Mirror in the Forest: Book One (24 page)

Mark look embarrassed, but said, “Well thank you, that means a lot.”

“Jessica made Power Forward on the basketball team,” Tessa suddenly said with impish grin.

Mark’s eyebrows rose in surprise, then he smiled widely.

“Congratulations! I didn’t know you liked basketball?” He asked, focusing on Jessica.

Jessica wanted to turn and punch her friend in the face, but just gave her a glare as she blushed.

“Thanks. I thought I would give it a shot, and I did it,” Jessica said, suddenly a little embarrassed.

“Good for you. You’ve come a long way,” Mark said with sincerity in his voice.

“Thanks, Sheriff,” Jessica answered still blushing.

Jessica knew Mark was busy with the service, so she quickly said goodbye, and both girls began to walk towards her mother’s car.

Tessa started laughing as they made their way around the tombstones.

“I can’t believe you did that,” Jessica said, trying to be angry, but a smile tugged at her lips.

“I was just trying to show you off,” Tessa giggled, as she elbowed Jessica.  

“You can suck it,” Jessica huffed, but she had to admit, she liked the look Mark gave her when Tessa said something.

“Oh come on! He is cute, and he likes you, I can see it,” Tessa said.

Jessica thought about it for a moment. “You really think so?”

“Yeah, I can definitely see it,” Tessa answered, looking back at the deputies and Sheriff.

Jessica smiled all the way to her mom’s car that was parked on the other side of the cemetery due to all the people. She knew she wasn’t eighteen yet, but she soon would be and who knew the young Sheriff might be her next wish. If the spirit could do that kind of thing…..

The girls found most of the people now gone, and Jessica looked back one last time as she unlocked her mom’s
1982 Nissan Sentra
, which was now sitting all by itself. She had forgotten about Rick Tanner’s stares, since she was so focused on the Sheriff.

She unlocked Tessa’s side first, and was about to unlock her side when Jessica turned sensing eyes on her again.

“Jessica!” Tessa cried out, as Rick came running up to Jessica, shutting the door before Jessica could do anything to escape from him.

He pushed Jessica against the car door, and Jessica felt her breath leave her from the force of his body.

She gulped in terror as Rick had her trapped in between himself and the car with his arm. She cried out in pain when he grabbed her arm and held it tightly behind her back.

“What are you doing?” She quaked against him.  

“I know who you are,” he breathed into her ear.

He reeked of alcohol, while his breath smelled like onions, making Jessica want to gag. His body odor was unbelievable. His graying blonde hair was messy on his head. His coarse whiskers brushed against her cheek, making Jessica feel physically ill.

“I’m Don Winters’…..daughter….” Jessica whispered in fear.

“No!” He yelled, banging his free hand on the hood of the car next to Jessica’s face, making her flinch, while thinking she was next.

“Jessica!” Tessa cried out again, and came running around the car, ready for a fight with a man twice her size. “Get off her!” She screamed.

Tessa went to grab Rick’s arm, but he was able to push her away easily. She fell to the ground on her butt, but got up and Jessica could see she was all right. Jessica tried to fight him off, but he was too strong for her.

“What do……do……you want?” Jessica asked, trying to turn and face Rick.

“I know The Spirit of the Mirror. I know you’re speaking to him. I know what you did to Sara,” Rick raged.

Jessica froze, and Tessa stopped trying to fight him for a moment and just looked at Rick in shock.

Jessica froze with her mouth gaping open, as his words began to sink in. How did he know?

“It will destroy you. Do you hear me?” He yelled, pushing her harder against the car. “It will destroy you!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jessica answered, shaking so violently she thought she would faint.

Again, Tessa tried to pull him off of Jessica, but he was too strong. He easily pushed Tessa away, and wouldn’t budge when Jessica tried to fight him. He tightened his grip on her arm, making Jessica cry out in pain.

“Do you even hear me? It will destroy you from within,” He repeated, menacingly.

“Get off me!” Jessica screamed at the top of her lungs.

Then, just as fast as Rick grabbed her, she felt him pulled off of her, letting go of her arm.

“Rick! What the hell are you doing?”

The voice came from behind them, and Jessica fell to the ground in relief when Rick let go of her arm. She sat there taking deep breaths while Mark and the rest of the deputies struggled to subdue him. Rick tried to resist them, but they overpowered him easily with Mark leading the way.

An older deputy kneeled on top of his back, and pulled his hands back as Mark began to handcuff him.

Jessica could only sit there staring while Rick faced her, screaming obscenities.

“No! No! You stupid bitch! You can’t see it! You won’t ever see it! He will never let go! The Spirit will get you! He will own your soul!”

Tessa came over and kneeled down next to Jessica as she tried to catch her breath.

Tessa put her arms around Jessica in comfort, when they were finally able to get Rick under control to haul him away.

“Get him out of here,” Mark growled.

Rick tried to struggle out of his handcuffs, and Mark and the other deputy, who looked like an older Mark, stood there for a moment catching their breaths, watching the other two deputies walk away to make sure they had control of him. Jessica could hear Rick’s Miranda Rights being read to him, though he kept interrupting the other two deputies.

