01. The Hook Man

*Author's note: Important information for story Point-of-View can be found here.*

Another rainy day, I thought to myself as I sat watching the water streak down my bedroom window for the third week in a row. It seemed to rain all the time in Fremont regardless of season. They say it’s one of the few things this town is known for and had I known that little fact before applying to West Valley Tech I’d have quickly withdrawn my financial aid. I checked my bags one last time as I waited for my best friend Jemma to come and pick me up.

She and a small group of friends had the bright idea to plan a little trip over the holidays as a means to let off some steam thanks to recent classes kicking our collective ass. When she invited me along I thought it would be fun to head off to Cancun for a little sun and sand and hot guys in swim trunks. Except their plans reflected something much different than I had in mind; hiking, fishing and sleeping out in the woods in this weather? Yeah it was a great time to go camping. The idea of trekking into the mountains for a little canoeing or perhaps even white-water rafting was not my idea of a good time.

Breaking news out of Chester County the recent weather has caused severe flooding in the Launder, Graham, and Fisher areas. Reports are still coming in about multiple downed power lines and trees cluttering the streets as well as other debris. Police are cautioning all residents in the area and asking that they remain inside their homes until the storm lets up. Great. Even the radio was telling us not to go. I closed my eyes and leaned back in my seat as I thought about a fun trip to the beach instead. A nice, cool drink in my hand as the sound of the ocean soothed me to sleep. I could almost feel the sun on my face. My reverie was interrupted by the sound of a car horn blaring obnoxiously outside my dorm room. 

The door to the common room opened and I heard footsteps quickly pound up the stairs and down the hall. “You ready?” Jemma asked hurriedly entering my door with a grunt. She took off her sunglasses and I looked up at her and frowned. Her abruptness normally isn’t such a problem for me. Being friends since high school I’d grown used to her ‘hurry up and wait’ behavior but not today.

Today she was dragging me off into a possible storm and I had some concerns to say the least about who all was going. “It’s nice to see you too Jem.”

“Oh, right hey.” She waved and trotted over to my mirror, leaned into it and fixed her hair without a second glance in my direction. I don’t even know why she bothers. As long as I’ve known her she’s never had a hair out of place. 

Her flawlessly smooth skin was always made up with the right touches of makeup that made her baby blue eyes sparkle like diamonds and her lips appear plump and kissable. Jemma had a dancer’s body and never failed to make guys’ tongues wag after her.

I, on the other hand, was very different. All my life, I’ve been the ‘best friend’ who felt out of place at parties and outings when I was the only one without a date. No one ever gave me a second look and I would pretend as if it didn’t hurt that I seemed to be invisible to everyone else. My mother would tell me I had personality and that’s what mattered. Yet I never understood why so many others seemed to have been blessed with beauty while I was doomed to be as bland as cardboard. I was lucky enough to get my Father’s chocolate brown hair and green eyes but that was where the good traits ended. It wasn’t so bad I suppose; I should be grateful it was all I got. 

I was the shortest of my family, standing just barely at 5’2”. Freckles dotted my nose which looked and felt too big for my face. Since age ten I wore braces that kept me from smiling for fear of reflecting light off of them and blinding the person I was speaking to. I guess in a way I should be grateful since I did end up with a nice set of teeth once I lost them and the headgear. Still I can’t help but wonder if that’s what attributed to my shyness. “Hey yourself.” I replied, leaning back in my chair with my arms folded against my chest. 

“You’re not ready to go? I called you over an hour ago!”

“Yeah but that was before the weather took a turn for the worse!” 

“It’s only rain Abby! A little water never hurt anyone.” Except the people that have drowned I thought as she sauntered over to where I sat.

I looked over her attire, skin-tight jean shorts and a sweater that barely covered her cleavage. She had legs that a super model would kill for and they stopped just barely behind a pair of leather hiking boots. “You do know we’re going out into the woods right? You’re not exactly dressed appropriately for camping.” 

“Not you too Mom. Look, I have plenty of longer clothes in my bags which are waiting for us in the trunk of my car. I only wanted to look nice for when we arrived,” she grinned and I knew what that meant. “It’ll be fine, just bring your bathing suit and let’s roll. Beryl Lake waits for no man…or woman,” Jemma smiled as she snatched my bag from beside my bed and started towards the door.

