barn jacket with the Hershey�s logo on the front. He led her outside and up the gravel driveway past the milk house to the left, and the hill where the calf hutches were to the right.
        The fresh cool evening breeze sent billowy grey clouds across the sky with promises of rain. Rich green grass rippled like water and the treetops swayed in the distance. All around him Mark could see beauty, but everything paled when set against her radiance.
        He brought her to the chicken coop first. The coup being nothing more than a small lean-to built against the machine shed in the shade of the forest cliff. The earth was sandstone and clay, a little more wearing away each year, making the cliff less steep. It appeared to be climbable, but could prove difficult with the pliability of the surface. Mark could make it if he used the roots of the above trees and bushes as hand holds. He�d scraped himself bloody the last time he�d tried, however.
        �It�s beautiful out here.� Tala remarked.
        �We have about two hundred fifty acres I think. A lot of it�s woods.�
        �It must be incredible to live right in the middle of this. In your own private dale. Do you go out into the woods often?�
        �Sometimes. Mostly to chop wood, but sometimes just because I feel like it. Then again, there aren�t very many good places I�ve found for hiking. It gets pretty steep in places, and everywhere else it�s riddled with underbrush.�
        
        �Do you know what I�m thinking Mark?� she asked suddenly.
        �What?� he flinched as she stood and turned to him.
        �I�d like to see the woods. Above that cliff. Could you take me up there?�
        �Sure. It�s a little rough getting up there though. You�re not worried about your pants getting ripped or anything?�
        �Come on, lets just go!� She smiled taking his hand.

        Between the machine shed and the barn the gravel driveway narrowed, then gradually sloped upwards to the right and through the woods to the cornfields. Mark called it the cut through. Taking the cut through, the two of them turned right into the wood line and started up the hill towards the cliff. The underbrush was thick, all kinds of prickers and nettles nipping at their pants legs as they pushed their way through. Halfway up, they could see the top of the machine shed to their right, and the rest of the lean-to connected to the coop, running the length of the machine shed. It was open, tractor tires and old broken pieces of equipment stuck in the muddy earth beneath the sheet metal roof like gravestones.
        Just ahead of where they were, Mark spotted the old rusted barbed wire fence. He pointed it out to Tala and demonstrated how to carefully step over without being snagged.
        �What�s an old fence doing out in the middle of the woods?� she asked.
        �I don�t know.� Mark shrugged, helping her over. �I guess the Shaws might have grazed cattle up here a long time ago.�
        �Who were they?�
        �They owned this place for six generations from what I was told. My parents bought it from an old couple, the Millers I think. They couldn�t run it anymore. Mr. Miller got hurt pretty bad.�
        �Well, what�s happened to him? Is he dead?�
        �I don�t know.� Mark laughed at her persistence. �We don�t keep in contact. It�s not really an unusual thing when a farm gets sold. My dad talks about selling it all the time and becoming an accountant.�
        Tala laughed with him, �That would definitely be a change of pace.�
        �Here we are.� Mark grasped a small tree trunk to steady himself as they came to the cliffs edge. �You can pretty much see the whole farm from here.�
        
