Chapter I.

A dark figure stood shadowed off in the distance. Squinting, I tried to see the figure more clearly. Slowly the creature floated forward until I could make out dark shimmering wings that glistened like the night sky and a dark robe that seemed to be made out of the fabric of midnight. It hung tattered and limp like a forgotten blanket on his shoulders. His face was sickened, scared and pitted with oozing, p***y scabs accentuated by drooping eyelids that looked like melted wax. His skin was a shade of ghastly yellow that hung onto his bones for dear life. I groaned and pinched my nose as it was suddenly overwhelmed with a sudden sour and bitter smell. The smell of him made me sway precariously on my feet.

A chill settled deep into the core of my heart as his eyes found mine. I stumbled back looking for somewhere to hide but there was nothing in this barren wasteland, nothing but bits of sand and rock that reflected the moon and its sky.

He floated closer and I could see his fragile body in ever more detail. He was thin and his bones stuck out against his skin trying to escape their fleshy prison. His eyes found mine again. They were pale yellow husks that reflected no life. My body reacted to the fear and I stood paralyzed. I watched him with wide, terror struck eyes as he came closer and closer. It was impossible to tear my gaze away. I swam in them imprinting them on the back of my eyelids. All I could see were those lifeless dead eyes.

He reached out and touched my throat with papery skin. My neck itched with the cold. I could feel it creeping down into my chest slowing my heart rate. His icy touch stung to the point of tears. I panicked. I thrashed around like a fish out of water but to no avail. It was all I could do just to swallow the bile that was working its way up from my stomach.

I froze as his raspy voice settled over me, “Why do you not run?”  His eyes left mine to rake over what was left of my pride.  

His eyes flickered back to mine all too soon. Those piercing yellow eyes held my gaze once again. Once more, I tried to look down but now I found that I couldn't even blink. My breath was coming in shorter gasps and my lungs were constricting. Desperately I tried to suck in air but the numbing cold squeezed tighter and tighter torturing my poor lungs. My back arched in pain as he started to lift me into the air and still my body was like a stick stuck in a prison of dried mud. I could feel my face starting to turn different colors as my vision grew blurry and dizziness scattered my senses.

Pain bloomed in my lungs as his grip slackened and I fell to the ground. Air rushed into my lungs all at once. It was too much to handle. I took in hesitant gulps of air coughing uncontrollably. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the half-dead creature look overtop me with an impish grin.

Without looking at me, he snatched at my wrist and pulled me up off the ground to face him yet again. I moaned as my head rolled back on my neck. My body wasn’t responding. His touch sent shivers down my spine until my whole body started to convulse.  

I whimpered and tears started to roll down my cheeks. I didn't want to be here. I didn't want this. I kept on struggling to take back control of my body but it was so hard. The cold was now again seeping through my veins slowing my blood flow. I kept digging inside deeper and deeper until I found a small taunt string shining weakly inside of a complex looking web of similar looking strings. Desperate, I tugged on one ever so slightly and I could feel I had control of my voice.

I threw out my hand and screamed.

The creatures face contorted in agony as some invisible force knocked him back. A bright light flashed and I woke up gasping for air. I clutched at my heart willing it to slow down to its normal pace. 

“Rae! It’s time for school!” Savannah hollered up the stairs. It echoed into my room bouncing annoyingly off the walls.

I fell back into my bed and took a deep breath. Rolling over I mumbled, “Give me five more minutes,” into my pillow.

 Savannah was our guardian. She took my older sister and me in when our parents died in a freak car accident. I don’t remember much so I can’t say I miss them. All I’ve ever known was Savannah and she was as close to me as I imagine my own mother would have been. Ever since I could remember, I’ve been having these strange dreams that are complete and utter nonsense.

 “Are you deaf or something? Didn’t you hear?” Vicky was leaning against the doorframe glaring at me chewing her gum. I cringed away from her lips smacking together with big wet sounds and buried deeper into my covers.

