COLD SUNRISE
Chapter 2: Fever

Today marked my first Saturday in this town, frank left early for the shop giving me directions to come over, get used to the place a bit because come holiday I’ll need to get a job earn some cash, I plan to be working there soon.

I left home by eleven in the morning after I helped Judy cleanup assuming it to be part of my house chores now, she made bacons for breakfast handing me some for frank in a flask cause he missed his, the auto part shop was located a few blocks off the highway. I had arrived 20 minutes later at the shop that also had a gas-station there were a few cars parked around I pulled over close to franks old ford truck. I grabbed his break-fast stepping out of the car walking through the glass door, inside appeared larger than anticipated, there was an average heighted Mexican sale ’s guy discussing a product with two huge black customers and a girl sitting at the counter close to the door, red haired with glasses looking I her twenties I walked up to her.

“excuse me miss, where can I find frank bale’s office please,”

“ and you are?” she said absent mindedly recording a sold item on the computer.

“ I’m Nathan bale, his my grandfather,”

“oh!” she shifted her gaze towards me.

“I’m sorry I got a bit carried away, there’s a door at the left corner that’s his office.”

“Thanks.” She grinned at me appreciatively, that’s one of the things you get from workers when you’re related to their boss. I walked down left knocking at his door when I heard his old grumpy voice on the phone with someone for a brief second and he was done.

“Come on in,” he said, I stepped in just to see his face brighten up with a smile

“Nathan, I was wondering when you’ll show up.” he hugged me swiftly, letting go as I hand him his breakfast in a flask.

“Judy said it’s for you,”

“oh, that woman never forgets “ he sniffles placing it on his desk flooded with letters and receipts

“come on , let me show you around you’ll be working here very soon.”

Frank gave me a grand tour around the building showed me a couple of things and how they are sorted out, he took me to the back of the shop were there’s a garage and a group of middle aged men sitting down chatting together with a bottle of beer laughing loudly about God know what. From there overalls I knew they were mechanics, a black cruiser was parked at the corner its hood popped open with engine hanged, I saw a few cars that needed spraying and bodywork while others appeared totally fine, Together we approached them.

“Guys, Guys, I want you to meet my grandson Nathan,” Frank announced patting me proudly by the shoulder. there were four them, two looked native American with long dark hair, another was light skinned, short, bald, wore glasses and tattoos etched all over his arms same with the last, tall and blond . They was a pause amongst them, their eyes brimmed with surprise.

“ Are you shitting me! You mean this is Aaron’s boy,” said the short bald guy excitedly.

“I’ll be Goddamned, he looks exactly like him.” The huge blond one replied.

“ this is Pete, Henry, Sammy and Jake.” Frank introduced them.

“Howdy Nate, welcome to Franklinton would you like a beer?” jack shook’s my hand before pulling out a bottle from the case.

“No, I’m alright thank you.”

I stayed a couple of hours before hitting the road again, the clouds had darkened accompanied with a storm its started raining heavily. I decided to take a lonesome short cut believing it would lead to a more much quicker route home, I turned on my head lights as the wipers motioned swiftly clearing the droplets of rain from my windscreen I could hardly see a thing both sides of the road covered by tall trees and shrubs, I looked up my rear to discover I was the only one passing through the freeway at that point in time, there was no car behind.

While driving I stumbled across a broken down vehicle along the road totaled to a large tree, and a girl standing outside trying to make a distress call luckily she seemed fine not hurt, I slowed down and was able to see her a bit more clearly due to my head light, she waved at me for help while the rain hammered. I pulled over at the bypath behind the convertible to offer help, I left my car approaching her.

“hey, what happened?”

“ I don’t know, can’t really explain it I was driving back home one time and the next I lost track off the road, i couldn’t see clearly cause of the rain that’s when I totaled my car to a tree, then I found myself here trying to call home with no luck cause no cell signal anywhere around, and I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere. I really don’t know what to do right now, almost making me want to lose my mind.” She talked really fast, I sensed panic in her tone she was pretty shaken up and her voice seemed kind of familiar to someone I had met in school.

“there’s no need to worry, I’ll give you a ride home.” I said slowly closing into her, her blond hair soaked and frizzled around her shirt that glued to her skin. I quickly recognized her face clearly when the lights briefly for shone, unexpectedly it was Raven Lansdale, I could tell she did the same with me also from the pause in her facial expression.

“ No, it’s fine I don’t want to pressure you.” She shrugged walking to the main road presuming there might be another car heading this direction,

“ this is a lonely route, you won’t be able to find another car passing through for miles.” I tried persuading her

“ don’t worry I’ll be fine by myself,” she replied assuring herself.

