Hunt of the Night

c h a p t e r t h i r t y f o u r ( k a t i e )

Previously...

Chris held the pillow in the air, hesitating as he gazed at the deranged girl. Guilt washed through him first, but then flashes of the night came to the front of his mind.

I have to do this.

With one last glance at the girl, he forced his eyes shut and pressed the pillow down. Turning his head to the side, keeping his eyes closed, he felt the body beneath him grow still. Deciding not to waste one more second in the dainty house, Chris took off without a second thought.

Through the house, the clearing, he finally caught back up to the rest of the guys who stood around a fresh pile of dirt.

It was done.

None of the boys exchanged words in this moment. Whether the silence was for the strangers whose lives they took, or the silence for their innocence that was taken away from them that night, was unknown. Words couldn't describe the pain and discomfort they were feeling as the shovel fell from one of the boys' hands next to that pile of dirt. Words wouldn't be able to fill the void this night would bring, their heavy breathing and panic stricken looks were enough.

With a nod of the head, they knew.

They had managed to do the unthinkable.

They were free.

Currently...

Sunday

Katie sat in her bed, watching the hands on her clock sweep the numbers every so slowly. Sleep hadn't came over her yet, and she wondered if it ever would. The cold had yet to leave her bones even though the water was too hot in the bath she allowed herself to have upon her arrival at home.

Nothing happened this weekend.

Nothing happened this weekend.

Nothing happened this weekend.

Those four words kept repeating themselves over and over in her head. Maybe one day she could believe them. If only it was that simple.

With a sigh, Katie made her way to the kitchen. The house was quiet. It was just like any ordinary day, her parents were gone on a trip. All they left was a bundle of cash and a note with a We love you. See you soon.

Trailing back upstairs with a bowl of cereal, Katie thought of ways to pass the time. Doing her hair was out of the question because of him.

Nothing happened this weekend.

A makeover would do just the trick. Katie opened her closet doors, stepping inside while taking a spoonful of cereal. Her eyes skimmed the racks of dresses, shirts, skirts, shoes. For the first time that weekend, Katie felt at ease. She was in her world. Soon, the closet was a mess. Clothes were hanging halfway on the hangers, shoes were scattered across the floor, and jewelry were left in a trail from the dresser to the vanity. Katie was happily perched on her throne, mascara in hand as she leaned across the table top. With each stroke of the wand, Katie felt renewed. Placing the mascara down on the table, Katie stared at her reflection and smiled. Her face was fully painted, beautifully at that. Hair was the next plan of action. She decided on a simple pin up when her attention came across her nails, some of which still had dirt under them. Her eyes widened, her breathing quickened as she darted to the bathroom. Frantily scrubbing her nails, Katie's mind wandered to the previous days events.

Nothing happened this weekend.

Katie sighed, staring at perfectly clean nails. Pink. That's what color they needed to be now. Pink. Katie slowly applied the nail polish onto every finger nail, fully focused. Good as new. Katie closed her eyes for a moment, gathering herself before coming face to face with her reflection. She counted to three, opening her eyes only to gaze at the flawless skin her wonderful artwork portrayed. Her makeup was her get away. It erased all the imperfections. It made her happy because she could control the way she looked, even down to the last stroke of her mascara wand. She could make her brows perfectly shaped above her eye. She could make her lips as full as she thought they needed to be. She could make her eyelashes go on and on. She could make herself look new; and new was just what she needed right now.

Smiling, Katie took her bowl downstairs to the kitchen and that was when her parents walked through the garage door.

"Katie, darling, how is our beautiful girl?" Her dad asked, hanging up his jacket, then waiting for her mom to hand him her jacket.

"Wow, Katie, I really like your makeup. You did good this time," Her mother smiled, moving in to give Katie a hug.

"Thank you!" Katie smiled, stepping back to look at her parents. "How was your trip?"

Her dad set his keys in the dish by the door, sliding his shoes off. "It was good. I see a good bonus in our future. A good fund for your education. I really see you taking over the business someday."

Katie just shook her head, swallowing her pride to be a cosmetologist, and decided to change the subject. "Mom, are those the Chanel that just hit the floor this week?"

Her mom struck a pose, causing Katie to laugh and clap, applauding her mom's antics, "Of course they are darling. Would I wear anything else?"

Katie just shook her head, laughing. Like mother like daughter, huh?

Her dad laughed, setting a pile of papers on the table. "You have some mail Katie, it's on the top." Reaching for the envelope on the top, Katie noticed that it was handwritten. Her name and addressed her written neatly in the middle of the envelope. There was no return address. Weird. Tuning out her parents chatter, Katie opened the envelope slowly, wondering who would have sent her something. A check fell out on her lap. Katie felt the air being pulled out of her lungs, her eyes going straight to the bottom of the check where his name was written on the bottom in pen.

"Enough about us though, how was your weekend? What about that....scavenger hunt you went to with Jade? Did you girls win?"

Her parents both stood on each end of the table, facing Katie. They looked so genuine, so happy. They didn't know about the check sitting in her lap from a kidnapper. They had no clue what she did with her friends this weekend-if they could even be called friends, acquaintances maybe. Images flashed before Katie's eyes, but she blinked them away. Forcing a smile, Katie looked over at her parents.

"We decided not to go. Nothing really happened this weekend."