The sun was low in the sky, casting a gentle, tranquil glow over the world and creating the elongated shadows that, along with the light, characterized a summer evening. The cracked grey pavement flew beneath me as I passed through a familiar neighborhood of small gardens, shabby houses and faded American flags. Bright green leaves illuminated by the sun fluttered as I rode past, a fresh breeze lifting my auburn hair.
If only life was this simple, this pleasant. My old bike wavered slightly as I took the tiny dirt road leading to a dock. This was my only sanctuary, a small victory in the losing battle that had become the norm of my existence. At this particular moment, I had brought my dinner down here, nauseated by the smell of my stepmother’s cigarettes.
The water shimmered in the low sun, shivering with the soft evening breeze. It lay there marvelously, like a pool of melted silver, inviting me in. I sat casually on the old wood, slipping my toes beneath the cool surface and finishing my dinner in the serene purity of nature. It was a small lake, lined all around with swaying pines and scattered old docks harboring rusty rowboats and bright canoes.
“Hey there!” A smooth voice made me start and I nearly fell over the edge.
“Jesus Christ, a little warning would have been nice.” My cheeks flushed at the outburst when I saw him. He was older than me, probably in his mid-twenties, with deep brown hair and shining blue eyes. They crinkled around the edges when he smiled.
“Sorry to startle you. I was just passing by and thought you could use some company.”
No one had ever really shown interest in me, not as far as I could remember. My stepmother thought I was the devils child and hardly spoke to me. The only other humans in my life were those I passed on the street, and intimacy was never achieved. Ergo, I had no idea what to do in this situation.
“Uh, yeah. Sure. Thanks.” I mumbled, sliding over to make room. He sat down and leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows.
“I’m Ben.”
“Bridget.” I swished my toes nervously through the water, avoiding eye contact.
“Nice to meet you.” He chuckled, and my stomach twisted. “You seem anxious.”
“Well, I don’t really know you.” It was hard to describe, but something about this man spurned strange feelings in my core.
“Yes, I suppose that would be a general cause of uneasiness.” He pondered for a moment. “Just tell me if you’re getting uncomfortable, and I can leave.”
I was actually very uncomfortable, but if he thought I could say that to his attractive, smiling face, he was delusional.
“I’m fine.” My voice cracked and I could feel my face burning scarlet. He didn’t seem to notice, and I thanked God for the low lighting.
“Good. Cards?” He pulled out a deck of cards from absolutely nowhere, startling me again and laughing. “You’re still quite on edge, I see.” Apparently, my discomfort amused him. Well, I was determined not to give him any more satisfaction, and kept my chin up.
“No, I am not.”
“I think you are.”
“Well I don’t give a rat’s ass what you think. Deal the cards.”
He laughed. “Yes ma’am.”
We sat there for hours, watching night paint the world in black and silver. We sat there until my sides hurt with laughter, and the moonlight was our only illuminator. We sat there until I stood up on stiff legs, declaring that it was time I headed home.
“I’ll give you a lift.” I could see his smile through the darkness, and it warmed me beyond the abilities of summer air.
“It’s okay, I have my bike.”
“I have a truck. We can just throw it in the back.”
“Thank you.” I was relieved. Riding back in ink black darkness couldn’t possibly have ended well.
I slid into the passenger side, breathing in. His car smelled like coffee, leather, and cologne. He appeared in the driver’s seat, twisting a key in the ignition. The engine purred underneath us, a faint rumble passing through before we pulled out of the tiny lot.
“Okay, so my house is just at the end of that first street on the left.” I pointed, and he nodded, smirking. “Thanks again.”
“No problem.” We breezed by the turn anyway. I laughed.
“Oh! You just missed it.” He didn’t respond. “My street, you just missed it.” Still nothing. “Ben?” Nothing. “Ben, what’s going on? Please turn around. Ben?”
He kept his gaze straight ahead, unwavering, silent. My heartbeat raced and my breathing hitched.
“God damnit, Ben! Say something! Let me out of this car!” I was screeching now, slamming my palm on the door handle. It wouldn’t budge. “Ben! You’re scaring me. Just say something, please.”
“It’s going to be okay.”
A nervous laugh bubbled through my lips. “Well, you know, I was thinking more along the lines of, ‘Sorry, I’m deaf in one ear. Did we miss the turn? I’ll bring you back home, because I’m not really a psychopath.’ But, you know, that works too.” The sentence rambled on, my body’s way of trying to offset the panic shooting through me.
“I’m sorry, Bridget.” As I opened my mouth to reply, he reached over and shoved something at my face. A strong chemical smell overpowered my senses, replaced by a deep darkness that enveloped me like a warm blanket.
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