Page 1 of Evergreen Desires
CHAPTER 1
JAKE
The old car shuddered as it roared down the lonely, tree lined highway, a metallic growl escaping from under the hood with every mile. My knuckles were white as they gripped the steering wheel, heart pounding loudly in my ears. The check engine light remained mercifully unlit, but I knew that my beloved car was on her last legs.
"Come on baby, keep going," I pleaded, patting the dashboard. She’d been running a little roughshod for the last ten miles or so. I glanced at the dashboard to ensure the check engine light wasn’t on, and I confirmed she had about half a tank of gas. "I want to put as much distance as possible between me and Declan so he doesn't get any ideas," I remind myself. I passed the sign indicating five miles to Armsville, and hope flickered within me. "We can make it. I'm sure there's a gas station, garage, or something... come on, baby."
"Declan is an asshole," I reminded myself, reaffirming what I already knew. I needed to say it out loud to remind myself why I’m doing this. Judging by the way he had treated me lately, I suspected he'd be relieved to have meout of his way. More time for his little side flings, I supposed.But, I couldn't take the chance that he would come after me depending on his mood orhisneeds at that moment.
But he hadn't always been like that. He’d started off nice, attending to my every wish, even coming to knock on my window at night just to tell me he loved me. He had persuaded me to move in with him, promising that it would save us both money and that waking up to each other every day would be amazing. I was young and naive back then, easily swayed by his charm.
"Damn it!" I yelped, jerking the wheel back, bringing the car back into the lane just in time to avoid running off the road. I quickly wiped away the tears forming in my eyes. "Damn it, damn it, damn it, Jake, you were just young and dumb. Snap out of it."
It didn't take long for him to start resenting me and draining my bank account. It started with little things like questioning if I really needed dessert or taking jabs at my photography, saying it wouldn't pay the bills. Eventually, it seemed like he was annoyed by my mere presence.
"Fuck you, Declan!" I brushed away another tear. "I don't need you. I can stand on my own two feet." It had taken a year of counseling and countless hours of self-talk to reach that point, but I was finally there.
The car shuddered and panic welled up within me. "No, no, no, no, baby, hang in there," I pleaded as the check engine light popped on, almost mocking me as we passed the city limit sign. Clearly, we still seemed to be on the outskirts of the city, as there wasn’t much around. "I wasn't yelling atyou, baby. Come on, hang in there," I mumbled, patting the dashboard again.
Finally, I spotted a dark and empty parking lot. Once I make it into a parking space, I rest my forehead on the steering wheel and let out a pent-up sigh as I zoned out in the quiet for a moment. I glance at the sign marking the parking lot entrance, realizing I’ve found myself at the city library.The library itself had a modern look but was small compared to the ones back home.It was a Saturday night, so I doubted they would mind me parking here. Clearly, it wasn't a very happening spot at this time of night. A yawn escaped me, reminding me of my exhaustion from hours of driving. I suppose it’s time to stretch my legs and see what this small town has to offer.
Looking around, I realized Armsville was nothing like Everett. This place felt like it had slipped out of a different decade—and then forgotten it was ever there. A single, blinking red stoplight marked the center of town, swaying slightly in the night breeze. The “downtown” area stretched maybe eight blocks, lined with old brick storefronts and faded awnings. Most of the windows were dark, a few lit dimly by buzzing fluorescent bulbs that gave off more flicker than light. There was no motel. Not even a bed-and-breakfast. Just a scattering of shops, a tiny convenience store with a flashingOpensign, and what looked like a bar—but its windows were blacked out, and I didn’t hear a single voice or a clink of glass inside.
I spotted a low building that seemed to house everything for the city—police station, municipal court,maybe even the mayor’s office—judging by the faded signs and lone cruiser parked out front. There were no people, no cars moving, just the sound of wind rustling through pine branches and the occasional creak of an old shop sign shifting on its hook. The whole town felt tucked in for the night, like it had rolled over and pulled the covers tight.
