Stroke Of Fear

You left me all alone. I lost my scholarship.” He bends to my ear and begins yelling. “I lost everything!”

I close my eyes and pretend I’m in Tanner’s arms, in his bed.

   “Are you listening to me? You abandoned me. You took away the water from me. You took it away!” As crazy as he is, I understand. I know how it feels to have the one thing you love taken away from you.

   It’s the worst thing that’ll happen to anyone. The loss you feel. The emptiness that consumes your every move. “I’m so sorry, Michael. My parents—” He slams his foot down on the side of my face. Darkness swarms my vision. I can barely make out his figure above me.

   There is no hope for the monster standing over me. No love is left in his heart. I’m as good as dead. He bends down to pick me up, and I feel light. My body is so tired I can’t move. My head throbbing and more blood seeps down my back.

   “Aubrey,” he whispers in my ear. “I love you.” A helpless cry shakes through me, my body quaking in fear. It’s coming. I know. I try to lift my head, but it slumps back against his chest. His lips part and he takes my mouth in his. I don’t kiss him back. I sit there unable to move or get away. Unable to fight for my fucking life.

   He moves his lips over mine. They’re rough and hard against my own. Blood mixes with his mouth, and I feel it drain down my throat. He’s mumbling in my ear that he loves me over and over when I feel us move backwards. He’s stopping. He’s going to spare me.

   “Drop her now.”

   Tanner. Every single cell in my body flames, and I try to crane my neck to look at him. Michael turns with me still in his hands. “You think you’re going to save her, Tanner?”

   Tanner’s eyes avert to my own. His shirt is torn, blood is stained down the front of his unbuttoned shirt. The hatchet I had earlier is in his hands. “I know I am, Michael.”

   Michael snarls and drops me to the ground. Rocks dig into my skin, but I scoot away from him. Tanner’s dark hair has fallen in front of his eyes. Sweat pours from his forehead. I can’t imagine how fast he ran to get here.

   Michael shakes his head back and forth. “She’s mine.”

   “You’re goin’ to kill what’s yours? What sense does that make. Why kill her?”

   “Because she took everything from me!” he shouts, ripping at his hair. “She took it all!”

   Tanner nods. His Adam’s apple moves when he swallows. “You’re right. She did. But it was your own fault.”

   Michael sneers and runs at Tanner. Tanner swings the hatchet but Michael jumps back just in time. They maneuver around each other, swinging and kicking. I can’t hear anything but the erratic beat of my heart and the water below. “The cops are on their way, Michael. It’s only a matter of time before they catch you again.”

   He barks out a laugh and snatches his hat off his head. His dark hair is way longer than before. A slight blanket of hair covers his cheeks. “I got away once, and I’m sure I can do it again. They’re so fucking stupid. I had one of the janitors sneak someone in to replace me. He did a great job, too. I’m sure they’re still scratching their heads.”

   That’s how he did it. It’s been him the entire summer, watching me like a tiger on his prey. I basically signed my own death certificate when I took this job.

   Tanner eyes me and then the cliff. At first I think someone is behind me then I realize what he wants me to do. Jump. No. No. No. I shake my head a cry slipping from my lips. “Shut the fuck up!” Michael screams at me.

   Tanner takes a swing at him and it cuts Michael’s chest. “Don’t fuckin’ talk to her like that. I’ll kill your ass.”

   Tanner gives me another look. “You can do it,” he says, lowly.

   Michael is trying to cover up the blood that’s seeping from his chest. He’s moaning and groaning. The blood soaking his shirt completely. I look at the guy that’s haunted my dreams for years. The man who tried to take my life… twice. I’m not going to be the victim anymore. I’m going to live.

   Standing up on wobbly legs, I steady myself. “Don’t move,” Michael yells, stretching his bloody hand toward me. “I’m not finished with you yet.” The look in his eyes is pleading. He takes a swing at Tanner but misses. He’s losing a lot of blood. He’s dying.

    With one last ounce of might, Michael turns toward me and runs. The determination in his eyes is frightening. He’s been waiting to kill me again. Tanner’s chasing Michael my way, trying to stop him. Everything is in slow motion. The moon beams down, lighting up the water, giving me the urge to jump.

   Michael reaches forward, almost touching me. Turning, I lift my arms above my head and dive straight into the black abyss. His voice echoes against the cliff’s walls. It’s the only thing I hear as I fall forward. The water slices around me, and the stillness is back. The memorizing feeling of the water consumes me. I’m diving deeper and relishing in the coolness. Breaking from the water, I gasp for breath. The rapids against the small lake is hard and doing a great job of pushing me downstream.

   I smile into the night. Tanner’s voice is loud and clear. “He’s gone. You’re safe, darlin’. You’re safe.” It’s all I need to hear. Bracing myself, I take that stroke of fear.

* * *

   I’m warm. Such a difference from the cool summer water. Such a difference from running through the trees and begging for your life.

   Blinking, I glance up at the white walls. The florescent lighting shines down on me. A steady drip sounds in my ear. I’m in a bed…not my cabin bed or my bed at home. “She’s awake,” I hear.

   Why does that voice sound so familiar? Whose is it?

“Darlin’. Are you okay?”

   Pushing past the pain, I open my eyes all the way. A bandage wraps around his forehead, and his arm is in a cast. “Tanner?” I ask.

   He smiles and then he gets shoved out of the way. “Are you okay? I called your parents they should be here tonight. Can you see me?” Cassie snaps her fingers in front of my face a few times.

   “Get out of the way,” I hear then Cassie is being picked up and moved. “Hey,” Eric says, leaning on the rail of the bed. “You okay? You look like… ouch. Stop it, Cassie.”

   “You’re going to upset her. Don’t tell her that you asshat.”

   A giggle rises from my throat. “Tanner.”

   Tanner comes back up to me and smiles down. His rough fingers rub against my face, stroking my cheek. I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful before in my life. The blue specks in his gray eyes are bright today. “He’s dead?” I ask.

  A frown tugs on his lips. “Yes. I killed him.”

   Dead. Michael’s dead? I knew he’d die one day. But I didn’t think by my own boyfriend’s hand. “Don’t cry, baby.” Tanner cups my cheek and plants kisses all over my face. “It’s okay. You’re safe. Perfectly safe.”

   “Can I talk to her?” I hear and then some more mumbles. I’m still too tired to lift my head, but when I feel a hand on my arm I know who is standing in front of me.

   “Jake,” I say, my voice pained.

   “It’s me. Are you okay?”

   I nod and open my eyes wider. He’s looking down at me. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks. “I would have understood.”

   “I know you would have. I’m sorry. I just… everything fell into place when I got here. I think I’m where I need to be.”

   Jake smiles and pushes his dark blond hair from his face. “I think so, too. I hope you know I love you, Aubrey. I’ll probably always love you.”

   I do know that. I know I love him, too. But the perfect man for me wears work boots and has a sexy southern drawl. I was always meant for him. We fit together like a puzzle piece. He was my missing piece. All I had to do was wait. Jake, Cassie and Eric all say their goodbyes. Mrs. Jones is having a panic attack with all the