Kelly Hashway: The Monster Within

After bolting the door I took a moment to catch my breath. I was a mess in more ways than one. My chest heaved and tears streamed silently down my cheeks. I couldn’t go back to bed like this. I needed to get cleaned up first.

I tiptoed to the bathroom and closed the door behind me. Ethan was a pretty sound sleeper, but I had no idea how loud the water would be coming through the old pipes in the cottage. I locked the door and worked out an excuse before I turned on the faucet. If Ethan heard me, I’d simply say I couldn’t sleep.

The pipes clanged as the water made its way to the shower. I slipped out of my pajamas and got into the stall. The water wasn’t hot by any means. Lukewarm at best. But it washed the tears from my face as I let the emotions of the past twenty-four hours consume me. I’d come back from the dead and killed two people. Sure, the guy from tonight had been a total creep, screaming at a young girl and then trying to make out with her. I was less than half his age. But that didn’t make what I’d done okay.

Nothing made that okay.

BY some stroke of luck, Ethan slept through my shower, and I managed to slip back into bed. I didn’t sleep at all. There was too much going on in my head to even drift off for a minute or two. But when I felt Ethan stir next to me, I closed my eyes and pretended I was off in dreamland. He rolled over and kissed my forehead before heading to the shower.

I got dressed and prepared myself for day two of my new life. For Ethan’s sake, I pretended to be the happy girl, thankful to get a second chance at life. I ignored the nagging thoughts tugging at me as I took the box of crackers from the cabinet and placed it on the table. I tried not to think about what I’d done and how long this would go on, because if I had to keep killing people to stay alive…

“Hey, babe. Did I wake you?” Ethan came into the kitchen wearing nothing but a towel. I nearly fell over at the sight of him. Maybe it was all the manual labor he’d done the day before or maybe it was just good genes, but Ethan looked incredible. His dark hair was wet and tousled in a sexy, messy way. His abs were as chiseled as I remembered, and I refused to let myself think about the rest of him.

“No, you didn’t wake me.” I looked down at the table, needing to take my eyes off him. “I couldn’t sleep anymore.”

He walked over and kissed my cheek. “You were out when I got up. I guess you slept well.”

At least until three-thirty. I nodded and managed a weak smile. “Crackers?” I motioned to the box on the table.

“Actually, I want to go to the diner down the street. I saw a sign in the window yesterday when we drove by. They’re hiring.”

We did need jobs, and I really needed a strong cup of coffee. “Sounds good.”

Ethan got dressed, and we headed out to the car. As soon as I saw it, I shivered, remembering the events of the night. I wondered if everyone at the diner would be talking about the accident. I was sure someone had found the car by now.

I buckled up, and Ethan’s face twisted in a weird expression.

“What?” I asked.

“My seat is really far up. I feel like I’m driving a clown car or something.”

The seat! I’d forgotten to move the seat back after I used the car last night. I couldn’t help thinking that maybe part of me wanted to be caught. Caught and stopped, no matter what that meant for me.

“Uh, you must’ve moved it when you were unpacking the car.” I hated myself for coming up with an excuse, for not confessing.

“It’s weird, but I don’t remember moving the seat. I don’t see why I would’ve needed to.”

“Well, yesterday was kind of a long day. You were probably so tired you moved on autopilot.” I shrugged, trying to act casual.

“I guess you’re right.” He adjusted his seat, started the car, and backed out of the driveway.

I stared out my window, looking for tire marks from the almost accident or from when I’d peeled out in the guy’s car. I only noticed a small skid, nothing big. As we approached the hill, my chest squeezed tight. I closed my eyes, unable to look at the damage I’d caused.

“Whoa,” Ethan said.

I winced. How bad was it?

“Check that out. That car is wrapped around that tree. The guy must’ve been drunk or something.”

I forced my eyes open. Nothing more than tiny slits. The black car was on the side of the road, and like Ethan had said, the front end was crumpled around a huge tree trunk.

“No way did he survive that. Don’t you think?”

I swallowed the acidic taste in my mouth, and my bottom lip quivered.

Ethan squeezed my hand. “Oh, man. Sam, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be saying things like that. Not so soon after…”

Great. He thought I was upset because he was talking about death. In a way I was, but not at all how he thought.

“I’m okay. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Yes, I did. I shouldn’t have been so insensitive.”

“Really, I’m fine. Can we please drop it?”

He didn’t say another word. He dropped it just like that.

We pulled into the diner. One of those old-time red and silver ones you see in movies. I liked it. It was small, but it seemed welcoming, and for some reason, my mood lifted a little as we walked inside and sat in a booth by the door.

“Good morning,” an older woman with bleached-blonde hair and lipstick redder than a fire truck welcomed us.

“Morning,” Ethan said.

I forced a smile.

“I’m Gloria.” She placed two menus on the table. “Now what can I get you two to drink while you look these over?”

“Coffee,” we both said.

“Coming right up.” Gloria turned and headed to a coffee station behind the counter.

“So, what do you think?” Ethan asked.

I picked up a menu and opened it. “I’m torn between a Belgian waffle and scrambled eggs.”

“No, I mean about working here.” He nodded toward the Help Wanted sign in the window.

“Oh. Um, sure. This seems as good a place as any.”

“What will it be?” Gloria set our coffee down.

“I’ll have a Belgian waffle, please.” I handed her my menu.

“I’ll have the steak and eggs,” Ethan said. “And we’ll each take a job application, too.”

Gloria looked back and forth between us. “You two aren’t here on vacation?”

Ethan shook his head, but Gloria looked to me for confirmation.

“Our families moved here yesterday.” The little white lie slipped off my tongue. “We could really use the work.”

“Well, then. You’ve got yourselves some work.”

“Really?” Ethan almost fell out of his seat he was so happy. “Just like that? No application? No interview?”

“Honey, have you seen these legs?” Gloria took a step back and hiked up her pant leg. Big varicose veins ran down her shin. “They’ve been working too long and too hard. I need help. This is my place, and I’ll be damned if I go out of business because all the fancy resorts have their own restaurants. Nobody’s gonna come to my diner—no matter how good the coffee and pie are—if the service is poor.”

At the mention of coffee, I took a sip. It was delicious. “This is amazing. Secret recipe?”

Gloria winked. “One I’ll teach you right after breakfast. You can be my new waitress.”

“What about me?” Ethan asked.

“I’m thinking you’d fill the busboy position just fine. Sound good to you?”

“Sounds great.” Ethan’s smile lit up the diner. “Thank you.”

“I’ll be right back with your orders,” she said.

Ethan reached for my hand. “See, things are working out great already.”

Before I could answer, I saw spots. Black spots that filled my vision. Not again. “Um, I need to use the restroom.”