The Devil's Denial

An eerie metronome could be heard as Raven opened the passenger door to Meghan’s antique Toyota Corolla. Raven entered swiftly, slammed the door shut behind her and the wheels of the vehicle began to rotate. And the two young women began their journey into the night.

“This… Bitch!”

Meghan exhaled through gritted teeth.

She is going to get what's coming to her…!”

Her frantic eyes alternated between the interior of the sedan and the dimly lit horizon before them.

Raven’s sheepish eyes attempted to maintain focus on the back country road.

“I can't believe she thought I wouldn’t find out about her and Greg? My fucking boyfriend!? “

I am going to teach her a lesson!”

“What… uh, did you have in mind?” Raven asked anxiously, her eyes still laser-focused on the road ahead.

“Once we arrive at the party, I am going to–”

The sound entering Raven’s ears became increasingly muffled as her heart rate spiked.

Meghan was wild and fiery. She, a young woman no older than 19, had freckled porcelain skin, a prominent nose, and a wavy reddish-brown hair. Raven noticed an unsettling sensation in her gut the moment she entered this young lioness’s den! A wrath second only to Aries, the Greek god of war, emitted from her black eyes! But tonight, Raven noticed after thorough inspection, bright glowing embers in Meghan’s eyes.

As Raven continued to anxiously spectate her feral friend, her heart raced. She could not shake the uncomfortable warmth in her gut; a corporeal premonition!

“She knows Greg cheated… but still doesn't know it wasn't Sarah… '' Raven thought to herself.

Her heart pounded again. And again. With each successive heartbeat, Raven’s body temperature began to increase. A low heat slowly boiled her from inside out. Her nerves began to slowly catch fire. Her panicked breathing fanned the flames, and her body was set ablaze!

The pain was excruciating! Her peripheral vision darkened as her airways tightened and her awareness of the world around her shrank. She froze in place. Raven was completely petrified when her central vision dimmed and the tightness in her chest was becoming unbearable. Finally, Her vision darted to the window crank handle.

Raven gasped for air, inhaled, and with that last breath, she grabbed hold of the crank. With great haste, she rotated the crank and the sobering cold night air flooded the Corolla.

Raven hyperventilated tirelessly.

Meghan’s venting ceased and she took her eyes off the road for a second to check on Raven.

Raven was an incredibly nervous creature with mouse-like teeth, large black eyes, and short dark hair, which barely brushed the top of her shoulders as she moved. When she was occasionally unaware of her surroundings, the loose strands of her dark hair brushed slowly against her shoulders. A gentle sensation such as loose hair in coordination with her anxious mind would violently catapult her awareness into the present moment! An extreme shift in conscious awareness set her nervous system into overdrive, often to the point of excruciating pain!

Meghan had been friends with Raven since adolescence and knew that this was her everyday reality.

Suddenly, A heavy thump sent vibrations from the hood of Meghan's Corolla to its interior. Raven’s frantic breathing quieted. The left and right front doors of the Corolla opened: Meghan, Raven and an eerie metronome exited.

The two women carefully moved towards the hood of the car. Meghan led. Raven anxiously followed.

A rodent scurried away from the scene of the crime, leaving a trail of deep red blood in its wake. Meghan was the first to look down and witness the bloody and mangled mass on the road.

It wriggled.

The mangled mass began to twist uncomfortably. Its bloody body painfully contorted, and the headlights from the Corolla illuminated the creature’s true form; Nebulous eyes, A prominent beak, and wild hair.

It was a Barn owl. It lay there bloodied and wheezing on the asphalt road. The owl locked eyes with Raven and let out a blood-curdling shriek. The shriek dissipated, the creature’s chest shrunk and the it laid still on the asphalt. A long silence followed.

Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!

Meghan’s right pant leg vibrated against her thigh. Meghan glanced at the owl’s corpse then without looking at her screen picked up the call.

“Hey, are yall still on your way?”

“If not, just let me know so I can find another ride! I really don't mind” The voice belonged to Sarah, Meghan thought.

“Yeah, Rae and I are almost there… We just accidentally hit something,” Meghan responded.

“Oh... ok... well shit, if yall are ok now, get your asses over here. We are going to be so late!”

