Hidden in Sheridan (Tainted Series: Book 1)

Moon: YOUNG

Levi - I admit it, I messed up the plan! My fingers fidgeting beneath the large dining table inside the familiar kitchen. Its vaulted ceiling illuminated by the delicate light fixtures, and the black night outside the windows make it feel like a warm and safe place to be. But how did I get here?

Well, My mother has always taught me to walk a girl to her door. Even if it isn’t a date, or even if she is just a friend, you still walk the girl to the door. The act isn’t a secret signal that one is after a goodnight kiss - though, someday that would be a perk - it’s just good manners.

Following my mothers advice, I parked Wendy in the Allen’s front drive and climbed out at the same time as Ity. She showed no sign this was odd behavior, and we silently walked up the front step to the easter decorated door.

“Thanks for letting me give you a ride back,” I said, “and for showing me your secret hideaway.”

Ity shrugged and stated casually it was actually not a secret.

“Who else knows about it? Rhydian?”

She shook her head no, and proceeded to spell out a name.

“Mr. Allen.” I said before she finished. She nodded. “Did he make it?” She nodded again and proceeded to tell me it was around ten years ago that Mr. Allen had built it. Though she recently painted it for him. It became a place she could runaway too, without actually running away.

It’s not a mystery the Allen’s have had a few foster kids placed in their home who eventually ran away. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are very sweet people. The town rumors are, that the state keeps placing city kids with them, hoping to provide a calmer environment. But in the end, the drastic change from urban population to your neighbor being 15 miles away, was too much for most teenagers. And in the middle of the night they’d ran off and buy a bus ticket.

Mrs. Allen had been hurt by this the most by this. Which is why Ity sticking around for as long as she has, was such a miracle! Everyone could tell Mrs. Allen doted on Ity. Perhaps a little too much like a friend, and not as much as a parental figure but the relationship seemed to work for them both.

Which is why when Mrs. Allen suddenly opened the front door, the corners of Ity’s mouth turned up slightly.

“Trinity’s home!” Mrs. Allan had announced. She was the only one in the area that used Ity’s full name. I’d addressed her as Trinity the first time we’d met, and everyone quickly corrected me. “And Levi Vaughn? Hello young man. Did you bring her home?”

“Yes, I did Ma’am. We were just hanging out after school.”

The woman clapped her hands in front of her, “That is great because I need someone to come help us eat dinner tonight and I think you are just the right person to do that.”

“Oh no Mrs. Allen, I am a mess and I really should be getting home.”

“Isn’t your mother working late tonight?”

I used to hate how everyone in town knew my mothers’ schedule better than me, but in this small town it became normal. “Yes, she is.”

“So you’re going home to have Mac and Cheese tonight?”

“Actually I was thinking cold cereal but maybe I’ll get adventurous to and use the microwave.”

“No, you won’t, get in here I have an extra steak with your name on it.” She grabbed me by the arm and pulled me over the threshold into the wide open entry way. “Actually it has Mr. Allen’s name on it but you’re going to eat it.”

… And that’s how I got here.

Sitting three feet from where days earlier I had been bleeding on the floor. The spot I’d been shines spotless, a faint smell of bleach lingers but is overpowered by the smell of steak. A big thick beautiful steak sits on the plate at the table in front of me. Sure it is also surrounded by several veggies and a salad, but that steak has my full attention.

“Mr. Allen isn’t going to want this?” I ask trying to control the urge to dive in and eat. Mrs. Allen hadn’t sat down yet, and I was taught not to eat until the hostess took her first bite.

I swallow the saliva pooling around my tongue.

“No, he was caught by a few of the board members and they needed to talk about some highly sensitive subjects. He went out to eat with them, and you all will eat with me. Either of you know where Rhydian is?” I exchange a look with Trinity beside me. “It’s his favorite meal, he’ll show up.”

She wraps a long piece of plastic around the extra plate at her side before turning back to myself and Ity. “Go a head, eat.” She gestures picking up her own silverware to begin.

Steak! Thick juicy meat soaked in a spicy pepper marinade. The taste rolls around in my mouth and the meat practically melts across my tongue. I use the fork and knife carefully, cutting one piece at a time before shoving it into my mouth, pausing briefly to answer any questions Mrs. Allen asks.

Being with the Allen’s is like being a part of the family. Mrs. Allen includes her guests in every conversation and every inside joke. So a lot of backstory is included in her explanations. This also means the conversation isn’t as mortifying as I thought it would be until Mrs. Allen brought up how clean her floor had been the last few days.

“That bleach Ity used to shine it up, did the trick.” I say. Under the table five sharp fingers suddenly squeeze down on my uninjured thigh. It hurt so much I almost cried out, but glancing over at Ity I spot the warning in her eyes.

The dot connect quickly, I’m not supposed to mention that night. I straighten my back and smile.

