September 1st, Saturday - Casey Silpetti
Casey sleeps in the next morning, thankful it’s a Saturday given the time she got in. She looks through her small stash of canned foods for something for breakfast, noticing that she’s getting dangerously low on food. She only had a small amount coming into school, and hasn’t had a chance to replenish since school started. Hopefully she’ll be able to sell some of her pictures from last night, make a little money to save up.
After breakfast, last night in mind, she heads over to the art building. Letting herself into the photo lab, she quickly loses a few hours of meditative quiet in developing her rolls of film from the meeting. She loves being able to rock out when no one else is around. It helps her pass the time, instead of worrying about if she’s going to get caught somewhere that she shouldn’t be. Plus, with the photos she took last night, there’s a really good chance she’ll have some money coming in. It still bothers her that her empty rolls are missing, and she battles with the thought for a short while of whether she’s just being paranoid or not.
Casey hangs the negatives to dry and decides to head out for something to eat. “Wow! I always forget how fast time flies when I’m in here,” she thinks to herself. She can’t really afford much to eat, so she runs back “home” to heat up a can of soup.
After lunch, Casey heads back to the dark room to print hew photos. She looks through the negatives and realizes she has several she should be able to sell, this was a good trip. Some are unusable, it looks like there was some sort of light glare or possibly some bad film, she’ll try and print a few of them when she gets a chance to see if she can figure out what went wrong. It looks like large white smears or clouds obscuring some or all of the frame. It’s a little frustrating to see, but it’s only a few of the photos. She even looks through her notebook to check her settings on those shots, but sees nothing awry.
Casey spends the rest of the afternoon printing. She would rather have shot in black and white, she likes the aesthetics better than color, but one, she’s out of black and white film, and two, they’re harder to sell unless it’s for an art gallery (no luck there yet) or an artsy magazine (she’s mangaged to sell one photo, to one magazine, one time). Everyone else wants full color, the better to see all the flaws with.
She makes time to print a few of the damaged shots, and frowns. It almost looks like some type of light source futzed up the pictures, but from the background and details she can make out, it doesn’t look like there was any light source in the composition that would have done it. And she certainly doesn’t remember any there that night that would’ve interfered!
Casey has professional quality shots of all of the speakers: Senator Carlson-Kane, Mayor Delacroix, Chief of Police Woodruff, Father Piccoli, Mr. Mors, and Mr. Carlson. She has several audience shots, either for reaction or for mood. One of the group shots of everyone on stage came out rather well, it’s the only one not marred by the problem. She also got some nice shots of her friends, including a lovely shot of Bianca and Veronica laughing with each other. She tries to figure out what Father Piccoli was looking at when he walked up to the podium, but all she can tell is that it looks like he was either looking at someone in the Carlson-Kane group or the David Mors group. It might be Veronica, as she’s the only one really watching him walk up, and seems to be smiling up at him.
Noticing what time it is, Casey makes 2 quick 5x7s of the shot of Bianca and Veronica and then she heads back to her hidey-hole, pictures in hand. It’s a beautiful day out. A little cloudier than it was this morning, but the sun is still showing strong. There’s almost no breeze to speak of, which is keeping the temperature a little warmer than normal for this time of year. But still, with short sleeves it’s quite comfortable out.
She starts getting ready for tonight, and notices that her clothing situation is worse than her food situation. It didn’t really matter before, but suddenly the fact that her entire wardrobe boils down to the sum total of : 1 uniform coat, 1 old army coat that’s surprisingly warm, a well-worn sweatshirt, 2 each uniform shirts and skirts, bras, t-shirts and jeans; and four each of socks and panties. If nothing else, she’s going to need to find a little more clothing before it gets really cold, just in case something happens and she doesn’t have a nice warm place to hide out in.
So for tonight, it’s the pair of jeans and t-shirt that Aiden didn’t see her in last night, no way would she make a mistake like that. Especially not since he used to date May, who pretty much had a new outfit each day. Of course, not that she didn’t try to wear her cheerleading outfit as much as she could, the tramp.