“We should be there soon Sarah, our E.T.A is 10:17 PM”

“‘Ok great! I’ll see y'all soon, Ciao!”

Sarah hung up.

“Ciao?” Meghan thought aloud with a slight upwards inflection. She cringed. Meghan gave one last look into the barn owl’s lifeless eyes.

The two girls returned to the car, and after a moment, Meghan turned on its ignition and the two continued their journey.

-----

The antique Corolla’s brakes squeaked as Meghan eased into the driveway of a large suburban house. It was a beautiful home, Raven believed that this had to be the most expensive house in the neighborhood.

Meghan called Sarah: once, twice, No Answer! Finally, A slender teenager with a model-like figure exited the beautiful home.

Sarah entered the car.

Sarah was the middle child, who was sandwiched between two brothers, and the only daughter her mother ever birthed. She was a youth community leader at her church, her graduating class’s top pick to be valedictorian, an epitome of the golden child. She was kinder than her older brother and more cunning than her younger one. However, her strongest quality lay in her appearance.

Sarah was divine. She had long wavy blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and full lips. Physical appearance was the supreme currency at Ann Arbor High, and Sarah had it in spades.

Although Sarah was a model citizen , she was still human. Her life appeared almost flawless to most spectators but Sarah felt like although she had achieved success in most areas of her life, she felt a deep feeling of longing that could occasionally be remidied with a handle of liquor.

Raven’s anxiety spiked once again as she watched Meghan jovially greet Sarah. To a stranger, Meghan’s smile and greeting would appear authentic, but Raven could not deny the forewarning from her gut and the silent rage in Meghan’s eyes.

Now that the entire list of carpool attendees successfully collected, It was time for the party to finally reach their destination. The car picked up speed again and vanished from the suburbs.

The Corolla's gaslight illuminated, signaling Meghan to stop at the nearest gas station.

-----

The fluorescent lights of the gas station were blinding, they contrasted against the darkness of the woods surrounding the area. The station itself was eerily quiet. Only the ambient noise of the surrounding trees and the sporadic zapping of self-destructive moths could be discerned.

Meghan pulled into the gas station and the three women stepped out of the car. She looked around the parking lot and saw that most of the gas pumps, except the one she happened to drive up to, were covered in plastic grocery bags with out-of-service signs attached to them. Meghan refocused on the task at hand and began pumping gas into her Corolla.

Sarah needed to use the bathroom.

Sarah walked up to the double doors of the gas station. The doors were closed shut with a brass padlock and rusted iron chains. The windows to the store were boarded up with aged plywood but, a very dim light shone through the openings. After a moment, Sarah returned to Raven, and the two young women leaned on the Corolla.

Raven phone hummed. She glanced with guilt at the unread text messages from Greg. Shame covered her and she avoided eye contact with Meghan. She inconspicuously placed her phone back into her pocket as Sarah approached.

"Hey- ugh Raven... could you come to the edge of the woods with me? I kinda need to take a piss because I pre-gamed-- quite a bit earlier, but the front doors of the gas station are locked.

And this parking lot is filthy. This place is fucking scary and I feel like I could catch an STI just standing here." Sarah said with her speech slurring a bit.

Raven authentically chucked at Sarah's proposition.

"Of course-- Sarah!" Raven happily replied.

"Hey, Meg!" Sarah obnoxiously yelled across the car.

"What!?" Meghan exhaled. It was becoming increasingly apparent she was annoyed.

"Can you please go to the bathroom with me and Rae? I really need to take a piss cause I drank too much earlier and I am scared to go alone." Sarah said. She had full-blown slurred speech now.

"Sure," Meghan said reluctantly after a brief time period. Meghan finished pumping the gas, twisted the Corolla's gas cap closed, and walked towards the two girls.

Sarah and Raven led the way and Meghan lagged behind.

"Fucking bitch... " Meghan thought to herself. “She thinks she can ruin what he and I have!?"

Tears began to well up in Meghan's eyes.

"Why her? Does she tell you how handsome you are? Does she kiss you as passionately as I do? If you asked, would she lay under you with her legs spread wide open with no question? I don’t understand… I did everything you wanted. What did I do wrong? Do you not love me anymore?

