Brighter, a supernatural thriller (19 page)

"He told me all this stuff," Ramona said. "Stuff he wouldn't have said. He just was different. Totally different. I could tell, okay? It wasn't him."

"What was different?"

Ramona explained. Heather listened without interrupting. When Ramona was done, Heather took a few seconds to try to collect herself. She wanted to say what she had to say to Ramona without alienating her or making her feel inferior for her delusions. Because that's what was going on. Her best friend was really deluded. And Heather was pretty pissed at Garrett for encouraging them. What a dick. This was half his fault. He shouldn't be able to just walk away and leave her friend in pieces. No wonder Blair had locked Ramona in a basement. This guy had done a number on her too. He was an evil fuck. "I think this is Garrett's fault," said Heather. "You were fine before he came along. He put a lot of things into your head. And—"

"I don't believe what he said," said Ramona. "It doesn't make sense. He didn't act like someone who was trying to seduce me."

"Maybe that's why you fell for it."

"No. If he'd just wanted to sleep with me, he would have done it earlier. And I think creating this entire story about Blair and Owen and the other guys is just way too complicated for someone who's only trying to get laid."

"He's twisted."

"Besides, what about that picture I saw of Dawn? What about the missing person poster I saw of her? What about Mason cornering me and telling me to stop asking questions because my life was in danger?"

Heather didn't know what Ramona was talking about, so Ramona had to back track and explain the events of the past few days to Heather.

"Besides," Ramona finished. "I can't believe that Blair and Owen would let Garrett into their house to talk. Two days ago, Owen beat the shit out of Garrett."

Heather had to admit that things were possibly a little more complicated than she thought. "Look, we'll talk more about this tomorrow when you come over, okay?"

The two chatted a little longer and then hung up. Heather sat on her bed, thinking. Rick came back in from his shower.

"Hey," he said, "you're awake."

"What did you say about that Mason guy you used to know?"

Rick was confused. "Good morning to you too."

"Didn't you say something like he turned into a completely different person or something?"

"Yeah. He changed. Were you just on the phone with Ramona?"

Heather laughed. "That obvious, huh?"

Rick laughed. "Is she okay?"

"That Garrett dude she was dating is a real fucking dick. He really screwed her head up." Heather paused. "In fact," she said, just deciding it as she said it, "I'm going to go talk to him. I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind."

"Baby, be careful. That guy is a rapist. I don't want you alone with him."

"I'm going to where he works," said Heather. "I'll be in a public place."

* * *

Ramona considered calling in to work, but she realized that she wouldn't do anything at home except obsess and drive herself insane. So she showered, got dressed, and went downstairs to The Holy Grind. Owen wasn't working. That was strange. He always worked the early shift on weekdays. Instead, the owner of The Holy Grind was there. His name was Griff. Ramona didn't like him. He was kind of rude and arrogant. He always talked a mile a minute, as if he were perpetually hyped up on caffeine. However, she really hadn't been in the mood to deal with Owen, either, considering he'd killed her boyfriend, so she guessed it was really a blessing in disguise.

"Hi Griff," she said. "Where's Owen?"

Griff smiled tightly. "Don't know. Didn't call in. Won't answer his phone. Don't think he's got a job here anymore."

Griff was like that too. He had pretty high standards. If you didn't measure up to them, he fired you. That was that. Ramona had sworn to herself never to work for him. "That sucks," Ramona said. "I'm sorry."

"What can I get for you?"

"Icy Chalice," she said and waited while he made her drink. She had to pay for it, because the only people who worked at The Grind who made her free drinks were her friends. Paying also sucked.

Work dragged by. She watched the clock. It seemed like every hour took a week to get through. When it was finally lunchtime, Ramona knew what she was going to do. She took off down Main Street, past the railroad tracks, until she got to Kay Street. There weren't any houses on Kay Street, just trailers. For some reason, real estate on the other side of the tracks was cheaper than right in town. Ramona wasn't really sure why. Certainly the neighborhood here was a little more run down. A little trashier. She walked past broken-down cars parked in the yards of houses, past naked children clad in filthy diapers tiptoeing amongst used beer cans. This was West Virginia, all right.

