Eli
“The Body of Lynsay Montgomery was found Sunday along the banks of the Mississippi River. Her body brutally mutilated by what authorities believe was an animal attack. The town of Briarwood mourns for such a young life lost, and police are searching for the animal that had done this. Police warn residents to take precautions especially with small pets and children.” Eli read from an old discarded newspaper. “Animal attack,” he said questioning the papers words.
“Stop with the language of Etherworldsers! It hurts our ears!” The Mog held his head in about the spot his ears would be.
“Please don’t torture us!” The lighter mane Mog said.
Eli looked at them holding their heads and slightly moaning. He let the paper go floating to the litter covered ground. Looking around at the overgrown landscape of weeds and twisted trees dotted with loose bits of paper, boxes and other unidentifiable things, some fresh and some half rotting, Eli thought Etherworlers were dirty beings with little regard to their homes. How could they do such a thing to their very own home? He had better hopes for them, but his first impression was that they simply didn’t care. He didn’t either; he was here for only one thing.
“You idiots,” Eli said, bringing the Mogs superstition induced ailment to an end. “This is the same language as the Fae. It won’t hurt you.” The Mogs slowly removed their hands from their heads.
“Do you still have her scent?” Eli asked getting back to business.
“It’s faint, but goes in that direction.” They both pointed behind Eli.
Eli turned and went up the steep incline to the crest of the hill. A forest sat in front of him all thick and untamed. The littered ground seemed to only be contained within the hole they stood in. At least Etherworlders keep their rubbish in one place and didn’t live in it. For a moment he wondered about them, did they have any Faeish qualities to them? Were there any influences that they hung on to all of these years, or were the Fae just a myth to them now? Eli wanted to ponder this, but his business was with Lil and getting back what he had set out to get.
“Follow it.” Eli commanded as the lighter mane Mog smiled, whisked him off his fee,t and onto its back.
Eli clung to the thick haired Mog. The Mogs darted around trees, and crisscrossed paths like they were enjoying themselves. They were more likely trying to get rid of him and hoped a low branch would come in contact with his head. He would have to put a stop to their reckless travel.
The forest became less dense, and Eli ordered them to stop. He got off and looked around wondering if he was close to the Etherworlders village, city or whatever living arrangements they had built themselves.
Suddenly, a single voice echoed in the distance caught his attention. The voice was masculine in sound and seemed to be addressing a large group of Ehterworlders from his tone. Eli followed the voice until he barely came to the forests edge. They were dressed in black and a group of them were carrying a large wooden box. They embraced one another, crying and throwing flowers on the box as it went by. Eli took a step back and looked at the scene in front of him. The ground covered in rows of grey stones with markings on them, the wooden box and flowers.
“The scent was strong here master. It is gone now,” The lighter mane Mog said stepping forward.
Eli motioned for them to step back as he took one last look at the funeral procession. Faes did the same thing, only they committed their dead to the ground in a different way. Compassion must still exist between Etherworlders, Eli turned away looking up at the Mogs.
“Find another scent. I want her,” Eli said, determined to stop at nothing.
Toby
Toby looked around to see if Lyssa was still there. Her petite stature was easily swallowed up by the gauntly dressed people. He tried to be discreet so Megan wouldn’t notice. After about a half an hour, he realized Lyssa must’ve gone.
Looking down at Megan’s hand interlocked with his, he wondered what was wrong with him. Lyssa Cleverthorn was a quiet, short and Plain Jane of a girl, that is until he looked into her eyes.
It was English Lit, and for no reason he looked back at her. Their eyes met on cue. Lyssa’s eyes were the color of a summer blue sky, the kind of day so nice; you wish you could bottle it up and open in the middle of winter. It was a poetic thought and appropriate for Lit class, but it went deeper than that. Toby felt a string, thin and delicate as a spiders silk connected them.
He looked at her in a new light. Her hair had a reddish cast of copper flecks, especially in the sun, her delicate frame reminded Toby of his mother’s figurines of fairies that she had in her curio cabinet.
