Hidden Close (Jr. Year)

Chapter 35

Part 35 Of The First Draft

There is still one more person that I have to talk to tonight. I needed to tell Becky what Carlie had said...or should I say what she didn't say? I'm not sure if I'll ever make sense out of why Becky was used so much by Carlie when she was her evil self. Becky is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but she's no essential element to a diabolical plot. It's almost as if Becky was only meant to find me and my family. This brought a startling thought to my mind. Was Carlie still inside of her own self as she struggled against her shadow self?

“Becky...we need to talk.”

“I don't have much time, Mindi. If you haven't forgotten, school is tomorrow.”

There is no point in arguing with her. She sounds tired, anyway.

“Hey....you’re right. We'll see each other tomorrow. Good night, darling.”

The phone clicked and I still felt unfulfilled. I get this way. I'm all about relaying messages and closure. There's always an unhealthy amount of OCD in me when these things happen. Oh well. Tomorrow is a new day, and I really need the sleep, too. Good night, world.

Monday started its own usual way as it had before, and honestly, I love how it is back to the same boring school day mornings. No more watching my back, no more hoping that we are all in one piece each and every second. There is still that aspect out there, the one of ever-lurking danger. I know that the mysterious owner of The Weekend Freak will come back looking for Carlie. Carlie won't be any help in identifying him. All of her memories from her shadow-self, Carlita, have been effectively sealed away. My mother mentioned something, though.

“With a little work I might be able to have her recall a few key facts. However, there is some drawbacks to these sort of things. I'm worried it would hurt too much. What can I say? I really care about Carlie and can't see her in anymore pain.”

It's an idea, but I agree with my mom, and that’s why I am going to ask Becky. I figure she may know something that might be useful. To think, we thought that we were done with this fight when we freed Carlie. I wasn't really surprised when that wasn’t the case. It just seemed too easy. Nothing in my life has ever been easy.

“Well, hello, handsome. You sure are a refreshing sight on this dreary  morning.”

Perry looked so good in his Knoxville Central High sweatshirt and tight black cargo pants. It takes a hot guy to pull off that kind of outfit, and let's just say that he passes with flying colors. I grabbed him by the arm, and he greeted me with his always charming voice,

“Even if this is only one day of what I call normality, then I am happy. Where would I be without you, Mindi?”

I laughed as he sweapt me off my feet.

“I feel the same way, baby. The only thing that is bothering me right now is Carlie.....”

Perry became instantly suspicious,

“Why? Is she giving you trouble?”

I sighed, and explained to him what was really is eating me,

“No, it's nothing like that. I'm just sort of worried about her, you know?”

Perry then became relieved despite his voice being riddled with guilt,

“Oh, I'm sure she'll be okay. Want me to talk to her?”

I put a hand up in the air as we held hands together and gazed into one another's eyes before we started our school day, and told him,

“No....I’m sure my mom will be able to handle her. They have a special bond that I'm sure they don’t even understand. That's women for ya.”

Perry studied my face, and after he was pleased, he smiled, and we went off to gym class together. When I changed my clothes, I noticed that Becky seemed happy. This marks the first time I've ever seen her that way. I didn't want to disturb her mood, so I waited until school finished to ask her the question that I've just been dying to know the answer to,

“Becky? Can I ask you something important?”

Becky smiled, and replied to me,

“Shoot.”

I cleared my throat, and asked,

“Who is this man who owns The Weekend Freak? Should we be worried?”

Becky sighed, and her expression changed to one of seriousness. She explained,

“Mister Paulson is a man that I only met once. He was someone who seemed as if he thought that no one could ever harm him. He wasn't mean, but he was the type of guy you just know that you wouldn't want to get on his bad side. Honestly, I feel we have been on his bad side for quite some time. We share the same fate, Mindi. We are the hunted.”

I pressed on, ignoring my growing anxiety,

“Is he like us?”

Becky shook her head, and told me the words I just didn't want to hear,

“No....he’s like Carlie once was, only much older. He is by far a savage predator.”

Perry caught up with us, and put his arms around both of us. Becky smiled, and slowly pulled away from his arm. I laughed, and so did Becky and Perry. He told us,

“I’m so lucky. I get to hang out with the two best looking girls in school.”

My makeup did little to hide me blushing, and I told him,

“Oh? Then why don't you give us a ride home, cowboy?”

As he started to lead us to his car, he quietly said to me,

“Anything for you.”

The day came to an end some time later, and none of my fear left me. I cut two deep ones into my increasingly mutilated arm, and I went to bed with an empty stomach, feeling guilty about my weight. It was hard to get to sleep that night, but what do I care? Right now I feel as if I have no hope. Lana stared at me for awhile before I went to sleep, and I wanted to tell her what was going on with me, but I just couldn't. After an internal struggle, I told her,

“Lana, I love you. Don't worry. I'll be okay. Just give me some time, okay, babe?”

Lana smiled at me, and replied to me after she yawned and laid down,

“I know, sis.”