20
I felt as though we were running in circles, every day turning into the next. We
couldn't seem to find any suspects, and time was running out. Since the day Leo had been
hurt, he had been healing in the guest room, leaving me to stay with Milo, which I was
just fine with. Every morning started the same, I woke up, brought Leo food and water,
then cleaned his wounds.
Then, I would go downstairs and reconvene with Milo, discussing our suspects
and eliminating the ones who weren't possible. I would spend all day thinking and all
night thinking more. But, the longer we stayed hiding out in the home, the more
dangerous things would become for Dylan and everyone else who was missing. We were
isolated from the world; a bittersweet feeling.
Yes, we were safe from the Shadow Man. But, more and more people were getting
hurt. I knew Milo would never allow me to leave, but without me, he would have no idea
what to do. It was abundantly clear, the stalker wanted me and not him. I would be theperfect bait. I realized that I had to get back out into the world, without Milo. He would
hate me, but that was a sacrifice I was willing to make because I loved him and I knew he
felt the same. I
knew that the only time I could do it was in the night, while Milo slept peacefully.
It was around midnight as I slid from the covers, making sure not to disturb the
untouched body of the boy whom I loved so dearly. I threw on a hoodie and pulled the
hood to cover my head. Slipping on some sneakers, I crept out of the room. Creeaak. The
door loudly opened. Panicked, I leapt out, then shut it quickly. Milo still was in bed, dead
asleep. I let out a sigh of relief and headed down the stairs. Making the way into the
kitchen, I took some paper and grabbed a pen.
I'
m so sorry. This is the only way we can truly learn and save everyone.
I love you.
My heart sank as I wrote what could have been the last words to my lover. I took a
deep breath and headed out the door, never looking back. The air was still moist from the
rain, and it drizzled onto my bare legs, wetting them.
I cautiously watched grazing across the forest, praying the stalker wouldn't see
me. All I wanted to do was to see who all had been missing, and perhaps I could make
some new connections. So far, there had been no nerve racking sound, so I felt only the
comfort of the forest in my head. The breeze quickened, and my legs shook from thecold. I shivered, and my feet padded faster and stronger. Halting, I heard footsteps
rummaging behind me. My head whipped around.
"What. You thought you could go on a late night adventure without your best
friend? Pshhh.
" Leo grinned behind me. His face was beginning to scab over now, and it
created his skin tightened into a scarred look.
"You shouldn't be out here.
" I warned.
He chuckled, placing his hands on my shoulders.
"He doesn't want me. Don't think I'm his type darlin.
" He smirked and put his
arms around me.
"Is there a reason we aren't telling pretty boy?" He gave a light laugh
His question caught me off guard but I managed to spit out an answer.
"I don't wanna worry him. Plus I just want to catch this guy.
"Pretty Boy" would
be too worried about fighting him.
"
Leo smiled in agreement and told me "touché.
"
I told him we needed to get going and find some things out before the sun came up
to which he agreed. We both padded through the forest, a familiar setting for me to be in
now. When I was walking with someone, I felt no fear or danger. That being said, this
time, I felt a bit more uneasy. I thought about it, and came to the conclusion that it was
because I wasn't near Milo. I missed him, a lot. And I had no idea how we would react to
my running away. Fog began to flood through the grass and mulch, clouding out vision.Quickly, I grabbed my phone and used it as a flashlight, shining at the trees and bushes.
My phone scanned the area, yet I saw no one.
I did though, hear something. A crunch sounded behind us, and Leo sailed behind
me. I suppose I would have done the same if someone had just chopped my face the way
he did Leo's. It wasn't long though, before Leo stood in front of me, holding something
in his hand. A switchblade. At least now we had something to defend ourselves with.
Smart boy. I thought to myself.
"We know who you are.
" I carefully said
Leo's eyes were wide and timid, and I felt my face grow pale and cold with fear.
We watched, as a black hooded shadow emerged from its hideout in the trees.
"Tell us who you are.
" I said, raising an eyebrow.
I felt the adrenaline rush through my veins as the fear began to willow away inside
of me. The shadow said nothing, he only started. He took a step closer, than another,
knife in hand. He pulled out his phone, then showed us his screen. He was writing a text
to me. If he had said even a word, it could have been over for him and we could
recognize his voice. A ding was sent to my phone and I looked down.
It read:
I don
't like seeing other people hurt you. Think about that and make some
connections. As for your friend, time is running out for her.So it was confirmed, he had taken her. I didn't know why, but I held a glimmer of
hope that perhaps she had gotten lost. But, that was a foolish thought and only that.
"Respond to him. It's rude to leave people on read.
" Chuckled Leo
Even at a time like this, he could only cope by making a joke. My fingers
typed quickly and narrowly on my phone, the screen shining into my eyes.
I said:
Tell me something about you.
He quickly began typing again, taking steps back into the shadows.
You get one hint.
I am closer to you than you think.
Well that was helpful. Watching carefully, he shut his phone off, then took a few
steps closer to me.
Stunned, I stayed frozen as I choked on my breath. Leo took a few steps away
from me. The stalker kept his gaze planted on me, drawing closer. I could feel his hot
breath across my face and I squinted in fear. He grazed the knife across my cheek,
moving down to my collar bone. He moved his face closer to my ear then let out a low
bellowing laugh that rang into my ears. He stepped away, then disappeared, blending into
the night. Stunned and filled with fear, my breath stayed caught in my throat. I raised my
hands, running them through my hair. Leo ran to my side, catching me.
"Okay girl. Let's get out of here.
" he said uneasily.I leaned against him, the trees began to spin, my eyes couldn't focus. I felt light
headed and I couldn't seem to see straight. Then, everything turned black with Leo's
screaming voice in the distance, slowly fading. My eyes squinted open. Where was I? I
groaned and tried to sit up, a pair of large hands pushed me down gently.
"How could you let this happen?!" A familiar voice snarled.
"She just passed out, must've gone into shock.
" another answered.
I could feel the flustered presence pacing back and forth to the side of me.
"She could have been seriously hurt. Or worse. Do you understand the kind of
danger she was in?"
My eyes focused intently on the person in front of me, whose head was lowered.
His golden hair shone over his face, shielding his eyes from the tall figure in front of him.
I opened my mouth to speak, but my voice wouldn't sound.
