I

Jake stretched his arms and yawned loudly. It had been two years since the showdown with John Mackenzie——two years since he had quit his old job. The things he saw——the things he had done——bothered him then, and they bothered him still. His past experiences served him well, however, and he taught a new generation of policemen in the fine art of marksmanship. His specialties were the pistol and the assault rifle.

Jake taught one class each per day. Even though he had only been doing this for a short while, he was one of the better instructors——at least according to the student’s comments when they thought he wasn’t looking. He pushed them to aim with hearts as much as their eyes. What that meant was to be able to hit what you thought you were aiming at without sighting in. It’s not as if there is enough time to aim in a heated battle after all, but when it came to rifles, it was all about the accuracy of the aimed shot. The first shot counted the most, of course, but the second and third shots in the burst were there for added security. That same mentality carried to pistols, where Jake instructed his students to always fire twice just in case. That second shot can mean the difference between life and death.

Jake rolled out of bed and slipped on a pair of pajama pants. It was the beginning of November now, and the nights were getting chilly. The house he lived in now was one of those old ones built in the middle of the last century. It was full of holes and missing a bit of insulation in many places. He blinked a few times, rubbed his eyes, and yawned again. Mornings were always tough for Jake——he was more of an evening person.

Breakfast this morning consisted of scrambled eggs and a side of bacon. To top it off, Jake had a tall glass of orange juice. He polished off the food rather sluggishly, and meandered to the couch in the living room. With a click, the TV was on and humming. The TV was an old tube beast that whined in that high pitch whine only children seem to be able to hear. Somehow Jake was able to still hear it despite having fired several thousand rounds throughout his life.

While sitting on the couch watching TV, an uneasy feeling stirred in his gut. It would be his birthday soon. Jake would be turning thirty this year. He wasn’t over the hill yet, but age was certainly starting to catch up to him a bit. He was certainly not as youthful as he had been ten years prior. It was a hurdle he was ready for, but a bit fearful of as well. How would he be viewed now that a three preceded the rest of his age? For that matter, would women be attracted to him at all? Not that they ever had been of course, but thinking of his age had made him realize that he needed to settle down and start a family before it was too late. Who would carry on his legacy, after all, if he never had a child?

The clock on the cable box reminded him that he had to get in the shower shortly or risk wild students wrecking havoc like wild students always seem to do——even the police-in-training. Especially them. Jake rose from his comfortably warm seat on the couch and made his way through the creaking floors of the hallway to the bathroom. He undressed and turned the shower on. The hot and steamy water soothed his fear and brought his consciousness back from the depths of sleep. Once he was awake and thoroughly clean, he wrapped a towel around his body.

Leaving the bathroom’s warm interior felt like having ice water dumped all over his naked skin. Jake rushed into the bedroom and threw on some clothes. They were more practical than anything: a long-sleeved shirt and jean pants. He put a coat on as well——just a fleece windbreaker. It was cold but not that cold yet to warrant his thick leather jacket that he liked to wear during the winter. The better movement he had, the better he was at teaching the students.

Jake opened the front door to leave for the school. A harsh blast of wind slammed it in his face. With a harder push, he opened it and walked down the cement stairs to his car. It was a vintage Ford that didn’t do so well on cold mornings usually, but Jake had retrofitted it with a new engine that didn’t have those problems. To him, it was the body of the car that was beautiful, not the power or the sound. He inserted the key into the ignition and turned. The motor turned over after a second or two, and it was humming along just fine after a couple minutes.

The ride to the firing range where he taught his class was but a short thirty minutes. He used the time to listen to music and prepare for the class as he always had. There wasn’t much to do anyway.

The firing range was located within the Police Academy near the administration building for some odd reason Jake could never figure out. Stray bullets weren’t a problem he figured. At any rate, it made getting his materials and getting to class much easier than if it had been somewhere else; and for that, he was grateful.

Jake grabbed his teaching materials——namely a gun and some ammunition——and headed out to the firing range where the class was waiting. There were five students in this class. That was just enough to have some camaraderie, but yet not be too many that it would be hard to instruct them correctly. The students were disproportionately male in the group. The average student, according to the handbook, was forty-five percent female; and these students didn’t look less than one hundred percent male. He chuckled a bit at his own joke before addressing the class.

“Good morning class!” He greeted them jovially.

“Good morning Professor!” They responded in kind.

