It was about six AM and the woods were still dark and foggy. Calvin gripped Beth Alexander's hand tightly guiding her further. She looked around. The trees were moist with morning dew and the birds chirped sending shivers down her back. The moss dripped with condensation. The ground was soft and rocks were scattered here and there. Calvin's pace slowed as they began to approach a small cabin. Beth turned away from Calvin and looked through the dark windows. They were dusty and dry. Calvin swiftly punched in the window with his talons shattering the glass. He climbed through and took Beth Alexander's hand. As she climbed through she lost grip on Calvin's hand and grabbed the window sill, giving her a cut on her palm. Without thinking, Calvin grabbed her hand and drank the blood. She moaned from the relief as she felt the warm blood leave her body. He looked her in the eyes and stopped. What am I doing. This is wrong. Her head swung back as she fainted. He took her in his arms and carried her bridal style to an old couch across the room. He pulled a stool up to the couch and watched her. He stroked her hair and watched her breath deeply. The house was cold and lonely. It made Calvin long for the times he and his mother and father were together. How he wished they could be a family together. But no, they were gone and and things would never be the same. Now he knew. Beth Alexander would know his pain and feel his loneliness. Maybe not right now but eventually she would. And now he knew that she would never forgive him for taking away something so dear to her. As his mind wandered further Beth Alexander began to yawn. He quickly scrambled into the kitchen pretending that he wasn't just watching her sleep. She opened her eyes and smiled. He smiled back at her. He felt around on the counter top and found a tea kettle. He lit the stove with a match and went outside to collect water from the creek. The sky was lighter now and more inviting. He could see his breath when he breathed. The creek water was cool and refreshing. He splashed his face and returned to the cabin. He set the kettle on the stove and returned to the stool. By this time Beth Alexander was sitting up. She looked around and then looked at Calvin. He looked away quickly, almost embarrased. She set her hand on his. He blushed slightly. "This was your cabin wasn't it." He nodded and breathed deeply. She leaned in and put her arms over his shoulders and around his neck. Her embrace was warm and soft, he liked it. He slowly scooted back and pressed his lips to hers. His lips glided over hers like clouds over the sky. Her lips were soft and sweet. They tasted like strawberry ice cream on a cold day. She broke the kiss and whispered in his ear, "I'm fifteen." He looked at her and narrowed his eyes. He quickly stepped away into the kitchen and blew out the flame. He poured the tea into a cup that was hidden in the cabinet. He brought it to her and watched her drink, jealous that cup was able to touch her lips more than him. "Well I'm seventeen," he murmered. Her eyes flared at him, not angrily but surprised. He stormed out the door. A few minutes later Beth Alexander appeared out of the door way. Her eyes flickered here and there until she found Calvin sitting up high in a large tree. He looked down at her then looked over at the creek. He didn't want to make eye contact. She jumped up and pulled on his leg forcing him to make eye contact with her. She smiled at him. There was a long pause but then he did smile. He even giggled a bit. She grabbed hold of his hand and pulled herself up onto the tree branch. She sighed, "Tell me a story."
"No."
"Please Calvin."
"Fine." Everything was quiet the birds silenced and he began. "Once there was a boy who went walking in the woods with his father. Every winter they would camp in the woods and they liked to take walks. But one day during a walk, the boy spotted a man who also spotted them. The man was wearing a suit and he was very pale. The boy looked away and then looked back. The man had vanished. The boy didn't tell his father because he didn't think much of it. They kept walking when the boy discovered a crumpled up piece of paper on the ground. His father took it from him. No no no no no no. That is what it said. The boy no longer felt alone. The boy turned around and standing right there was the man. His father quickly jumped in front of him. There was no use. The man and his father vanished into thin air, leaving the boy alone. The boy ran as fast as he could to the cabin and waited for his father to return, but he never did. The boy walked home after staying alone in the cabin for three days. As he walked beside the road he saw on the outskirts of the forest, the man. He stopped and stared for a few minutes then turned away. The boy never forgot. He never saw the man again."
There was a deep silence between the two of them. Beth Alexander looked at him. He could feel her eyes on him but he didn't look back. She looked behind them into the forest. It made her shiver. Without a word she jumped off the tree branch and walked into the house. A few minutes later he did the same. On the couch was Beth Alexander sleeping, so he did the same on the floor next to her. The sleep was deep and relaxing, for Beth Alexander. Calvin kept having nightmares about the story he told. He thought he had put the memory of the man and his father away deep in his brain. How could something from his past become so real once more. He awoke around eight PM. He looked around the cabin and then too the couch. Beth Alexander was gone.
END OF CHAPTER 5
