Beyond the Woods - Chapters 6, 7 and 8

Here is a picture of Ava's dress that she wears to the party! This is not a pic of AVA just her dress!!

Chapter Six

I pulled up to the School late. I didn't want to be there so early in the morning so I rode my bike around a little bit before heading over, apparently losing track of time. I rushed to first period and found Lance sitting next to my empty desk. Wait, he doesn't have this class with me. "Hey, we have all been worried sick how are you? Where have you been?" He asked. Aw Lance was so sweet, he really did seem worried. "I'm fine thanks. You don't have this class." I rudely said. But I felt bad afterwards. "Well your parents think you've been getting into a lot of trouble lately so we all switched our schedule so one of us has you in most of your classes." "What!?" I yelled, loud enough that some people looked back to see what was going on. "Yeah don't worry though; I'm pretty chill and not overprotective like my brothers." This was going to be a long year. Until now I didn't even know they were staying for this long. I frowned. "Man I didn't think I was that annoying." Lance said. Great now I felt guilty. "No I didn't mean.." He cut me off, "I got it, it's cool." He said.

The next three classes I had with Lance, thank god! I was in no condition to face Christian and Darren so soon. I actually learned I liked Lance. Not in a boyfriend way at all, just as friends. He is really cool and we just talked throughout our classes. When I got to lunch I felt sick. My head was killing me and my leg still hurt a little bit. That's when I remembered last night, when Lance said Darren was a doctor. Maybe I was just hearing things. Emma made me spill everything about the guys, but I didn't tell her anything I thought or what happened. I love her to death but she just wouldn't understand. I had fifth period all by myself which gave me time to think and daydream, but I was dreading sixth period. I had that class with all three Calivastro boys, I wasn't sure what to expect.

After the fifth period bell rang, I tried to waste as much time as possible before heading over to Mrs. Brown's Chemistry class. Luckily I was the last one to walk in and head over to my seat. Lance was reading a book but the other two were staring at me. I could tell they both wanted to say something but before they could open their mouths Mrs. Brown spoke up and started teaching the lesson. Never in a million years did I think I would truly appreciate Mrs. Brown's annoying voice, but just then I did. The rest of the class I laid my head down feeling exhausted. These nightmares were just getting worse and the only way to feel better was to go running in my woods. But that wasn't an option right now, not until I figure out what to do about the cloaked figure.

Soon the bell rang and I booked it the hell out of there and went straight to the parking lot. I saw someone standing near my motorcycle and when I got there it was Nick. "Nick, please leave me alone for today! Just one day!" I said. "Hey pretty thing I just came to offer you a ride. You know, since your tires are slashed. I looked down and there they were slashed. "Nick you bastard!" "It wasn't me sexy," he winked. Oh he is going to pay for this. It is going to cost me a fortune to buy brand new tires plus ill need to find a new ride to school. "So how bout that ride?" Nick asked. "No thanks!" "Alright fine. So sweet thing what are you doing tonight, besides me?" He said while tightly trying to pull me up against him. That was it, now he's making dirty jokes and touching me I had enough of this guy. I swung back my arm preparing to smack the bajesus out of him.

But he caught on and grabbed my wrist pushing me on top of him. "Ow Nick get your dirty hands off me!" I screamed. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" I heard someone shout. I turned my head and saw Christian and Darren running up towards us. "Back off man she's all mine no worries" Nick said. "Um no I am not!" I said while trying to break free. Then, Christian tore Nick's hands off me and shoved Nick back hard enough to make him fall down onto the cement. I staggered back and fell into Darren's arms, which were wide open ready for me. Nick got up and yelled, "I don't know who you think you are but this is my school." Darren and Christian both chuckled. "Who are you anyway?" Nick asked.

