Twisted (14 page)

Seconds crept by as I continued bush whacking, my own sounds
in the wilderness startling me still.  A shrill whine sounded from my throat,
as I pressed on into the darkness.  An overwhelming loneliness began to suffocate
me.  I never should have agreed to tromp through this unchartered territory
solo.

As lonely as I felt, I was not alone.  Someone was following
me.  I stopped and listened carefully, then glared over my shoulder in the
direction of the sounds.  The rustling stopped and there was nothing or no one
there.

"Edwin?  Is that you?" I asked softly.  If he was
playing tricks, it was so not funny.

I crept ahead shakily and the rustling resumed.  Determined
to figure it out, I stopped again.  This time my stomach threatened emptying
its contents.  I waited.  Nothing.

I gulped the thick lump from the back of my throat and took
one more step.  I could hear whatever it was approaching me quicker now and the
sound didn’t stop this time.  Terrified and panicked, I started to run,
tripping over tree stumps, branches scratching at my face.  Fearful cries
escaped my mouth with every shaky breath.

Where’s the damn trail?  It has to be here somewhere.
Faster.  I have to move faster
.

The darkness taking me, I tumbled over a fallen log and
crashed to my knees in the dirt.  On all fours I heaved, my stomach testing my
wits, but I managed to gag it back.  My eyes flashed up with fear, but the
threat didn’t show itself.  I could feel the impending attack looming behind
me.  I fumbled back to my feet and with three long strides, I could finally see
the lights peeking out from the cabins.  A few more strides and I was on the empty
dirt path, but it gave me no security.

I panted, sick, tired, and fearful for my life, as I jogged
for the lights with all I had left.  A high pitch scream rang out from behind
me.  I stopped to cover my ears with both of my hands, but it was no less
loud.  I would recognize that scream any day.  It was my sister.

The shriek filled my ears and haunted my heart, just as it
had since my sixth birthday.  With it came every insecurity and doubt, flooding
back to life with a vengeance, rattling my brain.  Yes, Jennifer Jenkins was my
identical twin.  But Jenny: she is dead.

I wished screaming out loud would make it go away, but it wouldn't. 
And though I’ve never believed in ghosts, I don’t know what to believe at this
point in my life, her voice ringing loud and true.  I pressed my hands hard
against my ears, but it was like the blood curdling scream was coming from
within.  I cried, as I struggled with the deathly squeal ringing in my head.

Then it stopped.

I eased my eyes open.  Total darkness.  I fell to my knees
and cried in my hands.  It had been years since my last episode and I thought I
was in the clear.  I had managed to avoid the mental institute this long, but
not by much.  This unwelcome setback will not be well accepted by my
psychiatrist or Edwin for that matter.  The hope that I would become detached
from Jenny over time was but a distant dream.

I knew it was true: There is no disconnecting yourself from
your identical twin.  Dead or alive.  Jenny would haunt me with her death for
the rest of my life.

A motorized vehicle ripped me from my thoughts, buzzing up
the trail in a flurry of speed and dust.  A new terror settled in as the large
intruder slowed its’ steady approach.  I leapt to my feet and edged to the side
of the trail, examining the new threat.  Though I lifted my arm to block my
eyes, the light of the menacing machine blinded me, as the vehicle crept
forward and finally came to a full stop only a few feet away.

My heart pounded from my chest as I stood frozen on the side
of the path.  When I finally caught a glimpse of the man, his helmet disguised
any notable features.  The man cut the engine.  If he wanted to kill me, he
could.  As for any reserves, I had none.  My panic caused me to choke on my
last breath, as I prepared to kick the man in the balls and run for help, but the
man just stared at me, unmoving.

"You getting on or are you just going to stand there all
night?" he finally called out to me, removing his helmet.

"Edwin?  What are you doing?" I screeched with
relief.

"I told you I would come.  Just go with it."

Overcome with relief I sprang at him and threw my arms around
his strong shoulders.  I squeezed my eyes shut and wiped the tears from my
burning cheeks with the neck his soft t-shirt.

