Terrifying Love: A Halloween Anthology Read online

  “I know,” he says, his voice a little hoarse from sleep. “We need to get going,” he adds, and starts moving. That’s when I pull my hand away. I step back and Evan grabs my wrist. I look down at him as he says, “Thank you.” His thumb stroking the skin on my arm and I look at him, his gaze falls to my arm and he pulls back as if he didn't realize he was doing that.

  I don’t know what to say and just nod. I don’t turn to Paula just yet as I want to know something else first. “What did your friend say?” I ask. I had fallen asleep and I never heard him coming in.

  Evan glances at the sleeping girl behind me and a deep sigh leaves him. “Not much, I explained what happened, the girl's last name, and he told me to continue getting her back home.” He looks at me before he stands up, his body close to mine. I take a deep breath to get my racing heart under control from being this close to him. His smell fills my nose. He smells like a forest or even a Christmas tree, I don’t know, but it’s a good smell, like a smell of a warm home. I open my mouth to ask him more, or just to keep him standing this close to me, I’m not sure. Evan shakes his head. “I don’t have anything else. He’ll call me as soon as he knows more.” I close my mouth, thinking over what he said, and I finally nod. He’s right, we need to get going. I turn around and sit on the bed Paula’s sleeping on.

  I speak softly to her and, as I bring my hand to her shoulder. She wakes slowly. It takes a moment for her to register where she is. I didn’t think she slept much from the moment she was taken until now.

  “We need to go,” Evan says in his standard matter-of-factly voice, as he walks from in front of the bathroom. I could still see some lingering drops of water on the sides of his face. He must have splashed some water on his face to wake up.

  “Come,” I say to Paula and help her off the bed. She goes to the toilet and I follow after, getting ready to go. Wetting my face, to get the sleep out of my eyes and look somewhat alive, I walk into the room.

  “I’m going to get some food from the local store. Stay here and if anything happens or it takes to long for me to come back, just leave,” Evan says as he walks out of the room, leaving us alone.

  I look at Paula as she’s staring nervously at the door. “He’s a bit commanding, isn’t he?” I try to sound cheerful, and I manage it to some level.

  She looks at me, her lips thinned as she answers, “Yeah, but I’m glad he’s here.” I nod at that. It’s the truth. I am as well. And I don’t think things would have gone well if he hadn’t saved Paula first, and then me at the diner when he drove off with us. Right now, I was glad that he walked by us when he did, or we wouldn’t be here safe. Luckily, Evan comes back quickly with two bags filled with groceries and we get into the car, ready to drive another day, and hopefully, without much trouble.

  Chapter Three

  “Evan,” he says as he picks up the phone. He turns away a little and I glance at Paula who is sitting in between us again. I am the one driving since I slept the longest of us both. “Hmmm. Yes…Hmmm...” Evan continues answering as I try to listen for as much information as possible. He finally hangs up and turns slightly in his seat, toward Paula. “That was a friend of mine.”

  We didn't tell Paula yet that we have contacted the FBI. I can feel Paula stiffen next to me, making me a bit worried about her not being comfortable with us. I understand fully, but it would be good for her and us if she trusted us. I trust Evan, I really do, and I hope she will eventually, as well.

  “It’s alright, Paula,” I say to her as I place my hand on her arm, keeping my eyes on the road.

  “No, you can’t tell anyone. No police,” she says, and I can hear how frightened she is.

  “Sweetie, we had to. We don’t know what’s going on. Don’t worry, Evan’s friend is good,” I say to her, trying to calm her down. Then I say to Evan. “What did he say?”

  “The people who took you, Paula, did they say anything or do anything that you can remember?” he asks her instead, and I wait and listen. “I really need to know,” he presses, his voice low and I hope he’s not staring her down.

  “Paula, it’s alright to tell us, we won’t do anything. Don’t worry, okay?” I say to her and squeeze her arm softly.

