1. Chapter 2

   
   

I sighed loudly; tiptoeing over the minefield of garbage that lay scattered in my path. Setting my bags on the bed in my parent’s room, which thankfully, was clean. Smelling of lavender incense and lemon pledge. The sun had shifted into the late afternoon sky by then warming the room slightly. I remembered I loved taking naps in here when I was still small; the warmth of the sun on my back reminded me of a time I was happy.

I changed into a loose fitting top and jeans; tying my hair up in a messy bun, before grabbing a roll of garbage bags from the supply closet as I passed by it in the hallway. Nothing had changed much over the years since I’ve been gone it seemed. I totally bypassed Nina’s room for the fear of finding yet another mess. It was already going to take me half the afternoon just to clean up the living room and the front lawn. If I had to clean up her room as well, I would surely miss my appointment to see her later at the hospital, which by the frustration I felt at that moment toward her, may not have been such a bad thing.

I had an hour or so before I had to be back at the hospital so I had to spark if I wanted to get everything done before I left. Following Cooper’s instructions, I had a quick snack, an energy drink then directed my attention to the monstrous mess on the front lawn. It was an eyesore I had rather, the neighbours not be exposed to any longer.

One and a half hours and several garbage bags later, I finally began to see the light at the end of the very dark tunnel. I flopped my heavy wilted body down on the couch, for a well-deserved break. It had been a long day of non-stop scrubbing, vacuuming and dusting, and all I wanted was to take it all in for a few seconds before I had to return to the hospital. Nina was going to get a piece of my mind when I saw her later that was for damn sure. I never agreed to be her maid or her babysitter.

The agreement was that I would check-up on her now and again, while our parent were away, yet they had not even been gone a day and she had already forced me to rush down here in a panic and clean up her mess.

“This is utter nonsense,” I was tired, fed-up, irritated, and annoyed. The fact, that I was talking to myself not even an afterthought.

After I had finished putting everything away, I realized that I was already late meeting Cooper at the hospital. There was no time to change or even take a shower. I just hoped I was not too late to see my sister. I was deep in thought when I passed Nina’s bedroom door, wrestling with my jacket; keys clenched between my teeth and my cell phone tightly gripped in my free hand. The door was partially open, “What? How did … I could have sworn it was closed. Wait, yes it was I remember now I didn’t want to go in because,” My voice hushed the instant I heard the vague thud coming from inside. Could one of Nina’s party pals have been in there sleeping it off all this time, I wondered.

“HELLO?” I called, “HELLO, I-IS ANYONE IN THERE?” I raised my hands mentally slapping myself.

“What the hell Samantha, this is exactly what gets people in horror movies killed.” I reached down removing one of my fluffy bunny slippers just as a percussion, only realizing the idiocy of my action when the floppy bunny ears hit me against the head, “Oh for God sake what exactly do you intend on doing with that? Bunny him to death?” I was acting like a frazzled teenager, something I had never been ... not even when I was a teenager.

I had survived the big city and all its perils on my own for the past 18 years; surely, I could handle this? Whatever, this turned out to be, I was sure I could handle it. I was no weakling after all; I was 5’5” 120 pounds with a body fat count of 0%. I had been taking kick boxing classes every night since I got to the city.

That being said; it was probably a raccoon that came in through the door or perhaps a rat. I was leaning more toward the latter, if the front lawn and the living room was any indication. I pushed back the door even further, my heart hammering in my throat, my mouth systematically becoming dry as a bone. “If it’s an animal, it’s going to be more scared of you than you are of it,” I told myself.

The hair on my arm rose; charged with a sudden pinch at the root, when I noticed the closet door shutting without any assistance. Having lived in a dirty, overcrowded city for all these years I had seen a lot of strange things … unexplainable things, yet I had never seen a rat or a raccoon for that matter, close a door. I was struggling with the decision, about whether or not to open the door when providence interceded and an ear-splitting knock came at the front door. A tall dark shadow was the first thing I saw when I rounded the corner, still a bit weary and preoccupied.

