𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 ~ 𝐇𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐡

8. The Rain

SPEEDING through Whirley Street, Hayley felt as though she were in an alternative universe. Nothing beyond this point felt real from the sign at the opposite end of the street all the way down to the forest that lay ahead. Her mind was screaming at her to turn around and go elsewhere, or maybe it was her heart that was screaming and yelling at her but she couldn't be certain. All she knew was that there was a burning, almost tingling feeling running through her chest and flowing in her veins.

The dirt road that led into the forest was approaching fast in a way that was seemingly racing towards her and not vice versa. The trees looked intimidating like they were growing in size and it was only for a moment that Hayley had envisioned the giant trees as tall cloaked figures but she knew it was only her mind's attempt to frighten her off.

Once she was officially in the presence of the forest's environment, Hayley stopped and got out. Though she had grown to loathe this area for what it became to her, there were still bits and pieces of her childhood that were scattered throughout, specifically located at a tiny pond a little further up in the forest where Hayley would spend her days gazing at the lilly pads and small fish swimming in the water.

As Hayley began up towards the little pond, she felt the breeze whip through her as it whistled through the trees. The sound of her footsteps crunching on the leaves and bark below was the only thing present to her along with an occasional snap from stepping on a stick. The more she wandered, Hayley decided to get lost in her mind, indulging herself in a state of reverie.

The illustration inside Hayley's mind was a bit somber, but vivid indeed. She had pictured her 9 year old self mindlessly scoping through the all-green environment with not a care in the world, only the desire and ambition directed towards her innocence of childhood that would end far too soon. It almost felt like a reenactment of that very day her innocence was crushed by the gloom, fatal crash outside the entrance to the forest.

It was repeated in her mind: three dead, four alive; two dead on sight and one found in the forest. The question was also running through her head, why? How? How and why did my place of sanctuary become so doom-filled? Though Hayley already had the answer to her how, it was more a matter of why?

Said to be an accident yet believed by many to be a murder, a violent car wreck that went down in flames. The three victims were said to have been having problems with the four that made it out alive, Hayley's father being one of them.

Upon her adventure towards what Hayley considered her "safe space", she had paused and looked back towards the beginning of the forest. It didn't make sense to her why one of the victims from the wreck was found dead in the forest given the spot of where the incident happened took place at least another 50 feet back. Car accident, my ass, she thought to herself, shit had to have been premeditated, especially since father was involved.

Continuing along the trail, the area where the small pond was located was starting to look familiar, welcoming Hayley within the deep green enclosure of its solitude and petrichor, which was one of the key scents of Hayley's childhood.

She leaped over a few big logs and parkoured the rest of the way to the mini lake. It remained the exact same even after ten years, small, reserved, bittersweet and most importantly to Hayley, mystical.

Hayley sat down on a log, grabbing a thin stick and began slowly stirring it in the water that she saw her reflection in. From the brief glimpse of herself, she felt an immense sorrow for the person she once was to who she became. She missed heavily what she used to be.

A girl whose eyes once beamed with joy and curiosity were now dim and brimming with despair and regret. To think now that the younger version of herself would be at a loss for words towards her present self, hurt Hayley's soul a bit. Somehow she felt that the once existing little girl's presence was still there and within the reflection of the water, as though she could reach out to her.

"I'm so sorry," Hayley began in a hush tone, "for what we've been through. What I've put us through."
Becoming lost further into her own eyes, Hayley vaguely started to see what looked like remnants of her former self.

"I couldn't keep us safe... from him... from it all." She gently rubbed her ribcage, still feeling incredibly sore from her father's kicks earlier, "This was not my doing."

Hayley brought her head up and gazed off into the distance. There was a voice in her head, softly speaking the words: you're not as heartless as you think you are, the little girl that once lived is still inside, just buried away underneath years of torment and abuse. It was her own way of consoling herself since she hadn't had anyone else to do that for her.

You're pathetic. Hayley thought to herself, swearing that she could've heard her mind reply back with an "ouch". Only moments after Hayley was putting herself down in her head, she began to feel thin sprinkles falling onto her as she took notice of the water rippling gently.

The rain, it's...peaceful? Uncertain? Scary, maybe? Things that wouldn't normally be scary outside the forest were far scarier in the forest. Though the aroma gave Hayley a peace of mind, it was those pestering thoughts of, am I really out here alone? What lurks behind the trees when I'm not looking? How many others were potentially found dead here throughout the years?

The rain. Pouring heavier now as the ripples grew bigger and the downfall went from sprinkles to full size drops now. Hayley had remembered an old poem she used to sing on rainy days like this as a child.

From the sky, to the ground, rain is falling all around...
Thunder, wind and rain, the sky mustn't refrain.

Hayley closed her eyes and tilted her head up, letting the water fall onto her face. Serendipity. Unfortunately for Hayley, her moment of bliss was short lived as she began to shiver, wearing only torn black jeans and a crew neck T-shirt.

Fuck. She didn't want to leave but also didn't want to end up freezing from being cold and now wet with rain. In her back pocket, she felt a buzz, it terrifed her at the possibility of it being Angelo to let her know he found the remaining packages in the garbage bins next door.

Accepting whatever fate holds next for her, she sighs and looks at the screen that was becoming spattered with rain drops on it. Out of all people, it was Chloe, which was a giant relief for Hayley.

are you free? i was wondering if you would be willing to help me with a project :)

Hayley let out another deep sigh, this time, relieved. Without hesitation, she answered back,

I'll be there, give me about 30 mins

Knowing she was in hot water with Angelo who had Robert coming over to the house any moment now, it gave Hayley satisfaction knowing maybe she wouldn't have to go back there for the rest of the evening. Not that her father ever cared for her safety or whereabouts. He only ever demanded she come home because it gave him power over her. The manipulation into making her think that maybe, just maybe there were scraps of him that did care for her, and she would fall for it every time. Always like the naive little girl I am... or was.

Hayley stood up and trotted out carefully through the trail that was becoming mud-filled from the rain. As she approached the entrance, she looked off to the right of her, knowing that's where the third victim of the wreck was found. It was a bit eerie, people had made a small gravesite where a mini cross lay surrounded by flowers.

"I'm so sorry... may God rest your soul" She muttered out.

Hayley had an uneasy feeling that her father had something to do with it given that he was riding with the three others who survived. Though she also knew that she would likely never get the straight answer, it chilled her that she was potentially the daughter of a... I can't think like that. Murderer? Get it out of my head!

The rest of the way to her car, Hayley softly sung out, from the sky, to the ground... rain is falling all around. Thunder, wind and rain... the sky mustn't refrain.

Just like that, over and over like the days when she was young and curious.

From the sky, to the ground, rain is falling all around...
Thunder, wind and rain, the sky mustn't refrain...