Afterlife (5 page)

I shivered in his arms and he looked into my eyes with his unusually green eyes. “Thanks for saving me. How do you know that guy and why did he listen to you?” I asked breaking the silence.  I could feel his arm muscles pulling me closer and then with a sudden change of emotion he dropped me unexpectantly to the ground. I gasped in surprise. “You really are a stupid girl!” he said looking at me with disdain. The change of tone was weird.  It looked to me as if this whole day would become even more unimaginable. How could someone go from being so loving to an absolute jerk?

“How could you be such a jerk?  I made an honest mistake, I got lost!” I said my voice quivering with shock.

“You could’ve had yourself killed”

I was speechless. I could feel tears streaming down my face.

“I’m a human being okay, I make mistakes!”

“Whatever, that’s the typical excuse” he said looking away.

“Excuse?” I felt anger rising and glared at him. Whatever I had thought before was gone now. “You need to leave. I can find my own way home. Thank you very much!” I tried limping towards the shop my leg throbbing.

He gave me a quick look and I could see he found it hard to contain himself and I quickly continued. “What are you? Superman? I mean really, normal people don’t jump from trees and fight lunatics like you did?” He didn’t answer.  Hoping to at least get some explanation as to what just happened, but it was to no avail. He was done talking I realized.  I grabbed my book case from his hand continued towards the store. I promptly shut the door behind me and then made sure it was locked. I stood there praying to God that that neck sniffing weirdo who had just tried to kill me wouldn’t return. I sneaked a last look out at Daniel, but he was already gone. I had mixed feelings about him, I was extremely grateful towards him and fascinated, but also secretly hoped that I wouldn’t have to see him ever again.

I decided to concoct a story of sorts, explaining my hurt leg and torn dress. On their return I was given the third degree on entering the woods without their supervision. Oscar knew I was lying, I could sense it, but what was I suppose to tell them that I got attacked by some freak who had a thing for licking raw wounds? How crazy would that be? I hid the fact that my arm hurt like hell as well. I soaked it in English salt and beared the pain.  After dinner I made an excuse that I had a headache and went to bed early. The bed looked more inviting then my day had been and I fell on the bed sighing gratefully. My life really was a complicated mess. If I wasn’t mutilated by evil teachers and aunts, I was being attacked and saved by strange guys. Was any of this real? I walked towards the window and stared out at the full moon. I had had enough of paranormal nonsense for one night, the full moon included. I blew out the candle and climbed into bed, pulling the covers over my head.

“I have had dreams, and I have had nightmares. I overcame the nightmares because of my dreams.”
 

Town was eerily quiet and the usual occupants weren’t around.  It was strange because the few times I had been there on a Thursday it was always overly busy. It seemed as if everyone had suddenly disappeared.

 I walked towards the grocery store and saw the grocer standing in the doorway. He had been watching me and Daniel having a conversation.  Relief wiped away the strange foreboding that had suddenly dawned on me. At least the town wasn’t completely deserted, “It must’ve been my imagination going in overdrive after yesterday’s unusual event” I thought as I greeted the town grocer, but he closed the door in my face.  I was so shocked that I banged my fists on the door and called out “What is going on Gary” I knocked on the door again and he signaled to the closed sign.

“How rude!” I thought, “This was great, another weird event.  Could it get any worse?” I had lost my appetite for shopping and walked back to the candy store.

Martha and Oscar’s car was already gone. I looked for the back door key under a garden pot and opened the door. I had the entire day all to myself again. I walked to the sink and poured myself a glass of water and stared outside.

The post man had just delivered the mail. I might as well take a look at it and help Oscar with the last few bills. The post box was overly full of newspapers and account notices. I dropped the mail on the kitchen table and worked through it systematically, sorting it out according to urgency. When I completed my task, I picked up a copy of The New York Times. What would a pair of old British people do with a New York Times?  “That’s a first.” I thought. I picked up the newspaper and read the articles one by one, not really paying attention, just trying to kill time. I opened page three and surveyed an article about Marilyn Monroe’s new movie and then a photo caught my eye,  a face way too familiar for me not recognize, stared back at me.  I felt goose bumps cover my arms and neck and a hot flush of shock spread over my face. I looked at the photo of the girl in the newspaper. It could only be her. I stared at the newspaper in my hands. My head was spinning uncontrollably and my hands were shaking as I held the newspaper .There was no doubt in my mind that the woman in that picture was indeed my sister Louisa.  I read the headline again, “
Lisa Gardner and
Dean Martin engaged to be married
.” I couldn’t believe my eyes, could it be her?  I read the article over and over again.

Actress Lisa Gardner and Senator Dean Martin have officially announced their engagement. The pair met while Senator Dean was campaigning in Pheonix, Arizona. Lisa who tragically lost her entire family, won’t have any family attending, but has exclusively told the New York Times that this would be a happy day for her, as she would gain a new family, but would never forget her own precious family on her perfect day.