Mark turned to an upset Jessica and his look turned to concern as Jessica still sat on the ground her eyes blurry with tears.

“Are you alright?” He asked softly, as he kneeled down to Jessica checking to see if she was injured.

The older Mark deputy beckoned for Tessa to let go of Jessica to take her aside, and talk to her about Rick.

“He just came out of nowhere,” Jessica said, taking deep shaky breaths.

Mark suddenly took her hands in his. Jessica was amazed at how soothing his touch was. Jessica suddenly felt an electric jolt rush through her body from his touch, but ignored it, for now.

Mark seemed satisfied that Jessica was not seriously hurt, he then turned around and said, “I’ve never seen him do that before.”

“I am going to talk to Cooper and get this asshole put in jail for the rest of his life or I’ll take him out myself!”

Mary held a flinching Jessica as her father yelled inside of the Sheriff’s office when they came to get their daughter.

Mark drove Jessica over to the station to give her formal statement against Rick Tanner, even though she was quiet the whole ride. She couldn’t bring herself to tell Mark everything that happened, because she was still trying to process it herself.

Tessa was with her, but finally left when her parents came for her, giving Jessica hugs, making sure she was all right. She told Jessica she would call Danny, but Jessica would have rather stayed around Mark, even though she would never say that out loud.

All she could wonder was how Rick knew about The Spirit of the Mirror, and why he was screaming at her about it. She was suddenly afraid, and thought about what would happen to her if she kept speaking to The Spirit of the Mirror.  

Would she end up like Rick? Or, if she walked away from The Spirit of the Mirror would she end up like Rick? Broke, homeless, and a drug user?

The Spirit had told her she could walk away at any time, making Jessica feel as if she should walk away to keep her sanity.

It was bad enough that Mandy Cooper was now paralyzed, but even worse, Sara Miller, a pivotal member of the community, was dead, and it was because of The Spirit of the Mirror helping Jessica.

Yet, Jessica knew that she had no regrets about Mandy, however she did not want to see Sara dead.

Rick was taken away in another deputy vehicle and hauled off to the county jail by Mark’s deputies.

The Sheriff station had a temporary jail cell, but Mark said it was in the front room with them, and it would be better if Rick were booked right into the county jail.

“Mr. Winters I understand that you’re upset, but making threats can……..”

Don put both of his hands on Mark’s desk and leaned closer to Mark, rage flashing in his brown eyes.

“Threats? Oh no Sheriff, I haven’t even begun to make threats against that drunken piece of shit. If I had been there, you would have needed to arrest me,” Don said lowly.

“Don!” Mary scolded, holding Jessica closer to her.

Don stood up straight again and paced the room like a caged tiger.

“Dale Cooper has taken leave because of his daughter’s injury. There is the Assistant Prosecutor standing in I can speak with….”

Again, Don did not let Mark finish his sentence.

“No. I will speak with Cooper. He will pull some strings for me,” Don said still pacing.

Mark took a deep patient breath and said, “I understand that you’re upset, Mr. Winters. This attack came out of the blue, but you might want to think about what you’re saying. Obviously, Rick’s drug use is affecting his mental stability, and your daughter felt the brunt of it.”

Don laughed sarcastically, and rubbed his hands through his hair.

“Is Rick going to post bail?” Don finally asked.

“Well, he is entitled to post bail, but I’m not sure,” Mark answered.

“If he comes near my house, so help me God…..”

Mark finally stood up and said, “Mr. Winters, I did warn you about threats. Unfortunately, I want to feel the same as you, but I have to do my job too. I am going to go home and get some sleep, but I will make sure a deputy, and then myself will patrol the neighborhood tonight.”

Don put his hands on his hips and said, “Fine then. I think I will talk to Baker about bringing municipality to this county and town, and get a real police force. It’s getting too big for you.”

Mark nodded. “If that is what you want.”

“Are we done here, Sheriff?” Mary asked, disturbed by her husband’s behavior. Mary didn’t want to see Don arrested for his threats against Rick.

Mark stared at Jessica for a moment, giving the go ahead to take her home.

Jessica and her family gathered their things to leave the station. Before she was escorted out of the sheriff’s station, she glanced one last at Mark with apologetic eyes over her father’s behavior.

She was in shock, not from the attack, but from the town drunk Rick knowing who she was, and the things she’s done.

Tessa heard everything, making Jessica wonder what her thoughts were. However, Jessica never had a chance to ask her just yet.

Jessica could only hope that she could blow Tessa off from what Rick said about Sara Miller.

She knew today would be impossible, but she would have to go to The Spirit of the Mirror and see what this whole thing was about. How did Rick know about The Spirit?

Jessica drove home with her mom, and her dad followed in his truck behind them.

Jessica couldn’t wait to finally get out of the dress she wore, and go to bed. She was exhausted, but afraid. Afraid of The Spirit, and afraid that the deputies would begin to question what Rick was telling them.