Lyssa wasn’t like the girls he usually dated with make-up always on and perfect, the clothes they wore were skin tight and revealing, pushing the dress code to the limit. Lyssa didn’t fit the mold, but something deeper got his attention when he looked into her eyes.
Toby tried so many times to stop, but couldn’t, something spark in him and he had no control over it. He closed his eyes erasing her image and looked over at Megan to replace it. She smiled at him as he looked her up and down.
“Let’s go,” Megan whispered in his ear.
“Go where?” Toby asked whispering in her ear and smelling her sweet perfume.
“If you have to ask…” Megan playfully said running her finger down the front of his shirt allowing it to fall short of the top button of his pants.
Heron Lake’s blue water reflected the oranges, reds and yellows of the trees framing it. The park was a major attraction for people during the summer with fishing, boating, and swimming. Now is sat vacant and quiet, perfect for couples in love to make love without being disturbed.
Toby parked his truck overlooking Lake Heron on one of the many lookout points. Megan slid her hand over his arm and started to unbutton his shirt. Gently she kissed his stomach making it tickle slightly under her touch. This usually excited him, but his mind was a million different personalities away from Megan.
Toby thought Megan was the perfect girlfriend, tall, blonde, a hot body and willing to have sex at the drop of a hat. He had only dated a few girls before Megan, and she was nothing like them. She had something different that he couldn’t place. It was in her voice, the way she walked and the way she barely touched his skin that electrified him. She made the first advances and like a little lap dog, Toby went along with whatever Megan wanted. He didn’t know why, and it irked him that she had that power over him. He simply couldn’t say no. Until only a few weeks ago, Megan was the only girl he really cared to look at, then something changed. Internally, a match was lit one day when he looked at Lyssa.
“Oh, I almost forgot. We are going to the movies with Jake and Ann tonight. Pick me up at eight,” Megan said with her hair nearly covering her face sitting in front of Toby. “You need a bigger truck,” she said, hitting her elbow on the window.
“I am hanging out with Craig tonight,” Toby said feeling his plans already shattered. “And my truck is just fine.” He added.
“Geez,” Megan said playfully. “Don’t get all hissy on me.” She smiled and kissed him hard on the mouth.
Megan then started undoing his jeans, running her hand down the crease of his leg. Normally this would be perfect, except they just came from a funeral of a classmate and with Toby’s mixed emotions, it just didn’t feel right.
“Stop,” Toby finally said.
“Why?” Megan asked almost insulted.
Toby ran his fingers through his hair, buttoned his shirt and gently moved Megan off of him as she huffed in protest.
“We just came from a funeral, Lynsay Mongomery’s funeral,” Toby said starting the truck.
“Yeah, well I’m sorry she’s dead, but she was a bitch and she always wanted you.” Megan’s pouty lips curled into a pouty smile.
Toby looked out the window, shook his head and put the gear lever into reverse. He could feel Megan glare at him.
“
You are so lame,” Megan said defining each word as if trying to insult him. It didn’t work. He only gave a chuckle; Megan didn’t even know the meaning of lame.
They rode in silence. Toby didn’t want to talk to Megan and glanced over at her a couple of times. Sitting with her arms crossed she looked like a spoiled child. Megan was just that, a spoiled child that he had as a hot girlfriend; a trophy he could show off. Yeah the sex was great, but he needed something more than that. For the first time in Toby’s life, being shallow wasn’t deep enough.
Megan left with a slam of the door and Toby left with his tires spinning gravel. The more he thought of Megan, the more he began to not like her even though she was good looking. She was selfish and heartless not to mention cold. He knew Lynsay liked him, and he knew Megan hated her, but to say something bad about her was disrespectful. Toby couldn’t stand it anymore. Driving around town he stopped and got something to drink at Wild Bill’s Gas Station and drove some more.
His aimless drive led to where the pavement ends and the openness of pasture grounds replace the cookie cutter ranch style homes that sit all in neat rows. He had been thinking about Lyssa more and more wondering what she was like. She was mysterious and quiet, uncharted ground for Toby who never really had a relationship based on anything but sex, drinking and partying. She was none of this and for some reason, captivated him. In front of a Yield sign, he looked down the desolate, gravel road that led to Lyssa’s house.