  I hear her taking a deep breath before she starts talking, and I’m relieved she does. “I remember them talking about money… and something else…“ I feel her shift in the seat. “They told me that if my parents didn’t pay, I would be dead. That if they called the police, they would send me in bits and pieces to my parents.” She shivers and stays silent for a moment. “They also wanted something from my dad.” I feel her turning, and I know she’s looking at Evan. “I don’t know what, I swear,” she says, her voice pitching high with the words. “They… They...” She starts to tremble, and I glance over to her. She’s staring at the ground, at her feet as her fingers hold her dress. “They also said that they could hurt my parents if I didn’t listen. If I didn’t do what they said…” Another moment of silence, which is deafening by now. And she doesn’t have to say the words out loud as I already know what she means. I look over to Evan. I can taste the bile in my mouth and my brow wrinkles as I get dizzy just thinking off all the things that could’ve or even have happened to her. Evan’s face is blank, except for the thin harsh line of his lips and the murder that’s spelled in his eyes.

  “How did you escape,” I ask her as I finally find my voice back.

  I feel her move next to me and I glance to her, looking into her big brown eyes. They aren’t as wide as they had been yesterday which is an improvement. Still, I can see the fear in them, and knowing that her parents could be killed because she escaped. I can almost taste the fear coming off her and I try to give her a reassuring smile, which falls short as my lips tremble. I quickly look back to the road, not wanting to have her see my sorrow for her. It won’t help her.

  This time she speaks up sooner, her voice slightly stronger. “I don’t know what happened, but we had to move. Suddenly, and in the confusion, I managed to get away. They hadn’t thought of tying me up…“ a small snort leaves her lips, “And when they were moving things and trying to get everything loaded up in the vans, I ran. I ran as fast as I could, I ran and ran…’ I know she’s looking at me as she says the next part. “That’s when I ran into you.”

  “Why did they move?” Evan asks, and I give him another look, something that seems to become a habit. He ignores me, which is also part of that habit.

  “I… something about not being found… secrets and they…” I know she remembered something as her voice pitches high. “They are planning something, something big. Something that has to do with taking over a bank?”

  “Did you hear the name of the group, Paula?” Evan asks next.

  A soft 'no' comes out of her.

  “That’s alright,” Evan says, and I know he’s focused on me. “They’re called Nemesis. It’s a terrorist organization.” He doesn’t say more and I’m glad as his voice had turned low with the last words. I don’t have to ask what kind they are, and I don’t won’t to know either.

  “Anything else?” I ask him.

  “Yes.” My heart sinks with that word. “They are dangerous, Willow, very dangerous.” I glance at him, his eyebrows drawn together as he looks from me to the surroundings, almost if he’s checking everything. I move in the car as I try to keep my eyes on the road and not do the same as Evan has been doing. I feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise and I resist the urge to look over my shoulder. I still glance in the rearview mirror. Finding only cars behind me, normal and everyday cars, I feel a bit calmer. I glance back at Evan again, and see that he’s still looking around. I can see his shoulders filled with tension as she sits upright. I don’t know if he was doing this before, but now I notice it and it’s freaking me out. The bad news didn't help either, even if I already figured it out, just didn’t want to believe it. It’s way easier to see this as two friends bringing another friend's child home from vacation, or even a couple who babysits one of
their family members. But three random people, who never met, going on a trip to get a girl home safely and in the meantime trying to stay alive themselves, was difficult to comprehend. I grip the steering wheel tighter as I focus on the road. The car turns silent and I don’t even feel like turning on the radio.

  “What do we do now?” I finally ask as I look at Evan.

  “We keep going, getting Paula home safely is our priority,” he answers.

  “Okay,” I reply. “But I think we need to stop for gas and maybe a toilet break?” I say to him and he nods. I drive over to the first gas station. Evan looks around, before he gets out and walks around the car. He stops at my door and I let the window down. “Quick pee break and stay together,” he says, and I nod. “I’ll fill up the car,” he adds as he walks away. I glance at Paula and we both take a deep breath and get out of the car. We are as fast as we can be and soon return to the car. When Paula slides in, I see Evan behind the wheel, and I slide in the passenger side next to Paula.