I looked at the picture of Louisa and I could feel a horrible sensation well up inside of me. How could she think that I am dead?  If she was in New York I needed to go and see her – immediately! I was so excited could hardly wait for Martha and Oscar to arrive home. My mind was playing out all kinds of scenarios, until I became so exhausted that I eventually climbed into bed, the newspaper clutched firmly against my body and fell asleep.

I woke up around six o’clock and remembered that Daniel was coming around. I was a mess of excitement and uncertainty and besides that I had no warm dresses for fancy dinners. The temperature had dropped significantly while I was sleeping and I shivered in anticipation. I tidied myself up and sat waiting for Daniel, still with the newspaper in my hands.

I could see his Ace drive up the driveway from my bedroom window. I wasn’t looking forward to this meeting and I really just wanted to get it over with. I ran downstairs and opened the front door to the store.

He was smartly dressed in a dark suit and held out a bouquet of flowers to me.

“You aren’t dressed.”

I took the bouquet from him .The flowers smelled wonderful.

“I’m sorry; I am not in the mood to go out.” I said.

“Neither am I” he said.

“Come inside so that I can put these in water.”

“You have a cozy place here.”

“Thanks.”

“So where are the old folks?”

“Spending the night in Mayville.”

“Great, then I will keep you company if you want me to.” He asked confidently.

“Suit yourself.” I said annoyed.

He put out his hand asking, “Friends?”

I nodded “Friends” I said forcing a smile.

Leaning against the kitchen cupboard he made himself comfortable. “So where are you from Fleur?”

“Cornwell.”

“Oh I’ve never been there.”

“It’s about two hour’s drive away.” I was starting to wonder if we had anything in common. I put some water on the stove and waited for him to say something. He left the room and I brewed some coffee. I heard him speak up behind me.

“The living room was cold so I lit the fire in the fireplace, I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, I made some coffee.” I said gesturing to the coffee cup that stood on the kitchen table.

“Uhm, I don’t drink coffee.”

“Why did you let me go through the trouble of making the coffee then?” I asked annoyed. He ignored the question.

“Look Fleur about the other day, I know you have a lot of questions.”

“Yes I do,” I said.

“I would love to answer them and clear the air.”

He took my hand in his and it felt cold as ice. “Come and sit at the fire.” He said as he pulled me towards the warmth of the living room.

He pulled his hand away and pushed his hand through his hair as he walked to the side of the room. “Since I saw you that first time there was something about you Fleur.”

I could feel my heart beating faster in my chest. He had a charisma that was intoxicating.

“There is something mysterious about you.” He said, his eyes staring at me intensely as he moved closer towards me.

I tried to ignore him and changed the subject. I knew I had to fight it. “Guys like him weren’t to be trusted,” I told myself as my thoughts dwindled to Jacques and Louisa. I sat down away from him trying to ignore the feeling that came over me. Sipping my coffee I tried not to look at him. He turned around and walked over to me.

“I found out my sister was alive today” I blurted out.

“Your sister? You have a sister?””

“We lost contact a long time ago.”

He nodded and listened to my story as I told him about my time at Miss Madison’s school and how Louisa had met Jacques. It was the first time I could confide in someone my own age about what had happened and it felt like a great burden had been taken off of my shoulders and as if I saw Louisa’s desertion in another perspective. I decided then and there that if she missed me and loved me enough, that she would come looking for me.

He looked at me and touched my face.  I could smell his cologne.  He got so close that I could hardly control myself. I wanted to touch him back, but I controlled myself.

“I’ve never felt this way about anyone Fleur. It’s just something about you, you are mesmerizing. I can’t keep away from you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, I don’t think this is appro…”

He interrupted me and drew me near and for the first time in my life I was kissed. His kiss was deep and personal and then it changed and became playful as he nibbled on my bottom lip and then I pulled away.

“We can’t do this…I’m sorry.” I tried to ignore his eyes.

“Yea I know, I don’t know what came over me .When I asked to see you tonight, this was the last thing I had planned to happen. The truth is I’m a vampire catcher Fleur. My life is complicated. I feel a lot for you, but we can’t do this now,  your right.”

 “A what?” I blurted out confused.

“I catch vampires, that’s what I do. I won’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you.”

“So are you telling me that that guy Zach who tried to attack me was a vampire?” I shook my head in unbelief. “Is this your idea of a sick joke?” I asked.

“I wish it was.”

I could see he was trying not to pull me closer and for a moment he gave in and then he pulled me into his arms, hugged me and then he walked to the door.

“Are you leaving? Don’t go!  I need some answers!” I said stubbornly. I called out as I ran after him trying to stop him.

He jumped onto his bike and gave me an apologetic look and then he was gone. I felt somehow betrayed, but I kept it inside. I couldn’t understand it I hardly knew him and yet I felt so strongly about him. It felt like a part of me had been ripped apart when he got on that bike. As I stood there watching him a strange nostalgia came over me. I had been there before.

Somehow, someway I had lived this life before.

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone

But though you're still with me, I've been alone all along.

Evanescence