        It began to rain then, just a sprinkle. The sky grew darker as gigantic cumulonimbus clouds silently floated over them. The calves on the hill below huddled inside their hutches, only the youngest still bitching at the sky. A loud low moan echoed out from the milk house as the pipeline vacuum kicked on, signaling the last few hours of the work day for Hank and Tyler.
        Beyond the Barn was the pasture to the far right, stretching out of view over the hills. To their front left was the house, and the back yard connecting to the horse pasture. Beyond that, the green hills rolled down into marshy pasture land, cut in two by a narrow creek. Further left past the house the road made a winding cut through the dale and disappeared over the next hill where the woods started again.
        Mark stood in awkward silence as Tala drank in the scenery. The rain began to come down harder, and he clenched his arms to his sides, trying not to show that he was cold. Tala seemed unaffected by the temperature change, or the rain. Her eyes seemed to be lost somewhere between where the cliff dropped off and where the trees sprung up near the horizon. After a few minutes, he felt he should say something.
        �Do you think we should get back inside? I�wouldn�t want you to catch a cold.�
        �It�s so peaceful out here.� she murmured, taking a step closer to the edge.
        �It�s getting late, and it�s raining. I don�t want you to get soaked.�
        �Let�s stay out a while longer.� She replied softly, �I want to wait for the sun to go down.�
        �Be careful!� Mark shouted, seeing the soft earth give way beneath her feet.
        She slipped suddenly, falling to her back, both her legs dangling off the edge. Mark fell with her, immediately grabbing her by the left forearm and hitching his other arm around the tree he�d been leaning against. He pulled her back up a few feet, just enough to allow her to throw her right leg up over the edge, but as she dug her heel into the damp earth, the cliff gave way again, an enormous piece this time. She screamed as her whole body shifted, then slid to the right and down the crumbling cliff edge. Mark�s grip slipped down to her hand and locked tight, her entire body weight now hanging by his arm.
        �Hold on! I�ve got you!� Mark shouted, bringing up his right leg to hook his hip around the tree while he freed his other hand to get a better grip.
        �It�s ok. I think I�ve got a foothold.� She said, her feet scrambling over a thick root now protruding from the wet clay.
        Mark strained, trying to lift her but he had no leverage, all he could see of her was her hand. He lay flat across the ground, soaked to the bone now, covered in mud, both hands locked around hers. She threw up her other hand and grasped one of his wrists. He strained again, but realized he would need to be standing up to lift her.
        �Can you climb back up?� He shouted.
        �There aren�t any more footholds!�
        �If you can get your elbow over the edge I can pull you up.�
        �I�m trying!�
        Mark strained his muscles harder, he could feel her hands slipping as the rain continued to run down their skin. She pulled hard, forcing his forearms deeper into the mud and twisting his wrists as she attempted to pull herself up. She threw her right arm over, grasping his shirt sleeve. He quickly locked both his hands around her arm and pulled her as hard as he dared. Her beautiful face was in view again, fear stricken, but a wonderful sight nonetheless. He reached farther and grasped under her other arm just around her triceps and heaved her towards him. She scrambled the rest of the way up, then collapsed on top of him, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face against his back.
        �Are you alright?� he asked, afraid of her reaction.
        �I�m ok, thanks.�
        She tightened her grip around him. For what seemed like a long time neither of them moved. There was a simple beauty in the moment Mark couldn�t deny. Yet, his mind wandered from it and that old fear crept in again. What if she blamed this on him? It was his fault wasn�t it? He should never have brought her up here! Suddenly he wondered if anyone had heard her screams, or his shouts from the cliff. He glanced down at the warm lights from the barn and the house. No one seemed to be moving around.
        Suddenly Tala started to laugh. At first it seemed she was crying, but as it grew louder it was unmistakable. She laughed out loud, a clear, melodious sound that swept Marks worries away in one fantastic moment. She got up and started to brush herself off, chunks of clay plopping to the ground.
        �I�m gonna have some explaining to do when I get home.� She laughed, looking herself over.
        �I�m so sorry. I didn�t think it would give. That�s never happened before.�
        �It�s ok!� She reached down to help him up. �You�ll have to clean yourself up too.�
        �Are you sure you�re not hurt?�
        �Wow, you really are the chivalrous type aren�t you?�
        �That was a pretty bad fall.�
        �I�ve had worse, believe me. Do you have any place where we can wash these off?� she asked, pulling at her mud caked shirt.
        Mark thought for a moment, �Well when I get something this dirty, I usually just hose it off before I try to throw it in the wash. Maybe then we can just pass this off like we were running around in the rain instead of playing slip and slide down the cliff.�
        She grinned, �Where�s the hose?�

        After making their way back down the hill and around the machine shed, the two waited for Hank and Tyler to come walking out of the milk house, heading down into the basement to change for their dinners.
        �Ok, go.� Mark whispered.
        They tiptoed through the tall, uncut grass around the hayloft and around the back of the milk house, then went inside. The door squeaked unpleasantly as the counterweight dragged it shut behind them. Mark flipped on one of the lights, a dim sixty watt bulb screwed into the ceiling above which was littered with old, sticky cobwebs that had been either soaked or brushed aside at some point.
        To the right as they came in was the bulk tank, a great silver cylinder that sat lengthwise along the cement floor and stuck it�s short end out the side of the building. To their left along the wall was the filtration and cleaning system, an odd looking assortment of metal pipes and glass containers, one of which still contained a small amount of clear liquid, draining out onto the floor. The door to the left led into the free stall area of the barn.
        Before them, a row of stainless steel sinks and cabinets lined the far wall, and a window peeked into the heating and cooling system. The hose was connected above the sinks, and Mark reached up, turning the two knobs halfway. He then picked up the nozzle and squirted the water out onto his hand until he felt it was warm enough.
        �Here, go ahead.� He handed Tala the nozzle.
        She immediately pointed it at him and shot him square in the chest with a jet of warm water. Mark staggered back a step, throwing his hands up.
        �I meant on yourself!� He laughed.
        She continued spraying him down. �It�s impossible to hose yourself down. You can�t see where all the mud is. See? You�ve got some right�there!�
        After a slight struggle, he put his hands down, and when she was finished returned the favor. The entire ordeal ended with her taking the hose back and hosing him down mercilessly until he ran into the darkness of the connecting barn, leaving her alone, then snuck around outside, got the other hose and burst in the door behind her.
        The raining continued, the sound of raindrops striking sheet metal on the shed roofs drowning out most of their antics as well as veiling them from view for the most part. When they both decided they were clean, Mark suggested they go in through the basement to warm up. He pulled two chairs from the dark back corner where his mother kept her preserves. Chubby greeted them by running circles around Tala, sniffing every inch of her body, his tail wagging excitedly. After Mark was finally able to make him lay back down, they sat in front of the furnace to dry off.
        �Are you�re parents going to be upset that you ruined your clothes?� Mark asked.
        �I don�t think so. These were just rags anyways.� she said, taking off her shoes and socks to let them dry.
        �You ok?�
        She chuckled, �You worry too much.�
        �Sorry.�
        �Don�t apologize.� She said standing up and stretching. �You probably saved my life. That could have been a really bad fall. You�ve got strong hands, you know that?�
        Mark tensed nervously. He tried not to stare at her lithe and muscular body. It was difficult not to notice, wrapped as she was in her soaked clothing, outlining every curve, every muscle. She looked like a gymnast, from her firm thighs and flat stomach to her strong shoulders. He relaxed as he came back to her face. Her damp tangled hair hung loosely, drops of water randomly running down her forehead and cheeks. Her eyes seemed larger in the relative darkness of the basement, the only light coming from a single bulb over the door.
        �Would it be cool if I came over again tomorrow?� she asked, �The rain and everything kinda cut the tour short.�
        �Well, yea, I�m sure my parents would be alright with it. Oh, did you want to go upstairs and meet my dad and my older brother?�
        �That�s right there are more Kane�s around here aren�t there? Now are you sure there aren�t any more out there?� she pointed outside.
        �Well, my older sister Renee�s in college right now.�
        �Seven then. Sounds like your family has plenty to spare.�
        �I guess so.�
        �Well lets go upstairs then. Oh, do you think there might be something I could change into? I don�t want to get dirt in your house.�
        �Well, my room kind of doubles as a storage room. There might be some of Renee�s old stuff in there. Or you could change into a pair of sweats. I�ve got lots of those. One size fits all.� He tried to grin.
        �Sweats would be great. Then let�s go upstairs and meet the rest of your folks.�
        It didn�t take long for Mark to figure out that Tala was very good with people. She always seemed to know exactly what to say and when to say it to get the most positive reaction from whomever she was talking to. The whole family, minus Renee, sat in the living room conversing for about an hour. Mark and Tala sat next to each other on the love seat. Alice, Mike, and Laura sat on the couch, while Tyler favored the floor next to the propane fireplace. Hank sat in his old recliner chair that squeaked every time he made the slightest movement, which was only to reach for his glass of Whiskey and Coke.
        Tala immediately made it known that Mark had offered her some warmer clothes, and that he had been worried that she would catch cold. This of course was true, the two statements being separate. Yet it surprised Mark at how quickly she was able to say it. She went on telling Alice and Laura about her old home, and especially concerning horses, as she used to ride a lot. Alice, of course, offered that she could come by and ride with them any time to which she was especially thankful. She asked Hank about the cattle, and wondered at how difficult it must be to run a farm, at which point she acknowledged Tyler. In fact, throughout the course of the evening she made direct conversation with every member of the Kane family, and it was clear that they were all taken with her by the time it came for her to leave.
        Mark walked her out to her Civic. It was nearly pouring as the two rushed across the lawn and she jumped into her car, opening the passenger door. Hesitantly, Mark ducked inside and closed it. Although he had actually thought he�d grown accustomed to her presence over the last few hours, his heart began to pound again when he looked into her eyes. She turned the keys in the ignition, and soft music surrounded them. Mark�s body was stiff as a board, trying to maintain a dignified, upright position. Somehow, it didn�t seem right at this point to get too comfortable in her car.
        �So I had a great time tonight.� She smiled shyly, sweeping a few wet strands of hair from her face as she turned in her seat and leaned towards him.
        �Yea, me too.�
        He looked up and, finding her face inches from his, froze in place. Undeterred, Tala wrapped both arms around his neck and hugged him. Mark raised one hand cautiously to return the gesture, the warmth of her body beneath the black sweat shirt somehow foreign, and yet wonderful.
        �I�ll see you tomorrow. Have a good night.�
        �You too. Good night.�
        Mark stepped out of her car and stood in the rain watching her go. He wasn�t cold, not even as the taillights disappeared behind the tree line, he didn�t feel the cold. He just felt her arms around him, like she had made a print on his skin. The sensation stayed. Mark smiled to himself turning back to the house. He didn�t know what that afternoon had been exactly, but he wished that it would happen again. His entire being was exited, as though he�d been cast into one of his fantasy adventure books.

        She came again the next day, just before noon, in time for lunch. Once again, Mark marveled as she charmed every member of his family to no end. After lunch, they went outside, and he took her around the back of the barn. The gravel driveway turned to a dirt path that led out around the cow yard to the pasture and a small man made pond contained in a fenced in acre, raised slightly from the rest of the pasture. There were a few young weeping willows around it that his mother had planted, and although it was his mother�s project, his father still somehow managed to drive the lawnmower all the way out to mow the grass and weeds once every week or so.
        For a short while, they sat near the arbor Alice had built, rose vines creeping up it�s sides and assorted flowers sprouting up around either side. Tala delighted in passing under it a few times, and even insisted that Mark go with her at least once to see if it would take them somewhere. His heart jumped as she took his hand and led him under the small twisted branches to the other side, looking out over the still green water of the pond. Nothing happened of course. No shimmering, or darkening, or brilliant light flashing to signal the end of mediocrity.
        The pond water was filled with algae, as it had been for some time; still fine to look at, but ugly to swim through. Yet, no mysteries lay beneath the surface. It was only five feet at it�s deepest, and few fish other than minnows swam in it�s confines. Mostly toads populated the shallow areas, and insects of varying types that Mark had neither the taste, or the courage to inspect.
        Tala merely looked over at him and shrugged.
        �It was worth a shot, right?�
        He shrugged back, and grinned a little. Inside however, he was ecstatic.
        
        Evening found them sitting on the back porch, facing the apple tree as the sun began to set. The black silhouettes of the trees were framed against a canvas of deep orange, fading up and out to reds and purples then finally the grayness of clouds. The moon was just beginning to peek through when Tala stood and said she had to go home.
        �So look,� she began, brushing a few loose strands of hair from her face, �I had a great time tonight.�
        �Yea, me too.� Mark replied.
        She stayed there a moment longer, as though she were waiting for something, then smiled wryly and turned to leave.
        �Wait!� Mark blurted, catching her by the arm. �I�I�ll see you at school tomorrow.�
        �Definitely.� She grinned.

