Tortured dream (trigger alert!) 🚨

     Evie realized her head was splitting. A familiar noise filled her ears. She had to work to open her eyes. At first everything was blurry. Then dim. It was night. Her entire body hurt. Her feet were tied out in front of her. It felt like her hands were tied behind her back. So tight that her shoulders wouldn’t move. Something was in her mouth and it was taped shut. 

     Across from her, in the light to a camp fire, was Doug. The light of the fire reflected off his black hair. In that moment, Evie remembered the man she married. Her heart stopped. He was no longer that man. And her current situation reminded her of why they were divorced. This would not end well. 

     She prayed for a quick end. Then hope crept in; Dillon crossed her mind. Dillon might find her. 

     Doug was putting the blade of his knife in the fire. He would leave it for awhile, take it out, study it, before putting it back. It had been awhile since she had any trouble from him. But there set trouble.

     “Well, hello. Welcome to the land of the living.” He growled. “Follow this.” He commanded, waving the knife back and forth. She did what he said. Hoping to minimize the damage. The knife was glowing so hot that it left light trails as he waved it. Was it really the knife or the ache in her head creating this illusion? 

     “I’ve been watching you.” He pointed the knife at her. “Since the bridge, I’ve been watching you. Waiting.” He ripped off her shoes. Her legs were bound so tight that she couldn’t fight. It would be a waste of energy even if she could. Her socks followed. He threw them in the fire, laughing. “Won’t be needing them.”

     “You are one lucky bitch.” He laughed. “I just can’t seem to kill you.”

     Thunder clapped in the distance. Here crept hope back in. Rain might put out the fire. At least delay the process. At least until Dillon found her. 

     As if he read her mind, laughing again, he pointed up. She thought she saw the outline of something hanging in the trees. “Let it rain.” He got up dancing around the fire, “let it rain.” Spinning, twirling, he danced over to a tree across from her; ripping off a cover. It was Dillon. Bound and gagged just like her. 

     Dillon looked around and saw Evie. A large place on his head was matted. Blood ran down his neck to his shoulder. “Lookie, here we have two love birds.”

     She NEEDED to tell Dillon not to throw up. She NEEDED to tell him not to fight. She NEEDED to tell him not to suck in air. She NEEDED to tell him to put the back of his tongue to the roof of his mouth. This stringy shit Doug had put in their mouths would choke him. But she couldn’t. 

     “Since the bridge,” he clarified. “I’ve been learning just how I could hurt you the most.” He pointed the knife at Dillon. “Big ole hard ass sheriff,” Doug laughed. He got right up in Dillon’s face. “Not to much of a hard ass when shot full of tranquilizers.” He used the knife scratching his chin, “hmm, balls.”

     He put the knife back in the fire until it glowed hot again. Jerking it out of the fire he examined it. Rushed at Evie, scorching the bottom of her right foot. The smell of burning flesh filled the air. While a sizzling sound flooded her ears. She couldn’t scream. This stuff would run down her throat. She couldn’t throw up. It would suffocate her. Nor could she lunge forward. Dillon fought for her. “There, those feet you love to caress. Touch’em now.” He put the knife back in the fire. Doing the same thing to her left foot. 

     Evie was powerless to do anything except pass out. Her last sight was Dillon fighting against the ropes. 

     She woke to the sound of rain hitting fabric. Like the sides of a tent. Her feet throbbed.

     Doug noticed she was awake, “You wouldn’t have children with me.” He pointed the knife at Dillon again, “you ain’t gonna have children with this bastard either.” He pulled at Dillon’s clothes. Unlike Evie, Dillon fought back. His ropes must not have been as tight. Doug laughed, “I like it when you fight.” With Dillon subdued, he took the glowing knife, castrating him. Dillon gagged. Tried to scream. Gagged some more.

     Doug raised his bloody prize high. Frowned, followed by laughter. “Oops. You’re too old to be having babies anyway.” He threw the body parts in the fire. He danced around the fire, “maybe your adoption paperwork will come through.” 

    Evie glared at him with tears streaming down her face. The smell of burning flesh was sickening. 

     She felt herself being shook, “Evie!” It sounded like Dillon’s voice but that was impossible. “Evie!” She started gagging, followed by screams. That smell was still in her nose. That sound still in her ears. “Evie!” Rang out again. She lunged forward. Strong arms caught her. “Evie.” That once panicked voice was now soft and comforting. “Evie.”

     Dillon was okay. This had been a nightmare. One horrific nightmare. All she could do was let him hold her as she cried. 

Eyes play tricks

     Rebecca decided she would give the hippy grocery another try. Simon was working. He had this man Chris helping him. It was good for everyone involved that Chris lived right across the road. She was a little miffed that Simon hadn’t introduced Chris. But she was trying to do better. Now, she was thrilled that he was working. It seemed odd to her that the house was filled so quickly after Evelyn moved out. There was a snake in the grass and she would find it. Without Simon’s help of course. 

     As she drove past, the car that was in the drive looked so much like the one Evelyn had been driving. But now she was drivin’ her dad’s beat up old truck. ‘Why?’ She thought. ‘Did Evelyn take the old man’s truck.’ That was just cruel. 

     That homeless couple was still coming to church. Though, the entire family seemed to be healthier. Happier. Church gossip was Jack Rice got the husband a job at the mill. Why hadn’t Jack done that for Simon? However; if Simon would have gotten a job at the mill, would they have met to marry?