“ I can’t leave you here all alone, it doesn’t seem like the rain is going to stop either, it will only get worse.” I could feel the dampness of my own shirt while I followed behind her determined to convince her still even when it rained on both of us now.

“trust me, you don’t want to spend another minute out here so do I, so please let me help you.” She kept walking forward at the long empty road and stopped when she saw no sign of an incoming vehicle,

“ I can’t leave here knowing you won’t be alright , please let me help.” I repeated softly, she turned noticing my cloth had been soaked dripping wet, she sighed deeply nodding her head in agreement and we both reached for doors together. She wrapped her arms around herself shuddering, I looked at her knowing she was cold there was usually some thin blanket at the back close to the windshield I reached for it placing it gently around her shoulders.

“ thanks.” She smiled blankly, looking out the window at her convertible while I drove into the main road. I could tell she never expected to find herself in a helpless situation to have to accept help from anybody especially me, she clenched her fingers tight to the blanket covering her body. There was an awkward silence between us,

“ I heard you moved in newly from Arkansas?” she said suddenly.

“ yeah,” I cleared my throat answering trying to keep my voice polite.

“did your family join you?”

“ No, they didn’t, I’m just staying with my grand-folks.”

“that must be nice.” She commented.

“ back there do they usually get crappy annoying weather like this?”

“u-hmm, yeah, yeah, sometimes but not always.” I replied nervously, for a brief moment we lapsed back into silence.

“ I’m sorry for the way I acted the other day back in class, I was just a little stressed.” She almost muttered hesitantly.

“ don’t worry, I understand, I get your not too comfortable around people.” Geez, that came wrong I’m also trying to say sorry for calling you a bitch in my head.

“ No, it’s not that.” She claimed defensively

“ you know, I hear what people say about my family . because were rich we feel we are too good for everybody but they’ll never understand there’s a reason we keep to ourselves, and not because we feel superior to everyone else. they look at us differently for it, well I can’t say i blame them either.”

“ how do you feel people look at you?” I questioned interested in her own perspective.

“ proud, rich spoilt girl that can get whatever she wants whenever she wants, she thinks she’s better than everyone and cares for no one other that herself” she said while ordering to turn left towards an intersection point.

“ would you prefer them to think of you any differently,” she chuckled lightly.

“No, I think it’s better that way, it did bother me once but it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“ we are who we are , and there’s nothing in the world we can do to change that.” A loud thunder clap struck northwards, I understood there’s a part of her that’s unique, a part she wanted to remain secret no matter what, which makes her a bit complicated. Hell everyone has a skeleton in that dark closet theirs, but it doesn’t make them impossible to understand just like her, the puzzle lies in finding out what that part is. I checked the clouds again the darkness remained unchanged, “ it sure doesn’t seem like the rain will be stopping anytime today,” I tried starting up small talk

“yes it’s going stop when I get home.” She replied, I laughed faintly.

“ and you sound so sure why, because your just assuming or you’re some sort of weather girl”

“ neither, I just have a little something called faith,” she grinned, at the same told me to make a left into a close indicated by signboard written Lansdale property, I noticed the hammering rain began calming down all of a sudden ushering a dark blue evening sky. There was a large metal gate leading to the entrance of the mansion I parked I front when the rain paused slightly into a drizzle, she predicted the rain would stop once we get here and it did, i was puzzled.

“ told you the rain would stop didn’t I, you’re lucky we didn’t place a bet on it.” She opened the door leaving the blanket on the seat, I followed her.

“wow, How did you know that, are you sure not psychic?”

“ nah, I don’t believe there are such things as psychics, i sometimes watch weather channels which makes me observant than you are.” She remarked. I quickly maneuvered my may in front of her.

“ I didn’t…I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself before, I’m Nathan bale.” I flushed stammering.

“ I already know that, thanks for the ride anyway.” She smiled walking through the gate, waving at me before marching towards the mansion as I watched her figure until it vanish completely. I reversed my car backing away from the gate, I had to admit I find her intriguing even if she makes me feel kind of nervous. While I drove back to the main road, unexpectedly I found Chris and Adam at opposite sides of the road watching me as they came out of the woods their clothes and hair damp like they were out in the rain which was weird I drove past them until I found their figures in my rear tuning my radio to channel that played a song by 5 Sos( amnesia) for a second there I got my eyes off the road turning up the volume singing along with it.