        Time began to pass more quickly for Mark. Each day, he saw her in art class, and sometimes they met in the hallway between classes for a brief exchange. She sat with him at lunch, along with Greg and Patrick, and after school, he would always walk her to her car before getting on the bus. By the time the 31st rolled around, Mark was hardly surprised when Tala asked him to take her to the Halloween bash. It didn�t make him any less nervous of course.
        Patrick and Greg had already decided on going as characters from their favorite Anime shows. Patrick had his hair spiked as usual, and wore a long, red trench coat over black jeans and a black t-shirt. Greg had somehow found a beautiful kimono of purple and black, then swept his hair back into a tight wolf tail tied with a black scrunchie he�d borrowed from his little sister. Mark had been helped by Tala, who incidentally had already picked out a costume for him.
        It was like something he had never seen before. The garments were a uniform of some sort, all dark blue, with white lining. The pants had two white stripes down the side, and there was a red pleated dress shirt that went underneath a button up vest with a high collar that came nearly to his jaw line. Over the vest went the jacket, which had white lining at the seams of the shoulders and three golden buttons. Oddly, the jacket was only half the length of the vest, coming down to the bottom of his chest with a thin loop of white rope dangling out from underneath. A pair of simple polished black shoes adorned his feet, and there was even a pair of thin white gloves for his hands. Then, there was the piece that made it interesting. A long white cape that was attached by buttons to drape over his left side rather than his back. It cut the uniform neatly in half and bore a large symbol of crimson and gold. The symbol was what Mark found the most interesting. It was a long sword, with an eye for the cross guard, and two great wings spreading out from behind it. There was a strange inscription as well, but he assumed that it was merely some garbled Latin fiction.
        Mark had been so overwhelmed by the outfit, that he hadn�t even thought to ask Tala where she�d gotten it, and, truthfully, all other thoughts were pushed from his mind when she came out of the bathroom after changing into her costume. She smiled shyly, recognizing the stunned look on his face.
        The dress itself was simple, but elegant. The crimson and golden fabric followed the lines of her figure, coming to a point below her waist where all the lines met, and the skirt began in triangular layers pointing down and overlapping, very much like a closed blossom. The top, which was crisscrossed with beautiful golden lettering of the same sort that adorned Mark�s cape, ended in a single red loop over her left shoulder, leaving her right bare. There was a length of red fabric wrapped around her right hand as well, winding up her forearm, it�s end tucked carelessly below her elbow. Finally, to complete the dress, she wore a red choker around her neck, adorned with a red glass jewel at it�s center.
        �It�s nice right?� she asked.
        �The most beautiful thing I�ve ever seen.� Mark breathed, hardly thinking as he spoke.
        She grinned, �Well you don�t look half bad either, commander.�
        �Commander? Is this a real uniform?�
        �I think so. My dad had it back in his closet, but it won�t fit him anymore. I think it�s foreign military or something.�
        �You�re not from around here then?�
        �No, I�m adopted. So are you ready to go sir?�
        �After you, milady.� Mark bowed and made a sweeping gesture with his hand.

