Devils Roses 01 - Cursed

garage. “You sound like my dad and Shane. I’m fine, but I will admit, I’m glad you’re here—this garage is spooky. I’m sure Jaime, my sister's friend, has been drugged so I’m looking for her. If she's not drugged, she's drunk off her ass and that's probably not safe, with a pervert on the loose.”
    The garage was empty, but the door to outside on the far wall, was opened just a sliver making a whistling sound.
    “ Let me go first.” Aleks walked into the garage, looking around at the tools and motorcycle. He grabbed a crowbar off of the bench where tools were scattered and crept through the open door. The cool, night air was full of crickets and frogs singing. I looked around, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the dark of the backyard. Aleks put his hand out for mine. I looked at it, feeling guilty about Shane. I felt the sizzle of our skin touching and wondered if he ever felt it too, or if I was the only one falling. I rationalized holding his hand as a safety precaution. I also reminded myself he would be gone in a few short weeks, whereas Shane would be with me at least to the end of the summer.
    Our feet made little to no noise on the damp grass as we looked around, scanning the back yard.
    I heard a rustling and a muffled sound to my right. It was down the yard a ways.
    Aleks looked at me. “Stay here,” I shook my head, pleading with my eyes. I was terrified.
    He sighed, resigning to the fact I needed to come. He let go of my hand and put his pointer finger to his lips. I nodded.
    He walked with the crowbar in his hands toward the sound. I crept along behind him, nearly peeing my pants, or panties rather—damned dress.
    We heard more trees and branches moving to the right of us, in the small patch of bush next to Michelle’s house. It was more like brush in between the houses for privacy, as opposed to a forest.
    I heard a crying sound and walked toward it, as Aleks took off running after the other sound.
    I looked, trying desperately to see, but the moon had not come out to help out with the light.
    “ Jaime, is that you?” I whispered. I was angry that Aleks had left me to wander alone through the brush. I hoped he caught whoever had dragged Jaime into the bushes.
    She was on the ground in a small clearing, with her shirt torn. I could barely see in the dark, but I reached for her. As I got right beside her, I could see she was on her stomach and her face was covered in vomit.
    “ Help us, someone help us, please,” I called out into the night. I was scared giving away my location, but I was even more scared that Jaime had been drugged with the bad batch of drugs. I was certain she had been, at least partially raped, by the look of her pale legs parted and her skirt up to her waist. I pulled the skirt down, tucking it around her naked bum and felt like throwing up again.
    “ Please, help me. Someone.” I started to cry, I was scared. I was not the right person to be handling that moment.
    I patted her back. “Jaime, it's okay. Someone will come and help you.” She moaned into the dirt.
    The potheads started looking over the railing. “Hey, you down there, are you okay?” one stoner asked.
    I sobbed. “Call 9-1-1 and tell them we need police and ambulance.”
    “ Okay, man. Is someone hurt?” he asked again, no one on the deck appeared to be moving.
    “ JUST FUCKING PHONE.” I screamed.
    “ Okay, God—she’s kind of bitchy.” Pothead one spoke slowly.
    “ Who is that?” Pothead two muttered.
    I sat on the grass, certain my leg was brushing against her vomit. I turned her on her side and pulled her clothes around her more.
    Someone came running down the yard.
    “ Aimee?” Shane cried out into the night panicked.
    “ I’m here.”
    “ Oh my God, Aimee—are you okay?” His voice was stricken with grief.
    I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Yeah. It's Jaime.”
    He knelt on the ground beside me and touched my shoulder. “For Christ sake, Aimee. I was so scared when you left. I thought you were going to look in the kitchen; I didn’t know you were leaving the house. You never said you were leaving the house. I told you not to leave my side.”
    He took his shirt off as he ranted and wrapped it around Jaime. He picked her up and carried her up to the house. I followed him around the side, to the front yard. Kids were streaming from the house. Some were running from the front door, hoping not to be busted by the cops for underage drinking. Most of the