Alla Kar - Stroke Of Fear

   Pressing my free hand against my chest, I bend at my knees. Breathe, Aubrey. Just fucking breathe.

“Lay down,” Tanner says. I do it, because I desperately want something that’s right in front of me. Air. He grabs my hands like he did when he pulled me from the water and brings them above my head. “Breathe, darlin’. You’re fine. Just breathe.”

   Time slows down; all I can see is two gray eyes staring down at me. The blue specks look great against the sky behind him. Slowly my focus starts to come back. Tanner runs his fingers against my arm. The sensation sends chills against me again. “You there, Aubrey?”

   I nod, running my tongue over my teeth. “I think I can stand now,” I say. Tanner wraps me in his arms and pulls me from the ground. The minute my feet touch I feel my weight carrying me back toward the soggy soil.

   Then I’m in Tanner’s arms. The hardness of his muscles mesh into my softness. One arm is underneath my thighs, burning all the way up between my legs. The other is keeping my back straight, my head lying in the crook of his neck.

   Somehow he gets the passenger side door open, and he slides me onto the leather. I let my head fall against the seat while something cool rests against my lips. “Take a drink of my water,” he urges.

   Swallowing the cool liquid, I think about this touching his lips. Now it’s touching mine. I know it’s childish, but the feeling between my legs is anything but childish.

   I don’t remember closing my eyes, but everything goes black.

* * *

   “Aubrey, wake up. We’re back at the camp.”

   A deep, rough voice travels along my skin, sparking all of my nerves. Slightly opening one eye, I glance up at Tanner.

   “Hmmm…” I moan softly. Tanner lets out a deep exhale before grabbing the back of my neck and slowly moving my head back and forth.

   “You have to wake up. I don’t think it’s a good idea to carry you into your cabin. They’ll think you passed out just by looking at my sexy as hell face.”

   Sighing, I lift my head and look around. We’re in the employee lot. “I’m up, I think.”

   “Can you walk?”

   “I think so. My body feels normal now.” I press my toes into the ground and slide to a standing position. Tanner’s arm won’t leave my waist.

I flick my eyes to his. “I’m fine.”

   Tanner keeps hold of me, anyway. When we get close to my cabin, I stop in my tracks. Jake is sitting on the steps, head in his hands.

   “Fuck,” Tanner says beneath his breath. “Come on, we need to lay you down.” Tanner starts walking, and I’m not sure how I’m moving, because I’d rather by anywhere than near Jake at this moment.

   Our feet crunching the rock under us makes Jake look up. His eyes widen at first, then I watch as his eyes follow Tanner’s arm around my waist. “What the fuck is going on?” he snaps, jumping to his feet.

   “I was about to ask you the same damn question,” I snap back. “Why are you in front of my cabin? I told you to stay away from me.”

  Jake runs one hand through his blond hair and the other one clenches at his side. “Why are you walking so slowly? What did you do to her?” Jake is screaming now. A few campers have stopped on their paths to their cabins to stare at us.

   “She went with me into town. Not that it’s any of your damn business.”

   Jake takes a step toward us. “Let her go. I’m going to beat your ass.”

   “No,” I screech out. “Do you not see the kids standing around? Go to your room and don’t come back over here.”

   He isn’t listening; he hasn’t since he saw Tanner’s arm around my waist. “Let her go.”

   Tanner’s chest vibrates with a growl, he and steadies me. “Go sit down. This won’t take long.”

   “No,” I beg, then turn to Jake. “Please, just go!”

   Tanner drops his grip on me, and I grab for his arms. Jake doesn’t waste any time, pushing Tanner’s chest. Tanner’s jaw clenches, and he throws the first punch. It’s loud. A crack echoes from Jake’s jaw. Then Jake throws himself at Tanner. They roll on the ground and throw a few punches each other’s way.

   I hadn’t even realized that I’m screaming until Cassie’s hand wraps around my mouth. “Shh, it’s fine.”  Eric comes out of nowhere and pulls Tanner off Jake.

   “Get the fuck up. The campers are watching. Fucking calm down, Tanner,” Eric says, grabbing his arms and pinning them behind his back.

   His face is sweaty, dirt smeared against his cheek. If it were any other situation I’d be completely turned on. His chest rises in powerful gasp as he tries to pull away from Eric. His eyes are dark; he’s ready to fight—ready to protect me.

   Heath has Jake in a deadlock, pulling him the opposite direction. Eric doesn’t let go of Tanner until Jake is clear out of sight. He snatches away, his finger running through his messy hair.

   “What the fuck was that about?” Eric asks.

   “He pushed me,” Tanner says.

   Eric raises an eyebrow and purses his lips. I just now notice that they’re still in their swimming suits. “Really? That’s it? He just pushed you?” He glances back and forth between the two of us. “Where were you two today?”

   Tanner swallows and glances over at me. A small drop of blood falls from his lip, and he spits a mouthful onto the ground. “That fuckin’ bastard got my lip.”

   Eric snorts. “Well, you got his entire face. So, I think you’re good. Can we please go to our cabins now? Before some campers go to get Mrs. Jones.”

   I nod frantically. Cassie pats my back and drags Eric the opposite direction. Tanner sighs and shoots his gaze to me. “Sorry. I don’t take too kindly to being pushed.”

   I lift an eyebrow and hold back a laugh. “Really? You can’t tell at all.”

* * *

   Tanner helps me inside and excuses himself after apologizing a thousand times. I lock the door behind him and press my back against the wall. He fought without an inch of hesitation. He seemed so powerful and strong.

