Chapter 8

Glancing up at Lucas as he inched his way closer, him and Daniel both leaning in, attempting to sneak a look at what was inside the safe. I looked back down at the fairly sized, black velvet draw string bag as it sat there, holding whatever it was gramps left to me for safe keeping. Grabbing the bag out from its home and clutching it to my chest like a life line, I stood with an amused smile as I saw the mirrored looks of confusion on both boys’ faces. 

“We can go now.” I said to them both, still holding onto my smile and the bag as I walked past Daniel and Lucas, to lead the way back through the house.

“Wait, that’s it?” I heard Lucas ask behind me as I kept walking.

Within moments of stepping out into the hallway, my senses were bombarded by the heavy scent of rotten eggs and decay. Mixing with the lingering smell of ash and cinder in the air, I raised a hand to cover my mouth and nose at the unbearable odor, so strong I felt I could almost taste it on my tongue. Walking as the boys came to join me, we were almost through the hallway before I felt the horrible stench clouding around me.

“And what may I ask, are you kids doing here?” said a voice from behind us “Besides trespassing on private property.”

Stopping in our tracks we turned towards the voice and were greeted by the stern face of a patrolling officer, standing in the shade less than a foot away. He was tall and in full uniform from the hat that covered his crew cut, to the aviator sunglasses that covered his eyes. He was decent looking, with a sharp angled nose and wide set jaw, he would have even been hot if the lower buttons on his shirt weren’t being pulled taunt by his developing potbelly.

Lowering my hand from my face, I plastered on a warm smile before answering his question.

 “Well officer, it’s hardly trespassing if it’s my house now isn’t it?” I said to him in a sugary tone as I felt both boys subtly position themselves on either side of me.

“Your house?” he asked, the corners of his mouth turning up “and what did you say your name was again Ms. ?”

“October. My granddad owns this house.” The words flew out my mouth before I felt Daniel’s hand on my waist squeezing in protest, not to answer.

“Well I’m sorry Ms. but the owner of this house died in the fire. He didn’t have any relatives or known family.” He replied with amusement “either way, you and your friends shouldn’t be here. Come on I’ll walk you out.” He said as he stepped out of the shadow and into the light, towards us.

“It’s ok Sir, we can find our own way out.” I heard Lucas say to the officer.

I felt him grip my upper arm and pull, trying to lead me away from the officer so we could leave but I couldn’t. For the second time, standing in my house I saw something that shocked me frozen.

As the officer stepped out of the shadows and into the evening light, I watched as it streamed across the right side of his face, altering him completely. Where the parts of him I could still see in the shadows were the same as when I first saw the officer, the parts of him that were in the light were beyond human. Where he had pale brown skin and perfect white teeth sandwiched between an average looking mouth on the left of his face, the light exposed his skin as a dark shade of reddish brown, covering his right. No lips, just two rows of sharp jagged teeth, tinted yellow. 

 “You alright Ms. ?” I heard the officer ask me, his eyebrow furrowing in unease as my eyes stayed fixated on his face.

Reaching his hand forward to pull down his shades, I stared as horror dawned over me black and violent, the same as his eyes. Taking an involuntary step back, I stumbled into the boys right beside me. 

“October? What’s wrong?” Lucas whispered to me in question.

“His face. His Eyes.” Was all I could manage to say.

He must have heard me, the officer, because within second the blackness that encompassed his iris and the white in his eyes shifted from concern to realization to fierce resolve.

“You can see me!” he roared as he crouched down on all fours and lunged towards to me like a panther.

It all happened at once as Lucas, whose hand still gripped my arm, wretched me back tossing me to Daniel. Reaching behind him, Lucas pulled out a hand gun and fired two quick shots at the officer hitting him right between the eyes. 

Slumping to the floor, the officer laid face down in a life less heap at Lucas’ feet. Never taking his eyes off the body, Lucas returned his gun to the small of his back as he turned to where he threw his duffel to the ground. Opening it he drew out a machete, long and thin, he tightly gripped the handle of the curved blade as he walked over to the body. 

Pulling me back into him, Daniel snaked an arm around my shoulders as the other tried to cover my eyes from the gruesome scene about to unfold.

“Don’t look.” Daniel said to me as he struggled to turn me away.