        They traveled in her civic to the school, where they were able to find a spot near the back of the parking lot. Mark had never been to any sort of dance, or school party before, so it hadn�t even occurred to him that coming late might have an impact on their entrance. It was nine o�clock, and already dark when he and Tala finally approached the glass doors leading into the cafeteria. A few students who had been outside chatting, some smoking just out of eye shot from the doors, fixed their eyes upon the new arrivals, mouths agape.
        Mark could see their reflections in the glass, and was suddenly very glad that his date had worn flat slippers. The inch given to him by the heels of his shoes put him nearly level with her. Her skin almost seemed to glow in the borrowed light filtering out the doors. The costumes fit perfectly too, not an inch of material wasted or spared on either him or Tala. He had to admit; they looked good together. Infused with this sudden dignity, Mark held the door, and they both entered.
        The cafeteria was filled with energy. Ordinarily, the smooth grey tiles and painted bricks gave off an aura of sterile contempt to Mark, but tonight the place almost thrilled him. The walls were hung with paper streamers of orange and black, leaping from pillar to pillar, and in between the stairwells. The lights were covered with thin red sheets, bloodying the characters below so that every false wound, or fake knife protruding from someone�s chest seemed that much more real. Everyone was in costume, even Principal Radkey, who had six false knives planted on his back over a bloody piece of paper that said STAB ME. The other costumes ranged from zombies with pussing gashes on their faces to cloaked characters with ghost masks, imitating their favorite slasher movie.
        More than a few eyes were snagged as the two passed through the crowd, searching for Patrick and Greg. There weren�t many dancers on the floor. Of course, not many kids knew how to do the �Monster Mash�, which was the song presently playing over the school intercom. The ones that did dance, simply moved from side to side and bobbed their heads like parrots. Mark smirked to himself as he imagined his nemesis sitting upon a pirate�s shoulder screeching, �Sunny want a cracker!�.
        They met Greg at the beverage table, set back against the steel doors of the kitchen behind the stairwells. Not only was he wearing the kimono, but he also seemed to be carrying a samurai�s sword, fastened to his right side with the sash around his waist.
        �That�s not actually a sword is it?� asked Mark.        
        �It�s a wooden one.� Greg replied, �They said I could wear it as long as I keep it at my side and don�t try to hit anyone with it.�
        �Well, the ensemble works out nicely.�
        �Yea, what about you two; walking in like a fairy tale! Where did you find those outfits? That suit is awesome! And the dress�well, I don�t really need to say, do I?�
        �Even if you don�t, would you mind?� Tala asked with a grin.
        Greg straightened, putting his hands together in front of his chest, and bowing. �The dress is beautiful like the sunrise, and much like the horizon, you wear it well.�
        Tala laughed, reaching forward to give him a hug. Mark smiled widely.
        �Now where did that come from?�
        �I�m not sure, I�ve watched so many shows they�re all starting to blend together.�
        �Where�s Patrick?�
        �Not sure of that either. Oh, s**t! I think that�s him over there!�
        A small group of ghouls had gathered near the entrance to the music department to the far right end of the cafeteria from where they stood. Mark recognized two of the figures immediately, despite their makeup. Sunny and Lucas had chosen to be zombies, which didn�t surprise him one bit. For one, it was the sort of costume which took the least imagination. All one really needed was some dirty clothes, a bit of fake blood, and makeup for the face and hands. Another thing was that zombies were a bit of an ageless fad in Halloween, and it didn�t really matter what style of clothing you wore, so you were least likely to be made fun of. The other three in this group of harassers included an archangel, an Indian, and a mummy, wrapped in ace bandages.
        Patrick was at the center, speaking quickly, as he usually did when he felt threatened. They would find out later that this whole thing had started with Sunny laughing at Patrick�s costume, which had caused Patrick to playfully draw his oversized toy gun from his trench coat and say bang. This had started a seemingly innocent and childish argument about how easily a zombie could be killed, until Lucas had arrived, and a few other friends had come in to assist, putting their collective minds together to match Patrick in a ridiculous battle of wits with the intent of humiliating him.
        With Greg leading the way, acting like a cowcatcher as he pushed through the crowd, the three of them broke in on the argument just as Sunny jabbed his finger into Patrick�s chest, pushing him back a step.
        �You know, you�re not even supposed to have toy guns here. If I kicked the s**t out of you right now, I could just say I thought you were going to kill someone.�
        �I wouldn�t ever do that, even if I did have a gun��
        �Oh and that�s why you were pointing it at me and making those gay shooting noises.�
        �I was just playing, like you were a��
        �You were being a little f****t. Am I right guys?�
        Sunny would have received a hearty reply had Greg not shoved his way through the mummy and the Indian to stand at Patrick�s side. Mark and Tala moved in as well, filling the gap and creating a tight defensive perimeter around their friend.
        �More illegal weapons?� Sunny gasped. �Looks like I�ll have to report this to the principal.�
        �We both have permission to carry these.� Greg said, �Maybe if you�d shut your mouth for half a second, Patrick could have told you that.�
        �Well your buddy was acting childish, and pointing that little toy at me.� Sunny shot back, clearly backpedaling.
        �Afraid of toy guns are we?� Tala mocked, �I thought you liked playing war.�
        Sunny tried to stare her down, but something gave way and he took a step back.
Lucas had moved closer to the other three, a strange fear in his eyes, and they evaporated into the crowd behind them, leaving Sunny alone. With one last furious glance back at the group, Sunny shook his head.
        �Nice to have numbers isn�t it, Kane?�
        �It�s nice to have friends.� Mark corrected him, �But you wouldn�t know, would you?�
        �Don�t stray to far from them, f****t.� Sunny snapped.
        Mark maintained Sunny�s gaze as he walked away, turning to his friends.
        �I don�t know what his problem is, but I�ll bet it�s hard to pronounce.� He grinned.
        �Thanks guys.� Patrick said, �That was getting annoying.�
        The four of them laughed as they made their way back to the beverage table.

        The rest of the evening went much more smoothly. Quite a few people commented on Mark�s costume, and of course on Tala�s dress in equal measure. Even the principal stopped to say, �It�s nice to see there are a few students who can dress with a little class.� , which was likely the first thing Tala had ever heard the man say. And, despite his resistance, Tala was even able to drag Mark out onto the dance floor.
        Having never danced with a girl before, (other than his sister when he was five at a family reunion) Mark was a bit confused about how it worked. For a moment, as the slow music began, he panicked, frozen in place. Then she took him by the hand, moved in close, and chased his fears away. They swayed back and forth in circles for a while, but that was all the music really demanded. Mark felt hypnotized, as though he could have gone on forever holding her in his arms, but when the song stopped, it was over, and he had to let go.
        
