Duskwood: Into the Forest Pt 10

You make your way out of the cellar and onto the dark streets. Lanterns and string lights dangle from lampposts and businesses. Flashy posters advertise the Pine Glade Festival hours and events. The festival is set to kick off at noon tomorrow, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the center of town. Afterward, there would be street vendors, food, games, and live music.

A tandem of musical guests is listed on the posters, indicating that the festival stretches over several days. Beginning at noon and ending at midnight. Twelve hours a day, over 3 days, but which event would be the best to accentuate our killer’s grand gesture?

Jakes’s hand had gone slack in yours as you stand in front of the Bar Aurora, mindlessly skimming over events. Music, no. Turtle races, no. What about the pie-eating contest? No. Damn it!

“What are you looking so intently at?” Phil exits the bar, joining us streetside.

“I was just looking at the events planned for the festival. I have a bad feeling about this whole thing. The 10th anniversary of the death of Jennifer Hanson. Our suspect claiming association with the old Man Without a Face Legend. Written proof at the Hanson ranch that the killer is in this for revenge. It just all points to some grand show, but when?” You bite your lip as you scan the poster again.

“Well, they did say that it was a rare model car that struck Jennifer.” Phil rubs his chin thoughtfully, “Wait, there’s a poster missing here.” He jogs away from you, tearing a poster down and bringing it back, “Here.”

You take the poster and eye it suspiciously. “A car shows?”

“On Saturday. The same day of the festival that she was killed. The dates don’t line up, but the evening of the festival, the day she died, wasn’t that on Saturday? The last late night of the festival?” Jake says as he gently pulls the poster from my hands.

“I think you might be right. Her dad said that he was at the bar very late and returned home after 2 am. Said it could have been as late as 4 am. That wouldn’t have been a Sunday night shift, right?”

“Correct. It would have been either that Friday or Saturday.” Phil speaks over your shoulder as you look past the paper Jake now holds.

“What if the Gremlin that struck Jennifer was a special model. What if Amy had asked for Hannah’s help getting the vehicle home after the show. We don’t know much about why Amy asked her to drive. Maybe someone was too drunk to get the car home.” You pace the pavement, brainstorming aloud.

“We’ll never really know what happened that day unless we find Hannah,” Jake says putting a hand on your shoulder.

Your lips shake as your breath trembles past them, “We’ve got to get to the hut. If we miscalculated things, and whatever he’s planning is tomorrow, we’ve got less than 8 hours to stop him.”

“If he finds out you came here, he might move up his timeline. You never know what he’s thinking.” Jake says warily.

“I didn’t think about that. Jake, think it’s a good idea to lend her a hoodie or something?”

“There’s no use trying to hide it. Now that we’re here, we’ve just got to move fast enough he can’t make his move before we find him.”

Phil sighs, “I just don’t think I could handle it if something happened to her. Also, I grabbed this from under the bar, “He points to a shiny 5mm pistol holstered at his hip, “I have a permit. I’ve only shot the thing once. I usually don’t bother to keep it loaded. It is just for show. Things can get a little wild around here.”

“I’d have already offered you one if I had a spare. Good call.” Jake smacks Phil on the shoulder hard, “Glad you can use that pretty little head of yours for something other than trying to steal my girl.”

Phil flashes his signature wink at Jake, “I don’t think it’s quite game over on that one, bud.”

They laugh in unison, forcing a solum smile to grace your lips. You’re happy they are getting along. It’s nice to see a little playful banter. You can’t wait to get everyone together again. Meeting them in person, partaking in their jokes and playful jabs. You’ve wanted that since the day you met them all. Right now, the gesture feels a bit empty, but you savor it nonetheless.

“Right, let’s get moving, Aurora.” Jake slides his hand in yours, pulling you towards the lot and the truck.

“Hopefully this will help us fly under the radar.” Phil pats the hood of the truck, “Where are we headed?”

“It’s not safe to use GPS. I have the route mapped out in my head. I’ll direct you as we go. It’s about an hour’s drive. Just over 30 miles, but the road to the cabin might require slower speeds.”

