In Your Shadow (26 page)

“That’s right he was the one that interrupted our dance.”

“Now I know how he got in, Jewels!”

“Oh Daddy, why?”

“Katie I don’t know but I am going to find out and we will catch him.” Daniel answered as he kissed her forehead relieved that she was alright.

Daniel’s mind was going crazy now knowing that Jewels had something to do with Mitch’s death and trying to kill his daughter. He was full of rage and fury.

She looked over at John he was still holding her hand. His pulse was beating so fast she could feel it in the palm of his hand. Looking up in his eyes she could see the love that he had for her.

“John I am sorry. I handled it all wrong. When Tom told me he was going to kill my father I panicked. I didn’t want you to get hurt to. I lost two people already that I loved and I didn’t want to lose you.” A tear rolled down her face.

John’s lips went down on hers softly kissing her. He lifted his lips and looked her in the eyes. He was so glad to see her alive.

“Well let me tell you this you are not doing that to me again. I am not losing you I love you Katie, I loved you the first time I laid eyes on you.”

She was speechless after hearing though words come out of his mouth. Her heart melted as tears rolled down her face.

“Don’t cry I can’t stand to see you like this?”

“I love you too.”

She jumps as a woman in a blue coat came barging in the room.

“Excuse me I have to check her vitals.”

John and Daniel moved to the other side of the bed and watched the nurse check her out.

“You are lucky you just got a mild concussion it could have been a lot worst.”

“When can I go home?”

“Everything looks good the doctor will be in shortly.”

“Great maybe I can go home.” She said as the nurse walked out of the room.

It seemed like an hour had passed before the doctor had come in.

After the examination he agreed that she could leave if she took it easy for a while. Daniel went down to the parking lot and got the car. John watched her sign the release papers then he wheeled her out. Her eyes roamed the parking lot looking for Tom, she knew he would come back, and she could feel it would be soon. The ride back to her father was quiet, she was absorbing everything that had just happened. Still she couldn’t believe all this time he had been following her without her even knowing it. He almost killed her and her father. Tears started to roll down her cheek as she looked out the window. The pain of knowing the truth hurt more than the physical pain she went though.

“Katie it is going to be alright.” John said as his arm went around her and he pulled her close to him.

They pulled up at the driveway of her father house and got out of the car. Her heart was racing remembering the last time she was here yesterday. The doorman opened the door and let them in.

“Everything is fine sir.” He said.

“Thank you.” Daniel answered.

They walk in and all was quiet, everything was in its place. Katie watched as Daniel walked to his study. She was right on his heels, as he opened the door. There were no blood stains and everything was right back where it was, the only thing different was the bullet holes in his door.

“Daddy why don’t you come stay with me in my house. I am moving in Thursday. I would love to have the company.”

“Dear I might take you up on it, but right now I just need some time to digest all of this.”

Katie looked at his sad face, she knew he was having a hard time. The last time she seen this face was when her mother had died.

“Daddy we will stay here with you tonight.” Her eyes watching him sit down at his desk.

John had walked over to the bar and poured him a shot of whiskey.

“Here Daniel, I think you need this.”

“Thank you, I believe you are right.”

He took the drink and downed it quickly.

“Dad I am going up to my room and take a bath.” She walked over to him and kissed him on the head.

“I love you, daddy.” She said as she walked out the door.

John kissed her on her lips and watched her go upstairs as he stayed there with Daniel he knew he had a plan and he was getting in on it.

Running faster and faster, he tumbled over a fallen limb and tangled up in its branches hitting his shoulder hard on a jagged rock. Dark red liquid streamed out his shoulder, as he cried out in pain. He could hear the dogs behind him getting closer and closer. When he finally got up of the ground, blood was running down his body like someone had turned on a water facet. He couldn’t believe he was still alive. His heart was racing so fast as he starts running again.

“Damn it Katie, I will come back for you soon real soon! Now my shadow you are going to pay for this.” He mumbled.

His breathing was rapid as the pain shot though his body. All he could think about was getting to his car. With his heart pounding so hard he could barely catch his breath. Sweat was rolling off his body like he had just got out of the shower. Huffing and puffing he ran.

He was trying to make it a block down the road were his car was parked. Finally, his car is in view just a few more feet. He was dizzy and almost at the faint stage. The dogs were getting louder they were so close. It sounded like they were right behind him. He didn’t dare look back. Finally, he reached his car. Trembling he reaches in his pocket and grabs his key, they slip out of his hand and hits the ground. He picked them up and turns his head the dog was only a few feet from him. It bark was so loud it was ringing in his ears. Slamming the door, the dog jumps on the side of the car door and makes his heart jump out of his chest. He could see his teeth though the windshield, his nail was scratching so hard it sounded like it was going to break the glass. His was body shaking so bad he couldn’t hold his hand steady to turn the key. He finally started the car and peels out. Hitting the exhilarator as hard as he could he flew down the road hitting trash cans and anything in his path. Adrenaline was running though him so fast.

