❝her love was engrossing,
rampant, and enliving.
so much that,
she became an indispensable
part of him.❞
-j.o
After two tragedies that struck her deep into a depressive state, Carter...
She felt cold. Carter's eyes fluttered open, her body screaming in pain. Her body was stiff, and her vision was blurred by the harsh sunlight above her. Confusion flooded her mind as she raised up into a sitting position. Her fingertips felt frozen against her bare skin. Her green eyes trailed downward, noticing her toes curling against the leaves beneath her and her very naked torso. She gasped inaudibly, her throat sore and scratchy. Her knees were scraped up and red, and her hands were covered in crimson, a body laying motionless beside her. Her emerald eyes widened at the blood on her hands, her chest tightening in fear. "Oh, God," she gasped, wincing visibly at the pain in her throat. She turned her neck slowly, her eyes widening at the sight of the bloodied body laying not inches away from her.
A scream rose in her throat, fearful tears clawing at the backs of her eyes, but she suppressed them, and quietly moved to her feet. The leaves below her were covered in the dark red color, staining the back of her legs as well. She wiped at the liquid, only smearing it worse. The wind blew through her tangled hair, sending chills deep into her bones. Her body screamed in protest as she attempted to sprint away from the scene. She struggled through the forest on wobbly knees with no navigation, her bloody arms wrapped tightly around her chest. She was shaken with fear and curiosity, unsure of where to go. The forest was like a puzzle she hadn't figured out yet. After what felt like forever, a voice called out to her gently, comforting like. She wasn't sure why, but she turned to spot a handsome male with hazel eyes swirled with worry, his jacket already in his hands.
"Help," she croaked, a single tear falling from her left eye, and her arms shaking against her rattling breaths. She didn't even know if he was safe, or sane, but she was desperate. He hastily walked to her side, warm leather wrapping around her shoulders. His mind was swirling with questions, but he was too busy ignoring the tempting smell of the blood coating her body. "Can you walk?" he asked, watching her eyebrows furrow. "Yeah, yeah. Of course I can," she responded, despite knowing she was better off letting him help her. "What are you doing out here?" he asked her in his silky voice, hands gripping her shoulders to steady her. Her eyes glistened in the sunlight. The young man found himself lost in them, until the tears glossing her eyes began to fall.
Unsure of the answer and where her head had gone, she broke into a fit of sobs. Even doing so, his calm demeanor not once faltered. Her shoulders trembled with her cries, her nose scrunched up. Her cheeks were reddening, mainly from the cold air hitting her tears. "Tell me your name." She shakily wiped at her eyes, the red liquid smearing across her cheek. Before she could answer, she heard a shout, her name to be exact, and crunching leaves. Behind her was Margaret Harmon, her strawberry blonde hair rolled in curlers, running through the leaves. Her own green eyes were red with tears as she crumpled onto the ground with Carter in her arms. "What happened? Are you hurt?" she asked frantically, examining her daughter's bloody appendages.
"Mom, mom. I'm okay..." She felt more tears build up behind her eyes as she stared back at her worry stricken mother. "He..." Her eyebrows fell in confusion. The boy who had found her was no longer anywhere to be seen. "He?" her mother repeated, staring at her daughter. "Did he do this?" Carter was now focusing on the other indivduals pushing through the brush. It felt like slow motion. Margaret pulled her daughter to her feet, her jacket covering Carter in her still naked lady parts. The red and blue lights flashed against Carter's fair skin, pulling her away from the boy in the woods. Next thing she knew, she was being questioned by the police while watching a black bag being pushed toward an ambulance.
"Ma'am, do you know this person?" the young police officer asked, and she shook her head in response. She was sitting in the back of an ambulance, a shock blanket wrapped around her tightly. "Can I go now?" she asked weakly, shaking from the cool air. He simply nodded, allowing her to escape and run off toward her mother. Although she was now wrapped in a blanket and cleaned of the metallic smelling liquid, she kept the leather jacket close. It smelled of earth and vanilla, a scent that surprisingly calmed her immensely. "Come on, baby. Let's get you home," her mother spoke softly, opening the passenger door for her. Carter climbed into the seat, clutching the jacket tighter against her chest.
As her mother and she drove to Jackie's house– well, their house–, she kept her face buried in the fabric, eyes screwed shut, picturing everything over again. Her mother may have been talking to her, but she wasn't sure. All she could hear was her name being spoken sweetly and her heart hitting her chest. Damp tears stained the jacket now as she wept, fear coursing through her veins like venom. The two got home and Jackie embraced her niece tightly, tears hitting the top of her head. Little had Carter known that she was missing all night and morning. It was about two in the afternoon when they found her, and now it was almost five, the sky darkening. Jackie stayed by her side, and helped her into the tub. Carter winced as her stiff muscles hardened at the warmth, her bones cracking as she stretched out into the claw foot tub.
"You know," Jackie began, running her slender fingers through Carter's damp hair, "our family is special." Carter looked up at her, eyes glossy and mouth dry. Her knees were eventually pulled to her chest, warm water swirling around her in the large, claw foot bath. "What do you mean?" she inquired, at a lost for words. Was this one of her insanity moments? Or was she just trying to make Carter feel better? Every family was special in their own way, how are the Lockwood's different? Her eyes left Carter's to scan the room, as if what she was about to say was top secret. The young Harmon watched her intensely, noticing the sad gleam in her aunt's eyes as they landed on the light brown leather jacket. "Where did you get that?" she asked, her breath hitching in her throat. Carter went to speak, but was cut off by the sound of her mother calling for her Aunt Jackie.
She never once looked back at her niece as she got up and left the room, leaving her alone with the echoing screams inside her head, and the image of the chestnut haired boy with the endearing eyes. The strawberry blonde sunk into the water, the temperature burning at her cheeks, eyes screwed shut. One thing was trapped in her mind:
