Ghost in The Night

Chapter IX Cabin Fever

Chapter IX Cabin Fever

Jared made me wait outside the room while he cleaned all the contents I so graciously bestowed on his father's doorstep.

The image of his severed tongue as his eyes beg me to understand made my knees wobble even more.

How did that happen?

I couldn't shake the image out of my head. Almost half an hour, I just waited by the small room outside Jared's father's room. I heard a few shuffling and Jared's soothing voice, calming his father.

Afterwards, he came outside with a glass of water, handing it to me.

Wanting to remove that sour taste in my mouth, I downed the water in one gulp.

"I'm sorry." Jared unexpectedly says. "I didn't know you have a weak stomach."

I exhaled loudly, handing the empty glass back to him. "I'm sorry you had to clean up my mess."

He shrugs, unaffected. "I'm used to it."

The situation seems to be normal to him, but of course....who knew how long he had taken care of his father in that kind of state.

"You shouldn't have done that, Jared." I reprimanded, remembering the old man's terrified look. "If I'd have known what state he's in---I wouldn't....I wouldn't have barged in on him like that!"

"I'm sorry. I just thought it would be better for you to see rather than hear it. Just so you know the severity of the situation."

I groaned, feeling terrible. "I shouldn't have agreed on that deal."

"Just wanted to also let him know there's a new kid on the block." he stands against the smooth, wooden wall beside me. "He's still technically the Sheriff, right? I'm just a stand-in."

I sighed, looking up. "Is it really okay if I ask my questions? If you're not comfortable, I won't...."

"Just shoot, Nancy Drew." he chuckles, but his eyes held no humor. "I'm already used to questions about my father."

I bit my lip, contemplating. "Well.. what happened to him?"

"It's a long story....I don't know how many times I've told this for over two years, from the townspeople to the newcomers....the horrific event doesn't get old...."

I waited patiently, looking up at his grim face as he recount the story.

"Dad became Sheriff just recently at that time, and like the others he was determined to catch The Ghost." he paused, breathing slowly.

"Dad set traps, made the men do guard duty around the town at night, tight security on the girls in the cabin....things were pretty good back then, not a single girl went missing in the course of two months."

"I thought--" he breaks off, his voice cracking slightly. "We thought...that the attacks would now finally stop under Dad's management. He was more determined, fired up than the last Sheriff to catch this night thief...."

"What happened?" I whispered.

He breathes in deep. "One night....there was a sighting in the back of the school..." The hair on my arms stood up. "One of the guards alarmed Dad that he saw someone in the woods. He called all his men and went inside there, I followed too despite Dad's warning to stay out of it."

"I remember the torches lighting up the inside of maze of trees. Everyone was shouting directions. For the first time actually....I have never felt more alive. Adrenaline rushed through my veins as I ran in between trees, also searching. I thought finally---finally---we can capture The Ghost and save the town...." then he laughed sardonically. "I was wrong."

"I don't know long I've been searching, some of the men had left the forest, I've been calling Dad but there's no answer until the whole party was now searching for him."

"We didn't find him..."

"The Ghost...took him?"

"Who else would have snatched him in those woods?" he sounded angry, but sighs.

Silence.

"Do you want me to make you two cups of teas?" I asked out of nowhere.

"Can you?" he raised a brow.

"Where's the kitchen?" he points towards the hallway, right across his father's room. "You won't miss it."

"Okay, while I go make your tea, just....sit down."

I walked the hallway up to the end, noticing how Jared had closed his father's door. The kitchen is small and simple, but impressively neat. Everything is stacked orderly, nothing was out of order on the wooden table and counters.

I went to the cupboards by instinct and recognized the box of teabags. While rummaging through I came upon a pack of cigarettes. My hands automatically wrapped around the tiny pack and looked at it.

"Huh...so he smokes." it has two missing sticks. I put it back and started heating on water.

Using a pot, I filled it with water, light a stack of wood over the small fireplace, and hang the pot over it. I waited patiently, almost regretting offering making his tea because my mind was getting imaginative to had what happened that night...

Obviously...The Ghost took the Sheriff's tongue....maybe so he wouldn't blab.

Jared's father must have seen who it is....

The burning question was how did they find him? Why didn't the ghost kill him like the other girls, if Jared's father, indeed, have known his identity?

A few minutes, I dipped the tip of my finger into the water and felt it was warm enough.

I couldn't wait another single second in the kitchen.

Pouring it into two cups and putting two teabags, I rush as gently as possible as not to spill, over across the hallway.

"That's fast." Jared said in his seat, taking the two cups and placing it on the table.

"It's warm enough."

"Thanks." he takes a sip.

"By the way, I didn't know you smoke." he almost spurted his tea.

"You saw the packs?"

"Yeah, I know I'm not supposed to be poking around but I just saw it in the cupboard beside the teabags." I explained. "Where'd you get those anyway?"