Mary took Jessica’s hand in hers, and smiled slightly.

“I am going to make you a nice dinner,” she said, squeezing Jessica’s hand in reassurance.

“You don’t have to do that, Mom,” Jessica said, smiling slightly back to her.

“Yes, I do. I always told your father not to hire that guy. He has never been anything but trouble since high school,” Mary mused, as they drove home.

Jessica shrugged. “Dad couldn’t have known. I think the Sheriff is right, the drugs are frying his brain.”

“See why I always warned you to stay away from drugs?” Mary commented.

“And, I have,” Jessica answered.

“Yes, you have. I have seen so many of my classmates ruin their lives with that stuff, and Rick is just the top example,” Mary said, shaking her head in disgust.

Jessica looked over at her mother puzzled. “Really? Like who?”

“Many of them. Most are gone from the area, but our reunion was really eye opening,” Mary explained.

Jessica wanted to roll her eyes at her mother’s mention of high school again. She wondered how often the woman thought of her time in high school.  Jessica would swear up and down that Mary would still wear her prom tiara everywhere if she didn’t look silly.

“Mom?”

“Yes, dear.”

Jessica knew she had to tread carefully on what she was going to say next, since they were already having a horrible day.

“I was going to talk to you about it later, but now is as good as time as any,” Jessica said, lightly.  

“What, honey?”

“I am applying to NYU for the fall,” Jessica answered. She spoke faster than she intended.

Her mother didn’t have a reaction, but just sat there staring straight ahead for a moment. Jessica knew she wasn’t focused on the road anymore. Thankfully, Don was right behind them.

“Why so far?” Mary asked after a moment.

“I want something different, and a change of scenery,” Jessica said, knowing she was trying to word it carefully.

“Okay…..”

“You and Dad won’t have to worry about the money. I have applied to enough scholarships that should cover most of it, and I plan on working out there,” Jessica added, trying to sound convincing that this was the right decision.

Mary looked over at her disappointed, and Jessica almost took it back and said she would go to Washington State.

“It’s not the money I’m concerned about. The fact that you’ll be so far away,” Mary said choking up a little.

Jessica took in a sharp, frustrated breath. She knew this was coming.

“Mom, you said it yourself that you wanted to move to Florida. So, then you won’t be so far away,” Jessica said trying to turn the conversation on her mother.

“Well, I was going to wait till you got out of college, but I have a question,” Mary said.

“What?”

“What about Danny? He said he was going to go to Washington State. The first in his family to attend college from what I remember,” Mary reminded Jessica.

“Mom….come on. I don’t really like him that much,” Jessica argued.

Jessica breathed in, as she waited for her mother’s reaction.

“I didn’t know this, but that is up to you. I think he is good for you,” Mary said.

“Why, because I can finally have a boyfriend?” Jessica challenged.

Mary scowled and said, “Well, I guess I have nothing to say. You’re almost eighteen, and can do what you want.”

“Mom, don’t be like that. Danny and I have nothing in common. I can’t help that, he just isn’t for me,” Jessica tried to reason.

Mary sighed and said, “Alright, that is your choice. I am proud you joined basketball, and hope you do well, but I like Danny. He is sweet, and seems to like you.”

“It has to go both ways,” Jessica reasoned, knowing whatever she said would fall on deaf ears.

“True, but your father and I are high school sweethearts…..”

“Mom!” Jessica suddenly yelled. Jessica couldn’t help it, her mother was referring to her time in school again, and it drove Jessica insane.  

Mary almost swerved, but was able to keep control of the car.

“What? Goddamn it Jessica you didn’t have to yell,” Mary said, turning to glare at her daughter.  

“When are you going to accept that I am not like you and Dad?” Jessica asked, releasing her frustration.

Mary went quiet, and Jessica hoped the rest of the ride home would stay quiet.

“I guess I wanted more from you. I guess I was wrong,” Mary said, thoughtfully.

Jessica couldn’t say anything more. She knew that no matter what she did, she could never please her parents. No matter how much The Spirit of the Mirror helped her it would never be enough for them.

So, Jessica decided if she still wanted wishes from The Spirit of the Mirror then she would do it for herself, and not to please anyone anymore.

Jessica spotted Tessa and Danny standing at the front of her house when they pulled up.

“I hope you let him down easy,” Mary said, before they got out of the car.

Jessica gave her mother an angry glance, however she didn’t answer her.

Jessica felt Danny’s arms wrap around her as her parents went into the house, even though she imagined it was someone else. She felt terrible, because he seemed to really care about what happened to her.

Jessica suddenly thought of Mark, and wished it were him doing this.

“Do I need to kick that guy’s ass?” Danny asked, kissing the top of her head.

“No, no. My Dad already threatened that,” Jessica said.

After a while of the three friends talking, Danny said he had to go home and help his mom, but asked if he could come over the next day.

“Sure,” Jessica said not wanting him to, but knew she had to keep it up a little longer.

Tessa shook her head as Danny pulled away.

“You’re just inviting more trouble,” she warned.