Just Checking Up Part Two: Secrets of a Small Town

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Huffing in my casual outfit, the rest of my team shuffled awkwardly in their suits. Little did Silks know that my job title was captain of a government team in charge of finding out about the cult behind her small town. Getting close to her proved to be a treat, Silks having nothing to do with it. Captivated by her burgundy waves and gorgeous eyes, her barista skills were bar none. One thorn in my side had been that Lace girl that seemed glued to her side, her hair being dyed the same burgundy at one point. Imagine my shock when I get a text message from her, only to find a disheveled Silks shivering in an emotional wreck of a mess. Remembering the nurse, that woman had been one of the many suspects. Excusing myself to go back to the hospital, lying to her nipped my heart harder than I thought it would initially. Nothing good would come from this situation, the woman of my dreams probably going to hate me for all of eternity Driving back to the hospital in a pensive state, a fuming Silks paced in the front. Anger and frustration was written all over her features, her phone trembling in her left hand. Pulling up with the world’s squeakiest brakes, not one word passed between us as she crashed onto the seat.

“You lied!” She shouted at me fairly, our eyes refusing to meet. “Whispers behind my door of you being a government official taunted me the moment I woke up. You don’t work for a music store or whatever you told me! Fucking liar! What else have you freaking lied about! Do you even l-” Tears raced each other down her cheeks, remorse watering my eyes. Shit, my chance with her was shot.

“The job was a lie but I couldn’t tell you about it. Everything else was real. The emotions, and the fun we had! Come on! I fucking love you!” I blurted out honestly, a shadow of her smile returning, “I don’t know what they want with you but I can’t help but to think that it has something to do with your parents.” Tears cascaded from her eyes faster, none of my team nor I knew the extent of her past. Parting her lips to speak several times, mixed negative emotions flashed on her features.

“They began some sort of cult when I was a kid.” She confessed between sniffles, her fingers clawing at her knees. “At least I think that they did. We can go to their house in the woods and dig through the paperwork in the attic. I wasn’t permitted access to the attic. Ever.” Was she offering me a gold mine of evidence? Asking for my phone, the address she typed in was a state park. Snapping on the radio, realization dawned on me. Silks had nothing left, her only clothing was the outfit on her. Shifting my car into park, a scoff bounced off of her tongue at me getting to get to my suitcase of clean clothes. Digging around, an extra long Slipknot t-shirt would have to do for the time being. Approaching her side of the hearse, her slender fingers curled around the slight abrasive cotton. Mumbling a brisk thanks, the sentiment was deserved. Changing while I sank into the driver’s side, a red unknown to mankind flushed my cheeks. Adorable, she was freaking adorable!

“Can we start over?” She suggested with a playful smirk, deep sorrow hiding underneath it. “Government keeps secrets, and so do I. Don’t lie to me again, okay. Take me out on a good first date after all this madness. That should make up for all of this. I forgive you.” Shocked by her forgiveness, her gentle heart of gold knew no bounds. Unable to speak, her hand reached for mine. Curling her fingers around mine, years of loneliness plagued this job.

“Keeping to myself is my defense system. Somehow your dumb ass broke through that.” She continued with a watery tone, her grip strengthening. “People tend to ditch me upon the first sign of trouble but you stuck around. How can I throw you away over a yellow flag? You didn’t even know my parents were freaks. There’s my yellow flag. Shall we get going?” Sliding her hand back, trauma had bonded us together in a special sort of way. Sliding closer to me, a fuzziness crashed through me the second she cuddled with my arm.

“I hope you don’t mind but my mind is fucking going nuts.” She choked out shyly, my big grin assuring her that all was kosher. Attempting to control my racing heart, many of my dreams were coming true. Peeling off towards her tortured past, snores echoed in my ears. Lowering her head to my lap, a solid half an hour passed by rather fast. Flashing my badge, the exhausted park attendant permitted me entry. Squealing into the furthest parking spot, Silks stirred awake. Yawning groggily, fang-like teeth reminded me of a cat. Fixing her hair, the click of her door whipped me out of my goofy daze. Pecking my cheek, her sneakers hit the pavement before I could get out. Stretching away, pops and cracks echoed in the air. Opening the back, a thud of me slamming my front door shut covered her packing some sort of backpack. Joining her, the zip of the bag did little to ease her nerves. Swiping the bag from her, her protests fell on deaf ears.

“If you want to come with me, then I will do anything to protect you.” I promised her firmly, an irked okay hitting my ears. Banging on the back, hissing announced my hidden gun collection. Plucking out the rifle, her steady hands tucked what rounds she could into the bag over my shoulders. Contemplating whether to yell at her, the fact she grew up out here must have meant that hunting was in her blood. Picking my trusty revolver, the fact that she cared enough about me gave the energy I required to do this job.