"No. I didn't expect it to go as far as it did.
" a shamed voice responded, must have
been the golden-headed boy.
"I need her safe.
" the tall boy's state turned from it's grim stern tone to a soft
vanilla voice.
"Where-?" I began
I couldn't speak clearly. I felt nauseous and fatigued.
"Hey girl. You need to stay laying down.
" the blonde boy spoke, a worried smile
painted across his face.I lifted my head as far as I could, heeding the boy's words. I saw the dark haired
boy, staring out the window, his hands in his hair. I could almost feel his heartbeat,
though we were so far apart. It was racing. He stood tall and relaxed his shoulders, then
faced me.
"How are you feeling?" his sweet voice asked
"I'm not sure.
" I said faintly
He touched my head with his hands, and grew closer to my face. I gaped into his
eyes, and remembered everything as a flood of memories drew into my brain.
"He almost stabbed me.
" I said, unsurely
"You're safe now.
" the reassuring voice cooed back to me.
I was finally able to sit up, Milo's hand resting upon my upper back, supporting
me.
"Once you fainted, I called "hero boy" over here, and he ran over to us. He picked
you up and carried you home. You have been unconscious for almost 36 hours. We were
worried, sis.
" Leo said softly
I remembered seeing him, and the texts. I then remembered passing out,
everything fading around me.
"How are you feeling?" Milo asked
"Like I need a shower.
" I gave an exhausted laughHe smiled and picked me up, taking me up the stairs. I was able to shower on my
own. Milo stood at the other side of the bathroom door, in the bedroom.
No feeling was better than knowing he was there to help me. He and I felt like a
team, and he was always there at my side. The hot water felt refreshing as it sank into my
skin. I watched as the dirt slid off of me, water pushing it down. Once the water stopped,
I wrapped the towel around my body and stepped outside of the bathroom.
"Get dressed.
" Milo said sharply, a hint of pain echoing.
I was a bit shocked by his tone, but did as he said. I put on a t- shirt and
sweatpants, and followed him downstairs. I noticed that my bags weren't in the place
where they had been before. Strange. I thought curiously. He led me outside, and Leo sat
on the couch, a melancholy look was plastered on his face as he waved to me.
"Where are we going?" I was a bit confused.
"For a drive. I want to speak with you.
" He didn't even look at me.
I stared down, head dipping.
He opened his car door for me, and I slid inside. Once he got in, he stared forward,
pulling out of the driveway, and on a path I didn't recognize.
I felt a surge of fear coursing through me. When we stopped, we were at the
lakeside. I hopped out, and he took my hand. I felt his fingers wrapping through mine. He
stopped and we sat on a rock that perched over the water. We sat for what felt like aneternity of silence. We were both just searching for the right things to say. I had just
snuck out behind his back, which I would imagine have affected him.
"I can't keep you safe" he started, looking out into the water "You're going back
home.
"
His words stabbed like a million knives, and my heart dropped, sinking into my
chest.
"Listen, I know I shouldn't have snuck out but that's on me!" I exclaimed, shoving
his shoulder.
He still refused to look at me. We had gone through this already, trying to push
each other out of our lives, and it was highly unsuccessful and a waste of time. I couldn't
go without him. I refused.
"I'm going to live in the city with my brother. It's safer for you to stay with your
parents, Violet. You must understand that.
"
"No! I won't do it, Milo. I need you!"
He stood quickly, staring dangerously at me.
"No you don't! Can't you see? I am hurting you!" He yelled back
"What? So we just pretend nothing happened?" I cried, hot tears running down my
face.
"I guess we do!" he boomed. His eyes turned dark with hate and fury.
"I don't
have feelings for you anymore.
"I stood, stepping back with shock. Chest pounding, eyes wide, I shook my head.
"You don't mean that, Mi.
" I said softly
He nodded "I mean it.
" His face curled into a snarl
More tears streamed down, I ran to the trunk of his car, snatching his bags out, as I
had suspected.
"Then" I stuttered through the pain "this is over.
"
I turned around, and ran down the path that led into my backyard, not looking
back. I wouldn't look back and meet his face. My heart had shattered into two, and there
was no way that it would be mended. I ran, as tears trickled down my cheeks. I wiped
them from my face as I entered the backyard I hadn't stepped foot in, in over two weeks.
It felt odd, being back here again. I looked into the forest for a last time, and saw
everything. I saw the trees I had frantically run through. I saw the lake, where the one
thing I loved had broken me.
Lastly, I saw the treehouse, where we had really met. It hurt to look at everything,
so I shoved it out, and slid the glass door open, making my way inside. My brother sat on
the couch in the living room, my father stood in the kitchen making a cup of coffee. His
eyes lit up when he saw me, setting his mug down.
"How was camping?" he asked excitedly, embracing me tightly.
"Great, dad.
" I said, hiding the pain in my toneI slipped past him, and up into my room. My room no longer felt like my own, it
felt like a stranger's. I threw myself onto the bed, tossing my bags aside. I had a large bay
window that stretched across the side of my room, a bench sat in front of it.
I made my way over there, curling my legs around my knees. I laid my head on
them, and stared outside. I watched cars pass down the street, and neighbors go outside to
grab the mail. I kept watching, as dogs paced outside, walked by their owners. I let out a
long sigh. If Milo wanted me to forget everything, I would. There was no reason for me
to hold onto him. Soon after heartbreak, I made the most regrettable decision I had ever
made.21
My phone was kept tucked away in a drawer, for I didn't want any remembrance
of him. I mostly would lie on the bench in front of my window, or lay in bed. My mom
and dad would come up, and try to get some information out of me, which I refused.
Then, Jack would enter, a smile planted on his face. It made me warm and happy to see
him.
He would talk to me, telling me everything I missed out on. He had just scored his
first home run in his baseball team. My mom got a new diamond necklace for her
birthday (which I had missed). I realized that I missed a huge chunk of time from the
people who cared about me, which stung. The first few days went on like that. I walked
by his house sometimes, in the daytime of course. It was empty, though Leo had been
staying in it, yet Milo wasn't, so I considered it to be empty. It seemed odd on the outside
looking in. I walked by it every day, for three days.
