The Tainted (The Tainted Series Book 1) (3 page)

Maverick took a cautious step toward her, maintaining eye contact. His face tensed slightly, as if he were tempted to say something but afraid to do so. Rebecca could hear her heartbeat begin to echo up in her ears as her breaths grew slow and weighted. He was so close to her now, but surprisingly she felt comforted by his presence, almost wanting him closer.

Finally, Maverick spoke, “I…”

“Am I interrupting something?”

The sudden voice made both Rebecca and Maverick jump, and a loud crack sounded from the hood following Rebecca’s movement.

“Becs, I swear, if you get up and that dent is even bigger, I’m going to make you buy the new hood,” Emily threatened as she approached the car.

“Sorry Em.” Rebecca slowly pulled herself off the car, careful not to do any more damage.

Emily, however, was no longer paying any attention to her. Instead, she walked straight over to Maverick and craned her neck up to look at him. “My, aren’t you quite the specimen.”

Maverick’s smile returned instantly as he looked down at her. “Name’s Maverick, or Ricky for short.”

“Nice to meet you Ricky, my name is Emily, or Em for short.” She stuck out her hand. As he reached out to shake it, Maverick’s hands seemed to dwarf hers by comparison.

“Pleasure’s all mine.”

“So I see you’ve met my best friend Becs.” Emily shot a quick smile at Rebecca and received a nasty glare in return. “Her bark is worse than her bite.”

“I sure hope so,” Maverick laughed. “Well, I won’t keep you two any longer. Drive safe and see you ‘round school.” He waved a quick goodbye, which only Emily reciprocated, then turned and walked off through the parking lot.

“What was all that about?” Rebecca said as soon as she was sure Maverick was out of earshot.

“I could ask you the same.” Emily walked over, unlocked her door, and climbed inside the car, reaching over and unlocking the passenger side door straight away. Before Rebecca opened it, however, she took one last glance over at Maverick’s retreating form. She couldn’t shake the feeling he’d had something to tell her, something important.

“Hello…” Emily called from inside the car. Rebecca immediately threw away the thought and climbed inside.

Emily started the car as Rebecca shut her door. “Seemed to me like you guys were having quite the little moment when I walked up.”

“Well we weren’t, he was just bothering me.”

“I can tell. You’re bright red again,” Emily laughed and began to struggle with the wheel.

“There’s something about him that makes me feel uncomfortable,” Rebecca said, being incredibly honest with her friend. “I’ve never felt that way around someone, especially a boy. I almost feel like I’ve seen him before, or I know him from somewhere.”

“Maybe he’s famous, or did a reality show or something.”

“Em, I’m being serious.”

“Sorry, I’m listening.”

“It’s just…There was something about him…”

Emily stole a glance at her friend as they waited at a stoplight. Rebecca looked shaken, something Emily had never seen before. Her friend was always so strong, oftentimes to her detriment. Rebecca kept her guard up and held everyone at arm’s length, and Emily knew she was one of very few people ever to be allowed in. From the looks of it, Maverick had somehow done the impossible, and jostled that guard.

“Nevermind.” Rebecca shook her head as if trying to shake off the whole thing. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. How was your first day as a senior?”

Sensing it wasn’t worth pursuing the subject, Emily quickly began to fill Rebecca in on all the gossip she’d gleaned from the other students.

By the time they reached Rebecca’s house, her head was so full of relationship scandals, summer romances, and so much other high school gossip that she didn’t have any more room left for thoughts about Maverick.

“Thanks for the ride Em. See you tomorrow,” She said as she made her way up into her house.

The first week of school passed by in an uneventful blur. Her classes were relatively easy, her teachers fairly nice, and best of all, the other students seemed to finally not be afraid of her. Maverick continued to sit next to her in first period, yet he made no further efforts to talk to her. Every once in a while they’d make eye contact, but he’d only smile and then look away.

Sometimes, she’d inadvertently watch Maverick, but only when she was pretty sure he wasn’t aware. Rebecca couldn’t shake the feeling she somehow knew him. During class she refused to talk to him, and yet, for some reason, having him next to her was strangely comforting.