“Today, we will be working on the second pistol shot. As you remember, being accurate isn’t always about hitting the target, but following up with a second bullet placed where you want that one as well.”

Jake paused for a moment before continuing.

“I want you to send two shots down range as quickly as you can.” He said. “There will be two targets for you to hit. Use your judgment as a police officer in training as to what they are. Remember, speed and accuracy are key!”

Jake pressed a button as soon as he was done speaking, and one target popped up for each of the students. This was perhaps the most difficult assignment he gave the students every semester. The target had two guns, one in each hand. That wasn’t all though. The target also had a civilian directly in front of it. What the students were supposed to do was to shoot both guns on the target in less than a second. That was what he expected from them. Most students were never able to complete this task, but it provided them with an extreme situation to test their judgment.

Most of the students stood dumbfounded once they saw the targets. One of the students fired twice, and missed, twice. After about a minute, Jake called the firing to cease and asked the students what they had learned. None of the students could answer his question however.

“This is an extreme type of situation most of you will probably never have to face.” He explained. “But the key to this situation was realizing that the target had a civilian blocking your path; and that he had two guns. You were supposed to be able to figure this information out quickly and fire two shots. One each to knock the guns from the target’s hands. I didn’t expect any of you to do this since most people who have been working for forty years still can’t do it. It’s a special skill I thought best to show you now so you have something to work towards. Guns are not toys. Always remember that.”

The students stood in silence for a moment before Jake asked them to resume firing positions for regular target practice: two shots in the center of the target.

II

An hour passed before the class was over. Jake grabbed his belongings and left the firing range. He returned his gun to the office nearby and got into his car. He switched on the radio and zoned out as he drove to a café in the town closest to the academy. Jake always went to this café after work. They had surprisingly good food for a pick-me-up on his way home. As well, there was a woman Jake had been talking to who was always there about the same time as him. She was a businesswoman who worked in the building across the street from the café. She had lunch around one thirty every day. Jake glanced at the clock on his radio. It said one twenty-five——right on time. Jake pulled into the parking lot of the café at one twenty-seven, and got out of his car.

He entered the café and picked out a table by the window——the same one he always took. The waitress spotted Jake and brought him two glasses of water. He thanked her, and the bell above the door clanked. She was here. The woman was dressed in a suit and skirt with black slacks on her legs. She walked across the room and sat down across from Jake. He had known her for about a year now, and they were dating now. They had messed around a few times, but nothing too serious yet——condoms were still required.

The waitress came back with two menus a moment later, and Jake flipped through the pages. He felt like trying something new today. It was just that type of day. When he found what he wanted, he waved the waitress back over.

“I’ll have a Reuben this time.” Jake said.

The businesswoman ordered a croissant with ham and Swiss inside. Jake looked into the woman’s eyes as soon as the waitress had left. She was beautiful. The dark straight hair, the blue eyes covered with square classes, and the baby face all made him smile. He looked forward to spending days with her, but really relished the time spent on the weekend. There was a question mulling over in Jake’s mind, but he decided today was not the time. He might ask on his birthday, but not today.

The waitress returned with their orders after about ten minutes’ time that the couple had spent chatting——how work was and the like. Jake started on his Reuben with a large bite. The sandwich was large and messy. A bit of the sauce had stuck to the outside of his mouth, and the businesswoman wiped it off gently.

“Thanks.” Jake said, offering her a bite of the sandwich. She declined.

Jake finished the Reuben at about the same time the woman did. He checked his watch; it was now one fifty-five. She had to be back to work at two. Jake tossed enough money on the table to cover the food and the tip and walked her across the street. They kissed before she took the elevator up to the fourth floor where her office was.

Jake crossed the empty street once more and slid into his car. With a twist of his wrist, it was humming and music was playing. The drive home went by faster than Jake had remembered it did. He was tired and the music took him into his head the entire way.

Once Jake was home, he unlocked the door to his house and turned on the heat. It was cold inside. There was still enough light when he got home to be able to have most of the lights off. He opened the door, walked outside, and walked to the back of the house. Behind the house was where Jake kept wood for the fireplace in a stack about as high as him. He had used up the last of the wood the previous night. Jake picked up the yellow-handled maul and began to chop logs first in half and then into quarters.

He chopped five or six logs——enough to last a couple of days——and wiped the sweat from his brow. Jake placed the maul back into its rightful place against the house and proceeded to carry several bundles of wood inside. The pieces of wood that would not fit in a smaller stack by the fireplace, he heaped by the door for easier access.

