The Past I Part 8

The Past I
Part 8

It was dark when Dan became aware of his surroundings. Realizing that his closed and swollen eyes were causing the darkness, he forced them open. Tessa was kneeling beside him, rocking back and forth, her torn clothes held together by tightly clenched fists. There was blood on her hands, and a low keening emanated from her throat.

“Tessa?” Dan rasped. “Are you okay?”

She looked at him, her eyes dilated and unfocused. “I think he’s dead,” she said in a tremulous voice. “I hit him. I think I killed him.”

Dan pulled himself up. Sure enough, Archie was sprawled out face first on the floor. The back of his head was wet with blood and what looked like oil. His hair was littered with glass shards and pieces of a red waxy substance. Dan realized that Tessa had clobbered Archie with her lava lamp.

Dragging himself over to the prostrate creep, Dan checked to see if he was breathing. Looking at Tessa he assured her, “You didn’t kill him, Tess. You just knocked him out.”

He was taken aback by her response. She looked at him with blank eyes. “I wanted to kill him.”

Dan just stared, speechless. Tessa licked her lips, and explained, “I thought he killed you. He was hurting me, and then, when you were here, I thought...I knew he was going to kill you, this time. I wanted to kill him first. He’s a horrible, horrible thing. Look what he did to you. What he was doing to me.” She looked at Dan’s bare and bloody feet, at the blood on his face and the holes burned through the cloth of his trousers. Then she resumed rocking, her face pale, and her eyes empty.

“Tessa,” Dan said quietly, “you’re right. He’s horrible. But I’m glad you didn’t kill him. You wouldn’t want to live with that. Let’s just go.”

“Where?” Tessa’s voice was calmer, but still she rocked.

“I don’t know.” Dan looked around the room. “We’ll figure that out later. Right now we need to tie up Rat Bastard, and get out of here. I need your help. Please?”

The “please” seemed to snap Tessa out of her daze. She pulled her shoulders straight. “There’s duct tape in the kitchen.”

“That’ll work. Why don’t you go get it?”

Tessa hesitated. “What if he wakes up?”

“I don’t think he’s going to, but hand me that bottom part of your lamp. If he comes to, I’ll smack him again with it.” Tessa nodded and got to her feet. She handed the metal base to Dan and left the room. She was gone a long time. Dan leaned gingerly against the bed, holding onto his makeshift weapon. Archie still hadn’t moved, but Dan wasn’t taking any chances. He was running on pure adrenaline, and he was afraid he would collapse when the rush faded. What could be taking Tessa so long?

Finally, she appeared, a roll of silver tape in one hand, and an odd expression on her face. She walked into the room and said, “I can’t find Mrs. K, but I taped Shirley to the couch. Why is she bleeding?”

Dan wracked his brain for a minute, trying to remember what had happened. “I think she fell and hit her head on the table. I know that Archie went to help her. That’s how I got to my room.” He took a long piece of tape from her and started taping Archie’ legs to the metal bed frame. Tessa did the same to his hands. They must have used half the roll, and when they were done, Tessa took two strips and taped over the man’s mouth. Dan reached into Archie’s pocket and pulled out his wallet and a set of keys. Tessa looked at him, but said nothing. She rummaged through her closet, changing from her stained and tattered pajamas, while Dan averted his eyes.

Tessa helped Dan to his feet, noticing that he was wincing with the effort. “Is it wrong for me to want to kick him when he’s all taped up like that?” she asked.

“Probably,” Dan said. “But go ahead. He deserves it.”

She paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. “But we’re better than that, aren’t we?” she asked. “We’re better than him. Right?”

“Definitely,” Dan told her. “But we need to leave, before it’s too late.”

Hand in hand, they left Tessa’s room, stopping only to pick up her duffle and throw a few more items in. Tessa went to Dan’s half-destroyed room to get him shoes and socks and a change of clothing. While he changed out of his ruined clothes, she slipped down the back stairs and retrieved Dan’s bag. As they moved towards the kitchen, they heard a muffled thumping coming from the coat closet. There was a chair stuck under the handle. Dan removed the chair and Tessa opened the door, revealing Mrs. K tied to another chair and gagged with a sock.

Together they removed the gag, untied the clothesline holding her to the chair, and helped her from the closet. She was unsteady on her feet, and the left side of her face was twitching. They helped her to the couch, where she collapsed, gasping, “Run, children. Run. Tessa...take...cookie...sorry...”