I put my eyes on the road again to find a male figure standing right in front me a few meters away from the hood I panicked quickly hitting the brakes, he’s appearance was frightening I looked closely to recognize it was lock Lansdale. He was shirtless revealing his broad chest and shoulders, down he wore a damp joggers with a headphone on both ears, he was barefooted that was the odd part.

He glared at me with those hostile terrible eyes of his then jogging past heading backwards to the mansion, I wondered what they had all been doing in rain, maybe working out in a storm, Imean who does that, The truth is that those boy’s give me the creeps especially lock so whatever it is they do is their business I wasn’t interested in knowing.

I could feel the warm gentile sun ray on my face, the moment I opened my eyes it was as if my reality had somehow been altered. sounds of chirping birds all around me, a strange sensation crept in when I realized where I laid wasn’t my bed, I felt the brittle nature of dead leaves on my face. I was lying on the ground of somewhere that wasn’t my house but looked more like the woods. i sprung up muddle-headedly surveying my environment when the chirping sounds stopped, a black crow landed in front of me looking straight to my eyes and cawed loudly before taking off to the top of an oak tree.

The ground paved with dead leaves and brown soil I noticed, I was putting on the same underwear I went to bed with, “ how did I get here?” the buzzing question in my head. I heard another cawing sound from above, suddenly a cold morning mist emerged spreading over the area and the sun was lost. I saw crows perched on tress everywhere, they started cawing together uniformly leaving the trees while in flight gathering around me.

I got spooked like I have been stuck in some sort of horror movie, I sprinted my way out of there running aimlessly in the woods trying to find an exit. The strange sudden change in weather followed suit spurring rainfall.

I tried convincing myself it’s all just some nightmare even if I wasn’t quite sure because I couldn’t wake from it, I slowed my pace to unexpectedly discover lock Lansdale standing a few meters away from me looking exactly the same way I saw him yesterday bare-bodied, damp, head phones and bare footed . my heart felt like it leaped right out of my chest when I gazed closely at his face, his eye socket were dark and empty with blood streaming from it like he’s eyes had been poked out with something hot and sharp, His cheek down to his chest stained with blood. the cold, empty, painless expression on his face. “ what the hell.....!” for second there I wasn’t sure I could feel my legs or move, I was confused and scared shitless at the same time.

After the surprise and frozen gaze while standing still for a few seconds I steadily grew an instinct to run backwards where I came from, he appeared right in front of me the moment i turned and I was forced to stare right into his terrible bleeding eye socket circled with darkness. he swiftly grabbed my right shoulder with one arm, his palm burned like fire, he didn’t let go while I screamed my lungs out, it felt like he was draining the life out of me I saw myself slipping away falling to my knees passed out.

Next, the buzzing sound of my alarm at the edge of my bed, lazily I stretched my arm while laying down trying to turn it off just to unfortunately shove it down the floor and the batteries rolled under my bed, I opened my eyes seeing the faint dull daylight then I remembered I had a lousy nightmare which gave me a splitting headache, my body temperature was also elevated and I noticed a sharp aching pain on my right shoulder. I managed to walk myself to the bathroom taking off my shirt, facing the mirror I ran my fingers across my untidy hair staring at my face in the mirror seeing dark circles under my eyes like I was sick or recovering a nose injury.

There was a red thick burn on my right shoulder indicating a palm or more like a mark imprinted on me, “impossible.” I whispered to myself and could have sworn I had dreamt that. Bathing wasn’t easy, the burns on my shoulder hurt a lot when being touched by water, I felt feverish and the damn headache wouldn’t stop, I had to be ready for school it was Monday making it my second week .

I took some aspirins after a bowl of cereal, I wore a jacket dashing out of the house to avoid Judy looking at me and noticing I wasn’t in the best of health because it seemed obvious when I looked myself in the mirror. For some minutes the fever calmed and I was able to drive myself to school, when I shut the car I saw Adam and Lock leaning on their black cruiser, their eyes pinned on me like they knew something was off with me or maybe I’m just being paranoid due to the fever I ignored their stares heading for the school block.

I entered the Economics class when Mrs. Varner was about to begin, raven Lansdale was already present I knew the desk close to her would be empty, she wanted isolation form people and maybe they did except me because I’m new here and the class was full, I spotted no other empty desk either I had no choice but to sit there which I thought not be awkward since we were both now formally introduced. Walking through the aisle seemed like walking for hours the fever slowly trying to re-emerge, I noticed my arms were trembling I kept my face down to avoid her looking at me seeing the dark circle under eyes and paleness of my skin to notice I looked ill.

“hi, Nate.” She said with a polite open voice with a slight smile on her face, I was surprised she did I imagined she might still play stranger.

