Blue June Ch.1

Chapter 11

“You can’t keep lying to yourself like this… you just have to face the facts and accept that he’s gone.” Marie stepped closer and placed her hand on June’s shoulder. June continued her gaze in the dresser mirror, running her fingers through her hair. “June, did you hear me…June!?” 2

“I heard you Marie.” 3

“You know I’m right then. I know you’re supposed to hope, hope is healthy, but so is grieving. There’s an appropriate time for the both and now is the time to grieve. He’s gone and he’s never comin back.” She tugged on June’s shoulders, the two girls were facing each other now. June looked into Marie’s eyes then quickly to the floor.4

“You don’t think it’s odd, the way he just disappeared?” June softly spoke, almost a whisper, then fixed her eyes back to Marie.5

“They found all that blood, June. He’s… he’s dead.” She tried to be as soft as possible, as if she were delivering the news for the first time.6

“But they couldn’t find the body! And the circumstances, they were just too… too… strange!” 7

“The guy confessed, what more can you ask for? He’s a loon! … Look, I loved Tom too, you know that. We were all shocked… it’s a tragedy… but it happened and we all have to move on. You included!” Marie became angered. “If you keep doing this you’re gonna drive yourself mad!”8

“No, the man who confessed was mad! It’s like he was brainwashed, he confessed sure, but he didn’t know Tom, he didn’t even know the details of how he supposedly died. It was like someone put the words in his brain, like someone convinced him or made him say he did it!” June had gone over it again and again in her head. Nothing seemed to add up. “Something happened, something bad, but I know he’s not dead… I can feel it!” 9

“You feel what you want to feel, you can’t except that he’s DEAD, June…HE‘S DEAD… GONE… NEVER COMIN BACK!” By then Marie had stepped back, she spoke harsh and loud as if to snap June out of whatever world she thought she was in.10

“Marie, I talked to him the day he went missing, he wasn’t himself, he said he had something important to tell me” She began to speak quietly again, moving closer. 11

“I’m leaving…” Marie quickly exited June’s bedroom and headed down the hall into the small living room. She pulled her crumpled jacket off the couch and headed for the door.12

“Wait, look what I got in the post today…” June ran into the small office she used as a drawing room, rummaged through sketches and miscellaneous pages, then pulled out a strange, small envelope. “Here, here it is…” She shoved the letter at Marie. “Open it.”13

“What is it?” The envelope, with only two words on the front ‘June Mars’, was hand made on fine parchment with beautiful lettering and a strange black, wax seal. She removed the note, it simply said…14

Things are not as they seem,
watch the shadows.15

“…That’s it? What’s it got to do with anything? The bloody envelope doesn’t even say who it’s from. For all you know it could be some creeper with a sick crush. If you‘re scared or somthin go to the police, just don‘t go makin fantasies up, it‘s not healthy.” Marie threw the paper onto a small wooden table beside the door. 16

“Don’t you see? It’s from Tom… it has to be!” 17

“Oh June… get some rest…” Marie sighed then caressed June’s cheek and walked out the door.18

“Marie, please, you’ve got to believe me, something’s not right!” June watched as Marie walked down the hall and entered the elevator. She stepped back into the apartment and slowly shut the door. 19

Leaning there, eyes to the floor and head against the door, June breathed deep. Then, she noticed a shadow blocking light from the hall. She watched for a moment, thinking it was just someone passing by, but it remained there. She quietly lifted her head to the peephole but found the hallway empty. She looked down again, the shadow still remained. “…watch the shadows…” she whispered curiously. Then, gathering herself for a moment, she flung the door open. There laid a small box, it was glossy and white with a perfectly tied, black silken bow. June peeked left and right but found no hint as to who may have placed it there. She quickly brought it inside and locked the door. For a long while she just stared at it, wondering if perhaps Marie could be right. After all, if Tom had left either the letter or the gift why all the secrecy, why not say so, or just give it to her in person? But soon her curiosity took hold. She sat down on her little brown couch and pulled at one end of the ribbon, the bow unfurled and fell to the floor. She carefully lifted the shining white lid, the hinges squeaked and her eyes widened at the sight before her. The box was empty and it carried a strange musty smell. She took a long breath and let out a sigh, still holding the box, she slumped back and stared at the ceiling. “Maybe I am going mad…” June closed her eyes and began to rub her temple. Moments later her eyes fluttered as she dropped the box. “I ff..ffeeel..ssssooo…odd…” She fumbled with her words and stumbled to her feet. The room spun as she wobbled towards the door, but she barely made if halfway across the room when all of a sudden everything went dark, her eyelids fluttered again. The next thing she knew she was on the floor, a dark blur stood over her, and with that June was asleep.