“Then it’s a good thing I got us a truck, huh, Hackerman?”

“A blessing in disguise, yes.” Jake grins as he helps you into the truck, taking your backpack to stash behind the seat.

You climb into the cab, settle in, buckle up, and lay your head back. It’s been a long day. You want to cozy up to Jake and fall asleep. You try to get comfortable as you wait for Jake to hop in the passenger’s seat, but he has different plans.

“Do you mind if I drive?” Jake asks as he leans on the door. “Might be easier. Then you can get some rest. Both of you.”

Phil raises an eyebrow before tossing him the keys, “Sure.”

They swap spots, and Jake starts the truck, putting his hand on the gearshift, bushing his fingers over your thigh as he settles in. A smirk plays on his lips, but his gaze remains forward.

Phil has settled in next to you. His long legs weave between yours, “Want to put your legs up on mine? Might be more comfortable for both of us. That okay with you Hackerman?”

Jake nods and Phil takes your legs and moves them over his. “Thanks.” You say glumly.

“Not at all. Here, rest your head on my shoulder if you want.” Phil pats his shoulder gently, and you glance at Jake.

He nods at you again, but you politely decline his offer, “Thanks, but I think it’ll be more comfortable if I lay across Jakes’s lap. If that’s okay?” You bite your lip awaiting his reply.

“Sounds okay to me,” Jake says as he sinks into the seat, readying his lap for your head.

You stretch across both, turning once or twice to get comfortable. You feel Jake run his fingers through your hair absentmindedly as he drives. Phil has pulled a jacket from behind the seat and draped it over you carefully. It doesn’t take long before you start to fall asleep.

“We’re almost there.” Someone whispers in your ear. “Wake up, sleeping beauty.”

You startle awake, sitting up quicker than you intended, nearly falling into the floorboard of the truck. Someone grabs hold of your arms and legs, steadying you.

You smile up at Jake as he grips your arms tightly. “Thank you for not letting me fall.” Phil has your legs tightly against his chest.

“Sorry about that.” Jake lets you go, settling in beneath you, “I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

You sit up the rest of the way, allowing him to exit the truck.

Phil lets your legs fall from his grasp as you readjust. “Glad you got some rest.”

“Thanks, Phil.” You watch Jake retreat into the station. “Can I ask you something?”

“What’s that?”

“Do you, actually care about me? Are you just a shameless flirt, who likes getting under Jake’s skin?” The words trickle out.

“I, uh.” He stutters. You’ve never seen Phil blush before now. “I’m not good at this stuff. I’m usually just a shameless flirt, but there’s something about you.” His eyes move over you as he bites his lip, brow scrunched together, “I respect your choice, but do you think the life he’s offering you, is one you’d enjoy?”

“It wasn’t him who offered me that life. It was me who insisted on it.”

“I see. So, you decided to throw away everything you’ve ever known, for someone you’ve known for less than a month?”

“I guess you could say that.” You look down at your hands, “I need to be with him, wherever he goes.”

“I do not want you to do this and end up hurt. When you are this close to him, when you can see and feel each other, it is clouding his judgment. He wants to leave, for your good, but as long as you’re within his sight, he won’t be able to.”

“You aren’t just saying that because you want me for yourself?” You eye him suspiciously.

“He loves you. The way he looks at you. He goes out of his way to comfort you, all while his sister’s lives are at risk. I can feel that. Which is why I think he will end up leaving you. He is telling the truth. He can’t leave now because you’re with him.”

You shudder at the thought, “Jake won’t do that to me.” You say more to yourself than to Phil.

“Even if he does, he did it for you.”

Silence falls as you watch Jake make his way back to the truck.

“Have fun without me?” He smirks.

“Loads.” You say in an unamused tone.

Jake looks at you with sad eyes and tilts his head to stare at your eyes. “You, okay?”

“Yep. Everything is fine. Just still waking up!” You plaster a smile on your face and turn away from him.

“It’s probably my fault,” Phil says quietly.

“What?” Jake pauses.

“I think I’ll grab a drink. I’ll be right back.” Phil exits the vehicle and jogs away from you.

