I got a phone call at 3:00 AM. It was my good friend. She sounded a bit distraught. “Hello?” I answered. “You've got to come out, they're all dead.” It was the first day of a very different life.
Let me take you back to a simpler time when all was painless and carefree. It was late Fall, the leaves had turned a bright red, a fiery orange and a pale yellow. It was beautiful. The wind was crisp but refreshing. With each breath it surged into my lungs and awoke the distilled life in me. It was just warm enough to wear a cozy sweater and be comfortable.
I was walking around campus with some friends. I enjoyed the sheer beauty of the elements as they prepared for Winter. The crispy leaves crushed beneath my deep brown heels. I was listening to the conversation idly until my name was called. Shaking my head I looked up. “Yeah?”
“Were you not listening to anything I just said?” My close friend asked exasperatedly.
“Sorry.” I replied absently. “What was it you wanted to tell me?”
“We are all planning to go up to Drakes cottage this weekend, you in?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“We will pick you up at 10:00 AM tomorrow.”
“Alright, want me to bring anything?”
“Just you fine ass, honey.” Drake chirped.
“Noted.” I replied sarcastically.
I liked going up to Drakes cottage, I really did but I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. I just hope he doesn't hit on me again. I thought absently. I laughed aloud.
I packed a few things, nothing special. Who was I going to impress? Certainly not Drake, he was impressed by the simple curve of a woman's breast, probably sometimes a males breast even, if it curved right. A smirk danced across my lips. A males breast indeed.
After packing the bare essentials I went to the liquor cabinet, I scanned and finally found what I was looking for, a bottle of Black Velvet. “Nothing like some good Whiskey to drown your sorrows in, isn't that right darling?” I said aloud to the empty room. I zipped up the suitcase and placed it in the corner for the morning.
9:00 AM came and I hadn't gotten a wink of sleep. I sighed and pulled back the covers. Splashing some cold water on my face only made it ache along with my entire body. I had come down with a Cold, great. Sighing I rang Len's cell phone. It rang four times and finally she picked up. “Hey Len, its me. I feel like shit and didn’t get a wink of sleep, I think I'm coming down with something.” I croaked into the phone. Len sighed.
“Alright I'll tell the others you cant make it, next time?” She queried.
“Next time.” I said reassuringly.
I had fallen to sleep finally and was woken up by the shrill ringing of my cell phone. I glanced at my alarm clock. I felt disoriented for a moment until my head cleared and I figured out where I was. It was 3:00 AM. “What the hell.” I said aloud. That's the moment my entire life changed. With one simple phone call.
“What do you mean they're all dead? What the fuck is going on?”
“I don’t know, its just I don’t know what happened but I came back and they were all, oh god you've got to come up here, oh god...”
“Alright, I'm on my way. Stay on the phone with me. Where are you now? Did you call the police yet?” I asked hurriedly trying to extract the answers to all the questions looming in my mind.
“I'm in the cottage, I didn’t know where to go so...” Her voice trailed off.
“Listen to me Len, I don’t know whats going on but I need you to get in your car and get the hell out of there now.”
“You don’t understand, I think they're watching me.”
“Did you call the police Len? Answer me.”
“No, I, what would I even tell them? That the bodies of all of my friends are strung up in the trees like puppets and their blood is dripping down into the soft fluffy snow? Jesus I’ve never seen anything like it. What the fuck do I tell them?”
I was shocked for a moment. My mind scrabbled to digest it all. In all the years I had written grotesque stories and devoured the ones others had written I had never heard of anything like it. And it was so close to home. “Listen Len, do you have any of their cell phones? Call the police on that one and keep me on the line for this one. Don t hang up I'm coming but the police need to be called. Tell them exactly what you just told me. Tell them you are scared that they might be watching and you don’t know what to do. They will instruct you on what to do and I'll be there as fast as I can. Okay?”
Len was silent for a moment. “Okay.” She whispered. I heard her dial and speak with the Police. I just hoped they would get there in time.