I listened to that wet sound come closer and closer until it was hanging over me. Tensing I prepared myself. With one swift movement, Vicky flipped my mattress over. Unable to help herself, she howled with laughter as I toppled off my bed in a bundle of covers and pillows.

“Go away…” I grumbled.

She sniffed trying to contain her laughter but failed and broke out into an odd assortment of snorts and giggles.

I narrowed my eyes and sat there taking in deep uncontrolled breaths. She sure had a unique sense of humor.

While Vicky noisily made her way down the stairs, I untangled myself from my mess of blankets and pillows and quickly made a sloppy job of making my bed. After getting dressed, I maneuvered sleepily down the hallway and into the bathroom. I looked in the mirror and gasped. My reflection looked like Frankenstein’s wife with dark purple half moons shadowing my eyes and a rat’s nest for hair.

With a sigh, I made the best of combing out all the tangles with short impatient strokes. I tried to make my dirty blonde hair look nice hanging down but finally gave up in frustration and put it up in a ponytail. I scrunched up my freckled nose playfully trying to hide those forbidden dark circles but it was no use.

Downstairs, Savannah was busy making breakfast over the stove. The rich smells of bacon and eggs wafted through the air making my stomach rumble in anticipation.

Vicky was lounging at the table texting on her cell phone. Probably, gossiping about her new boyfriend. I looked at her again; she put her hand on her chest and laughed wiping away a false tear from her eye.  Personally, I think she was dropped on her head when she was a baby even though Savannah won’t talk about it.

“Good morning,” Savannah smiled as she handed me a steaming dish full of food. For one thing, Savannah could cook better than anyone else on the block.

“Morning,” I said around a bite of my egg.

Vicky looked up from her cell phone and stared at me in horror completely disgusted with my bad manners. I smiled at her showing her my half-chewed egg. Vicky grimaced and went back to her phone.

Just then, Simon burst through the door with excitement. “Rae, you have got to see this!” He ran over and grabbed my wrist pulling me up from my chair. I quickly snatched a piece of bacon before he dragged my too far. “Oh, hi Savannah,” he waved at her then ushered me out the door.

Savannah smiled and shook her head in amusement.

Simon was chattering excitedly while he led me to the driveway. I gasped and covered my mouth. Right in the middle of our driveway was the ugliest hunk of metal I had ever laid eyes on.

Simon misinterpreted my reaction, “I know right! Tell me it’s like the best thing you’ve ever laid eyes on. Just imagine the possibilities!” He ran his hand lovingly over the car’s chipped paint.

“You’ve got to be joking! I wouldn’t be caught dead in that thing.”

He ignored my comment.

“Right,” I walked over to Simon and took his arm pulling him away from his beloved piece of junk. “You didn’t really buy that thing did you?” I whispered gently.

He looked at me with wide eyes. “Why wouldn’t I have?”

“Well, just look at it. I mean…” I let my eyes wander over the poor thing in pity.

Simon looked at it too but he had a much different look in his eyes. I sighed. Boys will be boys, I guess.

“Does it even start?”

“How do you think I got it here?” Simon smiled.

He ran around to the driver’s side and stuck a rusty old key into the ignition. He turned the key and the car made a choking sound. Simon frowned and tried the key again. The car protested with a choked squeal and fell dead again.

I raised my eyebrows.

Simon tried the key one more time. The engine roared to life choking out thick black smoke from the exhaust pipe. Simon smiled triumphantly and got out of the car.

“Are you ready to be escorted to school my fair maiden?” He gestured to the car in a bow.

I laughed and curtsied to him. “Why, sir, forgive me but I do not trust that unsightly thing that now resides in front of my house.”

“Oh come on, Rae, it’s completely trustworthy,” he patted the hood. The car spluttered for a minute then started up again.

I shook my head and crossed my arms. “Just let me grab my bag.”

<> 

We made it all right to the school. I had nothing to worry about considering the car only went about the pace of a turtle. Simon was overly proud of his car and once we pulled into the parking lot, he proudly revved the engine in front of the whole school. I groaned and put my head in my hands. How could he be proud of this hunk of junk?

