Brian Lane - Mind Games with a Serial Killer

“I used to come here all the time when I was younger. I would sit here, under this very tree and read books, write poetry, or dream of lovely things. I’m sure other people have been here, but I’ve never seen any signs of anyone else around. I’ve never told or shown this place to anyone. Not even my mother. She’s heard me talk of a place I call ‘Tranquility Garden’, but she never found out where it was. You’re the only person I’ve ever brought here, the only one I’ve ever told about it. I’d like to be buried here, right under this tree. I only wish that I told my mother of this place. You can see why I want to be buried here, can’t you?”

Jeannie looked at him and saw the tears forming in his eyes. “Yes, Lee. I can see why. But you can tell your mother now. Tonight, after you take me home.”

“No. I don’t have time. I only have a little while left before I have to go back. I shouldn’t be here now, but I had to see you and talk to you before… it was too late. I wanted you to see the ‘Tranquility Garden’ first. You see, Jeannie, you’re the only girl I’ve ever really fallen in love with. Sure, there have been other girls I thought I was in love with, but I found out there was only you. None of them gave me the feeling I have when I’m near you.”

“Lee, that’s very flattering. But I’m in love with Ricky. And what do you mean you’ve only got a little while before you have to go back?”

He looked around the small meadow as if he hadn’t heard her question and then sat down beneath the tree. He leaned back against the tree and closed his eyes. “It’s so nice here. So… tranquil. That’s how I picked its name. I wish I could just… live here… forever.” He finished the sentence and opened his eyes. Tears started rolling down his cheeks. “I love this place. Almost as much as you, Jeannie.” He looked up at her and smiled weakly.

Jeannie came over to his side and knelt down beside him. She pulled a handkerchief from a pocket and gave it to him.

“Lee, what’s wrong? Are you in some kind of trouble? You aren’t AWOL are you?”

He shut his eyes again, as if thinking about the questions. Opening his eyes, he glanced at Jeannie, then at the meadow around them. Looking down at his scuffed boots, he answered, “Yes, I guess in a way, I am kinda AWOL.”

“Lee! You can get in deep trouble for being AWOL. Won’t they arrest you or something?”

He looked around again. “No. No, I won’t be in trouble. They won’t arrest me for it.” He looked at the stream, reached out for Jeannie’s hand and smiled at her. “Come with me, I want you to see something else.”

She was reluctant at first, but then got up and let him lead her to the stream.

“Look there. See how clear it is? And it’s fresh water, too.” He knelt down and cupped some of the cool water in his hand. “Actually, it’s kind of sweet.”

He drank the water. “Try some, Jeannie. It tastes real good.”

“No. I’m not thirsty right now. Lee, why did you go AWOL?”

“I told you, Jeannie. I had to see you. To talk to you. To ask you to marry me. Jeannie, marry me now. Before I have to go. Before it’s too late.”

She looked into his eyes. The tears were still there, ready to fall. She looked away, a lump forming in her throat. “No, Lee. I’m marrying Ricky. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it has to be.” There were tears starting to form in her eyes, too.

Lee stooped down and cupped another handful of water. He drank it and then stood up. “I love this place. Jeannie, promise me something. Please, just do one thing for me.”

She looked back at him again. There was an odd feeling she had when looking into his eyes. Something odd about his eyes. They were blue, a bright, shining blue. She looked away from his eyes, almost afraid to look into them. Afraid of the feeling that was coming over her, “What is it Lee? What do you want me to do?”

He reached for her shoulders and turned her to face him. She kept her eyes averted from his. He lifted her chin, “Look at me, Jeannie,”

Slowly she raised her eyes to meet his,

“Jeannie, will you promise me that, sometime soon, you’ll come back here and plant some flowers? And then, whenever you get a chance, you’ll come back here and watch over things?”

“But, Lee,” She turned and waved an arm around the small meadow, “I wouldn’t be able to take care of this place by myself.”

He shook his head, “No, Jeannie. It won’t be hard. You don’t even have to do anything really. What I’m asking is that after the flowers start growing, you’ll come down here and watch them. Make sure nothing goes wrong while they are growing. And don’t tell anyone of this place. Except my mother, of course. Visit this place, keep it . . , alive. Most of all, when you come here, remember how beautiful this place is.”

She now looked back to his eyes. She felt a cold chill travel down her spine. His eyes were glowing brighter than before. She thought, if it were dark, they would probably light up whatever he looked at, like a flashlight. Then she thought about the dark. Surely it must be getting dark soon. They’d walked so far, it must be late. She raised her arm to look at the time, but Lee stopped her arm,

“Jeannie? Will you do that for me?” he pleaded.

She thought back to his question, “OK, Lee, I’ll do it. I don’t know why, though. You’ll be able to do that when you come home. For good, I mean,”

He smiled and looked over the meadow again. He walked back to the tree and stood there, head down, almost reverently. He looked up again and back to Jeannie. “Make sure that no one bothers with this spot. I want this spot to be where I’m buried.”

She saw the tears in his eyes start falling again. And once again she felt the tightness in her throat. But she couldn’t marry Lee. Plans had already been made and set. Besides, she was in love with Ricky. She couldn’t just drop him. No, there wasn’t any use in questioning the matter anymore. It had been already settled.

But he asked again.

“Jeannie, please marry me. Tonight, before I leave.”

“No, Lee. I can’t. Why do you keep asking me? I’ve already explained to you why I can’t.”

“I keep hoping you will change your mind.”

“Lee, I know we’ve been gone for a long time. It must be getting dark soon. Will you please take me home now. I don’t know which way to go.”

He smiled. “All right. I’ll point out certain landmarks on the way home, so you can find your way back next time.”

They started back and as they topped the first small hill, Lee stopped and turned around. He looked back over the small meadow. It was only half the size of a football field. A small oasis in the middle of a vast countryside of dried grass and uncultivated fields. He stared for a few more seconds. And then, to the meadow, he said, “Goodbye old tree. I’ll be back one day and then never leave. Goodbye… ‘Tranquility Garden.’”

Jeannie shuddered a little and looked at him, trying to read his meaning of those words. She gave up as he grasped her hand and started walking again.

“This is the only hill that offers this good a view. And you can’t even see the meadow from any of the surrounding mountains.” He pointed to one of the peaks to the left of them, “That’s Mount San Jacinto and across from it is Tahquitz Peak. I’ve been on both, with a telescope. You can see those two peaks from the meadow but from the peaks, no matter how hard you look, you can’t see ‘Tranquility Garden.’”

They continued walking, with him pointing out various landmarks. She was just beginning to realize how far they had walked. It seemed impossible. They couldn’t have walked that far !