Chapter Two - We Are Divided
Kathy
Never in her life had she been so successful.
She had Brandon.
She had her body fit and healthy.
She had power.
Kathy was on top of it all, nothing could crush her.
"She still hates me." Brandon said. Kathy's nose wrinkled. Even mentally damaged and hateful, Brandon still pined over the wench. She wanted to snarl, but instead she stayed silent. One thing had changed about herself that she despised:
She was dependant on Brandon. Brandon had changed, both physically and mentally, as they all had. He had joined the football team, filled out more and grew an inch both in height and in the place Kathy liked most. Mentally, he had become smarter, less inclined to think with his penis. This was a bad thing for Kathy, but he had also come to the conclusion that Braelyn inadvertently killed Sam, so he wouldn't go back to her. But Kathy had been working on developing her personality, so as he wouldn't leave her, do to her shallowness. Kathy knew she shallow, but in her defense her shallowness was a survival technique. After all, no one cared if she lived or died.
. . .
"All I'm saying is that someone needs to find him." Kathy entered her shit hole apartment to her mom talking on the phone. "Oh Kathy. Did you hear? Jared's been sighted! I hope they catch him. Oh and your uncle is coming to visit." Kathy's car keys dropped to the ground. Near panic struck her so deep she had to concentrate on standing. "Oh don't look at me like that. Get over it, it happened years ago." Kathy swallowed the fear, swallowed her panic and went to her room.
The flash backs came without hesitation.
"Quit Screaming." He said. "Quit bleeding." He said. "It's not like we haven't done this before. Quit fighting." The doctor said she could never have children.
Never have children.
Never have children.
Kathy whirled, her fist meeting the mirror above her dresser in a cry of agony. The pain felt good, she could think through the pain.
"Get over it? Get over it!? The royal fucking bitch! Have him squirt in your eye and see how it effects you!" She called Brandon because the blood on her knuckles made her want to open a vein.
"I miss you." She said.
"I'm doing homework." He said.
"My mom's a bitch." She said.
"I really can't talk." He said.
"Don't be an asshole." She said.
"Goodbye Kathy, I'll see you tomorrow. I love you." He said.
She simply hung up. And screamed. And cried. And bled.
She bled a lot.
It was the only thing her and Sam ever seemed to have in common. Blood flow and internal struggles.
. . .
"Did you hear?" Brandon said, getting in the car.
"That you're an asshole?"
"No. Jared's been sighted. Someone should tell Brae-"
"If you fucking say her name I will kick your ass out and run you over." Brandon shut up for about 2.5 seconds.
"But aren't you scared? He could come after us!"
"Why would he bother? It's Braelyn he's so enchanted with. He killed Sam because she dared to stand in the way. Let him grab the bitch, I don't care." And she didn't. Braelyn deserved every bad thing that ever happened to her. Sam had been her charge. She was the reason Sam was dead. "I'm not saying I care, she practically killed Sam, but Jared could come back for me, or even you. He hates us." Kathy and Brandon shared a common selfish trait. It was the only thing keeping them together. That, and the sex. "If he does, we can handle it." Kathy promised. Brandon noticed the slash marks. Her pain excited him. "I seem to be developing a problem." Kathy looked over to see the outline of his manhood in his pants. Kathy in her rage, could not deny him. "I hate you." She snarled and pulled into an ally.
. . .
The day was nothing but frightened mutters of Jared's sighting. Two armed guards sat at every entrance. Braelyn James, failed to make an appearence. Misty Marie did not. Misty Nicole Marie, a friend of loyalty, answered questions with a guarded gaze, glaring at those who whispered harsh rumors about the late Sam Yeskis.
"Maybe he's come back to finish the job." One boy suggested. Misty had to be dragged away and the boy didn't finish his lunch. Kathy saw Sam in Misty, saw Sam's careful knowledge and strength. Kathy felt no hatred for Misty, knowing the girl had no problem with Kathy. Still, Misty's protective streak was a mile long and verbally abusing Braelyn was a difficult endeavor. The assembly was called an hour before school let out. Misty, Brandon and Kathy all sat together in the middle of everyone, trying not to be seen. Of course everyone stared.
"Braelyn was a no show." Brandon said.
"She's fine. Or alive. Probably not fine." Misty said.
The assembly began with Sam's death story, and for an hour they listened to a lecture on personal safety, how to stay in groups, not to go out at night alone blah blah blah. They went so far as to bring in a self defense specialist to demonstrate protective procedures. All because of one boy. It was announced that a city wide search for Jared would start tonight, and the Several Neighborhood Watch Groups would take shifts through the nights until Jared was apprehended. Kathy snorted, "They won't catch hi. We all know he's been here the whole time. He was seen because he wanted them to see him." Misty shrugged.
