Bruises

chapter 5

The mere shock of actually seeing the creature before me didn't quite settle in right away. I sat unmoving for what felt like hours. When Jay turned around I swear I felt his heart stop. I snapped out of my trance when I felt tears on my arm. Lana was gripping my arm like a life line, she looked like she was about to faint. I squezzed her hand trying to offer as much comfort as possible, but that was hardly any. Without turning away from the shadowed figure Jay gestured to the bags and then the car. I understood completly. I peeled Lana's shaking hand away from my arm, slowly got up without the bear leaving my sight and manuvered my way to the bags. Jay put out the fire quickly and came to help me.

"Go get Lana to the car now" he wispered. 

The bear hadn't noticed us yet apparently transfixed to what looked to be under further inspection a bloody carcas.  My stomach dropped and I was fighting the bile that was rising to my throat. I grabbed Lana's hand and led her to the car were Jay had everything already loaded. As Lana climbed into the back seat we thought we were in the clear and we almost were.

As i edged my way to the passenger seat I hit the hood of the car and imediatlly I felt the cold dead eyes of the bear on my back. He was the hunter and once again I was the prey.  The bear crept along the ground crunching leaves and sticks in his wake. I slowly moved my way around the car and grabbed the handle, but the bear was gaining ground. When it got withinn three yards of me jay honked the horn and the bear ran off. I took my chance and climbed in to the car. When I was safely out of harms way I finally could breath again. 

As we started pulling away there was a ressounding thoud on my side of the car glancing up I saw a muzzle attached to a gigantic hairy beast. 

I wanted to scream but I couldn’t find my voice. Lana did scream again and I heard Jay locked the door quickly and put the car in reverse but not before the bear broke the window and clawed my right arm. The pain was bad but bearable so I didn’t want to make a big deal of it so I wrapped a piece of cloth over the three gashes on my arm and pulled on the jacket I brought.

I looked in the rear view mirror and saw the bear chasing us.

“Jay hurry it’s behind us”

He stepped on the gas and the car shot forward leaving the bear in the dust. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I made a mental note to never go camping again. The cuts started burning but I ignored it. Jay slowed down the car.

“Are you guys okay?” Jay asked.

“Yeah” we answered together.

He glanced my way clearly not believing me.

“I’m fine really.” I tried giving my best smile. I hate to lie to him but after the bear incident I don’t think I should scare him anymore.

On the way back home Lana fell asleep and I was gazing out the window. The drive back took longer than expected and half way through I noticed Jay nodding off.

“Jay pull over at the nearest exit and let me drive unless you want to get into an accident.” He simply nodded and did as I said. I slipped into the driver’s side and waited for him to get into the passenger seat. He fell asleep instantly and the ride home was quite.

I pulled up into my driveway and took off the engine. They were both still asleep so I removed the bags first. I put them into the guest rooms then I went back downstairs. I woke up Lana first and sent her to sleep. Then I went over to Jay and called his name but that didn’t work so I shook him. The only response I got was a grumble. I was about to yell at him when is arms reached out and pulled me into him causing me to land on him.

“Aarghhhh’’ He was startled by my shout and snapped his eyes open.

“Hello there sleeping beauty, do you mind letting me go” I gave him a crocked smile.

“Oh uh, sorry about that” he grinned sheepishly and released me. I laughed and pulled back.

“Time to get up and go to bed.” I was going to turn when he grabbed my arm and pulled up my sleeve exposing my bandaged arm. He removed the bandage and gasped at the three slashes on my arms.

“Zoe I knew you weren’t okay, did you know these could get infected and possibly lead to the amputation of your arm.” He gave me a serious look.

“Stop worrying noting happened I’ll clean it up soon.”

“No, I’ll clean it up now” I had no choice but to follow him as he dragged me to my bathroom. He grabbed the first aid kit and started cleaning my wound. I grimaced at the pain.

“Just give me a sec. and it will be over I promise.” After a couple minutes I was bandaged and I didn’t need amputation. It was around two in the morning and I was pretty tired.

“Well thanks for the help Jay, sweet dreams” I gave him a kiss on the check and went upstairs to change in my bedroom.

“Night Zoe.”

I grabbed a pair of sweats, my blue fuzzy socks, and a big t-shirt. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and pinned my bangs back and crawled into my welcoming bed. Within seconds I was fast asleep.

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BOOM

CRASH

GRUMBLE

I was finding it very hard to sleep with the thunder outside. I groggily opened my eyes and saw my bed side clock blinking ten o’clock. Ugh, it was still early cursing you Mother Nature. I slipped out of bed and watched the rain from my window. Oh how I loved the rain. I was gazing outside when I caught sight of something that scared me a little. There was someone watching me, Instantly I felt a familiar headache coming on. I squeezed my eyes trying to block out the pain and saw a few fuzzy images. They were bright and hard to make out but I heard one word distinctly.

"Remember" I blinked and the image was gone. The pain became a buzz and eventually faded.

The door to my bedroom opened and two very tired figures appeared at my door.

“Zoe”

“Come in you lazy bums.” I chuckled mostly to myself.

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 Fifth chapter up, hope you guys enjoy. Thanks to those of you who have stuck with me this far, sorry for the long wait. 

Hugs and cookies