She throws her notebooks and schoolbook into her bag, making sure her camera is also safe inside it’s bag. She tries not to go anywhere without it. With her empty rolls missing, she’ll have to pick up some more film soon. She only has the unfinished roll inside of it and one more left. She usually wouldn’t have left an unfinished roll in there, but running into Aiden kinda got her mind off of her plan to take some pictures of the city on the way home, not that she would complain! She almost leaves without the 5x7s she made for Veronica, but remember them just in time, and puts them between the pages of her Chem book.
She calls Harmony and tells her to pick her up a little ways away from the school. She walks across campus, enjoying the weather. Having access to the photo lab is also a good excuse to be on campus after hours, not that the security guards stop her today.
Harmony pulls up in her convertible, music blaring as she dances in her seat. Casey smiles as she gets in, she can’t help it. Harmony is a one of a kind, spinning top of pure human energy. She’s wearing a long, olive gypsy skirt and a brown skull-and-crossbones t-shirt, her designer sunglasses, and a few simple silver bangles. A knitted skull cap completes her ensemble, and keeps her hair from frizzing out from the wind. She taps her fingers on the steering wheel as she sways and jiggles in her seat, obviously enjoying the music.
“What’s up, Silpetti? I tried to watch the Town Hall meeting last night on TV, to see if I could spot you, but I ended up falling asleep. It was kinda boring. How was it for you?” Harmony zips away before Casey’s even buckled in.
“It actually turned out pretty good. I have quite a few photos that I should be able to sell. I’ll have to make some calls on Monday and use art class and my free period to scan them and post them to my website. And, you probably wouldn’t have seen me even if you’d stayed awake…I was up kinda high so I could look down on the happenings. How’s your day goin’?”
“Eh, it’s alright. Slept in. Downloaded some new tunes…like ‘em?”
“Who is it?”
“Nobody you’ve ever heard of.” Harmony and Casey both laugh.
“Yeah, well, they’re pretty cool, whoever they are,” Casey says. They seat dance all the way to Aiden’s house.
Aiden lives in Hepburn Heights, which isn’t to far from Raven’s Gate. Harmony lives here as well, so Casey knows her way around the area a little. She’s passed Aiden’s house before, but never been there. She does remember it was a pretty nice house though, and when they pull in the neighborhood she sees that all of the houses here are pretty nice. She thinks she remembers talking with Aiden last year a little about his parents, his mom is a lawyer and his dad a CPA. Apparently, they’re doing rather well in their fields.
As they pull up in front of his house, they see Cadence walking up as well, her school bag slung over her shoulder. The only cars in the curved driveway are Aiden’s new sport SUV, and a rather impressive Cadillac with government plates. No one was on the road, so she wasn’t dropped off either. She waits on the sidewalk while Harmony swings in and parks.
“Hey guys, what’s up?” Cadence asks with a grin, once the music shuts off. It’s the first time Casey has seen her out of school uniforms, and her look is completely different. She’s wearing a dark grey cargo pants, tight at the hips to show them off, but they flare out a little for comfort as they get down to her Doc Martins. A long sleeve grey top hides under a white t-shirt with some vague design on the front. Her hair is pulled up into two short, loose pigtails in the back, and her bangs hang loose in the front, framing her face. She even has a hint of makeup on. The total effect is completely at odds with her normal look at school, and is quite cute.
“Hey yourself,” Harmony answers with a smile. “How’d you get here?”
“Jogged,” she shrugs.
Harmony pushes her sunglasses up and goggles at the other girl. “Jogged? Girl, we were right around the corner from school! We could’ve swung by and picked you up, all you had to do was call.”
Cadence grins again. “Don’t have your number. Besides, I’m used to getting around on foot. I like running. Thanks though.”
