Blood in the Woods Page 31

  “I know what happened, Jody.”

  “You do, huh?” I rubbed my head, feigning surprise.

  “I’m sorry about what happened to you,” Angela was sincere.

  “Don’t worry about it. They’re all either dead or locked up for good in prison now.”

  Angela’s eyes began to well up, and she wiped a solitary tear from her eye. She casted a furtive glance back towards her father.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked her.

  “Am I ever going to see you again?” Angela let out a sad sigh.

  “I don’t know,” I was honest with her. “There are a lot of bad memories here that I’d like to leave behind. But there’s also a lot of good ones that I want to hold on to,” I let out a light laugh. “I never thought I’d be saying that. I never thought I’d want to leave. I loved it here.”

  “If I could leave with you, I would,” Angela said, biting the bottom of her lip as she fought back her tears, “just never forget me okay? ‘Cause I’ll never forget you, Jody.”

  I wrapped my arms around Angela’s waist for the last time.

  “I won’t forget you. I promise.”

  Angela squeezed me tight and kissed me gently on the lips. Then she let go of me, climbed back into her father’s van, and slid the door shut.

  As they drove away, she waved to me through the rear window, a forced smile on her tear-streaked face. I waved back and watched as the van disappeared around the corner of the street, gone forever.

  That was the last time I saw Angela.

  I stood there awhile and listened to the sound of the birds chirping their joyful songs, and breathed that hot, humid country summer air deep into my soul. As I stared down the street toward Jack’s house I saw their car coming my way; Momma said they’d be coming by the house to see us off, so I ran back inside to prepare myself for saying goodbye to Jack.

  “Hunter-man, you got everything you’re taking?” Momma called out to my little brother.

  “Yep!” Hunter replied, and darted out the front door, heading for the car, where Memaw waited patiently.

  Moments later, Renee, Jamie and Jack came through the door.

  “Come here little Miss Jamie, and give me a kiss goodbye,” Momma said, flinging her arms open wide. Jamie ran into Momma’s arms and she squeezed her neck tight.

  Jack was restless, walking around with his hands in his pockets, pacing the floor like some expectant father. “Can I use the bathroom?” he asked.

  “Jack, you know you ain’t got to ask me, boy,” Momma joked. “Go use it if you got to.”

  “Thanks,” Jack said, making his way to our bathroom.

  “Come give me a hug, Jody,” Renee demanded, “Mr. Shawn said to give you one for him, too, since he can’t get off work.”

  I smiled at Mrs. Renee and went in for my hug, she held me tight for what seemed an age, before finally releasing me.

  “Jody,” Momma said, “go make sure I didn’t leave the hair dryer in my room.”

  “Okay,” I said, and made my way toward her empty bedroom.

  When I opened the door I saw Jack was standing there, dead center, with his arms crossed. He was crying.

  “What’s up, man?” I asked the all too obvious question.

  “I’m gonna miss you, Jody,” Jack said, wiping his eyes with his arm.

  “I’m gonna miss you too,” I choked up on my words.

  “You’re like a brother to me, and now I’m losing you. I know you’ll never come back,” Jack sniffled, “now what am I supposed to do?”

  My friend’s words were crushing my heart, and it made me cry, too. I placed my hands on his shoulders. “We’ll always have each other, Jack,” I tried to remain strong. “We’ll always be best friends, no matter what comes along in our lives. I’ll never forget the times we had together, not for the rest of my life. I’m sure I’ll tell my kids stories about us one day, and hope they can find a friend just as good as you.”

  “Same here,” Jack said, sucking back the snot that was oozing out of his nose.

  “I’ll never forget you... ever,” I sobbed and pulled Jack into a hug. “As long as I live, you will be my best friend, and you’ll know where to find me if you ever need me.”

  “I know,” Jack nodded, his tears soaking through my shirt.

  We had been through so much together. Almost every amount of joy and happiness we’d experienced so far in life, it had been together. The good, the bad, the happy, the sad, we’d been through it all side by side. I knew that I was losing the one friend in my life that I would never be able to replace; no matter who else came along, they wouldn’t be Jack; we were like one soul that lived life through each other.

