Love of a Stranger
Ob1MegOb1

Chapter 14

(Jasmine)

Two days. Two days had passed and the only words we had exchanged were Good Moring and Good Evening. I had hurt him, I must have. Why else would we be avoiding each other. I had hurt him, and I had been scared of him. Scared of him?

I sat back against the willow tree in the yard. Banging the back of my head several times against the trunk. Why did men have to be so infuriating? They always did the damnest things. Like fight for our protection. Well what happens if they die while fighting for us? Who will protect us then?

Then again I knew in my heart that was not the reason I had been afraid of him. I had been afraid of him because he had shouted at me. He had shouted at me just like Paul had when he was angry at me. Maybe I had gotten scared because a fist was going to follow the anger. But it hadn't. And yet still I had fled.

(Erik)

Two days. Two days I had been stuck in this damned uncomfortable atmosphere. What had I done? What on Earth had I done to make her afraid of me. I hadn't entranced her, killed anyone, or even hurt her physically. Maybe I had acted stupidly yes, but no more than any other male.

I stopped in midthought. Had that really passed through my mind? I shook it trying to clear it of all the ridiculous thoughts that had passed through my mind. But as I walked through the hallway I could see her sitting out there. Her head leaned againt the tree her eyes closed in concentration, and her hands clenching each other nervously.

(Jasmine)

I unclenched my hands and just sighed very very inwardly. I don't know why I'm so upset about this. I mean, what was I afraid of? Thats what William and even my four year old sister had been trying to tell me and yet their words were meaning nothing to me.

Well, maybe not nothing but they certainly weren't absorbing into my brain. All my family had wanted for me was happiness and even now they put themselves before me. Something I had never enjoyed them doing.

It was then I heard the outside door close and yet no sound of footsteps. I sighed only knowing that could be one person.

(Erik)

She knew I was there, standing there in the stupidest position waiting for me to say something, apologetic, kind, I don't know. And yet I stood there and no words came. I only turned on my heel and walked away. And as I looked back I saw her head drop in disappointment. I only closed my eyes walking further and further into the forest surrounding the house. I wanted to get away from all the gawking eyes and the uncomfortable silences. I needed to be alone. And yet God would not even allow me that.

"Erik!" a familiar voice called. I turned to see William walking through the brush. He looked at me curiosity in his eyes, "Where are you going Erik?"

"No where," I answered huskily.

"Well in that case," William said bounding forward, "Allow me to accompany you."

I only stared at him for several moments but that did not seem to phase the stubborn boy. I only shook my head, "If you wish."

(Jasmine)

He walked away. I got up getting away from the dreadful place and all the time thinking. He had walked away not even willing to say hello, good day, anything at all. I kept one hand on the house walls so I would not wander too far away. It was then I heard the sound of footsteps once again and I turned in anticipation. Maybe he had come back, maybe he had found the words to speak after all.

But suddenly a pair of rough hands grabbed my shoulders and pushed me down onto the hard paved walkway. I attempted to cry out but a hand covered my mouth stifling the scream. I scraped at the hand but to no avail. The hands only pushed down harder the more I resisted. I reached up and my hand scraped against...no it couldn't be! It was the edge of a mask.

(Erik)

"You know skulking around in the forest is not going to help you get her talking again." Will said annoyingly behind me.

"And what makes you think I want her talking again?" I said continue to push forward.

"Is it because she was addicted to morphine?" he suddenly blurted out.

(Jasmine)

My heart filled with terror at the feeling of the mask against my fingertips. My horror was suddenly filled with fear as the person's strong fingers enclosed around my throat. Suddenly my breaths became labored and it felt like the whole world was closing in around me. Sounds began to fade in and out and it seemed that no matter how much I clawed at his fingers the hand only clenched tighter. And then all sense of breathing was gone. And slowly all sound faded into nothing.

(Erik)

I turned and glared at the naive boy in front of me. "Believe it or not William it has nothing to do with the fact she had an addiction. And believe it or not I am not the one who started this vow of silence we seem to have taken."

He turned away groaing in annoyance, "I know your not to blame. I blame Paul and Ev, in fact I blame everyone except my two sisters. And you of course."

I looked at him that maturity slowly spreading in his eyes. I suddenly sensed that there was more behind this story than anyone was letting on, but before I could even attempt to ask a shattering scream split the air. William looked at me fear in his eyes, "That was Aunt Ev."

We suddenly found ourselves racing towards the house and what we found there made my heart turn cold. There was Jasmine extremely still and pale, her face pale and unmoving and worst of all. She wasn't breathing.

"My god," Will said and as we came within a few feet of her Paul and Elizabeth came racing over. Elizabeth was clutching a bowl of water and a few rags. "We sent for the doctor Ev," Paul said clutching her shoulder.

"Do you have the smelling salts," she said calmly, "I'm hoping this will be enough." She then placed the salts beneath her nose and I prayed to anything holy that she would wake up.

(Jasmine)

Suddenly I was jumpstarted back into reality. My chest burned with the need for air and my throat felt like it had been ripped out and put back in again. I felt comforting hands all over my body but my hands kept pushing them away. Until I felt the pair I was looking for. My brother's.

(Erik)

"Its okay Jas" Will kept saying, "Your going to be okay." Her eyes seemed so fearful and her body movements were extremely erratic and she seemed to have no idea what had happened to her.

"My god," Elizabeth muttered, "Look at her throat," she said pointing and it was then I saw the bruises in the shape of a hand on her pale skin. My blood boiled beyond control. Who the hell did this and why? My eyes immediately turned towards that of Paul but he only glared back at me.

"Why are you looking at me monster?" he said smirking, "I didn't do this."

"Thats not helping either of you," William said.

"Wait look," Elizabeth said reaching beside where Jasmine's body had been. And then my blood froze at what was there. A red rose with a black ribbon. And then all accusatory eyes turned towards me.

TBC
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