I would look inside the windows, and stroll onto the porch, dreaming of that one
rainy day I felt the world revolve around me. I had felt time stop. Then, it would all slipback to the devilish nightmare. It was a new day, and I was ready to move on. Maybe
there would be a day I would see Milo Calloway. I would wave hello to him in the street
and we would go on with some friendly banter. He would tell me about his new life, how
we had moved on, leaving me stuck.
My life began to pick up after that, days rolling into weeks. It was odd, because I
had spent all of my time with him. He and I, laying in bed, laughing together. He had
saved me so many times, and it hurt to know that he no longer thought himself capable of
that.22
After about a week, I was lying in bed. Checking the clock, I realized it was about
nine oclock at night. I heard something hit the window, but not break the glass. Startled, I
sat up, wrapping a blanket around my body. I nervously peered out of the window, my
eyes hunting for the source of the sound. A figure stood below me, feet planted on the
grass. Leo. He waved at me, motioning for me to come down. Without a second thought
or hesitation, I climbed down from my window sneakily. He put his hand out, and
embraced me. His face looked so different since the incident. It was scarred and rugged,
but it looked pretty badass.
His golden hair shimmered in the moonlight as he took my hands in his.
"It's time you did something fun.
" his loving smile never left his face.
I rolled my eyes hesitantly. This was not a good idea. But, there was no getting out
of it with Leo. Whatever he wanted, he got. He grabbed my arm and showed me to his
white car. As he got in, rolled the windows down, letting the summer air seep in. I let myarm fly out of the window and into the night. It felt so nice, free almost. He and I laughed
as we kept driving, until we reached the lake. My glee smile faded into a grim,
heartbroken frown.
"Did we really have to come here?"
"Just get in, idiot.
" chuckled Leo
It wasn't uncomfortable for me to change in front of Leo, despite what some may
think. He and I had been best friends since we were toddlers, so there weren't any
awkward feelings. I took off my shirt, and still had a bra and shorts underneath. He
undressed as well, exposing his scars that ran down his chest from the car. I felt sorry for
him.. Leo was the strongest boy I knew. He had endured something I could never
understand, and I sort of felt guilty for it. Had the stalker not known Leo was my friend,
perhaps I could have saved him. He was hurting people who had hurt me. Nevertheless,
Leo didn't seem to mind. He just leapt into the cool, refreshing water, holding himself
underneath. I jumped in after him, feeling myself drowning into the water. The cold water
seemed to swallow me, and I closed my eyes. Once I came up, body begging for air, I let
out a laugh, pushing my hair out of my face. Leo splashed water into me, and we swam
until the run rose. Getting out of the water, I felt the droplets fall off as I wiped off my
body with a towel. I set the towel down, sitting down on it.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Leo said, gazing at the sunrise.
I nodded in agreement, staring out with him."You were out there, suffering. And we had no idea.
" I said, rushing myself
through my words.
His face turned to mine, flooded with understanding.
"It's not your fault, Vi. It's the creep's who took Dylan. And every day we get
further away from finding her. You know they found Sam Taylor's body, in the ravine the
other day? His mom was bawling like a baby, his entire body completely ripped apart. No
one could even recognize him. I saw it too, him. I saw how mauled his body was. His ribs
broken apart, his entire stomach exposed, all of his organs spilling out. Not to mention his
throat, completely torn out. The worst part of all was when they found his head. It was a
few feet away, and his eyes. They'd been ripped out. I haven't seen anything like it Vi.
"
his eyes widened in fear and disgust.
I swallowed, picturing Sam's mangled body torn apart. I visioned the blood
dripping from his neck, the end of his vertebrae sticking out where his head had been
sliced. I pictured his eyes, the dark bloody holes where they once were, the veins seeping
out, unattached to the eyeballs. I imagined his mouth, wide open and broken.
Then, my mind moved to his stomach, the organs all spilled out, spiked ribs
cracked and crumbled. A nauseating feeling rushed through me and I felt light headed. I
remembered what the stalker had said.
"I don't like seeing you hurt.
" Sam had scared
everything out of me in the hallway that day Milo came to save me.
"Do you think" Leo began unsurely "Milo may have been, well, involved?"Then, a very dark and terrifying thought rose over me. Was Milo the killer? I
shook my head, trying to throw the thought away. I knew it wasn't true. Even though Leo
questioned it, I didn't. Milo was the one person I trusted with my life and genuinely
knew. He wouldn't go around slicing people open without at least bragging about it. I
pictured what he would say.
"He had a big mouth, so I cut it off. I couldn't do work like that and not take
ownership.
" we would have chuckled with the playful smile spread across his face.
"He wouldn't.
" I told Leo, and he seemed to believe me, sort of.
I spent a lot of time with Leo during the weeks of healing. His face was doing a lot
better, healing property. I still head no idea how
Milo managed to stitch him up so well. I mean, he had a hole through his face for
God's sake. Yet, somehow, he managed to save someone new. He didn't give himself
enough credit. Milo was fully capable of taking care of me and protecting me, he just
hated what happened. But, it was enough of him and time to do some detective work on
how to find Dylan. She was my new motivation.23
Leo and I's first step to discovering where Dyl was, was Sheriff Gray. I knew he
would have some information that could lead us in the right direction. We both nervously
entered the station, doors sliding apart, letting us in. The receptionist sat impatiently at
the front desk, pencil in her mouth. I stood on my tiptoes, trying to meet her eyes to let
her know the severity of the situation.
"Miss, we need to talk to Sheriff Gray-
"
"He's busy, kids.
" She interrupted, popping the gum in her mouth.
Leo looked down, I could tell he was getting frustrated. He finally wrinkled his
nose and looked up at her, anger in his eyes.
"Listen, toots. We don't have enough time for this and we aren't kids. So if
you could just help us out and stop being such a stubborn bitch!" he exclaimed,
banging his fist on the desk. She set back, startled by his tone. Leo didn't look like
the vicious type but he could hold his own. She rolled her eyes and called him
over. Sheriff Gray motioned us into his office, his gray hair shining in the lamplight. The station was dark, and wooden. Paintings of deer and geese were
decorated across the hallway. It smelled like doughnuts and wood. We finally
entered the Sheriff's office, and sat ourselves down, facing Gray.
"What can I do for you?" He asked, folding his hands on his desk.
"Dylan Peters, sir. She went missing about a month ago.
" Leo said
Gray raised an interested eyebrow, stroking his long beard.
