Hunt of the Night

c h a p t e r t h i r t y s e v e n ( c h a r l 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...

Woosh.

The ball sailed through the air, falling perfectly through the hoop. I ran forward, grabbing the ball. My feet left the ground before I was aware, my arms tossing the ball up to hit the corner of the board causing the ball to tip through the hoop.

Woosh.

The sun had finally fallen behind the house. It was dark. The house was empty. Mom and dad were away on a business trip. They had been gone for awhile. I had been using sports as a distraction. Today the chosen sport was basketball. Yesterday was soccer, the day before that was baseball, and before that was football.

The cycle continued.

None of my teammates noticed anything different about me which I was thankful for because it meant I was hiding our secret. Just like we agreed.

I still hadn't come up with an excuse for when my parents come home. I might just say it was cancelled because no one signed up.

I wish.

I think that's a good cover up. They hardly talk to any of my friends' parents anyway. It will be fine.

Woosh.

My arms were starting to ache. My muscles were screaming for me to quit, to rest. If I stopped, I thought about that weekend. So, I couldn't stop. I couldn't think. Just play.

Woosh.

My breathing was ragged, my face was flushed, my shirt was drenched in sweat. I just couldn't stop.

Woosh.

I loved the sound of the ball falling through the hoop. It was soothing. It made me feel like I was doing something right. I wasn't part of a murder. I was normal.

Woosh.

I hadn't seen Amber at school. I hope she was alright. Everyone else had come back to school like it was a normal Monday. We didn't look at each other. We didn't want anyone to think something was going on.

Woosh.

I grabbed my water bottle, taking a swig. Using my arm, I wiped off my forehead. I looked up at the sky, just taking in the beauty, the peace. I paced a little, shaking my arms out. Stretching would help. I sat down, reaching for my toes as I closed my eyes. Sitting up, I crossed my arm over my chest. My muscles would thank me later. Maybe a bath would help before I went to bed. I might try that. The ball finally settled down somewhere off to my right. I couldn't hear it rolling around the pavement anymore. After a few more minutes, I willed myself to get up in search of the ball.

"Charlotte?"

I stood up, closing my eyes. I hated that name.

"Charlotte?"

Once I calmed down, I turned around. In the doorway was our maid, Lizzie. She was clad in her usual dress with her hair pinned back. I wonder if she was happy wearing dresses every day. Doesn't that get boring?

"Are you hungry?" Her voice was soft as she spoke. I wonder if she talked to her own children that way.

I shook my head, "I told you to call me Charlie. I like Charlie." I bounced the ball at my feet a few times. "I'm not hungry Lizzie. You can go ahead and eat. You didn't have to wait for me."

She paused, "You didn't eat breakfast either. Your parents wouldn't be happy. Not eating won't help you on the field." Lizzie raised her arm, gesturing to the basketball hoop behind me.

I rolled my eyes. Amateurs. "This isn't a field. It's a court silly." I turned around, tossing the ball into the air.

Woosh.

"You need to eat, Charlotte." She closed the door behind her. Why do they keep calling me that after I repeatedly ask them not to? Why can't they just accept me for who I am? Charlotte is a prissy name. A name for a girl who would be cheer captain or prom queen. It is not a name for a girl who just wants to be normal and play sports. If people knew this is how I lived, they would treat me different. I didn't want to be treated different. I had money, but no one ever sees past that part. I liked to keep it secret. It was better that way-and Charlie was the start of that.

I grabbed the ball again before moving to half court. I dribbled the ball a little when I heard the door open behind me again.

"You have a letter," Lizzie wave the white envelope in the air. Once I realized she wasn't going to bring it to me, I jogged over to her. The envelope was white with no return address.

Weird.

I opened the letter slowly, tossing the ball over my shoulder.

Inside the envelope was a check and a note:

Not like you need it anyway, but your secret is safe with me.

What the fuck is this?

Sure enough, at the bottom of the check was his name in perfect penmanship.

Edward.

Woosh.