“Wicked! Time to go. Stay close, so I won't lose my favorite guy.” She chirped brightly, her glance back at me stealing my breath away. “Watch out for bears and shit.” Hiding another wave of depression with a sarcastic front, something about it seemed off. Hiking into the trail head, branches snapped, her waves not alarming approaching nature lovers. Soaking in the beauty, her abrupt turn off the trail had me playing catch-up. Morning became night, light purple rays of twilight highlighting her high cheekbones. Coming upon a rundown log cabin, years of decay invited nature to devour what was once hers. Pushing the door open gingerly, old blood stains covered the walls. Averting her wet eyes away from them, anyone with brain cells could put the puzzle pieces together. Motioning for me to follow her, creaks scared off squirrels with every climb to the second floor. Yanking the attic ladder down, cracked photos lined the walls. Fake smiles covered up a nightmare of a life, my heart aching for her. Scurrying up the ladder, a scream worthy of horror movies sent rats springing past me. A fit of laughter burst from my lips at her shuddering in the corner, an oil lantern flickering to life in her hand. An orange flame cast shadows on the wall, dozens of boxes begging to be explored.

“What happened to your parents?” I investigated cautiously, the box in her arms nearly hitting the floor. Setting it to the side with a dejected smirk, her emotional limit may have been met. Kicking it over to me, emptiness traced her footfalls over to me. Plopping down across from me, agony wrote itself all over her features. Flicking off the lid, secrets laid buried in her shattered soul.

“I killed them in self defense. At least one of them, if I am being honest.” She confessed with a long breath, her wet eyes meeting mine. “They decided it was time to say goodnight to me when I was ten and I chose to make them say goodnight. Mother brought the meat cleaver into the bathroom, her patience wearing thin with little old me. Do you want to see?” Flipping over her arms, old bullet wounds and cuts dotted them. Spreading her legs out, the story was the same.

“Instead of meeting the reaper at ten, I chose to fight her tooth and nail until my tiny hands got a hold of the meat cleaver. One swing to her neck and she was done.” She continued numbly, a quake coming over her hands. “Father heard her final scream. More like a gurgle, in my opinion. He unleashed his bullets upon me. At that point the police showed up. Shooting him down without questioning a damn thing saved me, the officers responding understanding what I had to do. Hate me if you must. Before all of that, every opportunity to beat me was taken. Every opportunity to scream at me was taken. Weird people came in and out of the house, often drawing my blood for something. Tell me that isn’t a cult.” Soaking in the information, none of that was her fault. Wiping away her tears, no wonder trust didn’t exist in her cards. Crawling over to her, dust blew up as her body crashed into my arms. Snuggling into my chest, this level of vulnerability brought us closer than before. Clearing her throat, her back straightened as she plopped onto my lap. Grabbing a pair of gloves from the backpack, her fingers flicked through the paperwork. Flopping financial files into my palms, her nails dug into her thighs once more.

“That is the last year they were alive.” She pointed out bluntly, ruby beading on her thighs. “Sorry about not having gloves for you. Do whatever you want? I am going to search for something else.” Popping to her feet, her backstory didn’t scare me in the slightest. Serial killers had done worse in their younger years, dust flying around as she explored every other box. Wood snapping downstairs had us both stiffening, a sprint and a tug had her yanking the ladder shut. Blowing out the flame, voices began to argue downstairs. Lights flickered in between the boards, cloaked figures carrying a book. A layer of sweat glistened on her skin, orange painting her high cheekbones. Cracking echoed around us, her hand ripping me into the shadows of the attic. Papers fluttered everywhere, cold eyes staring up at the snowfall of papers. Digging around my bag, her steady hands loaded up the rifle.

“Your investigation is about to come to a crashing halt. Call for backup.” She whispered into my ear, a defiant grin spreading ear to ear as she sauntered into their view. “Looking for me, freaks! Come and get me!” Jumping down, a silent apology flooded from her lips with every footfall away. Dialing up my second in command, a single code word had them heading our way. Lowering myself down after everyone was gone, a click on my phone turned on the tracking app on my phone. Drops of fresh red trailed outside, the next move seeming obvious. Time to hunt down the main culprits of the past three years of torture. Darting through the trees to hide my presence, crackling flames sent chills up my spine. Horror rounded my eyes, a fuming Silks struggled in the arms of a few black robed individuals. Dragging her to a flat slate rock, strange symbols rang the alarm bells in my mind. What fresh hell was this place! Lighting torches while chanting, an oddness certainly staked its claim in this case. Strapping her down, her protests never died down.