Ripping his hand off my eyes, I pushed away from him in time to see Lucas bring the whistling vane down in one swift move, severing the head. Wiping the black blood off the machete on the officer’s clothes, Lucas dropped it back in his duffel as he pulled out lighter fluid and matches. Dousing the surely dead body in it, he stepped back and struck a match.

I felt like I was watching something burn in fast forward. Seconds was all it took for the body to start to melt, even less for it to disintegrate until the fire burnt out, leaving nothing behind but scorch marks on the already singed floor.

Chapter 7

Without saying a word, Lucas put the car in gear and cautiously drove around the trees heading in what I hoped, was the direction of the highway. Looking out through the plastic windows at the back of the jeep, my thoughts wandered as I watched the trees pass by.

I had spent an entire night with both these boys, and was still no closer to finding out who they were or any closer to understanding their involvement with me or my gramps.

My thoughts flicked back to earlier and the conversation I overheard.  Trying to put the puzzle together with so many pieces missing was difficult, but not impossible. From what I’d gathered, my gramps asked Daniel out here to Troian with the sole purpose of following me, to keep me safe.

But why? Gramps thought me how to protect and defend myself. What was he involved in that was so dangerous that he felt merited a bodyguard? And what did Daniel mean when he said I didn’t exist, that I was a secret?

I asked myself question after question, wrapped up in my own thoughts I almost missed Lucas’ question.

“Excuse me?” I asked him, coming back to the present.

With a quick glance in my direction before looking back to the dirt trail, we’d now began to follow he said “I asked, why your house? What is it that you have to do?”

“Gramps gave me specific instructions, things he made me promise to do in case of his………passing.”  I answered looking up and meeting Daniel’s intent gaze in the rearview mirror.

“Things like what?” Daniel asked.

Holding his hard gaze, I recalled aloud the things gramps had me memorize since I was old enough to understand what he was asking of me.

“He said, when he was…gone, he was gone. Not to come back for him, I mean……..his body.” I whispered as I took in a staggered breath, “And to-” I began again but was abruptly cut off.

“It’s okay, October.” Lucas said glaring daggers at Daniel as he took his eyes off the road “You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to.”

Taking a shaky breath I looked straight ahead and watched as the Troian main highway came into view as Lucas took us into the midday traffic heading south. I was about to tell Lucas, to take the next turn off that led to the outskirts of the city, when Daniel stole the words from me.

“Take the next right and just follow the road from there.” Daniel said to him.

Before I had time to be startled by the fact that Daniel, who was basically a stranger, was giving directions to my house, I remembered that he was the one who pulled me out of the fire and who had been apparently following me for the last couple of days.


                                          Of course he knew where I lived.

I thought. Not saying a word as he continued to give Lucas directions, we turned into my street.

“Pull over here.” Daniel instructed Lucas as we broke the corner into Rosen Street.    

   

“Why are we stopping here? My house is at the bottom of the street.” I said to them both, leaning forward between the front seats as they began unbuckling their seatbelts. 

“Just being cautious” Lucas answered, opening his door and stepping out, allowing me to do the same.

“Cautious? About what?” I asked as I stood beside him, watching as Daniel handed him the duffel he fished out the back.

“Let’s just get this over with.” I heard Daniel growl as he shouldered his way past us to cross the street, not waiting for Lucas or me to follow.

“What the hell is his problem?” I asked in frustration looking over at Daniel, watching as his long legs made short work of the distance to my house.

Heaving a heavy sigh, “He has…….issues.” Lucas answered, throwing his duffel over his shoulder again as we walked down towards my house or what was left of it.

Standing there, staring at the decrepit and burnt structure, now cornered off by yellow caution tape, it was hard to believe this was the same place I called home. That I’d laughed and lived for so many years under the now non-existent roof as the entire second story was gone, leaving behind only a few blackened remnants. 

Clenching my hand in a tight fist, my short nails digging into my palm as a mental reminder to keep it together, I ducked under the police tape, crossing the small lawn to the huge opening on the left side of the house. I barely noticed the boys as they followed me in, stepping over pieces of my home as we entered. Pieces that were either burnt beyond recognition from the fire or dripping and water logged from the firefighters efforts. 

Looking around from corner to corner in a feeble attempt to get some kind of bearings, I began walking down what used to be a narrow hallway where off white walls once stood. Carefully making my way through fallen and seared fragments of my home, I slowly found my way to my grandfather’s study. 

