Helen Douglas - After Eden

‘Imagine if somebody else had found this. By the time you read this, I will be long dead. Although my life will be over, only a day or two will have passed for you. It’s strange to think of you out there, still young and pretty when I am dead and gone.’

‘Stop!’ I said, my face burning.

Travis flicked open his lighter and held the flame to the end of the letter. I watched the paper char and then burn. He dropped the paper in the fire grate.

‘How did you know about that?’

‘I didn’t till I dug it up. I had to check, to make sure the two of you hadn’t done something stupid. I can’t believe he let you put that in there.’

‘He didn’t know about it.’

‘Sit down, Eden,’ said Travis, gesturing towards the sofa.

‘I’d prefer to stand.’

‘Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you.’

I couldn’t imagine Travis hurting me. We’d shared so many meals together; we’d flaked out on the sofa with Miranda. He’d given me lifts into town. Maybe he wouldn’t hurt me. Perhaps he would trust me with their secrets, as Ben, Cassie and Ryan had chosen to do. Perhaps not.

I sat down. ‘How did you know?’

‘That you knew?’

I nodded.

‘It’s my job to know these things. But truthfully, you made it easy. You started asking questions about time travel around the same time you became friendly with Orion Westland. It was obvious you had sussed him out. And then, the other night, of all the stars in the night sky, you chose Algol. You wouldn’t know this, but Algol is still considered to be a binary star system in 2012. It’s not until 2045 that a third star was confirmed.’

‘Are you going to kill me?’

He laughed. ‘I’m not going to hurt you. Like I said, we need to talk. I need to know just how much Westland told you. Wait here. I’ll get us a drink.’

He left the room. I could make a run for it. Try to get to the car. But I wouldn’t have much time and he might cut me off at the front door. I decided to stay put and wait for a better opportunity. Travis didn’t know I had learnt to drive and he didn’t know I had the car key with me. I needed to sit tight and hope that he didn’t do something before I had the chance to put my plan into action.

‘They haven’t left much behind, have they?’ said Travis, coming back into the living room. ‘Very inconsiderate. But they left some beer.’

He twisted the tops off the bottles. ‘Where’s Connor?’ His voice was soft, kind, unthreatening. He pushed one of the bottles into my hand.

I put it on the coffee table.

‘I forgot,’ said Travis with a smirk. ‘You don’t drink. Perhaps you should start. You look like you need to relax.’

‘What do you want?’

‘To talk.’ He took a long swig from his bottle. ‘Where’s Connor?’

‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘We had an argument last night. He’s not speaking to me.’

‘What did you argue about?’

‘I broke his telescope.’

Travis chortled. ‘Nice. Pass me your phone.’

‘I don’t have my phone with me.’

‘Stand up.’

‘Why?’

‘I’m going to pat you down and see whether you’re telling the truth.’

I didn’t want his hands anywhere near my body. I handed it over. Travis spent a couple of minutes looking at it and then dialled a number.

He passed it back to me. ‘Tell him to meet you here.’

I hung up. ‘No.’

I felt something hard hit the edge of my jaw with enough force to knock me sideways on the couch. A searing pain began to radiate along my face.

‘I need to talk to Connor,’ he said.

I sat up. My jaw ached and my mouth was dry. ‘Why? He doesn’t know anything.’

‘I’ll be the judge of that.’ He stormed out of the room.

I held my jaw. There was no blood and I could move my mouth, but the pain was intense.

‘I’m sorry I hit you,’ he said, coming back into the room. He placed a small wet hand towel against my jaw. He smelt like sweat and cigarettes, and the sour smell of beer lingered on his breath. ‘I don’t make a habit of hitting girls, but you were not being very cooperative.’

I took the towel from him and held it to the side of my face. He stared at me. For a few seconds I stared back. I’d never really looked at him before. He was Miranda’s smart-ass boyfriend. Not really worthy of my attention. Now I really saw him. His upper body was broad; his blue T-shirt tight against his body showing the outline of large biceps and pectorals. This was not the physique of a chef. He obviously worked out or did some sort of physical activity. He could overpower me with one arm.

A sneer made its way up one side of Travis’s face. ‘Like what you see?’

I felt the old flush start on my chest. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘You were checking me out.’

‘No, I wasn’t.’

‘Ryan’s only been gone a few hours and already you’re looking for fresh meat. Nice dress, by the way.’

I looked up and caught his leer. Self-consciously I pulled at the hem of my dress trying to make it longer. This was not the Travis I thought I knew. This was an entirely different person.

‘Pass me your phone,’ he said. ‘We’re going to do this again. And this time you’re going to tell Connor to haul ass over here.’

He dialled Connor’s number and passed me the phone.

‘What do you want?’ asked Connor.

The phone was on speaker.

‘I need to see you.’

‘I don’t want to see you.’

‘Tell him it’s important,’ Travis whispered in my ear.

‘Please, Connor,’ I said. ‘It’s important.’

‘I have plans with Megan. I’ll call you in a few days.’

Travis shook his head.

‘I really need to see you today. Please, Connor. You’re my best friend. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.’

Connor sighed down the phone. ‘We’re going to see a movie in a bit. It doesn’t finish till ten.’

Travis whispered in my ear again. ‘Tell him to take a taxi and you’ll pay the driver.’

‘Take a taxi,’ I said. ‘Meet me at Ryan’s farmhouse halfway down Trenoweth Lane. I’ll pay for the taxi.’

‘What’s going on, Eden?’

‘Just come here later, OK?’

I hung up.

‘Good girl,’ said Travis. He checked his watch. ‘We have a couple of hours to kill. I’m hungry. Are you hungry?’

‘No. And Miranda is going to wonder where I am.’

‘Let’s sort that out first then, shall we?’

He opened his own phone and dialled a number.

‘Hey, baby,’ he said. ‘I’m still working. I probably won’t get to see you until tomorrow.’

He was silent while Miranda said something on the other end of the line. For a second I considered shouting for help, but the pain in my jaw reminded me what could happen if I tried something on. I’d have to come up with a different strategy.

‘I just saw Eden. She’s going to the movies with Connor and some other friends.’

I stared at him. He winked at me.

‘She asked me to let you know she’ll be home late. I’ll see you tomorrow, baby. Love you.’ He pressed a button to end the call.

‘How could you pretend to like Miranda? How could you pretend to be our friend?’

Travis shrugged. ‘I arrived nine months before Ryan and the others. Nine months of just waiting around. That’s a long time to do nothing. I needed a friend.’

‘Did you choose Miranda because she was my aunt?’

‘Yes. She was my second choice. I briefly considered Connor’s mother, but she wasn’t my type.’

‘You’re horrible. How can you do that to someone?’

‘You’re just a kid,’ he said. ‘You still believe in true love. One day you’ll realise that we’re all just looking for someone to keep us warm at night. But let’s talk about food. I’m starving. The only place that’s willing to deliver to this godforsaken hellhole is Perran Pizza. Ben was thoughtful enough to leave their menu by the phone. Choose something.’