  “Here,” Evan says as he points to a bag on the ground, he placed his own duffle bag in the back of the car. I open the plastic bag, finding some snacks and drinks in there. “For the road.” I look at him and smile.

  “Thank you,” I answer as I take out a sandwich and hand it to Paula. Evan hits the gas and we’re back on the highway in no time.

  “How far are we?” Paula asks suddenly, and I look at her. She has been mostly silent and only answered questions that we asked.

  “It’s two more days drive before we get near your city,” Evan answers.

  “Okay,” Paula says with a slight sigh to her words.

  “Do you have any pets?” I ask her, wanting to keep her talking, maybe even cheer her up in some way.

  She turns toward me. “Yes, a cat,” she says with a tentative smile on her lips.

  “What’s its name?” I ask.

  “Oreo.” With the name her smile widens. Good, I think.

  “That’s an interesting name,” Evan says, and I glance at him. He’s focused on driving and I can’t see his face.

  “He was a big round kitten when we got him,” Paula says to him. “And he’s really like a little buddha. The name fits. He sometimes sits down on his back legs and even looks more like a buddha like that.” A small chuckle follows her words and I’m glad she’s remembering something nice.

  “Do you have any hobbies?” I ask her, trying to keep her talking and hopefully forget what’s going on for a moment.

  “I like swimming and reading,” she looks at me as she says that. “And my Dad and I, we go climbing. It’s so much fun, especially when you go down.” She even smiles widely.

  “That sounds amazing,” I say to her, giving her a smile of my own. I keep her talking about simple things, trying to get her to relax.

  “And you?” She asks me after I’ve asked her about her favorite color. Movement behind her makes me look over to Evan and I’m just in time to see him turn his head back to the road.

  “I love baking, especially pies. And I’m a runner,” I say to her. “And I’m a bartender and I absolutely love that work.”

  “Your work,” Paula says, and I give her a sad smile, understanding what she means.

  “It’s fine. I don’t have a job right now. Don’t worry about it.” I squeeze her shoulder. I had chosen to quit my job to start my own bar, which isn’t going as smoothly as planned, but I’ll get there.

  “How old are you?” She asks me.

  “Twenty-eight, and you?” I reply.

  “Fourteen.” I nod at her answer, glad that I guessed it right. She turns to Evan. “And you?”

  “I’m thirty-one,” he answers.

  “What do you do?” Paula asks him.

  “I’m in the army,” he answers with few words.

  “What are you there?” she continues, and I can see Evan’s jaw clenching as he answers.

  “I’m a sergeant,” he says tersely.

  “That’s cool,” Paula replies, and I can’t help the laughter that escapes me, glad that Paula is with us and relaxing.

  “Yeah, it is,” Evan says, and I laugh even more.

  “You’ve melted icy Evan,” I say to Paula as I poke her in the side.

  “Do you have any brothers and sisters?” Paula asks him, now that he’s answering with a little more life unlike his short answers before.

  He still sighs before he answers, “I have an older sister.”

  “Is she in the army, too?” Paula is now on the question train.

  “No, she works as a designer.”

  “And your parents, what do they do?” she continues. I’m glad that Evan is still answering, making her relax with him as well, maybe even trust him.

  “I only have my mother. She raised me and my sister.”

  “Oh, and your dad?” Paula asks, oblivious to Evan’s reaction to the question, as his hand tightens on the wheel.

  “He left when I was really young,” his tone back to being terse.

  So, I decide to save him from more questions. “Let's get a break. Evan, it’s already getting late, and we still need to find a place to stay for the night,” I say to him, and Paula as well. I glance at the clock in the car. Seeing it’s almost 4:30 pm, I think we put enough of a distance behind us already and we could use some extra rest. I don’t think they would follow us this far and we should be fine to get some dinner.

