Don't Say Yes

Disclaimer: This short story contains short depictions of blood letting in connection to an activity some may deem ritualistic.

“Did you hear that.”

“No.”

Tap, tap, tap.

“There it is again.”

“I don’t hear anything. Did you hear me? I’ve been asking you a question for the last five minutes.”

Savana chewed her finger, her gaze locked on the living room window.

“Savana?”

“It’s on the glass.”

Rhianne closed her eyes and sighed in exasperation.

“What is on the glass?”

“ The tapping. Listen.”

Rhianne strained her ears, growing more irritated. Nothing. Wind, sort of.

“I don’t hear anything. You know what, I’m about to leave. Are you coming to this party or not.”

“I don’t think I should.”

“Are you going to be ok here alone?”

“ I have Max.”

Rhianne raised an eyebrow looking down at the black dachshund. Shrugging, she hugged her friend’s shoulders tightly.

“Don’t make yourself crazy, Vanna. Do something fun. Call me if you need anything. “

Rhianne stood up from the couch, worried about leaving her friend alone, despite the presence of Max -the not attack dog. Savana had been staring out the window, chewing on her finger, most likely since before she got there. She hadn’t answered the door when Rhianne knocked and she was sitting on the couch facing the window when Rhianne found her.

What is going on?

Rhianne really wanted to leave. Her boyfriend was already at the party. She also really felt uncomfortable about leaving.

“I’m calling my brother,” she said out loud, at that point feeling like she was speaking mostly to herself since Savana hadn’t been responding.

“Mo’s Tavern.”

Rhianne laughed, “ You dork

What are you up to?”

“No good. Just kidding. Trying to decide what I feel like doing. What’s up, aren’t you supposed to be at Layla’s, ‘My parents aren’t home’, party?”

“Yes, but I can’t get Savana off the sofa.”

“ She’s not that heavy, just freaking pick her up and toss her in your car.”

Silence.

“ No good? Want me to do it?”

“ No, but could you stop by to check on her. She’s been acting super weird today. I don’t really want to leave her alone…,”

“ She’s not alone, she’s got Max.”

“ I DON’T want to leave her ALONE.”

“Fine, I’ll stop by later.”

“Thank you.”

Rhianne did a final check in the hallway mirror.

“ Ahk, I swear this one freaking strand- Vanna! I’m heading out! Vanna?”

Rhianne leaned around the short hall wall. No Savana.

“At least she got off the sofa. Vanna?”

Rhianne looked down at her phone.

8:20.

“Great. Vanna, I’ve gotta go! Nicky’s stopping by later. Where is this girl now?

Vanna!” Rhianne shouted, turning around to find Savana standing in front of her.

“Jesus! Savana.”

“He doesn’t have to come by.”

“Ohh ho ho yes he does. I’m leaving now, I’m late. I love you. See you later.”

Savana closed her eyes rubbing her temples. She knew it was only a matter of time before-

Tap, tap, tap.

This time coming from the kitchen window.

“Max, tell me you heard that.”

“Yeah, I heard it,” Max barked. “But you know you can’t answer it.”

“It’s getting harder and harder to not say anything.”

“He can’t come in unless you say yes.”

“I know, I know, I know. It’s a reflexive response to anyone wanting to come in. My first inclination is to respond-“

“ STOP!” Max yelped.

“Ugh, fine.”

“All you have to do is find a way to drown it out. How about some music,” Max suggested.

“What did you have in mind?”

“I don’t care, something loud enough that you don’t notice the-“

Tap,tap,tap.

“THAT! Shut up shut up shut up!” Max barked.

Savana patted the back of her thigh, Max’s signal to follow her. She flipped on her bedroom light and dove straight into rummaging through her cassette box.

“I’ve got Spear Hunters or The Judy Slashers?”

“ Judy Slashers- blick! Her voice is too tinny.” Max yelped in a high pitch, mimicking his interpretation of the vocalist.

“You’re so schmucky sometimes, Max.”

“What about Cold Cream?”

“Snooze.” Savana tossed the cassette aside.

“ But those drums! They’d be perfect, Savana. “

“Lane Change?”

“I’d rather Spear Hunters.”

“Spear Hunters it is. They’re drums are pretty sick too.”

Savana dropped the tape into the deck and turned the volume all the way up before pressing play.