     She didn’t question Simon about D & E Farm, anymore. When summer break started she would do some diggin’ of her own. Find her own answers. ‘D & E Farm’, she scoffed. ‘That just sounded stupid’. Simon rarely talked about work. She couldn’t get two words out of him about what he was doing. “Renovatin’,” was all he would say. 

     When she stopped at the stop sign, a sheriff suv drove past. She bet it was that weasel of a sheriff. Her blood ran hot for a minute. He’ll get his. It shocked her socks off that Sunshine Sue hadn’t made more of a stink over Cattail’s death. She guessed the sheriff finally won her over? Havin’ talked to Sue, she thought Sue had more integrity than that. 

     As she pulled in the parkin’ lot, her mind was a million miles away. ‘Why did she come here again?’ Oh yeah, Simon was workin’ and she was bored. When she walked through the door, it felt like there was a collective gasp. When she was safely behind a shelf, a look around told her she was being paranoid. No one really gave a crap that she was in here. 

     There was a sales rack. It made her laugh to herself. Their sales prices were in line with what you would pay for something in Perkinsville. Her opinion of this place wasn’t changing. 

     She rounded a corner, coming face to face with Evelyn. Rebecca grabbed her chest, faking shock, blushed her best blush. “I’m so sorry.” Evelyn didn’t move. Her basket was in the floor at her feet. Arms straight down by her sides. And she was lookin’ forward. Rebecca waved her hand in front of Evelyn’s face, “hello.” Oh, the mean things she could say. She gave Evelyn an honest look. Her skin was ashen. Her pupils were dilated. And her lips were takin’ on a pale blue color. “Hello.” She called again. 

Shared grief

     Dillon couldn’t pour a cup of coffee. His hands trembled every time he tried. Evie gently placed her hands over his. “Let’s go to church.” She caressed his cheek. He nodded okay. 

     Pastor Sam stood behind the pulpit. When he looked up and took stock of the congregation, the sermon he had prepared left him. Evie thought he was staring at Dillon. He went to open his mouth. No words came out. He shook his head, hiding his face. As he looked back up. It was obvious he was losing the battle to maintain his composure. He did this, three times. Looking at the congregation, then looking away. Finally, he sat on the top step of the stage, next to the pulpit and wept. 

     Dillon leaned over. He was going to be sick. He thought. Evie placed her hand on his back. He never told Evie why he stopped going to church. If he had, it was a half truth. God letting her leave him was the half truth. Yes, he was bitter over that. But Pastor Sam refused to preach either of his parent’s funerals. He never gave Dillon a reason. When Evie first moved back to Sunshine Valley, she had asked Dillon when he lost his faith? Satan had been slowly chipping away at it. He saw that now. 

     Dillon turned to Evie, his eyes heavy with tears. He kissed her on the cheek, resting his forehead on hers. 

     They heard a thunk, pulling their attention to Pastor Sam. He was now on his knees. His arms were outstretched and he was still crying. “I’m sorry!” He wailed. “I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around his head. 

     Dillon whispered in Evie’s ear. “I love you. I needed to be here today.” He walked toward Pastor Sam, kneeling in front of him. 

     Pastor Sam raised his head, putting his hands on Dillon’s shoulders. “I’m sorry. I have sinned out of pride. I HAVE SINNED.” He shouted. Dillon wrapped him in a hug. Which seemed to cause Pastor Sam to cry that much harder.

     One by one, the residents of Sunshine Valley went to the front of the church. Bradley, Patty, Sarah. Other deputies Evie recognize but didn’t know their names. Sara and her family. Della and Bill. Simon. Chris and Kim holding their baby. Everyone was crying. Some old hurts were being addressed. Some new ones were being let go of. 

     Jack leaned over to her, “go on hummin’ bird.”

     She kissed her dad on the cheek before walking to the front herself. God filled her with the urgency to sing ‘Amazing Grace’. And she did just that. 

Facing the smoke 

     When firefighters arrived, Dillon was fitted with a respirator. He and Bradley went into the smoke. Either he or Bradley would come out carrying someone. Well, not Bradley. He would help them out on their own power. 

     Authorities never really had an accurate census of the people living in Coal Town. It could be anywhere from a few hundred to a 1,000. Evie remembered at Christmas they counted 500 people they fed. She prayed there wasn’t 500 people here. 

     Day turned into night. The smoke was starting to turn gray. Fire fighters only fought the blaze where they knew people could be. Their primary concern was getting people crushed by rubble. The central fire was in what had been the headquarters building. Many of the old frame houses had fallen. Crushing folks. 

     Transportation workers set up construction lamps to light the night. Evie’s heart sank as Dillon shuffled out of the smoke carrying, at what first glance, looked like a  bundle of rags. He fell to his knees a few feet from her. She went to his side removing the respirator. No longer able to contain his sobs, he fell into her. The tears streaming down his face and the ring made by the respirator, were the only 2 clean spots he had. He finally blurted out, “it’s Pam.” She and Chico had been crushed when one of the old houses caved in. 

      “Please rest for a while. A group from Perkinsville just showed up. Let them.”

     Dillon gave in. EMS took the bundle from his arms. “Leave the dog with her. It needs to be buried with her.”

     “Yes, sir.”

     100 people were killed that night. As Coal Town burned, more help showed up. It lifted Dillon’s heart that so many people showed up to support those that had lost everything. A small piece of him was a little bitter. Where was all this love when these folks were alive? These were people. Human beings, who had a bad patch. Had no where else to go. Down on their luck. Life had a way of kickin’ your ass when you were down.