Meghan thought to herself as she was failing to fight back tears.

Raven looked behind her to check on Meghan. Raven's body temperature shot up. Meghan's grief was palpable. The discomfort returned to Raven's gut. And beads of sweat began to roll down her brow.

Upon entering the woods, Sarah offered the girls tabs.

"Do y'all want some?" Sarah said with her hand outstretched and palms open. Three white tabs sat in her cold hands.

"What is it?" Raven asked.

“I'm not sure, Oxy? Molly? Acid? I just know it makes it easier for me to relax and have fun" Sarah answered.

Meghan accepted a tab. Raven denied. Sarah pulled down her underwear and began to urinate at the base of the sturdy tree.

"Hey, --Um, Meghan give me your keys. I will drive since I am the only sober one," Raven anxiously suggested.

Sarah and Meghan looked at Raven, then at each other. Both of the girls agreed with little resistance.

The night sky began to drizzle.

Raven led the way back to the deserted gas station. Meghan began a light jog and Sarah followed closely behind. They hurried uphill, but each girl took great care to watch their step. Sarah took extra precautions as she felt the alcohol and hallucinogens combined influence.

The rain picked up and Sarah bumped into Meghan and Meghan stood.

"Meghan?" Sarah slurred.

Why did you do it?" Meghan accused.

"What are you talking about Meg?

“Don’t FUCKING lie to me Sarah!”

Raven watched in terror.

“I’m confused

“Why did you fuck Greg?”

“Meg, I’d- never–”

"LIAR!" Meghan roared as she pushed Sarah down the hill.

Sarah tumbled violently. Her exposed legs and arms slammed against sharp twigs and rough logs. She continued to pick up speed until finally, a loud crack was heard and the crunching of leaves settled.

Meghan stood at the top of a hill, breathing heavily. Her pupils were intensely dilated. Raven looked on in horror as she shakily pulled out her phone to use as a flashlight. She turned on the light.

Approximately 20 feet below, there was Sarah, stopped at the base of a tree. She lay completely still. Raven slowly placed the flashlight directly on Sarah. Her head sat in a puddle of dark red leaves and bloody rocks. A diagonal gash, stretching from her right eyelid to the left side of her chin, generously gushed blood onto her surroundings.

Raven shrieked.

It was raining heavily now and muffled thunder could be heard in the distance.

Raven sobbed then finally broke the silence.

“What the fuck Meg?”

“Fuck. Fuck. It was an accident Raven, I didn’t mean to push her that hard we can just tell the co-

“What the fuck? I saw you! I’m not fucking lying for you!” Raven sobbed profusely.

“It wasn't even her- Meg. I…”

“You knew it wasn’t her? Oh God! Why the fuck didn’t you say anything?”

Raven was deadly silent, and Meghan understood.

Without a sound, Meghan slowly turned towards Raven and ferociously glared at her with gritted teeth.

Raven instinctually ran up the hill to distance herself from her predator. Meghan ran at extreme speeds behind Raven.

Raven made it to the edge of the tree line and could see the damp road in the forest's clearing. She could hear the intense crunching of leaves behind her, each crunch louder than the last! Raven bolted across the road without looking.

Bright LED headlights covered Raven's left side. She sprinted across the road and the truck swerved around her. The pickup truck ran over the mass in the middle of the road and sped off into the night. Then silence followed.

Raven noticed the absence of crunching leaves.

Raven looked behind her and saw the trail of blood in the road. The rain spread the blood across the road, and towards Raven’s toes. Anxiously, Raven followed the trail to its origin. She stood above the bloody and mangled mass on the road.

The mangled mass began to writhe in pain. Its bloody body contorted painfully. Although distant, the bright fluorescent gas station lights illuminated the creature’s true form; Nebulous eyes, A prominent beak, and wild hair.

Raven slowly retreated in horror.

Meghan's mangled body lay on the cold and wet asphalt road. She lay there wide-eyed and wheezing. Her pupils were so dilated she no longer looked human. With the last of her strength, she looked up at Raven, with her now cold and nebulous eyes, and let out a primordial screech!

A long silence followed. Then, no sound besides the wet and panicked beating of Raven’s footsteps and Meghan's continual cries could be heard.