“Jemma!” I called remembering the news report. There was no way I was trudging through mud. “There’s a flood watch in Chester County.” 

“That’s ok, we’re heading in the opposite direction towards Wayland, well away from the flooding and thunderstorms Abby, I promise you have absolutely NOTHING to worry about. Now come on move your ass. Knox is coming and I want to make sure I set up my tent right next to his.” She wiggled her eyebrows quickly and gave me that little smile of hers she does when she’s cooking up a plan.

So that was the real reason she’s dragging me fifty miles out into the woods? Just what I needed, even more reason to feel like the 3^rd wheel. “Fine,” I sighed and started out behind her. It was only going to be for a week. I suppose I could survive without my computer for that long. Shutting off the lights, I locked my door and headed downstairs. Several students milled about the lounge on the arcade games and pool table and still more sitting in front of the television. 

I guess I won’t miss the noise that seemed to float beneath my door at night while I was trying to sleep. Maybe a peaceful trip to the woods would be just what the doctor ordered. Giving one last look at the rowdy pack of students, I smiled to myself and shut the door as another news report flashed on the television.

Breaking news out of Wayland County. Police are on the lookout for this man, Charles Garrett, who they say escaped from a state mental institution earlier this morning during one of the blackouts. Garrett was being held for evaluation for an upcoming murder trial where police say he butchered several families along the I-95. He is considered armed and dangerous and citizens are being asked to avoid him at all costs and to call authorities immediately if they see him. 

The drive up was nice. Red and gold leaves plastered the ground announcing the arrival of cooler winter weather. The smell of pine rolled over the breeze coupled with the scent of a fresh rain that I was happy to have none of. As Jemma said, Wayland was behind the storm so surprisingly enough the streets weren’t dripping wet from rain; the first I’ve seen since moving to Fremont. 

“Jemma, you made it!” Chazz smiled as he rushed down a winding dirt path towards us. Dust kicked up behind him as he headed down and wrapped his arms around Jem in a tight hug. He looked up slightly and caught sight of me and gave me a short head nod in greeting. “We’re setting up near the main path; let me get that for you.” Grabbing her bags he turned towards the camp. Realizing I was still struggling with my overnight and a rolling bag, he slung her duffel over his shoulder and scooped mine up in both his hands.

“Oh gee, thanks,” I replied sarcastically to which he sighed. Yeah, I’m always that friend. I’m not pretty enough for men to hold open doors for me but I am smart enough they’ll so thoughtfully allow me to do their homework for them. Just once I wished a guy could at least have the decency to pretend as if my feelings mattered even if the only reason they spoke to me was to get close to Jem.

“Coming Abby?” Jemma called out to me and I realized I’d been too caught up in imagining the many ways Chazz could injure himself for my amusement that I’d completely zoned out. I caught up to her and she linked arms with me as we walked along towards the path.

We were the last to arrive at the campsite and I watched as Jem pouted noticing Zach had set his tent up beside Knox with Chazz on the other side. “Cheer up,” I grinned, trying my best to swallow my laughter. “I don’t snore too loudly.” Chazz placed our bags in the empty section on the left side of the fire pit and we immediately went to work pitching our tents.

Sticking a cigarette between his lips, Chazz took a seat on a log behind Jemma and watched eagerly as she bent over to unfold her pack. My eyes rolled at him before I got to work on my own gear. There were seven of us in total. Roland Jones, the loud and somewhat imposing basketball star of NWT’s Eagles came along with his girlfriend Evian Parker.

There were the two friends Knox Addison, the super hot but extremely dense football jock Jemma currently found herself crushing on and Zach Ridgeway, hometown boy and Architectural Design major. And then rounding out the group was Chazz Barker the obnoxious, inappropriate, stoner from the state of California with an enormous ego; no matter the situation, Chazz was always looking for a good time.

Evian, the girl whose parents named her after water, dropped her bags after seeing me fighting with the poles on my tent and came over to help. “Thanks,” I smiled as we finally wrestled our large, canvas foe into submission. With that done it was time to get a few things unpacked and settled in. Night was approaching soon and the last thing I wanted was to have to challenge my already crappy eyesight to find my night clothes.

“We’re gonna need firewood for later,” I heard Knox yell from his corner of the campgrounds. Four guys in the group and none of them thought to gather this one essential item earlier?