On Friday, as the bell rang at the end of final period, Rebecca made her way out of her classroom and to her locker. She found Emily already standing in front of it, waiting for her.

“Man, I miss summer,” she said as Rebecca approached.

“What happened to your excitement about being
large and in charge
?” Rebecca laughed.

Emily rolled her eyes, “I forgot that came with homework and teachers and uncomfortable metal chairs.”

Rebecca gathered her belongings and the pair made their way out toward the parking lot.

All around them, on the walls of the hallways and on every post in the parking lot were brightly coloured, glittering signs, wishing good luck to the school’s football team. Tonight was their first game of the season and the whole town was gearing up for it.

“We’re going to the game tonight, right?” Emily asked as they both climbed inside her car.

“Even if I said no, I have a feeling you’d still somehow make me go.”

“Good, after three years you’re finally learning,” Emily said with a wink. She started up the car and began the usual battle with the wheel. “Maybe Maverick will be there.”

Rebecca frowned heavily at Emily, but she easily ignored it and continued to smile brightly while watching the road ahead of them.

Emily dropped off Rebecca, but not before making her promise to be ready to go at 6:30, when she’d return to take her to the game. Rebecca pinky swore she wouldn’t be late and ran inside her house.

When she passed through her front door, she found Thomas sitting in a dining room chair lacing up his hiking boots.

“Are you going out into the woods?” Rebecca instantly dropped her book bag and began ripping off her Converse to replace them with her own hiking boots.

Thomas sat tall and looked questioningly over at her on the floor, “Aren’t you going to the game tonight?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Rebecca waved her hand nonchalantly, “but I don’t have to be ready until 6:30. That gives us plenty of time.” She stood and smiled at Thomas.

Using the table to help himself stand, Thomas smiled back at her, “I wish I still had your energy. Come on, I think I found a new path down to the creek.”

Thomas’s
path
was far from that. They were trudging straight through undergrowth, batting back low-hanging branches, and ripping away clinging blackberry vines throughout their entire journey, but neither complained. This was exactly what they loved doing.

They walked together in silence, simply drinking in the tantalizing sights and smells. Rebecca found herself so engrossed in the world around her that when Thomas finally spoke, it surprised her so much she actually jumped backward.

“You been watching the time, Becs?”

“Oh crap!” Rebecca hadn’t brought her watch, but one quick look at the darkening sky and she knew she was running late. “I’ve got to go. You gonna be alright?”

Thomas puffed up his chest, “Remember who it was that taught you how to make your way out here.”

Rebecca laughed, then turned and began running at full speed, calling back, “I learned from the best!”

She rushed through the undergrowth, dodging and weaving through the plants and tree limbs. At her fast pace, it wasn’t long before she burst through the tree line at the side of her house, only to find Emily standing outside of her car with her hands firmly planted on her hips.

“6:30! 6:30!” She yelled out to her friend, anger written across her face. “Do you know what time it is? 7:00! It’s 7:00 already!”

“I’m sorry!” Rebecca hung her head as she raced into the house and ripped off her hiking boots. She grabbed her Converse and jacket and ran with them out to the car.

Emily was already inside the now running vehicle. As soon as Rebecca sat down, she tore off down the driveway, as fast as the feeble steering would allow. “We’re going to miss kick off.”

“I’m really sorry. I lost track of time out in the woods,” Rebecca explained as she pulled on her shoes and jacket.

“Nothing new there,” Emily said exasperatedly, then slyly smiled at her friend. “I’ve already decided how you can pay me back anyway.”

“Uh oh…”

“I think I’m in the mood for a Diet Coke and Sour Patch Kids tonight.”

Rebecca laughed, “I think I can handle that.”

When they reached the field, the parking lot was already packed with cars. They pulled into a spot at the far edge and sprinted toward the game, which, by the sound of it, was well under way.

“I’ll grab us seats right there,” Emily pointed up to the top of the packed bleachers where a few open spaces remained.

“Alright. I’ll make a quick run to the concessions stand and meet you.”

“A Diet Coke and Sour Patch Kids,” Emily yelled at Rebecca, who was already walking away toward the small hut on the far end of the field.

