Clocks Without Hands (Chapter-8)

My feet were tangled in my sleeping bag. I tried to stand, but my covers kept me immobilized. A dark figure stood over Cindy’s lifeless body, and I let out a blood curtling scream. Charlie whipped around to face me; except this time, it wasn’t Charlie. Mr. Gray stared at me with those piercing green eyes. His gaze bore into my very soul, and all I could do was stare back at him. He moved closer, and my entire body went limp. His red hair shone through the darkness as he loomed over me.

“Watch your back,” he uttered. “Watch your back. Watch your back. Watch your back.” He was screaming now. “Watch your back! Watch your back! Watch your back!”

I gasped for air, choking on a piece of plastic enveloping my lips. I thrust my hands up toward my face, no longer caring how much noise I made. The trash made an enormous rustling sound as I struggled to escape the dumpster. I threw the lid aside and jumped out into the night. Stars hung overhead, and the only other sound was the rustling of crickets. The police must have given up on their search already and assumed that I was long gone. I stretched my sore muscles. Even standing far away from the garbage, the air still reeked. I laughed to myself as I realized the stench was attached to me. Hidden by the night, I walked back along the path I had taken earlier that day, but just far enough away that the cameras didn’t pick me up, in case they were being watched at that moment. A few police cars sat at the curb surrounding the broken window, and yellow crime scene tape marked off the lawn. The crowd of students had long since disappeared, and the trampled grass was the only evidence left to show that they had gathered there in the first place. The dim lights from Mr. Gray’s room illuminated a huddle of officers. Their faces read of complete puzzlement and bewilderment. I quickly slunk away before they glanced in my direction. Few cars drove on the street at that time, but I was still careful to avoid any approaching headlights. The light of the moon aided me in my journey, and we walked together for quite some time. I soon found myself by a small gas station with a payphone in the front. My pockets were completely empty, and out of desperation, I approached the door of the station. It was locked, as I should have expected at that time of night. Defeated, I decided that I would have to wait until morning to make my phone call to Jacob and walked around to the side of the building to find a nice place to get some rest. A sleeping form made me jump back. I stared hard and saw that the form was a homeless man. He snored loudly. I prepared to turn right back around, but a small black box caught my eye. It wasn’t an iPhone, but one of those cheap phones that could only make calls. It would do quite nicely. The man’s snores increased, and I jumped back again, fearing that he had awakened. He smacked his lips loudly, but otherwise remained dead to the world. The sound of my fast breaths echoed through the narrow alleyway, and I struggled to remain calm. My fingers grasped the small phone, but it slipped right through my sweaty palm, and clattered to the floor.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” His beefy hands seized my small wrist.

“I’m so… so… sorry sir,” I stuttered. “I just need to make a phone call.” Compassion clouded his face, and he released me.

“Are you a runaway?” he asked. I nodded.

“Something like that.” Hr. reached into his pocket and peeled a twenty away from a thin wad of cash. “Oh no! I can’t take that.” He pressed it into my palm.

“Yes, you can. I insist.” He then reached down to pick up the phone that had fallen to the ground. “Here. Take as long as you need.” I nodded and walked a few steps just out of his earshot. The numbers on the phone mimicked me, laughing as I struggled to remember Jacob’s phone number. I frowned hard, and the digits started to come to me. A small click sounded as I pressed down each button. He answered on the first ring.

“Hello?”

“Jacob, it’s me.”

“Tyler, thank God. I’ve been worried sick about you. Where are you?” I read the name of the gas station off to him. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” The receiver clicked off. I walked the phone back to the man in the alleyway.

“That your boyfriend you were talking to?” he asked. I just shrugged.

“Hmm,” he said, stroking his chin. “Well, you need a place to sleep until morning?”

“No,” I responded. “He’s coming to get me, but it was nice to meet you.” I shook his hand.

“It was nice to meet you too. You take care of yourself now.”

“I will. You take care too.”

Jacob’s white truck stood out against the dark night. His eyes widened as I climbed into the seat beside him.

“Tyler! Where have you been? You look terrible!” He sniffed the air and covered his nose. “And you smell like death. Oh my gosh!” I laughed and relayed the details of the past few days to him.

“I have a hotel room I’m staying in,” I said, taking the master key to the hotel out of my pocket and waving it in the air. He gaped at me.

“You can’t just stay in a random room. They’ll issue the room to someone eventually, and you’ll be caught. Let me give you money for a room.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.” He rubbed my sore shoulders with his free hand.