        After dancing, they sat and chatted with Greg and Patrick for what almost turned into an hour before the majority began to leave. Cars and trucks growled in the parking lot as adolescent boys revved their engines and took off into the night, some squealing their tires as they left. The road was clogged with traffic for the first ten minutes, and Mark spotted a senior driving his truck through the ditch to skip straight onto the highway, nearly clipping another student�s car as he cut in.
        Tala pulled out smoothly and got onto the highway behind a blue jeep. She left the windows down, allowing the cold air to kiss their faces as the tiny Honda sped down the highway. The jeep ahead of them was going rather slow, so she waited for the yellow stripes to break, and signaled to pass. It wasn�t until they were neck and neck with the jeep that Mark could see who was inside, and his stomach tensed. Sunny was grinning from ear to ear, gripping the wheel with one hand, and raising his other in an all too familiar one fingered gesture. Just as they were about to pass, he gunned his engine and pulled up beside them again.
        �What a jerk!� Tala practically screamed, slamming her foot down on the break and pulling in behind him again.
        �This is dangerous, we should take another route.� Mark advised solemnly.
        �Where should I turn?�
        �Up here.� Mark pointed to the right just as Sunny gave them a break check.
        They turned down a narrow paved road, which lead past an old barn to their right, then dove headlong into a batch of thick woods. The trees loomed over them, branches swaying eerily in the night breeze. Mark rolled up his window, but Tala left hers down. Looking over at her, he could see that something had changed. All expression had left her face. She slowed the car down to twenty five, and poked her head out the window.
        �What is it?� Mark whispered.
        She hushed him, turning off the car�s lights and continuing down the road. Then Mark heard it too. He had expected to hear an engine, assuming Sunny had turned around to follow them, but what he heard was much more subtle than an engine�s roar. He could barely hear it over the car�s steady hum, but it came to him almost like a thought inside his head. It sounded like heavy footfalls somewhere in the woods, but definitely not from a person. It could have been a cow, Mark supposed. That was when Tala slammed on the brakes.
        Mark shot forward in his seat, stealing a glance at Tala before his attention averted to what stood on the road ahead. It wasn�t a cow. Though hard to tell without the headlights on, it looked almost like an elk, only much bigger. This particular creature appeared to be the size of an elephant, with a crown of antlers that must have spanned fifteen feet. Mark couldn�t speak. It�s shadowy form trudged across the road, the sound of it�s hooves striking the pavement sending vibrations right down Mark�s spine. When it was clear, Tala accelerated again.
        �What the Hell was that?� Mark asked.
        �I think it was the thirty point buck.� Tala replied.
        �Have you ever heard of a buck that big?�
        �It didn�t look so big to me.�
        �Are you kidding?� Mark�s voice cracked, �That thing could�ve picked up this car and flung us into the woods.�
        �It was dark, Mark.�
        That was the last thing she said that night.
        
        The next day at school it was like nothing had happened at all. The four of them sat at lunch as a group, and chatted like always. Mark kept his eyes open the entire hour for Sunny, hoping to catch him before he was able to toss something across the cafeteria, but Sunny didn�t show up at lunch. In fact, Mark didn�t see Sunny the entire day. He had to laugh at himself. He had never realized how big a part Sunny had always played in his day. There had always been anticipation, and apprehension before seeing him, and then frustration and rage afterwards, but not today. There was only curiosity today, at where his hated enemy might be.
        When school let out, Mark asked Tala if she had seen Sunny�s car on the way home. Of course she hadn�t, but said that she wouldn�t have been surprised if Sunny had been in an accident the way he�d been driving. Then, as they left the building, a police car parked out front. A stocky, surly looking officer stepped out and went inside to the main office. The two exchanged glances.
        �You don�t think�anything could have happened to him, do you?� Mark asked.
        �I�m sure he�s fine. Besides, even if something did happen, it was probably his own fault.�
        �Yea, I guess. Still, it�s not like I hate him that much. I mean he�s an a*****e, but he�s never really tried to hurt me.�
        �Mark.� Tala stopped him, �Don�t give him that. He doesn�t deserve your pity. All people like him do is to drag down those who are better than they are. Sunny is a jealous, hate filled boy, and whatever happens is too good for him.�
        �Wow.� Mark grinned, �I�m glad we�re not enemies.�
        �I�ll see you later.� She said, hugging him briefly.
        It was odd. Mark had never really noticed before, but there was something frightening about her eyes. Tala�s face never creased when she was angry, but something in her eyes changed, like a great tectonic movement underwater. It brought to mind how little he really knew about her. There were so many layers to a person. Even in a lifetime, you could never really know anyone completely. Mark thought of his parents, and wondered if each of them might have secrets that they kept from each other; from the world. He thought of his secrets.
        