“Hi,” Cooper’s signature crooked smile greeted me. His cheeks flushed; steam streaming from his open mouth. His hands remained buried in his pants pockets; driving his shoulder up to, his ears as the cold air nipped at his neck. I was memorized by the full lushness of his overly red lips. I had never seen any man with lips as red as his and for the life of me I could not remember that they had ever been that red. I found myself in awe watching his mouth shift into a knowing grin when he caught me staring.

“You going to invite me in or am I going to have to show my ID.” He was clearly referring to my outburst at the hospital earlier, so much for hoping he would let it go.

“Sam? You okay?”

“What? Oh uh, yes, I’m just surprised. What are you doing here? I thought we were supposed to meet at the hospital?”

“Yeah so did I, 30 minutes ago. I tried phoning when you didn’t pitch … thought something might be wrong.” He moved his head to catch my gaze.

“SAM,”

“Wha … S-Sorry yes I … I was held up with ... things. Please-please come in before you freeze to death.” I waved him in, continuing to fix my jacket while trying to explain, “I was just about to leave when ... can we go, see Nina now? Is she awake?” Cooper hardly got a word in, through all my jabbering.

We left soon after; Cooper ever so often looking over at me as we drove through the quiet streets; he evidently had something on his mind, yet showered me with small talk instead,

“I-I’m glad you’re allowing me to take you to the hospital. I can just imagine that you’ve had your fill of driving; besides my car knows the way by heart by now.” He jump started the conversation. I smiled wryly only just glancing over. My mind was all over the place; so many things did not make sense.

“Nice shoes by the way. I, myself find the barnyard animals to hardcore.” He giggled, down shifting the truck.

“Oh my God,” I reddened; I had completely forgotten that I was still wearing my bunny slippers, not to mention what I must have looked and smelled like. He must think I am a complete and utter slob and by the way, I conducted myself earlier this afternoon, a deranged foul smelling slob with bipolar tendencies.

“You’re awfully quiet over there. Everything okay?” I wanted to say no; scream at the top of my lungs that everything was not okay. In fact, since I crossed over into this-this town, my life had systematically been descending into an out of control downward spiral.

“I’m okay, just tired and anxious to see my sister.” I fibbed. I knew Cooper and if I had said I was not ok, he would not have let it go he would have probed until I told him every little detail, and I was not ready for that … not yet.

“Well here we are, safe and sound.” He leaned over, catching me unprepared. Both of us lost in one another’s eyes, for a split-second … a very tense split-second. The sleeve of his shirt stretched tightly around his muscular arm.

“What are you doing?” I reacted.

“The belt,” He whispered, holding firm his position, “It sticks. If you don’t know how to ... let’s just say you’ll be stuck in here … with me … for good.” I could feel his breath against my cheek, his proximity affecting me in ways I had long since forgotten … long since buried in the deepest recesses of my mind. When at last we passed into the hospital, nurses were running around while, high-pitched sounds bellowed through the halls. Cooper lightly jogged to the front desk; his face falling when he realized where everyone was rushing.

“Wait here.” Are the only words he uttered, before shifting into Doctor Mode. I stood back, passively watching frantic faces pass by with blood covered towels and blood soaked bandages.

“Someone must really be hurt,” I assumed until I heard Nina’s fear filled screams. My heart dropped instantaneously,

“NO-NO,” She screeched, “I HAVE TO GO. YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND HE’S COMING … I HAVE TO HIDE.” Cooper and several nurses stood around her bed trying to hold her down while monitor lights flashed and sirens sounded.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING? You’re hurting her stop it! Get off her!” I rushed to my sister’s defense. The sheer panic in her eyes alone drove me to the point where I swear I could physically feel her angst. Cooper grabbed me by the shoulders, allowing the nurses to take over while he forcibly shoved me out.

He looked angry, “JUST WHAT THE HELL DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING IN THERE?” He blew his top; parading in front of me with his hands flying through the air.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK I WAS DOING? I WAS PROTECTING MY SISTER. YOU WERE HURTING HER. TREATING HER LIKE SOME-SOME KIND OF-OF,”

“OF? OF WHAT? DO YOU HONESTLY THINK I’D STAND AROUND DOING NOTHING IF I THOUGHT SHE WAS BEING HURT? FOR GOD’S SAKE SAMANTHA SHE’S LIKE MY LITTLE SISTER,” He paused, bowing his head, his dark wavy hair falling around his strained face.