“Trust me. I want to.” We pulled around to the side of the hotel. “Wait here.” I watched him climb out of the truck and walk to the front of the hotel. My curiosity got the better of me. I followed him at a distance, then waited just outside the entrance. I could just make out two voices speaking inside.

“Hi, I need a room.” I sensed the lady’s hesitation in the air.

“Are you old enough to get a room by yourself?”

“You see, my father has been driving all night. Frankly, I don’t want to upset him right now. He told me to get us a room while he drives to the nearest CVS to find some Advil. I’m sure he will join us shortly.” There was a long pause.

“Room 233.” Jacob didn’t come back out the front entrance, so I met him at the side.

“Here’s the key. Are you going to be alright?”

“Yes,” I assured him. “What about you? Did the police question you a lot?” He sighed.

“I told them exactly what I told my mom. I’m not sure they believed me, but they’re leaving me be for now.”

“Have they found Summer’s body?”

“Not yet. You’ve probably been keeping him completely occupied.”

“What have they been saying about me?”

“Well, my mom knows a guy on the force. He said that they think that you had a getaway vehicle waiting in the pasture or something. That teacher also matches the description of the man you gave that detective, and so they think you were in his classroom to try to plant evidence that would make him look guilty. You know, to try to take some of the blame away from yourself.”

“That’s completely ridiculous,” I scoffed. “How stupid can they really be? They aren’t even going to consider that he could be the killer. That’s totally biased.” Jacob pulled me into a tight hug.

“I know, but just be careful. Try to stay on the down low for a couple days. What is your plan anyway?”

“I’m going to prove that man is guilty, no matter what I have to do. There’s something not right about him.” Light was beginning to filter through the clouds of the night, and I could see that people were starting to emerge from their rooms through the glass door. “Go before anyone sees you with me. I’ll call you.” I was inside the hotel before he got a chance to argue with me. The people in the hallway didn’t even give me a second glance but raised their heads in disapproval as my scent wafted toward them. One little girl even whispered to her mom, who pointed in my direction. I ignored them, striding over to the business section of the hotel where they had free computer use for their guests, and selected one in the far corner. The screen sprung to life with the click of one button. I went straight to the google search bar, pulling out the business card still wedged in my waistband. It was a little bent around the edges, but otherwise it was in perfect condition. I typed in the owner’s name: Jeff Green. Fear coursed through my veins as the results loaded. If this came up to be a dead end, all of my effort from the day before would prove to be a complete waste. Besides, why would Mr. Gray hide a random business card in his desk? It had probably solely gotten wedged in there by accident. A sharp pain nipped at my finger, and I realized that I had been chewing on my nails nervously. The page was suddenly crowded with hits. I clicked on the first link, and it brought me to a website. The same address as on the card was imprinted in the corner of the screen. The picture at the top was what really drew my eye. I zoomed in on the man standing in front of the small hardware store. There was something familiar about him. I gasped loudly, and my eyes widened in surprise. Mr. Gray taunted me from the screen, appearing slightly younger in the picture than he did in person, but there was no mistaking his red hair and piercing green eyes. A lady stood next to him, and the longer I stared, the blurrier my vision became. I tried to stand up and shake my dizzy feeling, but I fell to the floor with a thud, my vision having gone completely black. A light appeared, and the hands held the familiar clock. The hole in the middle of it accounted for the absence of the hands that allowed for the clock to do its duty: to tell time. I could only stare as a figure stepped into the light, and what I saw completely shocked me. Eric Parker stood before me, his face completely devoid of all the sorrow and mourning he carried with him after Justice’s death. Now, he just looked angry. In an instant, he was gone, and I questioned whether or not I had actually seen him. I gazed back at the lady standing next to Mr. Gray… or Mr. Green or whatever his name was, but I didn’t look at her for too long. If I kept staring at her, I knew that I would be plagued with the same vision just a few moments later. Underneath the picture, there was a side note.

“Jeff Green, business owner, is pictured here along with his wife, Lacey Green,” I read aloud. The two looked genuinely happy. Mr. Green had his arm protectively around her shoulder. Could Mr. Parker really have killed Lacey Green? My fingers flew across the keyboard as I searched up her name. A police report popped up. Her death was ruled a homicide. She was found floating in her own bathtub, but the police had no current leads in her case. Over a year had passed, and the next site was filled with melancholy messages from friends proclaiming how much they loved and missed their sweet Lacey Green. I thought back to what I had just seen. My visions had never been wrong before, so why would they be now? I still couldn’t think of a reason why Mr. Parker would travel all the way across the country to murder Mrs. Green. I felt my vision go fuzzy, and quickly shut off the monitor.