I pulled myself out of Darren's arms and stepped back a little, inching closer to Christian who put his arm around me. Darren frowned but Christian seemed delighted. "Oh ha-ha I get it. That's just perfect. Well look at you little miss Ava getting all the boys to go for ya." Nick said. "You don't know what you're talking about," I said back. "Uh huh we'll see." Nick said while walking over to his car and driving away as fast as possible. Then I saw Lance running over to us. "What did I miss guys?" He asked, but no one answered. Christian lifted my chin up so I was looking at him, straight into his beautiful eyes. "Are you okay?" He asked troubled. "Yes thank you both for helping," was all I said before stepping out of his reach.

I really liked Christian but after hearing him and Darren talking last night, the last thing I would want to do is hurt Darren's feelings. "Could you guys give me a ride back to the house? My ride is trashed." "Of course," Christian answered. We all got into his black camero. Christian drove while I sat up next to him in the front and Lance and Darren sat together in the back. The first couple of minutes were silent and beginning to get awkward. So Lance sat up and reached to turn on the radio. Suddenly it turned on playing Just Bieber's "Baby" at full blast and everyone shouted "No!" I started cracking up as Lance turned it to a better station. This is good I thought now the mood is lightened. "E.T" by Katy Perry and Kanye West came on and I quietly started singing it. The mood tensed when Katy sang "Kiss me, kaakaakaa kiss me infect me with your love pen fill me with your poison. Take me; want to be a victim ready for eviction." After that song I switched stations and one of my old favorite songs was on, "Benny and the Jets." I started singing louder this time and moving around attempting to dance, trying to get everyone to relax.

Fortunately it worked until Christian said "You look so cute singing like that." My face turned a million shades of red and he started laughing. "Someone is blushing!" Lance declared. "No I'm not," I said while we pulled up to the house and I got out of the car. Christian seemed happy but Darren did not look too pleased. The boys continued up the drive way while I stood there staring at my woods, longing to be in them. The feelings I had when inside them made me feel like no ordinary girl. I felt so much curiosity and pleasure by just walking through them. I was glancing at some branches when I noticed two bright red dots hidden behind leaves. My eyes were hypnotized while staring at the glowing red colors. I didn't even here Christian call for me to come in until I felt his hand touch my shoulder. I was startled and stepped back. "Ava, is there something wrong?" "No, just tired," I said. I looked back into the forest the eyes were gone.
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Chapter Seven

As we got inside I ran up to my room, finally having some time alone. I needed to process everything, or at least attempt to. The first thought on my mind was: Is there really something going on between Christian and me? Why did his family come all the way out here just to see us? What did they mean that I shouldn't know yet? Know what? But my most fearful thought: What was that creature doing in my woods and why does it continue to torment me?

Thankfully it was Friday and I had the whole weekend to get my priorities straight. I was going to go back and reclaim my woods. I was not sure when or what I was going to do after but I just knew that I was. I was starting to organize my plan when Emma called, inviting me to the party tonight. It really wasn't a great time to go out and party but Em talked me into it and I needed the break. An hour later I was fully ready, wearing a really cute white dress. It wasn't too short to make me look trashy but it wasn't too long making me look like a school girl either. I grabbed a pair of silver heels and headed down the grand staircase.

All the guys were in the living room when I came down, and the looks on their faces were priceless. All of them were stunned, but by what? Me? I was about to head out the door when my mom called out "Where do you think you are going, Ava?" "Just a party mom I'll be back by twelve." "Missy I don't know what made you think you were able to go out tonight," she responded. "Mom-," she cut me off. "Ava, you are in still in trouble for being late to dinner last night. Honestly child I don't know what to do with you. You come hours late, looking a complete disaster, and keep our guests waiting. You're not going anywhere tonight."

"That is completely unreasonable! You don't even know what I went through!" I accidentally blurted out. "What on Earth do you mean?" She asked. "Nothing," I said as I stormed up to my room.

"Hey I thought you were going out tonight," Sean yelled as I walked up the stairs. All the boys turned and looked up to me, as I gave the biggest grin I could possible. "Uh-oh," I could hear Sean say as I reached the top of the stairs. "What," Lance asked, "Get ready guys, there is going to be trouble tonight," Sean Explained.