As twilight approached, its faint sunlight spilled in from every direction, illuminating the room as it lay in ruins. Where my gramp's wide old, oak desk once stood, ash and debris now took its place in the middle of the floor surrounded by the charred walls of books he cherished so much.  

When I was younger and couldn’t sleep or when the nightmares would keep me awake at night, gramps would let me choose a book from his array of classics. Reading to me until I fell asleep with thoughts of great white whales and princesses no bigger than my thumb.

 Stifling the memory for now, I walked over to the remains of the desk as both boys ambled into the room behind me. Kneeling, I began digging through the rubble with my bare hands, pushing away as much as I could. Hands black and covered with sot, I brushed back the fallen strands of my hair from my forehead, finally reaching the wooden floor boards that covered the entire floor of the study.

            Unable to get a proper grip on any of the floorboards to pry them free, or even get them to budge, I scanned the pile around me looking for something to use. Without a word Daniel dropped to his knees beside me, brushing me aside he took out a small pocket knife and began working on the boards. Digging the tip of his knife between the boards and jimmying until they finally came loose.

Gazing down at the small door of the black safe hidden beneath the floor of my grandfather’s study, just as unscathed as it was 12 years ago, when my gramps first showed it to me. Laying my hand on the cool metal, I sighed in relief. Knowing that the safe was practically indestructible didn’t seem real until I saw it for myself. 

“Tobi, if anything should happen to me, anything at all, you make sure, no matter what, that you find your way back here. That you keep what you find in there safe and with you at all times!” my grandfather said to me as he showed me his safe beneath the floor of his study for the first time, only a few days before my 7^th birthday.

 I was young but mature enough to understand the seriousness of his tone as he spoke, that I shouldn’t ask questions but instead listen.

“Now, you remember the code I told you?” he asked, his voice gentling.

Nodding a yes, I continued to answer “It’s my birthday.”

“And when’s your birthday?” he asked, that same softness in his voice as he let go of my hand and turned, stooping down in front of me so we were eye level.

 “October 1^st 1993.” We both said in unison. A broad smile stretched across my gramps face, the kind that touched his eyes and made them crinkle at the corners. Touching his face, I smiled back at him happy that I’d made him proud.

Smiling to myself as the memory played in my head, I looked down at the small keypad. Entering the seven digit code, I wrapped my hand around the short shiny handle and turned. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I heard the click of the safe door opening.

Chapter 6

Turning to page five, I felt my breath catch as I looked down at a picture of my grandfather. The headline above his picture reading;

 ARMY VETERAN DIES IN HOUSE FIRE. 

“It says the fire was caused by a gas leak.” I read aloud. Dropping the open papers in my lap, I closed my eyes. Images of the creature I saw, his purple eyes flashed behind my eyelids. 

But it wasn't real………….it was just all in my head. Gramps wasn’t killed by some crazy ass nightmare come to life, it was an accident.

Looking down at the papers again, I re-read the article. After my third time I looked up at Lucas, his eyes searching my face, for what I’m not sure. 

“Are you alright?” Lucas asked with genuine concern.

I didn’t know how to answer that question, couldn’t even understand it.

Was I alright?

 I thought. No. I wasn’t even close to knowing what alright was. I knew my grandfather was dead, even before reading the newspaper. As much as I tried to deny it, I knew. I felt it, felt it like he was being ripped away from me. Whether those feelings were real or not, he was still dead. My grandfather was all I had and now, I have no one.

My grandfather used to talk to me about this day, if something were to happen to him, he wanted me to be prepared. So we’d talk about it, about what I’d do and in all those conversations I would sit and nod politely because they were just that, conversations, about something that wouldn’t happen now or anytime soon. 

Sitting there on the bed, I fought with all my will, to bottle up all the emotions stirring inside me. I could feel Lucas’ eyes still on me as I looked away.   

“No, I’m not.” I answered “I’m sorry, I have to go.”

 Throwing the papers on his lap I left him there, still sitting on the bed. Glad I was too tired and wary to take off my shoes before passing out on the bed last night, I ran from the small bedroom into the main area of the cottage heading for the door, my hand was on the doorknob in seconds, turning it open. As fast as I opened the door it slammed back shut, gripping both hands on the knob, turning and pulling, I looked up and saw the reason why it wouldn’t open.