"Yeah, her father's been frantic about it, comin' in every morning. Ain't nothin'
we can do. Not a single lead.
"
I sat back in my chair, biting my cheek. I debated what I would say next.
"We have some information you might find useful.
" I said
The Sheriff suddenly looked very interested, he sat forward, leaning into us. I
made him promise he would help us find Dylan if we gave him this information, to which
he agreed. I told him everything, my run ins, Leo's situation. The texts, everything. Once
we were finished, he ran his hands through his fading silvery hair, processing what I had
informed him.
"You seem to be the end-game.
" He said finally.
"Excuse you?" Leo spat to Gray.
He exhaled, pulling out a cig. Everyone smokes in Wenatchee. He offered us a cig,
but we both said no."It's clear.
" He puffed out the smoke "that he wants you. He is doing this to all
people you have fought with and have hurt you.
"
And he was right.
"So, you keep yourself safe and don't fight with anyone little lady.
" he chuckled
"You find this funny?" Leo growled deeper.
Gray laughed, his chest rising, he rolled his eyes and grabbed his mug of coffee.
"C'mon. This is just some town creep. Now, go home and lock your doors. No
funny business.
"
He shooed us out, and we sat on the concrete, beat.
"Nothing left for us to do.
" Leo said, desperation in his voice.
I hated to admit it, but he was almost right. Almost.
"He wants me, he can come and get me.
" My eyes narrowed, as I lit my cig.
"No way. You're insane.
" Leo began "You think it'll work?"
"No other option. It has to. We can plan it later.
" I said, rising from the hot
concrete. I walked home, and prepared myself to spend the time I needed now the way I
wanted, before I sacrificed myself to the belly of the beast.24
I focused again, anxiously biting my finger nail, phone sitting at my feet.
Watching Cade's number ring, he picked up.
"Violet?" a perky voice spoke
"Hey, Cade. I just wanted to see if you maybe wanted to catch up?"
A long pause happened as I awaited an answer.
"Yeah, sounds good. I'll pick you up at seven.
"
I told him that sounded good, then hung up, nervous. It was now time to start a
new life, and I was ready for it. I put on a green skirt, matched with a white top.
I then tied a white headband around my head, and brushed out my hair. I wore
pearl earrings and a silver necklace, then I was ready. Slipping on some white shoes, I
heard the doorbell ring. I took a deep breath in, watching myself in the mirror. It was now
time to engage in real time.When I opened the door, Cade stood, in a nice shirt and jeans. I smiled, giving
him a warm hug. It felt like Milo. Everything felt like him. When we left our embrace, I
could have sworn I saw his face, his sea blue eyes. I felt as though I could feel him.
"Everything okay?" Cade asked.
I nodded and we took my hand, leading me to his car.
"I thought we'd go to the city tonight, does that sound alright with you?" He
asked, looking out the windshield.
"Sure.
" I said quickly back
I wasn't sure. I knew I wouldn't see him. But, it reminded me of him. As we
drove, Cade and I laughed, telling jokes and reminiscing in times of school. It felt nice.
He asked so many questions, like he understood me and wanted to know more. He takes
a genuine interest. I thought to myself. Once we pulled into the city, I was surrounded by
a sea of lights. They all shone brightly on the car. We parked near a restaurant, and we
walked together, his arm around me. I laid my head on his arm as he took me through the
city, to which I had never been before.
We walked me to a park, darkness flooded into it. It was practically empty, except
for one person sitting on a bench, smoking a cigarette. The park was filled with statues
and plants. It felt like more than just a simple gathering place, it felt like a garden. I
strolled deeper into it, pressing my fingers against each of the statues, curiously tracing
their faces. The statue's expressions looked lost, but stood with a purpose.White fairy lights danced across the walls of the park, and the flowers were blue
and purple, like nightshades. I realized I had lost Cade, and was swallowed by utter
darkness. It felt odd, and eerie. I noticed the figure sitting alone had now left its spot, yet
I knew not where it resided now. Breathless, I kept walking, hoping Cade would catch my
eye. I kept my head turned behind me. I couldn't help but feel someone was watching me.
When I turned back around I saw a shadow standing in front of me, yet I didn't feel
afraid. Something about it's presence made me feel safe and warm, so I approached it.
"Who's there?" I asked, unsure
Milo Calloway stood in front of me, walking closer.
"You look stunning.
" He said, at a loss of breath.
I felt a cold rush go through me. He left you. I reminded myself.
"Not stunning enough for your taste, though.
" I bit at him.
His eyes turned soft with pain as he cupped my face in his hands.
"I did it to protect you. Do not think for a second I do not go every moment
without thinking about you.
" he replied, staring into me. I forced myself to feel nothing
for him, and shoved his hands off of my face.
"I wish the feeling was mutual.
" I spat, and headed the other direction, searching
for Cade.
"Does Cade know?" he asked
I didn't turn my head, I kept staring forward."Know what, exactly?" I questioned
"That he's a rebound.
"
I then turned around, almost slapping him.
"Don't act like you haven't had girls in and out of your apartment.
" I rolled my
eyes in annoyance, face glowing red.
"Why would I?" he stepped even closer, his breath on mine now, I grew closer to
him.
"I just told you I am drawn to you, and only you.
"
It sounded so nice when he said it, almost as though it were true. But I felt as
though it wasn't, and he was lying to me. But I knew deep down, he was telling the truth.
And if he was lying, it was a risk I was willing to take. I felt his eyelashes graze on my
forehead, and his neck leaning down to me, his body crouching to meet mine.
His soft eyes bore a flicker of mischief, and it filled my soul. I closed my eyes, and
as did he, his face drawing nearer and nearer, closing in on mine. And in that moment, I
felt his soft lips against mine, and a sweet sensation vibrated through my body. I felt as
though my body was on fire, and everything around me slipped away. He kissed me for
what felt like an eternity, or I wished it to be at least. Stunned, I opened my eyes, and he
stared into mine.
"What are we doing?" I asked, breathless.He grinned "what we do best, surviving.
" his thumb traced my lips as I stared into
him. I wanted so badly to run off with him again. But, I couldn't let myself experience the
pain I had experienced before. I shoved his body back, he didn't move.
"You can't keep toying with me like this.
" I said, my eyes narrowing to the grass.
Milo said nothing.
