Cursed (12 page)

I heard him breathing, he was out of breath or
nervous like I was. I knew the bush covered me but if he got close
enough he would be able to see me.

His pace slowed to a step every minute as he
scanned the forest behind me somewhere. I knew what he was doing
even if I couldn’t see him and I knew then that he was a danger to
me. There only a few feet away was the bad person who had drugged
Giselle and inadvertently me. If I could get a glance of his face I
knew I would know him. He and the not Wade guy were different
people. I sensed the evil coming from this person. I knew everyone
in our town that was near my age and there was no way someone was
at the party that I didn’t know at least a little. I waited to see
his face when he came around the trees so I could know my attacker
and text it to Shane before he got me.

His step sounded like it was on top of me, I
wanted to dash from the woods screaming but I knew my dash was more
of a light jog at best and that in every horror movie I had ever
seen the hiding person would have lived if they had just stayed
hidden instead of letting the suspense and madness get to them.

“Aimee, are you here?” He spoke in a breathless
whisper. I couldn’t even be certain it was a man’s voice.

“Aimee I saw you come into the woods. Aimee I
just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

He knew my name and he was watching me. There
was something familiar about the way he whispered my name but I
couldn’t put my finger on it. He must go to school with me, how
else would he have seen me take Shane’s truck. I didn’t even
swallow as the breaking of the twigs and leaves attempted to drive
me insane. I waited till I heard his footsteps walk in a different
direction and I reached into my pocket and grabbed my phone and
clicked the sound off completely. I was glad I had worn a hoodie
and not a jacket that made noise. I slowly put my hand back into my
pocket and left it there, I knew nothing would make me leave this
spot.

Suddenly through the brush I saw him, I wanted
to run but I held my breath and sat very still. It was definitely a
man or a guy my age at the least. He was built and tall like a
football player. He wore a black fleece with the hood up and jeans.
I couldn’t see his face but I could hear his breathing he was upset
about not being able to find me.

“Aimee, come out come out wherever you are.” He
spoke softly, almost as if he were disguising his voice. Suddenly a
noise like a bird squawking rang out into the forest. Then it
happened again. He cussed and pulled a cell phone out of his
pocket, “Hello.” He answered abruptly still sounding horse as he
spoke.

“Yeah, fine. I don’t care.”

“Okay good see you then.” He hung up the phone
and looked around the forest more intensely.

When he turned his face to me I could see he was
wearing sunglasses. He was white but that was all I going to get
from him. I could see his lips very clearly, I would never forget
them. They were thin lips, not my favorite kind.

“Aimee I know you want to play cat and mouse but
we’re running out of time.” His voice sounded impatient no matter
how hard he was trying to sound calm. I knew in my heart he was the
one who had drugged me and now he wanted to finish what he had
started. The idea of him touching me while I had been so drugged
made me sick but I swallowed the bile back as I sat ever calm
against my tree hidden in the brush.

I was starting to feel much attached to this
tree as I sat there hiding, it was keeping me safe.

He crept around the bushes a bit longer and then
I stopped being able to hear or see him. I knew what he was doing,
he was sitting somewhere like me. He was trying to wait me out. But
I was the girl who sat on the concrete for hours on end; this was
not a game he would win.

My breaths were shallow and my heartbeat stayed
steady to keep my senses heightened and alert. I didn’t hear a
sound from the forest, which also told me he was still here.

The birds were not chirping because a predator
was in the woods. I was thirsty, I was hungry, my back was cramping
up and my legs were numb but I sat very still, like a statue and
listened.

There was no sound, no creeping about, no
breathing, no nothing but I still didn’t move.

Then like the angels were singing to me I heard
the greatest sound in the world, “God dammed Aimee I had to walk
home from friggen school. What the hell is taking you so long?
Where are you?”

I wanted to jump up and shout I was over by the
tree house but I knew the evil one was still in this forest
somewhere. I hadn’t heard him leave, had I? I was starting to doubt
myself as I panicked knowing my salvation was across the forest and
he would leave soon.

