Blood in the Water

Chapter Fourteen

Marie remembered the first time Edd had recalled the events of his attack. It was the summer of their Junior year and Edd hadn't been sleeping well for days. He was becoming more and more irritable and was unraveling at the seams; it was disconcerting to see her strong friend crumbling.

It was a warm Saturday afternoon when Marie dragged her friend out of the house and to the creek. She knew that it was a place of peace for Eddward.

"Marie!" He snipped sharply, "I do not appreciate being dragged about like this."

"Oh relax!" She said, tightening her grip on his wrist as they moved through the woods, "This is for your own good now stop complaining." They came out near the bank of the creek and Marie led him to a little grassy spot before laying a blanket down.

Once they were both settled, Edd shifted some and gave Marie an annoyed look, "Alright, we're here." He said and looked out over the creek, "Now what?"

The teenager sight and brought her knees to her chest, settling her chin down, "I'm just worried about you Edd, I thought you needed some time away from things. I know something is bothering you!" She scooted closer and invaded the man's personal bubble that Marie knew only she was allowed to violate and went to rest her head on his shoulder.

As she flashed her best friend those big sad puppy dog eyes she saw Edd crumbling slowly. "Hey, you remember a few weeks ago? I was gonna go to the prom with Tyler Helms and he stood me up? Without a second thought you showed up at my door all dressed up in a fine tux and even somehow managed to rent a limo and took me to prom. You told me in the car that I can always count on you, that I'm the only person you've ever been able to count on."

Edd was silent for a moment and then heaved a very loud sigh, "You seem to be laying this on quite thick, Marie. I simply suffer from a mild case of insomnia."

She frowned, "I'm not buying that."

"I am not asking you to."

"Then tell me!" When her friend still did not yield she shifted and took a new tactic, sliding her arms around his shoulders as she got onto her knees and leaned in, "Tell me or I'll kiss you!" she threatened.

He finally relented as he pulled his head away, "Alright alright!" he huffed, "I will explain my problem, please just keep your lips away from me."

For most people that would be quite an insult, but for Marie, it was still quite an insult. She pouted playfully and was unsure if she was happy or sad that Edd didn't notice the sting that showed through her eyes. She knew the swimmer was gay, it was nothing new nor did he hide it from anyone. But still...

"I have been plagued with nightmares." He confessed as Marie sat back and leaned on her hands, "Just...this time of year is hard on me is all." He looked away and frowned, "In my nightmares I can feel their hands on me, I can feel the blood rolling down my skin, I can hear their voices." Edd suddenly reached up to cover his ears and his eyes squeezed closed as if the memories suddenly came pouring into his mind.

Marie was quick to move and wrap her arms around him, unsure of what to say before he started speaking again.

"Back then I didn't have the scar on my head..." he murmured, fingers inching up to curl in his hat and pull it down over his eyes further, "They asked me why I wore this hat, and then said they would give me a reason. One of them...the one that made us go there, Vincent..." he whispered the name with a mixture of fear and hatred, "He took a knife and ran it over my head, he made this scar and laughed."

Marie winced but held her friend closer.

"Vincent was the one who set everything up... He set us up... It's one thing to take a beating, Marie, it's one thing to mock or tease, but this man gained honest to God pleasure from my torture. He was slow...methodical..."