People were staring as Simon and I parked and got out of the car. I smiled and fluttered my fingers at them dismissing their gazes. Simon came around and sat on the hood of his car enjoying the unwanted attention.

“We’re going to be late for class, you know,” I stood by with my arms folded.

“No we’re not. We have plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine.” He leaned back turning his face towards the sun.

Enjoying the sunshine… right…   

“Hey! Sweet ride, man,” Kevin came over to admire Simon’s car.

I rolled my eyes, “Are all men indifferent to the fact that Simon’s car is as ugly as a hellhound?”

Kevin glanced up in surprise.

“Oh, Rae, I didn’t see you there.”

I looked away as I felt the heat rising in my cheeks. Kevin smiled at me with a funny look in his eyes. Simon looked from Kevin to me and back again. He shrugged and grabbed his bag out of the back seat.

“Don’t you know that we’re going to be late, Rae?” he mimicked.

I looked at him exasperated.

He grabbed my hand and led me through the maze of students. I looked back at Kevin and smiled feeling my heart speed up a notch.

Simon got us to class just as the bell rang.

“Nice timing.”

I opened my English book as Mr. Leere prattled off about something dealing with the parts of an essay. I sighed and looked out the window. School was almost finished and summer holidays were almost here. I wondered what I would be doing during the summer. A huge chunk of it would most likely be spent with Simon. I watched the clouds drift by as class drug on.

The class had at least five minutes left when I was suddenly pinged in the head by a wadded up paper ball. I whipped my head around searching for the culprit. Simon shrugged innocently and pointed behind me. I turned around and Kevin winked.

Curious, I picked up the paper ball and unfolded it. A shadow appeared over my shoulder and shaded the paper. I quickly shoved the paper into my bag and picked up my pencil tapping it thoughtfully against my lips feigning innocence.

Mr. Leere walked past me with his hands clasped behind his back, a suspicious look in his eyes.

Simon leaned over again. “What is it?” He pointed to my bag.

I shrugged just as the bell rang. Simon looked back at Kevin who was looking at me with anticipation. I pointed to him and then to the paper in my bag. He nodded. Simon scowled at Kevin and the drug me out of the classroom.

“What does the note say?” He grabbed it out of my bag and started to read it. His face slowly turned red.

I snatched it from him with a scowl as he angrily shoved his hands into his pockets.

“Frankly, I don’t see how it’s your business, Simon. You can’t just go snatching people’s notes out of their hands. It’s meant to be a private thing.” I read the note for myself. My eyes widened and a huge grin spread across my face. Simon sighed behind me.

 Kevin had just asked me out. Finally, a night of fun. I couldn’t wait.

I walked to the gym with a huge smile firmly in place. While warming up my eyes wandered helplessly towards Kevin as I stretched out my muscles brainstorming how to catch his attention.

Simon stepped directly into my line of view purposely preventing Kevin from noticing me and interrupting my brainstorming. I scowled at him.

“Are you actually going to go out with him? I mean, what could you possibly see in that guy?”

 “Simon, I-” didn’t get to finish.

Our gym teacher, Miss. Susan, barked orders for us to set up for a game of good old-fashioned dodge ball. “Boy against girls! Hurry up! We haven’t got all day!”

We scrambled to our sides of the gym and went down on our stomachs waiting for Miss. Susan to blow the whistle. This was the best part of our gym class, beating each other up with dodge balls. It gave us a chance to release all that pent up stress and anger.

The whistle sounded and in an instant, we were all up on our feet rushing to grab a ball. After all the balls were gone, the gym was in chaos. Balls were flying everywhere with people screaming doom upon each other. I dodged the balls that flew at me with no problem. Watching for a ball, I caught it, wound up, scanned the battlefield for Simon finding him preoccupied and let it fly hitting him square in the gut sending him to the floor.

“You’re out!” I yelled.

Simon glared at me. I stuck my tongue out at him.