“I pulled my car up into the snowy driveway. The barren trees looked gloomy and hopeless. I felt as though I was driving into Hell but a frozen one. I saw six Police cars parked in front of the small cottage. Thank god. I scrambled out of the car and ran to the front door. I suddenly stopped, should I knock or? It was a stupid thought to have when ones in such a hurry but it plagued my mind regardless. I decided to knock. The door was flung open by a very tall Police Officer. He glared down at me as though I had committed murder. For all he knew maybe I had.
“Hi I'm-” I was cut off by a curt nod.
“I know who you are Miss, come in, quickly.” I stepped into the warmth of the cottage. It felt suffocating more than soothing.
“Len...” She flung herself into my arms and began to weep heavily.
“Jesus.... oh dear God....” Were the only words she spoke. I placed a hand on her head and stroked her hair as if she were a small child with a scraped knee. The Police Officers where all standing their watching. That's when the Detective strode in.
His golden eyes flashed in the fire light. He looked dangerous and lethal. So why was I so compelled to drop Len and fling myself into his strong arms? Why in gods name would I be thinking something like that at a time like this? Were the thoughts that roamed my mind. Instead I hugged Len tighter and cast my gaze upon the fire.
“Miss- ah I see we have a visitor. How convenient. Your name must be Andie.”
“To some.” I replied “My real name is Andrea.” Why I felt compelled to divulge that bit of information was beyond my understanding.
“Right.” He replied curtly. “Andrea, you're Lens friend then? The one that couldn’t make it on this trip?”
“Yes. I came down with a bit of a Cold...” I said meekly. Why was I so afraid of this Detective? I had done nothing wrong. So why did I feel so guilty? Maybe it was the flash of uncertainty in his eyes or the weary movement of his lips as he smirked. I had sat there pondering this as he looked me over. His eyes roamed my face, probably for any detection as to if I was lying or not. Then his gaze swept lower. His golden eyes gleamed with the carnal greed of every human. Desire shone bright in his eyes, but only for a moment.
“Would you like to see what all the commotion is about, Miss Andrea?” The sound of my name on his lips made me shiver with anticipation. I pushed the feeling back down and silently nodded.
“Very well.”
He lead the way out the door and trudged through the thick but fluffy snow towards the looming trees. I followed and had to quicken my pace a few times just to keep up with him. Finally he stopped at the thickest part of the forest. 50 foot trees stood tall and powerful. That's when I saw all the blood.
I glanced down confused at the blood. It had soaked the snow and made unique patters all along the surface for the next 30 feet. I was transfixed for a few moments until the Detective placed a long and cool finger on my chin. He slowly raised my chin to the sky. Horror unleashed itself into my mind.
There they all were. Fishing hooks had been sunk into their skin at various places, even ones at the corners of their mouths to make an eerie smile. They morbidly hung their high in the trees attached to fishing wire and swung as if they were dancing as each gust of cold wind whipped through the barren trees.
All six of my close friends. Blood continued to drip onto the snow, each drop sinking deeper and deeper towards the earth. Drake seemed as though even in death he was leering at me. The killer had captured his personality well. As I looked at each and everyone of my friends I noticed they all were in the poses I had most hated them to be in.
Lizzy looked like a trashy Porn Star, Ben looked as though he was about to punch someone out, Sandra's nose was turned upright, Gage's eyes were filled with disdain for those around him and Evan, my sweet dear Evan. He was hung by a single wire from the middle of his torso, his head was flung back and his eyes were held open, they peered straight down almost as though expecting my arrival. His facial expression was sad. He had always been depressed and it had always killed me to see him so. They all looked horrible.
I stood there with wonder and morbid curiosity blatantly shining in my eyes. The Detective chuckled. “You sure you aren't going to school to be a Detective?” He asked.
The question broke the spell and my gaze shifted lazily to his. “No.” I replied without emotion. I waited a moment to speak again. “Do you enjoy what you do Mr. Detective?”
“At times.” He paused. “Yes, almost always. Do you think of me as strange?” I shook her head. He nodded. We both headed towards the cottage again. Silently I wondered why he had even taken me there and how he had known I wouldn’t freak out like Len had clearly done.
They were almost at the cottage when he spoke. “My names Daniel, not Mr. Detective.”
“Alright Daniel, I like that.” She smiled. A faint smile ran across his lips too. He liked the sound of that too.