Harmony hits the bell, then turns back to Cadence. “No way, let me give you my number. Didn’t you watch that Town Hall thing last night? It’s dangerous out there.” Harmony notices Casey’s look, and grins. “I told you I saw some of it, before I fell asleep.”
“Yeah,” Casey chimes in, “I’ll give you mine too, just in case…”
Aiden opens the door. He’s dressed similar to last night: short-sleeve, white button down shirt untucked. This one has a black, understated tribal pattern to it. Blue jeans, sandals, and a white wife-beater just visible through the open buttons at the top of his shirt round it off. “Ladies!” he smiles. “Please, please, come in.”
Everyone walks in to the large, beautiful foyer. A glass chandelier hangs from the vaulted, cathedral styled ceiling. A large, winding staircase is the other major feature.
Aiden walks towards one of the side rooms. Casey notices someone watching them from a doorway down the hall, she recognizes Fetch, the secret service guy assigned to watch Bianca and Veronica. Once he sees who came in, he disappears back into the room.
Casey hurries to catch up, and comes in on the end of Aiden’s sentence. “…my dad’s piano, and was playing me a little something. I don’t know much about classical music, but it was good stuff!”
As Casey steps in, she see’s Veronica standing next to the piano in question, blushing from the attention everyone is giving her. She’s wearing a simple lavender summer dress, with slightly darker lavender polka dots, and is barefoot.
“Classical? Do you know any Rachmaninoff?” Cadence asks, interest written on her face.
“His later stuff, his earlier stuff was a little…”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Cadence answers back with a smile, finishing Veronica’s sentence for her. “Do you know…”
Veronica smiles and says at the same time as Cadence, “Vocalise?” They both laugh at each other. “It’s my favorite,” she says. Cadence nods in answer.
Veronica sits back down, and closes her eyes. Suddenly the sounds of the piano drift through the room, aching in the simple beauty of the tune. Veronica keeps her eyes closed as she sways with the song, quietly saying over it, “I prefer it on violin, it’s a more expressive instrument. But I heard a recording of Rachmaninoff playing it on piano himself, and it was so beautiful.”
The song is haunting in its beauty. Casey finds herself swaying along with it, and the entire room is quiet as Veronica plays. Cadence is watching in rapt attention, her eyes half closed and a blissful smile warming her face.
Once she’s done, everyone applauds enthusiastically, causing her to blush again. Cadence walks over and rests her hand on Veronica’s shoulder, squeezing affectionately. “That was beautiful. You’re a natural at it.”
“So, the ‘rents aren’t home this weekend. The grill is already heated up, I’ve got some food ready to go. I figure we get an early dinner in, then get some studying out of the way. After that, maybe a movie or something? I also have Guitar Hero, I can actually play that,” he grins at Veronica, who smiles back. “If not, we also have some board games.”
Everyone heads out to the patio, where true to his word, the grill is sizzling ready. There’s a large marble prep area next to it, and even a fridge built into the cabinets of the island. The patio is open on three sides, but there are pull down shades, and even glass walls on tracks that can come down, turning the entire area into a glassed in addition to the house. It faces a beautiful Olympic, in ground swimming pool.
Casey and Cadence both stop and stare for a second, then burst out laughing at each other as they realize what they just did.
“Guess you’re not used to pools in your backyard either,” laughs Cadence.
“Nope,” Casey answers.
“OK…I’ve got burgers, brats, chicken and shrimp cooking over here.” Aiden swoops his arm toward the grill, like it’s a presentation. “Plates are here, and what does everyone want to drink? Chow down ladies!”
They all grab platefuls of food and Aiden grabs pop and water from everyone from the kitchen. The backyard is quiet as they all eat, filling themselves to overflowing. The chit-chat really begins when the eating slows down.
“So Cadence, do you know what kind of t-shirt that is you’re wearing?” Aiden asks, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
“Hell yeah, Woods Phoenix is the best!” She gives him a fake glower, “Why, you have something to say about that? You’re not a Donner Stephan fan, are you?”
