Me and the Devil

8.

The next morning, I grab a cup of coffee for myself and a cup for Ward on my way over to Tannyhill for work. As I pull up, I see Topper talking to Ward very seriously about something. I walk up coffee in hand, as I finally start to catch a glimpse of the conversation. Topper is trying to get John B fired?? Why ? Because of the Boneyard incident? OH. Because he thinks John B stole the scuba equipment. I interrupt with forced cheerfulness.

“Good morning boys!” I hand the cup of coffee to Ward. “Looks like we got a lot of work today. Thought you could use the energy! Topper, if you’re sticking around , why don’t you make yourself useful?” I toss him a pair of safety glasses. He rolls his eyes but walks off.

After several hours of chopping up big branches that had fallen during the storm, I decide to use my lunch break to find Rafe “ Big Mouth” Cameron and confront him about spreading rumors about John B and the scuba equipment. It was the only reasonable answer I could come with as to how Topper knew about the scuba gear in the first place.

I walk up the grand staircase of the Cameron estate, trying to remember exactly which closed door belonged to Rafe’s room. I walk up and knock on the door at the top of the staircase. No answer. I’m sure this is his room. I reach for the handle and give it a turn. It opens. I walk in and look around. No Rafe, but I hear the shower running, so I turn quickly to leave- just as a hand comes from behind and slams the door shut. Fuck.

Rafe stands before me in nothing but a towel. His hair, usually slicked back, falls wet around his face, his tanned skin glistening. My eyes trace the lines of his body, lingering on the “v” disappearing beneath the towel. My mind wanders.

“Did you come here for something in particular or did you just want a little peep show?” his voice drips with arrogance.

What did I come here for again? I shake myself out of it, forcing my focus back to reality.

“‘Your secret’s safe with me!?’ Really!?” I shove Rafe back. “Trying to get John B fired! I know you can’t imagine that but some people need jobs so that they can eat. You are exactly who I thought you were, Rafe Cameron.” I shove him again. His back’s up against the wall now.

“Asshole.” He growls and in my anger I let my guard down. He spins me around so I’m against the wall. He takes his fist and punches. I close my eyes. Ready for impact. His fist lands right next to my head.

“Are you done?” he growls, his hand moving to my chin, forcing me to look up at him. His lips are so close to mine I can feel his breath. “Don’t you ever talk to me like that again. Because next time, I don’t know if I will be able to control myself.” His thumb grazes my lips, and for a moment I almost lean in, but in one swift motion, he opens up the door and pushes me out of his room. Slamming it in my face.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

By the time I get to the Chateau later that night, my mind is still buzzing. Weed and a stiff drink are the only things I want. But I’m greeted with JohnB, burning his dad’s things in the yard. He motions me into the Twinkie without saying a word, and I know we’re in for something. Probably not the relaxing evening I was hoping for.

We pick up JJ, then Poe, then Kiara after a lot of coaxing from John B. Still, none of us know what dusk.

“This place is creepy. What are we even doing here?” I ask.

“So, Redfield. This whole time, I thought it was a place, right? But it’s not a place. It’s a person.” We arrive at a mausoleum, and John B pushes back a shrub revealing the name Redfield at the top. “My great-great grandmother, Olivia Redfield.”

“Voi-effing-la” I mumble. JJ giggles beside me because I know that’s exactly how he is feeling at this moment too.

John B and Kiara and Pope try to move the door, but it doesn’t budge. A cottonmouth slithers out a crack in the stone scaring them half to death. JJ starts barking at it loudly. Everyone is shushing him.

“You’re going to wake the dead!” Pope says.

“They’re afraid of dogs. Everyone knows that.” I grumble, trying to defend JJ. As the group seems to be giving up, though, an idea comes to my head. The snake came out of that crack in the stone. I think I could fit through there.

“I can get through.” I say matter-of-factly. The others stare at me blankly. “We didn't come this far to get this far, alright? This is about your dad. And honestly, I don’t really believe it, but you deserve to know the truth. I’ll do it.”

JJ walks over and grabs my hand. He squeezes it three times and then lifts me up. I scramble up to his shoulders for a little boost and climb in the hole. My feet hit the ground on the other side and I raise up my flashlight.

“Oh my God”