The air was cold and damp, heavy with the smell of moss, wet bark, and woodsmoke. I could almost taste the rain that had fallen earlier—its chill still clinging to the pavement. Armsville sat nestled up against thick forest—real Washington forest, not the trimmed city parks back in Everett. Towering evergreens, thick with undergrowth, loomed at the edges of town like silent sentries. The trees were so dense in some places it was impossible to see more than a few feet in. I couldn't shake the feeling that the woods were watching me—like something was just beyond the tree line, hidden and waiting.
Yeah, this place was definitely giving off low-budget horror movie energy. Still, it was quiet. Isolated. And for now, that made it the perfect place to disappear. At least until I figured out what the hell I was going to do next—and the best part, far away from Declan.
I'll need to fix the car tomorrow somehow. I guess I'll be sleeping in her tonight and figure out what to do tomorrow. Right on cue, a cool breeze suddenly caught me.I felt the cold seeping through the seams of my layers. I glanced around—no one in sight, but that didn’t mean I felt safe. Part of me stayed alert, listening for footsteps.
Digging through the duffle bag of clothes I’d mustered the courage to pack; I pulled out a hoodie to keep warm while sleeping in the car. To be safe, I moved my camera bag from the back seat to the trunk. It wasn’t the fanciest camera, but it captured great pictures. It was the last gift my mother gave me before she passed away a year and a half ago.
I should have listened to her. She knew Declan wasn't right for me. She had warned me, but he managed to convince me otherwise, claiming she was homophobic and just trying to drive a wedge between us. I should have seen it as a warning sign. My mother had always been supportive of me being gay since I came out in high school. But Declan manipulated everything to gain control over me. "I'm sorry, Mom," I whispered, closing the trunk.
Checked my phone I had avoided the whole drive, there were eight text messages from Declan. I deleted them all without reading and silenced the phone.I leaned the driver's seat back as far as it would go. Finally, my eyes drifted closed as physical and emotional exhaustion overtook me.
CHAPTER 2
BEAU
I awoke with a jolt, my body drenched in cold sweat and my heart pounding in my chest. An internal growl seemed to reverberate through my being. Something was amiss. I fumbled for the remote on the coffee table, realizing I must have dozed off while watching television. With a sigh, I turned off the TV, making a mental note to re-watch the episode or perhaps three that I had missed.
Glancing around the room, an uneasy feeling settled in my chest. There was nothing out of the ordinary, but the sense of unease persisted. In a sudden bout of panic, I grabbed for my phone and dialed my father's number, the flicker of worry urging me to seek answers.
After only one ring, Dad’s voice came through, sounding spooked. "What's wrong, Beau?"
Hesitantly, I pulled in a deep breath to shake off the lingering unease. "Nothing. Um, are you okay?" I managed to choke out.
"Yeah," Dad’s grogginess was evident in his voice. "Are you okay? It's after 2 AM here in Georgia."
A hint of relief washed over me. "Okay, it's nothing. I just had this strange feeling, like a snarl in my chest. Thought maybe it was one of those gut instinct situations you hear about when someone close to you is hurt or scared or… something." My words spilled out like I was trying to rationalize it. Maybe it was just a dream I’d had while dozing off in front of the TV. "Sorry to wake you, Dad. Go back to sleep. Talk to you later."
"Alright, good night. You know I've always said trust your gut. But you really should stop falling asleep with the TV on. You have done that since you were a teen.”
Setting the phone down on the table, I looked out the window, eyes scanning the surroundings. I glanced left, where the greenhouses stood, and then to the right, where the barn loomed in the darkness. The dark has no impact on my sight.Despite the lack of any visible anomalies, the unsettling feeling continued to gnaw at me.
I was wide awake now. Maybe a quick run would help calm my racing mind. I stepped out of the back door, casting a glance towards the greenhouses again before making my way towards the old barn. The path from the house to the barn was familiar to me since I had traversed it barefoot since I was a child.