“It’s a good thing your parents aren’t home!” Max barked over the driving drums and screeching guitars. Max was about to trot out of the room for a drink of water when he spied Savana moving toward her window. “Stay away from windows.” He snapped.

“Jesus, Max! Now I can’t even look out the window?”

“No! He’ll think you’re looking for him and he’ll just keep tapping till you let him in. For crying out loud why’d we bother with the music?”

Savana glanced over her shoulder, wanting to go to the window. She began to chew her finger again.

Max sighed and trotted back to Savana.

“You miss him.”

“I wish I didn’t. He’s so bad for me but it always felt so good. I don’t know Max, I mean, don’t get me wrong. I love Rhianne. I love my family. But I always felt like they never really got me. No one does.”

Max snarled.

“Except, of course you, but it’s still different.”

“What’s so special about him anyway?”

Savana looked up at the ceiling. Closing her eyes and spreading out her arms.

“ When I’m with him I feel like I could do anything. Be anything. Be anywhere. I feel like I could fly.”

Savana felt her heart thump thump thump.

Max barked sharply, “Stop that!”

“I can’t help it Max. He fills me with this energy. It’s feels like those drums inside me.”

“OK, that is it. I’m changing the music.” Max looked down at his paws. “ You’re changing the music,” Max insisted, pulling on Savana ’s pant leg.

“Max, let go. I don’t want to change the music.”

“You’ll change it or I’ll rip the cord out of the wall and chew it up,” He snarled between his clamped teeth.

“Max, stop it! Let go.”

“No! Turn it off.”

“NO!”

“ Fine,” Max ruffed. He let go of her pant leg and ran to the plug, giving it a swift yank before Savana had a chance to react.

“What the hell, Max!”

BOOM BOOM BOOM

“Front door. It’s the front door. It’s Dominic.” Max panted, running to the door.

“Shoot, I forgot he was stopping by.”

“We should let him in.”

Savana frowned.

“Let him in!” Max barked.

Savana reluctantly shuffled to the door, grumbling under her breath. She opened the door just wide enough to reach around and pull him into the house.

“Damn it Savana, I’ve been out there for ten minutes. I was about to leave. What’s with you, you don’t look so good.”

“You didn’t have to come.”

“ I can see that, you look fine and healthy,” He responded sarcastically.

“ I was listening to music. I couldn’t hear you knock.”

Savana turned, heading toward the kitchen. Max followed her.

“ Why aren’t you at Layla’s party?”

“Why aren’t you?” she replied, coming back with a glass of juice.

Dominic nodded a thanks and took the glass. “She’s not really my cup of coffee.”

“Mine neither. I’m sure it’s fun but I’m tired of the boys at my school.”

He took a quick swig. “What about the girls?”

Savana plopped down on the couch next to Dominic.

“Them too. I’m sick of all of them.”

Dominic leaned his head back and smiled.

“Dish, girl,” He encouraged.

“Well you know how they are. Just so wrapped up in things that don’t matter. Who cares what Jane X said about Susie Q. No one knows anyone and no one wants to know anyone. Not really. Not like inside. Like in their hearts. I’m so over cold fake people. I can’t wait for this year to be over. I’m so ready for a change.”

“Who says you have to wait?”

Savana sat up. “You’re right. I don’t have to wait.”

Savana moved off the couch and walked back into the kitchen.

Dominic sat silently on the couch. Trying to find words to fill the sudden silence.

“So, what have you been up to lately?” He called.

“ Not much, reading, studying, blah, blah,blah. Do you see a scratch awl out there?”

This question bristled Dominic’s neck hairs. He sat up more attentively, listening to drawers and cabinets opening and closing. Clattering and clinking sounds. He stood up, surveying the room. No scratch awl in sight. Just books here and there. Throw pillows on the floor. A Ouija board by the hearth. Dominic’s heart skipped a beat. Rhianne had told him she threw it away, not gave it away.

“Hey Vanna, what ah, whatcha doing in there. Anything I can help you find?”

“Uhhh, no no, I’ve got it!”

Dominic began to move slowly to the kitchen.

“Is Max in there with you?” He asked, fishing for his phone in his back pocket.

“Not anymore, I let him out.”