Tessa looked at Dan. “Something is wrong with her. She’s having a fit or a stroke or something.”

“I know. But she wants us to leave. You heard her.”

“Let’s call an ambulance before we go?” Tessa’s words came out as a question.

“Okay.” Dan looked at her and nodded, asking, “Why did she tell you to take a cookie?”

“She meant the cookie tin,” Tessa explained. “That’s where she keeps her emergency money.” She disappeared into the kitchen while Dan covered Paula Kawolski with an afghan. When Tessa returned, she was carrying a metal tin.

They made a quick call to 911, leaving the phone off the hook, then slipped out of the house and into the garage. “You aren’t really going to do it, are you?” Tessa asked as Dan turned on the light.

“Yep,” he answered. “Do you have a better idea?”

“Nope.”

With a grimace, Dan opened the door to the Corvette and slid into the seat. Tessa put the bags in the back seat and climbed into the passenger seat. Dan started the car and pushed the garage door opener. The door rolled up, and they were off.

Tessa was a little surprised at how well Dan operated the car, although he had told her he had been driving since he was ten. After several blocks, she mustered the courage to ask, “Where are we going? We’ll never make it to Idaho in this. Once Archie knows it’s gone, the police are going to be all over us.”

“I know. I have a plan, and this is my revenge part of it. Right now, we’re going to church.”

“Church?” Tessa looked at him like he was crazy. “Don’t tell me. You suddenly have the urge to confess?”

“No,” he answered grimly. “After I confess what happened tonight, I’ll probably be doing penance for the next five years. I really do have a plan. I promise. Please, just trust me.”

“I do.” She said the words so softly, for a minute Dan thought he’d imagined them. The lights of an emergency vehicle rushing past him distracted him. He was relieved that Mrs. K would soon be helped, but he knew that his window of opportunity was closing fast. He accelerated a little, and didn’t breathe easy until he pulled into the parking lot at St. Cecilia’s.

While Dan drove, Tessa counted the money in the cookie tin. “Danny,” she said in awe. “There’s almost three hundred dollars in here.”

“Good. I took thirty-three out of Rat Bastard’s wallet. Put it back in the tin for now. We’re going to need it.”

In the parking lot, Dan told Tessa to wait in the car while he took care of things. She didn’t much care for that instruction, but she followed it. She watched as Dan hobbled around the side of the church carrying everything they owned, save her purse. He was gone a long time, and Tessa sat in the dark, chewing on her fingernails and waiting.

When he returned, he was empty handed except for his leather jacket. He had washed the blood and lava lamp oil from his face and slicked back his hair, but he was flushed, out of breath, and as he slid behind the wheel, Tessa noticed blood seeping through his shirt. She took the comb he handed her and mentioned, “You’re bleeding.” She began to comb and re-braid her hair.

“I know.” He slid his arms stiffly into the jacket, covering the stains. Then he buckled up, started the car and pulled away from the church. After driving about six blocks, Dan pulled into an alley behind a Quik-Mart. He stopped the car and they waited. While they waited, Dan gave more directions. “We can’t take the car. You were right about that, and I don’t think I can handle a two-day bus ride right now.” He looked into her eyes and admitted, “He hurt me really bad, Tess. He did things I don’t want to even think about let alone tell you. Right now I’m riding on adrenaline, but it’s wearing off and I’m starting to feel... everything. It’s really bad. I need to know you’re going to be okay with this. I need your help.”

“It’s yours, Danny.” Tess grabbed his hand. “Together, remember? What do you want me to do?”

“Mostly, not talk,” Dan told her. “I got some...friends coming to get the car. Georgie. I called him from the church. He’s got Luke with him. I need you to help me stand up without falling, and just stay quiet. If Luke knows how beat up I am, he might try to take the car without paying me. If he notices you, he might try to take you, too, and I don’t think I could stop him right now.”

Tessa swallowed hard. “Okay. I’ll be quiet. Is that them?”

Two figures emerged from the shadows. Tessa felt Dan stiffen as he identified them. He opened up the car door and slid out, holding on to the door for support, and trying to look casual. Tessa grabbed her purse and opened her door, hurrying around to stand by Dan’s side. He dropped his arm over her shoulders, again casually, but he was actually leaning on her, using her strength.

