Crimson Pines

Window to my Soul

The night after the lake, I started to have awful recurring nightmares. Sometimes they revolved around Charlie but other times they seemed to mean nothing. Either way, they sucked.

I woke up in the night, covered in sweat and my legs tangles in the sheets. I pried myself out of the blankets and left my room to have a shower. I turned up the heat, allowing the hot water to run down my body. What the hell was happening to me?

My room was dark, the only light coming from the window. The curtains weren't drawn and I thought I saw someone standing underneath but when I looked closer I saw nothing. I pulled the curtains closed, a shiver running down my spine.

The next morning I got up early before school to go to the library. I needed to know about the Stafford's, I needed to know the history of the town.

The library was a large heritage building, brown dusty books filled the ceiling high shelves. I approached the front desk, a young perky woman in a dress shirt and a big smile welcomed me. I explained I wanted to know the history of the town, specifically the Stafford's. She immediately led me over to the back of the library and helped me get down all the books I wanted.

"You'd be surprised how many people ask for these" she said placing them on the desk carefully, brushing off the covers. She told me to come and see her if I needed any help before she left to go and attend another librarian duty.

Taking a deep breath I opened the first book in front of me. The stories surrounding the town were strange. Many mythical creatures filled the pages, blame being placed on them for disappearing persons and murders. All the stories are from at least a hundred years ago though.

As I looked through the rest of the books I finally found information on the Stafford's. Apparently the man to fund the town was a Stafford, a rich man who moved there a few hundred years ago. He was revered by the town, people moved there to live by them. People started to notice that the Stafford family weren't quite like everyone else. They didn't go to town celebrations and they cared little about the people that lived there.

By the time I finished reading all of the interesting material it was already mid day, on a Monday. I honestly couldn't be bothered to go to school so I decided to have a look at the recommended sightseeing spots in town.

Grabbing my bag I thanked the librarian on my way out. The air was cool as it bit at my skin, occasional breezes causing my eyes to dry out. I unhooked my bike from the metal rack and jumped on, intermittently looking from the road to the map in my hand.

It was convenient that the library was also the town information centre. I eventually made it to the entrance of a long driveway with a metal arch overhead. It read in gothic writing 'Stafford Manor'. I got off my bike and started walking down the long winding driveway, it would seem weird if the manor wasn't open from Monday to Friday from 9am till 3pm for people to view the grounds. The house was always closed though.

The grounds were vast and beautiful. Every few minutes I'd see another gardener wandering around with a pair of hedge clippers and spades. No one else was there, which seemed strange. Suddenly my head started pounding, clutching my head I squeezed my eyes shut and then as if it never happened the feeling was gone. Slowly letting go of my head I looked up. Two people were sitting on the porch of the house.

They were at least fifty meters away and yet I could still see them frowning and looking at each other. I attempted to walk away, moving quickly back in the direction I came from.

As though he sensed me Charlie was waiting by the side of the house, watching me from a distance. I gave him a small wave that he didn't return and I figured that was my queue to make a quick exit before this situation became any more uncomfortable.

I was nearing the driveway, I turned to look at him but he was now standing inside by the large window, the same girl from the other day and the two people from the porch now standing next to him. I turned back around quickly and started to run.

I had no idea what was happening, why were they all so...creepy?

I jumped back on my bike, ignoring the fact that I didn't have a map in my hand and started pedalling as fast as I could. Overtime I was around him something weird happened and I couldn't keep doing this to myself.

That night I had no nightmares, instead my head was filled with a dark space that didn't allow me to sleep fully. The next morning I was no where near well rested.

"The school called me yesterday, you weren't there" My Aunt stated sitting at the dining table with the paper and a large cup of coffee that steam was running from.

"I wasn't feeling well, I thought I should stay home" I said in reply, grabbing a slice of bread. Not bothering to do anything with it, I ate it plain. My Aunt looked mildly confused and disgusted as I continued to eat.

"I'm feeling better today though" I said after a long enough pause had made the situation slightly uncomfortable. She nodded and stood up grabbing her bag from the back of her chair.

"Make sure you tell me next time, I need to know where you are" She said in a final tone, leaving the house and slamming the door.

I left not long after her, riding my bike to school. The cute boy from school who's name I finally figured out, was standing by the front gate talking to his friends. When I pulled up he waved me over, his friends dispersing to let us talk alone.

I wandered over, still holding my bike as I wheeled it along beside me.

"Hey Philip!" I said smiling awkwardly at him. He beamed back at me.

"So I was thinking, since we don't really know each other very well yet, we could go see a movie together?" He asked taking a step closer. My heart started beating a little faster than usual and I wasn't sure if it was in a good or bad way.

I inch back a little but agree to go with him. He seemed nice enough and I'd always thought he was cute. Even thought I knew I wasn't cheating on Charlie, it still felt like I was. I'd only met the guy twice and he was weird as hell. But although he freaked me out, I couldn't help but want to see him more. It wasn't even in a romantic way, he just interested me in a way that I'd never felt before. And maybe it was romantic, I just wasn't sure yet.

Philip started talking about the basketball game he played on the weekend and how great he was. I smiled along with his story but I wasn't really paying attention, now that I had my mind on Charlie I couldn't stop thinking about him.

I thought back to a dream I had the other day, we were standing on a rooftop. Our arms wrapped around each other. A large creature on the ground below, Charlie kissed my forehead and suddenly jumped off leaving me standing by myself.

When I turned to walk away after Philip had finally stopped talking to me I saw him. He was standing on the edge of the forest alone.

He didn't smile he simply stared and when I went to walk towards him.

He left.