  I let go of Jack and backed away. I extended my hand to him one last time for a shake.

  “Rhine Road Boys forever, right?” I said.

  “Rhine Road Boys forever – and always,” Jack replied and placed his hand in mine.

  Once we were done saying our goodbyes, Jack and I left Momma’s bedroom and went outside. Momma gave Renee a final hug and Jack a quick peck on the cheek before getting into the car. I sat myself in the back seat and stared forlornly out the window at Memaw’s house; I was already missing the place, and we hadn’t even left yet. Memaw started up the car and backed up out of the driveway. Renee, Jack and Jamie walked off, back toward the road.

  “Alright,” Memaw said, “ya’ll ready to get going to our new home?”

  Hunter was the only one to respond, he was a little kid and most things got him excited. I just sat there and said nothing.

  As Memaw pulled onto Rhine Road for her very last time, I looked back at Jack and gave him a wave. He returned it, as if he’d been waiting on it. I saw Mrs. Renee drape an arm around him, and Jack immediately began crying. As we picked up speed down the road, I watched with watery eyes and heartache as my best friend – my blood brother – disappeared into the distance.

  I had lost the most important friend I would ever have in my life, and a part of me died as we made the left onto Hardline Road, which then took us out toward the Interstate; leaving is never easy, no matter how old, or young you are, but this was my farewell – another chapter in my life closing out; even though I didn’t want it to.

  EPILOGUE

  OVER THE YEARS: 2008

  Over the years after leaving Hammond, I rarely returned to Rhine Road. Mine and Jack’s friendship became less and less each year, and by the time I was in ninth grade, we hardly heard from one another anymore, and everyone else I knew in Hammond fell off my radar completely.

  Jack was busy with baseball and football at Albany High, while I was running track and playing in the drum line at Tara High, in Baton Rouge. Once in a blue moon, Jack would call, or I would call him, but it was never the same after I left. Time and distance tore us apart, and we eventually settled for what new friendships we made.

  Even though right now isn’t the best time for a reunion, since everyone is trying to keep the pain of losing Jamie at bay, I’m glad I’ll get to be there for Jack in this time of tragedy. The road ahead for his family is going to be hard, but they’ll make it through – I just know they will. Mourning and sorrow come together like peanut butter and jelly when you lose someone like Jamie, a person who was so special and who touched so many hearts, it’s impossibly hard. All we can do is accept our fates with our heads held high and drive on and never forget what those we lose leave behind; Jamie’s memory will always be kept alive.

  Earlier today, before coming to Rhine Road, I went to Chase’s grave and placed a pack of baseball cards I’d bought from the local convenience store on his headstone. As I was walking away, I noticed his mom and dad’s headstones were next to his, their faces blank. Chase’s folks weren’t dead, but when they did pass away, they would be buried next to their son – a son who had been taken away from this world far too soon.

  It took me back to the day Memaw purchased her plot next to Pepaw. Even with thoughts of impending death, people hold on to the hop
e of reconnecting with their loved ones on the other side. I think that’s beautiful, and I pray that it’s true, and I hope when Chase’s parents do pass, they find him waiting with open arms.

  Upon reaching my car, I was in tears and could barely hold myself together; I really do wish I could’ve saved him.

  As for Justin, I never saw him again after I left Hammond, even though I never forgot the kid. I’d ask Jack over the phone how Justin was doing, but he’d lost contact with him as well. We three carried a dark secret; one we all seemed to have learned to deal with rather well. I always kept my old friends in my memories, though, and it wasn’t until recently that I found them all on the internet and we began communicating again.

  I believe it was Justin whom I contacted first, and when we spoke on the phone together for the first time in many years, it was as if we had just met for the first time. At some point during that initial conversation, he informed me that Alex had passed away. I was speechless to find out that Alex ended up going into the Marine Corps and had died while serving his country in Iraq. I wished Alex Godspeed, like I did for all my fallen brethren in the Armed Forces, and hoped his mother was keeping herself together.

  We’d ended the phone call promising each other that we would stay in touch more often. Justin wanted me to stop by his house in Hammond the next time I was around. It never happened, though, life kinda got in the way.