“hey,” I replied glancing away quickly, my head was spinning I felt like I would collapse any minute showing up in school today was a bad idea I realized now when she examined my face. Sick people don’t show up for school, there’s also one other stuff that can make one looked as messed up as I am than drugs.

“are you okay, you obviously don’t look too well.” Bam! That was it, all I was trying to avoid, I just hope she doesn’t think I’m some kind of junkie.

“I’m fine,” I replied defensively.

“ ok,” she let it drop. I didn’t know why I reacted like that,

As soon as the class ended left for the bathroom staring at my pale reflection again, my face has already lost its Color I seemed worse than before, leaving the bathroom unfortunately Allan and I crossed paths in his usual self I knew he noticed something when he saw me.

“ oh, dude what’s with the pale look, you look like crap. Are you sick or something?”

“you’re the second person saying that to me today, like I said I’m fine.” I replied weakly.

“Alright mate spill it, what are you on?” he asked pinning his eyes on me suspiciously,

“what do you mean by that,”

“Drone, brownies, donkey dust, E, trust me whatever juice your taking sure doesn’t look good on you.” He said.

“No! Allan, I’m not some junkie I don’t do drugs,” I scowled.

“ well you won’t be able to convince anyone looking like that, but don’t worry I’ll take it you had one hell of a lousy weekend.” I almost tripped on my toes when I resumed walking again, Allan held me up for me to regain my balance.

“come on , I’ll take you the clinic you look like your going pass out any minute.”

“don’t worry, I’m fine.” I groaned.

“ quit being so stubborn like a ten year old, I’ll take you to the nurse she’ll know what to give you.” He persisted, and he was right there’s no way I’ll get through the day if I continued like this. Allan reached for me to support.

“I’m not an invalid, I can walk myself to the clinic you don’t need to hold me up.”

The clinic nurse had given me drugs to numb the headache and fever, my right shoulder still hurt from the burns I didn’t bother to show her at all, wouldn’t want her curiosity jumping into unnecessary assumptions. the drug helped a bit and but not entirely, at least I felt better than before, at the lunchroom Allan told me about the party Wade planned on hosting at his place this weekend that I must show even if it meant him dragging my ass out the house. At the end of the lunch-room were the Lansdale’s sitting on their table chatting and grinning at each other cheerfully even an outsider would have sworn they seemed more than everyone else though it maybe just a façade, when my gaze accidentally met with ravens I took notice she somehow had been observing me from their table, and for the first time since I met her I saw her eyes give a little warm emotion more like concern.

I knew better this time than to avoid careless glances with her siblings, the dark haired boy amongst them now haunted my dreams. While the others discussed he was calm, quiet, calculating and freakishly looked more observant than the rest of them.

Chris and Adam looked exactly the same but like every twin each had a different personality, Adam was gentile one, tough looking but serene natured, while Chris was the conversationalist, chatty and quite more free mannered than the rest of them.

The headache subsided when I got home, my temperature dropped back to normal I assumed the drug the nurse had given me had finally taken its full effect, I was welcomed by Judy as she complained about me skipping breakfast we ate lunch together then she began taking about the food channel on TV and the different tips she had picked up. I finished my food quickly so I could get some rest in my room, no offense I love Judy very much but I think if I keep staying there listening her my head is going to explode. I slumped in my bed when I was done, I dozed off a few seconds later and when I opened my eyes the night had already taken over. I removed my clothes checking my cell Allan had already called twice probably to check up on me, I walked to the bathroom facing the mirror once more I looked better, the dark shadow under my eyes was gone and the burns on my right shoulder didn’t hurt anymore instead the thick redness of the burns had darkened also with the swelling reduced.

I couldn’t understand how I came to bear such a mark, I realized I didn’t fully understand my self either why I haven’t mentioned anything about it to frank, Judy or anyone else and simply just deciding to keep it quiet for now. For some unknown reason something happened to me last night I don’t know how it occurred or why but I know I owe it to myself to figure it out. I turned off the lights in bathroom changing into fresh clothes when I got this strange feeling I was being watched, the curtains in my windows were spread open and I looked out to clear my suspicion to find on a dark trench coat with a Stetson starring up at me outside from across the street his face I wasn’t able to see clearly at the instant I blinked the street was empty he vanished like there was no one standing there in the first place, maybe I was just hallucinating.