Jake brushed off the dirt and wood that clung to his jacket before entering the house again. There was a mess on the floor from when he had brought the wood in. Once that was cleaned up, he placed the logs in the fire in a sort of pyramid, stuffed scrunched newspaper balls under the logs, and lit it with a match. The whole structure caught fire and was roaring within minutes.

The warm yellow glow of the fire played over Jake’s face as he started into it. The warmth took away the cold chill that stuck to his bones from work. The sun was beginning to set now, and the fire cast long dancing shadows against the back wall.

Jake stood up after a few moments in front of the fire and walked to the kitchen. He flicked on a light and heated a pot of water for ravioli. He returned to the fire and stoked it before placing another log on top. A piece of bark that had splintered nearly off of the log, caught fire almost instantly. As it burned, it curled up as if it was trying to escape the searing heat——this was the sort of thing that fascinated Jake.

He got up and made his way back to the stove. The water was heaving and rolling, just ready for the ravioli to cook. He plopped the pasta into the boiling water and affixed a lid to it. He set the timer for ten minutes and walked back to the fireplace.

The fire sucked air from the far rooms, making the colder. When combined with being used to the heat from the fire, the hallway next to the kitchen radiated an intense chill. It felt to Jake like a vacuum for warmth——and a place he would have to trek to go to bed tonight. Jake shivered at the thought. The timer’s shrill ring pierced the peaceful silence. He got up to turn it off and strain the pasta.

He took a plate from the cupboard and filled it with ravioli. He put butter and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese on top. Jake carried the plate back in front of the fire. He slowly ate his food with the plate sitting on his lap. The heat radiating from the fire warmed the front of his body much more than the back. Jake turned his body around to warm his back while he finished his dinner.

After taking a bite of food, he looked up at the wall across the living room. The dancing flames behind him cast his twitching shadow on the couch and wall in the back. The dark room felt cold compared to the fire’s heat.

With an empty plate in his hands, Jake reluctantly walked away from the fire and put the dish in the dishwasher next to the sink. He pulled a cup from the cabinet and put milk and honey into it. The cup then went into the microwave for two minutes. Jake pulled it out and tested it with his finger——it was warm enough. He stirred the white liquid with a spoon and walked back to the fire with it.

The milk calmed him down as he relaxed by the fire. The only light besides the fire was from the light bulbs in the kitchen. Jake slowly sipped the milk, reflecting on his day. It had been a good day overall, but he was mostly excited for Sunday——his birthday. Jake finished the last of his milk and stood up. He carried the mug into the kitchen and washed it. He then walked back to the fireplace and separated the logs so the fire would go out. The fireplace was now dark except for the small glow of the remaining embers.

Jake made his way to the bathroom and fumbled to turn the light on. He stared at his reflection in the mirror for a moment before grabbing his toothbrush. White suds foamed between his teeth. He swished water in his mouth and spit. His mouth had that clean-but-bitter sensation that he hated. Jake swished more water around in his mouth, attempting——but not succeeding——to wash the taste from his mouth. He washed and dried his face before shutting off the light and heading to the bedroom.

The chill of the night grabbed at his bare feet and ankles when he entered the room. Jake switched on a light and went over to a calendar pinned to the back of the door. The November picture was of the constellation Scorpio. He took a pen and marked an X on Thursday.

Only three days left. He thought gleefully.

Jake pulled back the covers of his bed and slipped in. He pulled his feet close to warm them up before attempting to fall asleep. They were icy. He lay on his back, heart beating quickly from the excitement of his birthday but three days away. He pulled the covers up to his chin and slowly nodded off.

III

Jake drifted in and out of dreams the whole night. Most were about the businesswoman and his angst towards asking her to move in with him; however, the one that woke him up was something that fundamentally disturbed Jake to his core. When he was semi-awake, he looked back on what it was.

IV

It was a cloudy day where it felt like perpetual twilight. There was no rain in the forecast; or, for that matter, in the clouds. They were heavy with water, but they would not rain here in this parched land. It had been that way for years——not an ounce of water had fallen here. The dry parched earth was cracked and dusty. The wind from the storm kicked up a terrible blinding cloud of dust that narrowed visibility considerably, but not completely.

