Devils Roses 01 - Cursed

the driveway. He pulled out a first aid kit and cleaned my scratches. I felt winded and exhausted from all the exercise, but I didn’t want the moment to end.
    “ You and I laid out on the grass the night of the party. We talked for a long time. Then we sat in silence. Do you remember that?” He opened the door for me to get in, when he was done.
    I shook my head. I still felt lost with the details of the dreaded night. “I’m hoping by seeing Wade, it will trigger some memories. Something about him is so familiar and he is all I really remember about that night.”
    I attempted to climb into the huge truck, but my side felt like stitches were being ripped out slowly. I winced and inhaled sharply. His huge warm hands were on me, as he lifted me carefully. I didn’t notice the pain, just the warmth of his hands on me.
    As he closed the door for me, I realized I had become an invalid, not that I minded. The tragedy had brought us closer together. It was nice, always being close to him and not feeling guilty about him dating my sister.
    I smiled. "Thanks for taking me; I can't seem to get his face out of my mind."
    Shane got into the driver side and looked puzzled. “See that’s the weird part—I don’t remember you even talking to him. I asked him about it and he doesn’t remember you, either.” He started the truck and drove around the circle driveway.
    “ That is weird. Maybe it was a ghost.” I laughed.
    He smiled. “Hey, don’t kid. My mom said our yard used to be some ancient native shaman's land. My great granddad's family bought the land from the shaman's family, but I guess the old shaman was pretty pissed that they sold the land. I guess they were starving out here though and felt it was cursed or some crap.”
    I rolled my eyes. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. So your yard is like a pet cemetery?”
    He nodded half-heartedly. “I guess so. We’ve never had any bad luck though. Well, except for my dad screwing some twenty-five-year-old, but I highly doubt it had anything to do with the pet cemetery, and more to do with the piece of ass.”
    “ Your mom must be pretty mad.”
    His face grew concerned, but he kept his eyes straightforward. “Yeah, she isn’t taking it well. Please don’t ever say anything, but I found her in the bathroom. She took a bunch of pills and cut herself.”
    My jaw dropped. I tried not to let it, but it did it anyway. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry, Shane.”
    “ The worst part is, that when I found her she looked at me and said, ‘let me die, son’ but I called the police and an ambulance. What kind of shit is that to say to your kid?”
    I looked down at my hands as I fidgeted with my ring. “I think when she’s feeling better, she will know you made the right choice.”
    We were quiet for a long time both, lost in contemplation. Neither of us wanted to make the other dwell on the misfortune in our life.
    It amazed me how many bad things could happen in a small town, in such a short amount of time. Maybe the land was all cursed.
    We entered the neighboring town and turned onto a road, I had never been on before. Within a few driveways, we were at a small bungalow.
    “ This is it,” he pointed to the man, or guy our age, in the garage. “That’s Wade.”
    I felt nervous, as I opened my door and got out gingerly. Shane hopped out roughly and bound into the garage to scare the guy bent over the hood of a car.
    He spanked his bum hard, causing the guy to shoot up and smack his head on the hood of the old beater.
    “ Son of a bitch, Shane. That’s gonna leave a mark,” he rubbed his head.
    Shane laughed and pointed to me. “This is Aimee, the girl who got drugged at my party.”
    Wade turned, he looked about the right size, a few inches over six foot and strong but not fat. He was wearing jeans and white t-shirt. His hair was dark blond. But when he turned his face to see me, he was definitely not the same guy.
    His eyes were nowhere near as blue and his face didn’t have the devastating beauty. He smiled at me. His face was attractive, but not nearly as handsome as the guy I had seen. “Hey gorgeous, you know what? I don’t recall you but I know your face. I’ve met your sister.”
    “ I’m pretty sure everyone has, ‘met’ my sister.” I smiled.
    Shane frowned. “Anyway buddy, we thought we would take a drive out and see if meeting you could help jog her memory.”
    I had never seen Shane roughhouse with anyone, except