Stabbing pain shoot though him from head to toe. Taking deep breaths trying to focus on his driving he kept looking out his mirror. With one head putting pressure on his wound. He could feel the blood oozing though his fingers. He looked back again and seen a few police cars in a distance headed his way. He knew he had to get off this road and quickly. He seen a dirt road off, turning quickly on to the road not even letting the dust settle behind him. Following it almost to the end he pulled in the woods and stopped the car.  Before he could even look behind him he lost consciousness, his head fell over the steering wheel he was out cold.

His eyelids opened with darkness around him.  A flash of light brightened the car followed by a rattle of thunder. The night skies lit up with lightening, there was a storm approaching. He looked around and seen an old barn sitting in the distance. It looked abundant grass had grown up all around it. He turned his engine on and drove though the high grass until he reached the door. He got out and slide the door opened and pulled his car in and closed it. His headlights lit up the place where he could see what was inside. Nothing but old farmer tools and old chair that looked like it was about to fall in. Hay was piled up in a corner and a few water bottles that had been there for a while. He limps over and grabs the bottles and turns them up. He was dying of thrust he didn’t care it was water. Laying down in the back seat of his car covered in his own sweat and blood he passed out.  

….

Her face was in front of him, but this time she wasn’t smiling. Her eyes were deep and darker than usual. There was no life in them, no passion, no love, no nothing. They were dead, and staring straight though him with no expression at all.

“Katie” he yells.

She never blinks her eye are said a word, just continues to stare.

“What happened to you. Where is my sweet Katie?”

“Gone!” she replied, and then she started to laugh.

Her laugh was so loud and eerie it woke him up from his dream. Sweat rolled off his body like he had just took a shower. His heart was racing so fast he was having trouble breathing.

“What the hell was that about?” he thought.

His eyes were trying to focus but it was so dark he could see anything. He laid there with his hand pressed against his wound trying to stop the bleeding but it was no use, it was pouring out of his arm and side. A few minutes later he was out cold.

He blinked his eyes, for a second there was brightness around him with deep blue eyes staring down at him. The bluest eyes he had ever seen. Angel eyes that what they looked like, bright and shinning and glowing.

“Katie” he called out but no answer.

He tried to opens his eyes wider but his eye lids were too heavy. He felt a warm compress against his forehead. His right arm throbbing so hard he could feel it all over his body. He couldn’t lay here he had to move he had to open his eyes. The more he tried to move the harder it hurt. He could hear a sweet low voice.

“Be still let me stop the bleeding.”

“Who is this? Where is this voice coming from? Where am I at?” he thought.

The female voice was so pleasant it slowed his heart rate down. It sounded like an angel, his angel.

“No it couldn’t be her. This is only a dream?” After that thought everything went dark again.

It seemed like hours had passed as he felt a light brush against his neck touching his bare skin. Was he still in his dream are was this for real. Not wanting to open his eyes he wanted to stay in this dream. A sweet smell filled his nostril. It smelled like a beautiful flower, so intoxicating. His breath catches in his throat, as a jolt travels through him.

“This can’t be Katie? I have to wake up. This can’t be a dream?” he thought.

His eyes flutter and start to open with his heart pounding as he sees a red curly haired woman with deep blue eyes standing over him. She was beautiful, this couldn’t be. He blinks again thinking that it is his imagination, but when he focuses his eyes she is still there.

“That kind of face you only see in a dream.” He thought.

“Where am I?” he asks with a scratchy voice.

“At my house.” Her voice so pleasant.

“How did I get here?”

“I brought you here, I seen your car pull up in my barn. I thought maybe it was a homeless person looking for a place to stay.  I went out there you run them off and when I saw you in the back seat of your car I knew you needed help. I have to say that one bullet wound was really deep, but I got it out before you bleed to death. You need a doctor you have lost a lot of blood.” She said looking at him, she tried not to get to close. He smelled of body odor and dyed blood.

“Why didn’t you call an ambulance?”

“Well by the time they got here you might not have made it.”
“Thank you for your help, but I think I will be fine.”

“Your welcome.” She gave him a slight grin.

She looked at him and never said another word, just hands him a glass of water.  He sat up and took the glass when his hand brushed the side of hers. He could feel the warmth coming from her hand.

“How long have I been here?”

“A few days.”

“I have been asleep for that long!” Surprised and worried.

“I was being to think you were not going to wake up. Are you hungry I have some stew I cook yesterday? I can warm it up for you.”

Her eyes were staring at him, like she was trying to read though his soul.

