Jaws of Love

 

Chapter 3

 

<><><><><><>

 

Suzanne Crenshaw knew she would get an earful when she walked into studio late. She was right. Not only did her stylist and agent chew her out, her friends chewed her out as well. Work went on like normal after she heard from everyone but she didn’t feel good. That’s why she was glad to leave the studio.

 

I am never going to be late again. She vowed, getting out of her car. She took a quick look around her: pink and white building, not a lot of open parking spaces, and people arguing up front. Yup, this was it. Her boyfriend, Cole Sawyer, suggested meeting here. She called him at his workplace, a pharmaceutical lab, and spent thirty minutes telling him about her rough day. Cole listened to her without interrupting once. He was about to ask his questions then her stylist began chewing out her ear again for taking so long on the phone. Suzanne agreed with her boyfriend to meet in the new ice cream parlor that had opened up in downtown. As soon as work was over, she zoomed away from the studio. After getting lost three times, she finally made it to the place.

 

“Great. I’m fifteen minutes late.” She said, checking her watch. Then she shouldered her purse and headed towards the front. To her surprise, she found her boyfriend waiting there, arms crossed and looking at a group of teenagers talking. 

 

“Cole?” She called out to him. He turned around so she could see his face. Suzanne had to admit that, even when he was annoyed, he was damn sexy. He had midnight-black hair that he never liked to brush (she forced him to use a comb every morning), cream-white skin, and eyes as blue as the evening sky. She loved his eyes the best. They were dark and calm, not unusually pale like some people with dark hair had, making them look like zombies. He stood only two inches taller than her and was six months younger. Suzanne often teased him for that because he was not only younger than she was, he was youngest person in her entire group of friends! 

 

But as handsome and youthful as he was, he was more than a pretty face and hot body. He had graduated from Colombia not too long ago, summa cum laude and first in his class. He had degrees in biochemistry and computer science as well as a minor in microbiology, earning straight As in everything. Unlike most people, finding a job for him had been no problem. Suzanne normally hated people like that but Cole was different. He was very modest and sweet along with being smart and hardworking. They had arguments from time to time like many couples yet they still remained loyal to each other. She trusted him more than she trusted herself.

 

Cole also tolerated some things better than other people. However, when he saw her, he had a look on his face that was anything but tolerant.

 

Suzanne ran up to him when his gaze fell on her. “Sorry I’m late. I got lost.”

 

“Figures.” He said, unfolding his arms and holding them out so he could hug her. “You were never that good with directions, Suz.”

 

“At least I know when I’m lost! I get help!” She shot back. “You, on the other hand...oh, I’m not even going to start with you! I’m just remembering the time we went to my mother’s house and how you drove around in circles the whole damn night and...”

 

“Okay! I’m sorry for what I said. Can we go inside now? I’ve been freezing my ass out here for a long time.”

 

“Yes, yes.” Suzanne kissed him on the lips before they went inside together. There weren’t that many people inside so finding a spot to sit was no problem. The floor, made up of pink and white tiles, sparkled when the lights hit it. Everywhere one turned, all they could see was pink and white. There was also fifties music blaring from somewhere but it wasn’t so loud that people couldn’t hear anything else. The building itself wasn’t very warm but no one could complain. People were standing in different areas of the ice cream parlor. Some stood in line to get their order while others waited patiently to be seated. Suzanne and Cole were in front of three people who got a seat right away. Then it was their turn. Suzanne suggested a booth by the window so they could look outside and see the people passing by. It was almost five after all and the streets would be jammed. As soon they ordered something, Suzanne chose to tell her boyfriend about what happened earlier.

 

“Did you hear about it?” She began, fiddling with a napkin. Cole turned away from the window and looked at his girlfriend. The light from the sun outside streaked through his dark hair like lightning, making him appear almost angel-like. The curious look on his face made him look innocent and more like a boy than the twenty-four year old man he was.

 

“Hear about what, babe?” He asked.

 

“You know, all the people being killed...people eating people and then killing themselves? There was that girl in Wilmington who was eating a person when her boyfriend found her.  I’m surprised that you haven’t been told to...”

 

“Oh yeah!” Cole interrupted her. “I’ve heard about it but I didn’t think it was true. I also heard that someone else jumped off a building but not after she finished eating another person...I think that happened recently. Why‘d you bring that up, Suz?”

 

Suzanne lowered her gaze. She hated recalling events to anyone even if it was her boyfriend. Besides, she didn’t know the entire story of what was going on and Cole was probably expecting her to give him all the details.

 

I’ll give as much as I can, babe. She sighed. Then out loud, she said. “I met that girl’s boyfriend today. You know, the one who found...”

