BODY 37

Chapter Ten - The Shed

CHAPTER 10

It was a fucking nightmare!

It had to be. But it wasn't. Hazel woke up early in the morning from a terrible sleep. Her eyes didn't sleep a wink. One image flashed before her. Gabe and Jackson pulling the bloody man from her arms that he clung to like his life depended on it. The men kicked the bloody man down. Their words were still clear in her head.

"Not another of our women, you asshole!" Gabe yelled at him.

Jackson asked repeatedly if she was okay. "Did he hurt you? Did he touch you?" Were his concerned questions.

Hazel just shook her head and whispered no. It surprised her she couldn't talk further. Her legs just ran inside the building to the safety of her bed. She should be used to the sight of blood. She dealt with it for years. But this morning, her body shook, like a damn first-year student, and it wasn't from the cold. She tugged on her necklace, trying to draw some strength. The sky was white with clouds. The air was chilled, and Hazel gripped her jacket against the cool breeze as she stood at the foot of the building.

The girls didn't know what she had witnessed. They were all in the food hall, having breakfast. Hazel skipped it, choosing to be alone instead. Her eyes were stuck on the shed. The door was closed like usual. But it was opened last night.

Her eyes wondered to the lake and Mykel stood at the edge. He was doing a forearm stand. His broad shoulders flexed above his elbows as his toned torso and legs, in grey sweatpants, extended upright. You could see every inch of muscle defined in his body with a yoga pose like that. She watched the charismatic man for a moment, then turned away to do her chores.

An hour had passed and Hazel finished collecting the litter and sorted them into tins, plastic, glass, and paper bins. She walked about and noticed some coke tins dropped near the trash bin. She picked it up and hadn't realized how close she was to the shed.

She remembered it in the dark as she gazed at the teal and tattered wood. She remembered the door was open, and a light illuminated inside. Her legs walked automatically to it. There were still no windows to peep through. She wondered what was in there. Her hands touched the rough wood as she inspected it. A thick iron lock bolted the door. It was smooth and cold as her fingers glided over it. She bit her bottom lip, trying to see through the crack of the splintered door.

"I like your curiosity."

Hazel almost lost her footing while snapping around to see Mykel watching charmingly at her. "But don't be too curious. Didn't you know it killed the cat?" he smirked.

"I'm sorry for snooping. I just wanted to know what's inside." Hazel stuttered, feeling like a cat caught sneaking around.

"Ask and you shall find out." He chuckled easily. His hand reached into his left pocket of his grey sweatpants. Silver and bronze keys glinted from his fingers. He moved to the door of the shed and opened the lock with a tiny silver key. The lock opened, and he slowly pushed the door wide, ushering Hazel to enter. Mykel studied her closely. She intrigued him. She wasn't like the other women. She seemed different. Special. An air of rebellion immersed in her. Hazel sparked interest; her curious nature wanted to know more, and Mykel didn't mind in indulging her... a little at a time, until she was ready for the biggest answers.

"See what you find so interesting?" He chuckled. "But don't be too disappointed."

Hazel licked her bottom lip and strolled inside the small shed. She hugged herself protectively. Her prying eyes darting around the cramped space. The air was musky and filled with dust. Another recognizable, subtle smell caught her senses. It was faint, but her trained nose instantly picked it up.