Secret Jewel of the Ocean

Chapter 13

Darkness was all I saw.

I sensed the presence of someone, but I couldn’t tell who. All I knew is that someone was inside this silent, creepy place so late at night. Someone other than me. Someone with me.

“Hello…?” I asked hesitantly as I felt my way around the store. I suddenly got the shivers. A chilling breeze whirled throughout the shop, and I glanced around, checking if any windows or doors were open that would let in such a draft. “I-is anyone in here…?” I gulped.

Silence.

Then…something crashed. I didn’t know what. I heard it coming from the back room, and my heart began to race. Normally I would’ve been long gone after hearing such a noise in such a frightening place. But I wasn’t my normal self anymore. I didn't do normal things anymore.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly continued forward, making my way towards the back of the store. Sure, I was terrified at what or who was back there, but I had to know. Something inside me needed an explanation. Just like something inside me needed to find Jewel.

Actually, everything inside me needed to find Jewel.

When I reached the back of the store, I used the counter as a guide. I followed along the edge of it as I moved along. Finally, I was able to make out the image of an open door. Carefully, I stepped inside the doorframe, trembling with fear. Having abolutely no clue who was in there - not even knowing if it was a person or a rabid animal or God knows what in this town anymore - scared me half to death. But I didn't even care.

I paused.

Took a deep breath.

Closed my eyes.

A moment later, out of nowhere, I felt a rough hand grip over my mouth. I started screaming and yelling and hollering, trying to break free of the harsh hold. Then another hand grabbed my arms and held them behind my back so that I couldn’t pry away his cupped hand on my mouth. I began kicking and squirming, desperate to escape.

Why had I even gone inside that place all alone so late at night?! I was so stupid! Everything I did was foolish. I didn’t even know myself anymore.

I felt my body being dragged into a closet in the back room of the store. At first I thought that the person was a robber or something and that they didn’t want me to run off and call the cops on them, but now I was almost sure I would be raped.

Or killed, even.

And you know what? For a split second, I didn’t even care if it was my last night. Maybe I was getting what I deserved. Maybe I'd rather be where Jewel is than on earth without her.

Finally, I got up all of the anger inside of me - anger over Jewel’s disappearance, my stupidity, my sadness of letting Travis go; everything - and bit down on the stranger’s hand.

“Owwwww!” moaned the man as he pulled his hand quickly away from me. I could tell I had hurt him by the way he was breathing; heavy and pained.

I started screaming. “Who are you?! And what the hell do you want from me?! Let me out of this-”

“I’m Adam!”

I went silent. The only sound I heard was our deep breathing. “Adam…Adam the stalker?” I recalled, pissed off and confused. He just stood there, staring at me. “Well? Answer my question. What do you want from me? Why do you keep following me like a little puppy?” I calmed down a little. Maybe it was Adam’s bright green eyes that flashed innocence, but I didn’t feel that I was in harm’s way anymore.

Adam peered around the small closet. “I hear your friend is missing.”

That’s all he had to say to me? The reason I had taken a walk that night was to get away from the constant reminders that Jewel was gone. Now I was given yet another remembrance of her lack of presence. “Yes! Okay? She’s missing. No need to remind me. I have enough guilt to deal with already…” I said, pushing past Adam and reaching for the doorknob of the closet. But Adam stepped in front of me before I could get to it. “Let. Me. Out.’

“Not yet,” he said simply.

Rolling my eyes, I sighed in frustration. “What do you want?” I said, on the verge of tears.

“I tried to tell you earlier. You thought I was being a creep, huh? I was only trying to protect your friend.” Adam’s voice grew stern. He almost seemed…upset. Well, good. It's about time someone understands how I've been feeling. Upset.

But then I realized I had been accused being the cause of my best friend's death. Low blow. I became intensely angry now. “Are you saying this is my fault? That she disappeared because of me?” My heart was in my throat and I could barely swallow.

Adam looked up and straight into my golden-brown eyes. “I’m saying that you shouldn’t be so quick to judge.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “Quick to judge? What are you even talking about?” Dizziness flooded over me and I took a seat. I needed some rest. I hadn't stopped looking for Jewel for days. I hadn't slept fully for day. Sure, a few hours here and there...But I couldn't bring myself to a solid rest.

“Listen. You think I’m some stalker or something, correct?”

I nodded and peered up at him. “Yes, and now I know you are,” I confirmed, wiping sweat off of my burning forehead.

“Well, maybe I was trying to tell you something. Ever think of that? And since you’re so damn stubborn, I couldn’t even get the message out. So I had to follow you until you got the point,” Adam said matter-of-factly. His face was hard, but suddenly it softened as he inspected the ground beside me. “But, I must admit, it was pretty entertaining going around and experiencing your dramatic life.” He chuckled to himself.

I gaped at him. “You think this is funny? My friend is gone! My best friend! My sister! She’s gone!” I couldn't control myself any longer. Jewel was probably out there, dead, and Adam was laughing! Laughing like everything was perfectly fine - like half of me wasn't missing.

Joking around like a bitter fool.

Adam raised his eyebrows. “Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.” He shrugged and looked away.

I shook my head. “How did you try warning me?” Adam didn’t answer. He just stared at me blankly. Slowly rising off the floor, I said, “Whatever, I’m leaving. I don’t need your shit right now.” Sighing, I edged my way around him and opened the closet door to get the hell out of there; to get the hell away from Adam.

This time, Adam didn’t stop me. He just watched me walk away, all alone, into the darkness of the dangerous, mysterious night.

 But he did have something to say as I left. “How did I warn you?" he called out to me. I continued to fast-walk away. "I told you: The ocean loves Jewels.”