34. Hellscapes #3
She states it simply, no doubt, no hesitation. Just blind faith in her own delusion. A delusion that just so happens to be correct.
The hornets are back, funneling from my brain down my throat and swarming my chest. I choke on them. “You need some help. Let’s go back to the house, and I’ll call—"
“No!” she screams suddenly, the sound loud in the muted December woods. I lurch forward as she screams again, this time for Audrey. My hand snaps over her mouth as the force of my assault knocks her roughly into a tree. I can hear the air rush muffled against my hand as it's knocked from her lungs.
“Don’t-don’t fucking do that,” I warn.
Her dark eyes are wide, panicked now, and we both know a line has been crossed.
I can spin it… she is crazy, strung out, she tried to attack me, tried to hurt Audrey in her grief so I subdued her and called the cops.
But what if she talks when she wakes up?
Who knows what bullshit she’s already spewed to everyone.
What if someone decided to listen? What if Detective Altman listens?
She can see it the second I make up my mind. Her teeth score my palm, making me hiss as I jerk my hand away.
“Audrey! Audrey, help me!” she screams, scrambling to get free from my grasp, her sweaty palms slapping mindlessly at my face.
“Fucking corpse,” I curse, giving up on keeping her arms contained as she flails around like a drunken fish.
My palms meet her chest, giving a hard shove.
Her scream cuts off as her head hits the tree.
“You don’t get to say her goddamn name,” I warn her as I grip her face in my palm, her eyes dazed but still wide with fear.
It doesn’t excite me this time; there’s only the sheer percussion of the buzz rattling the fleshy walls of my brain as I shove her head into the tree again.
This time, she falls. Her blood and hair matted into the bark.
I’m panting, my thoughts all fizzling out behind the buzzing.
There’s nothing, not one I can pick apart from the other as I stare at her crumpled body, not dead, judging by the rise and fall of her chest.
Time slips and I’m still standing there, staring, when the sound from inside the house brings me back to the moment.
Followed by a loud curse from Audrey. Knowing my girl, she’s probably dropped something.
If I’m hearing her from here, her shower is done, and she’s in the kitchen; all she’d need to do is go up to the window. We can’t have that.
Jessica’s head rolls back as I lift her under her arms, dragging her further off behind the house out of sight.
There’s no gentle lowering or care shown when I drop her back to the forest floor, and not a sound escapes her for her troubles.
I leave her there, straightening my clothes and glasses as I make my way back to the front of the house, my steps faltering.
Across the street, the silhouette of my mother jogs from the woods, jostling a tiny girl in her arms. I get lost for another moment with the buzzing and the memories when the front door swings open.
I turn and pause at the sight of her, coming as close as I ever have or ever will to divination.
The thin straps of the light dress hold up the small bodice connected to the straight line of the rest of it, flaring out ever so slightly but not so much that it hugs her curves.
The gauzy material on top is embroidered with little bunches of light-colored flowers.
Her long blonde hair, still wet at the tips, is pinned up in ringlets, and two strands hang in her delicate face.
Audrey blushes, her bare feet stepping back into the warmth of the house. “Do you like it?”
“You’re stunning,” I answer simply.
It’s only then that she takes stock of my position off to the side of her porch. “What are you doing over there?”
I shrug. “Looking around. Rats are getting into stuff again in the back shed.”
She seems to take this at face value, but her face still falls. “You aren’t dressed, Gideon.”
Like a magnet, I go to her, pressing her further into the warmth of our home. “I got a call earlier.” I force the words out, hating that I can’t be with her tonight, that I’ll disappoint her.
Her sweet face falls further, and it tugs at something deep in my chest. “Why didn’t you say anything when we talked?”
“I was hoping I could get to a point where I could still make it. I didn’t want to disappoint you,” I offer, placing my hand on the warmth of her cheek, still flushed.
“You’re sweet, Gideon Bell.”
“Only you seem to think so.”
I would die for you.
Kill for you.
Be whatever you wanted me to be, wherever you wanted me to be.
I would do anything for you. I hope you know that, however this ends. It was all for you.
She leans forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and pressing the sweetest kiss to my lips. “Anyone I know?”
“No, you have nothing to worry about. Behave tonight, okay? Miss me horrifically.”
She smirks, brushing her nose against mine playfully. “Of course.”