 

“...his girl eating someone.” Cole finished off. Then his eyes widened. “What?! You mean he’s here?!”

 

“Shhh!” Suzanne glared at him and put a finger to her lips. “Don’t say that so loud!”

 

“Sorry.” He whispered. The waitress came by at that moment and put a Diet Coke down in front of Suzanne. They thanked her and waited ‘til she was gone. “But seriously...why is he here? And how’d you run into him?”

 

Slowly, Suzanne recounted everything that happened earlier. She told him about how Michael Appleton looked and that she had gave her giant chocolate bar to him. Cole was disappointed that she gave her gift to some strange guy but he didn’t complain. He waited until she finished her story before he began asking questions. He also kept looking around to make sure no one was paying attention to them. Suzanne was beautiful and popular after all. Sure, she wasn’t as dressed up this time like on magazines and that seemed to draw a lot of attention away from her. But that didn’t keep some folks from staring and trying to bother her. It was a good thing that this ice cream shop wasn’t packed and the people who were in here didn’t seem to be the types who’d be interested in fashion.

 

“I feel sorry for him.” Suzanne said before Cole asked his next question. “I mean, he must have been afraid of his girlfriend when he saw what she was doing. When she killed herself, it must have hurt him even more.”

 

“Did he tell you anything else?” Cole asked, drumming his fingers against the table. Perhaps if Suzanne had enough information, then_

 

“No.” She broke his train of thought, her voice cracking like a whip. “I don’t know this guy, Cole. I had to save him from those crazy girls before they drew more attention on him. I know he didn’t want to be seen. He’s trying to stay as low as possible. I helped him out and gave him my candy. Then we parted. Why? Should I have asked him more stuff?”

 

“It would have been helpful.”

 

“Sorry.” She murmured. Truth was, she hadn’t told him everything and he knew it. But she couldn’t. Michael probably didn’t want to be bothered right now. He just lost someone special to him. Suzanne gave her boyfriend a look that read, ‘I can’t tell you anymore, honey. I’m so sorry. Stop with the questions please. I’m not going to answer them.’

 

Cole recognized that look and he knew he needed to stop. He had also grown tired of waiting for her to explain things to him. Besides, he wanted to change the subject and he knew what he wanted to talk about too. There was something at home that was bothering everyone. As frightening as cannibalistic people invading the town sounded, there was an issue involving two of their friends that needed to be solved first.

 

“Have Debra and Trip solved their problem?” He asked. Suzanne stopped sipping her drink the moment she heard that. That was the whole reason she had called Cole over in the first place. Debra Laird and Trip Duncan were two of the six friends they lived with. Like Cole and Suzanne, the two of them were madly in love with each other...or so they had been. Lately however, they hadn’t been quite as close. For some strange reason, Debra had stopped talking to her boyfriend. She didn’t make eye contact with him when they were in the same room. Suzanne noticed that, for the third time this week, Trip had asked Debra to meet him somewhere and she stood him up. It didn’t make sense. The two of them were a happy couple. What had gone wrong?

 

“It’s just getting worse.” Suzanne said, pushing her drink aside. “Trip doesn’t know what’s going on and Debra isn’t telling him. I don’t get it. Something’s bothering Debra, seeing that she’s the one who stopped talking in the first place. But she usually tells Trip what the problem is, even if he‘s part of it. I really don’t get it, honey. They were both fine last week. What the hell happened?”

 

“It was something big. That’s all I can infer.” Cole leaned back in his seat and stared out the window. Different kinds of people were passing by. There were people rushing from store to store, buying gifts. There were mothers with screaming and hyper children. There were couples walking with arms draped over each other. It wasn’t that long ago when Debra and Trip were like the couples outside.

 

“You think Tabitha would know what’s wrong? I mean, she *is* Trip’s sister...his twin sister, to be specific...” Suzanne started out.

 

“Debra hasn’t confided in Trip, who she knows better than anybody else. Why would she tell Tabby?”

 

“I don’t know. Maybe she’d feel better talking to a woman than a man. Tabby is the closest person to him, other than Debra.”

 

“True but I think Tabby knows even less about what’s happening between her brother and Debra.”

 

Suzanne inhaled. She hated watching her friends fall apart like this. It was because of Debra and Trip that she and Cole fell in love. They were the ones who bought everyone together. And her boyfriend wasn’t the only person Debra had cut off all means of communication with. She didn’t talk to anyone else in the house either. Only when they asked her a question, she’d answer them. Debra also acted different too. Normally, she was bubbly and filled with excitement. Now she looked as if someone she loved had died. Her childlike face had lost all its vitality and she never smiled whenever something good happened.