“Donnie’s gonna wipe the floor with him, come Saturday, just you wait and see!”
“Uh, hello?! How about a little explanation for those of us who are not understanding?” Harmony busts in.
“Ultimate Martial Combat. The sport where the mixed martial artists fight each other?” he responds.
Harmony rolls her eyes, and Veronica asks, “Like wrestling?”
Aiden and Cadence both shake their heads viciously. “No no, it’s the real deal. Sort of like boxing, but a lot more brutal,” Cadence answers.
“I can’t believe you’re a fan,” Aiden says.
“Why, cause I’m a girl?”
“Well, yeah.”
Cadence stands up, the fake glower still going strong. She notices Veronica making a sour face. “I can’t watch that stuff, too bloody.”
“It’s like any sport, it gets you all pumped up, right Aiden. Watch, wanna see some of the moves I’ve learned?” She advances on Veronica, an evil smile on her lips that’s trying hard not to turn into a real one. Veronica squeeks and pulls back laughing, shaking her head no and holding out her hands to ward off the other girl.
Cadence plops back down on her chair, her smile a true one now as she laughs with Veronica. She turns to Aiden. “Just wait, pay-per-view next Saturday. We’ll see who’ll be champion.”
“You’re on. I’m watching it here; you’re welcome to join me. Anyone else too, if they want to see what a loser looks like after their fighter gets stomped,” he says grinning.
They finish eating and clean off the table. The Chem students take out their books to start studying and Harmony grabs her art supplies to draw them.
“Thank you guys sooooo much for letting me draw you. This is exactly what Mr. Boyd wants me to work on. Just study and pretend I’m not even here.”
Casey opens her book and the 5x7s she brought for Veronica fall out. Cadence picks one up and Casey hands the other one to Veronica. “These are for you and your sis, Roni. I took it last night, thought you might like a copy.”
“This is really good,” Cadence says, then passes it on to Aiden.
“Yeah, it is,” he concurs. “Are all the ones you took last night this good?”
“I don’t know, and thanks,” Casey blushes a little nervous at the attention.
Aiden hands the 2nd photo to Veronica who gives Casey a little hug. “Thank you.”
“Shall we study?” Aiden prompts.
After about 45 minutes, Harmony and Casey walk into the kitchen to grab some more drinks for everyone. “Ok, so I sooo hope things change after ya’ll are done studying.”
Casey stops, and turns to her friend. “What do you mean?”
Harmony smiles. “Cause I”m sorta feeling fifth wheel and all right about now. I mean, hello, have you noticed? Oh wait, you wouldn’t because you and Aiden have been making google eyes at each other all night,” she teases. “But I’ve been watching all of you while I’m drawing ya’ll, and between you and Aiden’s seriously gotta-get-a-room-heat-lightning and my rather firm belief that Cadence is totally into mini-Kane in there, I’m thinking I’m odd man out. So to speak.”
Harmony totally forgets about being fifth wheel when she sees Fetch peek out from his “waiting room.” She grabs Casey’s arm and pulls her to the side. “Oh my god, did you see the hottie in there? Who the hell is that? Is Dennison keeping his sexy-ass cousin hidden from us or something?”
Casey realizes she’s talking about Fetch, who must be waiting inside for Veronica to finish up here. “Not that I know of. I believe that’s Roni and Bianca’s bodyguard…who from what I noticed at the Town Hall thing, Bianca has the major hots for, if not more.”
“Damn. Why are the hot ones alway spoken for? Oh well, I can still picture him nekkid.”
They both laugh, knowing that Harmony is dead serious about picturing Fetch naked. He may even show up in some of her drawings. “Come on,” Casey says, “You can fantasize later.”
They study for about an hour and a half more and decide their brains have had all the Advanced Chem they can take for a Saturday. The books and art supplies all get put away as Aiden comments, “So Harmony, Jake was asking about you the other day.”