“It did smell like bleach, until this morning in fact.” Mrs. Allen continues without noticing the exchange. “Ity why did you need to scrub my floor with bleach sweetie?”

Ity shrugs and shovels more food into her mouth. Not that she needs her mouth to speak but the exaggerated motions of how delicious the food helpfully moves the subject to something else.

“Well, it’s good to see you eating.” Mrs. Allen laughs, allowing the topic to be changed. “Levi, did you know that Ity doesn’t eat very much. And when she does it’s only enough to pass for human. I swear she runs on batteries.”

“You know, I’ve always wondered why she never eats when she’s out with friends. I figured it was just because she ate so much of your amazing meals that she didn’t care to eat outside.”

“Well, thank you but that’s not it. She hardly eats at all and I don’t know why. It’s not like she’s trying to impress anyone, or lose weight. She runs so much through the woods she doesn’t need to diet. It’s just amazing.”

I look over at Ity. She placed her elbow on the table and is resting her head on her fist. Waiting patiently for the two of us to be done.

“But tell me honey, why are you watching her eat?” Mrs. Allen asks and Ity’s eyes round on my suddenly mortified expression.

The longest strain of ‘uuuuuuhhh’ rolls out of my throat as I struggle to figure out what to say. Big surprise, nothing comes to mind except the truth, so I say that. “She’s really pretty.”

Mrs. Allen squeaks but Ity’s reaction is unchanging. She blinks at me for a moment before returning her attention back to her plate.

“She’s fun to watch too.” Mrs. Allen adds with a giggle.

“Right!” I agree probably too quickly, but this was my topic of interest and apparently her’s too. “People don’t even need to know sign language and somehow she communicates just fine. Plus everybody likes her.”

“She does have this captivating skill about her. Almost like she’s hypnotized you all.”

My hands drop to the table, “You know what, that would explain all my odd behavior. I mean it has to be impossible for someone to be as clumsy and awkward as I am, but only when she’s around.”

Mrs. Allen plays along, her face beaming, “It’s statically impossible.”

“It’s the only explanation.”

“Hypnotism.” Mrs. Allen says. She and I laugh while Ity’s expression remains as stone looking on, waiting for us to finish.

“Oh honey,” Mrs. Allen places her fork on her empty plate, “It is no fun teasing you if you don’t react.” Ity shrugs picking up Mrs. Allen’s empty plate along with her own and retreating to the sink. “I for one am thrilled you stuck around tonight, Levi. I have sure enjoyed our conversations. You are welcome to stay.”

A wave of relief washes over me, recognizing the cue to initiate my exit strategy.

“I’d better get home. I promised mom I would finish my homework before she got home tonight.”

“With how late she gets home, I would hope so. You’re a growing young man you need more sleep at night. I noticed you were pale earlier, the food helped a bit but you really should take better care of yourself.”

My cheeks pink with heat and I scratch the back of my head, unsure how to respond.

“What do you mean he was bit? Bit by what?” Mrs. Allen asks suddenly to the conversation that was happening silently over my head.

I turn to notice Trinity explaining. Her hands moving faster with Mrs. Allen than she allowed them too with me.

“You were bit by a wild dog? I am so sorry Levi, I hadn’t known. No wonder you look under the weather. Is it healing well?”

A bit taken aback I struggle to find the words, “Yes. It’s slow. They gave me some antibiotics and assured me that as long as I take them it won’t get infected.”

“So it hasn’t healed?” Mrs. Allen says but those words didn’t sound like they were her own, “Of course it hasn’t healed honey.” I realize she’s answering Ity’s question. “You just said, it’s only been a few days. It can’t heal that fast. You said you were bit by a wild dog?”

It takes a moment of her staring at me, to realize this question was in fact for me. “Yes. Right down the street actually. So please be careful when you go outside.”

“I am so sorry,” She gushes. “Are you sure it wasn’t a wolf? I know Kristen’s husband keeps track of the Yellowstone packs, but sometimes they do logically make their way across the hills.”

“Her son was with me. He caught a good look at the animal, and he was sure it wasn’t wolf.” I explain. I’m not sure why I wanted to reassure her, but my words did seem to bring some calm back into the kitchen.

“That’s right, Sterling is your friend, isn’t he.”

I nod. With her worry quelled this was a good change to excuse myself from the table. Both women walked me back to the front door where I slip on my muddy shoes.

Mrs. Allen does everything she can to coax me to stay. Offering a movie, a game of pool or darts, she even offers to plug in the Vintage Nintendo 64, which almost got me.

Stick to the plan, I keep thinking to myself.

With a final expression of gratitude the door finally closes behind me. Silence envelopes me. Walking back to Wendy I feel the breeze rustling through the trees and a new smell dances on the wind. It’s cold, brisk and wet, coming from the north.

“Snow.” I sigh.

CHAPTER END