Shadow's Dangers (16 page)

I decided it was time for both of us to lay our cards on the table.

“You’re right. So let’s stop beating around the bush,” I said to him. “You begin, since I have already told you something about me.”

He remained silent for a few moments and I thought he was going to shut up...again. But he finally spoke.

“Between you and me, I’ve always had a preference for brunettes. But I must say that I recently discovered that I had a soft spot for brunettes with strong character and eyes the color of the sky before the storm. A storm that, seeing your eyes right now, will not take too long before hitting me.”

Under normal circumstances, I probably would have blushed or at least been embarrassed after such a statement. Not this time, though. Not when he was trying to avoid confiding in me again.

“Fascinating...” I sighed, starting to get tired of this little game of his.

“What? Your confidences were not very personal either.”

I saw where he was going. He wanted real confessions, things I wouldn’t say to just anybody. So be it. I was going to reveal myself to him. He would have to do the same then. The idea of saying all this out loud made my stomach go into knots, and I took a deep breath before taking the plunge.

“Okay, you wanna know who I am? Here it goes. I miss my grandmother, Tess. Atrociously. I feel guilty for her death because if I had come home earlier that day, if I hadn’t gone to that damned birthday party, maybe she would still be alive. My sister hates me viscerally. Actually, I think I must be the person she hates most in the world. That doesn’t bother me much, because I can’t stand her either. Essentially, I hate my life and what I’ve become since my grandmother’s death. Is all that personal enough for you or do you want more?”

I finished my story with a slightly sour remark toward Garreth. However, it was better to blame him to want me to say all those things rather than focus on the fact that the story of my life was so sad it made me want to cry.

“I...”

“It’s your turn now,” I interrupted, not wanting to hear what he would say--no matter what it would be--after what I had revealed to him.

He stared at me for a long time. Finally, instead of doing what I did, he left the car without a word. It took me a moment to realize that, once again, he had avoided telling me anything about himself.

I got out of the Mustang, determined not to let him escape so easily. Once outside, I noticed the surroundings. The darkness was already installed and it was difficult to distinguish the landscape. But I had the impression that this place was not unknown to me.

“You coming?”

I was still next to the car while Garreth was waiting at the edge of the forest, his eyes glaring at me. Looking at him now, I didn’t know why, but an unpleasant shudder ran through my whole body.

“Where are we?”

“Somewhere near Wasilla.”

“And what are we doing here?”

“I already told you. I have a surprise for you. You following me?”

I stared at him, both unable to move and amazed to ultimately learn that the return of Leighton was definitely not the surprise he told me about on the phone. Slowly, the urgent need to save myself--that I had not felt for a while in his presence--manifested itself again. The problem this time was that I was far from home, in the sole company of Garreth and it was really dark.
Escaping wasn’t an option anymore. I was screwed...

“Deliah?”

I began to feel bad, as I heard screams and images pass before my eyes. The car, broken glass, blood, so much blood, the inky look of the black beast...

“Deliah! Are you still with me?” Garreth inquired me, stabilizing me because my legs were weak and wobbly.

“Yes, yes...”

“Are you sure? I’ll take you back, if you don’t feel well...”

I had no doubt he would have preferred that so we wouldn’t have to talk about him. But I wanted to know more and I wasn’t ready to give that up. Especially not because of my damned, nonsensical visions.

“Show me this famous thing you have brought me here for.”

He didn’t insist but I saw in his eyes that he had grasped why I refused to put an end to this... date? I didn’t know if we could and if I would qualify it like that given the disastrous way everything had taken place so far. Not releasing the arm with which he grabbed me to keep me from falling, he took me straight into the dark forest. My discomfort intensified. It reminded me of my nightmares; the black beast--of which I had the vision just seconds ago--and the menacing forest, always present in them. After a long time, the disturbing creaking of branches under the weight of snow or animals prowling around us completed in totally scaring me.

“I wonder where you want to take me,” I began to say, trying to focus on anything other than the surrounding noises. “It’s cold, it’s dark and you’re taking me...I don’t know where to see I don’t know what. I’m beginning to wonder if you’re not a psychopath who wants to kill me and leave my body in the wilderness for the animals to erase the traces of his misdeeds.”

He laughed.

“I know many other more effective ways to get rid of a corpse. If I wanted to kill you, I would not choose this method to hide my crime, trust me.”

“Okay, what you just said is not reassuring at all,” I pointed out to him.

“I’m just kidding.”

That I knew, nevertheless, it was not funny. Especially considering the fear that had gripped my stomach for many minutes.

“I think you really need to see your humor,
American Psycho.”

“I’m not American,” he let escape, amused, without thinking.

We realized at the same time he shouldn’t have said that because it reminded us both that he had some answers to give me. I felt him stiffen imperceptibly.

“Right...” I mumbled as if I had forgotten. “Where do you come from, then?”

“We’ll talk as soon as we get to the place I want to show you.”

We no longer talked until we reached the said place. I was speechless at the sight of the spectacular lights shimmering above us. Green, yellow, blue and violet shades all lit up the night sky, making this moment unique and magical, as if we had entered another world, one that couldn’t exist in this reality.

“It’s beautiful...” I whispered, amazed.

“I can’t agree more.”

It took me a moment to realize his gaze was on me. He wasn’t talking about the breathtaking view. I was forced to turn my head to try to hide my confusion.

“How did you discover this place?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“I often ride in the car when I feel the need for some fresh air or to get away from my brother and sister. I must confess that I like the Northern Lights, so I searched for information on the Internet to try to see as much as possible.”

“It’s an original and very beautiful passion. I guess it must do the trick with girls when you talk to them about it and then bring them to see it.”

I tried to ignore the slight annoyance arising in me at the idea that he had used the same technique to charm girls other than me.

