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I’m running late and I know if I don’t run out the door in two minutes chances are I am going to miss Slade’s show all together.
It’s not in town and I am going to have to drive clear into another just to get to the bar that sells flat beer and stale peanuts. But I am willing to do it because it’s a gig and right now they need one.
I pull the door shut and hurry down the steps phone in hand, texting and walking to my mom’s car. She agreed to loan me her old one while I’m home and for as long as I want.
I open my door and climb in the red firebird and shut the door. I text Slade I am on my way and not to start without me.
He texts back and swears he will do his best to make my wishes come true and I smile and throw my phone on the spot beside me.
I back out of the driveway and start down the road and groan when the car dings and informs me I will not be on my way at all if I do not fill up my gas tank. I rifle through my purse taking my eyes off the road for short moments to find some kind of cash.
When I look up I swerve almost hitting the car parked on the side of the road.
“Shit!” I veer back onto the road and straighten my wheel, taking in a couple of breaths to try and calm my thrashing heart.
My body bounces over and over again, making me wonder if the road is full of potholes or if I just did something really stupid like flatten my tire.
I pull into the gas station and jump out. The guy filling up gives a nod and eyes my tire. “Looks like you did a number on that tire.”
Shit. I circle around the car stopping at my handy work. God I am so stupid. All I needed to do was make it to Slade’s gig and I couldn’t even do that.
A big black truck rumbles and growls pulling up behind me. Some kind of country music flutters out into the gas station parking lot and then the engine cuts off.
I know if I don’t do something I am going to miss the entire show. I look at the guy filling his car, he’s almost done and concentrating on his custom decals while he waits on the pump.
I can’t see anyone noticing if I use a little magic. I crouch down and rub my hands together. I run a hand along the tire, forcing all my energy into the rubber. The rubber mends itself and it’s as good as new.
I celebrate and stand back up, bumping into something. A person, and whoever is behind me is rather solid and warm.
“That’s funny I could have sworn you rolled in here on a flat,” Charlie says, one hand on my car the other in his pocket.
I swallow, studying the black truck behind him. He’s not alone. He has two buddies with him, making me feel like a complete idiot for doing what I did.
“Excuse me,” I say moving around him to get to the pump. I don’t have to give him an answer. He’s just some stupid guy not the police. I grab the nozzle and work on getting it into the car hoping Charlie will go away.
“I should probably apologize for last night,” he says, stepping closer. “A lot of people tell me I’m an ass when I drink.”
“I know exactly what kind of ass you are,” I inform him.
“And what kind is that?” He grins, stroking the stubble on his jaw. His green eyes twinkle with amusement.
“You like to be in control. And when you’re not the one running things it pisses you off.” I pull the trigger and listen to the sweet sound of my money flying out the window.
“You could be right,” he says. He shrugs and leans against my car. “That doesn’t change the fact your tire is no longer flat. Do you think if you insult me I will forget?”
I sigh. I don’t have time for this shit. “What exactly do you think I did?” I’m going to play stupid because normal people don’t know what I do and I have a better chance of making him think he is crazy, than him thinking I really am a witch.
“The internet is a very helpful tool in figuring people out. If you know what to look for.” His smug smile irritates me. “Do you know they are offering twenty thousand dollars for information about you?”
I raise an eyebrow. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The town, Cherry, where you and your dad took off to. It seems you pissed a lot of people off,” Charlie studies me, arms crossed.
I pull the nozzle from my car and put it back in the holder turning away from him. I am not aware of any of this.
I sweep a hand through my hair and start to head to the window to pay for my gas. I hope Charlie gets the hint and leaves me alone because right now I can’t deal with this.
The cashier smiles as I slip my cash through the little slit on the window. “Anything else?”
I can think of a lot of other things I need but nothing she can supply so I shake my head no and pocket my change.
“Thank you.” I turn back around and there he is, still propped up against my car waiting to bother me more.
“You might want to get off my car,” I point out heading to the driver’s side. “Because I am leaving regardless of your ass being pressed against my car.”
He pushes off and works his way around. “I think we have something to talk about.”
“No we don’t.” I pull the door handle keeping my eyes on Charlie. I can’t believe I was ever upset I ruined our kiss.
“You’re telling me you’re not the least bit worried about this reward out for you?”
I sigh. “I’m telling you I don’t care.” I reach for the door handle again, this time he stops me throwing a hand over mine.
“I don’t know many people around here that couldn’t use twenty thousand dollars. Either we talk or I tell the entire town what I know and you will wish you never came back home,” he says.
I grit my teeth trying to pull my hand free, when I can’t break away I panic. A flash of energy shoots from my fingers and Charlie jumps back his eyes as big as saucers.
