Devils Roses 01 - Cursed

hands and Aleks holding my shoulder, like my love triangle had come to its head.
    I nodded. “I’m getting my dad to come get me. I feel sick again. I need to go back to the hospital. Thanks for bringing me here.”
    He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Thanks for coming with me, Aimee. You’ve made this the best night of my life. I’ll walk you out and come with you.”
    I felt dirty and panicked. “No, that’s okay, stay and enjoy. He’s waiting for me outside. Seriously, don’t worry. Tell my sister and Blake I went with my dad, okay? I need you to stay and make sure my sister is okay, you know—the rapist.”
    He looked at me and frowned. “I should come with you; your dad won't mind.”
    I nodded. “Yeah, but he wants me to go with him, just me. He said he wants to talk about something.” I seriously was the worst liar ever, four-year-olds could be more convincing.
    I felt my stomach twisting with the guilt and lies, as Shane’s face filled with disappointment. “Okay. Well let me walk you out.”
    I didn’t know what else to say, I turned and started to walk out. The music was at a quiet moment, in between songs. Then somewhere in the crowd I heard it.
    The bird squawk ringtone.
    It happened once and then again, just like in the woods. I turned, looking around to see Mr. Mac pick his phone out of his pocket, as he answered it. I looked at his mouth as he was talking, his thin lips moving quietly into the phone. How had I missed how thin his lips were?
    His eyes shot over to me, seeing the look of recognition on my face. He turned to leave the gym quickly.
    “ Shane—it’s Mr. Mac. It’s him! He’s the rapist,” I pointed, shouting. The room began to spin in confusion, as Shane ran and tackled the fleeing teacher.
    “ You son of a bitch.” He held him facedown on the hard floor and sat on his shoulders, pinning him to the ground.
    Mr. Mac was a strong-looking man, but Shane was very imposing standing next to him. Sprawled out on top of him, it was clear Mr. Mac didn’t stand a chance. Shane played football and weight lifted. Mr. Mac was a nerd, a fit nerd, but a nerd nonetheless.
    I watched Blake come running over, looking outraged at Shane. I shook my head, “No Blake, it’s him. He did this to me. He is the rapist.”
    Blake shook his head in disbelief, as his mentor was held on the ground. My sister was already calling for the police officers in the corridors, as were a few others, no doubt. Mrs. Sinclair, our principal, was trying to break up the fight. Everyone was attempting to explain the struggle to her, before she helped free the pervert.
    Mr. Mac turned his face and looked at me. His thin lips curled up into a smile. His always-friendly eyes turned merciless as he watched me. I felt dirty knowing what his intentions had been in the woods that day. His face would haunt my dreams forever. His look sent a shiver down my spine.
    I felt the warm air fill the space around me and I knew, that no matter what, in that moment I was at least safe from the stalker. Shane looked back at me to see if I was okay, his worried face was ripping my heart out. I hated that I had betrayed his trust and love for me. I didn’t know my own heart. Somehow I couldn’t stop myself from loving them both. I knew I should have been honest about it all.
    The stress of the moment was more than I could bear and I felt myself shiver with the cold burning skin again. I was slipping away.
    I dialed my cell phone. “Dad meet me at the hospital. I’m going there now. I’m fine, but I think my liver is still sick.” I hung up before he could ask questions I didn’t want to answer.
    I felt a tug on my shoulder, as I was steered to the bathroom. In the chaos, I got away before anyone noticed me leaving again. Aleks picked me up and ran out the back door, as again I slipped out of consciousness.

Chapter Eleven
    Eternity is a long time to be dead.

    “ There is no way we can treat her here. The helicopter will be here in about fifteen minutes. She needs to go to Portland,” a woman spoke.
    “ This is just insanity—she seemed to be getting better. She was just sleeping a lot. The doctor said she needed a lot of sleep.” My dad sounded stressed.
    I opened one of my eyes, to see Aleks beside my bed holding my hand. His eyes seemed haunted, as if he were looking at a ghost. I took that as a bad sign. The pain was gone completely. I wondered if it was him or drugs preventing me from feeling the brutal