Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Matt and Sally followed Laura and Jake back to the house. Lori had to squint to see through the white haze that had thickened even more since they were out earlier. Matt had his high beams on behind her, which only made it more difficult to see the road. Lori slowed down as she turned on the old ranch road. Remembering the accident again, her vision was cut down to about 10 feet.

Now she creeps along at 25 miles an hour, gripping the steering wheel. Matt was obnoxiously hawking his horn at her from behind. I wish he would knock it off. The fog is too thick. I can't see anything. She exclaimed, anxious to get to Jake's house. You want me to drive? Jake offered. My parents would kill me if they found out I let someone else drive. Besides, we're almost there, she said. All of a sudden, the car came to a jarring stop going. Lori and Jake. Forward. Lori screamed as mats brakes screeched loudly from behind. The jeep slid to a stop less than two feet behind her. Matt stuck his head out of the window and yelled angrily, Hey, what's the deal, Lori? Everything was dark. Total darkness, thick, dark branches covered the windshield of her car. The tree. It was back on the road. Jake scrambled out of the car and got to the giant wall of pines before them. Oh, my God. Someone pulled it back across the road. He yelled. Lori was freaking out. Totally freaking out. They all got out of their cars and stood staring and horrified fascination at the tree. Sally had close to Matt. I thought you guys said the police moved it to the side of the road. They did. But it's back. Lori cried. Sally gasped, but lowered. Jake's face became pale. Michael Meyers? He whispered. Sally screamed.

Don't even say that, Jake. Don't even speak his name. What if he's out there right now and he hears us? OK. Just talk down all of you.

Matt ordered his heart pounding with fear. There's got to be a logical explanation for all of this. Matt heard his own voice. But the logical explanation didn't enter his brain. He looked forward out at the forest, but he saw nothing. Fog, still white fog. He kept telling himself focused. Matt, focus. He pulled himself together mentally right now. We need to move the tree out of the way. We can do it if we work together. Lori, go back your car off of the branches, please. Let's just turn around and go back to town. Lori whined Matt ignored her. Come on, Lori, move your car. He was starting to feel pretty spooked himself. The fog felt as if it were closing in on him. Matt backed up his car onto the shoulder while Murray followed the branches crackling as she crunched over them. The four of them grabbed the end of the tree in Strange Drag, its Sally Ride. It's too heavy. But she's turned around, like Lori said. A rumbling filled the air and the ground seemed to vibrate. A pair of blinding lights filled the foggy road, a deafening roar and blasted as an 18 wheeler barreled down the road toward them. Jake screamed. Paul. Paul, the horn blared again. The steel cab of the truck closing in on them. The trees still blocking the two lane road. The truck driver must have seen the tree blocking the road. But it was too late to stop Paul using all their combined strength. They dragged the tree off the shoulder as the monstrous truck swept by just inches from where they stood. The ruching backdraft nearly knocked them over. They fell on the trunk of the tree. It was dead silent. As if nothing had happened. Jake sighed. Whoa. That was weird. Really weird. It's pretty early. You guys still want to come over? We got some beer in the fridge. Matt stood up, brushing the pine needles off his pants. Now you're talking. We could all use a cold one right about now, he said. Lori wasn't into drinking beer. In fact, she hated the bitter taste. But she certainly didn't want to be alone right now. No way. None of them wanted to be alone. Jake, open the front door and let everyone inside turning on the lights as they walk to the big house. Bigger than Lori remembered. Matt looks around trying to take in all the unusual decor and the antique furnishings. Wow. This is some place you got here, Jake. Are you rich or something? Jake flipped on the stereo system and slid into Hard Rock, S.D.. My parents do all right.

