Here we go. Jess thought as she rolled her window down and put her hand out. She let the wind dance through her fingers and inhaled as if she was trying to smell the pine for the last time. The air was crisp, a little cooler than normal at this time of year. As a child she would always roll the windows down and hang out as far as her mother would let her. Little Jess would stretch out her arms as far as they would reach, to her she was flying. She would sometimes have red marks from her hair whipping her in the face, she never cared. To feel that free sometimes it has to burn a little.
Jess hung her head out of the window some and let the wind whip her face. She was ready for the burn. She accepted it at this point. She was ready to burn for her freedom when he came for her.
It was a short trip down the ridge and Jess was not one-hundred percent sure where Jay had parked his car. Unsure what to expect she drove slow. As she came around the second to last bend before the main highway, her headlights lit up Jays squad car. Both doors were open and the road spikes where thrown out across the road. She tried to take in the entirety of the situation before jumping out. After all the ball was now in Jedd’s court. Jess was yet again at the mercy of this psychopath. There was no way she could move the spikes, make it to the squad car, locate Jay and be back in the car. She was lucky he wasn’t at her door ripping her out. She opened the door and was hit with the bitter cold. It was always freezing on this side of the ridge because of the river about forty feet down.&nbs
Jess was aware enough to see Jay on a stretcher as he was hoisted up into the ambulance. She also saw them zip up Jedd’s body bag and slide him into the coroner’s van. The sheriff was quick to her side. “Jess.” He grabbed her hand and she held the other one up to have the paramedics wait. “Thank god you are okay.” The look he gave her was that of a relieved father. She pulled her oxygen mask down and put her hand on his cheek and smiled. “How’s Jay?” She asked concerned. “Oh, well he’s in pretty rough shape Jess. He’s lost quite a bit of blood. Don’t you worry about that right now. Go get yourself looked at.” He nodded at the paramedic’s and they lifted her up into the ambulance. “You did good kid, really good.” He shut the door and double tapped it.
After a few very heavily medicated days in the hospital her brain swelling had gone down and Jess was given the all clear to return home. She hadn’t had any horrible nightmares about Jedd or the shadow figure. Jess could only assume the brain trauma was the culprit to her nasty episode. She was pretty excited to get home and start a life Jedd free. She could jump in on her wedding planning. The first thing Jess did when she got home was pour herself a cup of coffee, snuggle up on her couch next to the fire and pull up Expedia on her laptop. With Trevor closing the last contract she had the money to book her dream honeymoon. In just eight short months she would be basking in the summer sun on the island of Santorini in Greece. Bbbring. Bbbring. &n
The ride to the hospital was quite. Jess watched as the rain drops slipped down the passenger door window leaving a trail for the next to follow. She traced a few of them as they fell to the bottom of the door jamb, to then be blown off by the wind as they drove. Her other hand was being held by Trevor, who would every so often look over at her. They had made it to the hospital and he switched off the car and faced her. “You ready babe?” He brought her hand to his face and kissed it. “Trevor, somethings wrong.” She said flat. “Well, that is why we’re here.” He looked at the hospital building.
Jess sat at the end of the hospital bed her feet dangled off the edge, bandaged. She watched as the Doctor examined a film on the light box. He was trying to find something wrong with her brain. It would give them all a scientific reason that would explain away what happen in the dressing room. The doctor scratched his head and crossed his arms. “Uhhem.” Trevor was the first to break the silence. “Well. Jess the great news is you do not have any new hemorrhages. Trevor can I talk to you outside for just a minute.” He nodded to the door. They both left and Jess just sat at the end of the bed looking at her hands. &
Jess arrived at Creekside late in the evening so she was told she would not see the Doctor until the following evening. When Matt checked her in handed her belongings to the intake desk and handed her a gray sweat suit. "This is Nurse Phoebe." He nodded at a short, overweight, older woman. "She is the one that is going to be looking after you the next couple days. "Hello Jessica." She smiled softly. She radiated warmth and Jess was instantly reminded of her own Grandmother. "Think of me as your safe place love." Instantly Jess did feel safe. She waved at Matt as Phoebe pushed her down the corrider. It was very bright in the hallway. Much brighter then the hospital had been.
Trevor didn’t mind flying; he flew more often then he drove. Jess on the other hand was a nervous flyer. Usually she would be an anxious mess. Today she couldn’t wait to to be on her way to anywhere but here. Trevor slept the whole flight from Denver to Orlando and Jess read the inflight magazine ripping out the Sudoku at the end. She found herself drifting off the last leg of the flight. She dreamt she was running through the woods; her bleeding feet burning as twigs and pinecones cut into her already injured feet. She couldn’t see what she was running from but she was terrified. The thick trees lead to a clearing and for the first time since high school she was face to face with Jedd’s cabin. Everything in her screamed to run away from it. But that thing was waiting for her in the woods.
