Crimson Nightmares (#WATTYS2016)

Chapter Three

Reaching Michael's Jeep after the last bell, I see him walk out of the school on the far side of the building with a bunch of jock-type guys. He's laughing with them, so I take that as a good sign. He sees me and turns to say something to his new friends before running over to me.

"Hey sis, sorry for taking so long," he says, slightly out of breath.

I smile up at my big brother. "I just got here myself, so you're off the hook."

He opens the doors and we both throw our bags in the back of the Jeep before getting in. "The guys took me to meet the Rugby coach. He says I can come to a few practices, see if I catch on and then go to try-outs."

"I'm glad that you're so excited," I say thinking of how disappointed he had been when he had to say goodbye to his football friends back at our old school.

He starts the engine before speaking again. "So how was your first day? Make any friends?"

"Yes... I actually did! There are these two girls; Natalie and Kathy. They seem really nice."

"That's good to hear Jules, I told you that everything would be fine," he says before putting the Jeep in gear. He starts driving to town; my mother had given us a list of groceries to pick up after school.

As we get out at the supermarket, a paper on a lamp post catches my eyes. Walking towards it I can now see that has a photo of a young girl on. It's a missing person flyer.

I read through it with empathy for her family. Her name is Stacey and she's only thirteen years old. Apparently she'd left for school one morning, but never made it there. No one's seen her since. I make a mental note to ask Natalie if she knew her.

Staring at the photo for a few minutes I try to memorize her face. Standing there, in broad daylight, my skin starts tingling. I look around, almost expecting to catch someone looking at me, the feeling of someone watching me almost overwhelming. The street bustles with life, but nobody is paying me any attention. I shake my head as if trying to knock the sensation away.

Even though it's another scorching day, a shiver runs down my spine.

I look up and see Michael's broad shoulders as they disappear into the building, so I run to catch up. We walk down the various isles of the store, searching for everything on the list my mother had given us.

Still preoccupied with the missing girl, I don't pay much attention to my surroundings. I think of the history teacher being attacked by a dog, and then my mind drifts to Joshua – the stranger who was also attacked by something. My mind conjures up two haunting blue eyes, and I remember my strange reoccurring dream.

I've had it nightly since that strange evening when his father showed up with his battered body.

The morning following that my grandfather had told me that Joshua's father, John (or Mr. Steele, as I now know), was actually the town's mayor. Apparently their farm borders ours, even though the entrances are separated by about 3 miles.

We went to visit Joshua in the hospital twice. The first time he was sleeping, and we decided not to bother him. The second time, only four days after the attack, we were informed that he had already been released. I thought for sure that he would have to recover in the hospital for weeks. I didn't imagine his wounds, they were severe.

My grandfather phone Mayor Steele to find out more, and his reply was that his son had made a miraculous recovery, stunning the hospital staff. I'm a little stunned myself, but still very relieved that he was okay.