I was done with the conversation as a whole. He wouldn't beg, I knew that. He
would allow me to go as I pleased, because he wanted what was best for me. He only
stood, blending into the shadows. I took a last good long look at him. He wore a grey
jacket, leather material. Underneath that, he wore a white t-shirt, and black jeans. I move
my eyes up to his face. His dark fluffed hair styled barely over his brows.
His dark blue eyes filled with mystery I could practically swim in. He stood so
tall, and I wanted to run to him, but I didn't. I only turned around, and walked away, as
fast as I could. I could feel his energy behind me, grim and desperate. Reaching the light,
I let out a sigh of relief, pressing myself against the wall of the park.
"There you are!" Cade called out to me in the darkness of the night.
As he approached me, I felt him give me a long embrace. It didn't feel the same, I
kept my head turned to Milo, he stood far in the darkness, watching us intently. I only
saw the smoke escape from his mouth, as he disappeared in the shadows. Cade took my
hand, leading me back to the car. I opened the door, sliding inside against the leather seat.
The car ride was silent, Cade looking out the windshield, me looking out the window. Weboth stayed silent for a long time. I was used to the silence, no matter how awkward it
was.
"Did you know Sam Taylor?" I asked, still peering at the trees through the
window.
"Not well. I know he knew Leo really well though.
"
I shrank my head back in disbelief. How could that be true? Leo did seem really
upset when he talked about it. I didn't want to talk about it anymore though. I began to
regret bringing it up in the first place. Talking with Cade was hard.
We just didn't flow as Milo and I did. It was always awkward and full of an
uncomfortable feeling. I tried my best to distract myself, staring out the window,
watching into the forest. It felt like my home. The trees could reach the stars, the grass
soft and warm. The breeze blowing into the air. It felt so familiar, yet had so many layers
to it.
Am I always going to feel like this? I wondered. Milo and I wouldn't be getting
back together, that I knew. Yet, there was a shimmer of hope that resided in my heart. I
still wanted him, craved him even. That kiss didn't help. He knew he was playing with
my feelings, yet he persisted. I wished everything he said could be true, but it was all a
dream, and I had woken up.
Cade pulled into my driveway, as the lights reflected onto the garage door. I didn't
waste a second, and hopped out, ducking my head into the window."Thank you so much.
" I smiled.
His face seemed to be filled with camouflaged pain.
"It was so much fun to get to spend time with you.
" his eyes darted back and forth.
I looked into him, his brown eyes filled with a wholesome emotion. I grinned at
him, and closed the door, walking into my home. Everyone was asleep when I got there.
The entire house filled with darkness, yet it was peaceful. I walked upstairs, heading into
Mile's room.
When I cracked his door open, he lay asleep in his bed. I crouched over him,
petting his head with my hand. I felt a surge of guilt for not always being there for him,
especially now. I was supposed to be his big sister, and I was a pretty rotten one. My
father stood in the doorway, startling me as the light creeped past his shadow.
"They found Amber Davis.
" He said, rubbing his temples with his fingers.
I never liked her, but I felt a bright happiness course through me, knowing she was
alright.
"Where did they find her?" I asked
His eyes turned into a grim darkness that startled me.
"The forest. She's dead, honey.
"
That bright feeling was shattered. My feelings of hope for Dylan were slipping
away. But, instead of grief, I felt absolute numbness. My classmates were dying, and
there was nothing I could do about it. I put my head in my hands, and silently grieved inmy room, leaving Jack. I curled myself up on the bench, pressing my temples against my
knees. Everything was falling apart. Just as I felt all hope had been lost, I heard a knock.
Nervous, I grabbed a knife from downstairs, and slipped into the darkness of my
home. The knocking was sourced from the backdoor, and Luke Calloway stood, a book
of sorts in his hand. I rolled my eyes in annoyance, and slid open the glass door. Before I
could say anything, Luke shoved the book in my chest.
"It's Milo's journal. He's been out of it, since he's been living with me. I know
you probably hate him, and me, but please just read this. He needs you.
" His eyes became
desperate. I snatched it from his hands, then slid the door past his face. Moving back to
my bench, I grabbed a flashlight, and began reading.25
Milo
'
s Journal
Entry 1:
It'
s my first day at "Stonewall Prep
"
. It'
s filled with the same deal I see
everywhere. Sad teenagers. Except a different girl, with dirty blonde hair. Her eyes are
green, which stands out to me. She approached me today in the courtyard.
I feel weirdly protective of her, like if someone were to touch her or scare her, I
would want to kill them. I'
ve never felt that way about anyone before. And it scares me. I
don
't like feeling this way. Especially because of how annoying she is. Everything abouther torments me. On the plus side, I'
ve never journaled before because it'
s a sissy thing to
do, yet I enjoy it.
Entry 2:
I feel nothing for anyone, except for her. My idiot brother tried to take advantage of her
last night, and I lost it on him. Because if he thinks of ever touching her again, I would
personally make sure he does not live another day. There are times where I think she
dislikes me. Yet, she seems to love everybody, and be filled with positivity, T
hat'
s why I think she and I wouldn
't work out. She
'
s too happy. I am not. Cade Smith
approached me today in the courtyard after school. He told me to keep away from Violet.
He and I both cannot deem that possible, for I feel too protective of her to allow her to
slip from my grasp. It'
s a curious feeling, and I want it gone, yet I want to explore it.
I sense he will be trouble, for both she and I. I think it'
s best if I make sure they keep a
distance. He
'
s growing fonder of her.
Entry 3:
She confuses me. I don
't understand her. Every girl falls at my feet and praises me,
yet she does not. She fears no one and nothing, or so I thought. We saw something in the
forest today. A black figure. I don
't quite know what it is, but I think it is after Violet. It
seems to have a strange connection to her, yet I cannot figure out why.
Entry 4:Kids are beginning to disappear now. Sam Taylor and Amber Davis are now gone.
Though Amber was a spoiled brat and Sam was an utter douchebag, I can
't help but feel
a sort of pity for them. I suppose Violet is starting to get to me. She
'
s been staying with me
for a while, which has been really nice. It feels good to be in the presence of someone you
care about. I almost think I am starting to develop feelings for her. I feel her, though we
have never really touched.
Entry 5:
I have seen Cade Smith develop a certain taste for Violet recently. And I hate it.
