When I dropped to my knees, AJ turned around and grimaced, “Ew gross! Man you are disgusting…” I think translated from AJ-ese that meant, “Oh my God Nick are you okay? Is there anything I can help you with?”
As I threw up he turned to Mary Beth and told her to go back to her family and that we would be there in a minute. I’m glad he stayed with me, I was afraid that if he left, that thing would try to drag me back to the woods.
Luckily, I didn’t have too much in my stomach so mostly all I did was dry heave. When I was done AJ came over and placed his hand on my back, “Christ Carter, what the hell is going on with you?”
I managed to sit myself upright and looked up at him, if I didn’t already feel so small, was it really necessary for him to hover over me like that? “I just got nauseous.”
“Well duh, obviously, what I mean is, why?”
“Never mind, you won’t believe me anyway.” I turned myself around and pressing my hands on the ground, stood up and wiped my mouth.
“It looked like you were struggling with something back there.” He stammered out, like he was saying sorry against his will or something.
“It did?”
He nodded but soon we were interrupted by Sarah who came running towards us, “Are you okay honey? Mary just said you were getting sick.” She walked over to me and placed her hand against my cheek. She felt cool to the touch, so gentle and soft.
“I’m okay, just got a little nauseous.” I said but then, grabbed her hand and looked her in the eyes, “Sarah, Marybeth was about to go into the woods again. You might want to talk to her about that.”
“I will, thanks for following her honey.” I nodded at her and once again glanced over at AJ who was staring back at the place we had just been as if he was searching for something.
As we approached our campground the smell of meat being cooked over the fire, hit my nose and I instantly began to salivate. “My husband has cooked quite a feast for us all.” Sarah said as she locked her arm into mine and walked towards our destination.
I smiled when I saw Brian balancing Marybeth on one leg while she laughed. He was such a natural when it came to being around kids. All of my sisters had a huge crush on him just because he always made sure to bring himself down to their level.
“You okay?” I nodded at my best friend and took a seat next to him.
Sarah lovingly pat the top of my head and fixed a few hairs that were out of place, “You sit and relax and I’ll bring a plate over to you when the food’s done, okay honey?”
“You really don’t have to; I mean I can get…”
“I insist. You need your rest.”
“Okay, thanks.”
She then reached over and tickled her daughter under her chin, “You want to help momma?”
“Okay,” The little girl said. The child turned towards me and kissed me on the cheek and gave me her teddy bear to hold.
“Looks like someone has a crush…” AJ kidded as he sat down on the other side of Brian.
“What happened? She said you threw up.”
“I did.”
“Did something happen?”
I looked over at him, and then maybe a little obviously at AJ who suddenly got all defensive. “Oh right, I forgot you boys have secrets…I’ll be over there with Howie and Kevin who don’t feel the constant need to exclude me from their conversations.”
We both sat and watched AJ walk away, the little drama queen that he was. It’s not like he never excluded me out of anything. Damn, they all always exclude me out of everything. I mean, they would make it blatantly obvious saying things like “I’ll tell you when the puppy isn’t around” or “Carter leave, this is for grown ups.” So yeah, I’m not feeling too sorry for AJ.
“So what happened?”
“Something tried to grab me.”
“What!” Brian said that so loud that everyone stopped what they were doing and looked over at us.
“Something was grabbing at my pants and pulling me towards the woods.”
“Oh my God! Did Mary Beth see?”
“No, it was kind of like she was in a trance. I’m worried about her Bri, I have a feeling that whatever is looking for me, is also trying to get her. She kept talking about seeing a woman.”
“A woman? Did you see her?”
I shook my head at him, “No, but I did hear her. She whispered the word soon into my ear as we were walking away.”
“Okay Nick, this isn’t funny anymore, we have to do something. What about Casper? Was he around?”
I shook my head again, “I don’t know where he is.”
“Is everything all right?”
“Sure Kev…everything is just…peachy.”
He gave me a very suspicious look, “AJ said you barfed and that the two of you were telling secrets.”
“Well AJ tells secrets too, why don’t you ask him about the time he stole money out of your wallet to try to pay for a hooker!”
“He what?” Okay I felt bad about saying that, especially since I’m lying but just thinking back to the whole calling me a puppy thing, made me mad. Yes, I do hold grudges, better keep that in mind.
“Nick!” I looked over at Brian and instantly felt guilty about my tall tale, but not guilty enough to confess I was lying. Apparently he didn’t either.