Dominic pulled his phone out, trying to decide who to call. He turned towards the kitchen as Savana came out , holding a pairing knife.

Dominic dropped his phone.

“Whatcha got there Vanna?”

“Don’t be scared.” She smiled moving past him. “It’s not for you.”

Savana pulled a box of matches out of Her sweater pocket. She began grabbing books, tearing out pages, crumpling them and tossing them into the fireplace. She struck a match and watched the flame dance for a moment before lightning the paper on fire. She struck more matches, tossing them into the fireplace and watching the flames curl and lick the paper.

She sat cross legged in front of the fire, fingering the tip of the blade.

Dominic moved towards his phone.

“Don’t call her,” she snapped, pointing the knife at him.

“Vanna, come on. What are you doing?”

Dominic heard scratching and whimpering at the back door.

“Don’t let him in. He’ll just try to stop me. I just wanna be… be anywhere but here. I’m ready for a change.”

Savana turned back to the fire, holding the blade in the flames.

Dominic shot up and ran to the back door, grabbing his phone as he ran to let Max back in.

In the short time it took for them to return Savana had the board open on the floor in front of the fire.

Max growled.

“Savana, what are you doing?” Dominic’s voice was high with alarm.

Savana looked up at Dominic as a drop of blood fell on the planchette. Her glassy eyes looked through him as she sliced her finger again.

Max howled.

“Shhh, Max.”

Savana placed her hands on the planchette. She took a deeeeep breath in and let a sloooow breath out.

“Savana don’t!” Max yelped.

Dominic jumped back.

“Did Max just speak?!”

“Sorry I didn’t answer before,” she apologized to the planchette. “Max was giving me a hard time and Rhianne took forever to leave.”

The planchette slid forward.

No matter. Ready.

Max barked again, pulling on the back of her sweater.

“Stop her,” He snarled back at Dominic.

Dominic grabbed at her hands, trying to keep the planchette from moving. Her fingers pressed harder, blanching form the pressure.

He grabbed the board and tossed it into the fireplace.

Savana jumped back, caught off guard by the swiftness of his swipe.

He turned to see Savana coming at him and quickly realized she wasn’t after him. She wanted the board.

He dove into her chest, knocking her flat on the ground. Max barked and barked, running in circles as Savana tried to push herself up from under Dominic. Her strength weakening she fought less and less until she lay breathing heavily under him.

Dominic pushed her hair off her face.

“If I let you go, are you gonna stay put or am I gonna have to tie you up.”

Savana, struggling to regain her normal breath, squeezed out, “I won’t fight you.”

Dominic rolled off her and they both lay staring at the ceiling. Savana turned her head towards Dominic, wincing from having the wind knocked out of her.

They both lay staring at each other, their respective breaths slowly returning to normal. Dominic looked back up at the ceiling and closed his eyes, drawing in deep breaths. He started to count down 10, 9, 8, 7, 6- slowly letting his breath out, 3,2-

Tap, tap, tap.

Max snarled as Savana perked up.

Without a second of hesitation she replied, “Yes?”

The front door swung open. A blast of cold air came through, snuffing the dwindling flames.

Savana stood up before Dominic could grab her to pull her back.

“Bye Nicky. Take care of Max for me,” she casually tossed over her shoulder, heading quickly to the door.

“Nick! You can’t let her leave with him. She won’t come back this time,” Max whimpered.

Dominic managed to catch her arm before she walked out the door.

“Savana, don’t! Rhianne would mostly figuratively possibly literally kill me if she thought I let something happen to you.”

Savana smiled softly. Wrenching away her wrist.

Slipping on her shoes, she reassured him, saying, “ Tell her you didn’t let anything happen to me. “

Dominic reached for her again, but suddenly she was pulled out into the darkness and the door slammed shut.

He pulled the knob. The door swung softly open, bringing in a warm spring night air. He ran out the door, Max close at his heels. Left, right, no Savana in sight.

“Savana!!” Dominic looked around wildly panting and confused.

Max sat at his feet, looking up a the clear star spattered sky.

“Well, this is what she wanted,” He conceded.

Dominic looked down at Max, staring up at the stars. Max looked into Dominic’s panicking eyes. He offered a lick and a doggy smile.

“ She’ll be happier. Or at least she thinks she will. Either way she knows we love her and she loves us.”