Jake sat with a hat on his head. It was like a sombrero, but the wide brim hung down on the ends to keep dust out. In this storm though, it was no help. Jake pulled his leather jacket close to his body and shimmied behind a wood-framed building. The whistling wind tore all around him, beating his skin senseless with never-ending wind-whipped dirt. If he could only make it inside, then he would be able to weather out the storm in relative comfort——not that it was very comfortable to have dirt wedged in places it shouldn’t be and no way to wash it out.

A rough hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him only a few feet into the blinding winds. Jake heard a door creek open. He was shoved in, and the door was pushed shut with great effort. He turned his head to the one who had dragged him from the storm. She was beautiful! She was young——maybe in her mid twenties——and dressed in a stunning red dress.

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“You alright there cowboy?” She asked in a high voice.

“I guess so.” Jake responded.

“I’m Marie, nice to meet you. What is your name?”

“Jake.”

“Not one for talking,” Marie said with a chuckle. “I get that.”

“Where am I?” Jake asked.

“This is the Saloon.”

Jake hadn’t seen the bar yet. Yes, it was the Saloon. The bar stretched along two sides of the place. A mirror sat behind the bar in between the bottles of alcohol sitting on shelves. There weren’t many people here, just a few serving girls——like Marie——and the bartender. The smell of tobacco permeated everything. Jake hated tobacco, but he hated the driving wind more.

Marie tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if he wanted a drink. He replied that he wanted whisky and a room upstairs for the night. This storm wasn’t going to end any time soon. The serving girl came back a moment later with a small glass of whisky. It was a bit more than a shot, but not enough to get drunk off of——the perfect amount. She led him up the stairs to the second room on the left. The wooden door creaked open from the slightest push. Jake handed Marie twenty dollars to cover the night and the alcohol. She smiled at him and left.

Jake lay down on the hard mattress of the bed. The room was small and simple with only a small light on a table next to the bed. He switched off the light and closed his eyes. The howling of the wind and the constant patter of dirt against the window was somehow calming. He was safe in here and could finally get some rest.

V

Sometime later, Jake woke up when he felt a hand brush against his hair. The wind had died down a bit, but not much. It was much darker now than before, so it must be sometime in the evening or night. His stomach ached for food. The hand brushed against his head. Jake jerked his head hurriedly, but couldn’t see. He switched on the light and——and there was Marie in the red dress. She looked at him, and he noticed how beautiful her eyes were for the first time.

“Dinner is being served downstairs.” She told him.

“Great!” He responded. “I’m starving!”

“Hold your horses cowboy.” She said shutting the door. “I’m going to relax you a bit first.

The serving girl teased Jake with her red dress and slowly pulled it off. He attempted to tell her no, but she continued. He really didn’t mind, but he was kind of hungry at the moment. She undid his top and then his pants before sitting on his lap and giving him a kiss on the lips. Jake felt his hands around her body and readied himself to be ‘relaxed.’ Without warning, Marie produced a knife from a garter on her right leg. He didn’t notice——he was busy kissing her. She hugged him tight with both arms and stabbed Jake in the back of the neck. He could have screamed from the pain and surprise, but the serving girl bit his tongue tightly so he would keep kissing her as he left his body behind.

Jake felt his body go limp, and he felt himself slipping out of the body he had been in his entire life. He was looking down on his body as he swirled around the room. He looked at the serving girl once more, and an odd sense of familiarity. Had he known this woman from somewhere? Who was she really?

VI

Jake scratched his head after he had recalled the dream. Something was odd about it. That woman had made him feel nostalgic. But why? That question haunted him while he got ready for work. Class today was the same as it had been yesterday. Meeting the businesswoman for lunch was fun as usual, but Jake was really looking forward to the date they had planned that night.

VII

Jake returned home from work around four thirty——a bit later than normal. He had gone shopping for the weekend. The businesswoman would be staying over, and he needed to have food in the house. He placed his things on the kitchen table and rushed to the bathroom. Jake turned the water on. He climbed into the tub for a hot soak. He cleaned his body twice over, making sure it squeaked. He heaved himself out of the now cloudy water and dried himself off. The cold blast of air as he left the bathroom brought Jake back to reality. He sprinted into his bedroom and slapped on some clothes.

His clothes suited him well for tonight. They were a mix of formal and casual. The tee shirt he was wearing had a beautiful picture of one of his favorite bands——Pink Floyd——but the long-sleeved shirt he had was a solid red. A brown belt running through his khaki pants finished the outfit Jake had on.

