I gazed at the house where the driver had dropped me off. It wasn't a place I'd visited before, but the address matched. It blended in with the other houses on the street, except for the swarm of college students hanging out, some on the lawn, others entering the door.
As soon as I opened the car door, the muffled beat of music inside reached my ears. I'd been to a few parties over the past year, but it wasn't my idea of a good time. I couldn't quite figure out why I'd come to this one.
Well, that was a lie. I knew why. The semester had just ended, and summer break was beginning. This was my last week in town before heading home to help on the ranch for the summer.
I spotted a couple of familiar faces from various classes, but no one I was close to. I stopped to engage in small talk each time someone called my name, then moved deeper into the house.
The music was deafening, and the place reeked of spilled beer, body spray, and perfume. I considered getting a drink, but they only had kegs of beer, and not any brands I liked. So, I continued my quest to find people I knew.
“Hey Aria, didn’t think I’d see you here.” A woman’s voice called out as I passed a doorway.
I backtracked and peered into the room to find one of my closest friends who was currently separating herself from an unfamiliar guy.
"Hey, Steph! Yeah, Kelsey convinced me to come. One last bit of fun before we all head home for the summer," I said, giving her a warm hug. "Speaking of which, have you seen her?"
“No, I haven’t. Mike and Devon are here, but no one else from the team is that I’ve seen.” She said.
"I thought I spotted them in the living room, but it was hard to tell because they were busy making out," I chuckled as we searched for a quieter place to chat.
Our search for a secluded spot inside the house was fruitless, so we settled on sitting on the lawn, where a few small groups were passing around joints and bottles, but we found a quiet corner to converse.
“You staying in town for the summer?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be working at the rec center and taking some courses over the summer.” She said. “What will you be up to this summer?”
“I'm going home to lend a hand to my family on the ranch. I’ll be back a couple of weeks before the fall semester starts.” I said.
After a while, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and pulled it out to read a message.
"Sorry, Aria, can't make it. Ben surprised me with a date night. -K," the message read.
"Looks like Kelsey found something better to do," I mumbled to myself as I pocketed my phone.
“That figures, she is so unreliable.” Steph said, patting me on the arm.
“Yeah. If we didn’t share an apartment room, I’m not sure I’d be friends with her.” I said.
“I need to find the bathroom.” She said as she stood up. “You gonna be here when I’m done?”
“I think I’m going to get a beer and see who else is here.” I said.
“Sounds good. Let’s go get lunch before you leave town.” She said as she helped me up.
“Sure! It was great seeing you.”
We returned to the house, and Steph ventured off to find the bathroom. They set the kegs up in the kitchen, and I waited for a moment to fill my cup with the less repulsive brand of cheap beer.
With my beer in hand, I leaned against the wall, observing the crowd and pondering my next move.
"Hey, cutie, you look lonely," a guy said as he approached.
"Not really," I replied, hoping he would leave.
"Don't be like that," he slurred, placing his hand on the wall near my head. "Did you get stood up? We could find somewhere quieter and have some fun."
“That sounds uh, fun, but I have to go. I work in the morning.” I said
I evaded his last attempt at a hug and headed towards the exit through the crowd.
Once the door shut, it took a minute for my eyes to adjust to the light. The middle of the city, even this late at night, it wasn’t dark like I was used to back home, but it was dark enough outside the area covered by street lights.
The temperature had taken an unexpected dip, especially in late May. It had been warm for the past few nights, and daytime temperatures had reached ninety degrees. My phone displayed the weather.
"How is it only forty-five degrees?" I muttered as I opened a ride-share app.
The app detected my location after a minute, but to my dismay, the nearest driver was twenty minutes away.
"What the fuck?" I muttered as my phone died just before I could order a ride home.
I didn't have to walk far to get home, but I regretted not dressing warmly for the weather. I was wearing a low-cut halter top, a miniskirt, fishnet stockings under knee-high socks. Thankfully, I had opted for comfortable shoes instead of high heels, or the hour-long walk home would have been agonizing.
I hugged myself as I picked up the pace, wishing I had brought a jacket.
“I can’t believe Kelsey stood me up.” I muttered.
Traffic was sparse at this hour compared to the daytime. Only a handful of cars passed by each minute, with their headlights being an annoying presence, especially those approaching me, hindering my night vision.
Something didn't feel right. I glanced around, but I couldn't spot anything out of the ordinary. The uneasy feeling grew stronger with every passing minute. I had a sense of being followed, even though I found no one when I looked back. The sensation persisted, as if someone were watching me.
“The boogeyman doesn't scare me,” I muttered to myself.
While not the fastest, I could sustain a good pace. My head moved back and forth as I searched for what made me feel uneasy.
I took another turn, not the usual route home, but if someone were chasing me, I wanted to lead them somewhere with more people, not to my apartment. I thought there were bars down this road, despite not being that familiar with the area.
Chills ran down my spine. Whatever was following me, even if I couldn't see it, was getting closer. I grabbed onto a railing and swung around another corner at full speed.
I spotted a car crossing the road a few blocks ahead, and I realized there had been no traffic around me for the past couple of minutes. The chilling sensation deepened.
I glanced back to check if someone was pursuing me, but everything happened in an instant. I collided headfirst with someone as I turned my head to watch where I was going, and I rebounded, landing on my backside on the cold sidewalk.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" a deep voice taunted. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
Though his words seemed casual, his predatory presence was undeniable, sending a chill down my spine. His grip lifted me off the ground, suspended in his grasp.
“Not safe for a girl out alone. Big bad wolf might get you!” He says as he grabs me by my arms and lifts me off the ground.
"Please, let me go. I'm sorry for bumping into you," I stammered, fumbling for my pepper spray.
"Why would I do that?" he retorted.
As I searched for the pepper spray, his words registered, and I attempted to scream, cut short as he clutched me tighter, stifling any resistance.
"No, I'll keep you. We'll have a great time together," he declared, marching me down a narrow alley. "Off to the mountains with you!"
Struggling was futile. I kicked, but he seemed impervious to the blows. A calm voice in my mind offered a deal: serve for a year and a day, and I will save you.
"Mhmm!" I managed in agreement. The world grew colder and time seemed to freeze.
"Close your eyes," the voice instructed in my mind.
I complied and felt myself lower to the ground.
"I have fulfilled my part," the voice affirmed. “Walk down the alley and get in the ice blue town car at the end.”
"Who are you?" I asked aloud, only to be met with silence.
I opened my eyes and saw my assailant encased in ice, frozen in a surreal tableau.
“This can’t be happening!” I mutter to myself.
I sprinted down the alley, spotting the ice blue car across the street, the sole vehicle present.
"Remember our deal," the voice urged in my mind. "A year and a day you owe me."
I debated running away. Finding somewhere crowded, getting lost among the people. Then hopping a flight home and never returning. There was no running away from this.
I stepped off the curb and headed to the waiting car. As I reach the door, it opens and I climb into the back seat. Once I close the door, the car immediately pulls away and drives down the empty street.
“What is your name?” The voice asked.
“A-Aria, Aria Byrne. Thank you for whatever it is you did. W-who are you?” I said.
“Rest. Everything will be clear in due time. Our drive will not take too long.” The voice says.
It’s dark in the car. I can make out a second seat, facing mine, between me and the driver’s compartment. I can see the shadowy figure of my savior sitting there, watching me, but can tell nothing about them.
“I will not hurt you.” The voice reassures me.
I had about a million questions I wanted to ask, but before I could, sleep took hold. The last thing I remember seeing is snow falling. Snow in may. In Phoenix.