lunch to rub another round of Cortisone on them, but now they itched again.
The Cortisone was missing from the bathroom, so I checked Mom’s room. Flicking her lamp on, I shuffled through her bedside drawers then saw it atop her scattered jewelry. Twisting the cap off, I turned to leave when a splotch of blue caught my eye.
Aaron’s Cougar sat below, still in the driveway. What the— ? Come to think of it, I hadn’t heard his engine. I stared out the window, wondering if maybe he was on the phone or something. A closer look confirmed I was wrong—he didn’t appear to even be in the car. The Cougar sat still, silent . . . alone.
Pulling my robe tight around me, I jogged back down to the front windows, expecting to see him standing on the porch. It, too, appeared to be unoccupied. Where was he, wandering around somewhere?
In the kitchen’s junk drawer, I dug out a working flashlight. So much for our truce this evening—sorry, but this was a violation of his probation. Swapping slippers for UGG boots, I trudged back outside.
“Aaron?” My voice echoed across the yard. The world seemed unnaturally silent again. “Aaron!” I called again.
The wind picked up, whining against the house. The storm had gone, but left behind a chilly atmosphere. In the shine of the flashlight, I could see my breath. I wasn’t equipped to go out hunting for him, and I had no desire to. But his car was here and he was not. Something wasn’t right. What if he was in trouble? Freak or not, I didn’t want to see him injured again. Stepping off the porch, I ignored his warning to stay inside and started towards the car.
Keys hung from the ignition, his leather jacket tossed on the passenger side seat. I reached down, pulling the handle. The door swung open, unlocked. Okay, so he left access to pretty much everything. He must’ve been planning to come right back. I flashed my light across the yard, where he had been looking before he’d flung himself over me. He touched you . I blushed while remembering how warm he’d been against me. Stop it, Lina . Focus . I shook my head. Instinct said he’d gone towards the trees.
I crept slowly over the lawn, jerking my head around every time I thought I saw movement. A sudden memory returned to me of looking out at Ms. Cummings’ lawn, seeing those creatures move across her driveway. I was just steps from the wood’s entrance when a set of large, clawed paw prints appeared beside my feet in the grass.
That’s when I heard it.
Through the woods came a cry so violent it could’ve shattered the sound barrier. It was ear-splintering, a cross between nails raking metal and the shriek of an injured coyote.
I ran. Aaron was on his own.
The front door slammed shut behind me and I jammed the lock into place. I sunk against the wall, goose bumps covering my legs. The sound replayed over and over in my head. I tried to catch my breath, shaking from head to toe. I’d never heard such an awful noise before. Whatever had made it suffered severe agony.
Whatever had made that noise . . . it was dying.
I have no idea how long I sat there. When I could finally get up, I went to the kitchen and locked the cat flaps. No way were they going out tonight. Grabbing the cordless phone I called Mom. Her voicemail came on. Damn it ! Why couldn’t she pick up during the times I needed her most? I didn’t bother to leave a message. Hanging up, I returned to the living room.
Just before moving upstairs, I peeked out the window again.
Aaron’s car was gone.
Chapter 5: Birthday Surprises
T he damp floor squished below my toes. Trees towered on every side, shooting miles upwards. Their bare branches were pointed, crawling over the purple sky like spider legs .
I shuddered. Where the heck was I? One second I had been on the trail, the next I was here. Had I taken a wrong turn? Looking around the clearing, I shivered uncontrollably. The air carried a chill that left my breath hanging in the air. Shadows
The Cortisone was missing from the bathroom, so I checked Mom’s room. Flicking her lamp on, I shuffled through her bedside drawers then saw it atop her scattered jewelry. Twisting the cap off, I turned to leave when a splotch of blue caught my eye.
Aaron’s Cougar sat below, still in the driveway. What the— ? Come to think of it, I hadn’t heard his engine. I stared out the window, wondering if maybe he was on the phone or something. A closer look confirmed I was wrong—he didn’t appear to even be in the car. The Cougar sat still, silent . . . alone.
Pulling my robe tight around me, I jogged back down to the front windows, expecting to see him standing on the porch. It, too, appeared to be unoccupied. Where was he, wandering around somewhere?
In the kitchen’s junk drawer, I dug out a working flashlight. So much for our truce this evening—sorry, but this was a violation of his probation. Swapping slippers for UGG boots, I trudged back outside.
“Aaron?” My voice echoed across the yard. The world seemed unnaturally silent again. “Aaron!” I called again.
The wind picked up, whining against the house. The storm had gone, but left behind a chilly atmosphere. In the shine of the flashlight, I could see my breath. I wasn’t equipped to go out hunting for him, and I had no desire to. But his car was here and he was not. Something wasn’t right. What if he was in trouble? Freak or not, I didn’t want to see him injured again. Stepping off the porch, I ignored his warning to stay inside and started towards the car.
Keys hung from the ignition, his leather jacket tossed on the passenger side seat. I reached down, pulling the handle. The door swung open, unlocked. Okay, so he left access to pretty much everything. He must’ve been planning to come right back. I flashed my light across the yard, where he had been looking before he’d flung himself over me. He touched you . I blushed while remembering how warm he’d been against me. Stop it, Lina . Focus . I shook my head. Instinct said he’d gone towards the trees.
I crept slowly over the lawn, jerking my head around every time I thought I saw movement. A sudden memory returned to me of looking out at Ms. Cummings’ lawn, seeing those creatures move across her driveway. I was just steps from the wood’s entrance when a set of large, clawed paw prints appeared beside my feet in the grass.
That’s when I heard it.
Through the woods came a cry so violent it could’ve shattered the sound barrier. It was ear-splintering, a cross between nails raking metal and the shriek of an injured coyote.
I ran. Aaron was on his own.
The front door slammed shut behind me and I jammed the lock into place. I sunk against the wall, goose bumps covering my legs. The sound replayed over and over in my head. I tried to catch my breath, shaking from head to toe. I’d never heard such an awful noise before. Whatever had made it suffered severe agony.
Whatever had made that noise . . . it was dying.
I have no idea how long I sat there. When I could finally get up, I went to the kitchen and locked the cat flaps. No way were they going out tonight. Grabbing the cordless phone I called Mom. Her voicemail came on. Damn it ! Why couldn’t she pick up during the times I needed her most? I didn’t bother to leave a message. Hanging up, I returned to the living room.
Just before moving upstairs, I peeked out the window again.
Aaron’s car was gone.
Chapter 5: Birthday Surprises
T he damp floor squished below my toes. Trees towered on every side, shooting miles upwards. Their bare branches were pointed, crawling over the purple sky like spider legs .
I shuddered. Where the heck was I? One second I had been on the trail, the next I was here. Had I taken a wrong turn? Looking around the clearing, I shivered uncontrollably. The air carried a chill that left my breath hanging in the air. Shadows
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