The businesswoman was going to meet him at six fifteen at a Spanish restaurant——Spanish food was her favorite. Jake liked it, but his favorite was Indian. Both were spicy, and that suited him just fine. Jake looked at his watch. It read five twenty two. The restaurant was only twenty minutes away, so he wouldn’t need to leave for another half an hour. Jake paced up and down the hallway, waiting for the time to pass. He hated waiting. It always made his insides turn in weird ways. The turning never seemed to go away until he left and got there early; and once he was there early, he would feel the turning inside his stomach until the businesswoman arrived to calm him down. Jake had no idea how she was able to handle her nerves, but he certainly couldn’t handle his own.

After about fifteen minutes, Jake just couldn’t take the waiting anymore. He grabbed his keys and headed out the door. His hands shook while he locked up. Jake got into the car and drove off into the dusk. It was November after all, and nights came early.

The twenty-minute drive to the restaurant left him twenty minutes early. Nothing he could do now but wait until she arrived in all of her glory.

VIII

Jake nervously waited in his car before she finally arrived. She was five minutes early, which was really just on time. He got out of the car and greeted her with a hug and kiss. The businesswoman looked positively stunning in a red dress down to her ankles and an ornate wool jacket to keep herself warm. Her hair was done up in a bun, and black low-heeled shoes completed the image.

The businesswoman grabbed Jake’s hand tightly. He marveled at how warm she felt in the bitterly cold air. He hugged her tightly and planted a kiss on her cheek. She kissed him back lovingly.

“Are you ready?” She asked Jake.

“Yeah.” He responded excitedly.

Their breath turned to white buffs that disappeared into the wind as they walked to the doors of the restaurant. The restaurant was clad in brick in a Mediterranean look. That stuck Jake as funny since it was November and below freezing, not like being in Florida. Clay tiles covered the roof, and large windows gave a beautiful view of the whole valley from the top of the hill.

Jake pulled open one of the two yellow doors open and held it for the businesswoman. She walked through the door and he followed. She told the waiter her name. She and Jake followed the waiter over a stream that was allowed to run through the building. Despite the cold temperatures, the stream was still running unhindered. Jake could feel the water sucking the heat from the air as it passed quickly through the building. That was why the main section of the restaurant was walled off from the entrance.

The waiter placed two menus on a table to one side of the room. Jake sat down across from the businesswoman. She grasped his hand gently and kissed it. The both of them picked up their menus and looked for something to order. She immediately went to the wine section to find something for the both of them to drink. She loved wine immensely——not enough to get drunk, but enough to be tipsy. The business woman picked out a bottle of red wine that she knew would suit the both of them equally. Jake was completely engrossed in the edible section of the menu. He found Spanish seasoned steak that he figured would be pretty good. The businesswoman flagged the waiter and they both ordered.

Jake marveled at the ceiling as soon as the waiter had left.

“Look at the way the stucco is patterned on the ceiling!” He said in an excited whisper.

“Wow, that’s cool.” The businesswoman agreed.

Before either of them knew it, their food had arrived. It smelled wonderful, and Jake wanted badly to dig in. The businesswoman stopped him with a kiss.

“Thanks for taking me out Jake,” she said. “I’ve been looking forward to it for a while.”

I’m just glad you’re with me,” he said, “Clarice.”

Jake stuck his fork into the steak and sliced a large chunk off. Clarice rolled her eyes at him. He was a messy eater and always managed to eat large meals faster than most people ate small ones. Jake bit into the steak and red juices dribbled out and down his mouth. Clarice wiped his mouth and chuckled. Her food was rice with beef and beans. She only needed a spoon to eat, and before Jake could react, she had placed a spoonful of her food in his mouth. It was great! The juices of the beef and beans swished around his mouth as he chewed.

“It tastes great Clarice!” He said, cutting a chunk of his steak for her. “Here, try some of mine.”

She bit down on the steak and chewed it thoughtfully.

“It’s wonderful,” she said.

The couple ate their food in silence except for an odd look or two. They were in too much love to be able to do anything else. The night wore on and Jake finished his plate. He helped Clarice finish hers as well. Soon enough, they were both done. After getting the check and splitting the bill——Jake didn’t have enough for the whole thing——the two of them got in their cars and headed to Jake’s house.

IX

Jake pulled into his long gravel driveway and parked to one side, allowing Clarice to park next to him. He turned off his car and stepped out into the cool night air. She followed him along the path and up the stairs to the front door. Jake unlocked the door with a twist of his wrist and beckoned Clarice to go inside. The interior was warm, but still had a chill clinging to it. He stepped into the living room and flicked on the light. He piled wood into the fireplace in that special pyramid shape, and lit it up.