Inside the cottage the Police and Daniel where working frantically trying to extract information from the very wood the place was made out of or so it seemed. Instead of making Andrea feel helpless and frightened she felt exhilarated and enthralled by all the commotion and desperation she sensed. Daniel took Len into the bedroom, he had confiscated this sector of the cottage to use as his office. And yet I couldn’t stop thinking about what the room actually was. I felt my pulse jump and I lowered my eyes in order to disguise my thoughts. A faint blush etched across my face. I hope no one noticed, though why would they? All I could think about was Daniel and myself in a heated embrace, clinging desperately to the throws of passion, inching closer to euphoria. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I am truly horrible I thought.
Len exited moments later looking even more exhausted than she had moments ago, if that were even possible. She sat down beside me. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close trying my best to give her the comfort I knew she starved for. She nearly collapsed into my arms. “Shhh” I whispered soothingly.
“Andrea.” Daniel called softly.
“Yes?”
“May I see you in my... office for a moment?”
“Of course.” I had found it odd that he had paused in mid sentence. He certainly didn’t seem like the type to do so and it made me wonder if he was thinking the same thing I was. I quickly dismissed the thought however, what a silly thought.
He asked me a few questions, I had replied to the best of my ability. “Can you give me a call sometime, I mean if you have anything further to add or need my assistance” He stated professionally. I nodded.
“Yes, of course.”
“Good. Right then, I'll take you both home. My men will bring your cars and belongings, don’t worry.”
“I'm really okay to drive I-” I was cut off.
“I will take you home.” Daniel said curtly.
“Alright.”
He dropped Len off and left her with two Police men and her parents that had travelled up to comfort her in such a difficult time. They were probably going to take her back home and I doubted I would even see her again. If her parents didn’t keep her locked up she would be in a mental institution for sure by the end of the month. I gave her a loving hug and kissed her pale cheek. “Take care Len.” She only nodded in response and walked deftly along side the two Police man to her parents awaiting arms.
Daniel was silent as we drove to my apartment. So was I. He pulled up to the curb and motioned to get out. I did the same, grabbing my purse stiffly. He walked along side me until we reached the front doors. I pulled out my key and tried to open the lock. My hands shook uncontrollably which had shocked me. I hadn’t realized how shaken up I had been from all of this until that moment. He took the keys from me lightly and with the hand of a Surgeon he opened the lock. I stepped in and thanked him softly.
We had gotten up to my apartment and he again unlocked the door. “Thanks, I think I can take it from here. No more locks I'll need to open I don’t think.” I said trying to make light of my embarrassment. He only grunted in reply and pushed through the door.
“I have no intentions of leaving you, for the next few days at least. I'm your body guard so to speak for the next little while.”
“Oh.” I said dumbly.
“Do you want a cup of coffee or tea?” I asked.
“Coffee will do. Thanks.”
“Coming right up.”
We talked through the rest of the evening until I could barely keep my eyes open any longer never mind make coherent sentences. “Well I guess I should get some sleep, you should too. Ill get you some blankets and pillows. The couch pulls out into a bed.”
“Thank you, whatever you have will be fine. I'm not very picky.” The first joke he had made all evening. I liked the sound of it.
I slept restlessly, my mind constantly reviewed the events that had taken place in the last 24 hours. I could swear I heard Daniel breathing in the next room. A small yelp pierced through the air. I sat up with a start, threw the covers back and raced to the living room. Daniel was sound asleep and apparently dreaming about something quite unpleasant. Something took over my body as I knelt down and ran a finger along his brow and down his firm jaw line. He began to rouse. I quickly extracted my finger and let out a gasp. It was as though I had no control.
Sleepily he opened his eyes and looked up into my face. It was shadowed by the night as was his but we could clearly see the arousal in each others expression. His strong hands gripped my cheeks and pulled my lips to his. He tasted so powerful and yet sweet. Fire burst into raging flames inside of me at his very touch.
Authors Note: Hai, well this was actually a dream I had one night and I elaborated and worked my Writing magic on it. Hope you liked it. I wish I could draw in order to show the vivid scenes I see in my mind but alas I'm a dreadful Drawer. I'm planning on having a part 2 to this story, or more maybe who knows. But I thought I would post this much and see what everyone thought. Happy reading.