“Find everything you needed?” I turned to see a tall man in a hotel uniform.

“Yes, sir. I was just leaving.” I quickly stood and brushed past him without giving him a second glance. My room key jostled around in my pocket as I hunted for the closest elevator. A quiet ding gave its location away. The carpet felt firm underneath my feet. I waited nervously, praying that the man from the business room wouldn’t come running down the hall, yelling that there was a fugitive loose in his hotel. He didn’t seem to have followed me. The elevator doors sprung open, and I stepped on quickly, the ground now hard beneath my feet. I rode up to the second floor and burst into my hotel room. I had plopped down onto the bed before I noticed that something was astray. The ground was littered with the trash from the garbage can. Drawers were thrown open as if someone had been searching for something. I jumped up, suddenly alert. A small creak sounded from the bathroom, sending a shock through my heart. A lamp sat on the nightstand beside me, and I had thrust it into my hands within seconds. The metal felt cool against my tense fingers. I took small steps as not to alert any possible intruders. My breaths were coming in heavy, but I did my best to smother any noises they made. Another creak sounded, and I raised the small lamp up, prepared to strike. Then the room was dead silent once again, and there was nothing to cover my small footsteps. My heart began to beat faster as I neared the bathroom door. It was open just a crack, but I couldn’t sense any motion beyond it. My fingers touched the cold doorknob, and I felt goosebumps raise on my arms. If there really was someone on the other side, this could be one of the last things I ever did. I could be taking my last breaths or walking my last steps. My mind wouldn’t shut off these thoughts, no matter how hard I tried to erase them from my brain. Another creak sounded. I shot up, and the lamp banged against the side of the door. If there was someone in there, they were certainly aware of my presence now. The only advantage left that I could have been the element of surprise, so I mustered up the courage to throw open the door. It pounded harshly against the wall. My mouth gaped open at the scene before me. There was no deadly figure lurking in the bathroom, but water from the sink was slowly spilling out onto the floor. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the drain was closed, and the faucet was turned ever so slightly so that the water would drip. The shower was covered in water droplets, indicating that it had been on not too long ago. I turned back to the sink, and that was when I noticed the mirror. It was all fogged up, and I could only assume it was from steaming hot water running through the shower head. Gaps in the condensation drew my attention, and although it was faded, I could just make out a message.

“Watch your back,” I read aloud. I felt my blood run cold. Mr. Green was onto me somehow, and he had been in this very room. I glanced behind me nervously, afraid that he would be standing there holding a knife or something. A part of me felt relieved when the air behind me was empty, but I still had an uneasy feeling in my gut. My hand reached out and shut off the dripping faucet. The white fluffy towels soaked up the mess with ease. I picked up the sopping fabric and stared hard at the message on the mirror. With a smug look on my face, I wiped it into nonexistence. The room was beginning to air out, making the room a little less warm, but I was just getting fired up. No matter what, I was going to bring Mr. Green down. I ran back into the bedroom, throwing everything back into order. My black duffel bag still sat in the corner. The yearbook was nowhere to be found, but the picture of Justice and Tabitha still sat tucked along the crease of the bag. I tossed the bag onto my shoulder and headed downstairs. Approaching the kiosk, two hotel workers peered down at me curiously.

“Hi,” I smiled at them sweetly. “I’d like to switch rooms.” They didn’t smile back.

“Why do you want to switch rooms? Is something wrong with yours?” they both asked at the same time. I tried to appear as if I had already collected my thoughts.

“My grandma is staying with me, and she’s afraid of elevators.” Concern flashed across their faces. “I guess I can just help her climb the stairs every day,” I sighed. The woman interrupted me.

“No, no.” She slid a brand-new key across the desk. “Room 117. Will that do?”

“That will do quite nicely. Thank you.” She nodded to me then went right back to her conversation with the other hotel employee. I was thankful that she hadn’t tried to question me any further. My new room was in a much more inhabited area. The rooms around me were filled with families. This would make it harder for Mr. Green to get into my room. The same people that would threaten my freedom if they recognized me could also save my life. They would be able to hear my screams if Mr. Green came after me again. I set my one bag in my new room. While I was a little wary to enter the bathroom, I badly needed a shower, and so I forced myself to walk onto the cold tile. This shower was completely dry, and the faucet didn’t leak. My stiff clothes peeled off of me almost instantly, and I immersed myself in the cold water. The little droplets acted as a massage on my sore muscles, and for an instant, I tried my best to relax.