                       <>

The rest of the day was uneventful except for Kevin who came up to me after school was done wanting to know the answer to his earlier question. Simon scowled at him over my shoulder the whole time we talked about our date.

“What?” I said to him after Kevin left, “It’s not like you’re coming to the movie with us.”

He rolled his eyes. I sighed.

We walked down the street towards home.

“My grandparents and I are going to our cabin this summer.” He didn’t sound all too excited about it.

“No, what will I ever do without my Simon?” I put my hand to my head and pretended to faint. Simon caught me mid descent.

“Good catch,” I smiled up at him the righted myself. “No really, what am I going to do without you?”

He shrugged.

“What are you going to do with just your grandparents?” we stopped under the shade of a tree.

“Same thing I always do.”

“Which would be?”

He laughed, “Nothing, of course.”

“I’m sure you’ll have tons of fun at the beach… possibly meet someone special…,” I winked at him.

He scowled.

“What? I can’t help being a girl. Summer romances are quite romantic.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“I can always come visit you. It’s not too far away. Just a couple hours drive.”

“You would do that?”

“Of course I would, silly,” I punched him lightly in the arm, “What are best friends for anyway?”

“You could always come with me you know instead of being stuck here without me.”

I thought about it for a moment biting my lip, “I would love that, actually.”

He grinned at me and offered his arm gesturing down the street. I took his arm with a grin of my own.

<> 

 “Well what should we watch?” asked Kevin.

He had picked me up about half an hour earlier for our date to the movies.

“What about this one?” I asked pointing to a movie poster that looked like it had some potential.

“Great! I was hoping you would pick that one.” Kevin rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

I rolled my eyes and went to pay for the tickets.

Kevin intercepted me. “No, let me.”

Not ten minutes later, Kevin had taken my hand and found us some seats. Right away, I started to munch away on the popcorn not caring that Kevin was giving me strange looks.

“What? I like popcorn.”

He laughed at this and faced forward again ready to watch the movie. The lights dimmed and soon the whole theatre quieted as the first scene of the movie flashed against the wall. My eyes widened at all the action and cheesy effects and soon I found that I was wondering why I ever thought this movie had potential. Kevin enjoyed it all. He sat engrossed in it. I couldn’t help but laugh at him sitting there with wide eyes and a slack jaw. He was just like a little kid.

I leaned over and whispered, “You might just be able to catch a fly if you sit like that for much longer.”

Kevin’s jaw snapped shut and he looked at me with a small smile, so much for trying to make him laugh.  

I sunk down into my seat with a scowl. This night wasn’t really going as planned. Kevin saw me hunkering down in my seat and reached over to grab my hand. His touch spread warm tingles up and down my spine. Maybe this night wasn’t so bad.

As the movie wore on, I could feel my eyes starting to droop and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep on Kevin’s shoulder tucked right into the crook of his arm.

Kevin gently shook me awake when the movie was over and people were exiting the theatre. He had that same strange look in his eyes like before. Ignoring it, I let a small smile play on my lips.

Stretching like a cat, I yawned and let Kevin take my hand.

“So, what do you say we grab something to eat?”

I nodded. Popcorn wasn’t enough to fill you up and sleeping just makes you hungrier.

As we drove out of the parking lot, I expected Kevin to turn right towards all the fast food places but instead he took a left and headed towards a suburb of homes. I looked at him quizzically. He looked back and winked.

“Where are we going, I though we were going to go get something to eat?”

“We are.”

“But, where?”

“At my place.”

“At your place?” I said doubtfully. I wasn’t quite sure of this. “Will your parents mind?”

“They’re out for the night.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll love the place. It’s huge and there’s tons of food. We can even make banana splits.”

I smiled at him then looked away to stare out the window. Maybe this date wasn’t the greatest idea after all. I barely know the guy and to have him take me to his house when there’s no parents home. Who knows what could happen?

I’ve been alone with Simon of course but that’s different. I know that he would never hurt me. We’ve known each other for forever. In fact, I’m quite sure Simon couldn’t even kill a fly even to save his life.

