The Grasp of Nighttide (15 page)

“No worries,” Alice said as she helped clear the floor.

Judging from the shards, the glasses had hit hard. At one point, as they were gathering up the bigger piece, Alice’s hand brushed Derek’s.  She withdrew it quickly, as though she had received a small shock, but it seemed that Derek slowed down, as though he was still thinking about it.

They inspected the floor closely, making sure they had swept up all the tiny fragments so no one would get hurt.

“I’ll get more glasses,” she said, getting up to go fetch them,

“I don’t think that’s a good idea…” Derek’s voice trailed off, feeling guilty for having broken the glasses.

“Oh, come on,” Alice walked to the kitchen. “I got four more to spare.”

As Alice picked two more glasses from the cabinet and turned, she saw Derek behind her. He raised his eyebrows with a playful grin, questioning her motive. At the moment, Alice didn’t even need wine to be drunk, his eyes had a sparkle that didn’t give her a chance for second thought of what she was going to do next.

Alice set the glasses back on the counter, and pulled his face closer before reaching his lips, kissing him. Her hands messed through his hair gel, expecting more intensity from him. But the kiss lasted only for a few seconds. He gently pulled away.

“Sorry, I can’t do this,” he said, looking deeply into her eyes, searching for more words.

That is when she returned to her senses. Of course he couldn’t do this and what had gotten into her that she had dared to kiss him. She had to apologize; but her first ever-known kiss left her breathless.

“I uh...  I have to go,” Derek walked past her, slightly brushing her arm.

Alice was glad that he left. She wasn’t in a position to explain why she did what she had just done.  As Cloud raced down the driveway, the sound subsided just too quickly. Slowly Alice turned and reached the dining table. Red stains led outside. Alice bent and picked up two forgotten pieces of glass from where the trail started.

Alice touched dark
Purple Heart
on the wall.  Derek had painted it in the morning while she slept. He had helped Alice so much and she hurt him. He was the only one who understood her, helped her, filled her loneliness, and made her happy…. And that is when she realized that Derek was the miracle she had been hoping for. 

Shall I go with this or something else? Decisions, decisions
. Alice sighed as she inspected her black gown. 

After an hour of deciding, Alice came down to two of her new gowns. Rashi had invited her to attend the 
Hip and Happening
 ’18 to 24’ party tonight.  Alice kept quiet, letting her finish; Rashi was very excited. 

“
Derek is coming too
,” 
she added at the end. 

Alice reconsidered her first thought of not going. She had a chance to apologize to Derek. He was clearly upset but if she would go meet him and talk things out, the situation could be handled, and Alice thought of including the black gown in her plan. Derek had told her yesterday she should wear it, maybe he’d come talk to her if she did. On the other hand he could also freak out thinking that Alice was trying to get him. Either way Alice pulled the tag off it, trying her luck. After all she loved him- at least thought she did, no matter how wrong it was. If only she could get a lead on Lance, it would rid her from thoughts of Derek. 

She touched her bare neck and hands. There was no accessory she owned except for the silver dot earrings that were an insult to the dress. Her wavy hair was loose; she could pile it on her head but without any hairpins that was not an option either. Make-up would cover the plainness to an extent; too bad she didn’t have any. No perfume either. 

Alice parked the Vespa in front of the bookstore. The venue was supposed to be near from there and Alice wanted to slip in and out of the party with minimum attention. The long brown coat covered for her down to her knees but the cold swept over her legs and through her pumps. A five minute walk wouldn’t kill her though. 

A girl about her own age stood on the road. Her eyes were painted with horror as she looked ahead at an approaching red car.

“Help!” she cried, looking as though she was trying to get away, something was pinning her there. The demon.  

With not more than a second to lose, Alice threw herself on her, pushing her out of the way. 

“Hey,” the girl struggled. “Let me go.” 

“Wow,” Alice scrutinized her attitude. “I just saved your life.” 

“Look lady,” a giant-looking guy came out of the car. “We were practicing a prank to scare someone. If you get in the way like this, it won’t work.” 

“I didn’t know,” Alice got up and took a step back, scared with his anger. “I thought...” 

“Whatever, just back off.” 

Alice stepped away from there saying nothing more though it hadn’t been her fault. Rather she wanted to give the girl a punch for such a prank- she could put up an equal fight with this girl more puny looking than her, but with the guy’s structure she decided against it.  

“He’s leaving home. He’s going to be here any moment now,” she heard the girl say. 

Alice ducked behind a nearby board with directions to the party. She was uncertain whether the guy they were talking about would risk his life for the girl, as she had tried. 

“He’s almost here, I hear his car!” 

No sooner had the girl spoken the word, the car roared to life carrying on with the prank. Alice’s vision blurred with the wind that came up. But with the small bits of vision she got, the red car was picking up speed, lots of it- not the slow movement Alice saw before.  Alice could hear a man from inside the car that arrived- the victim of the prank- yelling loudly at the girl, his face in sheer panic. The girl was screaming now. Something hit Alice’s back from behind and Alice’s vision blacked out to the sight of the girl getting hit by the speeding red car. 