  As for Krystle, she married, became a librarian and had two adorable little boys. Angela married as well, she also has two sons, and still resides in Hammond. I’ve only spoken to Angela and Krystle through MySpace so far, but they want to get together and have lunch next time I’m around, although I doubt it will happen.

  I open my eyes to the sound of children’s laughter, as two young boys race past me on their bicycles. They’re late getting home, as I see that darkness has set in. I focus my attention for the moment on the stars that twinkle and shine above me, and get lost in their beauty.

  I’ve been here in my old driveway for well over three hours now, dwelling in memories past. I turn and watch the kids as they make their way down Rhine Road, and several yards before Jack’s old driveway the night swallows them up, and they are gone.

  I would give almost anything to go back in time and be where they’re at now, there are so many things I’d do differently. I was a murderer at twelve years old, no matter how you look at it, whether it was legally self-defense or not. I know what my soul tells me, and it tells me that I was wrong. We should have walked away that night, but you can’t go back, not ever. What’s done is done, and what’s lost is gone forever, whether it’s someone’s life, innocence, or their very soul.

  I know that I’ve never fully recovered from the incidents that took place all those years ago. Even after bringing myself here tonight, hoping that returning would put my heart and soul at peace, I’ve only proven myself wrong. I remember when Justin said we were going to have to take what we’d done to our graves, and he couldn’t have put it any better; I now realize that maybe when I’m dead and gone, that’s when I will finally have my peace, but of course, that all depends on whether what we did was right by God.

  I’ll leave it in his hands.

  I walk over to my car and reach into my pocket to pull out my keys. My wife is probably wondering where the hell I’m at, so I need to hurry up and get back on the road. I stick the key into the lock, turn it and open the door. I plant myself in the driver’s seat, and look through the bug-smeared windshield at my old front yard. There I see memories of Jack and I playing happily, full of innocence and joy. My chest tightens, my eyes water and imagined apparitions of everyone I knew while growing up here invade my mind like moths to a flame.

  I grip the steering wheel and squeeze it tight. My youth was taken away from me and my innocence was stolen. Although my childhood was filled of well-rehearsed lies and deceit, it was also filled with love, friendship, trust, faith and compassion. I don’t understand why I should feel so torn; I guess I never will.

  I scream at the roof of my car until I feel my face heat up. I place my head between my arms on the steering wheel, and tears roll off my face and soak into my denim pants. I start the ignition, place the car in reverse and back up onto Rhine Road. Sometimes it’s best not to live in the past, but no one ever said you couldn’t carry the wonderful memories from those times along with you and hold them dearly to your heart. I guess that’s what I do need to hold onto – the friends, the love, the happiness and nothing else.

  I press my foot down on the pedal, closing out this chapter of my life on my own. All that remains is the future, but you can always return to the place of your last happiness, which this place truly was. I turn onto Hardline Road, whispering a fond goodbye to Rhine Road, and leaving the nightmares of my youth behind.

  THE END

  Original concept art for BLOOD IN THE WOODS (2009) by Maria Tolo

  About the Author

  J.P. Willie was born in Covington, Louisiana to parents Gayla and Joseph Willie on October 30th, 1981. He graduated from Tara High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and joined the United States Army on October 20, 2000.

  While serving in the Army, he was stationed at: Fort Bragg (North Carolina), Caserma Ederle (Italy), Mannheim (Germany), Fort Benning (Georgia), Schofield Barracks (Hawaii) and Fort Polk (Louisiana). He served two combat tours in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He will retire from the Military in October of 2020.

  His first novel, Blood In The Woods, was published by Fear Front Publishing on December 26, 2016. The story is inspired by true events from his childhood and is terrifying readers across the globe. He decided to leave Fear Front Publishing on March 1, 2017 for personal reasons and quickly self-published the novel on April 5, 2017 due to high demand. His first short story, Welcome Home, Rougarou reached #5 for short reads on Amazon.

  J.P. enjoys writing Horror, Thrillers, Supernatural Fiction and Dark Fiction. He is working on his first novella, Hot Summer Savior.

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