I pulled my phone from my pocket softly and
texted Shane with the sound off completely. The text hit his phone,
his text tone was unmistakable it was Ralph Wiggum, "My cats breath
smells like cat food." He had gotten it as his text ringtone when
we were sitting in the restaurant after my sister left with
Blake.

He started to walk through the forest obeying my
text message perfectly till he reached my exact location.

I could see him looking around; his blue hoodie
hovered directly above me.

I still felt terrified as I reached my hand from
the bushes and Shane grabbed it pulling me from my spot. As I stood
my legs buckled and I started to cry.

“It’s okay, I got you now.” He picked me up and
carried me from the woods, I looked back at the forest seeing
nothing but I noticed a very quick pace in Shane’s steps.

“I’m getting tired of carrying you out of these
woods missy.” He was joking but I continued to sob into his
shoulder. I felt safe but I was scared senseless.

Shane brought me into the house and sat me on
the bar stool in the kitchen. He poured me a glass of lemonade and
handed me a tissue. I wiped my eyes and told him exactly what had
happened. His eyes widened as I told the tale and his face grew
very angry when he started to put his own conclusions together.

“This fucker goes to our school, how else would
he have seen you take my truck. Aimee he was invited to MY house
and drugged MY friends and you.” He paced and ranted shaking his
hands and shouting. He separated me from his friends, I wasn’t one
of his friends? I tried to be polite and sip the lemonade but I
gagged and put it down. I guessed it would be joining the ranks of
the veggie burger.

Finally he called my dad and told him to come
and pick me up at his house for our trip to Portland.

I sipped the hot tea he made me instead of the
lemonade after he noticed I couldn’t drink it and watched out the
windows looking for any sort of shadows or movements.

I didn’t know what to do to get my safety back
but I was worried for myself and for Giselle in the city. I knew
the hospital had good security as it was a children’s hospital but
I wasn’t sure it would be enough, this creep was pretty good.

“Thanks for coming for me.” I whispered after a
long time.

Shane smiled down at me, “Aimee you’re my date
for the dance, where will I find a date with this short of notice.”
I punch his arm hurting my hand.

I didn’t have a dress picked out and had decided
I would find one in the city. “What color dress should I get?” I
wanted the conversation to be light, I missed Giselle.

He shrugged, “I'm color blind so pick whatever
you want and pick out some shit for me that matches.”

I laughed, “You are not.” I knew he was but I
wanted to pretend I had forgotten.

He nodded, “Seriously don’t you remember in
fifth grade when Mr. Banks made me do the color blind test in front
of everyone else cause I chose a different path than you all?”

I giggled not that I was giggling sort of girl
but I did totally remember the day and was trying to spare him his
dignity. Shane didn’t seem to care about dignity. Again it was
something about him I liked a lot.

His eyes lit up, “You remember that day, god
that was awful. My mom had told him I was color blind so he thought
he would have fun with it I guess.” He ran his hands through his
messy hair and smiled brightly, “I got my revenge.”

I furrowed my brow, “How?”

He blushed and suddenly his smile took a
dangerous turn, “I deflowered his daughter.” The sentence made me
feel sick but I remembered we were friends and friends could talk
about this sort of thing, lord knew Alise did all the time, I was
certain she had deflowered her share of virgins. I cringed thinking
about the one she was currently with.

“Maryellen?” I frowned at him, there was no way
he deflowered that girl. She had been Miss Filomi and easily made
Giselle look common.

He nodded, “Yup she was my first girlfriend. I
was in ninth grade and she was in tenth.”

I shook my head, I would have remembered it. I
stalked him like a lion in ninth grade, “No way. She’s a supermodel
now. She is smoking hot.”

He grinned the cheesiest grin I knew he not only
spoke the truth but also was having a dirty flashback as we
spoke.

“Oh my god. Does he know?”

The grin got bigger as if that were even
possible, “He caught us once, greatest moment of my life. She’s a
bit weird, likes to do it in weird places. She flies her freak flag
let’s just say. The relationship was a secret and then she broke up
with me. I couldn’t even brag a little to anyone, no one believed
me.”