  “Sure,” he says.

  I keep talking with Paula about everything and nothing, except what happened and why we are on this unwanted road trip. I find out that she has two really good friends in school, and a crush on a boy in her class. She also won a golden medal in a swimming competition and she really, and I mean really, hates math. I agreed with her on that one, I was never a big fan of math, either. I talked about my family, my parents, my mother who’s a nurse and my father who works as an accountant. And then my younger brother who’s a lawyer, and in my opinion, a really good one.

  “Don’t you have to call them?” Evan asks me, and I look at him from the conversation I have with Paula.

  “No, they’re fine,” I tell him. “They live in another town and they know I can take care of myself.” I don’t say it’s also because I’m too scared that I’ll bring any attention to them. He looks at me and I know he knows I’m lying, and he also knows why. He gives me a quick nod before he turns back to the road. I don’t think he contacted his family either.

  He turns down another road, and I relax back in the seat. We’ve had an easy drive today and I hope the night will be the same. Some good rest would be nice.

  “I think this is a good place,” Evan says as he turns into a small town. It’s bigger than the last but looks like a quiet place. He stops in front of the motel and we go through the same processes as we did before. I wait behind the steering wheel for him to come back, and he does. “I got the keys.” He gives me a quick smile as we get out of the car.

  Suddenly, there is yelling around us. My heart is lodged in my throat as I look for the direction the yelling comes from. Something connects with my head and I fall back against the car door. Screaming sounds through the air, and I know that they have Paula. “LET ME GO!” she yells, and I try to step forward, to get to her. I’m hit again, and this time I feel my lip splitting as I was hit on the left side of my jaw. Pain shoots through my head and I feel tears pricking my left eye. I try to find out who hit me, and I finally manage to focus on a man in front of me.

  “Stay out of this, bitch. Go take her away, Oscar,” the man in front of me says, and I hear a grunt through the air. I glance in the direction of the sound and find two bodies moving in the shadows of the motel, seeing Evan getting a few hits in his ribs as he grunts out. He then moves closer to the man, grabbing hold of him. It’s not the same man that I saw in the street next to the diner.

  “Help,” Paula screams, and I’m back in action, rushing forward, only to be backhanded again.

  “Fuck,” I snarl and look at the man in front of me. He’s t
aller than I am but he's big and fat, which means he’s slower than I am. I stare at him, my heart beating a path out of my body as I try to keep the fear away and my mind clear. I move to my right. I know he’s going to try to hit me again and I drop to the ground as fast as I can. His hand slams into the door and he yells out in pain. I quickly hit somewhere his dick should be and I’m glad that I hit right on the spot when he screams out in pain, leaning forward to grab his crotch. I maneuver past him, and rush toward screaming Paula. She’s being held by the same guy — Oscar — that has been after her from the beginning when we saved her. I run toward him. His back is turned to me and I hit him in the side, trying to remember the vital organs. He grunts but he doesn’t let go of Paula, as he continues dragging her toward the van. “Paula!” I yell after her, then look back to see if Evan’s coming. I can’t see him, so I rush the man again. “Evan,” I yell, hoping he’s fine and coming our way.

  I jump on the man's back and he stumbles, an angry shout sounds through the air and I see Paula dashing away. “You little bitch,” Oscar growls out at her. I hit him on the head, and he grunts more. I’m thrown off his back and I fall on the ground, feeling small pebbles in my hand I keep a grunt of pain inside.

  I get up quickly and yell at Paula. “Car!” She rushes toward it and I follow on her heels. My heart pulsing with a punishing beat as I keep looking for Evan. I hear swearing behind me and I turn around to see the man — Oscar — running toward us. “Hurry!” I yell at Paula, urging her on. We run as fast as we can. I hear another grunt behind us, and I turn around, coming to a stop next to the car, as I find Evan and Oscar rolling on the floor. Punches are flying around, and I suck in a sharp breath when I hear something break.