“I’ll grab some,” I tossed back at him, shaking my head in frustration that it wasn’t already taken care of. I dropped my suitcase inside my tent and zipped it up before grabbing a small hatchet and heading off into the woods. Although I had been against the idea of camping, it was nothing new to me. As a kid my dad would take me on outdoorsy adventures all the time and I found myself growing accustomed to the sometimes creepy noises one would hear in such settings.

But every place was different and Fremont had its own mix of exotic creatures that called this forest home. Tonight should prove pretty interesting. Stopping at the roots of a sugar maple tree, I reached up as far as I could and began chopping at a few of its low hanging branches.

Although it’s no hickory, maple trees have some of the best coaling abilities for firewood. I collected more than I could carry, making sure I had enough for the night from this one tree, and dropped the hatchet to the ground in order to bind the wood together. “Hey, it’s Abby right?” A guy’s voice startled me from behind. So hard at task I apparently tuned out the world around me, making it easy for him to sneak up on me.

I dropped the pile of wood I’d gathered and turned around to find it was Zach, one of the cutest guys at West Valley. I’m not sure how long I stood there staring at him with my mouth opened, drooling like a numbed dental patient trying to will myself to speak. But it was long enough that he had to repeat his question as he moved a step closer towards me. “Did I get that right? Abby?” 

“I…uh…y-yeah it’s…” I started, stammering like a horny teen caught with his dick in a vacuum hose. “Abby, that’s me, yes.” Idiot; he knows that already say something else. My hands were sweating streams and all I wanted to do was find a nice big rock and curl beneath it. The massive fluttering of the butterflies in my stomach was enough to cause a few tsunamis in Japan. My lips parted to speak but nothing came out. I felt my throat tighten as he stared at me with those amazing blue eyes of his that seemed to sparkle even beneath the setting sun. “Zach,” I pointed at him as if he didn’t know his own name. “What…did you need something?” FINALLY!

“Not really. Roland said you were out here gathering firewood and I just thought it was strange none of the guys came with you to help.” He moved closer and knelt down at the stack of wood I’d dropped and collected it once again into a pile. “You can head back I can carry this for you.”

“Why? You don’t think I’m fully capable of taking care of it myself?” Where the hell did that come from? He’s only trying to help, shut up stupid! “I-I mean…”

“Actually, Abby, I think you’re very capable. You were after all the only person ever to answer Dr. Franklin’s Impossibility Theorem.”

Shit! He knows stuff about me? Why? Again I found my tongue was like a thrown anchor plummeting to the bottom of my mouth and all I could do was just smile and nod. I picked up some of the wood too and started back towards camp. “Thank you.” I managed once we delivered our load beside the pit. Quickly I hurried off in the direction of my tent. I could feel Zach’s eyes burning holes in my back as I moved and I prayed I didn’t trip and fall flat on my face while he watched.

I finished getting my clothes ready for bed as night fell. The smell of the sugar maple was nice as Roland started the fire. Everyone had gathered around the pit roasting hotdogs and marshmallows; dinner for the evening. Chazz had very graciously supplied the alcohol for the trip; bringing along a 165-quart cooler of beer and other wine coolers that he bragged would keep cold for a full week. Inside one of the suitcases he lugged up the hill were a few bottles of Jack, Jimmy and Jose as well as a few bags of herbs he’d cultivated for the trip.

Pulling out one of the dime sized plastic slips to roll a blunt, a large box of condoms fell to the ground beneath his bag causing a few stares in his direction. “Who brings condoms to the woods?” Jemma grunted in disgust at Chazz.

“Someone looking to hookup,” he winked back at her before bringing the paper to his lips to seal. Jemma tried to hide her smile but failed. It was obvious to me that even though she treated him like a ‘loser stoner’ as she often called him, she enjoyed the many times he had her bent over his Ms. Pac-man arcade game screaming bloody murder. The condoms in all seriousness were probably because he was expecting to take a roll in her downy heaven during the trip. Little did he know she was hoping to make the moves on someone else herself.

Zach glanced at me from across the fire and I quickly diverted my attention to the bottle in my hands. From the corner of my eye I saw him stand and start over towards me. He whispered something in Knox’s ear before he moved causing me to check and make sure my shirt was clean and there were no unsightly food particles on my face.