“What did he say to you?” Jake stares at you intently.

“It’s nothing. Really.”

“Look at me,” He reaches for your chin, pulling your face towards him, “Tell me the truth.”

You sigh and reluctantly tell him what Phil said, “Well?” You wait for Jake’s reply.

“He’s right.”

Your eyes widen with shock, “You’re still leaving?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“Then how is he right, Jake?” You throw your seatbelt away from your body.

You slide out of the truck, reaching behind the seat for your backpack. You sling it over your shoulder and stomp towards where Jake stands, his eyes focusing on something far away.

“I can’t leave you because you’re standing right here in front of me. I am not strong enough to let you go now that you are here. I know you can be happy without me. You will be much happier with your friends, here in Duskwood, or back home. Not on the run with me, sleeping in run-down motels, moving from one city to the next. You will constantly be wondering what it would be like to settle down, have a family, like a normal family. I cannot give you that. Not now, and not in any future I can fathom.”

“You just don’t get it.” Your hands balled into fists, clenched against your side, you wheel around to face him, “Any future without you in it, is pointless. If you cannot understand that, then maybe I’m wasting my time.” You grit your teeth and try to shake back the tears. “I’ve had it, Jake.”

You stomp away from him, into the gas station alone. You shoulder past Phil on your way, nearly knocking him flat. You do not bother to apologize. You push the door open and rush inside, locking it behind you.

The stress is getting to you, threatening your sanity. Every moment that passes without proof that your friends are alive, agonizes you to no end. Your heart has been tight in your chest since the moment you got that first message from Thomas. You have been worried about a girl you have never met, for the sake of her brother.

Sadness and fury fight against one another inside you. You are furious at Michael Hanson for what he has done. You are angry at Hannah and Amy for hiding something so devastating. You are sad for Iris and Michael’s loss, Richy’s and Amy’s deaths, but more than anything else, you are heartbroken over Jake.

Will he never feel this unabashed need to be close to you? Will he savor every word, every breath you take at his side? Will he disappear, because of his pursuers? Will he be so worried about your feelings he will not share his own? What will he hide? What will he do?

Uncertainty overwhelms you and you sink to the dirty, gas station bathroom floor. Head in your hands, hot, fresh tears flows freely, streaking your makeup and dampening the tips of your hair. You could all die tonight. You could confront the man without a face. You could be killed!

You slam your foot into the wall, sending pain from your foot into your hips. You do not flinch. You do not cry out. You can barely breathe in the tiny room. You need to get out of there before you have a full-blown panic attack. The thought of Jake dying sends you over the edge.

You push the door open and rush from the bathroom into the parking lot. Jake and Phil call out to you, but you ignore their pleas. You let your legs pull you into the trees. You do not want to do this anymore. You do not care about anything at this moment.

How could he not see everything you have gone through already, everything you have done for him, and know you are strong enough? If you are by his side, you could do anything, be anyone. He should know that, but instead, he thinks only of himself.

Your legs carry you through the wooded area, voices calling to you all the while. There seems to be a path, but there is no indication as to where it will take you. Your feet throb and your lungs find the cool night air harsh as you draw in jagged breaths. You stumble over a root and fall to your knees. Your palms scrape up badly, but you push yourself to your feet and carry on.

The voices call you close in as you race through nothingness.

“Please! Stop!” Jake calls to you.

“Come on, we can talk this out!” Phil adds.

You shake your head in protest and continue forward until the darkness envelopes you completely. Your legs feel like they will give out any moment, so you take a second to yourself. You hear footsteps coming closer and brace yourself. You feel foolish for what you have done, but not as foolish as you should. He deserves this moment of panic. He has been making you feel this way for way too long.

“There you are.” A gruff, unknown voice whispers from beyond the trees. “I’ve been looking for you.”

An arm wraps around your waist, dragging you into the darkness. A damp cloth presses gently against your mouth. You struggle, trying to throw the attacker away from you as you hold your breath. Your bag falls from your shoulder as you slump against him. The trees blur into nothingness as you fall to the forest floor.