   God, I’m head over heels for a guy that won’t even fucking kiss me. Just my luck.

I crawl to my bed. It’s never looked so comfortable before. Just as I grab my covers, a movement from the window across from me catches my eye.

   I’m suddenly paralyzed—struck with a feeling of the purest terror. I can’t move. Breathe. Act. I’m just stuck in the moment—stuck staring. He was there; I saw him. The brim of his white polo almost covered his blue eyes, but I’d know those eyes anywhere. They haunt my dreams every night.

   Dreaming. That’s exactly what I’m doing. No, I’m hallucinating like I did before the doctor prescribed me the crazy pills. I blink several times. When I look back he’s gone, leaving no indication he was ever there. My eyes shoot toward the door, and it’s both deadbolts are locked. I slide onto my bed, clenching my covers.

He can’t come back. He’s in prison—a facility meant to keep him in. I’m dreaming. Dreaming my bad past into reality.

   Slowly, I get up and close the blinds. I won’t see him again. It was only my imagination.

* * *

   I was running. Fast. Thick branches slapped against my face, but I didn’t stop. I could feel the blood dripping down my forehead, but something was behind me. I don’t remember, but I know I was running from it. It was getting closer. I was pushing through the burn in my throat, pushing through the ache in my body.

   Water crashed against the rocks below and stopped me in my tracks. I was at the cliff, just like last time. But I wasn’t being thrown over…not yet at least. Frantically, I searched my surroundings. There wasn’t anywhere to go. I led myself there. To the one place I dreaded the most. The one place that haunted me.

   Thunder roared across the sky overhead. He was coming. Tugging my hands through my hair, I peeked over the cliff. The water was racing quickly from the wind carrying it. It looked so terrifying, so consuming. I screwed my eyes shut and prayed I was dreaming, that the horror in front of me was just a dream passing through.

   I felt him. His stare. His presence. I’ll never forget his face, the calm look that was plastered there. I turned and saw him. From a distance he looked normal. Like a normal guy walking through the woods. But, I knew better. I knew what lies beneath that white polo hat was a monster dug from the depths of Hell and placed in front of me.

   His fingers twitched. He wanted to touch me. Choke me. Watch the life leave my body. Not. This. Time. Turning around, I raised my arms above my head. A scream ripped through the air, and it took me a minute to realize it was my own. I plunged forward, the wind whipping my hair around my head. The dark water consumed me, pulling me under so far I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get up.

   My sheets are sweaty when I sit up in bed. Cassie’s alarm clock reads 3:34am. Shit. Cassie is tangled up in her covers when I glance over. All the blinds are closed and the door tightly locked.

   Settling my head back into the pillow, I fall into a deep, dark sleep.

Tanner

My fucking hand is throbbing. A light blackish bruise is horizontal across my knuckles. I hadn’t realized I’d hit him so hard. Good, he fucking needed it. He came at me like he knew he was going to kick my ass. That’s what made me so angry. He has no idea what I grew up around. Country boys don’t use guns to fight, they use their fists. They’re not afraid to get dirty.

   Eric waves his hand in front of my face. “Come on, Tanner. Where is your head today? Wait—don’t answer that—you’re dreaming about Aubrey and her tight little ass.”

   Narrowing my eyes, I push his hand away from my face. “I’m gettin’ up.”

Eric laughs and tugs on a jacket. “Have you seen Jake since the fight?”

   “No.”

   “His eyes are swollen. You really gave it to him. What happened anyway?”

   I roll my eyes. “I told you, he pushed me. I was helping Aubrey after she had a panic attack. He came at me, so I fought him.”

   Eric’s eyebrow rises, but I can tell he isn’t going to ask anymore. “All right, whatever, bro. Ready to go?”

   We walk toward the auditorium, which is about a half mile from our cabins. We’re having a movie night tonight for all of the kids. Thank God Aubrey and Cassie are hosting it. If I have to cater to my little brother anymore, I’d probably kill him.

   Everyone is already in their seats once we get there. The huge screen is almost as big as an actual theater’s screen. The smell of popcorn is heavy in the air. The counselors are sitting in a group of chairs to the left. We make our way down there and grab drinks and popcorn on the way.

   Eric starts throwing popcorn at Cassie from a few seats away, and she turns around and flips him off with her other hand hiding it. He laughs and settles into his chair. Aubrey stands up a few minutes later and walks over toward the center of the auditorium in front of the screen. “Okay, guys. We’re watching Finding Nemo tonight. Everyone turn off their phones and enjoy!” Some of the older boys whistle at her, but she ignores them. I watch as she searches over the crowd. I’m wondering who she’s looking for when they land on me.

   A small smile rises from the corner, and she gives me a slight wave. I wink, and a rosy color rushes to her cheeks. God, I love that.

   I watch her from a few rows away as she whispers to Cassie, they eat all their popcorn, and finally settle down long enough to watch the movie.

   “Damn, how long is this? Feels like it’s been six hours.” Eric asks, shutting his eyes. “I just want to get out of here and sneak to Cassie’s cabin. We’re gonna have some fun.”

   My head snaps his way. That means Aubrey is going to be by herself. Suddenly the movie feels like six hours long to me, too.

When the last of the kids are hauled out of the auditorium I find Aubrey pushing the overhead back into a side closet.

   “Hey.”

   She jumps, hitting her elbow against the wall closet to her. “Shit,” she says. “You scared me.”

   Smiling, I reach over her to push the overhead the rest of the way into the closet. “Sorry. I guess I have a scary face.”

   She mumbles something I don’t catch, then says, “I hear our roommates are going to have a sleepover tonight.”