“I just wish that if something was up, you’d tell me. Especially if it’s about your health. I know we fought earlier, but seriously Nicky…if you are really feeling bad I need to know. You are my responsibility while we are out here.”
I know he was trying to help but for some reason that made me mad. “So, is that the only reason you care? Because you’re afraid my parents will be mad at you?”
“I didn’t say that…” He turned to Brian, in classic Kevin fashion and asked again, “Did I say that?”
Brian shook his head, he wasn’t about to get in the middle of this one. The poor guy had enough to worry about.
“Nick, I’m not your enemy here, I care and if something is really wrong you need to let me know!” He was being forceful yet spoke in his slow, calming way. I hated when he was like this, I know I have said this already but it’s true. I much rather he be a jerk because when he acted like this, the little boy in me who so desperately needed an older brother, wanted to just start spewing out all the details. Tell him how scared I was; knowing that in the end he’d make everything okay… or at least try to. But those damn words Casper said made me change my mind.
“I’m okay Kev…really. I think I just have some funky flu or something.” My eyes went past Kevin to AJ who was walking towards the woods, the exact same place Mary Beth and I had just been moments ago. “AJ, come back here!” I screamed urgently jumping to my feet and starting to run towards him.
Brian followed right behind while Kevin looked on confused, “Nick, no! Stay here!” He caught up with me pretty quickly and grabbed my arm. I didn’t look behind me though, my eyes stayed focused on AJ as he was just about right to the edge of the woods.
“Brian, we can’t let him…”
“I know…but you need to stay right here.”
“But…”
“Just do it!” And with that being said, Brian took off yelling AJ’s name.
“What the hell was that all about?” Of course Kevin was not going to let that drop. I probably wouldn’t even let that drop.
“Just…we were told not to go in the woods.”
“Yeah, but you did.”
“I learned my lesson.” Brian caught up with AJ and was talking to him, cutting him off from the path of the woods.
“Why so concerned about AJ suddenly?”
He needed to stop asking me questions because it was getting harder and harder for me to not tell him what was going on, so I said the first thing that came to my mind. I could have said I saw a giant mountain lion, or grizzly bear or even a rabid squirrel, what do I say? “Well…I saw a rabbit when I was over there.”
Kevin gave me ‘the look’ “A rabbit, eh?”
“Yeah….he looked – um – angry.” Why on earth did I pick a rabbit? What is so horrifying about a rabbit? Good lord I’m a moron and a half.
AJ and Brian started to walk back towards us which made me very happy, as much as I sometimes don’t get along with AJ, I wouldn’t want him to be eaten. After my rabbit comment Kevin managed to place his jacket around my shoulders and pat at my back as they came closer, a huge smile crossing his face. I can only imagine what was going to come out of that mouth of his.
“Nick can we talk to you a second, it’s about the…”
“Rabbit?” Kevin interrupted Brian as he struggled to find the right words. We all would stink at being private eyes, I swear.
“Rabbit?” Brian asked which only added to the amused look on Kevin’s face.
“Don’t worry, I’m leaving so you boys go ahead and talk about what you need to. I better not find out you have been up to any shenanigans though.”
“Shenanigans?” I asked my older band mate.
“Yes, in other words, stay out of trouble and if you start feeling crappy, I want to know...understand?” Than once again he looked over at AJ and Brian, “I want to know.”
“Yes sir, Kevin sir.” AJ saluted him as he walked back towards Howie and the rest of the grown ups. I use the term grown ups loosely, after all, I still catch Kevin playing with yoyos and using his golf clubs as swords when he thinks no one is watching.
“What is it?” I asked curiously once the Kevmeister was safely out of earshot.
“I thought I saw someone staring at us from the woods. It was creeping me out.”
“You did? Did you get a good look at her?”
“It wasn’t a her.” Brian answered for AJ.
“It wasn’t?”
AJ turned to me, “No, it looked like that Grim guy. I swear he was watching us but when he saw me walk towards him he bolted. Now why do you think he did that?”
“Grim? You didn’t see a woman?”
“NO! Why do the two of you keep asking me that?”
“No reason…why do you think he left?” I knew that guy was rotten. I could smell it on him from the second he started making fun of me.
“I don’t know. I would have been able to ask him if Brian didn’t stop me from following him. There must be a trail through there. I bet if we go…”
“NO! No one can go in the woods!”
“Relax Nick, it’s a clearing most likely.”
