Revved Up Soul

Chapter 43

Romance in Red

The night was dead and the leaves beneath Jasmine's sneakers crunched as she walked down the sidewalk, the sole provider of light being Luke's house. There was a rhythmic sound of crickets – it felt as though she was intruding on territory that was not her own. Jasmine felt a chill of excitement dance along her spine as she grew near and nearer still, clutching tight the six pack of bottled beer in her hand. He definitely sounded off, she mused, maybe he really is sick and doesn't want to admit it?

Walking up to the door, Jasmine hesitated a moment – nervousness becoming her, why did it thrill her so much? The idea of spending time with him, seeing him and holding him. The way that he made her feel was nothing short of incredible.

Was this what it was supposed to feel like?

She rapped on the door three times. No answer. That was strange. She hadn't seen his bike out in the driveway, but the lights are on – maybe it's in the garage? "Luke?" She called. She noted the dark yellow curtain that somewhat obscured the living room window. Inside, she noted, there was a massive flat screen playing some black and white horror show that she did not recognize.

On the other side of the door, Kayla's stomach twisted into sickly warm knots – her heart beating fast against her chest. She should have put a note on the door, that would have made much more sense.

Come inside, come on. I'm going to carve you, you stupid whore.

It killed her inside, the waiting; her fingers coiled around the handle of the knife. There was a painful silence now as she listened closely for Jasmine; she was ready to hide in the coat closet just beside the door – which was purposefully left ajar.

Open it, Kayla repeated in her mind as though it were a mantra.

Fire shot through her veins freely. She took a tentative step forward, and then another – each silent footfall made her second guess herself; could she hear that? Did she leave?

No, no you would have heard her car.

Jasmine brought an ear close to the frame of the door. Chirp, chirp, chirp. The cacophony grew louder; there was nothing else to hear, nothing else to listen for. She stepped back and turned her head, a sense of unease cloaking itself around her. Was someone watching me?

Kayla crept up to the front door, stilled her breath and peered through the peephole.

There was only darkness. Black as pitch.

Chirp, chirp, chirp – the faint chorus of bugs was all that filled her mind and it made her skin crawl; it made her skin crawl to not know – where did she go?

She silently exhaled, smooth as smoke. Kayla then bit down on her lip, rewrapping her slender fingers around the kitchen knife and moving over to the window, which was partially covered by the thick, rustic yellow curtain.

Jasmine moved over to the window, peering as best she could – what was that? It was blurry and dark; it definitely moved. Her pulse quickened. "Hey," she called out, tapping twice on the window pane with her knuckles, "Luke?" She paused and listened, keeping alert – she was certain now that he would pop up any second and scare her half to death.

But that did not happen.

Jasmine padded back over to the front door and considered a moment before slipping her hand through the gap in the iron door handle. She was starting to get annoyed, figuring that if it was locked, she would go home – if the door was open, she would chew the man out for not saying something.

She pressed her thumb down on the small button of the iron handle. Pushing forward, the door opened slowly – golden light escaping between its crack. Jasmine called out again, opening the door all the way now and taking soft, calculated steps forward. Where the hell was he?