Silence by Rebekah Shimer (summer books TXT) 📕

my body when he dragged me across the floor, but I held it inside of me. I knew that I wouldn’t let him see that I was in pain, but he seemed to already know how much pain I was in. I looked back down at my side and saw that my blood was soaking more and more of my shirt the worse the wound got. Bruce stood above me and crouched down so we were more at eye level with each other.

He said, “Now we’re going to try this again.”

He grabbed my arm, but he got the same reaction from me. My entire arm went limp and he threw the arm back on the ground. I started to get lightheaded from losing so much blood, but I willed my eyes to stay open.

Bruce said, “Fine. Have it your way.”

He put the tip of the blade to my side opposite of the one that had the knife and dug the tip into my skin. I bit my lip and I tasted blood in my mouth from biting so hard. I tried to grab his hand to stop him, but he pushed it even farther into my side. I realized that I was going to die somehow by the hands of Bruce, so I looked through my options. It was either to die in his house, which would make a big mess for him to clean up, or die in a lake where all of the traces would be washed away, along with my body. I sudden idea popped into my head and I knew that I was going to try it.

I cried out loudly, “Fine! Just take it out!”

Bruce smiled triumphantly and slid the knife out of my side.

He said, “I knew you’d see it my way sooner or later.”

I nodded and he grabbed my arm. This time, I helped him get me standing on my feet and he put my arm around his shoulder. We walked back towards the kitchen and out the back door. I saw the lake in the distance, which made my idea’s chances rise, but it also made my hope fall. Bruce was silent as we made our way down to the lake, but I was just glad that he wasn’t making threats against Audrey anymore. Maybe he was in his mind, but I was glad that he wasn’t saying them out loud. We made it to a small break in the shrubbery by the lake and Bruce walked through it, almost dragging me at that point.

Most of the blood was gone from my body, which made moving harder and harder the further we went.

Bruce said, “Start walking and when you get to the middle . . . well let’s be honest. I really don’t think you’ll make it that far.”

I started to slowly walk towards the water, but I slowly looked back at him. He motioned for me to walk into the water, but I just kept looking. He became angry and took a few steps towards me. I used up the remainder of my energy and threw my arms around his neck. I hurled both of us towards the water and I knew Bruce was surprised. I made my grip iron tight around his neck and I knew that I would have to keep it that way while we were underwater. We both hit the water and I knew that it was now a matter of whoever had the longest breath. I could tell that Bruce hadn’t taken a huge gulp of breath before we hit the water since he hadn’t really expecting me to bring him in the water with me.

Bruce looked around frantically for the surface of the water, but the current was throwing both of us around. I didn’t really know what direction the surface was, but I knew that I was going to die anyway. Even if I did make it out of the lake somehow, there was no way I was going to make it all the way up to my car and to a hospital. Just the walk downhill had winded me, which meant that the walk uphill would’ve probably killed me, literally. I felt Bruce grab my arms and try to rip them off of him, but I wasn’t about to let go. What my plan didn’t anticipate though, was a huge rock that we both slammed into.

When we hit the rock, my arms slipped for just a second, but Bruce took advantage of that opportunity and got out of my grasp. I tried to grab him again, but he kicked me in the side in his desperate attempt of trying to find the surface. I opened my mouth to cry out, but all that came in was water. Water flooded my lungs and I knew that I was going to die. I silently prayed that Audrey would someday be able to forgive me for letting her down. Maybe we would see each other in Heaven when this whole killing thing was done with. I thought back to earlier that day and smiled when I realized that Audrey and I had made amends before I had died. I knew that she would feel guilty if we had not, which wouldn’t be good for her to live the rest of her life like that.

I finally reached a spot in the lake where the current wasn’t as bad, so I was able to see the sun through the surface of the water. I reached my hand up and tried to reach the sun, but it was too far away. I closed my eyes, not really being able to keep them open for much longer. I started to allow my body to shut down and I accepted my fate. I knew that I never really wanted to drown since I wasn’t really a fan of water, but it was almost peaceful. It was almost as if I were falling asleep after taking some medicine. I couldn’t really control it and it just kind of happened. I shut my mind off and let my body sink into the dark depths of Lake Titan.