 

Because his Debra had fallen silent, Trip grew quiet as well. He did everything he could to bring her back to normal but he failed. Debra started to drift further and further away. All her friends prayed that this behavior wasn’t affecting her job. Debra worked as a dance instructor at a local dance school and was always surrounded by people, big and little. She was required to be energetic and enthusiastic. So far, she had done her job well. What was everyone going to say if they saw a depressed Debra with a lackluster look in her eyes?

 

“Well, Trip went to see Debra. He says she’s acting normal with the kids.” Cole murmured. “Maybe it’s something we’ve done to her.”

 

“Yeah, but what? Debra’s not the type of girl to hold grudges.”

 

“Here you go, hon. A hot fudge sundae.” The waitress, a middle-aged woman with a worn out face and a body of a quarterback, interrupted them and put the dessert in front of Cole. His blue eyes grew so big that Suzanne was afraid they would come popping out of their sockets and land on the table.

 

“Now this is the reason I came here. Thanks a lot.” He said, giving the waitress a smile. 

 

“No problem. I’ll get you some more Diet Coke, sugar.” She told Suzanne before leaving them alone. Cole picked up his spoon, wiped it clean on a napkin, and then shoved it into the ice cream. When he pulled it back out, there was a huge mound of ice cream dripping with hot fudge. Suzanne’s dark eyes also grew large as she watched him eat it, then wipe away the fudge on his lip. His smile also grew bigger. Damn him.

 

“You are out of your goddamn mind.” Suzanne sighed, looking at the white mound of ice cream draped with velvety chocolate on top. Nuts sprinkled about, a dollop of whipped cream, and a cherry on top made the sundae look more irresistible. She tried her hardest not to drool.

 

Cole held out the cherry for her. A little bit of whipped cream was stuck on the bottom of it like snow. “Want it?”

 

Deciding that she could bend the rules of her diet for once, she grabbed and ate it. She shook her head as she watched Cole dig into that sweet paradise in front of him. All the while, she felt a little envious. She was amazed at that fact that her boyfriend could eat anything and not gain a single pound. She wondered the same thought that others had: what was his secret? Good genes? Good diet? The ability to never gain weight and look ugly?

 

“You sure you don’t want any?” He asked, waving the spoon in front as if to hypnotize her. Suzanne’s brown eyes kept following the spoon. “C’mon, honey. I know you want some. Look at it. Your name’s on it.”

 

Suzanne leaned over and examined the spoon. “I don’t see my name anywhere on this.”

 

Unfortunately, that was a bad idea on her half. Cole shoved the spoon into her mouth without warning. The cold and delicious ice cream sent chills straight into Suzanne’s brain. She glared at her boyfriend. Cole could only shrug and smile back at her.

 

“Sorry, Suz. But it’s your own fault. You walked straight into that one. I honestly didn’t think you would.”

 

Suzanne licked her lips clean of all that gooey hot fudge. “If I didn’t love you so much, I’d kill you right now. I told you I’m on a diet!”

 

“One spoonful of ice cream is not going to make you gain two hundred pounds.” Cole said in a matter-of-fact tone.

 

“True but you make me want more. It’s was too damn good!” Suzanne complained. 

 

“You want the rest?”

 

“Hell no!” Suzanne put her hands up and backed away. “I’m not falling for any tricks this time, Sawyer. You bought it. You eat it.”

 

“Fine.” Cole rolled his eyes. “But if you head straight for the freezer and make yourself a sundae when we go home...”

 

“I know, I know. You’ll mock me for the remainder of the night.”

 

“Since when the hell have I ever mocked you?!”

 

“Look!” Suzanne dropped the subject. “It’s getting late and everyone’s probably worrying about us at home. I’m going to the bathroom and then we should go home.”

 

“Fine. I’ll pay the bill as usual.” Cole sighed as he fished out his wallet. Suzanne left the table while he took out the right amount of money. As he counted the bills, he took a look outside. More people were starting to come in now. Suzanne probably made a wise decision to leave right now.

 

Then he caught something else, which made him raise his dark eyebrows. It was a red car parked in front of the building. The occupant, a pretty blonde with curly hair and a serious look on her face, was still sitting in the drivers seat and watching people pile in. Cole watched her for a few minutes, wondering what she was doing here. Finally, she turned and found herself looking straight at him. Though it was starting to get dark, he could make out her bright violet eyes and sparkling blue eye shadow.

 

I had a feeling you’d look at me sooner or later. He thought. The woman looked at him some more as if she was trying to communicate with him telepathically. Then the woman smiled at him.

 

Few seconds later, Cole winked and smiled back.

