The Prophecy Series: Pinespoint

IVY

The return trip to the cabin was less bumpy than the initial one. I was beginning to adjust to the dirt roads and the encompassing forest. A part of me was itching to explore them. But I knew that wandering alone in the fall wasn’t the smartest idea. My sense of direction was already shaky, and I was certain I’d end up lost.

I was fortunate that Pinespoint had a single main road that guided you to and from the town square. Straying elsewhere was a recipe for disaster. On my first day, I thought I was lost and nearly overlooked the sign for Stuart Drive due to the overgrown foliage.

I had anticipated more houses or cabins, but there were none. Only one house was situated on Stuart Drive, and it was the cabin I’d bought. Ella Mae was right; I’d bought an entire acre of land and I had no clue what to do with it.

Damn, I didn’t even know how large an acre was and I hadn’t fully explored the length of the gravel road known as Stuart Drive. It seemed to stretch for miles, but the trees lining the road concealed it.

Tomorrow, I planned to take the truck and see where the gravel road led.

I wasn’t sure if I could survive the winter, and I had a sinking feeling that if I didn’t get the cabin ready quickly, I’d have to find another place.

I half expected to find Ellison at the cabin when I veered off the main dirt road and onto the gravel drive, which I almost missed, again. As I emerged from the dense trees, a clearing appeared on my left where the cabin was located. The opposite side of the gravel road was lined with trees. I pulled into the small driveway, turned off the truck, and got out.

Ellison wasn’t there so I assumed I had just missed him, given the second set of tire tracks on the gravel road just beyond the driveway. I wondered if he lived nearby?

I unloaded the groceries from the truck and carried everything into the cabin. I quickly shut and locked the door behind me. I didn’t think anyone would attempt to break in, but it was a habit.

It was a habit I developed after leaving California. I had never lived alone before then. Although, my father had sent his bodyguards to keep an eye on me, they lived in the house opposite mine. After the first year, my father informed me that there was no threat and I no longer needed the bodyguards.

I wanted to argue with him but I held back. No one contradicted my father, and I wasn’t about to start. I knew it wouldn’t benefit me and my mother seemed to agree that I no longer needed the bodyguards.

I’ve been on my own ever since.

I took a deep breath before I began to stock the pantry with the nonperishable food. I knew I’d need a few more trips before I had enough supplies to last the winter.

That’s when it hit me that I’d be stuck in the cabin once the snow started to accumulate. I liked being alone but my recurring nightmares about the monster returning for me stirred up a deep-seated fear.

How did my father manage to persuade him to agree to the divorce? Why was my father convinced that I didn’t need the bodyguards? Why wasn’t I allowed to go back to California? I had so many questions. My most pressing question was: how was I still alive?

“Tonight, you will take your last breath.” His voice echoed and I immediately stopped breathing. It felt as if he was in the cabin, as if he was right next to me. I took a deep breath and tried to push away the thoughts and fears. I was being irrational.

He had planned to kill me that night and yet, I was very much alive. I began to hyperventilate as the kitchen, and the entire cabin, seemed to shrink. My chest tightened and my heart pounded. I collapsed to my knees, unable to support myself, and curled up.

“You think you can embarrass me and get away with it!” his voice roared and I started to tremble.

“No,” I whispered, rocking myself back and forth, trying to suppress the emotions. Tears streamed down my face and I began to sob.

“You disgusting fat bitch!” his voice echoed.

I could feel the blows. I knew it wasn’t real. None of this was real, but it felt fucking real. It felt as if he was standing over me, kicking my ribs. The room seemed to shrink and I gasped for air.

Soon, I was screaming and crying uncontrollably on the dirty floor of the shit-stained cabin. The lack of oxygen was overwhelming and I eventually passed out.

When I woke up, I was a sweaty mess on the floor. I slowly stood up and checked my phone to see how long I’d been out. Fear still lingered. I was foolish to think I could ever be normal after him.

It was three pm and I knew I had arrived home around lunchtime. At least two hours wasted.

A text message from my mother caught my eye and I held my breath. I hadn’t spoken to her since before I left Hawaii and I nearly had a panic attack while on the phone with her. I wasn’t sure what she wanted but I sure as fuck wasn’t looking forward to it.

MOTHER

Ivanna, I need to talk to you tonight. I’ll call you in two hours.

Oh no. The fear intensified and spread up my spine. I had a bad feeling about this.

I felt the panic setting in again but focused on breathing in and out. I needed a release. A sweet release and I knew just what to do.

I finished putting away the food and headed toward the bathroom. I paused for a moment… I needed to regain control. I tried so hard to resist this but I needed the release.