(Un)Friendly Visit

Audrey

 

I walked back into my room and shut the door. I told myself that I was just imagining things and that this whole killer thing was freaking me out. I checked my phone, but Logan hadn’t replied back, which I took as a sign that he was still at practice or something. I sat down, but I quickly jumped up when I heard the doorbell ring. I ran to the door since the person seemed impatient, what with them ringing the doorbell five times in the same second. I threw the door open, expecting to see Edwyn or Logan, but instead, Bruce was standing in front of me. He looked extremely winded and I took a step back at his appearance. I could tell that he had just showered, since his hair was wet, and his clothes were a little wrinkled, which meant that he had just put them on.

I asked him, “What’s up Bruce?”

“Just thought I would drop by for a visit. May I come in?”

He seemed a little on edge, but I invited him in anyway. He was probably having trouble with coping to the fact that Emily was gone. H might’ve just needed someone to talk to, since Logan wasn’t answering his phone.

I asked him, “Do you want something to drink? I have milk, water, juice…”

He said quietly, “Anything but water please.”

I nodded and led him into the kitchen. I pulled out the milk as he sat down at the table. I gave him his glass and sat down across from him.

I asked him, “So how are you?”

He nodded and said, “I’m doing okay I guess. Someone in my position can’t really be doing great but what are you going to do right?”

I nodded and said, “It’s okay. Everyone experiences death in their lives.”

He said quietly, “I know that all too well.”

I continued quietly, “We just have to learn how to make an experience like this turn into something positive.”

“How?”

“Well, what if you try to help other people that have gone through the same thing? I’m sure there’s someone out there that needs help coping to the same thing.”

He asked quietly, “You think so?”

“I know so. Maybe if you went to a bigger town, you would meet more people that you would be able to help, rather than just sitting around this old town.”

I smiled, trying to make his mood lighter, but it didn’t work.

He sulked even more and said, “Do you think this town is worth living in? What with the killer and all? Do you think living is even worth it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m just saying. The pressure of knowing that someone in this town is a killer is just making it hard to trust anyone around this town. People smile at me when I walk down the street, but all I can't think about is the fact that one of them could’ve killed my girlfriend.”

“I don’t know what you’re going through, what with Emily being taken away from you, but I know that Logan does. He knows the exact same feelings that you’re feeling right now. He would be more than happy to help you right now in your life. Try to talk to him tomorrow. I’m sure it’ll just lift your spirits right up.”

His lips tugged at the corners and I knew that he didn’t want to smile, but he couldn’t help it. He started to smile after a while and to cover it; he took a huge gulp of his milk. By the time that he was done with his milk, his mood was still light.

He smiled down at his empty glass and said, “Thanks Audrey.”

I asked with confusion thick in my voice, “For what?”

He looked up at me and said slowly, “Everything.”

He stood up quickly after a few seconds of just staring at me and said, “I’m going to have to go soon. My parents are going to be home soon and they don’t know I’m over here.”

I nodded and picked up both of the glasses. I put them in the sink and walked Bruce to the door.

He said, “Thanks for having me over so late Audrey. I know that you weren’t really prepared to console me tonight.”

“Oh it’s okay. I was up anyway.”

“Are you doing anything tomorrow?”

Something about the way he had asked that made me wonder why he was really over at my house.

I said slowly, “Edwyn and I are going to be doing something and the rest of my week is completely booked. I’m sorry. Maybe another time we can get together.”

He smiled and I really hoped that he hadn’t taken that as a promise. He walked out and I shut the door behind him. I slowly walked to my room and laid down in my bed. I shut my eyes and let my mind slip from the present time. I let my memories take over and dreamed of a happier town that I used to know.

 

When I woke up, I knew that I had dreamed a bad dream. I could feel the salty remains of tears that had flowed down my face sometime in the night. I wiped