Monsters' Gift (Crude Hill High 2)

“This isn’t funny,” Caleb said.

“I’m offering you the chance of a lifetime and this is all the thanks I get?” Earl rolled his eyes.

“You can’t kill her,” I said. This had to be number one for Ashley. If she was to die, it would kill Emily, I just knew it.

Earl chuckled. “I want to take her cherry not kill her.”

“We know the games you play,” Vadik said.

“No, you know the women I sell. I’ve never killed a woman.”

“No one can kill her. Ashley has to stay alive.”

“You know I can just take this girl.”

“And we’d fight you because we’d do that for Emily,” I said.

Earl looked at me. “I thought you were the crazy one.”

“Emily loves her. They’re still together even after all this time. There is no fighting that.”

He sighed. “I don’t like this.”

“It’s the only arrangement we’ll make,” Caleb said.

Earl stared at us. Seconds passed.

“Fine. Ashley will stay alive. I have no plans to kill her. But, and this is the big but, you will entertain Emily while I get her. She belongs to me. I want time with her alone, away from prying eyes.”

“Emily will want to see her.” I had to make sure Emily got what she wanted.

Earl ran a hand down his face and shook his head. “I get six months with Ashley before any visiting.”

“A month,” I said.

Caleb sent me a sharp look. They clearly hadn’t seen the connection between Emily and Ashley, but I had. I knew what was at stake. They could all take the credit, but I had to make sure she was taken care of.

“Not a chance. Five.”

“Two.”

“Four,” Earl said.

I stared at him.

“Two, and you get to bring her here and leave when you want.”

“Even if Ashley tries to convince you to let her go, you will make sure she leaves with me,” Earl said.

“If she wants to leave you, then you should think about the women you keep,” Caleb said.

“Deal,” Earl said. “Now, I don’t like to wait around. I want Ashley and I want her now. Let’s go and fetch our women, boys.”

****

Emily

“You’re nervous,” Ashley said.

We’d met up for coffee at a nice café. I’d decided to sit outside while she went to order for us. She returned with coffee and doughnuts. I nibbled on a piece of a doughnut, not really impressed with the texture of it in my mouth. It was a little cakey for my liking.

“I’m fine.”

“Emily, stop lying to me. You think I haven’t noticed the change in you? I have. I can see it, and I bet everyone else can as well. This isn’t good for you.”

I let out a sigh. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Tell me what is wrong,” she said.

When I was sure everyone around us wasn’t assassins or Earl’s buddies, I turned back to Ashley. “Do you ever get the sense you’re being watched?”

“Is this some paranormal stuff? Like ghosts?”

“No, not like that.”

“I need you to elaborate, Em.”

“Like people are watching us. Familiar faces that are always there.”

“We have work colleagues, and we’ve been living here for seven years. I’m sure we’re going to experience that.” She frowned. “I don’t understand what the problem is.”

I dropped my hands to the table, spreading out my fingers. “I don’t know. Ugh. Ever since Earl came, I’ve felt it.” I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling the hairs stand on end. There was also a twist in my gut I didn’t like. Not one bit.

“What is it?” she asked.

“He came to warn me, and I don’t know. Something feels off about this whole thing.”

“You’re starting to scare me,” Ashley said. She took a long sip of her coffee and licked her fingers. “Your paranoia aside, I will be late tonight. I’ve got the late shift and also, Ronald has offered to show me how to make his Yorkshire puddings. I can’t wait. Mine are always coming out so dry and flat.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Really.”

“Come on. I want to make everything perfect for Christmas dinner.”

“We’re months away.”

“Nothing wrong with preparing in advance. Anyway, don’t worry when I come in late.”

“Oh, is this like a date date?”

“Ew, no. You do remember Ronald is married with three kids, right?”

“Right, yes, sorry.”

“My mom may have been a cheater. I’m not one of them.” Ashley sat back, her face pale.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to … insinuate.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not. This is all my fault.” I felt bad now. I tried to never bring her mother up as it was full of bad memories. Her mother was a cheater, not that my father was any better. I reached across the table, taking her hands in mine. “I’m really sorry.”

Ashley pulled away. “I need to get to work.” She stood up and I watched her gather her bag.

“Ash, please, don’t leave like this.”

“I’m fine. I can forget for the most part, you know. She uprooted us, and I was more than happy to go along. I knew her man was married, and if it hadn’t been for that, I wouldn’t have met you.”