Chapter 68 - Strange things are happening in the forest!

Lilith

I COULD HEAR THE ROAR of his car’s engine a block away and I jumped to get the door. My parents weren’t very happy that I was dating Ezra, but they only interfered in my life when I couldn’t handle things. So, all they did was remind me to be careful as I rushed out the front door.

I rushed down the stairs and met Ezra just as he got out of his car. I wanted to tell him that I missed him terribly, but I didn’t want to jinx things so I just dropped a kiss on his cheek when he opened my door for me. I wondered where he was taking me tonight, and I have to admit that I was surprised when we drove out to Blanca’s place.

“Blanca has been missing you terribly, so Carlo and I thought we would surprise you girls with a double date.” Ezra smiled when I started fidgeting and I felt myself calm down instantly as he put his hand on my leg. Blanca and Carlo were clearly meant to be together. I saw it each time I saw them together and they seemed happy.

Now I just had to get over this image in my mind of my best friend kissing my boyfriend and I would also be able to find love with Ezra. I never saw them kissing, but I couldn’t help myself. The image popped into my dreams a couple of nights ago and I haven’t been able to shake it since. We arrived at their home and it was so strange to see all the strangers walking around. Ezra took my hand and I smiled as we walked in and met up with Blanca and Carlo inside.

“We thought some friendly competition would be good for all of us, so what do you guys think about going bowling?” Blanca looked so excited that I felt it shoot through my body as well. I eagerly nodded as my best friend put her arm around me and we walked down some stairs in their house. I thought she was taking me to her room to get ready, so when we walked into a full-sized bowling alley inside their home, I nearly swallowed my damn tongue!

It was no wonder my friend never invited me over! They were rich! All the people that lived here were filthy rich! I was convinced of it until I saw the same people serve us drinks and snacks from our previous little get-together. Deep down I knew there was something really strange going on here, but I didn’t allow those thoughts to push their way up.

I didn’t want to know why Blanca and her parents lived in the same house as Carlo. Hell, they all lived there! I was scared of what I might find if I thought about it for too long and I forced myself to join in the fun in front of me.

We were taking on the boys and it was great fun to just be with friends for once. Not that Carlo was ever a friend of mine, but seeing him and Blanca together so much in love, I hoped I could one day call him a friend. We made an incredible foursome of very sexy young people. We were the future of our little town, and my thoughts were running away with me again.

I was the worst playing of all four of us, but they were great sports and I was convinced they lost some of their tosses on purpose. After our game, we went upstairs and had dinner and talked about everything that had been going on in everyone’s lives. It felt as though they were keeping something from me, but I shook my head to clear the bad thoughts away.

I was very interested to hear about Ezra’s work on his house and what he had done so far. I guess the last straw for me was when it started to sound as though his house was a lot like Blanca and Carlo’s. Why would he want a huge house like that with a bunch of strangers living with him? Couldn’t he just give his family some money and send them on their way?

After growing up in a house where I was an only child and just my parents were there, it was impossible for me to imagine more people in the house. When Ezra and I finally said goodnight and drove home, I was feeling very strange. Uneasy. All the questions I had been trying to avoid pushed their way through in the silence of the car on the way home.

Ezra kissed me goodnight and as I walked into the quiet house, I gasped. There was definitely something going on. Something very strange that none of them had ever taken the time to explain to me. All these years, I couldn’t visit Blanca once and now, all of a sudden, I was being invited for double dates and dinners with Ezra. I was Blanca’s best friend. I should have been staying over at her place years ago. I slowly walked up the stairs, not feeling the excitement I felt earlier that evening.

I was actually dreading finding out what was really going on. I shook my head and yawned as I climbed into bed. I was letting my very overactive imagination run wild. My friends were part of some cult or supernatural group. They couldn’t possibly be. I have watched far too many paranormal shows. If they were, I would have noticed it a long long time ago.

As I drifted off to sleep, my dreams were filled with all the ridiculous possibilities I wouldn’t allow my conscious mind to think of. By the time my alarm went off in the morning, I felt tired and I felt scared. Something was going on. I couldn’t deny that any longer. Something was going on out there in the forest and I was going to find out what the hell it was!