Authors: Casey Elliot
*****
Sheriff Redshaw was clambering through the trees with his radio in one hand and his gun in the other. He knew something was wrong when he found the deputy's car beside Rochelle's with no sign of either of them. However, there was ample evidence that they'd both climbed into the forest, although Redshaw couldn't fathom a single idea why.
He'd been walking for hours and was exhausted. As he lost all hope and was ready to turn back, he suddenly noticed an open clearing of grass, as though he'd stumbled across someone’s garden. Then, he saw something that made his blood run cold. Deputy Wilkin's body lay amongst the brambles with his blood covering the surrounding area.
Redshaw had to suppress the nausea inside him as he covered his mouth. Cocking his gun, he made sure it was in prime position to shoot, but nothing could prepare him for what was about to happen. The bear appeared out of nowhere and swiped the gun from his hand. It roared so loudly it felt like his ears were blistering and he stumbled backward to escape. Falling on his behind, he looked up to the beast that now seemed even bigger and he knew he didn't have long until it devoured him.
Yet, it seemed to hesitate for a moment, as it looked down at him. There was a look in its eyes that was so familiar, but he couldn't think why. Then, as the bear gathered its strength, it leaned back on its hind legs and readied itself for attack.
Redshaw held his breath as he waited for death; his heart racing and his mouth dry. He prayed the bear wouldn’t hurt him, but as he opened his eyes, he saw the look of his daughter in the bear’s eyes and thought he was going crazy. But, he didn’t have time to gather his thoughts because the next thing he felt was the intolerable pain of a paw pummeling the side of his head.
Meanwhile, Reuben was inside the cabin watching from a distance. He was smoothing back his disheveled hair and watching his protégé with pride.
“Good girl,” he looked on with glee. “You’re one of us now.”
The End
Score
*****
“
…
and probably because beer was
n’
t invented ye
t
” a voice rang out, and with a click the lights turned on to reveal a university auditorium filled to the brim with students. The lecturer, a woman, slowly descended the stairs that separated the two halves of the room, moving slowly and purposefully to allow her students time to think over her last statements and to come up with questions and conflicting arguments.
“
Professor
?
” One of the students asked, timidly raising her hand.
“
Sarah, please.
I’
ve always imagined a professor as an old man with hair like Einstei
n
” Sarah said with a smile on her face as the class laughed. Quieting the room with a single flick of her hand, she turned to the student, giving her her full attention.
“
Do you think i
t’
s possible to trace our own individual linages back to the Neanderthals
?
”
Sarah nodded in acknowledgement at the student who asked the question before turning and continuing back down the stairs towards the podium. Sarah was considered a somewhat unorthodox professor, she chose to spend her lectures amongst the students, rather than standing at the front of the class telling them what they should believe. She encouraged exploration and constructive argument and it made her classes popular, with a full roll and a low dropout rate. As she hit the bottom of the stairs she turned her attention once more back to the students.
“
Of course. With the advancements in science i
t’
s possible for geneticists to take a DNA sample from people like you and me, and establish the percentage of our DNA that is shared with the Neanderthals. Such advancements can now even tell you where they might have lived, and what health problems plagued that particular villag
e
” Sarah glanced up the clock, realizing that once again her lecture had run over by ten minutes
.“
Tha
t’
s all we have time for today, same time tomorrow, same plac
e
” she said smiling, watching the students gathering their belongings and heading out the doors, eager to get finish class for the day. As Sarah walked back towards the podium, she could
n’
t help but notice a young man, Brody Young, typing furiously on his laptop. Sarah had noticed this young man from the day he had first stepped into her lecture hall, he was smart, and took her classes seriously. In fact, he had blossomed into one of her most promising students, and of course it had nothing to do with the fact that he was unquestionably attractive.
“
Tha
t’
s enough for today Brod
y
’ Sarah said kindly as he continued to type away at his laptop as the last of the remaining students started to drift out the doors. Looking around, he realized that he was the last one to leave, and that Sarah was waiting for him.