 

*        *          *

 

The year was almost coming to an end and Christmas was creeping up from behind for everyone. Within just twelve months, so much had happened. People fell in love, people fell out of love, babies were born, people lost their lives to various wars, the economy went up and down like elevators, criminals were punished, dreams were shattered, futures were ruined, and time kept speeding forward. It didn’t stop to see how the world was faring and it didn’t slow down for anything. In short, time was cruel.

 

For example, time didn’t give Michael Appleton a chance to talk to his girlfriend before she committed suicide. It didn’t give him a chance to save her. He didn’t have time to say goodbye to her or the rest of his friends! Instead, he told his professors that he was taking a short vacation and would return someday. Then he fled his town and he didn’t tell anyone where he was going, not even his family. He wasn’t the only one who tried to run from this. There had been other men and women who wanted to escape the cannibal they encountered.  Like Michael, not one of them knew why these people had suddenly taken to eating people. Autopsies were performed now the cannibals but nothing unusual showed up.  Because of that, the old cases of cannibalism were put aside.  No one visited the site where the victims were found. No one dared speak of the cases.  They just picked up from where they left off and went on.

 

And right now, sitting on the bed in a hotel, Michael Appleton was also trying to pick up the pieces and go on.

 

A lot of time had passed since Ash had been found eating another person. He had found schoolwork to be the best distraction from the recent incidents. He had a paper due the day he came back to class. He hadn’t dropped out of school; he was only taking a break. He had always been a hardworking student who believed that the harder people worked, the better their results were. Ash would tease him about taking everything so seriously. She’d say the same thing every time he got ready to tackle his schoolwork.

 

Rub that look off your face, sweetie. Have fun. Smile a little. Your face will freeze in place if you keep it scrunched up like that.

 

“Ash.” He murmured. It finally hit him that he’d never hear her say that to him. He would never be able to hold her, kiss her, or even talk to her. When he went back, she wouldn’t be there. Her beautiful eyes would never give him that loving look. She was gone.

 

“Why?”  He asked no one in particular. He was a strong man but his eyes were starting to water. Ash had done nothing! She had been a sweet and smart girl who was adored by everyone she met. Michael even planned to ask for her hand in marriage when the semester ended. He was ready to start a family with her despite how young they were. He wanted to build the future with her by his side.

 

Then, in a cruel twist of fate, Ash’s life was blown out the way one blows out a candle. She felt guilty about what she had done so she killed herself.

 

“Why couldn’t you tell me what was wrong? I’d help you.” Michael went on. His tears finally started to fall as he remembered the events of that fateful night; coming through the pouring rain, walking up all those steps, opening the door and calling her name, catching the stench of blood, walking into Ash’s room, pushing her door open, and then...

 

“It’s not fair!” He murmured. Oh, that exclamation was probably childish but it described his current feelings. Why did it have to be Ash? Why was she killing and eating another person?

 

This sucks. I’m alone now. Michael thought, looking at the computer screen. He never felt this miserable before. No matter how hard he tried to forget about it, memories of his dead girlfriend refused to fade away. He even called the apartment by accident one time and got Ash’s voice on the answering machine. It sounded like she was still alive. It felt like she had just gone away for the weekend and would be back soon.

 

Through blurry eyes, he looked down at the paper he was writing. He didn’t want to fall behind on his classes so he had bought the laptop and schoolbooks along with him. He had to get on with life.  He had to keep moving forward without her. After all, Ash would have done the exact same thing if she was in his shoes.

 

He kept going online to get some information for his paper and often had to go to The New York Times website to read an article. The biggest story, of course, was the sudden deaths that occurred in North Carolina. He didn’t want to read it but something inside said he should. He clicked on the article to read the whole thing. What he got was a big surprise.

 

“Whoa!” He said to himself many times. As it turned out, Ash wasn’t the only one who had been found this way. In fact, she was the eleventh cannibal who committed suicide. Also, another girl had jumped to her death after eating another person. She was the twelfth and most recent death. Ten other people, over a span of thirteen years, had also taken their lives after they were caught eating someone. Ash and the latest victim were the only ones found in North Carolina.

 

“Two from California, two from New York, one from Texas, one from Michigan, one from Arizona, one from Nevada, and two from New Jersey.” Michael leaned back and thought of what those states had in common. He couldn’t find a thing. So he kept looking up similar articles to see if there was a connection with all these murders.

 

If I find something, then I might find out why these murders were committed. He thought. He was determined to figure out why Ash changed before him. Whatever he found could bring things into the light. And after this was solved, he could put Ash’s soul to peace and move on with ease.

 

TBC...

 

<><><><><><><>

 

Copyright 2003: CT

 

Go to Chapter 4

 

Back to Chapter 2

 

Back to Originals

 

Email me: sweetandsourcyanide@excite.com