There was no way I was going to blow off Emma especially after getting all dressed up. Plus I was really feeling rebellious after fighting with my mom. I called Emma and told her to come pick me up but to be quiet so I could sneak out. Minutes later I was attempting to climb down my oak tree in heels which turned out better than I thought it would. I ran over to Em's car and glided in. "Ready to party?" Em asked. "Oh yeah!"
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Chapter Eight

As soon as we drove up to Justin Emmerick's house we saw flashing lights and people everywhere. Emma and I parked the car then strutted up to his mansion. It seemed like a lot of people from this small little town were rich. His house was surrounded by a few other mansions, nice apartments and then a ton of allies that divided them. We pushed and shoved are way through the front door and over to a group of people we recognized. Then the dancing and drinking began. Everyone was grinding on the dance floor having a blast. I lost Emma at some point between her giving free body shots and heading upstairs with some guy. I wandered around for a good thirty minutes looking for her, before I decided to leave. I went through all the trouble of shoving my way out of the house when I realized I had no ride home. My only options were to walk home or catch a bus and in these heels I went with the bus option. The only problem was that the closest bus stop was about a mile away so I would have to suck it up and walk for a little while.

I began my walk slowly down the street, trying to stay close enough to the light posts. The sound of my heels clicking against the cement echoed behind me. They became a rhythm until another sound was added to the mix. I glanced back behind me and saw a figure in the distance looming closer. Instantly I picked up my pace, but was trying to go unnoticed. If anything were to happen I could definitely out run someone. Maybe they weren't following me. To make sure I made a sharp cut through an alley and onto another street. I could not hear their footsteps anymore and relief overflowed me. I continued my way down Elm Street when a body turned the corner, waiting for me. I turned around in the opposite direction and began running down the street.

I could hear the man behind gain speed as he came closer. "Damn heels," I said to myself. I was almost back to Justin's house when I felt a tight grip around my waist pulling me back into an alley. "Let me go!" I screamed. "Not so fast Ava, you owe me a dance," the stranger said while turning me around and forcing my body up against a brick wall. "Nick?" I said. "Don't touch me! Get the hell away from me!" I screeched. Saying this only seemed to tighten his grip even harder. I tried everything in my power to get him off me, kicking, hitting, screaming, but nothing worked. In fact it seemed to only tempt him even further. Nick forced my arms above my head, pressing them against the solid wall.

His strength was unbelievable; no way could an ordinary teenage boy do this. "Nick," I yelled. "Stop this right now! You're hurting me!" "Ava, don't be silly baby you know you want this." Nick replied. I smelt the horrid stench of alcohol on his breath. Struggling was not helping me at all so I began screaming, hoping that someone would hear me. "Shhhh! Let's go somewhere more private." Nick said while picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. I tried scratching and clawing but nothing seemed to hurt him in the least bit at all. "God damn it you bastard, let go of me!" I couldn't help but scream. He twisted my body around and covered my mouth, disabling me from making any noise as he carried me up an emergency fire stair well.

He used his foot to smash the glass of a window, the only thing separating us from some stranger's household. "Knock, Knock anyone home?" Nick joked. To my disappointment no one answered, there was nothing but dead silence. "This will do perfectly," He said while pulling me over to the bed. I realized what he really wanted and I became petrified, frozen in my own fear. "No, Nick please!" I begged. "Anything but 'that'! You don't want me! Nick stop it!" My heart began to pick up its pace. I gathered all the strength I could and aimed to hit him right in the face. I was successful but he was only caught up in his own pain for a mere couple of seconds. "I see you are not going to make this easy." Nick said. "Guess we will have to play it my way." He ripped off one of the sheets from the bed and began knotting it around my wrists.

Next he tied my wrists up against the bed post and inched his face closer to mine. He glided his tongue down the side of my face as I winced in disgust. Then, he nuzzled his face into my neck while moving his hands across my chest. I began crying, knowing that I could not find a way out of this. This nasty, repulsive man was about to take my innocence away from me, stripping the purity off my warm flesh. His hands continued to make their way across my body, while pulling off my dress and throwing I across the room. "Please, stop it," I whimpered. He was only inches away from taking something from me that I could never have back.