“Yes, I would love some.”

He watched her walk out of the room as he began to look around. The room was decorated like a woman. Floral curtains, blue bedspread, and vase of fresh flowers on the end table beside the bed. He looked down and he only had his underwear on.

“What happened to my cloths, my wallet?” he starts to get up and seen her come in the door with his food. She sits it down on the table next to him.

“Where are my clothes?”

“On the chair. I washed them for you they were covered in blood.” She points a few feet from the bed.

“Who took them off of me?”

“I did, and I have to say it wasn’t easy.” She smiled.

He blushed, he wasn’t use to a woman undressing him. The only woman he ever wanted was Katie.

“She seen all these bullet wounds, what is she thinking? Panic started to run though him.

“I hope you are hungry Tom.  This bowl is pretty big?” she smiled.

He looked at her shocked that she knew his name, now he was really nervous.

“How do you know my name. Did I tell you?” 

“No you didn’t I seen your driver’s licenses.”

“You went through my walled?”

“I’m sorry I was just looking for identification. I thought you were going to die on me. I didn’t go through your wallet.”

She could tell that he was agitated. His eyes became darker.

He didn’t know what to say, no one has ever went through his things. He was livid but he knew he couldn’t show it.

“How did she get me to the bed? Who else is in this house?”

“That wasn’t easy, I put you in my jeep. Getting you in the house was hard but I managed.” She stared at him with her eyes glued to his.

“Sense you know who I am, may I ask your name.”

“My name is Star!”

“Well Star.” He paused, not knowing what to say, no one has ever done anything like that for him before.

She could have left him for dead but she didn’t. Still she never answered his question if anyone else was here with her. Pulling his self-up from the bed in a sitting position he took the stew from the table, before he took a sip of the warm liquid he looked up at her.

“I just want to thank you for everything you have done, but I will be going soon I don’t want to cause you any trouble.”

Taking a few sips of the warm liquid, it felt so good running down the back of his throat. He starts having sharp pain shot down his side. Handing her the bowl he lays his head back down on the pillow. His head is spinning and his eyes are becoming blurry.

“I don’t think you are able to leave right now. You lost a lot of blood and that bullet was really deep. It needs time to heal.”

He looked at her deep blue eyes that could reach down to your soul.

“What is it about her eyes? Where did she come from, is she really real?” he thought.

His eyes got heavy a few minutes later they closed.

Star studied the man for a moment in silence. “Did she make a mistake bringing him here? What has he done? There are three bullet holes in him, who is he running from.” she thought. So many questions went through her head at this point.

Closing the door, she walks to the kitchen and puts the bowl on the sink and starts washing a few dishes. When she turned back around he was standing in the doorway staring at her with a sheet wrapped around his body. His skin was so pale he almost looks like a ghost.

“What are you doing up? Here let me help you to bed.” She walked over to him and put her arm around his waist.

He could feel her warm body up against his and it felt so good against his skin. It had been so long sense he felt anyone that close to him. It felt like heaven just having someone touch him. His arm went around her trying not to put too much weight against her. He looked over and he seen Katie’s face on her, he smiled to himself as he felt her hand touch his side. It sent shivers up and down his spine. If this was a dream he didn’t want to wake up.

Tom watched her as she picked up the glass on the night stand and turn and walk out the room. Her hair was so curly and beautiful it laid down her back way passed her hip. It almost looked like she had wings. He turned his head as a small breeze was blowing through the cracked window. It felt like a cool spring evening, the sun was going down it was almost dark, all he could hear was the bird chirping in the distance. Finally, his eyes closed again and he fell into a deep sleep.

Star went back in the room and seen he was sound asleep, she closed the door and walked back to her kitchen. She didn’t know what to do at this point. She finally went to her room and locked the door behind her.

Staring out her window at the barn, she was almost tempted to go look though his car for some clues. If he woke up and found her there she didn’t know what he would do. She knew that he didn’t like the fact that she looked in his wallet. She reached over to pick her phone up and it wasn’t there.

“Oh no, my phone. I must have dropped it when I got him out the car.”

She knew she would have to look for it in the morning, it was just too dark to even try to find it now.

She curled up in her bed listening for any kind of movement but it was silent. An hour passed before she finally went to sleep.

….

When he opened his eyes he noticed that he was still in this heavenly place.

“This wasn’t a dream, he was here!” He thought.

Looking over at the night stand there sat a bottle of water.  He sits up in the bed to grab the water, and turns it up, he was dying of thirst he could drink two are three more. He looked over and seen his cloths on the chair. Putting his bare feet on the cold floor he walks slowly to the chair. He notices half his body was covered in bandages.

“What a sight? Oh Katie you are going to pay for this really soon.” He thought.