Sheep's Clothing by Gary Lewis (dark books to read TXT) 📗

David looked back at her for a couple of the longest seconds Janice ever experienced.

The crowd parted and old man Sam strode straight through. His look of compassion draped onto his somber, wrinkled face as he approached and rested his hand on David's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, David,” he said quietly. His head bowed to almost bump into David's. “Tony was a good kid."

David grabbed Sam's hand and slowly but deliberately removed it to the side. "I'm fine," he said loudly to Janice's surprise. Sam backed up a couple paces to where he paused with a mournful stare.

The sea of voices in overlapping conversation began to break apart, giving way to a wave of silence that washed over them. Janice noticed that people were starting to look. She kept her face aimed forward as she whispered to David, beside her. "Everyone is staring at us."

"Yeah. Let's go," he said. "We can get something at the store." He turned to walk toward the entrance without looking back and Janice followed.

Janice exited the glass double-doors, passing the motionless blind beggar where he sat against the building as she hurried to catch up to David. "That was rude," she said while speeding her walk to a light dash across the packed parking lot where David waited at his car. "He was just trying to be there for you."

"I guess you're right," he said as he looked down for a brief moment. "But what's done is done. Where are we going?"

Janice smiled as she settled into the passenger side. She knew she was right. It was rude. But there was something she liked about it. David seemed a lot surer of himself than usual today.

"We need gas and food," she said.

David leaned closer with a smile. "Anything you want."

"I might just hold you to that, mister," Janice said with a laugh as he put the car in gear and they pulled out.

###

The bright sun baked the joyful tranquility into the skin of her face while the cool air rushed with flying freedom through her hair. Janice propped her arm in the open window as she looked at the white, fluffy clouds that flowed across Bluff Mountain in the shining summer sky where a lone eagle flapped out of the wilderness. But there was no need to search for the perfect moment to capture. The refreshing window breeze blew across her open smile. “It’s already here.”

"What's that?" David asked as he turned into the gas station parking lot.

Janice smiled and looked at him while he rolled up beside the pump closest to the store. "It's nothing. Can you grab me a bag of chips?"

"Sure," he said, getting out to stroll calmly to the glass entrance doors.

While David was in the store, Janice hopped into the driver seat, hanging her wrist over the wheel and watched the glass double-doors for him with a bright smile.

He finally emerged with a couple bags loaded with chips and drinks. "Hey cutie, you need a ride?" she shouted in a mock masculine voice as David emerged.

"What are you doing?" David asked with a laugh.

"Didn't know I got my license, did you now?"

David threw the bags in the backseat and handed her a soda. "As long as we don't end up in a ditch," he said before turning to pump the gas.

David slumped into the passenger seat, adjusting it back to fit his long legs. "So, where's this place at anyway?"

"You'll see," Janice said, trying to hold back the smile that pulled at her glowing cheeks. "Whatever I want, right?" She hit the gas just a little too hard and stomped the brake before gradually crawling to a smooth roll.

David covered his face with both hands. "Oh God. Tell me when I can look."

"I'll get the hang of it." She laughed. "Just relax."

David turned in her direction, peaking through a gap between his fingers. "I hope so. I'm too young to die."

Janice giggled again as she looked him in the eyes. "We'll see about that."

She kept it at exactly the speed limit while they cruised down Central Avenue, passing the old brick buildings that held the many leased out shops along the main strip of city limits. To their left, Bluff Mountain’s beautiful, deep green forests contrasted against the light blue skies.

"I could've gone to the store up this way if I knew you were heading back toward your place," David said while waving his hand forward.

"You always think you know everything, don't you?" Janice said with a smile. "You think too much, David."

"If you say so," David smirked.

After stopping at the light, Janice hit the left turn signal.

"Don't you mean that way?" David pointed quickly to the right.

"Nope,” she tried to say calmly, unable to hold back her grin. “Not just yet.”

A combination of brightly painted, new looking cars and beat up, old trucks passed by while they sat at the red light. Janice began to wonder if it would ever change colors.

The light turned green and she carefully turned left. Bluff Mountain rose above the remaining buildings ahead and she continued a bit faster. David wasn't saying anything. He must know where we're going. The foothills seemed to rise and fall while they went uphill and downhill, getting ever closer to her destination. It had been so long since she took this road, but it felt like it was just yesterday.

"Jan, I don't know..." David said before pausing.

"I can't let it hold me back forever," she said softly. "Dad wouldn't have wanted that," Janice stopped herself when she felt her voice beginning to shake. She looked at his deep blue eyes, heavy with concern, before she spoke again. “It’s time for me to move on.”

"But the attacks," David said.

"The werewolf, you mean?" She shook her head with a sniffle and glanced across the passing trees as the bridge became closer.

"Look. I know it sounds crazy, but I saw it with my own eyes, Jan."

"I didn't say that I don't believe you," she said as she looked around at the sunny, open pastures, rimmed by deep vibrant forests.

David sighed from the