Indian summer

Chapter 29

My heat thudded loudly in my chest and fear pricked my spine. Automatically my imagination schemed up terrible ideas about just what that red flash might have been: an alien, a mutant fox, Donovan. Out of all of those illogical answers the last seemed the most real. My foot pressed harder on the gas pedal, recklessly driving 30 miles over the speed limit.

Fear and confusion took over my mind and I wasn't even paying attention to where I was going. I followed the winding roads, dodging the occasional pothole or road kill. I think my automatic safety defense had taken over, bringing me to a safe place. Rhett's house?

I slowed down and pulled into the driveway, wondering if this was really a smart decision. If, whatever that thing was, was following me I had just led it to my brother's house. Very smart Dixie, very smart.

I sighed, resting my head against the steering wheel. My jeep idled, making a stiff humming sound. Besides that it was quiet. Not ere quiet, but a nice quiet. Peaceful.

"Dixie?" I jumped in my seat and looked up to see Rhett standing outside my door. He didn't try hiding his confusion. "What are you doing here?"

I turned my jeep off and opened the door, all the while trying to come up with an excuse. "I broke down at school today, I decided to leave."

"You broke down? Dixie, are you ok?"

I could feel the tears rise again, choking my throat. I bit my lip and tried to swallow the tears. I sniffled a little and Rhett sighed, wrapping his arms around me. "Let's go inside." He removed one arm from around me but kept one draped around my shoulders; guiding me for the house.

"Thank you for waxing my Jeep." I whispered before I could forget.

He let out a deep laugh, "You're welcome," He opened the door with a creek, the smell of cedar and gun powder filled my head. What with the gun cleaning supplies lying across his tiny kitchen table I guessed he had just finished cleaning his gun. "But really, Dix, what's going on."

He pulled out a chair for me and I sat as directed, feeling like I was being interrogated. I wondered if I should tell him what's really wrong or if I should just make something up. If I told him what was really wrong, he would get pushy, and I knew he didn't have any sympathy for Embry after the lies mom and dad had told him.

"I think it's just all the stress lately." I lied. It sounded like a reasonable response. I really did have a lot of stress right now, but that was only a small, minute detail in my big picture.

"I hate stress," He muttered sympathetically, moving for the fridge. He pulled out a beer and tossed me a bottle of water. He popped the top of his beer and took a thoughtful swig. "You know what I do when I'm stressed?" He sat down quickly next to me, leaning on the table excitedly.

"Shoot things?"

His mouth opened to reply and he paused, "Well... yes, but besides that."

I felt the corners of my mouth draw up in a small smile, "What?"

He pointed a finger at me, "I go camping. This weekend. Me and you. We haven't been camping together in forever Dix! And the best part is, mom and dad aren't around to parental it up!"

I laughed at my brother's enthusiasm. He looked like he was ten years old. "This weekend?" I repeated.

"Yeah, we'll go up to the mountains."

I thought of the Appalachian Mountains. I had only been there a couple times. I remember the landscape was incredibly hilly. You were practically walking up or down hill the whole entire time. It was also completely covered in trees except for the random breaks where water ran. The trees were so thick you couldn't see the sky, just like in Forks.

"Unless you have something better to do than hang out with your big brother." He looked away, trying to seem disappointed.

At that moment I couldn't think of anything that was within my reach that I could do that would be better than that. Maybe being in the quiescent woods would help me calm down; maybe feel a little closer to my lost Embry. "Sounds like fun, Rhett." I said, while pulling off my best grin.

"Shweet," He said with a shwa sound at the beginning; holding his hand up for a high five. I giggled and slapped his hand. "Now, are you planning on ditching the entire day?" He asked, suddenly getting serious... well, as serious as my brother got. "Because if you're ditching the whole day I should probably call the school and tell 'em you're sick or something."

I was in such a good mood that for a second I almost said I was going back. Then I remembered the ere red flash and decided against it. Rhett's face seemed indifferent as he pulled out his cell and called the school. He told them I wasn't feeling well and they surprisingly believed him.

"Don't you have to go to work?" I asked, suddenly realizing what time it was.

"Works been slow lately, I'm sure they won't mind if I take off."

"You don't have to do that. I can take care of myself."

He eyed me. "You sure?"

"Absolutely positively sure." If Donovan came for me now, at least Rhett would be out of the way.

"Ok then," He playfully punched my arm. "I'll see ya later. Don't eat all my food."

"Awww," I moaned in fake disappointment and I heard him laugh as he walked out the door.

And I was alone. With the loneliness came time to think. Then came despair. And I was right where I had begun.

***

We left right after school on Friday for our weekend in the mountains. I was excited to get under the dark canopy of trees. They were even predicting a thunderstorm tonight. I know Rhett was praying it didn't rain but I was more than excited.

Most of the tourists camped in the RV and Trailer sections of the campgrounds so the tent section was more than enough open for us. We were even close to the head of the trail that led to the lake.

"I know what we're doing tomorrow morning." Rhett grinned, "Lets pick up the bait tonight."

I loved the relaxing feeling that comes with camping. It feels like there's so much to do but you have forever to do it. It doesn't matter if all you want to do is sit around the fire with your brother, that's perfectly acceptable.

Rhett and I didn't stay up real late; we were planning on getting to the lake early in the morning. After getting back from the bug filled showers I curled up under my sleeping bag to get some well deserved rest. It wasn't long before rain drops started to patter on the top of the tent. I heard Rhett groan next to me but I kept my emotions to myself. Soon after his expression of disapproval he started snoring.

I started to think about the day that lay ahead of me tomorrow. It thrilled me to be back under the cover of trees. I couldn't wait to see them all covered in dew and raindrops tomorrow. Maybe it would be thundering. Do I sound pathetic or what?

But with all these thoughts came thoughts of Embry. I wondered where he was and what he was doing right now. I couldn't ignore the hurt that came with not knowing. I wished he was here with me like he had been in Forks. We could sit out in the forest like we did before; talk into the night about random things. Or maybe he would just snuggle into my sleeping bag with me and we'd just spend the night in each other's arms.

I gritted my teeth as the pain came. All I wanted to do was hear his voice, know that he was ok, or maybe just see him off in the distance, fine and happy. Then I would be ok... maybe.

My thoughts were disturbed by a soft rustling of leaves outside the tent. I froze and listened. Over the sound of the light rain I heard a patter of footsteps too light and agile to be human.

Embry.

Of course that was what my mind first thought. As a result of that I found myself silently scrambling out of my sleeping back and sliding out of the tent. I squinted into the darkness and took a few paces towards the woods. "Embry?" I whispered. I heard the footsteps, they were close.

"Em..." Before I could finish my whisper a hand wrapped around my mouth. Another wrapped around my waist securing me against a cold, hard, body.

A soft voice whispered in my ear, "Don't scream."