She thinks that his perky hair and dashing brown eyes are filled with innocence, but I
know better. I see past it. She does not see his reputation as I do. There are some
suspicions I have developed about him, and his connection with the disappearances of the
kids. What she does not know is that he has been obsessing over her since I got here. Or, I
at least noticed it beginning then. He follows her everywhere, yet stays in the shadows.
Since the day I met her, I followed her too, just to keep her safe.
I, unlike him, have no malicious intent. He takes things to an extreme. I saw him in
the hallway after Sam Taylor tried to hurt her. He threatened her. I think he
'
s going after
people who have hurt her, thinking it will win her affection. I worry for my brother,
because I know he
'll go after him next. I cannot tell her, it'
s the safest way. I do not want
to scare her. The best I can do is keep her close and protect her. She will not fall captive
to him as long as she is with me.Entry 6:
We discovered Leo today. He was close to death, and it was difficult to save him, but I
managed to do it. I did it for her. I would have just let him die if he was some stranger.
But I saw the terror in her eyes, and the pain, and I had to mend it.
I think Dylan is dead, but I don
't have the heart to tell her. That or she is close to
it. We know for certain someone has her, my suspicion is Cade. It will always be Cade.
She told me that he is nicer than me; shows how much that fool knows.
Entry 7:
She snuck out with Leo last night. And as a result, she was almost killed. I cannot
allow anything to come as close as that to happen to her again. I have never cared for or
loved something as much as I do her. So, I know I must do the most reasonable thing, and
let her go. I know if I love her I should let her go. She doesn
't deserve to be trapped here
like this, terrified to go outside.
I will watch her from a distance, as always, and make sure she is safe. But, she
will not know it. It'
s going to be very hard for her to move on, so I cannot involve myself
in her life any further, because that can keep her safe. I will tell her tomorrow.
Entry 8:
It'
s been three days since I have let her go. It is by far, the worst feeling I have ever
experienced. I'll call Leo at times and see how she is doing. So far, terribly. I told him to
take her out for some fun. It really hurts to stay away from her, and it hurts worse to seethe pain I have put her in. I miss her sea green eyes, and her fair hair. I miss her scent,
the smell of vanilla and lavender. I miss her smile. And most of all, I miss her presence.
The light she brings to me, is now gone. I miss her.
Entry 9:
I have driven by her home a few times, and watched her. She sits on her bench at
her window most of the time. At first, she looked really tired and melancholy. Now, she
seems happier, and filled with meaning. Of course, I need to help her search for Dylan, so
I have been doing some police work and watching Cade, perhaps he can lead me to
Dylan. Perhaps it is because I am so jealous of him, and how she was drawn to him that
day in the meadow.
Maybe, he is completely innocent and I am captivated in my own self-hatred for
not living up to her standards as he did. He is a nice guy, I am not. I have only brought
her pain. And it fills me with rage and guilt. Still, I will keep searching for Dylan, it is the
least I can do for her. She looked so guilty when she found out Dylan had gone missing.
Entry 10:
Leo told me she is seeing Cade more frequently now. As much as I hate to admit it, it
makes me so angry to see him with her. I want her so badly, yet for her sake, I will not go
after her. I will stay here and protect her from a distance. But, she is going out with him
tonight, and I worry where his intentions lie. I plan to follow her, for he is taking her to
the city, where I currently reside. I'
ve spent my time here mostly staying up, watchingover the house, then I will watch her at times. I know it isn
't right and I should let go, but
I cannot. But, I know she has moved on, and it is my job to respect her wishes, because if
I didn
't, that would be unfair to her.
Entry 11:
I found them in the local park up in the city. She looked really happy with him. I
awaited her in the shadows, yet it was almost like I wanted her to catch me. When she
saw me, she only looked at me with hatred, and I don
't blame her. I truly don
't. I kissed
her, though. And I do not regret it. It was the most selfish thing I could do to her, and it
was unfair. But I had to touch her again. We had never kissed before. I never wanted her
to leave, but when she did, I said nothing, though my body was screaming to run after
her, I refused. She wanted to be with Cade, which I understood. Whether her intentions
were truly to be with him or not, I would respect her boundaries. But, I want to warn her.
He approached me while she was looking for him, after the kiss. He threatened me,
telling me that if I ever came close to her again, he would kill me. I heard myself in him. I
find it humorous how he chooses to think that he can beat me, which he cannot. If he were
to lay a hand on her, or even a finger, I would make sure he would never see the light of
day again.
So I told him to watch his back. I am assuming he will go after me next, yet I
accept it. I can fight him off. He basically just confirmed he was the Shadow Man and the
one taking all the kids. He told me that either I can stay, and he will take her, or I canleave and completely take myself out of her life, and he will not capture her. I wanted
badly to fight him, but Cade and I both knew what was best for her. I was a poison for
her, and her family could protect her, not me. My plan is to drive out of town, Georgia
maybe, or Colorado. I can reside there and finish out my high school career, then see
where the wind takes me. I plan to leave first thing in the morning.
Entry 12:
I informed Luke of my plans, and he does not find it wise. It is not his choice, it is
mine. He has tried to stop me, but he has no power over me. I am leaving in the morning,
that is final. I wish to say goodbye to her, but I will not. It'
s better this way. I love her. I
always have. And I always will. I am sending Luke to tell Sheriff Gray about Cade, then
it'
s over. My connection to this town is gone.
26
My mouth gaped open, and my hands shoved in front of it. He was leaving me.
Nothing terrified me more than the thought of him going away. I would never see him
again. And it was a hopeless feeling. At that moment, I thought about all the times we
shared. The first time I met him, in the geometry classroom, Amber was a total jerk per
usual.And now, we were strangers again. I checked the time. It was four in the morning.
I had time to catch him. I threw on my jacket over a tank top and shorts, then tied my hair
into a ponytail, keeping it out of my face. Rushing town the steps, I clutched his journal
in my arms, pressing it against my chest. My mind raced, my heart fluttered.
I felt myself slip as I threw the front door open. I was planning on running into the
city.
It was still pitch black outside, not a single light or person in sight. I felt my feet
echo on the wet pavement, my heart beating faster and faster, gasping for air. My legs
kicked underneath me. My eyes grazed upon the streets, searching for a sign to lead me to
the city. I began to slow down, chest heaving. I was completely lost. I pressed my face
into hands, collapsing onto the ground. I checked around my surroundings.