The fire roared wildly. Jake and Clarice lay down together in front of the fire and kissed sensually, their lips locked in a tight embrace. Tongues flicking in and out like small striking cobras. They hugged each other for what must have been more than five minutes, each daring the other to let go first.

Jake listed Clarice and carried her into the bedroom. He plopped her onto his bed and pushed the covers on top of her before undressing. He jumped in bed with her and slowly took her clothes off. Jake was glad he lived far away from neighbors——she was a screamer.

Their passionate love rocked the bed and probably rocked the house against its foundation, too. After they were done, Jake was tired but knew he couldn’t sleep yet. He dragged himself out of bed and put the fire out in the living room. The air had its chill back again as he returned to bed. Jake peeled back the covers and climbed in next to Clarice. He pulled the covers up to his chin, kissed her, and turned out the light.

“Good night.” He said.

“Good night.” She said back.

X

The next morning didn’t really come at all. A light rainstorm had moved in over night, and the dark grey clouds obscured the sun. It was dark. When Jake turned his head to look at the clock, he jumped. It was almost noon! He didn’t like days like this where it was impossible to tell the time. It made him feel uneasy. Clarice turned to him with her eyes closed, and mouthed to Jake.

“Go back to sleep Jake, it’s too early.” She mumbled.

“Clarice,” said Jake, “It’s almost twelve, we should try to have breakfast while it’s still morning.”

A few moments went by before Jake’s words sank in. Clarice rolled out of bed quickly and threw on some clothes. Jake followed suit, and soon, the both were in the kitchen, yawning. Jake took the eggs from the refrigerator and laid them on the counter next to the stove. Clarice took out the pan and bread. Jake buttered up the pan while she stuck four slices of bread into the toaster. As soon as she’d pulled down the handle, Clarice went about making the coffee.

The eggs sizzled in the pan for several minutes before they were ready. Clarice laid out two plates and buttered the four slices of toast——two on each plate. On each plate, Jake put an egg-over-easy onto a slice of toast. In a snap decision, he pulled some bacon from the refrigerator and stuck it into the microwave. As soon as it was done, Jake put the bacon on top of the eggs and finished up the sandwich with the other slice of toast on top. He handed Clarice her plate, and they sat down at the table in the middle of the kitchen. Clarice had poured each of them a tall glass of orange juice, and Jake drank a big gulp.

He was sweating a bit now, the thoughts of the day weighing on his mind. When would he tell her? What would her reaction be when he did? Clarice must have seen a look on his face, because she turned to Jake and spoke.

“Jake,” she said with a worried look, “is everything alright?”

“Yeah,” he said a bit more forcefully than he had intended. “I was just thinking for a minute. Nothing important.”

Clarice fell silent and looked a bit hurt from his rejection of her concern. Jake felt sorry, but he couldn’t apologize and explain just yet, could he? She would get over it in a few minutes, but maybe now would be the best time now that the door had been opened for him. He opened his mouth to apologize, and then quickly shut it after no sound came out. After a minute of silence, Jake tried again.

“Sorry for snapping at you.” Jake said slowly before pausing for a second. “I wasn’t ready to say it yet, but I really don’t have a choice.”

Jake paused again, catching his breath.

“Would you like to move in?” He asked Clarice with the smallest voice.

“What did you say, Sweetie?” She asked, not hearing him.

“Would you like to move in with me?” He asked a bit louder.

Clarice looked at him beaming. The smile on her face was large, and Jake felt relieved.

“Yes!” She nearly screamed. “I’d love to! I’ve been waiting for a while for you to ask!”

Clarice hugged him tightly and kissed him all over. Jake’s ears rang from her excitement. They embraced each other for what seemed like an hour before Jake spoke up.

“We need to get everything ready then.” He said. “We need to figure out where to put your things and my things.”

He paused for a second and then continued.

“It’s my birthday tomorrow, this is the best birthday present I could have wished for. Thanks Clarice!”

He kissed her.

“You’re welcome Jake.” She said as she kissed him back.

XI

By three in the afternoon, Jake and Clarice had taken all of her clothes to his house from her apartment. They would need to get a moving truck in the next week; but for now, they were content to just sit in front of the fire Jake had lit and cuddle together.