"I don't know what's gotten into you, but I think I like
it," Edwin said.  His lips found mine and softly kissed my worries away.  He
had no idea.  But I was safe now.

"You okay," he asked, realizing there was more to it
than a fear of the dark.

"I am now," I said, sobbing.

"You wanna talk about it?"

I shook my head no and, once I caught my breath, I straddled
the machine behind him.  He handed me a spare helmet and I put it on over my
tousled hair.  My arms tightened around his waist and I pressed close to his
back.  It was such a comfort to be in his fearless presence and soak up his
body heat.

He turned back to face me.  "You're sure you're good?”

I was still shaken up, but I wasn't about to tell him that. 
"I am."

He cupped his hand over mine and gave it a squeeze, then
gripped the handle bar and kick started the ATV.  "Here we go then,"
he said.

There was no time to second guess my decision, or evaluate my
overactive imagination, since Edwin sped off in a hurry.  Adrenaline coursed
through my veins again.  The well-manicured path made for a smooth ride through
the pristine, dark forest.  We shot through the darkness for miles, passing
rushing rivers, and small lakes, that I’m sure would have been lovely during
the day.  In the darkness though, all I could do was watch the moon glistening
on the water, listen to the constant revving engine and absorb the thrill of
Edwin speeding through it all.

I closed my eyes and pressed the helmet firmly against
Edwin's back, as the trail grew steadily rougher.  Eventually, after
crisscrossing through the extensive network of trails, I couldn't see any trail
ahead of us at all.  A feeling of unease snuck up on me as we winded through
the unknown wilderness, bumping and crawling slowly through the grooves and
obstacles of the rough, rocky terrain.  And Edwin loved every minute of it.  He
was a total adventure seeker, even if his adventurous side had been known to
get him into trouble.

Edwin slowed our pace to a crawl, waterways winding around
our heels.  I feared for my life, as the vehicle rocked beneath us.  If we lost
the machine now, we would be left in total darkness only miles from the middle
of nowhere.  I squeezed Edwin tighter and the bright beam of light that shone
from the front of the four-wheeler flickered as we bumped along.  Things seemed
to creep in the shadows and slink out of the black depths of the wilderness.

When we met a large rock, we were going so slow that the
tires refused to take us any further.  Edwin cut the engine, leaving us in pitch
blackness.  My heart rammed into my throat.

"What are you doing?  Are you crazy?" I squealed. 
My eyes darted around us, but I couldn’t see a thing.

"Listen," Edwin whispered, as he pulled off his
helmet.

I listened, but all I could hear was heavy breathing and a
racing heartbeat.  "What?"

"You hear that?" he asked again.

"No.  I don't know what you're talking about and this is
really starting to freak me out."

"Calm down.  It's white water.  We must be near some
falls.  The path ends here so we need to decide what we’re gonna do next.  I'd
really hate to turn back now.  We've come so far," Edwin said, pleading
with me to stay and explore.

A whirlwind of emotions flowed through me, as Edwin got off
the machine and took a few steps away.  He climbed up onto a nearby rock,
enjoying nature in its purest of forms.  I certainly didn't want to stay, but I
would do anything if it meant I didn't have to be alone.  I pulled off my
helmet and shook out my hair before lifting my leg over the seat.  I stayed seated,
my feet dangling over the side of the ATV as my eyes scattered over the forest.

When I glanced back toward the rocks, Edwin had disappeared
into the darkness, striking me with full blown terror.  All survival tactics
went away with the cool summer breeze as logic left me and I began to suffer
from a fear of abandonment.  My eyes darted through the darkness, trying to
make sense of what was real and what was bogus, but my mind was quickly succumbing
to its worst fears.

My quick shallow breaths didn't help to calm my nerves and
the chill that ran down my spine was nothing compared to the shock spiking
through my body when I heard sudden motion behind me.  The noises were
distinctly that of the forest floor.  The sounds crept closer, but I could
barely see my own hand extended before me let alone whatever or whoever it was.