The street was empty, except for a car parked some feet behind me. It's headlights
still on, the car still running. I heard the engine booming from where I was. My heart
began to pound as I slowly stood up, walking, trying not to look at the eerie black car.
I heard the tires squeak, as it followed me slowly. I tried to stay forward, not
making any sudden movements, and swallowing hard. I took a deep breath in, my body
filling with terror, and falling to the pit of my stomach. Something was off, I could feel it.
Goosebumps rose at my skin, and I folded my arms.
My eyes widened as I realized the faster I walked, the faster the car drove. I broke
into a sprint, running, eyes watering, I could feel the car gaining on me as I kept running,faster and faster, I felt my arms pumping, and my chest breaking. I screamed, trying to
find a house on the empty road, but there was no one. My body was shaking, I couldn't
think straight. I felt myself trip over a rock, and my body soared into the grass on the side
of the street, hitting my head on a hard object behind me. Warm blood trickled down my
head, closing over my eyes. I watched as a shadowy figure strolled from the car, and
crouched above me, everything turning black, I only saw his evil smile spread across his
face. Then, it all went dark.
27
When I came to, I was in a dark room, covered with dirt and dust. Everything
was blurry around me, and my eyes refused to focus around me.
My arms and legs were bound with zip ties, my mouth covered with a dirty cloth. I
looked down at myself, my clothes were dirty and torn up from the fall. An excruciating
pain jolted into me from my head, and I groaned in pain. I rolled my head around, and
tried to focus on where I was. It looked to be a basement, with a cement floor and no
windows.I was bound to a wooden beam in the center of the room. There was a table to the
right of me, and some objects were spread out across a thick brown cloth on top of it. I
felt my chest heaving, and my heart racing again. I was in the light, but in the other side
of the room, were shadows and darkness to which I had no idea what resided there. I
noticed a small figure slumped against the other wooden beam. I raised my chin and
squinted my eyes, trying to figure out what it was.
"Hello?" I whispered, my throat aching.
The body didn't move. I only heard it moan in pain. It slowly tried to sit up, but
fell back weakly. The body looked oddly familiar.
"HEY!" I shouted louder, fighting for her attention. The body slowly rolled over,
facing me. It was a female. Her hair had been cut, shorter. A large gash was shown on her
leg, and blood seeped through her shorts. She had a massive gash that looked long
infected on her arm. It looked greenish-brown with a cream thick liquid growing through
it. Her familiar eyes gave me a hopeless stare. At that moment, I immediately knew who
it was. Dylan.
"Dyl!" I exclaimed, forgetting I was bound to the beam.
She only stared at me, trying to fight for a smile.
"Hey, Vi.
" she said weakly.
"Dyl, you need to tell me everything. I can get us out of here. I—
""No you can't. That night, the "Shadow Man" took me, and I have been here ever
since. He wants you so badly. He hasn't shown me his true identity yet. But, he wears a
mask, a potato sack over his head, and cuts eyes into it. Then he comes down and tortures
us, asking for information about you. See those tools over there on the table?"
I saw the bloodied utensils, and nodded to her.
"He uses those on us. I have had it the best out of all of us. Sam Taylor's jaw was
broken open and rotting, before the stalker mauled him. Amber was pretty bad too. He
would slowly slice into her every day, sometimes rip out her teeth, and her tongue at one
point. He said she "talked too much" and that would shut her up.
"
I covered my mouth with my hand, gasping.
"He won't kill you, if you stay with him.
" she said, grasping for breath. I sat back
for a moment, leaning against the beam. She had a point. But, I would never stay with
him. Especially after seeing the way he acted to Dylan. There had to be a way for us to
get out of here.
"Why does he want me?" I asked her, her body lurking in the shadows.
"He's in love with you, apparently" she breathed "make sure Milo isn't near him.
"
I knew exactly what she meant. But, Milo was already gone. I knew we were too
late. So, there was little hope left for me. But, if he loved me as Dylan said he did, then
perhaps he would let her go. I at least wanted a chance for her, considering this was all
my fault, she deserved a chance, to not end up like a human plate of spaghetti. Herinfected wound oozed from her arm, and she groaned in agonizing pain. I wanted so
badly to reach her, to see her closely, to help her. Yet, I was bound to this wooden beam.
We both sat in silence, trapped in the basement of this unknown building. There was no
way to tell what time it was, or if it was day or night outside. It was a feeling of great
hopelessness.
"I'm so sorry.
" I said to her, my eyes beginning to water.
She began to sit up, and look at me, eyes filled with a hopeless terror.
"You didn't do anything, Vi. This isn't your fault.
" she tried to force a smile.
My eyes grew dim, as I saw her face. She thought she was going to die. She had
no hope left, even though I was here for her. I wanted nothing more than to bring that
hope back to her.
Just then, footsteps came booming down the steps, we heard someone approaching
the small wooden door that lay at the top of a few steps. We both knew who it was, the
Shadow Man. I pressed myself against the wooden beam, ready to meet my capturer. The
door swung open, and he walked in. A nostalgic feeling washed over me.
He was dressed in his all black attire, and had the potato sack that Dylan had
described over his head. It was a deep brown, stained with blood. Dark circles formed the
shame of which he had cut for his eyes. And a wide, stitched, smile, with human teeth,
was cut and sewn in across the mask. That was the smile that haunted me for months.He was more terrifying with the mask on, some real Texas Chainsaw kind of stuff.
God only knew whose teeth those whore that he bore.
My body shook with terror, as he approached me, tilting his head, the smile
widening on his face. I gasped for breath, yet I couldn't inhale. My eyes grew huge with
fear, and my heart pumped into my chest. He leaned closely into me, I could smell the
blood on his mask. It was a metalic, rotten, scent, and it made me crinkle my nose.
He crouched down, pulling out the knife he had held to me so many times. He
pressed it against my temple, staring into my eyes. T
The blade's light reflected into the lamplight, and it shined into my eyes. His eyes
were wide with excitement. He pressed the blade in harder, and I winced. The blade
traced down my cheekbones, then my jaw, then down my neck, and he stopped it at my
throat. He kept a silent tone, never saying a word, until he did.
"I've waited a long time for this.