Lyssa
Lyssa screamed with her hands pushing against the animal. A very wet and sandpaper-like tongue ran over her cheek. The beast that chased her all the way down the gravel road was Sam the yellow, three-legged lab that belonged to her neighbor. He was only a puppy when he lost his leg when the mailman’s truck ran him over, and is none the slower as a result of it.
Lying on the floor, Lyssa’s heart raced at the sound of Sam’s feet scratching against the floor. Lyssa put her hands to her forehead knowing she’d better get the cat-chasing dog before he destroyed the house.
“Lyssa are you O.K.?” A concerned voice said in front of her.
Quickly removing her hand, she looked up at the most mesmerizing pair of green eyes. Did she hit her head too hard or was Toby really standing in front of her? She felt her face flush with blood, and then jumped to her feet with her heart pounding. Lyssa didn’t know what to say as she stood with gaping mouth and dog slobbers on her cheek.
“Toby,” His name felt good rolling off her tongue. “What are you doing here?” Lyssa felt confused enchantment take over.
Toby looked baffled like she was asking him a trick question. “I was, umm, just, uh, driving by and seen your door open.”
Lyssa was filled with everything going on around her. She was aware of the drama of the cat and dog chase behind her, and ignored it staring into Toby’s eyes. He looked really good in black with his broad shoulders and slightly wavy brown hair the color of a Hersey’s Kiss.
“You might want to get your dog,” Toby said pointing behind her.
“He isn’t mine; he’s the neighbors’ dog.” Lyssa corrected him just before the crashing of glass broke not only a vase but the enchantment Toby had on her.
Lyssa turned to see Beyoncé clinging to the curtain, claws embedded into the thick material with Sam barking beneath her declaring victory.
“Sam!” Lyssa yelled getting the dog’s attention.
Grabbing the leash she kept for emergencies like this, she went over to Sam who sat on the floor with big, innocent, brown eyes.
“Bad dog,” she said putting the leash around Sam’s neck.
Lyssa looked back towards the door at Toby who stood looking at her. Why had Toby come to her house now? Just driving by and noticing her door open wasn’t something that needed investigating. Lots of people leave their door open.
“Do you need any help?” He asked stepping in and petting Sam.
“Well, you could hold Sam for a moment while I pry my cat from the curtain,” Lyssa said handing him the leash. She was embarrassed, but what was she going to do.
Her hand glided past his, and in that one moment she felt a spark run through her. Quickly she turned from him and paw by paw released Beyoncé from the curtain. The tabby cat ran off and hid with only one bark from Sam.
“Thanks,” Lyssa said taking the leash from Toby.
“So does this happen a lot?” He waved his finger in the air.
“Only when Sam gets the urge to chase my cat,” Lyssa said petting Sam behind the ears which led to him rolling to the ground belly up, legs bent expecting a belly rub.
“Sam!” Lyssa said pulling on the leash. “Get up boy.”
The dog didn’t listen even when she pulled on the leash. Lyssa was embarrassed as Sam lay on the floor not listening. She usually played with him a little before taking him home, but with Toby there she felt like dragging him out. Lyssa continued to pull on the leash telling the stubborn dog to get up.
“Come on Sam,” Toby suddenly said walking towards the door.
The dog listened to the command without hesitation. Lyssa stood baffled. Toby could have any girl at school, was liked by teachers and perfectly gorgeous. Now he can make deaf-command dogs listen in a heartbeat.
“You just have to make them listen to you,” Toby said with a smile.
“You were just lucky,” Lyssa said with a slight scowl not knowing why she did.
They took Sam outside, Toby handed her the leash, their eyes met. Sam sat beside Toby with his tongue hanging out watching them to see what would happen next. Lyssa wondered the same thing only she kept her tongue in her mouth.
“I have to get Sam home,” Lyssa said breaking the silence. “Thanks for helping me him.”
“No problem. I was glad I drove by,” Toby said as he put the tailgate down. “Do you want a ride to your neighbor’s house? We can put Sam in the back of the truck.”