By six in the evening, Clarice got up and found some pasta in one of the cabinets. She decided that the pasta would be dinner because there wasn’t anything else in the house, and because she wanted to spend time with Jake, not order anything. That would just be too much money. Jake stirred from his resting place in front of the fire and went to the kitchen to help Clarice.

Dinner was ready in about twenty minutes, and the couple ate and talked. By the time dinner was over, Jake was ready to sit on the couch with Clarice and watch TV. The fire was still going, and it kept the living room warm with its flickering light.

Since it was a special occasion, Jake decided that they would order a movie on demand. He checked through the listings before finally arriving on The Shining. He hadn’t seen the movie before, but had always figured it was too scary for him to watch. Those kinds of movies didn’t suit him at all, but he knew Clarice wanted to watch it with him——and she had bugged him relentlessly to do it for at least a season. Jake was certainly not going to hear the end of this after all the times he had protested about watching it. At least this way, she couldn’t bug him anymore.

Jake and Clarice watched The Shining until its end. Jake didn’t move from his seat except to add wood to the fire. The movie scared him, especially the bit about Jack using an axe to cut a hole in the door before sticking his head through. Something about that scene just creeped him out thoroughly.

Jake hugged Clarice in the hopes that he could get the movie out of his mind. He couldn’t. The scenes of the movie were etched into his brain for all eternity. He got off the couch and poked out the fire. The lack of light made him feel as if there was a ghost behind his back, perpetually haunting him wherever he might turn.

The couple got ready to sleep and then headed off to the bedroom to go to sleep. Jake and Clarice climbed under the covers and went to sleep, with cold their constant companion.

XII

The room was still dark when Jake felt a gentle touch to his forehead. It was too early, why was Clarice bothering him? He opened his eyes and saw a shadowy figure looming over him. Jake rubbed his eyes in the hopes that he could see whomever it was better.

The shadowy figure took the form of a young woman, or as far as he could tell at any rate. Jake turned to his right where Clarice was sleeping. He pushed her body back and forth to wake her, but she felt icy to the touch. His mind was still foggy after having just woken up, but it slowly dawned on him. She was dead!

Jake freaked out. He reached for the light to see his assailant better, but something cold and metallic slapped down on his wrist.

“You’re not going anywhere,” the female voice of the figure said.

The figure smacked Jake on the side of the head very hard with the metallic object. He fell unconscious after a short moment. The figure was laughing at his pain.

XIII

When Jake woke up again, he was bound and gagged on the bed still. The room was much brighter now that the sun had finally risen. The figure had opened all the curtains to let in as much light as possible; and because of this, Jake would be able to see the bitch who had killed his woman.

His head was pounding still from the impact of the object earlier. Jake heard footsteps coming from down the hall, and those sounds didn’t help any. The figure from before entered the room. She was young, very young. Jake judged her age to be around eighteen. Something about her seemed familiar, but something was also very wrong with her. His intuition was telling him that she was like two people mashed together——a bastard child of some unholy union. Her voice was instantly recognizable when she spoke.

“How many years has it been Jake?” She asked. “My body hasn’t aged a day, but I have. I’ve experienced things you’d never imagine. There was a time I was even in love, just like you.”

She paused and took a deep breath.

“You killed my love!” She screamed in his face. “You and Ed will pay for killing my dear John Mackenzie! I started with your girl, and next.”

She paused and smiled.

“Don’t worry, I won't kill you,” she said in a soft tone. “We’re just going to have a little fun.”

Jake’s mind raced. The young woman in front of him drove the thought of Clarice’s dead body from his mind. He only had questions for himself. Why was she still as young as she had been when she was killed? How was she alive? Why did she love John Mackenzie when he killed our parents?

Jake’s rational mind was in complete confusion about how she could have survived. Lily was dead, he had watched her die protecting him! His mind then flicked back to how she seemed like two people in one body. He didn’t want to believe it, but it had to be. It didn’t seem possible, but there was no other way.

Lily was dressed in a short red dress, just as the woman in his dream had been. Something wasn’t right about her either. She was looking at him in a way that wasn’t right at all——it scared him. What was she going to do?

Jake didn’t have long to wait for the answer. Lily stripped out of her dress into her underwear and got on top of him. She touched him in places a sister shouldn’t, and as soon as Jake thought she was going to do the unthinkable, a loud sound resounded in his ear. Liquid poured from the wound in his chest, and everything went black.