Episode 10

Waking from a night of crappy sleep, I finally drag my ass out of bed, cracking my neck and stretching to relieve some of the tension from my muscles. It is well past lunchtime and the sun is beyond its halfway mark and moving into the west.

I think I am coming down with man flu!

My throat is swollen, my lower regions are throbbing and surprisingly I am exceptionally horny. Yep, man flu!

Taking a quick shower, I wash my body and avoiding getting my hair wet. Stepping out of the steam-filled room, I grab my phone and head downstairs to make food.

Checking my messages, I see that there is only one from Erin.

Biting my bottom lip, I want to call Liam and talk to him about last night, but still have no idea what I did with his number. Kicking myself for not programming it straight into my phone, I think to call the bar to get his details but decide against it. Liam said he won't be back until at least Tuesday night which is almost three days away, and it can wait until then.

Unlocking my screen and reading her message, I begin texting to her about last night.

You sure you don't want me to come up? I will sort out that mother fucker, I have 2 nine-inch heal that I can shove up his ass!! E 2:30 pm

Laughing at Erin's latest reply I respond, typing away as I prepare a meal of pumpkin soup and crispy bread.

I'll be fine, I don't think he will be bothering me any time soon, but if I need you, I will call and ask to borrow your Jimmy Choos... A 2:32 pm

Still, if you need me, DO NOT hesitate to call... E 2:40pm

I won't mum, love you... A 2:50pm

Placing the finished product in a bowl and taking a seat by the fire I take a mouthful, the warm soup helping to soothe my aching throat, and start scrolling through my social media.

Engrossed in a story about a man and his puppy I am interrupted by my phone ringing, Erin's name flashing on the screen.

"Seriously I am ok!"

"Shut up bitch and turn on CNN".

Locating the remote I switch the TV on, a news update with the blonde reporter from a few days ago is showing, standing once again standing outside Brady's but this time in a different outfit. "We can now confirm that there has been another body found in the early hours of this morning. The authorities are yet to confirm the cause of death however sources believe that it may have been the cause of a wild animal."

"Ava, can you hear me? Erin's voice cuts in, "I mean it's pretty fucked up. You know Geoff, the cop I have been seeing on and off for the past few weeks? Well, I just texted him as I was calling you and he just replied and said that this is the third person in just over a week."

Turning down the volume I respond, "Seriously, bloody hell, I mean this area is known for bears and even the occasional wolf but..."

"Honey I think you need to stay indoors for a bit," Erin advises, her voice filled with concern, "maybe," she pauses, and I can hear her tapping her fingers, "maybe, think about coming back earlier, this shit is too real."

"Yeah, you might be right," I agree, feeling a little uneasy being in the cabin on my own. "I don't plan on going back into town until Tuesday when Liam returns but, I don't know, I'll see how I feel in a day or two and take it from there."

"All right, well if you need me, you know where to find me."

"Will do, love you." I end the call and look around the cabin. What kind of animal could have done that? Was it the same one from yesterday on the Spur?

Cleaning up after my meal, I decide, whilst it is still daylight, that it is time to take that drive up the Spur to the location of my parent's accident.

....................................................................................................

Pulling my car off the road and parking it in a small clearing, I walk the remaining 100 feet up the mountain to where a small memorial engraving is carved into the side of a large rock, the words weathered by the elements but still legible: 'We will never forget, your legacy will live on Ameilia Louise Byrne & James Allan Hughes 03.11.2010.'

I had been planning on visiting this spot on their actual anniversary but given the recent news, I decided it best to come now and get this over with.

My parents had been my world and even just being here, at the spot that I lost them, the pain, it is still so fresh. Trying to recall what occurred, I still struggle to remember any of the events that happened that day and have only been able to experience fleeting images of the actual crash. I have so many questions, questions as to why we were up this far on the mountain, where were we going or where were we coming from?

Leading up to the crash I can only recall that my parents had both seemed different, agitated even, so unlike their strict but caring personalities. I mean I was not allowed to date or even kiss a boy on their watch...

That obviously changed after the accident and my introduction to Erin which then led to boys and booze at college.

But still, I can't shake the feeling that there was some important reason as to why we came up this way, and whatever it was, had something to do with what had upset them.

My therapist has been trying to convince me, on more than once occasion to undergo hypnotherapy to try to recall the events leading up to the accident, but even the thought of reliving those lost memories sends me into a panic attack.

Kneeling in the grass before the stone, I close my eyes, trying to picture their faces, my mother's so similar to mine, with her high cheekbones, small nose, and heart shape face. And my dad's, so kind, strong, with deep brown eyes the exact replicas of my own.

"Doe Eyes," my mum would call us, the brown so rich and the shape round and large.

I miss them so much.

Hit by a sudden gust of wind, I shiver, the fine hair of the back of my neck, standing on end and the feeling of being watched again creeps back into my thoughts. Taking a deep breath, the smell of pine and spices float past my nose. Ignoring it, and the sensation, I speak.

"Mum, Dad, I am finally here," I begin, a tightness in my chest forming, "I know it has been years since I have come back here, and I do visit your graves back home all the time, but, I just want to let you know that I am here now."

"I," my voice cracking, as my emotions swell, I swallow deeply, trying to compose myself. "I miss you so much, but as you would say, mum, it is time for me to put my big girl panties on and move on."

Touching the writing, my fingers tracing their names, I continue, "I know that the both of you will always be with me, even if only in spirit, but it is so hard... I feel so alone."

Wetness pooling at my cheeks I stand up, closing my eyes and allow the memories to flood.

My dad angry, the car racing down the mountain, the tree, my mum... Why was my dad angry? Where were we coming from?

A memory or a fragment of one comes into focus, words my dad spoke moments before the crash. "I won't let them have her, I don't care what tradition says, I won't let that beast have our little girl."

What does that mean? What beast?

Deciding to make another appointment with my therapist when I return home, I kiss the end of my fingertips, leaning down to the plaque and placing them back on their names, "I love you both but it is time to move on and the only way I can do that is to know what happened. Give me the strength I need to do this."

Saying my goodbyes I walk back to my car, hearing movement in the bushes, I swear I see something black...

I am being paranoid.

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