        Sunny didn�t show up to school the next day either, and at the end of the day they held a mandatory assembly in the gymnasium. The bleachers were filled, and a man in a plain brown suit spoke briefly with the principal before taking the microphone. He explained that Sunny had not come home the night of the dance, but that his jeep had been found out on a country road. The appropriate amount of time had passed, and now Sunny was declared a missing person. The detective asked for anyone with information to see him after the assembly.
        Mark was shocked, not so much at the situation, but at how he found himself feeling about it. He actually felt bad.
        �That�s crazy about Sunny, huh?� Patrick said as they left.
        �He�s probably just lost in the woods or something. I wouldn�t be surprised.� Greg added.
        �I don�t think so guys.� Mark said, �There�s a lot of woods out there, but even if his jeep had broken down, he would have walked along the roadside to look for help.�
        �Where�s Tala? I didn�t see her today either.� Patrick asked.
        �She�s sick. She called me earlier.� Mark replied.
        �Winter�s coming in pretty fast.� Greg remarked, �It�s about the time for a cold. I�ll see you guys next week.�
        Greg went to his truck while Patrick stayed with Mark a moment.
        �So, how are things going with Tala?� He asked.
        �Good, I think. I�m not really sure. Why do you ask?�
        �I don�t know. It�s just something I overheard.�
        �You mean, like a rumor?�
        �Well, Lucas was saying he tried to talk to her in the hallway a few days ago, and she threatened to kill him in his sleep.�
        Mark laughed our loud, �Are you serious! That�s hilarious! What, and he�s actually scared too?�
        �He doesn�t think she was being sarcastic. He said there was something about her eyes when she said it, like she was really serious.�
        �Patrick, that�s stupid. There�s nothing wrong with Tala.�
        �Haven�t you ever just felt a little uncomfortable when she looks at you?�
        �That�s because she�s beautiful. Beautiful girls can do that to you, now pay attention, your ride is here.�
        Patrick�s mother pulled up in her van, his little sister peeking out the window, smiling. She waved at Mark as they left, and he grinned and nodded. She was a pretty girl, though about four or five years younger than him. She almost reminded him of Tala with her black hair and wide eyes. Her eyes�he couldn�t admit to Patrick that he knew what he was talking about because it did sound stupid.
        �I�ve been reading too much fiction.� He mumbled to himself.
        
        After he arrived at home that afternoon and finished his chores, Mark sat down at the dinner table and started his homework. Alice went into the kitchen and glanced at a hastily written note stuck to the refrigerator.
        �Oh Mark, Tala called and wanted to see if you could come over for a visit. She said she was sick and that her parents were away for the weekend on business. Why don�t you bring her over some hot soup? I�m sure she�d love that.�
        �I�d love to,� Mark set his homework aside, �but did she give you any directions?�
        �I wrote them down for you and left them on the counter. You can take the van. Just make sure you�re home before midnight. I have a few errands to run tomorrow.�
        Mark excitedly packed his homework away and went to his room to change. He decided on a white collared shirt and brown pleated pants with a matching belt. He wanted to look proper if he was going to visit her in her home. He quickly microwaved a bowl of chicken noodle soup and dumped it into a thermos before grabbing the directions and the keys, and jumping into the van.
        The drive out to her place wasn�t as long as he had thought, taking a total of eleven minutes, even with a quick turnaround where he�d completely missed a road sign. It was a lovely two story, white house with black shingles, nestled in a group of trees near a small pond that sat behind it. There were fields of corn on either side, and across the road too, and the nearest house was less than a quarter mile away.
        Mark pulled in next to her Civic, and a black Ford pickup truck in the driveway. When he rang the doorbell, no one answered, but he could see the lights on, so he tried the door and it opened.
        The inside of the house was as pleasant as the outside, all cluttered with pictures and knickknacks on the walls and shelves. He glanced at one of the pictures; a young couple in their early or mid thirties. They looked too young to have a teenage daughter. Tala lay on the living room couch beneath a blanket, watching TV. Mark didn�t bother to see what was on, instead walking directly to her, and kneeling close to her head.
        �How are you feeling?�
        Tala looked up as though she had been asleep. �Much better now that you�re here. Actually, I�ve been feeling better for a little while, but I didn�t want to risk going out.�
        �I brought you some soup.�
        �That�s sweet. I�ll have it later if you don�t mind.�
        She sat up, and offered him a seat next to her, which he took, though allowing a small space between them.
        �Did you hear about Sunny? They�ve got the police and the whole town looking for him now. I guess it wasn�t just an accident.�
        �Let�s not talk about him right now.� She soothed, laying a hand over his, �I wanted you here so we could talk about us.�
        �Us?� Mark gulped.
        �Look, there are a lot of things I need to tell you Mark.� She sighed, �Too much, I think. I don�t even know if I can say it all.�
        �You mean like, secrets?�
        �I guess I didn�t plan all of this well enough. I thought I�d have more time to gain your trust, but now all I really want is to go home.�
        �You�re leaving?�
        �This place is so strange to me. I can�t keep pretending to be something I�m not.�
        There was a rattle upstairs that drew Mark�s attention.
        �What do you mean? Tala, you�re not making any sense.�
        �Come here Mark.�
        She drew him close then, and kissed him. It was his first kiss, and coming from the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Her lips were so soft and smooth that his heart ached when she stopped. Then he kissed her, and she pushed him back onto the couch, climbing over him. Her hands caressed him as her lips wandered over his face and neck. His head spun. Her mouth was so warm and wet and pure. Above everything else, Mark thought of purity. Her beauty, her manners, the way she spoke, even the way she kissed made her seem like an angel.
        Then, there was pain. Sharp, biting pain in his neck. He grunted and tried to move his head, but she pushed him down and his mind awoke to reality. She was biting him! Her teeth sank into his flesh like knife points and he could feel her, drinking his blood. Mark cried out, frantically trying to shake her off, but it only made the pain worse when he moved. She had suddenly grown so strong! Mark felt trapped, like in a vice, and with every second it grew tighter! Then it dawned on him that she wasn�t going to let go! She was going to do this until he was dead! Suddenly, a loud bang sounded from upstairs and she released him for a moment, looking up. Blood, his blood, dripped down her delicate chin as her eyes searched the stairway behind the couch.
        Mark took his chance, grabbing one of her arms and twisting it fiercely, tossing her off the couch and rolling over her in the same movement. He scrambled to his feet and leaped towards the stairs. He didn�t know why, maybe it was instinct, or perhaps he believed that whatever had made the sound would help him, but he ran up the stairs as quickly as he could and turned into the first room he saw, locking the door fast behind him.
        His heart thumped inside his ever tightening chest. He heaved a few deep breaths, trying to slow himself down, but he couldn�t. It wasn�t over. His body knew that it wasn�t over. Every muscle twitched and tensed. Gooseflesh stood up all over, and still, the pain in his neck!
        Tala called after him, her voice apologetic.
        �Mark! I�m sorry! I didn�t mean to hurt you! Come back!�
        �Stay away!� Mark screamed.
        After turning on the lights, Mark realized he was in the bathroom. He rushed to the sink and grabbed a hand towel, turning on the hot water and dabbing at his bleeding neck, which stung white hot at every touch. He cringed, and cursed loudly, holding the towel tightly against the twin punctures under his right ear. It bled so much that he couldn�t really tell how deep it was, but the smell got to him right away. The acrid smell, like sheared copper, permeated his nostrils, making him want to wretch. It wasn�t until he turned around that he realized the smell wasn�t coming from him.
        The shower curtains were streaked red, and something splashed and banged inside the tub. Mark shook as he came closer, then with mad haste ripped the curtain down to see what was behind it. He staggered back.
        Sunny choked, feebly trying to sit up. He lay, fully clothed, in six inches of red water. His neck was ruined, deep bite marks walking up and down either side. There were bites on his wrists as well. His eyes rolled towards Mark, his mouth working to form words.
        �M�ark you have to�.h�elp me.�
        Mark staggered back, not knowing what to do. He knew that you had to put pressure on wounds, but looking at Sunny, he didn�t know where to begin. A small key unlocked the door, and it opened silently behind him. Mark still clutched at his throat with the blood soaked rag. He nearly dropped it when he heard her voice, still so sweet and smooth, like a well played violin.
        �I�m sorry Mark.�
        �NO!� he jumped away from her, backing himself into the corner.
        �Don�t be afraid Mark.�
        Long fangs poked over her bottom lip, clean, white, and sharp. Her eyes were no longer brown, but dark red, and small blue veins were just visible beneath her skin. Mark did not want to believe. She had been an angel, his angel! Could this really be true? Had he been so blinded by her appearance that he couldn�t see? Mark slid down the wall till he felt the cold floor beneath him.
        �I know you don�t deserve this.� she said softly.
        �Not like that.� Mark pleaded, looking over at Sunny, �Please��
        She stared at Sunny for a moment. It wasn�t the sort of look you�d give to another person. It was the look you might give a glass of water; empty of emotion, but full of intent. Then her eyes came back to Mark. She looked almost hurt, as though she couldn�t imagine why he would fear her.
        �No, not like that.� She said.
        �Why are you doing this?�
        �Don�t make it harder Mark. It�ll all be over soon.�

        Outside the little house it had grown dark. The sky was clouded, and the moon barely shone. The great beast turned it�s head as a strange light came from the second story window. There was a crash inside the house, and then a horrible scream as the light faded. The beast was not intelligent, but like all animals it had instincts. It knew in its guts that the door had been opened and shut again. It knew that like before, something had gone through, and something had come back. The screams inside stopped, and the beast felt a shiver run along it�s spine. With a grunt, it turned and ran back into the cornfield, it�s great antlers creating a wake before it. Even the great Chogar knew to run from what was inside.


* * * *

        The following week, Greg and Patrick sat together in the cafeteria like always, but today they didn�t play their card game. Sitting on the table between them was a paper back book with a simple black cover and a red lettered title, Surviving Hell by J.M. Kane. Patrick took the book and cracked it open, flipping to the table of contents.
        �So Mark�s grandfather wrote that?� Greg asked.
        �Yea. Mark ordered it just last week.� Patrick replied softly.
        �What�d he want it for?�
        �I don�t know, but I think I�ll hold onto it for him.�
        �Pat�you know Mark�s.�
        �Missing.� Patrick cut him off sharply, �Mark is missing, and when they find him, he�s going to want this book.�
        The two glanced up as Lucas walked by. He had a lost sort of look on his face. He regarded them for a moment, stopping as though he would say something, but then looked away, confusion clouding his eyes. Greg took a look around the cafeteria.
        �None of them have any idea.� He said, �They don�t give a flying f**k what�s happened to him. They�re not even human if you ask me.�
        �Don�t swear Greg.� Pat almost whispered.
        �Sorry Pat. So what�s in that book anyways?�
        Patrick was still looking through the table of contents, but he stopped on something, then flipped to a section of the book. The title of the chapter read, How to Spot a Vampire. After reading a few lines, Patrick closed the book and set it back on the table.
        �It�s just a book.� He sighed, �Mark probably would�ve liked it.�
        
        
        
        
        

Reviews

[Nicole Hellene]

Jesus Christ. You're like reeking of amazingness. Here I am trying to dissect and figure out painstakingly how to perfect action scenes and you pull off suspense with money-making ease. Some people just have all the talent. Not fair. What is it with your work that makes people unable to stop reading until they've finished? You think you could send some of your amazingness this way you amazingness w***e?

[Hawksmoor]

I'm halfway through this. I will wait until I'm done to make comments on it. I will say this, though...so far, so good.

Hawksmoor...From Bleed.