“It’s for you to tell because you’re the only one I’ve ever shared my passion with,” he announced and despite myself, I looked at him with amazement and slight suspicion.

There was a brief laugh at my reaction.

“I don’t know what kind of guy you take me for. I don’t use this kind of ploy to charm just any girl.”

“Sure, with your looks, no need to go through the trouble,” I said, a little condescending without meaning to be.

Ugh...I said that out loud,
I realized too late. He seemed to particularly appreciate my comment.

“Glad to know I’m your kind of guy.”

“That is not what I said!” I couldn’t help but retort immediately.

He gave me an unequivocal look.

“I admit, I’m not a saint and as you say, I don’t have to bother to take what I want from the fairer sex. However, when the girl is special and important to me, I do everything I can to make things right. And this is your case.”

At this point, I didn’t question his sincerity. I saw in his eyes that he wasn’t lying to me, that he wasn’t playing with me. In any case, there was no need because I was already under his spell. My eyes plunged into his, I could kiss him--or let him kiss me if he tried--because the timing was that perfect. But again, there were all these unspoken things that tortured my mind. I hardly knew anything about him. And I didn’t want to get involved in this story more than I already was without learning more about him. Reluctantly, I ended the moment, breaking eye contact with him and stared again at the sky that shone with a thousand lights.

“You know why I love the aurora borealis?” he finally said after a long silence. “It’s because it reminds me of home. It reminds me of where I come from, my family, the past, the happy moments...”

He paused for a while before adding in an almost inaudible whisper:

“Reminds me of
Vergashae
...”

I almost didn’t hear the last word, sounding so much like this unknown and foreign language he had spoken twice in my presence. It sounded almost like “Versailles,” but I was sure it was not that word. However, it must be related to his birth place. I was convinced of it.

I turned my attention to him. It was up to him to avoid my gaze, this time. His eyes were glued on the fabulous spectacle unfolding over our heads. Although curiosity consumed me about this word, I suddenly no longer wanted to push him to say more to me. Not when he wore a sad expression like the one he had right now. My heart melted a little more for him, seeing this side of him, this vulnerability.

“Thank you for sharing this with me.”

He turned his head toward me. I knew in his eyes that he understood that I didn’t thank him just for this beautiful place, but also for the painful secrets he had told me. He said nothing but I felt that he was grateful I didn’t insist on him to confide more in me.

“Too bad I don’t have a car, too,” I finally said, wanting to lighten the mood. “It would be nice to have other options outside the forest or field in front of my house when I want to escape my shrew of a sister.”

“What did you just say?” he asked, looking too serious all of a sudden.

“What’s wrong?” I replied, frowning.

“You go out of your house other than to go to school?”

“Well, yes. Like any normal person, I go out from time to time. Why do you ask? I look so pathetic that you think I only go out to go to class?”

If he said yes, I would be upset. I didn’t appear so desperate and lifeless, did I? And what was meant by all these weird questions?

“It’s not what I meant. Yet it seemed to me that since...”

He paused and pursed his lips, looking annoyed with himself. I didn’t understand why at all. “You know what? In the future, when you need to escape your sister or just need some fresh air, call me. I’ll show you other places like this. And that way, it will save you having only the field or forest as options,” he ended with humor, but I felt that it was faked.

My first reaction was to want to ask him what he meant by his reaction and interrogation, but I didn’t. It was a good thing because suddenly the puzzle--at least part of it--was in place. The image of the black dog and the crow in front of the house appeared in my mind and I put two and two together and made the link between them and what I had just said and his behavior.

“Okay,” I blurted out while the revelation took place in my mind.

At that moment, I finally knew I wasn’t crazy. Whatever the explanation behind my visions, nightmares and the strange events that had happened, it had nothing to do with madness. It was real. One way or another, Garreth had heard about all these things--at least about the story of the field in front of my house and the two animals--and he knew the reason behind their alarming behavior. I was convinced of it.

But he wouldn’t tell me anything and I didn’t want to ask questions and risk ruining everything between us. One day, when I know everything, I’ll face him and oblige him to tell me the whole  truth. In the meantime, I was going to uncover his secrets by myself. Because it was necessary. I needed to know. And thanks to the clues he had given me today, I knew where to begin my search.

9

Impasse

“Dammit...” I sighed, closing the Web page I had just read.

Frustrated, I stared at my desktop wallpaper, racking my brain to find another way to explore. But there was none and so far, my research was unfortunately unsuccessful. This word sounding close to “Versailles” that Garreth had pronounced was nowhere to be found. Or it wasn’t spelled at all as it sounded. However, I searched and asked everywhere: forums for geography enthusiasts, specialized sites and even some books. There was nothing that seemed related near or far with this famous place that had Garreth remembering things from the past. Since he said that the Northern Lights reminded him of there, I chose to inform myself about them on the Web as well as in the varied books Tess had, believing I maybe I would find this word. But again, no success. I discovered several regions, countries and cultures where the aurora borealis had an importance, small or big but nothing that seemed to have anything to do with the place Garreth had mentioned.

I was at an impasse. It had been days of researching; everyday, as soon as I got home after school, I was searching about it, and continued until late in the night. It was all in vain. I had the disturbing feeling that I’d never know. Unless Garreth decided to tell me more about it. Unlikely hypothesis.

“Why didn’t I think of it before?” I exclaimed, the light going on in my mind.

I began to tap on my keyboard. I still had one last track: using Garreth’s name, his brother’s or his sister’s to find out their birthplace. I would probably find something among the files of a former school or an event in which the Wates participated. From there, I could certainly find other elements about their lives. Thereby, I’ll know more about them and I’ll be able to understand them while perhaps uncovering the mystery surrounding all the strange things that happened to me that Garreth seemed to know about.