“Nice wheels Danno.” Luke whistled as he ran his hand over the hood of the Corvette. “This one ain’t for parts.”

“I figured she’d go pretty high as is. She’s cherry, and I got the keys.”
Dan spoke in a cocky, sneering tone that was completely foreign to Tessa’s image of her friend.

“How’d you get keys?” Georgie asked.

“Got lucky. They were in his pocket.”

“Yeah? He the one that knocked you around?” This came from Luke.

“He tried messing with my girl. He ended up knocked out and minus his pretty car. I don’t like people messing with what’s mine.” Dan felt Tessa stiffen, as Luke turned his eyes toward her. “You know what I mean?”

“Yeah.” Luke looked Tessa up and down. She met his stare silently, without so much as a flinch. “You know there’s still a place for you with the Cowhands. You got guts and you got skills.”

“I’m freelancing. You know. Highest bidder.”

Luke’s eyes narrowed and he stepped forward, fists clenched. Dan met Luke's scowl with one of his own. Finally Luke reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. “You do have guts, Manny, I’ll give you that. Just remember who taught you the ropes. Remember where your loyalty belongs. Here. Five. Just like you said.”

Dan took the money without counting it, stuffing it into the inner pocket of his jacket. He tossed the keys to Georgie, and said, “Have fun, boys. It’ll probably be another hour or so before she’s reported missing.”

As they got into the car, Luke looked back and said, “Remember, Danno.” The engine roared to life and they were gone. Dan sagged against Tessa. She helped him to the curb outside the convenience store. He sat down with a groan and leaned his head against the wall.

“What now?” Tessa asked.

“Now, we lay low for a while. Here.” He handed her the money. “Go into the store and buy whatever we need to get by for a week or two. The place we’re going has a toaster oven, a small refrigerator, and I think the stove still works. And Tess?” She looked at him, waiting. He continued, “See if they have some bandages, antiseptic, and something for burns, will you?” She nodded, her eyes dark with concern, and went into the store.

Tessa returned with two full shopping bags. It was a torturous six-block walk back to the church. Dan was sweating despite the chilly air, shaking, and trying not to moan by the time they reached the parking lot. Tessa was trying to manage the bags and help him along, and the effort was physically exhausting.

When they reached the church, Dan directed Tessa around to a door partially hidden by bedraggled hedges.

“I jimmied it earlier,” he told her, pushing it in. Inside a single light burned. Dan closed and bolted the door, then slowly led Tessa down the hall, turning off the light when they reached the end. Inside a supply closet, next to the water heater, was another door. He opened this one, too, and directed her down the stairs, double bolting the door behind them. The stairs ended in a small apartment. Flipping a switch, Dan lit up the room. It wasn’t big, maybe twelve feet square, but there were two mismatched couches and a table with three chairs in the corner near the tiny kitchen. Dan collapsed carefully into one of the couches, and pointed. “The bathroom is there, and the bedroom next to it. I put our bags in there. I...need...a minute.”

“Take as long as you need.” Tessa set the grocery bags on the table and started to unload them. “What is this place, and how did you know about it?” She put milk, juice, cheese and assorted fruits and vegetables into the refrigerator, and then stuck a loaf of bread in there as well.

“This used to be where the priest lived. Way back before they added the kitchen upstairs. Nobody can live here anymore because there’s really only one exit now, and so it isn’t considered safe if there’s a fire. I found it once when I ran away.”

“You ran away?” Tessa put down a jar of peanut butter and stared at him. “Why?”

“Same reason I stole cars. I was mad, and it was something to do.” Dan shifted uneasily on the couch. “I wanted to punish my mom. I told you I was a bad son.”

“And I told you to get over it.” The groceries put away, Tessa sat next to Dan on the couch. “I got as much first aid stuff as I could find.” She started pulling vials and bottles out of the sack. “Let’s get you fixed up, okay?”

“I don’t know...” Dan looked embarrassed and uneasy. “Tess, he did...I mean...I don’t want you to see.”

“I understand, Danny, really, I do. But whatever he did, it wasn’t your fault.” Tess was adamant. “It wasn’t either of our faults.” She shuddered. “He’s a mean, horrible creature. I can see your face, I already saw that your back was bleeding, and I know you can barely walk. You can’t take care of what you can’t reach. I can. Let me.” She squeezed his hand, and kissed his flushed cheek softly. “Just tell me, Danny. No matter what he did, I won’t think any less of you.”

