Chapter 15
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
Ryan is out cold the instant the tent zips shut. I turn our little electric camping lantern on, snuggling up under the blanket beside him.
My mind reels over the events of tonight and what was said. Time passes, and before I know it, my bladder is calling to be emptied. Typical—couldn’t have picked a better moment.
Gripping the small lantern and moving as quietly as I can, I unzip the tent and cautiously stretch one leg out, then the other, careful not to wake Ryan. I grab some toilet paper and head toward our usual bathroom spot, choosing a new place further from the truck.
I trudge warily over behind the tree line.
I peel my pants down to the bottom of my thighs and do the deed, squatting just low enough so it doesn’t splash all over my legs. The darkness surrounds me, and I can’t deny that it freaks me out even with the lantern nearby.
Every nerve on high alert, I twist my head repeatedly, taking in everything around me. I catch a glint of something shiny and squint, unsure of what it might be.
I wipe myself and throw it into the little trash bag I brought with me. Tentatively, I make my way over, my fascination compelling me forward while every fiber of my being screams not to go near it.
Once I’m right next to it, I bend down and sweep my hand over the leaves, pushing them aside to reveal what is underneath.
Silver handcuffs.
Someone has been kinky as hell in these woods. I scoop them up, letting out a soft, amused giggle.
Absorbed in my thoughts, the sudden crack of a branch pulls me back, and I whip around as the blood drains from my face. I search the shadows, trying to figure out what it was.
An uneasy feeling overtakes me. For a split second, I’m sure someone was out here watching me, but that’s ridiculous. There’s no one else around.
Looking back down at the handcuffs, I examine one of the cuffs, holding my lantern closer to them.
“Oh my god!” I yell and hurl them with all of my strength when I notice a wet substance with a rust-like color.
My hands shake as I rub my fingers together, feeling a stickiness. I bring them to my nose and inhale, and a metallic-like smell engulfs my senses.
Blood.
What kind of sick fuck leaves this at a campsite?
My mind goes blank, and my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. I’m so stunned that my feet are rooted to the ground.
Out of the silence, I catch the faintest whisper. “Marley.”
If I hadn’t already emptied my bladder, I’d be pissing all over myself. My teeth are chattering, and it’s not from the cold.
“Oh, Marleyyyy,” the whisper grows louder.
What the fuck?
My feet are still frozen to the ground, and my insides flip uncomfortably. Without a doubt, I heard that one.
“Soon enough, you’ll be mine, Marley, in every possible way imaginable.”
Feeling returns to my feet, and I take off back toward the tent, my legs pumping like a mad woman. Diving into the tent, I wrench myself inside, and with inhuman-like speed, I zip it up.
Ryan is snoring—he can sleep through anything. I shake him harshly. “Ryan! Ryan, wake up, please!” I shout.
“Huh…” he murmurs in confusion, the alcohol still in his system.
“Ryan, there’s someone out there! Right outside our tent!”
“Marley, go to bed, babe, it’s late,” he groans, lightly pushing me over to my side.
“No, Ryan, please, please go check. There’s someone out there, and they’re watching us!”
Grumbling, Ryan sits up, his hair standing straight up on one side.
“Marley, come on. It's probably just the wind and the trees rustling.”
“No, Ryan, someone said my name!” I screech.
His eyes go wide, stunned. “You’re sure?”
With as much vigor as I can put into my voice, I plead, “Please, just go check.”
He flips the blanket off him. “Give me the lantern.”
I fling it at him.
He reaches over by his pillow and snatches his knife. “Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
I hug my knees up to my chest, holding myself tight as my body shakes all over.
He takes in the sight of me, and for a moment, I think he believes me.
He jumps out of the tent, and I hear him walk around our area.
“Hey, if someone is out there, show yourself! You freaked my girlfriend out!” he yells.
It’s so quiet, and my body is racing with adrenaline. I know what I heard. I close my eyes, replaying the evil voice whispering my name.
Rocking back and forth, I try to force it from my mind.
“Come on, this isn’t a joke!” Ryan yells louder.
After about thirty minutes or so, I hear Ryan stalking back to the tent. He unzips it and looks me dead in the eyes, anger swirling in his. “Babe, you’re hearing things.” He climbs back in and puts his knife and the lantern back.
He takes in the frightened look on my face.
“It’s okay, sometimes it happens. It’s so quiet out here, you can make sounds up in your head. You need rest. You’ll feel better in the morning,” he says, trying to soothe me.
Yawning, he lies back down.
“Ryan, I’m not making it up. I know what I heard!” I shriek at him. “And I found something—”
“Marley, please, I don’t want to hear it, okay? Just go to sleep,” he snaps at me.
I whip my head at him, shock written all over my face. The nerve of him!
Then, the self-doubt crawls over me.
Nothing about this seems right. I could clearly hear my name being called, and I didn’t imagine those handcuffs. I held them in my hands and saw the blood.
I hold my tongue, not wanting to have a full-blown argument with Ryan, so I stay quiet.
Tossed by conflicting emotions, I’m suddenly gripped by a quiet, unwavering determination. I make a note to find them tomorrow, show them to Ryan, and prove to him it wasn’t all in my head. Feeling better about my plan, I let sleep take me.