He takes a sip again before setting the cup down. "I confiscated it from one of the minors when they entered this town."

"So, you use them?"

"Sometimes....when I get stressed or jittery." he says, then a few seconds later, as expected, he downs it all in two gulps. The two cups lay empty on the table. "Sorry....do you still want me to continue?"

I nodded.

"We searched for him for three days. Three days. We didn't know what happened to him, or if he's still alive. I remember how the townspeople consoled me, as if they already know Dad was the first male victim The Ghost had taken...."

"Maybe he got pissed with how Dad tightened the security around the town, why he couldn't take a single girl out...."

"After three days, my dad was returned...." I waited with bated breath as he relieves that day. "He was bounded, dirty, and thin. In just three days, The Ghost punished him severely...."

"We took him back to his cabin, he was fast asleep. But when he woke up....you should've seen the terror in his eyes. It's like he didn't recognize any of us, he flinched away when we came closer....he looked at me like I wasn't his son...." Jared closed his eyes tightly, as if the memory brought fresh pain. "He couldn't speak....we found out his tongue had been freshly cutted. His mouth was still bleeding...."

I closed my own eyes, imagining my own tongue cutted out...bleeding....never to be able to speak again....

"Did...did he tell you what happened---" Jared gives me a look and I regret my choice of words. "I mean, did he somehow relayed what happened to him?" I said, feeling flustered.

"No...he just completely shutted out the world. Always holed up in his room, didn't want to look at anyone or have anyone in his room, even me...."

I nodded. "He was completely traumatized....I wonder what The Ghost did to him in those past three days..."

"Whatever it was, when I get my hands on him...it will be worst." His fists tightened, ready to strangle whoever it was. "This is why I was against him being the Sheriff....I knew he'd be putting his life on the line because of this, and now look what happened to him...."

"Well, it is a dangerous job....wait, why was your dad tied up to the bed though?"

"Can you imagine what would have happened earlier if he wasn't?"

"Oh...he attacks people?"

He gives a frustrated sigh, running his hand through his hair. "Yes, I don't know...it's like what The Ghost did to him had driven him out of his mind."

"I'm so sorry...." I whispered. "I can't imagine what you've gone through because of what happened to your dad I.....I can't even imagine if that happened to mine....I wouldn't be able to take it...."

If that happened to Dad I wouldn't be able to handle it....

"You often visit your Dad?"

"On a daily basis, to feed, clean him...." he shrugs.

Out of instinct, as if my hand had a mind of its own, before I knew it I laid my hand on his arm. "It must have been hard for you..."

He strained to smile as his eyes meets mine. He covers my hand with his warm one. "Don't worry, it's not something I can't handle."

Jared didn't let me say goodbye to his dad, which I completely understand. He went inside the room for a minute, then closed it behind him, ready to escort me back to his cabin.

Since then, Jared had become more busy than ever. He let me spend the hot afternoons alone, feeling tense and paranoid. Every creak the cabin makes sends me to a frenzy. I jump easily, and my senses became too sensitive.

Ever since Jared revealed about his dad, it made me even more afraid to be left alone. The image of his severed tongue kept haunting me. My imagination ran wild with what The Ghost did to his dad, and to other girls....

For now, I plan to follow Jared's advice to stay hidden atleast...

I never touched the book again. I don't want the names to haunt me in my dreams.

I waited patiently for my suspension to end, so I can go back to my cabin and tell Daisy everything.

Unfortunately, my last night of suspension, the rain outside beat hard against the window. The wind howled loud outside, not a single voice could be heard, and the light of my candle kept flickering. It casted shadows against the wall, leaving more for the imagination to conjure creatures of the night.

Like The Ghost.

I shut my eyes and huddled against my bed, praying for Jared to come back as early as possible. I don't think I can sleep peacefully tonight.

But for some reason, I fell asleep.

I didn't know how long I slept but when I slowly opened my eyes, the sky outside is still dark, I hear the rain still beat hard as ever, and there was a shadow looming over me.

It's The Ghost.

He came to take my tongue too.

I begin to scream. Terror engulfed my whole body, I thrashed beneath strong arms that try to pin me against the bed.

My whole body shook, my legs kicked at him but it's as if his body is made from rock, he does not flinch nor even show any signs of pain.

Tears sprout from my eyes. "Please!" I screamed, trying to wriggle under him. "Please don't hurt me! Jared! Somebody! HELP!"

"CARA, CALM DOWN!" I inhaled sharply, my heart beating wildly inside my chest as I focus on the face above me. The light only flickered behind him. "It's me! Jared!"

My breath came in and out fast. Eyes still wide, trying to see through the dark. "Jared?"

I look down at his hands pushing my arms down. He sees that and calmly explains. "You kept thrashing and screaming, I had to restrain you before you hurt yourself."

"P-please....get off of me."