The tears rapidly began flowing down my face. Please God, someone help me. This can't be happening to me. Nick moved his fingers down my back finding my bra strap and ruthlessly unclasping it. I was becoming hysterical and tried kicking my way out of his hold. He was about to rib off the rest of my bra, which would completely reveal my entire upper body, when a giant shadow came leaping through the air and slammed Nick's body onto the floor. "Get the f!#k off her!" A loud voice boomed. But not just any voice, the voice of an angel, Christian's voice.

Nick flew up with his fists ready to fight but Christian was too fast for him. Christian slammed his fist into Nick's stomach making him thrash about. Nick stammered back into another room and Christian left in pursuit. I could hear glass shattering and all sorts of things breaking. My eyes wandered over to the broken window, when I saw another shadow appear. I curled my legs up, pulling all my limbs closer to me in case this person tried to harm me. Tears were still flowing down my face and I could only imagine how horrid I looked right now. "Oh Ava!" I heard Sean say. It was Sean, thank you god from the very bottom of my heart.

I was still in complete shock and was unable to respond back to Sean. He swiftly ran over to me then gently caressed my terrified face. "Where are they?" He asked. I nodded my head towards the back room where I could still hear people thrashing about. Sean ran into the room, leaving me behind all by myself to soak in my tears. I heard a lot of yelling and loud noises. Before the noises stopped all together I could barely make out Sean saying, "I know you are angry beyond possible but Ava is all that matters right now, and she desperately needs you. If you want to win her over so badly then go save her.

Leave this sick bastard to me." Seconds later I felt a rush of air then saw Christian by my side. "Ava, I am so sorry he did this to you. It's my entire fault; I should have been here to protect you." He grazed his eyes over my body which seemed to make him even more furious. Probably because he realized if he wasn't here right when he came Nick would have had his way with me. I could hardly believe it myself. Christian gently moved his hands towards my wrists and ripped the sheets, releasing me from my involuntary bond with the bed. "Pardon me," he said as he clasped my bra back together. It was a good thing it didn't completely fall off during this whole situation. As I stared into Christian's eyes I felt safe and warm.

A breeze came from the shattered window which broke off our eye contact, and that's when I came back to reality and realized I was just almost raped. Then and there I left myself go and fall apart. I wasn't as hysterical when Nick tried to force himself on me, but I was pretty close. While looking at me with understanding and compassion, Christian picked me up into his arms and wrapped the sheet around my cold, almost naked body. "Shhh, it will be alright I am here now. I'm so sorry Ava, but I am here now." Christian whispered into my ear. I could not help but continue to cry and whimper. I was lost too deep within my own sorrow and pity to talk to him. I felt the temperature drop as we made our way outside and over to Sean's car. Sean opened the door for Christian so he could set me into the car.

After everyone was in Christian pulled me into his lap and rocked me like a baby, while Sean sped off towards home. No one said a word the whole drive. How could we? As we pulled up to the gates that led us to our mansion I gripped Christian's shirt tighter. The thought of being left alone was too unbearable to think about. "Don't worry I am not going anywhere," He said while pulling me closer into his chest. My nose flared as I sniffed his scent. He smelt exactly like my woods but even better. Within his cologne there was a hint of pine leaves and evergreen trees. Sean went into the house first to warn everyone to keep their distance. I wonder if they are going to tell everyone about what happened tonight, I hoped not.

When I entered the house, still in Christian's arms, no one was visible. I guess Sean really did warn them off. Christian made his way up the stairs and into my bedroom. He walked over to the bed and sat down and placed me in his lap. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked. I shook my head and then buried it within his chest. I was afraid to fall asleep, fearing that he would get up and leave me, until he said, "I am not leaving your side, it's okay love, go to sleep." My heart fluttered from him calling me love but my excitement could not match the power of my exhaustion. The last thing I remembered before closing my eyes was studying this beautiful creature's face and praying that someday it would be mine.