“No he hates vehicles,” Lyssa said looking down at his three legs. “He lost his leg to the mailman’s truck a long time ago and you can’t get him to ride in a truck.” No sooner had she said that than Sam bolted for the truck, jumped in, and looked back at Lyssa as Toby petted him. She wasn’t buying Sam any more dog treats with her own money again.
Lyssa stood amazed eating her own words as Toby laughed.
“It isn’t funny. Sam is scared of vehicles. I’ve never seen him ride in one.” Lyssa looked at the tail-wagging dog that had leaped into the truck bed.
“Get in,” Toby said with a wave of his hand. Was she supposed to leap in the vehicle as well? This unexpected event had her confused, angered and absolutely astatic.
Lyssa got in the truck feeling like she shouldn’t. The lingering smell of Megan’s perfume was a reminder that Toby had a girlfriend and Lyssa wasn’t it. Toby was just driving by saw an open door, investigated it, helped her with Sam who made a fool out of her and that was it. Surely she had just entered an alternate world, and was living a different version of Lyssa Cleverthorn’s life.
“I take it that Sam is Mr. Johnson’s dog.” Toby asked letting his truck creep down the road.
“Oh, yeah, Sam, he belongs to Mr. Johnson.” Lyssa was still a nerd even if this was her alternate life.
Mr. Johnson was an old man with a large garden and lived by himself. His wife died a few years ago, and now he grows produce to sell at the local farmer’s market. Pulling up in front of a two story, white farm house, Sam leaped from the truck to greet his owner. Dressed in bib overalls and a ball cap advertising seed corn, Mr. Johnson waved at Toby and Lyssa as Sam barked at them.
Darkness slowly crept in turning the sky to indigo blue mixed with fiery oranges. Everything about this day seemed not real to Lyssa. Lynsay Montgomery funeral, Sam scaring her, and now, Toby coming to her house to help her with the neighbor’s dog; everything was surreal.
“Sam is an amazing dog; you know only having three leg,” Toby said suddenly evidently
thinking about Sam.
“Yeah, he’s an amazing dog.” She replied thinking of the glass she had to clean up when she got home—amazing.
“It was a sad funeral.” Toby continued. “It’s going to be weird to not see Lynsay at school.”
Lyssa looked at Toby. She really didn’t know her, but just being around someone your own age who was now gone was weird.
“Yeah, it doesn’t seem possible. The whole town has change,” Lyssa said keeping the conversation going even though it involved the grim topic of death.
“Do you ever buy any of Mr. Johnson’s strawberries?” Toby suddenly asked.
“I usually help pick them, and they are pretty good,” Lyssa replied feeling the conversations was like being on roller coaster.
Lyssa looked over at Toby and smiled and then out the window watching her house go by.
“Hey, don’t forget to drop me off!” Lyssa was jolted forward when Toby slammed the brakes on.
She sat up and realized she smacked her head on the dash. Gingerly she touched her forehead and felt a bump already.
“Are you alright?” Toby asked turning to her.
“Fine,” she said getting out of the truck quickly. “Thanks for the ride.”
She began to walk up her sidewalk when from nowhere came a large blackened figure. She screamed at the same time the figure had its hands raised and growled at her. Just as fast as it came out of the bush, it was laughing at her removing the rubber werewolf mask from his head.
“That was perfect!” Craig said, bending slightly and laughing at her. “Perfect.”
Craig was tall with cropped blonde hair that stood out from his black clothes. His broad stature skidded past Lyssa to Toby’s truck.
“I thought you were coming to my house. I had to follow you here. What’s up?” Craig said, getting in the truck.
Lyssa could see Toby lean over and look as though he was going to say something to her, but before he did, Lyssa quickly went into her house and locked the door. She heard Toby’s truck drive away. It was nothing more than a prank Lyssa thought. Why else would Toby Winslett bother to come by her house?
Lyssa cleaned up the glass, made dinner that she ate alone, and then went upstairs to get a shower. She looked at herself in the mirror. A small bruise looked back at her that she got in Toby’s truck.