Faltered light

Part 7: Violets are blue

Calla

How can you love someone yet feel so threatened by the amazing feelings that comes from being with them? I always thought I would meet a nice guy, fall in love and live happily ever after. Yet here I am. I roll out of the unnecessarily large bed and make my way downstairs. Violet is in the kitchen making coffee. "Can I have some?", I half scare her to death. She lightly chuckles, "sure". We sit at the island and the interrogation begins. I am not sure why I need some kind of confirmation about Violet and James' obvious relationship and fall out. "How long have you known the Ventons?" I ask with the least amount of subtlety. Coffee means conversation.
"Uh well I met them when I was a kid when they had come summers. I lived in town but my mum was friends with Susan". "Violet?", am I really going to bring this up. I have to. I'm afraid. I do not even know if they are alive. "Where did you come from and why were you covered in blood?", this is more important than prying about James. He had a life before he said he loved me and I am just going to have to live with that. She looks at me with the most horrified expression. "It happened two days ago", she starts. "I was working at Jays — it is a coffee store near the entrance to the town. When this fight broke out in front of the store. The manager my friend — Hugh was out there and he tried to stop them when the man... he tore into Hughs stomach with his teeth" Jesus. "I ran out of there shit scared. I practically ran through the woods back home but Bryan wasn't home. I didn't know what to do or where to go. I locked the doors and stayed in but one of those crazed lunatics broke in. When he was attacking me, I hit him with a candle holder and got the hell out. I thought of this place and James. I never stopped running. That's when I saw you. I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought it was a dream", when Violet finished her story she was in tears and my heart felt heavy. I can only imagine what this poor woman has been through. She had no one. She was alone. What if I had been alone? She was brave and I... "Good morning", James says as he walks to get coffee. Violet wipes away any visible tears. "Good morning", my voice barely comes out. I have a lump in my throat. I can't help but feel sad for Violet. James sits down and looks at us like we're typical woman. "What the fuck happened to Bryan?", James directs the question at Violet. "He. He was gone when I got home". Her tone. It's so weird. "Well I'm making breakfast" I tell them. I get to work. I cannot sit here for the rest of the day listening to questions that need answers. Where are my parents? I'm scared and I don't know if we can stay here. We have to do something.

After breakfast Violet goes out into the garden and James and I stare at her from the kitchen window. "James, we have to try and find her family, I know it's a big risk going out there but that woman. She's alone and scared out of her mind. Her husband — Bryan, he has to be out there looking for her, wondering if she's alive. "Calla please, don't start this again", he says in an irritated tone. Before I can protest, he walks away and I join Violet out in the garden. "He won't put you at risk, no matter how much you beg", I hear her say. She stares at the flowers like they're treasure and I wonder why she married so young. "Your husband could be out there somewhere, looking for you. Praying to God that you're still alive, we have to go find him", I know the chances are slim but I know she adores him. I heard her last night. She was crying and she won't be brave enough to ask James to go back. Especially since his been so cold to her the moment she arrived on that bank.

I gather some greens from the greenhouse for dinner and I head inside. James is seated at the island and he has a gun. "where did you find that thing?", I wasn't going to talk to him but my curiosity got the better of me. "I found it in Joes car, we might need it if we're going to look for Bryan", he says nonchalantly. " We are?", I almost yelp. Violet is going to be so happy. I almost knock James right off his seat when I embrace him. I'm grinning ear to ear and I can't wait to break the news to Violet at dinner. She's still upstairs, I know she won't admit it but she wanted to go back, she was just afraid to go alone. "Violet?", I call on my way up the stairs. Dinner is prepared and I am hoping she would come down despite her mood. James decided that we leave bright and early tomorrow. I knock on the bedroom door but nothing. She must really be upset. "Hey, she not coming?", James asks. He really is great. I know how he struggled with this decision but it is the right thing to do. "She's probably just tired. She has been through a lot and I cannot blame her for wanting space", I tell him my innermost thoughts and I feel closer to him. We eat dinner in silence. I don't know why James is silent but I'm drowning in the anxiety that tomorrow will bring. I haven't been out in the real world for what feels like a lifetime. I wish we could stay here where its safe. The wonderful bliss this cabin brought me... "Calla we have to get some rest", James snaps me out of my thoughts and I know his right. When my head hits the pillow, I fall into a world of scary monsters and blue violets.