“Jake Ryan?!”
“The very one. Something about the way you looked in uniform. Was wondering about his chances on a date to the Kick-Off Formal coming up…”
“Jake Ryan wants to go to the Kick-Off Formal with me? Yeah right. Jake Ryan doesn’t even know I exist, being as I’m not a cheerleader.”
“Well, he does know you exist, and he’s being very junior high about it.” Aiden puts on a high-pitched girly voice, “So do you like him, will you go to the dance with him, huh, huh??”
Harmony play punches Aiden. “He’d better ask me himself if he really wants to know.”
Cadence picks up one of Casey’s photos and looks at it. “You looked really pretty last night at that Town Hall meeting. Your mom and sister too from what I could see. And your dad looked like a nice guy too, I like his smile,” Cadence tells Veronica.
Veronica lights up. “Thanks! My dad’s great. He really makes up for my mom… she can be kinda hard to deal with. This must be my weekend for being on TV. Monday we have the labor day parade. So if any of ya’ll are going, keep an eye out for me! Me and Binks should be on one with my mom.”
“I’ll have to be there then!”
“Sounds like it could be fun, what do you think Case?” Aiden asks with a raised eyebrow.
Casey sees Harmony wink at her and mouth “Told you.” from across the room.
“I don’t know. I guess I forgot it was Labor Day weekend. Maybe.”
There’s a slightly awkward pause until Harmony breaks it. “So Dennison, bust out the movies. What are we going to watch? I need to veg out after watching ya’ll study for so long.”
Aiden walks over to a cabinet and opens it up, showing rows of movie cases inside. “What are ya’ll in the mood for?”
“Got anything new? Or does someone want reruns?” Harmony asks.
“Doesn’t matter to me. I don’t really watch TV, my mom doesn’t allow it. So pretty much any movie is new to me,” Veronica answers.
Everyone stops and turns to her. “No TV, for real?” Harmony asks.
“Well, my dad and I sneak in some TV every once in a while. He says that no child should be brought up without an education in the classics.”
“Oh, we have to watch something good then. Anyone got a suggestion?
“Big Trouble in Little China!” Silence follows Harmony’s outburst. “Well, I think it’s a classic,” she mumbles as snickers fill the room.
“Shakespeare in Love?” Cadence offers quietly.
“The Haunting?” Aiden asks.
All eyes turn to Casey next. “Oh I get it, I’m the three-way tiebreaker. Umm…I’m not really big on scary movies.” ‘Especially when I have to go home alone,’ she thinks. “And, I’m not really in the mood for a big romance. And, sorry Harm, but you’ve made me watch Big Trouble in Little China waaaay too many times. Why don’t we play a game?”
At that moment, Fetch comes in and says something to Veronica that nobody else can make out. “Well, I’m out, my mom wants me home.”
“Hey, can I catch a ride?” Cadence asks. “I jogged over, and it’s dark now, so I probably shouldn’t jog back home.”
Veronica smiles and it lights up the room, “Sure.”
“Oh, before I forget,” Casey comments. “Here’s my cell number if you ever want to hang out or need someone to walk with you somewhere. Sorry, but I don’t jog.” She gets out her notebook and writes down her number for Cadence. Harmony writes hers down too and hands Cadence the numbers.
They say their goodbyes to Cadence and Veronica, and Harmony decides it’s time for her to go too.
“Let me just grab my bag, and you can give me a ride back,” Casey says.
Aiden quickly jumps in, “I can give you a ride home later…if you want to stay and watch a movie or play a game or something that is.”
