Monster In The Woods (BWWM)

4

 Scrubbing my skin raw as I did since my attack almost a week ago, I couldn't help but replay what had happened. Whenever I wasn't busy my mind would wonder to the awfulness that occurred, and if possible I would run to the shower and scrub my skin until it hurt and sometimes bleed. As soon as I got back home I decided against going to the police, I really didn't want to be subjected to all the questioning but I would be going to my doctor soon to make sure I didn't contract any type of sexually transmitted disease. It wasn't an easy choice deciding not to go to the police and if it wasn't me I would recommend any person in my position to contact them and I had picked up the phone multiple times to make the call I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Stepping out of the shower I quickly dried off wrapping my towel around my body looking into the mirror as my reflection stared back at me I just realized how broken I currently was, I mean I did nearly escape being murder but I didn't want this to be my life; I didn't want to live in fear. Luckily the town I lived in was big enough where running into the three men was very unlikely.

"Hey there bubba." I smiled walking into my bed seeing my best friend sitting on my bed looking at me with his little eye. "You wanna help mama make dinner." My little pompom perked up jumping off my bed letting me know he was ready. Heading to the kitchen with Anderson on my heel, I mentally promised myself I wouldn't allow what happened to define me. Tomorrow I would head back to work and pretend none of this happened and hopefully it would soon all feel like a bad dream.

***************

"Hey you're back you feeling better? Strep is a bitch I get it at least once a year." My coworker Nora said leaning on the cubicle wall we shared.

"Yup, sorry to leave you when we have such a huge project coming up."

"No problem you cover for me when I have to rush out to deal with those delinquents I call my children so don't worry about it, I'm just glad you are back and in one piece." I liked Nora and she was probably the only person in this town I could call my friend even if she was my complete opposite and 15 years older than me. When I first showed up at Shaw & James law office a few years ago she welcomed me with open arms even took to showing me around town and feeling me in on the towns gossip. She didn't seem to mind that I was a fat black girl who didn't speak unless spoken too but I guess it was because she had enough to say for the both of us.

"Anyways did you hear what happened?" Whatever she had to say wasn't mean for everyone ears because she rounds the corner and was now in my face, I didn't say anything she knew I didn't listen to town gossip.

"So anyways I gu-"

"Nora are you gossiping on my dime?" Our boss popped out of nowhere a stern look on his face as he came into view.

"Of course not Tom I was just over here getting our sweet little Lottie all caught up."

"Charlotte it's good to see you feeling better." Tom Shaw, Tom as he liked to be called was a good looking man looking like an all American man; blonde hair, blue eyes and average height every time he came I became a nervous nelly.

"Yes thank you sir."

"Well that's what we have left for the project." Nora said professionally "I'll talk to you at lunch." she said her way of telling me she would still be filling me in on the latest gossip. I watched as she walked past the both of us where she was going I had no idea.

"I swear if she wasn't my brother's wife." He chuckled and I couldn't help but smile. "Anyways I really am glad you are doing well. I was worried when I heard you were sick for as long as you've worked here you've never been sick."

"Yeah I was shocked when it happened to but now I'm all better and ready to serve you." he eyebrow raised at my comment and I felt my ears getting hot at my words, I wanted to corrected myself but know me I would only make it worse so I stayed quiet.

He smirked "Well if I need anything I'll be sure to come to you first. See you later Charlotte."

"Bye.." I muttered hiding my face between some papers. "Stupid, stupid stupid."

***************************

"So as I was saying before my brother-in-law interrupted me." Nora said as soon as we were seated at the diner we always had lunch at. "So they found the body of three hunters-"I gasped but she kept on going "in the woods they are telling people it's a bear but people aren't that stupid there hasn't been a bear attack in years so everyone is guessing it was the Monster man." If I didn't know the truth I would of rolled my eyes, the 'monster man' story is something I heard from the moment I stepped in town. If only they knew he wasn't as much a monster as much as a fine lumberjack; but I'd keep that to myself as well as the real story of what happened to the men.

"Mhm is this really lunchtime talk?" I whispered trying to get her to change the subject.

"Umm yes. Here is the real truth my husband showed me the photos and woah let me tell you it wasn't a bear. I mean don't get me wrong they were definitely eaten up I mean they were out there for a week; but from what my husband was saying the dumb dumbs probably got too drunk and shot each other but it doesn't explain how the last one died. I have my theories the main one being the last one stumbled around until he got to the monster and the monster took him out, but who knows only time will tell." She kissed her teeth not only was she the town gossip but her husband was chief of police which gave her an extra knowledge, but she really only shared what he told her to me because I wouldn't say anything.

"Hey ladies here are your drinks and your usuals will be out shortly. It's good to see you again Lottie glad you are feeling better."

"Thank you." I smiled softly for as long as I had been coming here Eleanor was our waitress, and I'm sure she was Nora's way before me. She stood around looking at Nora knowingly, and I looked around the diner and saw a few people staring at us well mainly Nora, hoping she would spill something but she kept her mouth shut and sipped her drink.

"These people are so noisy." She rolled her eyes turning her attention back to me. "Anyways what do you think?'

"I think this isn't lunch time conversation."

She rolled her eyes once again, "Whatever. I say good riddance I know all about Hank, Jim and Norman they were a bunch a racist rednecks and to make matters worse I heard they raped a young girl a few years back and it wasn't the first time. So this is just karma taking care of them." She said with finality, but her words rung through my head I hadn't been the first of their victim it broke my heart from those other women and I hoped they were okay.

"Hey, hey Lottie." I jumped in my seat looking around the diner until I turned my attention back to Nora. "Girl I've been calling you for five minutes the food is here and yours is gonna get cold if you keep on staring into space like that."

"Sorry I was just trying to remember if I fed Anderson this morning." I weakly let out Nora giving me a weird look but ignoring being used to my off personality.

I have a feeling things are gonna get very weird for me.