The days intended to drag on quickly than expected, it was a Friday night Allan had bugged me all day to make sure I would show up for wade s party tonight, though I tried making excuses like I had car trouble when I returned from school he always figures out a solution and promised to pick me up at 7:00, there’s no evading that guy. But maybe he’s right a party in my second in town isn’t such a bad idea in fact it’s a great one. I first crashed for a few hours which I always did for God knows how long, when a honking sound woke me up along with Judy knocking at my door informing me Allan was waiting outside, I looked out the window it was dark Allan sitting in his gray sedan smiling talking to someone on the phone, I left for the bathroom hurriedly showered and dressed up before leaving the house. I assured Judy the latest I’ll be staying out would be 10pm she shouldn’t have to worry, I promise to be early as soon as I can, She embraced me saying I should be careful and safe before shutting the door behind me.

“ hurry up Nate, we don’t have all day.” Allan called out after ending his phone call I marched quickly reaching for the car door as we drove off.

Some minutes later, we arrived at wade’s a couple a blocks away from mine. The street lot crowded with teenagers cars with a heavy gyrating rock music emanating from the house and poised the entire area a few guys with girls chatting together or I’ll say flirting, another couple in a hidden corner beside the house making out.

“are we late?”

“ I don’t know, but I guess we’re about to find out come on lets go check it out.” he said as we left the car in the lot marching up to the close door, Allan took a deep breath and knocked. We heard a quick footstep approaching from inside and wade opened the door.

“ YO! Allan, Nathan, just the two folks I wanted to see, been searching for both of you all day what took you guys so long.” Wade said excitedly, exchanging handshakes with us.

“well come on in mates cause the damn party is already on.”

We entered the leaving room crowded with people dancing, drinking, the club lights gave an energizing sensation to the house plus the music I had it admit, looks good. Wade left for the kitchen some minutes later handing us a bottle of beer when he arrived, we followed him to the back-yard were the pool was.

There were lots of girls on bikinis everywhere some in the pool with a few guys playing pool ball laughing hysterically, most I could recognize from school while the others I had never seen before. At the opposite direction facing the pool sat, mike, Darrel, cherry, Scarlett with other persons I couldn’t recall their names. Cherry waved at us to come-over, after the pleasantries we chatted together for a while , I left for the house to grab another beer on my way I got caught up with a hot brunette who seemed interested in me, so I played along and went ahead to talk to her, next thing I knew we were dancing together.

After that we talked a little got to know each-other a bit better, then the conversation gradually turned into flirting and Bam! Before I even knew it I was holding my fourth bottle of beer smoothly rolling along with her. I could tell she’s up for more same for me too normally, but I started feeling tipsy for some stupid reason I couldn’t quite recall I left her on hold and bailed, oh! Now I remember her name it was Beth.

The influence of the beers had began kicking in slowly, the noise, the music, the house along with everyone and everything in it started kind of spinning felt suffocated. I went outside to the porch to get a little space and fresh air, there were people outside but at least it felt serene just the mood I craved for at the moment. I looked up my watch its already11:30 and I promised Judy I would be back home by ten jeez! Time slips fast. I checked my phone to see that she had already called twice, I guess the party was to rowdy for me to notice. I had to get Allan to drive me home I shook back my phone in my pocket when my sight seemed somehow to have blurred and I felt dizzy, I knew had drank a bit more than I’m supposed to and I needed to take a piss I was pressed, I didn’t feel like going back in to the bathroom either that’s way too much stress, so I relieved myself in a flower vase at a dark corner beside the house, I’m sure Wade wouldn’t mind.

From a distance I saw a someone standing in middle of the street staring my direction I moved forward to get a clearer view, there I realized it was the same man on a Stetson and trench coat I saw outside my house watching me from my window some nights ago but then I thought he wasn’t real now he’s here again watching me, what’s his issue, is he some kind of stalker, what does he want with me, although I was a bit drunk I was sure about it this time. I couldn’t make his face clearly enough though he was standing close to a street lamp, I walked further to get a closer look when the lamp suddenly blew, and from that spot he stood he disappeared, I was startled when I found him again at the end of the street he turned around walking away.

It was strange and i felt kind of frightened but still followed him maybe because of the effect of alcohol in my blood, I needed to know who he is and why he’s been following me my curiosity outweighed my fear, he just kept walking further comfortably without looking back. Not once, like he knew I had been tailing him or wasn’t aware at all. we walked for some time then he entered a nearby gas station walking into a red door behind the supermarket indicating the men’s restroom shutting behind him without even looking backwards, I quickly rushed reaching for the door knob walking through that same door, I felt a sharp splitting pain that ran through my spine along with a loud high pitched white noise which struck my eardrum and in that second all my eyes could see was a bright light before it went dark.

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