Page 22 of Mayhem

“I have someone watching her for now. If he was after you, then she’s safe.”

“I hope so. I don’t like many people, but she’s growing on me.”

“It’s good to have someone to share time with, even for a little while. Let’s get back. It’s getting dark.”

Chase leads the way back to the house in silence, my stuff in hand. Once there, he shows me to the bathroom.

“You can shower in here while I get your room ready.”

“Thank you,” I mumble, not comfortable with the safe feeling I get with him around.

He nods, leaving me in the bathroom.

I shut myself in, pulling my clothes from my bag. I frown when I realize a pair of my underwear is missing.

“Stupid critters,” I curse.

They are always rooting in my items when I leave them there. My underwear was probably on top and fell out or some animal took them to make their animal home with. A bunch of pervs, if you ask me.

Six

I sneak into the trailer,happy to find Mom sound asleep. I find an old receipt and a pen on the counter, writing out my note.

Mom,

There’s a dangerous man after me. He followed me home. I’m sorry. I won’t be here for a while. Be careful.

Willow

I placethe note on top of her new pack of cigarettes, but under her lighter where I know she will see it.

Then I look around.

This old, dirty trailer doesn’t seem like much, but it is the only place I’ve ever called home. Well, this and the tree in the woods. Now, both are being ripped from me. I thought I was ready to leave this place, but a moment of anxiety makes my chest clench.

Can I handle change?

I sit down on my couch, cringing when I realize I’ve sat on something. I reach my hand underneath me to move it, almost puking when I feel something sticky and wet.

Jumping up, my eyes widen as I realize what it is. It’s my missing underwear with semen all over it.

A wrinkled piece of paper sits with it.

You can run, but you can’t hide forever. I wonder if the daughter is as good as the mother.

I feel a chill set into my bones.

He was here, in this trailer. He most likely slept with my mother.

I grab both the underwear and the note and tuck it inside an old grocery bag before washing my hands in the sink. There’s no soap, but it’s better than nothing. Then I make my way back out to Chase.

“I need to go back to your house and change. I also brought you this.”

I hold out the bag to him. He peeks inside before frowning at me. “I didn’t ask for a souvenir from your mother,” he says, looking disgusted.

“No, you idiot. They are mine. I thought they were lost in the woods. There’s a note.”

He takes a closer look at the paper, gritting his teeth.

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