“
Sorr
y
” he said with a wolfish grin, his blue eyes twinkling.
“
You do
n’
t have to write down everything I say you know
.
” Sarah teased.
“
Oh I know, but I find it fascinatin
g
” Brody said as he gathered his things and stuffed them into his backpack, racing towards the door. As he reached the doorway he stopped and turned back, his hand lifted in a wav
e“
See you tomorro
w”
, he said smiling and disappearing into the throng of students gathering in the hallways. Sarah studied the empty auditorium for a few minutes, this is my home Sarah thought to herself, this was the one place Sarah felt she could truly be herself.
Sarah collected her things, switching off the computer, and tidily stacked her belongings into her briefcase. Night had started to close in as she made her way back over to her office across campus. By the time she had reached the department building there was only a few last remaining students on this side of the campus, most of them already settled back into their dorm rooms, ready for another night of studying, or so they told their parents. Entering the anthropology department, she could see only a few of the office lights belonging to her colleagues still burning bright, but there was not a sound. The sectaries and teaching assistants had made an early escape; the only sound was her shoes as she padded down the hallway to her office, the last on the right. Her assistant, Tina had left the office lamp on low, casting a bright orange glow over the office, her mail and deliveries stacked neatly on the center of her desk. Picking the multitude of envelopes up, Sarah flicked through the pile looking for anything that might take her interest, the majority magazines she subscribed to regularly, but a small brown package caught her eye. Picking it up, Sarah turned it over in her hands, looking for some way to identify its contents. The postmark identified its origins from Illinois, but there was no return to sender address. Sarah frowned; she did
n’
t know anyone from Illinois. Sitting at her desk, she slid her heeled shoes off, and massaged her aching, stockinged feet before turning her attention back to the package. Inside it contained nothing but a single silver house key, no letter, no note, but Sarah did
n’
t need a letter to know where it had come from, Steve. I
t’
s finally over, Steve was finally gone, and h
e’
s not coming back, Sarah thought to herself. Shock hit Sarah, her chest tightening as if she had been hit by a ton of bricks; she tried to stifle a sob. She had known it was over, but now this was the final nail in the coffin, the tangible proof that Steve was not coming back. Turning the key over in her hand, her thoughts turned to the day her life was turned upside down.
“
I
t’
s ove
r
” the words hit her before she even had a chance to put down her suitcase as she entered the house. Looking up Sarah could see Steve standing at the top of the stairs with two large duffle bags in his hand. Straightening she turned to face Steve, a thousand thoughts running through her mind.
“I’
m leaving Sarah, we ca
n’
t live like this any longe
r
” Steve came down the stairs towards her, but instead of the loving response she had expected she was only met with coldness. His face was hard, his jaw set firmly. She had never seen him like this, but inside her own anger flickered, and then grew into a flame. Sarah loved Steve with all her heart, but his actions had caused her so much pain.
“
I
t’
s Annie, is
n’
t i
t
” the words hit Steve and he jerked back as if he had been slapped in the face, his cheeks blooming crimson
“
How do yo
u
…”
“
Who do you think yo
u’
re fooling Steve
,
” Sarah started
,“I’
ve known about you and Annie for months
.
” Sarah knew this day was coming, but she had not expected it today. She had just come off a five and a half hour redeye from New York back to California, and she was bone tired. All of a sudden she realised the last thing she wanted to do was fight for a one-sided relationship.
“
Yo
u’
re never here Sara
h
” Steve accused. Sarah stepped aside, leaving a clear line between the door and Steve.
“
Then leave Steve, but if you walk out that door, ther
e’
s no coming bac
k
” Sarah warned. Steve straightened his back and averted his gaze from Sara
h’
s accusing eyes he walked out the door, slamming it as he left. Sarah stood watching the door as if she expected Steve to come back at any moment and tell her it was all a mistake, but she knew it was
n’
t.