She was headed to Mason's house. A few months ago, he'd moved off the river. Said it was because he wanted to be closer to town. He'd rented a trailer on Kay Street. Supposedly the rent was cheap. She wasn't even sure if Mason would be home. He still took classes at the college. He had been for at least six years now. But Mason never took a very full schedule. And his classes usually didn't start until one or two in the afternoon. He was probably home. And if there was anyone she could talk to about what had happened, it was Mason.

Of course, he'd been a total ass to her the night before. Still, she had nowhere else to turn. Heather thought she was a head case. Garrett was gone. That only left Mason. And even if he was one of them, she knew that Mason was concerned for her. He didn't want anything to happen to her. He kept talking about protecting her. So she was pretty sure that she would be safe with him.

He didn't answer his door right away when she knocked. Ramona waited and then knocked again. If he didn't answer this time, she'd go back home, eat a sandwich, and go back to work. But Mason opened the door. He was wearing a pair of threadbare plaid pajama pants and no shirt. Ramona had never seen Mason without a shirt. He looked good without one. He was very nicely put together. Ramona tried not to stare at his bare chest.

"I need to talk to you," she said.

"Go away," said Mason.

"You have to tell me what happened to Garrett."

"What do you mean?"

"I think you know what I mean."

Mason just shook his head. "I've already said anything I need to say to you."

"Can I come in?" Ramona asked.

"I'm not dressed," said Mason.

"I don't care," said Ramona. Then she blushed.

Mason hesitated for a second, then opened the door wider and stepped aside. Ramona walked in. Mason's trailer was pretty sparse. He had a couch in his living room. No TV. There were several bookshelves groaning under the weight of the books that had been haphazardly stacked on them. But there was nothing else on the white walls. Mason shut the door after her. He motioned for her to sit on the couch, and then he ducked into the kitchen for a second. He returned with a straight back chair. They sat down facing each other.

"I meant what I said last night," said Mason. "You need to forget about all of this. It's not safe. I would think that would be clear."

"You mean they might do to me what they did to Garrett?"

Mason sighed heavily. "I don’t mean anything. But if I were you, I would be very careful about who I was alone with, if you know what I mean."

Ramona nodded. He was telling her that they wouldn't hurt her in a public place. He was telling her that she had to be alone with one of the river hippies for anything to happen. "Is there..." she trailed off. "Is there any way to get him back?"

"Who?"

"Garrett."

"Garrett's not gone," said Mason. "I'll wager he's in the library right now, shelving books."

"He
is
gone."

"The way that Garrett seems now is the way he'll seem for as long as he's still in town," said Mason.

Ramona nodded. "So he's dead. Where's the body, Mason? What did they do with him?"

"He's not dead," said Mason. "Go to the library. You can see for yourself."

"Mason—"

"Let it go, Ramona. Garrett was bad news, anyway. He only would have hurt you in the end. And I don't want to talk to you about this anymore. Is that clear? Just go away and put all of this out of your head."

As she walked back from Mason's house, Ramona felt miserable. Could it be true? Could all of this really just be part of Garrett's elaborate plan to have sex with her? Had he convinced her of something crazy? Was she crazy? Were Blair and Owen and Dawn and Cecelia monsters, or were they just a bunch of vindictive twenty-somethings? The whole time she'd talked to Garrett, there had been a voice in the back of her head, telling her that what they were talking about was nuts. Telling her that she didn't really believe any of it. Not really. But now... Garrett was different. He was. It really was all true. She was living in a town full of monsters. Ramona shook her head, and for the second time that day, she started to sob.

* * *

Heather didn't have nearly as much trouble finding a parking space in Elston this time as she had when she'd come before to get the book. Actually, the book was due back at the library, so she told herself that she wasn't coming to Elston to see if Garrett was different, but instead to return the book. And anyway, she knew Garrett wouldn't be different. What she was going to do was talk to him about what a mess he'd turned her best friend into. He was a total jackass. That had been her impression of him before when he wouldn't help her in the library. So, she was sure she wouldn't have much problem letting him have it.

