Echoes in the Woods by Georgina Scott (ebook reader web txt) 📕

“No, I did it,” John said, sitting down at the make shift table.

“You look better than you did a week ago. What’s with the change?”

“I’ve been dry for just over a week now and I have been to an AA meeting as well.”

“Babe, that’s great,” Faith said, placing her hand in his squeezing it tight.

“I also have an appointment to see a shrink.”

“What’s with this sudden change of direction?”

“I want my life back, and I want my family back. Its early stages but I have never been more determined about anything. I am not saying I am not going to have relapses, but I am just going to take one step at a time.”

“And we will be with you every step of the way.”

“I take it Matthew didn’t want to come.”

“He is still upset; give him time, he will come to you when he is ready. So what are you going to do with the place now it’s pretty much a blank canvas?”

“I was hoping we could do it together.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“I know what the boys want so I will start with their rooms first.”

“Oh, John.”

“It will keep me busy.”

John and Faith spoke a great deal about the present, their future wants and needs, not realising the time. “Listen I have to go, the boys are still with George.”

“No worries, I will drop them off later and I will feed them two hungry horses as well if you like?”

“Oh, that sounds great.”

“Well, I will see you later then.”

As she walked off John took her hand and pulled her back to him, locked her in an embrace. “I mean what I say; I want my family back,” he kissed her on the lips.

Later that evening the boys were in bed, Mitch lit the fire and Faith made baileys hot chocolate for them both. “How did it go this afternoon at the farm?”

“Okay, I guess. John has gone to an AA meeting and has an appointment with a shrink next week, I think.”

“Listen Faith, I have come to a decision. I am leaving, moving away to Tasmania.”

“What about me and the boys? What’s going to happen to us, they are just starting to get settled?”

“The truth is they will never be settled here because this isn’t their home. When we spoke a few weeks ago, I said we would stay as friends. I was just kidding myself; I want more, I want more from you but I know you cannot give me what I want because the truth is you have never left John, you’re still in love with him.”

“I do love you.”

“But not in the way I want you to love me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, I just hoped that you would feel the same about me. I have loved you for so long; I lost sight of what really matters to me because I have been so consumed with you.”

“We will move out tomorrow.”

“There is no need to, really. Stay. I will be flying down on Sunday for a few days to check out houses and things, so you have a while yet, to get things sorted with John.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Again, don’t be. I’m going to bed. See you in the morning.”

***

Jake was at the abandoned warehouse by himself. He put together scraps of wood, paper and any other materials that would burn and then set them alight, the flames burned with colour each flare was irresistible appearing majestic consuming whatever it pleased, it had no mind and held no pity. It burned hot and violent. The flames flickered and danced, touched his insides, feeling alive and consumed, he could hear the echoes in the woods, carried on the breeze engulfing and swirling around him.

Their voices calling his name, seeing their faces burning in the flames, one by one they looked into his soul as he consumed them in death, the sweet feeling, he found intoxicating. Driven by the obsessive fantasy, reliving the events in a trance-like state; as he masturbated, the anger and rage built within him. Exploding his seed into the fire, his smile turned to a pleasing grimace allowing the feeling of empowerment settle into his core.

Over the coming weeks and months he became more isolated. Other than his kickboxing lessons, he saw less and less of his friends; he only gave Ella his full attention. It was her and him, against the world. As they grew, his increasing appetite and sexual desire towards her increased, he had taken photos of her and would masturbate obsessively over them imagining her tied up and him, drinking her blood.

In his mind, he didn’t need nor want anyone else. As long as he was with Ella nothing else mattered, they were joined in mind and body. Their first time together in an adult way was truly exceptional, they would be together in their safe space, their den, his fantasies with her were starting to come true.