Zach took a seat beside me with a sigh and started talking but I couldn’t hear a word he said. My eyes were too focused on his lips; beautiful, plump and full. They gave away to a gorgeous smile that brought about one of my own and gave me a glimpse of his perfect teeth. To be that bottle as it touches his lips…I wonder what it must be like to kiss him; so soft yet mixed with his male aggressiveness. 

But who am I kidding? At twenty-one I had never had a boyfriend let alone been kissed by anyone outside of a peck here and there from my parents. And the only time I came close was a college kegger Jemma had dragged me to where I found myself trapped beneath the stale beer breath of a drunken fraternity brother. The only thing that stopped that train wreck of a night was his weak stomach and too much booze.

“What do you think?” Dammit! I was too occupied with my daydream to hear the rest and now he was looking at me again with those gorgeous oceans of his waiting on my answer.

“I…um…what?” He laughed and those earlier butterflies soon returned. Oh my gosh the sound of that laugh, full of his husky tone and so robust. It was a genuine chuckle, one that made his eyes smile and his mouth open wider. Me, on the other hand, I was much too embarrassed by my sudden case of air headedness to join in on the fun.

“I asked if it would be alright if you and Knox switched tents. He has this thing for Jemma and he was hoping to be a little closer to her. If you’re not cool with it it’s fine. He just wanted me to ask.”

Ah so that’s what the whispering was about. “Oh yeah that’s fine. Jem was basically telling me the same thing on the drive up.” Wait, shit. No. That means that my tent will be right next to his? But I snore! And of course he’ll hear it and think a bear’s attacking me. And then handsome and brave Zach will come rushing to my rescue only to find it’s just a geek with a postnasal drip and asthma.

“Cool. If you want I can help you move your stuff a little later.” Right, yeah I want you seeing my oversized granny panties fall out of my opened suitcase; no thank you.

“I can manage.” I smiled hoping I didn’t come across as bitchy like before. “Thanks for the offer though.” I quickly added to soften my words. He smiled at me and in hopes of coming off demure and mysterious I leaned forward with a smile of my own. 

But I leaned too much as it would seem. I squeezed my abdomen tight and it got the bright idea I wanted to burp as loud as possible right in Zach’s face! Oh sweet baby Jesus if there is a God in heaven please unleash a flood of biblical proportions to wash away this embarrassment. My face, I’m sure, resembled the backside of a peeled beet and I turned away from him hurriedly. A beer burp, how incredibly demure, Abby!

But before I could climb my way inside the bottle in my hand, Knox stood and walked in front of the fire. “Alright kiddies, the time has come. Night’s fallen, Halloween’s approaching and the ghost and ghouls are out to play. So who gets the pleasure of our first story?” he asked, looking over all of our faces before finally stopping on me. “Abigail Carmichael!”

“Me?” I swallowed hard to get past the lump that had formed in my throat as everyone turned to glare at me. Suddenly I felt like the smallest creature in the forest. What is this? Pick on Abby night? If so someone forgot to give me the memo. “I’m not very good at telling stories.”

“That’s ok Abby, it’s just for fun,” Jemma smiled encouragingly as six pairs of eyes remained focused in my direction.

“Uh…sure, ok. What kind of story do I tell?”

“Something scary; let’s see if you have what it takes to give all of us a few nightmares,” Knox goaded as he took a seat on one of the logs beside the fire. Again I swallowed hard and stood to make my way to the front of the group.

With a deep breath I thought about some of the tales my dad and I would tell on some of our camping trips before finally deciding on the one that always made me shiver in fear. “I have one, and it’s pretty chilling so hold on to your seats.” I smiled feeling confident as their focus now became whatever horror tale I cooked up. “Prepare yourselves friends, the night’s about to become frightening!”

“Candace will you relax? No one’s going to find us out here,” Jake leaned over trying his best to calm her nerves. Here he was at Make-Out point with THE hottest girl in school and all she could do was fidget with his vanity mirror trying to fix her makeup. “You look great, you always do Babe.”

She smiled at him and ran her tongue over her lips wetting them and causing a stir in his pants. Fuck, what he’d give to have those lips wrapped around his Johnson until he exploded in that beautiful mouth of hers. Pushing the mirror up and out of the way, Jake pulled her closer against his side until the scent of her cherry lip balm wafted into his nose. Candace put her hand on his thigh and started moving it slowly back and forth. That ache between his legs started to grow and he felt his pants constrict almost instantly. 