She briefly considered whether it was her place to interfere in Ramona's business. After all, she would have hated it if Ramona had gone to talk to one of her exes. But she decided that Ramona was too far gone for it to really matter. Garrett had shattered her best friend and left Heather to pick up the pieces. It wasn't right, and he needed to know that.

Amazingly, there was a parking space right beside the library. Right there. Heather might have missed it too, if it hadn't been for the fact that a large black bird nearly flew into her windshield. She'd braked, trying to miss the bird, and followed its flight to watch it settle on an empty parking space right next to the library. Heather didn't even look for spaces that close to her destination. She'd thought they were an impossibility in Elston. She parked.

When she walked into the library, Garrett was sitting behind the desk. He looked up as the door opened. "Hi there," he said. "Can I help you with anything?"

Well, that was weird. Last time, she'd practically had to beg for his assistance. Now, he was being really polite and helpful. Besides, didn't he recognize her? Wouldn't he greet an acquaintance differently than a regular library patron?

"Um, I just came to return a book," she said.

"Great," said Garrett, getting up and crossing the library to the front door. "I'll just take it for you if you want. Then you can be on your way."

"Thanks," said Heather, holding out the book. Garrett was now face to face with her. He put his hand on the book, but she didn't let go. Instead, she stared deep into his eyes, trying to remember if the expression on his face was similar to the expression she'd seen on it before.

Garrett tugged gently on the book, but she didn't let go. "Do I know you?" he asked.

"We've met," said Heather.

"You're Ramona's best friend," he said. "Heather."

"Yeah," said Heather.

"What's Ramona been telling you these days?" Garrett said.

What did he mean? "If you're going to deny that you've been a real asshole to her, then save it. Your reputation precedes you."

Garrett snorted. "Believe me, I know. I'm going to have to work so hard to live all this down."

That was kind of a strange response, wasn't it? Almost as if Garrett weren't actually responsible for his own reputation?

"Look, I just think Ramona and I need some time," said Garrett. "I wasn't entirely honest with her. You're right. I was a real asshole." He sighed. "I just don't think that continuing a relationship that's been built on lies and manipulation is a very healthy thing to do."

Well, that made sense, but... "So, you just woke up this morning and thought it was time to change your evil ways?" Heather was pleased that sounded as nasty as she'd meant it.

"Wow," said Garrett. "I bet it does seem like that to her. No, I've been feeling really guilty about it for a long time. But I care about Ramona, and I just didn't know how to tell her or break it to her. What exactly has she been saying to you?"

Why did he keep harping on that? "She told me you encouraged her to think some sort of strange things, and that then you admitted you made it all up."

"What kind of strange things?" asked Garrett. "For example, she didn't mention, I don't know, body snatchers or anything?"

Was it important what Ramona had told her? "You know what you said to her," said Heather.

"Yes," said Garrett. "But do you know what I said to her?"

"Why is that important?" Heather suddenly had a strong impulse to back away from Garrett. She tried to take a step back, but they were both still holding the book she was returning. She let go of it.

Garrett hadn't been expecting that, and the book dropped. Heather jumped. Garrett laughed. "Sorry about that," he said. He leaned down to pick up the book. "You don't believe in that kind of thing, do you? Monsters? Body snatchers?" He read the cover of the book to himself as he straightened. "Do you?" He looked in her eyes.

"Uh..." Heather took another step back. Garrett was really starting to freak her out. It was probably because of all the things that Ramona had said to her. It was enough to make anyone feel like she was trapped in a horror movie. And besides, the Elston library was creepy. "I don't know what she said to me. It was...crazy talk. You shouldn't have messed with her like that."

Garrett nodded, still staring at the book Heather had brought back. "Yeah," he said. "You tell your best friend to stay away from me from now on. Far away." He looked back up at her, and he was grinning a wide grin. But to Heather, the grin didn't look friendly. It looked demented. She nearly tripped over her feet in her hurry to get out of the library.