I covered my eyes, “No Maryellen was such a nice
girl. And I'm disgusted you were having sex in ninth grade.”

He chuckled his fully belly chuckle, it sounded
like he should be fat instead of ripped.

I jumped as a knock on the door interrupted
us.

Shane’s eyes grew serious as he walked to the
door and peeked through the window. He unlocked the door and
greeted my dad, “Mr. James come on in.”

Her dad smiled at me as he shook Shane’s hand, I
could see the worry all over his face.

“I called the police Aimee, I know nothing
happened and they understand that but they’re as worried as I am
and its better for them to have a full handle on what’s going on
okay.”

I nodded feeling the reality of the situation
hit me again. It had been pleasant, fun even, sitting in the
kitchen with Shane laughing at his indiscretions but when the
reality set back in it hit like a ton of bricks.

“They’re coming here Shane, I hope you don’t
mind. They should be here any minute.” My dad walked into the house
and put a hand on my shoulder, “How’s it going kiddo?”

I nodded, “I’m good if I don’t think about
it.”

He agreed, “I think most things are like
that.”

Shane walked around the bar and started to make
some coffee in his mom’s expensive coffee maker. The huge stainless
steel contraption looked like it belonged in a barista and Shane
had a cup of coffee for my dad within seconds.

“Here you go sir, cream or sugar?”

My dad shook his head, “No thanks son, black is
perfect.” He sipped his coffee while we all looked out at the back
yard. “This is a good cup of coffee.”

Shane nodded patting the machine softly; “Yeah
my mom bought it in Seattle. It cost more than my truck I
think.”

My dad laughed.

“Where’s Alise?” I asked knowing the answer.

“She is at Blake’s house. His parents are
letting her stay over, they know about the situation and that we
need to go see Giselle. She is not to leave their house until we
arrive home.” my dad spoke as if he had an awful taste in his mouth
and I knew it was my sister’s way of twisting a bad situation to
her advantage.

He looked at me concerned, “Did you get a good
look at him?”

I shook my head, “No he had a dark fleece on
with a hood, sunglasses and he spoke raspy so I wouldn’t be able to
recognize his voice if I tried. He knew my name; he was tall like
Shane’s height and build and white. He was wearing jeans, dark
jeans. His lips, they were so thin, cruel and thin. His phone rang
with a squawking bird, it was black I think maybe a
Blackberry.”

My dad looked at Shane, “Sounds like every one
of your friends including you.”

Shane nodded, “I think at this point everyone
should be on the list of suspects. I am certain the police will say
the same thing. Though for the record I have nice lips and an
Iphone.”

I smiled at Shane, “I know it isn’t you.”

He smiled back but my dad’s eyes were not as
trusting as he watched us.

The doorbell interrupted, “The police.” My dad
spoke softly.

Shane walked to the door opening it this time
without looking.

Two police officers entered the house shaking
Shane’s hand and introducing themselves.

I recognized one of them instantly as the police
officer who had asked Giselle and me questions in the hospital.

He smiled at me kindly, “Hi Aimee, how are you
feeling?” He asked as he walked into the house.

I sighed, “Good, I feel pretty good. I’m a lot
better; I just wish this was over though.”

The other officer nodded, “Yes you’ve been
through enough I think.”

My dad laughed sarcastically, “Oh more
than.”

The older officer who I had never met before
smiled at my dad, “And how is dad holding up?”

My dad shook his head, “Our family doesn’t need
any extra drama, not this year.”

The police officer whose nametag said Williams
gave my dad a knowing look. They appeared to have some sort of a
relationship I didn’t know about.

“Coffee guys?” Shane asked breaking the sorrow
hanging in the air.

“Yes please.” The young police officer chimed
in, his name was Constable Bindley.

“Aimee, Corporal Williams here was with your mom
at the end,” my dad said quietly as he held his hand out to the
tall older looking man.

I felt my throat get thick as his eyes looked at
me full of emotion. I nodded dropping my vision to the counter
top.