"He can't be that good." Brandon whispered fearfully.
"I bet he's gonna make a move soon." Kathy said.
"There's cops all over the place. Why would he risk getting caught?" Brandon questioned.
"Maybe because he knows he deserves it?" Misty said, eyes not in the present time. Kathy felt a prick of shame, for a moment she had forgotten about Sam. They all wanted revenge, and Kathy personally hoped Braelyn would be taken before someone kills Jared.
"I don't think that's why he's here. Someone should check on Braelyn." Brandon said. Misty stood up.
"I volunteer." She said and walked down the bleachers and out of the gym. Misty's quiet rage made Kathy admire her more.
Misty
Misty felt depleted, like a balloon leaking too much air. The news about Jared made her head spin. Immediately Sam's death was fresh on her skin, the anger and the sorrow making her dizzy. She worried about Braelyn's safety and made sure someone was watching Cynthia's house in the morning before school. Braelyn sent a text.
'I'm fine, I'll check in every hour.'
Misty was grateful, but it didn't stop her from worrying. Jared was known to be devious. Misty knew he could attack anyone, if they were close to Brae. Misty found herself watching her own back as well as everyone else's. She could feel the apprehension in the air. Everyone was tense. They were all waiting for Jared to strike, and the tension kept building, like the calm before a tornado. Misty felt it was too silent, for the entire day, no one joked around or shouted. Fear was rampant, even amongst the adults. Finally Misty couldn't handle the feel of it on her skin. She left the assembly and the school and went to see Braelyn.
"If I get one more concerned phone call, I'm going to scream. They even sent over an officer to check on me! He's actually still there." Braelyn dropped the curtain. Sam's mom looked at her sadly.
"I'm here cause I can't stand everyone's silent stares. You'd think Jared's going to bomb the place or something." Woops. Sam's mom flinched and Braelyn went still. "Shit, sorry guys."
"It's alright dear." Sam's mom tried for a smile but didn't get very far. Braelyn closed her eyes for a moment and waved Misty's comment away. Their fear was different, controlled. Misty sighed and sat on the window seat. All the curtains were drawn and the television was on along with the radio. The silence couldn't bother them.
"He won't come after us. There's too much commotion." Braelyn said. Cynthia shifted.
"He left us a letter last night." Braelyn walked over and squeezed her hand, taking the envelope from the arm of the couch. Her movements were stiff and calculated. She gave Misty the letter and sat down beside Sam's mom.
"He probably won't come after us." She said.
Dearest Braelyn James,
I am unsure of how to begin. The anniversary of my first murder will be in 3 weeks. I killed her. She was kind to me, tried to understand my un-tameable anger, and I killed her. I will never be able to rectify what I have done. I owe you a life. I still love you, although you cannot possibly love me.
I'm sorry for what I have taken.
-Jared Rinaldi
Misty's initial response is anger.
"He's sorry? Sorry?! Are you fucking kidding me?" She didn't know how to control the cacophony of emotion rolling through her bloodstream. Braelyn just stood up and walked out of the room. Silence can be in the soul, and Misty wanted to rip the paper apart.
"How do you forgive someone for taking a life?" Cynthia's voice sounded small and frightened, like a small rabbit. Misty didn't think the answer was in the carpet. Her hands curled around the paper in absolute rage.
"I don't think you're supposed to forgive them. Even if they're sorry. It's unforgivable."
"Sam would forgive him." Misty shut her eyes tight against the pain, throat constricting with tears.
"Yeah, she would."That was the worst part. Misty couldn't hate him for what he had done, because Sam would bare no anger for it. Misty tried for anger, wanted the anger back, but only felt sorrow. Anger was easier to deal with.
"Do you think there's a heaven?" Misty questioned, passing the bottle to Braelyn. They were sitting on Sam's bed, sharing a water bottle filled with a drink called Apple Pie.
"I think we want there to be a heaven. Mostly because we fear death." Brae took a small sip, eyes on Sam's many pictures she had taken herself. Some were very good, pictures taken of birds in the Autumn air, fallen leaves brightly orange and red. Misty felt warm and bright in this basement. The cheerfulness wasn't grating, it was comforting, smiling faces unposed, mixed up with snapshots of everyday life.
"I want there to be a heaven." Misty said.
"Why?" Braelyn was curious, not condescending.
"So that Sam is safe somewhere. I hope she's not scared or alone. I hope she's happy."
"She's happy. She has to be." Braelyn said. "She's smiling at us, wherever she is."