They're always buying and selling rare antiques and art collections. But we're not millionaires or anything, he said. Killer sound system. Sally Yelle running your hand across one of the four foot high speakers. Check this out. She said, opening the cabinet on the big screen TV. Matt stared at the giant screen. You ever watch sports? He asked Jake. Yeah, a little. I mostly watch the big games. You know, Jake said, man, you could have some Super Bowl party at this place. Invite me over some time, buddy. Jake nodded. Sure thing. Any time. Hey, who wants a beer? Me drive. Matt and Sally at the same time. Laurie followed Jake into the modern kitchen with blacked out flaws in a matching black refrigerator. Sally and Matt went off exploring the unusual house. Laurie leaned against the cold counter and smiled at Jake. Just a minute. He told her he picked up the cordless phone from the counter and dialed the police department. After a minute or so, he set the phone back in its cradle. That's funny, he muttered. What's funny? Laurie asked. The recording said that all circuits were busy. I'll try again. He said this, holding the phone on his shoulder as he opened the fridge. Laurie, help Jake pour the beer into crystal glasses, which were the only ones she could find. He hung up the phone again, looking even more puzzled. It's still busy. This is weird. Laurie held up the glass to the light. First class, she commented. Now, those are just glasses. Your first class? He told her Smiley. She took a sip of beer and made a face. Can I have a soda instead? She asked. Jake grabbed the color from a drawer in the fridge. Here you go. He said thanks. She said, peering out the kitchen window into the darkness. What happened out there tonight? She turned to Jake, who had joined her reflection in the glass, and she continued. I mean, trees can fall, but they don't get up and move. We know someone did it. Who? Why? Jake's expression became serious. You don't want to know what I'm thinking. He said that she knew what he was thinking is impossible, as it seemed. She knew who he was talking about. Lori shuddered, turning away from the window. Oh, Jake, it can't be. It couldn't have been. She stopped yourself before. She said his name aloud. But the name repeated over and over in her mind. Michael Meyers, the boogey man, never dies. Jake said nothing. What did he say or do? He touched your face gently. Don't worry. We're safe here. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise. He leaned down and kissed her softly. Lori wanted to think he was crazy. Crazy for believing. But she knew he was not crazy. What if he was right? Jake placed the drinks on a tray and carried them out to the living room. Sally and Matt were curled up on the black leather couch, making themselves right at home. Jake set the tray on the table and through a couple of logs onto the fireplace. Then let them with an old Zippo lighter. Jake joked, You're probably wondering why I called you all here this evening. Sally took a sip of the beer. Oh, brother. She said Matt was thinking, no, it's good role here. Together, we can go over the final plans for the party tomorrow night. You know, he said, Laurie sighed. Yeah, really? Can you believe that it's here already? I don't even have my costume together yet. Sally smiled sexually. I'm going to be Cleopatra. She stretched out across the couch, including Matt. Darling, please tell me another great. Jake sat with his back against the fire. I'm all set. The guys in the band are coming over tomorrow and we're going to load the equipment and my horse trailer. We'll do a quick soundcheck before everything gets there. And then showtime. Wow. You have horses, too? Sally asked, obviously impressed. The fire against Jake's back was getting unbearably hot. He pulled off his black sweater, revealing his tanned, muscular chest. Loree Sutton, her breath, hoping no one noticed her gas. But he looked so hot. Jake answered, Yeah. We've got a couple thoroughbreds with their training right now in Kentucky. We usually let them roam around on the property, out in the pasture here. Sally, but disappointed. Too bad. I love horses. Matt pointed. Yo, man. Is that a tattoo? Laurieann Sally Delvin for a closer look. As Jake showed in the small black symbol permanently carved into his back. Yeah, that's the yin and yang symbol. It represents the destinies of all living creatures, he explains. Yin is dark cellar negative, representing evil and yang is positive, bright and sweet, representing pure goodness and light the to balance each other side by side. But they can't come together. Pure evil can never mix with pure goodness. Lori nodded. Yeah. It's like sweet and sour report. You can taste both the sweet and the sour, but they don't really go together. You always taste either the sugar or the salt. If you really think about it. Well, that's one way to put it, I guess, Jake said Sally looked confused. So what about the port? What does it stand for? She asked. Lori was always having to explain things to Sally. She sighed impatiently. The port doesn't mean anything, Sal. I was just using it as an example. That's not necessarily true, Jake said.

The talk could be neutral. Neither sweet nor salty. It's kind of like the Earth, you know. You can have good guys and bad guys living together in the same planet, but they can never come together as one. That's why we have wars. Oh, I get it. Sally said. So which one is stronger? Good or bad? Jake gave it some thought. Well, the way I see it, they're equal. Neither is stronger than the other. But only a small percentage of people are truly one side of the force or the other. You can say there's a lot of pork on this planet that's just flavored or influenced by one or the other, he said, laughing at his analogy. Did it hurt? Matt asked, inching closer to look at the drawing. If you consider someone drawing on you with the razor blade to be painful, then yes. Jake said, smiling. Matt laughed. He was really starting to enjoy the evening. It was such a change of pace from hanging out this football buddies who crushed beer cans and therefore hits for entertainment. He was actually taking part in an intelligent conversation. You're really into all that philosophy stuff, aren't you? Matt asked. You've got to believe in something JT said. I read a lot. My parents bring me books and religious artifacts from all over the world. I can't get enough of it. It's like searching for the answers. Matt was intrigued. He could feel the warmth of the fire as he sat down in the living room floor. So what's the meaning of life there? He asked. Jake shrugged. Who knows? I haven't figured it out. I don't think anyone has. Laurie brushed her fingers across the taxi one Jake. Soft. Perfect skin. She felt herself becoming more infatuated with him as each moment passed. He was so deliciously mysterious, she thought. Jake's body became electrified as she touched his bare skin. Sally watched alarmingly as Jake stared deeply into Lori's eyes. Jake was so intense, so mature, she thought she sat up on the overstuffed couch, remembering her own special plan for the evening. Sally clears her throat to get Jake's attention. Hey, Jake, can we go in your Jacuzzi? I noticed it earlier when we were walking around out there. Jake nodded. Still looking at Lori? Sure. Go on. You guys have fun. The towels are in the guest bathroom. Sally swilled and grab Maxine. Come on, let's go for a walk. Yeah. Matt looks a little surprised that Sally met him down the narrow hall toward the back deck. But we don't have our bathing suits. He said awkwardly. Sally just giggles. So he eagerly followed, willing to experience whatever it was she had in mind. Okay, he explained, his hormones raging. Jake pulled out the hard rock disk and replaced it with an industrial dance c.D. He turned up the volume and asked Lori, you feel like dancing more than ever? She said breathlessly. The strange music vibrated through the house, Jake, and then the lights and pulled her close to his chest, his bare skin pressing against her body. They move their feet to the fast beat of the song. The electric synthesized music pumped heart. Her heart pumps even harder. Jake was a great dancer. Lori thought

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