The Body In The Bayou

ch. 2 • Heaven's Gates

There is nothing better than snowboarding on fresh powder - in my opinion, of course.
 
Well, perhaps the only thing better is having the entire mountain to myself. At least, I haven't seen anyone yet but based on the empty parking lot, chairlift, and unmarked snow, I have the entire summit to myself. Perks to being an early bird.
 
Foxy is the only other person who would volunteer and join me for my early morning summit ritual. I go every morning, and I've been going since I could drive myself at age sixteen. There's something about the crisp cold air, the untouched white snow, and taking my time down the mountain. Either I was free-falling or cutting the mountain apart with my board. It was whatever I wanted.
 
It is pure bliss 
 
The view at the top of the summit is magnificent. There's something ethereal about watching the sunrise coming over the Colorado Rockies, shining its pink and purple rays against the white and grey ridges. It's like you can nearly see the gateway to heaven, at least, that's what it makes me feel every time I watch it... I really don't know why Foxy left this place. Who would you ever want to live somewhere else? 
 
I remove the bulky glove from my hand and plop down against the face of the steep summit, retrieving my phone from one of the many pockets of my snow pants and tap the screen to capture a photo and send it to Foxy.
 
Me: Another sunrise you're missing. Muah! Miss you!
 
I scroll up, slightly confused that she never sent me a 'Good morning' text message this morning.
 
My sister and I are close. So close. Twins in every way. We share everything, well everything besides boys. Everything else includes clothes, food, personal space, and even our thoughts. 
 
I've missed her like crazy, but this was her plan. She wanted to go to school in Louisiana- God knows why. But, we've made it work. We text constantly and call each other multiple times a day. Even last night in the middle of her being at a party she called me to tell me 'Good Night'.
 
However, being as Magnolia Falls is an hour ahead of Colorado Time my 'twiney-sense' begins to tingle.
 
I'm sure I'll be getting a call or text soon enough. She's also an early bird and should be awake any minute.
 
But I can't help but send another text, just to nudge her to wake up. 
 
Me: Hi, is everything alright? I haven't heard from you since last night…
 
She may very well still be sleeping and I may be worrying for no good reason, but I just have a strange feeling.
 
It's a feeling that makes my gut fill with bats. Like I've forgotten something incredibly important but for the life of me, I can't remember what it is.
 
I can't let my anxiety ruin my mountain time so I push the bats away and instead dial her number. The phone rings and I shove the hair that's blowing around my face from the frigid wind and lick my sunburnt, cracked lips. 
 
It rings and rings again. Then it keeps ringing and then my sister's voice fills my ears, "It's Foxy! I either don't want to talk to you or I'm busy. Call Pen if it's important- most likely I'm with her anyways. Bye!"
 
Beep
 
I lick my cracked lips and find myself smiling just from the sound of her voice, "Hey, it's me. I haven't heard from you, I'm just checking in..." I squint my eyes watching the sunrise fully crest over the dramatic ridge of the Rockies, "The sunrise is beautiful here, fresh powder too and we're due for more snow this weekend. Call me back. I love you." I disconnect the phone and stare at the screen, watching the corner for those three dots appear, indicating that someone is writing or at least the notification that she's seen my text messages.
 
But nothing happens.
 
My 'twiney-sense' tingles and the bats return full force.
 
Something isn't right 
 
I press the callback button on the call log and remove my oversized beanie from my head and hold the phone up again to my ear.
 
This time, the phone rings once and immediately goes to her voicemail. 
 
After the beep, I swallow down the building stress and clear my tightening throat, "Hey, I'm nervous. Please call me back as soon as you get this. Please... Okay, I love you. Bye."
 

🌙

 
Snowboarding always clears my mind and helps me ready myself for the day. Some do yoga or drink coffee while I board down Black-Diamonds. 
 
Only, today my mind can't clear and I can't seem to find my zen. Every time I reach a stopping point on a trail or my anxiety becomes too much to bear, I stop and check my phone. 
 
With each time, my messages go unnoticed and Foxy doesn't respond to my calls, I become more and more stress-fueled. 
 
By eight a.m. I'm packing up five hours early and stuffing my board into the back of the truck. I climb in as the parking lot to the slopes begins to fill with locals and tourists ready for a Saturday on the Summit.
 
I start the truck and wait as the interior warms and the chill wears off. Blowing into my hands to warm them, I keep focused on my cell phone. But Foxy never checks her messages.
 
"Something isn't right." 
 
I close out of her text message screen then dial the number for 'home'.
 
I'm not sure what I can even say about how I feel uneasy regarding Foxy, but maybe mom and dad have heard from her. Or maybe she lost her phone at the party and the battery died.
 
"Yes!" That's what has happened. I'm all worked up for nothing. 
 
But the moment dad answers the phone and the blood-curdling scream that's coming from my mom in the background says different. 
 
"Aspen, you need to come home. Now."
 
That isn't a normal scream. And dad's normal relaxed voice is clipped. That is a fucking wail of a scream. That's a type of scream that immediately has my eyes watering and my blood frozen.
 
"W-what's happening?" I ask him, reaching for Foxy beside me, but at this moment I've forgotten that she actually isn't here.
 
"Come home. Something terrible has happened. I won't tell you over the phone."
 
He doesn't have to tell me over the phone. I already know. 
 
I know every sunrise from now on, every single day for the rest of my life, is going to be colorless.

I wanted to be sure the intro chapters were of Bash and Aspen before the murder. Because this will have an effect on both of them obviously.

There is a new Tarot Card to mark the new 'part' as well as a time jump.

Thanks so much for reading!