“Ummm…” Casey thinks about the situation. She runs through all these thoughts in a matter of seconds. ‘If I stay, I get to hang out with Aiden, who I like and who apparently likes me. But it’s too far for me to walk back to school from here, which means, if I stay, he’ll have to give me a ride, and from last night, he thinks I live a couple blocks from the diner - which isn’t even close to being true since it took over 20 minutes to walk home last night. So, if I stay, I’ll have to fake where I live and then take a long walk afterwards. Plus, if I do that, then anytime he wants to pick me up or drop me off, it’ll have to be from there…assuming he even wants to do that in the future. I could pretend I forgot something in the darkroom, but knowing Aiden, he’ll just want to wait for me and then give me a ride home. I could tell him I lied about where I live last night and pick somewhere closer to school, but then he might be too curious about why I lied. On the other hand, if I catch a ride with Harm, all is good…except I don’t know how Aiden will react to me ditching out on him. The bonus of that is that Harmony won’t ask me a million questions about dropping me off back near the school. She may know the basics of the sitch, but not the details, and she doesn’t always believe my excuses. It’s kind of our own don’t ask, don’t tell policy.’
“I’m just gonna catch a ride with Harmony now. I’m really tired and haven’t been home much this weekend, what with the town hall thing and the diner last night, and the darkroom and this today. I also have laundry and a couple other things to do. Sorry.” Casey tries to be light about it, but Aiden’s face drop. Casey can tell he’s disappointed.
“It’s ok,” he says.
Casey looks at Harmony, feeling a little guilty about lying to Aiden. Harmony gives her a “what are you doing?” look. Casey shrugs almost imperceptibly and Harmony grabs Casey’s arm, making her drop her bag, and drags her out to the porch.
“Hang on Aiden, I need to talk to Case real quick.”
Aiden stands there, not really sure what to do. He should probably go into the other room since he can hear most of the conversation on the porch, but he wants to be there when they come back in. He stares around the entryway, trying not to pay attention to their private conversation, but not really succeeding.
On the porch, Harmony is trying to figure Casey out. “Why don’t you want to stay? He likes you! And, I mean he really likes you. Plus his parent’s aren’t home…you can at least make out.” Harmony continues before Casey can say anything, “And don’t tell me you don’t like him. I know you. I’m your freakin’ best friend! I know things are rough for you right now, and I wish you’d trust me…your best friend…enough to confide in me. I know about your trust issues, we’ve been over that a million times, but can’t you at least have some fun tonight and not be ‘loner, fend-for-yourself, runaway girl’ for once?”
“I…I…”
“Hanging out with him tonight doesn’t mean you’re linked forever, but if you like him and want him to stay a part of your life, you’re probably gonna have to tell him some of it…and sooner is probably better than later.”
Casey is stunned at Harmony’s outburst. “I’m sorry Harm. You are my best friend, and you know me and more about me than anyone else. I do trust you, but I get so worried about getting sent back to those evil people…or worse. I’m 18 in a week, and then they can’t send me back. How ‘bout I tell you everything you want to know then?”
Harmony beams and bear hugs Casey. “Thank you Case! I just…sometimes I feel like…I don’t know…not good enough for you to trust and I’d do anything for you, even if you don’t want the help.”
They hear the phone ring inside. Harmony continues, “So, what about tonight? You gonna’ stay or do you still want a ride?”
“I need some time to think. There’s all-of-a-sudden an abundance of people who seem to care and I’m not used to that. I don’t know how to deal.” Casey gives Harmony a quick hug. “Let me get my bag and we can go.”
Harmony heads out to her car and Casey runs in to get her bag and say good-bye. Casey picks up the few things that fell out and goes to find Aiden. She finds him in the kitchen finishing up his phone call.
“Hey, I’m gonna go ahead and go home. Honestly, I really just need some ‘me’ time,” Casey tells him.
“Oh.” Aiden still looks disappointed. Casey finds a notepad on the table and writes down her cell number, making a mental note to get more minutes as soon as she gets some cash. She hands the paper to him and says, “If you’re still wanting to go see Roni in the parade on Monday, I’d like that.”
Aiden grins. “Do you wanna come swimming after?” he blurts out.
“Ummm…I…well, I don’t have a suit, but it sounds like it would have been fun.”