An unwelcome icy hot intuition warned me with one word.  Danger. 
There was nowhere to run, so I sat there paralysed with fear.  Every muscle in
my body was clenched when the sounds subsided.  Perhaps the monster didn't see
me there and headed off in another direction.  I tempted fate by slowly turning
my head to glance in the direction of the noises.  I squinted my eyes, but struggled
to focus on the creature that was positioned only 10 feet away from me.

Suddenly she locked onto my gaze, her eyes glowing blood red,
holding my stare against my wishes.  I gasped for air, my voice failing me, as the
red-eyed monster started to slink toward me.  My hands were motionless, heavy like
ice, cold as stone in the winter.  I could feel the colour had drained out of
my face and, despite my terror, my lips wouldn't move no matter how hard I
tried to scream.

I had an eerie lack of control over my limbs, my eyes
frantically scanning the dark woods in search of Edwin.  Nothing.  I squeezed
my eyes shut, ready to succumb to my shattered nerves.

This creature doesn't exist.  It couldn't possibly, could it?
 Edwin.  I need him to protect me
and tell me that monsters don't exist; to tell me that I’m safe in his arms. 
But Edwin’s gone.

Fighting for control, my head slammed heavily to the right in
search of Edwin.  He was just not there.  The monster started to move closer, now
only steps away.  I shuddered, as I forced myself to look back.  There, in the
darkness, stood a small, non-threatening silhouette of a child.  I was fine,
until the glaring eyes burned red and locked onto mine, the monster inching
closer.  With a snap of a branch, I blinked my eyes shut hard and silently
begged for a miracle while waiting for my demise.  My breath failed me.  It
wouldn't be long now.

Eyes squeezed shut, I could still see the red globes burning
through my eyelids.  I could feel her hot breath on my neck.  I was living a
nightmare, listening to her steady breaths in my ears.  Gagged of sound, there
was nothing I could do.

Suddenly a shrill scream rang through my ears as fresh as the
day I first heard it eighteen years earlier.  The force blistered my ear drums
and knocked me from my seat.  Laying on the hard forest floor, I covered my
head and sobbed hysterically.

"Edwin!" I finally shrieked, but it sounded more
like a whisper in the night compared to the blood curdling scream ringing in my
ears.  It was like it was happening all over again.  Jenny was screaming,
burning in the fire.  The man tried to help her, but it was too late.  “No,” I
screamed.  There was nothing we could do but sit there and watch the car engulfed
in flames.  I could smell death in the air, the singed hair and burning flesh
of my identical twin sister. 
“It should have been me.  It should have been
me,” I cried.

Edwin scuffled to my side and fell to his knees.  "Whoa. 
Abs.  What’s going on here?" he breathed, stuffing me into his arms.

The screaming dwindled off and when I opened my tear-filled
eyes, Edwin scooped me up and pressed me against his chest.  He took a seat on the
four-wheeler and rocked me in comfort.  I wished I could shake the icy feeling
that had fallen over me, but the danger was still there.  I shivered with grief
and he squeezed me even tighter.

"It's okay baby, I'm here.  It's okay," Edwin said.

"Did you see her?" I cried.

"Did I see who?  There's no one out here babe.  It's
just me and you."

Jenny had vanished and now I was alone with Edwin in the
eerie, unquiet darkness.  I shook my head hysterically.  "Edwin she was
here.  Please... I'm scared," I cried.

He loosened his grip on me, pulled us both to our feet, and stood
at my side assessing our surroundings.

"Please don't leave me again.”  My fear far outweighed
the guilt and grief that had settled on my shoulders.

Edwin sighed, his concern apparent, as he lifted me back onto
the seat.  "I'm not going anywhere."

Exhaustion overwhelmed my body, an anxious trembling controlled
my limbs, and each breath revealed a shriek of fear.  "I just
thought…" I said, snuffling.

Edwin nudged my legs apart with his and rested between my thighs,
pinning me to the machine.  He took both of my hands in his and took a deep
breath.  "Babe, you have to know I would never leave you.  And there's
nothing out there.  It must have been your imagination."  He wrapped my
arms around his hips and I locked my hands together in response.  He ran his
fingers through my hair and pulled my head up against his hard middle.