" He let out a small snickered "Of course, you
have no idea who I am, do you?"
But, that was where he was wrong. I cocked an eyebrow at him, and smiled
deeply.
"Of course I do, Cade Smith.
" My voice hissed.
His eyes grew wider, now filled with surprise.
"You are a smart girl, aren't you? Not smart enough to leave that Milo boy before I
ran him out of town.
" He pressed the knife against the stranger's teeth. He then proceededto lift the mask from his face, and I saw the true face of the Shadow Man for the first
time, Cade Smith. His dark eyes filled with the rush of adrenaline, his hair now dried
with blood of his victims, and a manic smile spread across his face .
"I wonder" he began "How much you are willing to sacrifice for that girl
over there.
" He pointed the knife's edge to Dylan.
He knew the answer to that question. I was willing to sacrifice anything for her.
"I will do anything; Just let her go.
" I pleaded with him.
He thumbed the knife on his head, thinking. My eyes wandered over to Dylan.
"She- she doesn't deserve this" I stuttered "you don't even want her!"
He nodded in agreement.
"I will let her go" I exhaled a breath of sweet relief "If, you promise to stay here,
and not try and escape.
"
I heard Dylan's shrill scream in front of me.
"I-can't.
" I began
He shrugged and stood back up, wandering over to this table of unknown
weaponry. He picked up a large pair of tweezers, and brought it over to Dylan. He placed
her finger between them. She began to scream in panic, a scream I will never forget or
wipe from my memory. I thought long and hard to myself.
"Every minute you decide to think, is every minute she loses a finger.
" he let out a
low, manic growl.He dug the tweezers deeper into fingers, and she yelped in pain, blood spilling
onto the hard, cold floor.
"OKAY!" I shouted "Just, don't hurt her anymore.
" I felt as though I was
dissociating by the choice I had made.
He smiled, excitedly.
"Then, it's done.
"
My breath let out of me, and he used the knife to cut her free. She let out an
excited breath, and rubbed her wrists and ankles, now free from the bounding zip ties.
She began to crawl over to me, and I reached out my arms in acceptance.
"You're too naive, my dear..
" and a high, manic laugh escaped from Cade's mouth.
He grabbed her head holding her up, her knees shaking on the ground, and he slit her
throat, right then and there. Blood spilled from her throat, and her eyes were wide, as it
trickled down her shirt. It almost looked as though a dam had burst and the water was
rushing out.
She gurgled and choked as she reached her arm for me, eyes growing dim, and
Cade tossed her to the ground, her body hitting it with a loud, thud. He then stood, and
put his mask back on, heading up the stairs, and saying nothing. The door slammed shut.
She fell close enough to me, that I could scoop her dying body in my arms. Hot tears
streamed down my cheeks as I sobbed, burying my face into her red stained shirt.
"I'm so sorry.
" I cried into herHer eyes barely slit open, she mouthed the words:
"It's okay.
"
, then she placed her hand on my face, and stared into me, with her
deep brown eyes. Her eyes were filled with so much pain, yet acceptance. She knew she
was going to die. And then, her eyes turned lifeless, and the light left within them, as they
closed, a smile fading.
28
I clinged to her lifeless body, grabbing it and holding it as I sobbed. The blood
began to stain my shirt, as pools of it formed on the hard floor. There was no reason to
stay here anymore; I had no one to protect. I had nothing, and I began to drown in ahopeless feeling of despair. Never had darkness as I had felt, washed over and consumed
before. There was nothing left. My family would eventually stop looking for me, Milo
was gone, and Dylan was now dead. I tried to remember all the best times I had with her.
When we were eight, I used to get bullied a lot by the other kids in school. She
was always the one to stand up for me, she scared everyone, yet she was my very best
friend. She was always the tough kid in school, raised by her father and six elder
brothers. They taught her to be tough, which we showed me. Yet, I never learned how to
defend myself as she did. She was my protector, and now, her deceased body was lying in
my arms.
I held onto her perished corpse for hours, her eyes glazed over, rolled to the back
of her head, now filled with a creamy white color that stayed pinned inside my brain. I
spent most of my time in the basement trying to sleep, and when I awoke, I would see her
body slumped in front of me, beginning to rot and decay.
I wondered if anyone was going to find me, or if I was doomed for eternity in this
place. Milo would soon catch wind of my disappearance, but he and I were over. Perhaps
Leo could help me. But all my thoughts were dismissed because of the guilt I was feeling.
My best friend died in the most horrible place imaginable, and it was my fault.
Had I not been so consumed by my own life, perhaps I could have saved hers.
Most of my thoughts were surrounded by her, for that was all I had; distant memories to
remember as I sat in the cold basement of an unknown building. The good news was,Cade had stopped killing since he had grasped me. That was the least I could do for the
town I destroyed. I thought I was doing the right thing by hiding with Milo, but I was just
in fact a coward, using other people as my sacrificial shield. And in return for my hiding,
everyone around me was dying. Had I just surrendered myself to him sooner, this could
have all been avoided. I was a selfish girl for that.
I hadn't gotten a chance to even look at myself; from what I could see I was
covered in blood and dirt. My hair was in a tangled mess. I was beginning to become sick
from the scent of a rotting body and lack of food. Sometimes Cade would bring me water,
but not often.
I only had myself, bound to a wooden beam. The floor was covered in blood and
dirt. There were pieces of skin and teeth from the deceased children that lay in other
places usually under the table. I would have taken the place of any of these kids in a
heartbeat. Maybe Milo was smart for running out of town, he was safe from Cade, and
could escape from the memories that haunted him. I knew that my time was running out,
and this would be the last place I saw.
I was going to die in this basement, all alone; and I accepted that. If anyone
deserved it, that was me. I prayed that Leo was safe.
Just as I had awoken from another time of rest, Cade came walking down the
steps. My body was now weak and I could barely think or move. I tried to raise myselfup, but I unsuccessfully fell back down, smacking my head against the hard pavement.
Pain jolted through my brain, and I groaned.
"It didn't have to be this way.
" He said, facing the table
I said nothing back to him. I was ready to die.
"Kill me.
" I said to him, my throat dry and parched.
"I'm not going to kill you. This could have all been avoided had you just
gone for me instead of Calloway. I would have treated you so much better.
" he
shook his head "it's a shame."