***** 

When the world came back, Alice realized she was in the backseat of a car. Black cloth showed from the side of the driver’s seat. Was the black figure human? Alice craned her neck to see who it was but it was no use. In an attempt to get away, Alice quickly unlocked the door and fell outside on the grass. 

The car screeched to a sudden halt. 

“Oh no you don’t,” a voice came. 

It was a girl’s voice and definitely human. A black cloth covered her thin face and her eyes were blood red. Alice’s back hurt more than ever. She flipped and crouched on her stomach. 

“Don’t move, bitch,” an angry foot landed on her back. Her back throbbed as she fell flat on her face. Gripping Alice’s shoulder, she murmured in her ear “I’m so glad I found you. Now I get to finish you off. You’ll die on the road too.” Alice drifted into unconsciousness again. 

The next thing Alice registered was the sound of an engine. The car turned round, its headlights dazzling her. But the engine died again. The person tried to start it several times, failing each time. Alice felt her end was near. For all she knew, she might not be able to move like in the urban legend, probably she was stuck in place. But then her fingers began to twitch and the twitch spread until she could move her whole hand. The backache was intolerable but she knew deep down inside that this would be her last chance to escape. The lady in black couldn’t stop her. 

As Alice slowly staggered up, the engine roared to life. Alice ran as fast as she could through the trees, she couldn’t think. She couldn’t feel the pain. All she could feel is her heart quickening as adrenaline overpowered her. She heard lady getting out of the car; knowing that Alice was an easy catch. She tried her best to get through the trees and find a way to get home. Alice came out to another road. 

A van stopped a few feet ahead that instant. Alice stared at it, not certain whether she should approach the driver. Out came old Mrs. Paul, but she looked younger than she usually did. With one glance over her shoulder and making sure that the lady wasn’t behind her, Alice scurried to her. 

“Are you okay dear?” Mrs. Paul pushed the round glasses further up her nose. A mud-brown scarf was wrapped tightly around her neck and another identical one even covered her face below the eyes like Christina Ricci in Penelope. “Get in.” 

Without any time to waste Alice complied. The woman eyed her curiously from time to time. Alice tried not to make her suspicious. She told her she had a minor fall but the messed up hair and sunken face told a different story, that something more had indeed happened.

“I think you’ll be okay. You do not look like you need to go to the hospital.” 

“I just want to go home,” Alice hugged herself, and asked without looking at her “Did you get a plastic surgery or something?” Alice asked.

“Something like that,” she laughed. “I have my tricks to appear young.” 

“Oh,” Alice returning her attention to the danger she was in, instead of pondering why the woman wanted to look young in her old age. 

The lady who tried to kill her might’ve known where she lived but there was nowhere she could turn to now. She would take precautions- lock the place securely, pop a pill for the pain and stay awake so that she could prepare if she did come
. 
 

She never made it to the party and her gown was now in bad shape. She didn’t get to apologize to Derek. She thought of the poor girl in the middle of the road and of the man yelling from inside his car. She wondered how she got in the backseat of the other car. She shook her head, not understanding why this was happening to her. Alice sighed heavily.
 Everything will be
 OK, she thought
, hopefully
.  

The next thing Alice registered is that Mrs. Paul pulled up in the driveway. 

“Do you want me to come inside and help you? You look like a little frightened mouse.” 

“No thanks,” Alice opened the door to get out. 

“Sleep tight dear,” Mrs. Paul grabbed her hand and all of a sudden the scarf fell revealing her face. Alice looked back at her and all the more she looked nothing near sixty, more like forty or even less. There were some features of Mrs. Paul that perfectly resembled- she was thin, wore the same type of sweater, mismatched gloves and round glasses -but it couldn’t be her at all she realized- even with multiple plastic surgeries no one could bring about so much of natural youth. She gave this smile that creeped Alice out. “Don’t worry about a thing dear.”  

“You can’t be Diane Paul,” Alice gasped and tried to free from her ridiculously strong grasp.  

“I won’t hurt you, just stop struggling.” She said with a grin spread across her face. 

 Alice’s eyes widened, “What do you want?” 

There was some slow power rising, which eased her nerves and calmed her down. Alice didn’t even realize slumping back lifeless on the seat.  

Steph kicked the side of her car as her jaw twitched, “No!” she shouted. 

It would be child’s play to grab Alice, if not for that presence that stopped Steph. She needed to kill Alice and this stalling and failure was so frustrating.  

Steph took a deep breath before deciding to be on her way to the party. She removed the black cloak to reveal the pink party dress she had been wearing underneath. She carefully tucked the black cloth and knife below the seat, making sure there would be no glint of metal to catch anyone’s eyes. She used wipes for her Goth face and did as much feminine makeup as required. She pinned her hair in a loose updo, and checked in her pocket mirror. After experimenting with a touch more of makeup and setting a lock of hair free in the front- she was impressed. What look girls would normally achieve after hours of getting ready, she had done under fifteen minutes. But this feat couldn’t mask her failure- this was supposed to be the after party after Alice’s death. Now instead it was a party to down her failure. She couldn’t get to Alice tonight. She had blown the chance. Trying hard to clear her mind, she simply drove off. 