Tears rolled silently down Sara
h’
s face, landing in fat drops on the brown paper as she recalled the morning, and all the mornings after, lost and alone left to wander about her large home. All remnants of Steve were now gone; photos in boxes, clothes in the garbage. Stop being so silly, Sarah cursed herself, she knew Steve was never coming back, and even if he did she wouldn't take him back anyway. But they key sitting there was a reality check that that part of her life was finally over. Furiously wiping away the tears, with the palms of her hands, Sarah took a few deep breaths and tried to calm her nerves. A gentle knock at the door startled her, frowning she called
Tears rolled silently down Sara
h’
s face, landing in fat drops on the brown paper as she recalled the morning, and all the mornings after, lost and alone left to wander about her large home. All remnants of Steve were now gone; photos in boxes, clothes in the garbage, his name and voice erased from the answering phone. Stop being so damn silly, Sarah cursed herself, she knew Steve was never coming back, and even if he did she wouldn't take him back anyway. But the key sitting on her desk was a reality check that that part of her life was now finally over. Furiously wiping away the tears, with the palms of her hands, Sarah took a few deep breaths and tried to calm her nerves. A gentle knock at the door startled her, who could that be? She thought to herself, a small frown on her face.
"Come in." She made herself sit straight in the chair, smoothing her away from her face, trying to mask the fact that she had been crying only moments earlier.
"Hi, Professor" A familiar voice called as the door opened, Brody poking his head through the open door. "Is it too late to ask a few questions about the essay?" he asked, his shaggy brown own hair falling in his eyes. Sarah's first urge was to tell him that he needed a haircut, but instead she smiled, one of the first genuine smiles she had smiled in a long time. Brody had a way of making her smile, intentional or not.
"What can I do for you, Brody?" she said gesturing for him to come in and take a seat. In his arms he had a stack of books, which he balanced neatly, placing them neatly on her desk, Brody pulled out the chair and took a seat.
"Professo
r
…” he started, stopping as Sarah raised her hand.
“
You can call me Professor when I become old enough to be your mother, until then i
t’
s Sara
h
” she teased. Brody blushed, but corrected himself,
“
Sarah, then
.
” He opened his mouth as to say something, but for the first time he looked up and saw Sarah sitting opposite him, with her red eyes and puffy cheeks.
“
Hey, are you okay
?
” Concern flashed across his face. Sarah smiled, partly to convince Brody and partly to convince herself, fake it to you make it right?
“
Oh this
?
” she said casually gesturing at her face
,“
I'm a sucker for those sad Facebook posts, you know the ones with the dog and kid." Brody frowned. Sarah had never been much of a liar, and she knew Brody saw through her excuses.
"Oh yeah" he said raising an eyebrow, "Which one was that? Maybe I've seen it" Brody's dark blue eyes never left her face, she could feel them burning into her soul. Sarah blushed; Brody's attention was starting to make her feel uncomfortable, and not for the reasons that she thought it would.
"Back to your question, Brody" Sarah reminded him, suddenly aware of how empty the department was at this time of night. The last thing Sarah needed was a scandal surrounding herself and a student. Brody hesitated, watching her for a few moments longer, before fishing through his bag for essay paper, as he sat back up he caught sight of the package and key out of the corner of his eye.
“
I bet he did
n’
t deserve you
.
” Brody said catching Sarah off guard, the words slipping from his lips before he had a chance to even think about it.
"Huh? What?" Her heart thumped away in her chest, how does he know? Sarah wondered before she saw the direction of his gaze and the keys sitting in the middle of the table. Without saying anything, she slid the key off her desk and into the drawer, slamming it shut and pushing its existence firmly out of her mind. Brody watched her silently, his being here tonight was not by chance, he did not need help with the essay, but Sarah had caught his eye the minute he had walked into class. Brody considered himself unconventional, as captain of the varsity football team and fraternity chair, Brody could have any woman he wanted, but Brody delighted in bucking stereotypes.
"Your ex-boyfriend" Brody said nodding towards the empty spot where the key had sat. If I had a woman like her, I would do everything in my power to never see her cry Brody thought to himself, anger bubbling underneath.