A strong male hand lay flat on the door a little above my head, pushing it closed. Glancing over my shoulder, Daniel stood there at my back, glowering down at me.

“I have to go, move!” I screamed, still trying to pull the door open.

I heard Lucas’ heavy footsteps as he came into the room. “October, you can’t leave.” He calmly said.

“Yes I can! Now let me go!” I screamed at both of them. “What was I even thinking, coming here?” I said aloud.

Releasing my hand from the door and turning to face them both I said “I really appreciate you both letting me stay the night and pulling me out the fire and everything, but there are things I need to do. I have to go!” 

I watched them give each other another one of those looks, like they were having a conversation without words. Closing the distance between us, Lucas came to stand by me and Daniel. Looking down at me, his clear grey eyes holding nothing back as his next words surprised me.

“If you have to go, you have to go. We’re not gonna stop you.” He said.

“Thank you,” I said to them both as I turned back to open the door.

“But were going with you.” I heard Daniel say to my back.

“What? No, you don’t have to-” I began to protest, only to be cut off by, Lucas.

“We’re not gonna let you go, alone. You might need help.” He said.

Not having the energy to fight them on their decision to accompany me, I sighed in defeat “Fine.”

Walking outside in the mid-morning sun, in my borrowed baggy t-shirt and boxers from last night, I headed over to the small stream behind the cottage, trying to stretch out the ache from sleeping on an unfamiliar bed. Roughly tying my bed hair in a ponytail, I washed my face and rinsed my mouth, waiting for the boys as they took their sweet time in the cottage before meeting me outside.

Walking back to the front of the cottage, Daniel and Lucas walked over to me both carrying duffel bags slung over their shoulders, containing who knows what.

“What’s with the big ass bags?” I asked, eyeing them both suspiciously.

“Just stuff, we might need.” Daniel vaguely answered.

Shifting my gaze to Lucas for an answer, proved to be pointless as he just flashed me a sly little smile and sent a wink my way.

“Well if you want to drag those heavy bags through the forest, that’s your business.” I threw over my shoulder at them as I started walking.

“Who said we were walking?” I heard Lucas shout at me.

Turning back to Lucas, still wearing that sly little smile, he pointed his thumb towards the forest trees in a gesture to follow him. I watched as he sprinted off into the tree line, a couple feet north-east from where we were at the cottage. Looking back at Daniel, he calmly made his way in the same direction. Following them both a few lazy paces behind, I gazed up at the thick canopy of trees above, watched as the morning birds fluttered from tree to tree as they sung and felt the beauty of their song as I closed my eyes for a second to listen. 

My peaceful moment lasted only a couple more seconds, before being broken by a sound that one wouldn’t often hear, in the middle of the forest. My eyes briskly opened at the sound and I scanned the area nearby for the boys. Neither was to be seen or heard, running in the direction of the noise, I halted to a stop a few feet later, as I took in its source.

Another roar of the engine, confirmed that I wasn’t hearing or seeing things. Daniel walked out from behind the car or jeep as it seemed to be half hidden beneath fallen branches. As Daniel began to pull them off the jeep and throw them aside, I made out Lucas’ profile as he sat in the driver’s seat through the windscreen. 

Walking closer to the jeep, I could see that it was one of those 50’s style military jeeps. The kind that was made to drive through heavy terrain, in basic black it looked old and dated but I had to admit it looked pretty cool. Smiling to myself as I walked over to the passenger side, I began helping Daniel take off the few remaining branches on the hood and dusting off the leaves. 

“You like?” Lucas asked as he stuck his head out the driver’s window and looked at me over the top of the jeep.

“Yeah ok, your jeeps pretty cool.” I admitted to him.

With a shy little smile, he ducked back into the driver’s seat. Daniel came over to the passenger side door next to me, after throwing off the last branch. Leaning forward, he reached past me to grab hold of the handle and opened the door for me.

     Guess chivalry isn’t dead. 

            I thought, climbing past the front seats to the sit in the one seat that constituted the backseat. The roof wasn’t really a roof, it was made of this dark canvas like material and the windows at the back of the small jeep were made of clear plastic, like the top you’d see in most convertibles. 

Once Daniel was all buckled up in the front seat, Lucas turned to me in his, “So…….. where to?”  He asked.

            Sighing I answered “To my house.”