I glanced over at Kevin. He was drumming his fingers against the wheel humming a tune. He had an anxious look in his eyes that scared me a little. For some reason I didn’t think he was taking me to his house just to make banana splits. There had to be more to it. Why make this long of a drive when the food down the street from the movie was closer than the houses. It just didn’t add up.

 Soon we turned onto a darkly lit street. One of the streetlights was burnt out casting shadows over some of the homes that resided there. I gulped. Kevin turned into the driveway of a two story home complete with a wrap around porch.

Kevin was right, it was huge and it was beautiful. As soon as Kevin took the keys out of the ignition, he ran around the front of the vehicle and opened my door.

“Thanks.” I gave him a small smile of gratitude.

He smiled in return and before I knew it, he had swung me up in his arms.

“Kevin, what are you doing?” I gasped. “Please, put me down.”

            He let me drop to the ground.

            “You know, Kevin, I’m not feeling so well. Maybe, I should go home.” And that was the truth. My stomach felt hollow and tight.

            “Rae, come on, the night is young.” He took my hand and led me into the house.

I bit my lip and hesitantly followed. I still wasn’t sure I wanted to be here with him. It felt wrong to be alone with him in a giant house like this one.

Kevin led me to a spacious kitchen, a kitchen that would be any chefs’ dream. I pulled out a stool and rested my arms on the eating bar.

            “So what’ll it be? Banana split?”

            “What about a chocolate sundae?”

            He winked, “Coming right up.”

            Okay, so this wasn’t so bad. He really did just want to have dessert, nothing bad about that. Soon, Kevin set a monster of a chocolate sundae in front of my face. My mouth dropped open.

“You expect me to eat that giant thing? It’s huge!”

Kevin brought out two spoons, “No, I thought we could share it.”

He waited while I took a bite. My eyes widened.

“This is delicious! What did you put in it?”

“Oh you know, this and that, ice-cream, chocolate, etcetera.”

I scooped two more spoonfuls into my mouth when I noticed that Kevin hadn’t taken a single bite yet.

“Aren’t you going to have some?”

Kevin set his spoon down and walked out of the kitchen. I curiously peered after him.

“What do you say to a movie?” he hollered down the hall back to me, “I know we just watched one but it’s a special occasion don’t you think?”

“Special occasion?” I muttered to myself, “What is that supposed to mean?”

“What was that, Rae?”

“Oh, right sure,” I yelled back.

Carrying my sundae, I sought out Kevin. He was down the hall and to the right in a room with a huge 80-inch plasma TV. I stopped in the doorway.

“What movie do you want to watch?” Kevin had his back to me while rummaging through a cupboard down by the TV.

“Oh, it doesn’t really matter, I guess.”

Kevin seized a movie and popped it into the DVD player with a satisfied smile.

“Come on Rae, take a seat. I won’t bite,” he teased.

I grinned, “Are you sure about that?”

“Positive,” he said with a sly smile as I plopped down beside him. He snuck his arm around my shoulders and scooted closer to me.

I licked at my ice-cream feeling happier as I ate it. All my worries about Kevin slipped out of mind as I snuggled closer relishing the taste of contentment on my tongue.

“What movie are we watching, Kevin?”

“It’s a surprise,” he winked. “How are you feeling?” he asked in a strange voice.

I looked up at him, “What do you mean?”

His eyes looked worried as he searched for an answer, “I mean, you weren’t feeling well earlier, right?”

“I feel fine. Actually, come to think of it, I feel great!”

Kevin smiled eagerly.

As the previews ended Kevin took away my sundae and set it on a small table beside him.

“I wasn’t finished wif zat,” I slurred. I shook my head back in forth trying to rid the dizziness from my mind. What was happening? I tried to focus on Kevin but nothing seemed to be working right.

“Don’t hurt yourself, honey.”

Honey? Why was he calling me that?

Kevin gently rested his hands on my shoulders  and slowly leaned in. His mouth met mine in a gentle caress that I did not care to return. I pulled back slightly alarmed and looked into his open and pleading eyes.