Steph could feel the bass from the music before she even parked the car.  Once inside, she was immediately hit with a wave of warmth that could only come from mixing too many people together with not enough room. From the doorway Steph scanned the room, her mind performing a quick analysis. It was definitely a younger crowd; people from ages eighteen to twenty-five mingling with each other. She could easily see the few that were slightly too old for this type of party, and the underage ones nervously trying to fit in. Steph didn’t blame them though; Castle Pines wasn’t exactly a happening place to find parties, so the crowd was taking advantage of this opportunity while they could. 

Pushing her way through the crowded room past the groups of laughing people, Steph turned her head back and forth looking before she finally saw them. Anna and Derek were sitting on a couch in the corner, Derek looking disturbed for some reason. He had worn some loose plain shirt and jeans like he didn’t know that he was going to be at a party. Also he had sandals on- ones she was sure he had borrowed. Steph hesitated at the sight, it was so unlike him. Derek was one person who always got his outfit right and never showed up in public without looking like he had stepped out of a fashion shoot. Steph honestly hadn’t realized that he even possessed such plain, worn out attire.  Anna, on the other hand, looked incredible. Even walking towards them, Steph caught all the guys glancing away from the people they were talking to get a glimpse of her in her short, satin dress. Steph was struck with a jealous twinge, and suddenly wished the place was colder just so that Anna would freeze.  

Anna saw Steph and pulled Derek over, “Hi Steph!” She waved in a friendly way. 

Steph saw the jeweled bracelet on her wrist catch the dim light of the room and grew even more jealous. 

“Glad you could make it, Steph!” Derek said. 

“Steph, can you please tell Derek to dance with me?” Anna cooed. “He hasn’t budged all night!” 

“Anna,” he whined. 

“Your brother gave me a hard time coming, and I had to pull him here. In return I can get a dance at least.” 

“Go, Derek” Steph said, forcing a smile. She still didn’t like him, but she felt bad for the state she saw him in. The smile that always clung to his face was gone. A dance might make him feel better, and at the very least she wouldn’t have to stand next to Anna. Steph was suddenly self-conscious about being compared to his hot date. 

“Okay,” he gave in and Anna winked at Steph before taking Derek away. 

“So, you’re Steph?” A girl stood next to her with streaks of red in her hair, matching her shirt. “I’m Jenny, Anna’s friend.” She moved her drink to the other hand and stuck it out for Steph to shake.  

“Hi.” Steph said without interest. 

“Don’t they look great together?” 

“Yes, they do.” 

“So what brings you to this small place?” Jenny moved to take up a spot right next to Steph, and she realized that the other woman was going to try having an actual conversation. 

“On vacation.” Steph tried to be as blunt and uninteresting as possible without drawing too much attention for being rude.  

“You chose Castle Pines for your vacation?” Jenny sounded genuinely surprised, as if she could not imagine anyone spending free time in her town on purpose. 

“Yeah. Because Derek was here.” 

“Oh yeah, I heard you two don’t see each other 
that
often.”

Steph was beginning to get irritated at this woman’s presumption and shot back “How about you mind your own business?” She turned and headed through the crowd to the bar. 

“Sure, whatever you say.” she heard Jenny sarcastically say behind her. 

Steph wanted to turn back and show Jenny just who it was that she was messing with, but she was in no mood to. She had failed again tonight, and there was no need to risk losing everything just to show some party girl not to be nosey. She was so close to killing Alice but failed once again. She felt all kinds of emotions filling her brain, she took out her phone but remembered that Jane felt sick when Steph had called a few hours ago and most probably was in bed now. She needed a drink to drown her failure. Done for the night, she saw no reason to refrain from it. She pushed her way to the bar and waved for the bartender’s attention. 

“Seven and seven.” she said, and got a nod back from the barman. He slid her drink to her and took a long sip as she turned back to the party. 

Steph saw the people on the floor dancing to the music. She didn’t recognize the song, but it had a loud beat. Derek still looked sad and moved slow, but Anna didn’t seem to care. Most of the guys dancing were staring openly at her by this point. There would be more than one fight with a jealous girlfriend tonight, but Steph guessed that happened wherever Anna went. 

“Can I buy you another round?” A guy said, sitting on the stool next to her. 

“That is an old pick up line.” Steph told him.  

“It’s only a pickup line if I actually pick you up. Otherwise, it’s nothing but a drink.” Steph had to smile at his confidence. If only he knew. “Hi, I’m Matthew.” 

“Steph” she said with a nod. He followed her gaze back to the dance floor. 

“What say we hit the floor too?” 

“What’s the rush?” Steph touched his face and said in her flirty voice to her catch for tonight. “Let’s have that other drink first.”