Mule

Chapter Sixteen: The First Embrace

"What did she say?" Connor asked.

"She told me what she told Van. You were right, I made a mistake." She sighed. "Let's just go back home, I guess."

"It's a long way back for a such a short visit," Van said. "I was thinking of making a swing by Winthrop again. With all this new evidence, I have an idea what to look for."

Connor shrugged. "It's only a little after one, and it's just a two-hour drive. Ana, you down?"

"Sure. Fine."

He gave her a funny look then walked around to get into the car. Ana waited for Van to do the same before getting in as well. A week ago, she would have so 'no way' to going to Winthrop, but it was time that she face her demons. She hadn't been there in almost twenty years, and she needed to see the forest again and hopefully get more of her memory back.

They followed Van, which wasn't easy considering she drove fifteen over. Ana was anxious to read the letter Chastity had slipped to her and contemplated just going for it and not caring what Connor had to say. She wished her twin would be on her side. She'd always been the more rational of the two, so she wanted him to go back to his irrational self so she wouldn't feel so alone.

"You doing alright?" Connor asked. "You've been quiet."

"I'm fine. Just . . . confused. If this Robert guy had something to do with Mule's disappearance, why is he screwing with me now? And why kill Chad? It makes absolutely no sense."

Connor shrugged. "Psychopaths don't think like we do. Maybe he's mad that Mule escaped."

"All this time. If he preys on teenagers and adolescents, why keep him for eighteen years? And how did he erase Derek's memory?"

"How did he erase yours?"

"Exactly! You admit this doesn't add up, right?"

Her brother hesitated then said. "I'll admit, there are holes in this theory. But it would be plausible. This Robert guy runs away, gets arrested, moves to Winthrop to get away from the bad reputation he left behind, and picks up on his old habits when he sees Derek in the woods. Maybe he knew we were regulars. Or . . ." His sighed. "I don't know. Van might know something."

Ana took the note out of her pocket and unfolded it. Connor didn't say anything on the matter, so she started to read. Chastity had really nice handwriting, which made it easier to speed read.

I don't tell my story to many for not all are willing to hear. That day in the woods changed my life forever. I never saw Robert after the boy I'd had a crush on disappeared during a simple game of hide and seek. I searched for hours because I knew something was wrong. I could feel it in my bones.

What I never told the press was that I saw someone else in the woods that day. A woman. She was young, perhaps in her twenties, and her expression was so sad. I asked if she had seen Robert, and she told me she was sorry. That she didn't want to hurt me, but she had no choice. A month later, I found out I was pregnant, and my family moved me away to hide the shame.

Even then, I could feel their presence. I didn't want my baby, but when I found someone who could give me an abortion, I lost time and found myself back at home. The same thing happened when I tried to jump off a bridge, and again when I tried to throw myself down the stairs. They wanted this baby to live. Until I learned he would be born with severe defects and cerebral palsy. Curious, I tried again with the abortion. I made it all the way to the woman's home, and I got into the gown, and she gave me something to relax. That's when I realized they wanted me to do this. They didn't want the child now that they knew he wouldn't be normal, and in that moment, I'd never wanted him more. I couldn't go through with it and decided to carry to term.