“He burned my feet with his cigarettes.” Dan’s voice was barely more than a whisper. “And he burned other parts of me too. That’s what you shouldn’t see.”

“Let me help you.” Tessa filled a bowl with warm water, and found a washcloth in the bathroom. She then helped him remove his jacket and shirt. The shirt stuck to his back, where the blood had dried. Dan knelt on the floor and leaned over the couch seat so Tessa could wash his back. Tessa held back a gasp as she looked at him. She was horrified. There were welts, splinters and abrasions all up and down Dan’s back, extending below the waistband of the loose sweatpants he wore. Blood seeped through the cloth, darkly staining the fabric. His shoulders and lower back had been laid open with something that had left noose-shaped cuts. Gently, she washed the blood from his back, carefully removing several splinters from the swollen flesh, and then smoothed antiseptic and analgesic cream over the cuts and abrasions. Dan tried not to flinch, but he couldn’t help the hisses and small moans that slipped out at each touch. “What caused this?” she asked, tracing the flayed skin with a gentle fingertip.

“The electrical cord from my radio. The radio hit me here.” Dan pointed to a darkening spot on his upper right arm.

“That’s going to leave a mark. Here, put this on.” Tessa handed him a loose t-shirt. “Then take off your pants.”

“No.” Dan shook his head.

“Yes.” Tessa spoke firmly. “I promise not to look any more than I need to, but I can tell it doesn’t stop at the waistband.”

Dan sighed, knowing she was right. “Okay,” he said. “But just the back. I’ll take care of the front.”

Tessa smiled, despite the gravity of the situation. “Yes sir, Mr. Modesty!” She found a towel in the bathroom closet and set it on the couch, turning her back while he undressed. When she turned around, Dan was kneeling on the couch, the towel wrapped firmly around his waist. Quickly, she got to work, trying hard to keep her promise not to look.

When Tessa was finally finished, she left Dan with the antiseptic and burn cream while she showered and tried to compose herself. She spent a long time letting hot water wash the memory and scent of Archie off of her body. She was physically shaken from trying to repair the damage to Dan’s body. As her tears blended with the shower spray, Tessa wondered how Dan was able to stand the kind of pain he must be feeling. There were three or four large burns on each of his feet, and at least one on his hip. His body had been flayed from neck to ankle, and she didn’t really want to think about what damage he was hiding under that towel. Tessa felt sick, just recalling what he had allowed her to see. Once again, she wished she had killed the Rat Bastard when she had the chance. Drying off, she saw for the first time the marks Archie’s mouth and teeth had left on her own body. She poured peroxide over them, fizzing the Rat Bastard’s germs away. Thank God Dan had come in when he had.

“It’s safe to come out now.” Dan’s voice penetrated her thoughts, and she brushed away tears before opening the bathroom door.

Pasting on a half smile she walked out to where he was lying on his side on the couch and jokingly said, “You aren’t the only boy I’ve seen naked, you know.”

“Huh?” The surprise in his eyes nearly made her laugh.

“I said you aren’t the only boy I’ve seen naked before.” Tessa sat on the floor next to him. “I saw my brother and three of his friends skinny dipping one night. So see, I’ve seen everything before. You didn’t need to worry.”

“Well, you hadn’t seen my everything before.” Dan blushed. “And I wasn’t worried. I was...I was...” He left the sentence unfinished, as she hesitantly leaned over and kissed his forehead.

She pulled back, concern in her eyes. “You feel really warm. Do you think you have a fever?”

“I don’t know.” Dan tried to smile. “I feel really lousy right now. All I want to do is sleep.”

“Why don’t you go to the bed then? It doesn’t have sheets on it, but there’s a mattress cover and four or five blankets on the chair.”

Dan shook his head. “No. You take the bed. I’ll crash out here.” When Tessa started to protest, he continued. “Really, I need to sleep on my side anyway, and I don’t want to walk all the way to the bedroom.”

Tessa looked at Dan’s heavily bandaged feet, and nodded. “I’ll get you some blankets,” she said. “But you call me if you need anything. Deal?”

“Deal. But only if you give me some aspirin or something first.”

Silently she got him some pills and a cup of water. While he swallowed them she found two blankets and a dusty pillow. Tessa made him as comfortable as she could, before going off to make herself a bed as well. It was nearly sunrise, and she was exhausted.

I Past 7
Index
Collision 3
Main