“We can get you one before we come back from the parade. All the stores have Labor Day sales and we’ll be downtown already. It’d be no big deal to stop and get you one.”
“Ummm…” Casey thinks about her lack of funds right now, “We’ll see. I gotta’ go, Harm’s waiting.” Casey heads toward the front door, but stops. “Isn’t it a little chilly to go swimming?”
“It’s heated. My dad keeps it open all year. It gets almost as hot as a hot tub.”
“Oh. Well, I’ll see you Monday!” She waves bye as Harmony zips down the driveway, tunes blaring.
Harmony drops Casey off at the school on the premise that she forgot something in the darkroom and will walk from there…a story that Harmony doesn’t believe, but goes along with for now.
Casey walks back to her hideaway, lost in thoughts of Aiden, Cadence, Harmony and Veronica. She almost doesn’t notice the extra vehicle outside Cadence and her mom’s half of the building. She hides behind a tree, hoping no one saw her and peeks around to see who’s there. It’s the same government-plated car that was at Aiden’s, and Fetch is leaning against the front. Thankfully he’s looking the other way, but Casey knows he’s super observant.
‘Now what?’ she thinks. ‘I can’t stay out here forever.’ She decides to sneak closer to her half, staying behind the tree line and only moving when Fetch is turned away. It might take longer, but it means a better chance of getting inside. She can hear Roni, Cadence and Ms. Connor talking and laughing inside.
Suddenly, Fetch looks more alert and Casey freezes behind one of the trees
Fetch looks around, his hand close to his belt for a few moments. Casey almost forgets to breath, and her heart feels like it’s pounding harder than it should be possible to. After a few moments (which seem like days), he relaxes, allowing her to catch her breath again.
Sitting there in the shadows, she feels something. There’s something off here, and she realizes that it was probably the same feeling that triggered Fletch. Her imagination starts to run a little wild, and she figures that this might have been how it felt to primitive man, who suddenly realized that there was a very dangerous predator stalking them in the forest.
She looks around quickly. She used to hiding in plain sight, and knows what to look for. Not only that, but her photographer’s eye picks out things that many might pass over
Her eye passes over it several times before her brain picks it up. She’s not the only one lurking out here in the trees. There’s another figure, roughly 30 yards away, hiding in the shadows. It’s perfectly – unnaturally – still. She keeps her eye on it, afraid to look away to glance at Fletch, for fear she might lose it.
Her heart starts pounding again, her skin chilled with a sudden prickly sweat. Her lower brain instincts start clamoring to “Run! Run!” She’s afraid that it will hear her heartbeat like in “Tell-Tale Heart,” that it will smell the fear pouring from her skin.
But it never moves, not even the slightest.
She hears the noise from the building suddenly get louder, they must be outside now. She hears muffled “good nights,” and the slam of car doors closing. The car starts up, and pulls off slowly.
She can’t help but glance over when she hears the sudden heated argument brew up between Cadence and her mom. She glances towards them, just seeing them walk inside, closing the door hard behind them.
By the time she blinks the light spots out of her eyes and finds where the figure was, she realizes it’s no longer there. Even the feel of it is gone.
She’s alone now.
She waits a long time more, looking around intently. The noises of the woods slowly come back, and she realizes that the silence was one of the unnerving things that set her off. The creatures must have felt it to, and were silent. Now life returns to the woods.
She hurries to the building, sneaking in as quickly as possible. She looks out the window for a few minutes, but nothing seems to be watching from the tree line.
She can hear the arguing next door, something she hasn’t heard before. Casey can’t make out the words, but the two of them really seem to be going at it.
As though hearing her thoughts, Cadence shouts her next sentence loud enough to be understood. “They’re just friends! Are you telling me I can’t even have friends now?!”
A few more minutes of fighting echo in the stillness of her side of the building, then she hears the front door slam next door, and silence. She glances out of her window, and sees Cadence heading out into the night.