He leaned in again pressing his mouth firmly to mine. I gasped and brought my hands up to his face getting ready to push him away. He moved his hands from my shoulders and let them wander down to my hips wrapping around them quite decisively. In a weak attempt, I tried to push him away but my limbs wouldn’t obey. They slipped from his face and found themselves entwined around his neck.

Kevin gave out a small moan. That’s when I panicked. My body wasn’t reacting the way it was supposed to. I watched in horror as my hands moved from his neck feeling their way down his chest and stomach until they found the end of his shirt. With a sharp tug, my hands lifted his shirt up and over his head. Kevin pulled back and looked at me with a seductive smile. I felt my lips smile in return. His lips suddenly came crushing down on mine in a fierce hunger that I had never experienced before.

Fire erupted in my gut and slowly spread its way through my core heating up my blood and sending my heart into a frenzy. I bashed against the confined walls of my mind trying to gain hold of my limbs. I had lost all control. My body wasn’t listening to my pleas anymore.

I felt my legs wrap themselves around Kevin’s torso as he slowly guided us down onto the couch. His lips left mine to kiss the hollow of my neck. My hands tugged Kevin closer to me craving his touch. This isn’t what I wanted. I screamed in fury at myself but it was as if I was locked in a prison cell. Able to see what was happening but not able to stop any of it.

Kevin’s hands disappeared under my shirt just as the Simon burst in through the door. Kevin jumped up like a startled rabbit. As soon as his touch left the skin of my body, I was free. Gasping I sat up and ran into Simon’s arms not caring how he knew I was here.

“What are you doing in my house?” Kevin screamed at Simon.

“Retrieving something that wasn’t yours in the first place,” Simon replied smoothly.

Kevin looked behind him at my sundae bowl then he looked at me, “Rae,” he called to me in a silky smooth voice.

I cringed farther into Simon’s chest as I glanced in horror at the almost empty ice-cream bowl. Kevin’s hands turned into fists.

I tugged at Simon’s jacket, “Let’s go.”

Simon looked down at my terrified face and then back at Kevin.

“If you hurt her…”

“Then what?” Kevin laughed. “What can a loser like you do? Go tell my mother? Ha! As if.”

Simon’s face turned hard and with a sharp turn, he led me out of Kevin’s house. Kevin’s voice raised goose bumps on my skin as his cursing echoed out onto the street. Simon rubbed absently at my arm while he took out the keys to his trash can of a car. The car creaked and protested as I got into the passenger seat and waited for Simon to get in.

As soon as we were on the road he asked, “Are you alright? He didn’t hurt you did he?”

I shook my head and silently stared at the road ahead just wanting to climb into my bed and sleep it off.

Simon bit his lip and ceased talking until he pulled up in front of my house. He got out and ran to my side of the car before I could open the door. With a bow, Simon opened the rusted door for me and held his hand out. I took his hand and let him help me up. We stood awkwardly on the sidewalk together.

I tucked my arms against my chest trying to hold back my tears at the night’s events. With a sad smile, Simon held out his arms. Without hesitation, I walked into that circle of protection. With a sigh, Simon encircled me in a tight embrace. Failing miserably I let the tears I had been holding back come out in a sudden rush of emotion. Simon said nothing as I soaked his jacket with my unyielding tears.

I don’t know how long we stood there but when I stepped back my eyes were red rimmed and my face blotchy with embarrassment. Absently I wiped at my cheeks. Simon smiled at me with kind eyes.

“Better?”

I nodded and laughed once.

“Thanks.”

Simon winked at me. “No problem, any time.”

I watched Simon climb back into his rusty piece of junk like a good friend ought to. Simon revved the engine and waved at me. He drove two feet before his car bucked once and ground to a halt. I smiled a little at Simon’s choice in car. Did I not tell him so?

He hit the wheel in frustration and looked apologetically at me.

“Come on, I’ll go ask Savannah if you can stay the night.”