“Trying to raise the dead or something! How cliche, my darling idiots!” She bit back sarcastically, a sadistic smirk lingering on her lips. “Not a virgin anymore. Isn’t that usually a basic requirement?” Mumbling among themselves, her insane tactic might pull her out of her current situation. Perhaps, time was merely getting bought.

“Just like old times or it is going to be more final? If it is going to be more final, I would like to draft my will.” She continued with the same smirk, frustration brewing in the cult. “Somebody didn’t plan well. Torching my life was a lovely touch. Bravo to you bastards!” Hearing the raw anger in her last sentence, fear flashed in their eyes for the first time. Considering shadows hid all but their eyes, that one emotion proved to be a big deal. Wiggling out of her confinement, chaos erupted around her. Sprinting deeper into the trees, robes floated behind them with every step. Crunching behind them, chilly air nipped at my bare skin. Where was she dashing off to? Red and blue lights paralyzed them into statues, a quiet smile haunting my lips. Whistling from a branch, the twinkle in her eyes stole my heart away. A SWAT team flooded the forest, guns cocking in the culprits’ directions. Raising their hands, a long sigh drew from my lips. Slamming cuffs on them, Silks lowered herself into my arms. Patting my shoulder as she brushed past me, flashlights shimmered in the cabin.

“Looks like you get to go home, lover boy.” She chuckled dejectedly, a few team members beginning to approach me. Shooing them away, there was no way in hell that she wasn’t going to hear my confession.

“I love you. The past three years have been tolerable because of you. Let’s face it, we need each other. My outfit may change but not the feelings. This is my weekend outfit if I am being honest.” I blurted out awkwardly, everyone hearing me. “Will you give us a shot? I do happen to have a roof to offer for you to have over your gorgeous head. Sorry for being so horrible at this flirting shit. You find a new job in that city away from your ghosts. Doesn’t that sound nice. Bonus, you get protection from the press.” Yanking me down by the collar of my t-shirt, the others began to make kissing faces. What freaking idiots!

“Anything to get away from the haunting. You might cleanse my heart of a few demons.” She teased with another twinkle in her eyes, her devious grin causing me to forget to breathe. “I might write a book or work at a library. Preferably the library. Nice and quiet. Maybe marriage down the road, and a few kiddos. We both know how those little gremlins are made.” Stunned by her planning of our future, the tasks at hand kept my inner tiger at bay. An officer called her over for her statements, everyone available gathering around me. Barking out orders for what seemed like an eternity, the arrival of dawn granted us a romantic moment. Plopping down by the pond, ducks swam across with their families in tow. Humming to herself, a rare tranquility showcased her natural beauty.

“What is your favorite dinner?” She asked with her real smile, my heart beating like a damn drum. “The office hours are going to be long and I want you to come home to eat hot meals.” Tears welled up in her eyes, a quake stealing away her serenity. Glancing back at me, trauma began to sink in. Snuggling into my chest, her fingers clung to my t-shirt. Shirking her request for a sense of normalcy would be foolhardy, my lips parting several times. Come to think of it, such trivial questions had never been requested from me.

“Surprise me every day! Make an adventure out of it.” I suggested with an honest smile, my finger lifting up her chin. “I don’t know. No one has ever cared for me like that. If that makes you happy, then that is what I want. Therapy will be a requirement.” Shooting out a shaky absolutely, her genuine smile returned. The way the left hung a bit higher than the right would light up any room, memories of it flashing in my mind. A tender kiss whipped me out of it, matching goofy grins lingering on our lips.

“Thank you for caring, even with what I have done.” She sobbed uncontrollably, our foreheads meeting. “No one sticks around after that confession. They always run away.” Wiping away her tears, the poor woman did what she had to do to survive back then.

“Why would I ever leave you? Nah, you mean too much to me. Survival was the game. Your scars speak to how powerful of a woman you are.” I comforted her lovingly, her hands cupping mine. “Breaking down is the first step to healing. Silks, your heart is mine.” A laughing fit burst from her lips, surprise rounding my eyes. What the hell was this about?

“Your heart is mine? Steal that one from a novel.” She teased with her award winning smile, her fist punching my shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. Talk like that all the time and you might sweep me into your quarters, my dear prince. Bequeath your heart to me for my heart is yours.” Snorting with my own fit of laughter, both of us were covering our mouths. Laying down on my lap, my fingers played with her hair. Wishing that everyday could end like this, Silks curled into a ball. Snores echoed in the air, a sense of pride washing over me. Thanking God, his hand brought our hearts together from the shadows.