He instantly retreats and I do see. It is Jared.

I hugged myself tightly. I've been so scared and paranoid these days I immediately thought he was The Ghost.

He just stood there watching me. "Ever since that day we visited my dad you've been jumpy."

"Anyone who would hear your story would get spooked...."

"I couldn't blame you..." He slowly said. "Can I....sit beside you?"

I gave it a thought, but thinking there isn't really any harm, I nodded. He cautiously perched beside me, but not too close. He watched my reaction closely, I know he's being careful so I wouldn't go nuts.

"Don't worry...I just went into panic mode. I won't go banshee-crazy on you this time."

"I'm not worried about that." He said. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I shrugged and looked down at my hands, trying to appear nonchalant.

"You have tears in your eyes." he says, his voice getting closer.

I looked up at him and gasped. His palm had just found my face, warm and gentle. His thumb wiped at the edge of my wet eyes. His face close enough to touch...

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

It's like I broke the trance he's in when I spoke. He blinks too, then almost at once, he retracts his hand from my face, leaving it cold and empty. I almost regret asking, wishing his hand stayed for a while longer on my cheek.

Caressing, reassuring....

"I'm sorry," he apologized, which weirdly hurted me a little. "I hope I'm not crossing your boundaries, I just don't know what to do when a girl cries..."

"Do you always encounter girls who cry in front of you?" I asked, almost a whisper. My eyes looked too dangerously at his set of lips.

"No....so far, just you."

The rain stopped outside, only the last pitter-patter on the window was the last sound before everything went silent in the room. The fire on the candle danced in the background.

I smiled, my eyes meeting his. "That's why you're not very good at....comforting."

I couldn't stop looking down at his lips, then his eyes. I hoped he didn't notice how I kept looking down at his mouth.

It's funny, just earlier I was scared out of my wits and now I was acting like a hormonal teenager. His close proximity affected my senses, going into overdrive and conclusions.

But then I catch it.

His eyes went down to my lips too for a second, then meeting my eyes once again.

"You look very comfortable right now." he whispered back. His hand, which I only just felt it now, slides down slowly, causing me to shiver. His face was getting closer, I could almost count his eyelashes.

Slowly, I closed my eyes.

I was waiting for that someting. That feeling of being kissed and what his lips felt like. Will they be rough like him, or just smooth and soft enough to mold into my mouth?

Before I can go into other questions in my muddled state of mind, my eyes fluttered open to see him not looking at me, and I already know the moment was gone along with the rain.

It was deadly silent in the room compared to how my heart was now beating loudly, for a now completely different reason.

Jared offered me a small smile. It was strained, and it never quite reached his eyes. "I don't think it's a good idea to kiss a girl who had just been crying and screaming earlier. You need rest..."

I stared at him and severely scolded myself. How could I have been so foolish and stupid? I've never felt so embarrassed and conceited at the same time.

I closed my eyes, trying to swallow the big lump in my throat, my pride. "I'm sorry, that was a mistake....I don't know what I was thinking."

"You're not the only one..."

"Let's just forget this whole ordeal, okay?" I asked, trying to laugh it off but the attempt was lame and pathetic. "It's my last night anyway, so we wouldn't be able to see each other more often now. I also don't want to make this awkward between us."

"Cara..."

"It's totally fine!" I laughed, trying not to meet his eyes. "Just your typical teenage moment. I completely misread the atmosphere."

"You didn't misread it." He argued forcibly. "I---I'm not good for you."

I laughed loudly, something I don't usually do. He stares at me as if I've gone cuckoo. "Don't worry." I said, already regretting how my mouth went off when my heart's not in the state to talk. "I don't really like you either."

"What do you mean?"

His tone already suggested I should shut up. That whatever that comes out of my mouth is a result of a damaged ego and a fractured heart, but I didn't stop.

"I--I don't know, I just felt bad for you I guess? Because your life isn't normal at all. Here you are, taking care of your father and the town, you don't even have the time to be a teenager. Like, to have a girl or whatever. I just thought I could give you a kiss because your life sucks--"

I wanted to take it all back. I wanted to slap myself. I wanted to remove the look on his face.

The look of pure hurt and disbelief. Here he was, who had trusted me with his story and now I was using it to mend my ego because he refused me.

I was too pathetic.

The silence in the room left me rigid with my thoughts swirling inside me. I was waiting for him to say something. Even anything that hurts, I would accept it. But his silence hurted even more.

"I see..." he finally spoke, I flinched from his cold tone. "Then let's forget this ever happened."

"Yeah, let's." I agreed. Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.

I wanted to reach out to him but he stands up.

"Tomorrow, I want you to get ready to go back to your cabin. I expect you to be prepared in the morning, I'll be escorting you back."

"Okay." I answered meekly.

"Okay....goodnight, Cara." Then he leaves the room without so much as a glance.

I'm such a pitiful, sad b***h.