Reaching up, he ran his thumb across her lower lip and she moaned as she sucked it into her mouth. Her tongue flicked across the tip and she winked at him, giving him more ideas about that sweet mouth of hers. Jake leaned closer and trailed his hand up her chest and suddenly she jerked away. “Did you hear that?” she asked glancing back through the rear window. Candace covered her heart with her hand as she peered through the tint towards the back of the car but couldn’t see anything.

“It’s just the wind Babe, nothing to be afraid of.” Jake assured her and gripped the back of her head smashing her lips into his. Opening his mouth a little, he could feel her tongue slip across his teeth and he greedily sucked on it as her hands rubbed through his hair. She slipped her hand into his lap and expertly fished his rod out of his pants. Slowly her hand worked its magic and he moaned as she stroked his shaft, their tongues still swirling around each other’s mouths. 

Fog formed on the windows until neither could see outside as the fire between them heated up. The wind howled, shaking the car and Candace pushed herself closer against Jake’s chest as if hiding herself from the sound. And just when her rhythm caught speed she stopped and jumped away from him. “There it is again!” she yelled and Jake groaned; this was becoming frustrating to say the least. “Jake, someone is out there.”

“Candace it’s probably just some horny teens fooling around. This is a popular make-out spot you know?” Turning the key in the ignition, he locked all the doors and scanned the channels on his radio for some mood music. Jake had this fish on the line and she was not about to get away from him. “There. See, all better,” he grinned and snaked his hand up her skirt, making quick work of her panties.

Her tongue touched his again as she started to relax and he took the opportunity to cross over into her seat, struggling to get the condom on. Breaking news from the Fox Hunt Asylum for the Criminally Insane, police are reporting convicted murderer David Groves has just escaped. Groves was scheduled for execution for his crimes in the upcoming trial set for November. Groves is said to have a stainless steel hook in place of his missing right hand. Should anyone spot this man, we are urging you to contact the local authority immediately. Do not attempt to detain this man on your own. We now return to…

Jake hit the button for a saved channel and got back to the music before Candace let her imagination go crazy. She was already hearing things; the last thing he wanted was for her to think she was in some sort of danger too. “Now where were we?” He could feel the heat of her body as he moved nearer to penetration, the tip of his rod inching ever closer as the music blared in the speakers around them.

Candace pushed her hands into his chest bracing herself and suddenly her eyes opened wide with fear. “Jake wait! Wait! I can still hear it. It’s like a scratching noise outside the door!”

“Candace Baby I’m right here, I don’t hear anything.” Truth be told all he could hear was the pounding of his heart as he was seconds away from touching down on Candace’s sex. “Trust me, no one is out there.”

“Yes there is!” She demanded and shoved him harder until his ass hit the dashboard.

Jake growled aloud and backed off into his seat as he fixed his pants. “Fine I’ll go and check it out alright?”

“But what if it’s him?”

“Him who?”

“That nutcase from the looney bin is who!”

“That’s impossible. He broke out of that place this afternoon. With the cops looking for him and everyone on the lookout I’m sure he’s miles away from here by now.” He smiled at her but the fright in her eyes didn’t seem to fade one bit. “I’ll go see for you ok? Then when I get back, we can try this again.”

“No I just want to go home.”

“Candace come on, I’m telling you there’s nothing out there.”

“Take me home now Jake!” 

“Ugh fine!” He jerked his pants completely over his hips and slammed the car into reverse. It didn’t take long before they were pulling up to her place and the color to her face had finally returned. Jake could see the lights were on inside; her parents must have been up and waiting, so much for a clean getaway.  

“Thank you,” she smiled and gently pecked his cheek before climbing out and reaching to close the door behind her. Before Jake could get the car in gear again, Candace pierced his window with a scream loud enough to wake the dead and he quickly hopped out and rushed to her side. Instantly she fell against his chest as his eyes went down the passenger side door to what she was frantically pointing towards. 

There, lodged in the handle of his door was a long metal hook, stained in blood.

Continue ---->

*Author's note: If you want more of the Zach and Abigail saga, be sure and check out The Midnight Kiss.*