A towel on my head and my clothes that I had washed in the sink caressing my body, I leaned onto the soft bed. The corner of the remote poked my calf, and I felt a small pain reverberate throughout my leg. I found a small amount of satisfaction in the fact that the pain had subsided from a sharp pain to a dull ache. Something inside me told me that I needed to turn on the television, but I immediately regretted that decision. I was greeted by the familiar sound of the news anchors voice.

“Summer Jenkin’s body has been found at the Sienna River. Police have one possible lead regarding her disappearance. A picture flashed up on the screen, but this time I wasn’t plagued with a vision. This time, the picture was of me. “Tyler Lyons has been missing for several days, and no one knows where she is. If anyone has any information regarding her location, please contact the police immediately. If you see her, do not engage with her.” I scoffed. They were acting as if I was dangerous or something. What about Mr. Green? Why didn’t they mention him? He was teaching teenagers every day, and they had no idea that they were in harm's way solely by attending school. I needed to find a way to expose him fast before anyone else got hurt.

The cool night air provided me with little comfort. I stood in front of a house known for great parties, and I could hear the blaring music coming from beyond the front door. The grass was slightly wet from the sprinklers, and the dew tickled my ankles. The front door swung open, and a couple people trickled out. I put my head down, praying that none of them were from my school and that none of them would recognize me. They were too wrapped up in themselves to notice me slip past them and through the doorway. My eyes scanned the room and locked on Mandy. She stood in the corner, surrounded by a group of girls. The rest of Justice’s old posse was nowhere to be seen. Mandy’s peers stood talking and laughing, but Mandy just stared solemnly at her cup. As if she could feel someone’s eyes on her, she glanced up and met my eyes. A small gasp escaped her lips, and her cup clattered to the floor. The liquid sloshed all over her friends’ shoes, but she didn’t notice. After they had finished their screaming and yelling, they started to follow her line of sight. Mandy said something to them that made them quickly divert their eyes back to her. I pressed myself against the wall. After a short moment, Mandy appeared beside me.

“Tyler? Where in the world have you been?” She threw her arms around me in a protective hug. “Are you hurt? What’s going on?” I squeezed her back.

“No, but we need to talk.” She followed me outside onto lawn which was completely empty now.

“What’s up?” I got right to the point.

“I need to know what you and Justice were arguing about the night she disappeared.” Mandy’s eyes went wide at the mention of Justice’s name.

“Why?”

“Just trust me.” She looked around uneasily.

“Ok, look. You know that girl Tabitha? The one that died too.” My ears perked up at the mention of Tabitha’s name.

“Yeah?”

“Her and Justice were like best friends. We were arguing because the two of them had just been hanging out by the coffee house at the square, and Justice had invited her to the party.”

“Did she end up coming?” I asked eagerly.

“No,” she scoffed. This confused me.

“Wait, why were you upset that the two of them had been hanging out?”

Their families have a huge feud. Tabitha’s dad fired Justice’s dad but couldn’t give him a valid reason why. Justice’s dad, or Mr. Parker, has a mean temper, and after that he wanted nothing to do with that family. Mr. Parker banned Justice from seeing Tabitha ever again, but Justice loved her so much, she just couldn’t help but stay friends with her.” I thought I sensed a twinge of jealousy in her voice.” But yeah, Justice’s family was having tons of financial problems after her dad was fired, and between you and me, her parents were on the verge of getting a divorce.” I pondered this for a second.

“You said they met at the coffee shop on the square that night?” She nodded.

“What are you up to Tyler?”

“Mandy, you can’t tell anyone you saw me here.”

“I won’t.” I turned to go, but then I had a nagging question.

“Mandy?”

“What?”

“How come you didn’t tell the police any of this?” She sighed.

“I didn’t want her parents to be angry at her. I know now that that was a mistake, and I feel guilty about it every day, but we don’t even know if that information would have helped them anyway. She’s,” She paused, as if struggling to get the word out. “She’s dead. There’s nothing me saying anything about it could do now. The information probably isn’t even relevant.” She spoke as if she was trying to convince herself. I gave her a grim look.

“That may be true, but there are other victims out there that can be saved.” With that, I was gone, determined to check out the coffee shop first thing in the morning.