“NO! NO one can go in the woods!” I admit I said it like I was a child screaming about things mommy said we couldn’t do right before we did them anyway.
“Okay Rain Man…I got that we aren’t supposed to go in the woods but since the guy that told us that was roaming around IN the woods, I think that kind of takes away from the warning don’t you, numb nuts?”
I looked over at Brian now, desperate for him to help me out and thankfully he did. “AJ, we can’t go in the woods, it’s too dangerous.”
“Well maybe if you told me why, I might get that but for now I think you guys are being wusses.”
I saw it in his eyes, Brian was about to spill the beans. I mean everything that has been going on out in the open and then AJ would laugh that information all the way to Kevin who in turn would try to go through the woods and get eaten by the whispering invisible lady. God I sound like a raving lunatic!
“Okay AJ…”
“Brian…don’t!” I pleaded with my best friend. I just knew once AJ found out things would only get worse and as if to justify my fears, Casper appeared right behind AJ shaking his head at me.
“Nick, I really think we need to.”
“He’s saying no.”
“He’s here again?”
I nodded at Brian just as AJ let out a sinister laugh, “Oh isn’t it convenient how Nick’s little ghost friend always pops up right when something is going to happen that he disagrees with? Isn’t that a coincidence?” The sarcasm in his voice was just uncalled for. I swear I almost lunged at him, and I would have if I wasn’t sure he could kill me. Maybe he was the one I needed to run away from.
I instead turned towards Brian, “See? That’s why you can’t tell him.”
“Fine, you ladies keep your secret, I’m telling Kevin about this path so the two of us can get you out of here because clearly, you have lost what little was left of your mind.”
He turned to walk away when suddenly Casper picked up a very small pebble and threw it at him. AJ turned very quickly and in so doing, Casper managed to trip him so he fell to the ground. “What the hell!”
Brian’s eyes were wide, the biggest I have ever seen them. I could tell he wanted to let out a scream but the terror that was building inside of him was too much to deal with. AJ just looked annoyed, but when another pebble seemingly came flying at him by it’s own power, his face turned to a horrified shock as well.
“You can’t let him tell Kevin. Now he’ll believe you.” And with that, my ever so cool ghost friend was gone.
“What the hell just happened? What the fuck, I can’t fucking believe this fuckedy fuck fuck…” AJ babbled in expletives.
“I…Nick…did you…I mean I….” And Brian doesn’t end his sentences.
“That was him; he said you can’t tell Kevin.” I whispered it while looking down at the ground. I was starting to creep myself out now.
“Rok?”
“He’s not lying AJ, not about this. Things are happening here that I can’t explain. We just have to trust what Fracky is saying.”
I felt AJ staring at me so I looked over at him and sure enough, he was staring. I didn’t like the look. It was a look you’d give someone you knew was a freak. “Okay…fine, we won’t tell Kevin.”
“Or anyone else AJ.”
“Who else am I going to tell, Howie?”
Brian shrugged then glanced over my way, “Are you okay Nick?”
“I feel like a freak.”
“You are a fre…ow! Dammit Rok!” I heard the slap but I didn’t get the pleasure of seeing it. My head was still down.
“Nick, it’s all going to be okay. For whatever reason, Casper is talking to you. It doesn’t make you a freak. It makes you special.”
“Wow…like on the short bus special?”
Brian laughed, “No…you know what I mean.”
“But I think you belong on the short bus Carter.” I hate AJ sometimes. I picked up a pebble and threw it at his head.
“What the fuck!”
I pointed at the air next to me, “He did it.”
“Shut the hell up, I saw you throw it!”
“Well, he told me to.”
“Here you go sweetheart.” In all the excitement and commotion, I forgot that we were in the middle of a picnic of sorts. Sarah brought me a huge plate of food. It smelled so good, and looked awesome.
“Thanks.”
“I hope you enjoy! Boys there’s plenty over there, go help yourselves.”
“Mommy…mommy!” We all turned to the sound of little Mary Beth’s voice as she came running towards her mother.
“Yes baby?”
“Look what I can do!” She said taking her little teddy bear and ripping its head right off of its shoulders. Suddenly I wasn’t hungry anymore; I fought the urge to vomit once again.
Just to let you know i'm having some site issues on my own site which might delay my stuff here since I have to access my stories there to paste them here lol Today I was good but just wanted to give you a heads up about that. Thanks for reading an reviewing :O) You guys all rock!