There were so many people at the game that Rebecca couldn’t help thinking it had been easier to find a route through the dense forest undergrowth than through the jam-packed crowd.

After finally making it to the concession stand and purchasing her items, Rebecca sighed heavily as she turned around and looked back at the massive crowd she was going to have to push through. She wasn’t sure she could face it again.

Rebecca looked towards the sideline where her team’s players stood. Their area, between the crowd and the field, was taped off, leaving them plenty of room to walk around freely along the length of the field. Rebecca knew it was taped off for a reason, but if she had to choose between getting yelled at by the coach and facing the crowd again, she’d most gladly take the berating. Plus, she was fast. She doubted they could even catch her.

Making sure her drinks and candy were tightly gripped in her arms, Rebecca made a run for the player’s section. She dipped under the tape. Remaining as close to the crowd’s side as possible, she darted behind the players.

Smiling wide, she slowed as she reached the end of the player’s benches. They were all so engrossed in the game that not a single one had noticed her trespassing. Pleased with herself, Rebecca almost sauntered as she made her way down the rest of the field.

Suddenly, her senses spiked. She pivoted toward the game only to see a football flying full speed right at her face. So stunned she forgot how to move, Rebecca squinted her eyes shut and braced herself as the world around her seemed to slow.

Muscles clenched tensely, Rebecca waited for the swiftly approaching ball to collide with her head. Yet nothing happened. Confused, Rebecca opened her eyes wide only to find that she was now standing at the far end of the field, back behind the tape and nearly a hundred feet from where she’d been only moments before. She swung her head around and watched as a player retrieved the ball from the exact spot she’d just been cowering.

Something wasn’t right. How in the world had she gotten to the far end of the field?

Rebecca began frantically searching for any clue that could explain what had happened. As she scanned the crowd, her eyes zeroed in on one large retreating figure near the back end of the bleachers. There was no mistaking the broad shoulders and dark hair. It was Maverick.

Forgetting everything else, Rebecca began haphazardly pushing through the crowd, forcing her way after him. It couldn’t be a coincidence. That was twice now that he’d been present when something unexplainable occurred.

When she reached the edge of the crowd, Rebecca came to a halt. She stared out at a twelve-foot tall chain link fence and an empty field on the other side. There was no Maverick to be seen anywhere. She did a 360 degree turn, searching everywhere for him, but there was no sign of him.

Slowly, Rebecca trudged back through the crowd and up to the top of the stands where Emily sat waiting. She kept an eye out for Maverick the entire way, in case he reappeared among the masses, but it was to no avail.

“You alright?” Emily asked as Rebecca sat down next to her.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Rebecca answered, though she knew she still looked a bit shaken.

“Well it took you long enough,” Emily grabbed her Diet Coke and candy from Rebecca’s hands and began to unscrew the lid. The next thing they knew, they were soaking wet, as were half of the spectators around them.

Rebecca looked over at her friend, who was still staring down at the erupted bottle, completely in shock. “Oops,” she said as the surrounding crowd turned to glare at them.

Not knowing what else to do, Rebecca came to a sudden halt beside a large tree, pressing her body against it. Her breathing was strained, her heart raced, and her knees kept collapsing forward, her legs struggling to hold her weight. She listened to the sound of several footsteps racing around her in the dark forest, panic gripping heavily at her chest.

“Find her,” a harsh voice yelled from somewhere in the distance. “Find her now, or I’ll have your heads!”

It was so dark in this deep part of the forest, yet she could still detect the movement of black shadows amidst the surrounding trees. There were so many of them, probing the darkness, all searching, she knew, for her.

Rebecca watched, desperately trying to control her panting breath, as the shapes sped off into the distance, each one gradually disappearing into the darkness.

Finally, when she was sure she was alone, she collapsed forward, hands on her knees. She raked in the air that her lungs so fiercely craved, and her body began to violently shake. Her panic still threatened to overtake her, but she fought it back. She was still alive and that was all that mattered.

Suddenly, she heard a twig crack somewhere to her right, and her breath caught in her throat. She pressed herself even harder against her tree, desperately scanning the surrounding wood.