Jess and Trevor laughed in the back of the car like drunken college kids being driven home. As soon as they walked in the door her mom and dad danced into the kitchen and started making margaritas. Jess went straight for the balcony Trevor followed giving her a tickle. “Ahhh.” Jess closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the ocean air. The wind blew her hair across her face. Trevor wrapped his arms around her waist. He smelt like lime and tequila. “I missed this Jess. The wild one with salty kisses.” She turned and kissed him. “Me too. Maybe… maybe we do move. Let’s move here Trev and drunkenly dance are lives away.” She giggled and swayed and he watched her dance. “Seriously?” He stood still trying to figure out if she meant it. “Yes. Seriously. What i
The sound of Jay's vehicle approached the cabin. “I can’t believe you would let her come here alone!” Jay slammed the door on his cruiser. "You should have came to get me as soon as she put her ass in the car." Doug got out and trailed behind him, “Well it’s not like I could have got her to change her mind.” “I would have locked her in the laundry room if it would have kept her there.” It was clear Jay was furious. He looked in the window of Jess’ car. “Well she’s still here. Jess!” He shouted. Both men listened for a second for any sign of movement before walking up the front steps. Jay attempted to open the door and it was stuck. "Man someone lived in
The four of them didn’t move a muscle except to look at each other. When Jay was sure it was over he rushed to Jess’ side putting pressure on her now gaping wound. “Did you really need to cut her that deep?” He helped Jess to her feet before picking her up to carry her up the hill. “The attachment was deep. So the wound needed to be deep.” Myra shouted up to him as Jay huffed up the incline. Not one word was spoke on the ride back to the house. All that could be heard was the hurried breathing from Jess because she was hurting. Once inside Myra started brewing a pot of coffee. Doug and Jay threw themselves on the couch. Jess went into the laundry room and retrieved a sewing kit. Walking into the living room she tossed it on Jay’s lap.
This was the first time since the night she killed Jedd that she had come down to the riverside. All four of them stepped out into the cold and Jess crossed her arms around herself, rubbing her arms for warmth. Myra knew just where to go as if she herself had been there. Jess and Jay shared a brief glace before Jay wrapped an arm around her. He lead her down the slope. Jess felt as if she was walking in mud, her feet didn’t want to step forward. She was all but relying on Jay to keep her in a forward momentum. It shouldn’t have surprised her that the fire pit remained exactly where it had been. It was also evident that some of the kids from town decided that it was going to be their new hang out spot. Beer cans and tree carvings were visible in the surrounding areas. &nb
Jess found herself at the local coffee roaster's with her nose in her laptop, drinking an Americano. She felt the eyes on her and noticed the whispers. Any time she would make eye contact with someone they would quickly look away. She was fine with it though it was better this way. Three drinks in she started to feel anxious and could hardly sit still. Just as she felt she couldn’t take waiting any more her phone rang. “Hello Jess? It’s Doug, I’m roughly ten minutes out should we meet at the house?” She closed her laptop and walk to the street to get in her car. “Yes, that will work. I will see you soon.” Jess flipped a U-turn and made her way home. Pulling up the dr
Driving up the ridge she felt more alone then ever. She had made this drive a million times over yet, today it felt like she was in someone else’s life. The curves of the road, the tree line, the gravel drive way to her home; it all felt different. She had spent so much of the past few weeks in tears. Jess felt them building up even now as she prepared to walk into the home where Trevor and her had built so many memories. “No. Don’t cry.” She took a deep breath and walked into the quiet house. Her phone notification went off and she about jumped out of her skin. You really didn’t need to leave so sudden. Are you ok? Daddy and I are worried. Call me when you make it home, Love Mom. &n
Jess woke early the next morning. She peeked out the window and saw a small blood stain where Trevor’s body had been just a few hours before. She could see her reflection in the window, she looked exhausted. Her eyes were swollen from crying and she had deep, dark circles under her eyes. “Ugh.” She let the curtain fall back into place. The house was quiet; her parents were probably still sleeping. Trevor’s and her parents were close friends since as long as Jess could remember. She was thankful for that friendship now. Her dad had handled all the things needed to get Trevor back to his parents in Colorado. Jess scribbled a quick note on the fridge; I love you guys more than anything. I need my space. Ill text to let you know I made it home. I’ll be okay. Yours always
Jess and Trevor laughed in the back of the car like drunken college kids being driven home. As soon as they walked in the door her mom and dad danced into the kitchen and started making margaritas. Jess went straight for the balcony Trevor followed giving her a tickle. “Ahhh.” Jess closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the ocean air. The wind blew her hair across her face. Trevor wrapped his arms around her waist. He smelt like lime and tequila. “I missed this Jess. The wild one with salty kisses.” She turned and kissed him. “Me too. Maybe… maybe we do move. Let’s move here Trev and drunkenly dance are lives away.” She giggled and swayed and he watched her dance. “Seriously?” He stood still trying to figure out if she meant it. “Yes. Seriously. What i
Trevor didn’t mind flying; he flew more often then he drove. Jess on the other hand was a nervous flyer. Usually she would be an anxious mess. Today she couldn’t wait to to be on her way to anywhere but here. Trevor slept the whole flight from Denver to Orlando and Jess read the inflight magazine ripping out the Sudoku at the end. She found herself drifting off the last leg of the flight. She dreamt she was running through the woods; her bleeding feet burning as twigs and pinecones cut into her already injured feet. She couldn’t see what she was running from but she was terrified. The thick trees lead to a clearing and for the first time since high school she was face to face with Jedd’s cabin. Everything in her screamed to run away from it. But that thing was waiting for her in the woods.
Jess arrived at Creekside late in the evening so she was told she would not see the Doctor until the following evening. When Matt checked her in handed her belongings to the intake desk and handed her a gray sweat suit. "This is Nurse Phoebe." He nodded at a short, overweight, older woman. "She is the one that is going to be looking after you the next couple days. "Hello Jessica." She smiled softly. She radiated warmth and Jess was instantly reminded of her own Grandmother. "Think of me as your safe place love." Instantly Jess did feel safe. She waved at Matt as Phoebe pushed her down the corrider. It was very bright in the hallway. Much brighter then the hospital had been.