“What the hell was that?”
I shove him out of the way. “Leave me alone. Stop threatening me and get out of my way.”
But he doesn’t he’s grabbing at me again. “Your tattoo. It’s glowing.”
I look down, the soft yellow glimmer reminds me of who I am and who he isn’t. “Charlie, I really don’t want to have to hurt you.”
He lets out a small chuckle, I don’t think he believes me. But I also don’t think he knows what the hell happened.
“God, hope.” He stares me down. “I was only trying to be an asshole. I didn’t really think any of this was true.” He falls back against the car, a hand to his head.
“Are you alright?” I ask, I feel a little responsible.
“I’m feeling a little lightheaded,” he says shaking his head.
I sigh. “Do you want me to help you back to your car?”
He nods, and throws an arm around my shoulder. The sooner I can get this jackass on his way home the faster I can get to Slade.
“It’s probably just the fumes or something,” I say. “I’m sure once you get some fresh air you’ll be fine.”
“Yeah I’m sure,” he says back.
His buddy smirks cracking open the door and hopping out. “Everything alright?”
I shake my head. “He’s not feeling well. It’s probably the fumes. I really have to go so if you could take him.”
He takes Charlie by the arm and relieves me of my burden. I force a small smile and turn around to walk away thankful things didn’t get worse.
I’m a few steps away from my car, ready to go see Slade perform, but that doesn’t happen because someone hits me from behind knocking me to my knees. I groan rolling to my side. What the hell did he hit me with? My head hurts. And he is smirking, standing above me smirking really satisfied he attacked me.
“Grab her,” he orders his friend. They get me to my feet and his friend slings me over his shoulder.
My head hurts, everything becomes more and more out of focus the closer we get to the truck. The last sound I hear is the screech of metal when Charlie opens the tailgate. And everything goes black.
***
THE BREAKING OF A TWIG wakes me. The smell of rotting wood and pine hit my nose. I don’t move because I am afraid if I do whoever is still around will realize I am no longer unconscious. I can’t hear anyone, but I know I’m not alone.
It’s quiet besides the occasional squawking bird. I’m in the woods.
Some more twigs snap and I hear them.
“What do we do?” someone says. It’s a guy, I just don’t know who.
“We wait here until Charlie gives us word what to do next.” This guy sounds angry.
“I don’t know if this is worth it,” one of them says. “How do we know Charlie will pay us for doing this?”
“He’s going to pay us,” the other one gripes. “Just keep watching. I don’t want anyone stumbling out here.”
“When did he say he would be back?”
“When he was done doing whatever he needed to do. Now shut up and keep an eye out,” he orders him.
I close my eyes. These guys are helping Charlie, and they are expecting a payout.
There’s no way I am going to sit here in the woods and let any of them turn me in to the people of Cherry. I groan loud so they can hear me, the leaves rustle and branches break.
“Shit. She’s waking up.”
I groan again and wait until they’re closer. And I think about everything I hate. I force the anger into the pit of my stomach until I can feel the energy burning my fingers struggling to get out. And I sit up extending my arm and aiming at the first person I see. I send him back into the trees and I crawl across the ground to get farther away from them.
The other guy takes off after me, he grabs for my ankle and somehow I manage to do the same thing all over again. He hits the trees, disappearing amongst the leaves and shrubs.
But it’s not enough to stop them and they come for me again. I ball my fist and drop my head, the leaves start to swirl around my feet.
“Holy shit,” he says. “What the fuck are you?”
But I don’t answer. I guide the branch towards me and when its inches from my hand I grab hold of it. And I aim, letting it go.
His deafening scream awakens the forest. He clutches the tree branch, staring at the blood saturating his shirt. The other guy starts running. I concentrate on the trees and send one falling in his path stopping him before he can take off.
I didn’t want to do this.
“This wasn’t what I wanted,” I tell him climbing on top of the tree trunk. “I came back to get away from all this drama.” I kneel down, he’s shaking.
“I’m sorry. I swear I will leave you alone. Please don’t hurt me,” he begs.
With a twitch of my fingers I wrap my hand around his neck. “That’s what they all say.” I purse my lips looking him in the eye. “I want to believe you but you don’t know what I have been through.”
“I promise,” he begs.
I shake my head. I’ve been through way too much to believe some guy ready to cash me in for the sake of some money.
I squeeze, my grip around his throat tightening. And I slam his head back into the log over and over again. I scream, and keep doing it, and let go sobbing. I drop to the ground and lose it.
All I wanted to do was get to Slade’s gig. I wipe the dirt from my hands and stand up.
I’ve killed two people and I don’t know what I am going to do about it.