Dog Seed. Part 3.

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[CW: >!Animal Abuse, Sexual Content!<]

The morning dew made slick the raucous field beneath my ass as I sat sipping cold coffee beneath the tall oak tree. The sun was lazy to come up, but I was more than awake for the both of us. Sleep came easier after Toby joined me in my room. He didn’t whine or howl, but I felt his warmth guard me throughout the night as I wept for him to be real.

I wouldn’t admit to myself that I had cried. I felt it was far too late to mourn an old friend. Yet the summer heat courted sweat along thin limbs as I went about hailing a ride through my phone. I was intending to gather the most of what I needed today. It would be expensive, but my list was comprised of everything I knew I would need for the short and long term.

After finishing my coffee, I transitioned to the front yard. I’d sit along the stoop waiting for my ride to come, yet a quiet Saturday morning decided it had other things to plan. After about fifteen minutes, I noticed a car crawl by. It paused for a moment in the middle of the street outside my home before taking off in a hurry.

My phone chirped moments after with the notification that my ride had been cancelled. Of course, there were rumors surrounding my home. Things I wasn’t yet privy to seeing despite the visions I had late last night.

I was about to simply start walking when a large red truck came out from the cul-de-sac further down. It followed less than the speed limit before stopping altogether beside me. “Need a lift?” I turned my head. Poking out from the driver’s side window was a feral headful of hair. Blonde in color, sweet in its smile.

The man paused so to stare at my house. “Didn’t think anyone would ever buy that place.” He would utter, something grim residing beneath a handsome growl. I’d watch him for a moment more before speaking. “Seems to be the common consensus.”

He’d resume a tall grin then press his truck a bit closer towards me, nearly hopping the curb. “I saw you walk back and forth from the store yesterday. Come on, let me give you a ride.” Was it charity he was after? I remained rooted in place until he started to pull away. “Okay, miss low bangs. I guess you’re not a fan of us strangers.”

I’d reflexively push the mess from out my eyes. It had been a minute since I’d last cut my own hair. The mop was growing messy. “It’s not that, I was just under the impression that none of you wanted anything to do with me or that house.” I wasn’t lying, but what was kindness when every interaction so far had been so deeply saturated with fear?

The man stopped his truck again. I could see him closer now. He was pretty. “Tensions are sure to take their time to thaw regarding the history of that house. Did they not tell you what happened when they sold it to you?” This time I shook my head. It was progress.

The man would roll his bright blue eyes then motion me to come. “Let me be the one to tell you then, get in.” He was persistent. I stopped being defensive and did as I was told. It wasn’t second nature, I’d been wary most of my adult life. But after seating myself within his warm truck, the man would only keep grinning as he pulled out and took us both down the thin road towards where the big box store resided.

“Name’s Took. Stupid, I know. But my dad was a big fan of Tolkien.” He paused long enough for me to realize this was an exchange. “Lori.” I was short in my answer, he didn’t take it as an insult. “Well, Lori, that house you started living in doesn’t have the most comfortable history.”

He paused again, as if waiting for me to say something. I didn’t, yet he refused to lose his stride. “People died there.” I stared. “What do you mean?” He was ecstatic by the inclusion of so many words. “How the fuck do you not know this? Are you not a fan of Google?”

Again, I kept my mouth shut. He didn’t take as long to keep talking. “I’m not good with dates, but the family that lived there almost two decades ago was right fucked up in the head. And the family before that shot their dog or something.” I felt my spine crawl as he said that.

“Truth is, no one really knows what happened. All that they can tell however, was that the dad decided one day to off his entire family before turning the gun on himself. It was never really clear why he decided to snap. Far as anyone knew, they were a normal god-fearing family before the tree sprouted in their backyard.”

The summer heat did little to appease the clear shiver racking my form. “That oak tree?” It was a superfluous query, one which earned a nod from Took. “We can all see it, and not a single one of us believes that it’s natural. Something of that size growing in only a short handful of years? My dad’s got saplings in the backyard. Been tending to them for seven years now, and they’ve only begun to take root.”

I’d absently nod before staring out a cracked windshield. “Seems a bit odd.” Such agreement was mutual. “You’d do best to cut that thing down.” He’d reply, stopping at the only intersection between my home and the big box store. There was a tension he was weaving, something I knew came with me not expositing my family’s former residence.

Took was about as old as I was. Maybe older given the short amount of creases along his stubbled face. “My mom’s a member of the neighborhood HOA and has mentioned all the time that they want to have the whole building torn down.” A simple truth, Took spoke preached it like gospel before lifting his foot off the brake and following the cue of a green light.

“The two family’s that followed the massacre quickly moved out without any notice. The first even left all their things behind. Ever since then, the lot has become an eyesore for all of us who have to drive passed it every day.” The man glanced over at me. “You’re trying to restore the place, yeah? I’ve seen that big ass dumpster. Have you not experienced anything strange since moving in?”

He was probing for gossip. The thought hit me like a stone. Stiffening up, I pulled back and away from the conversation after realizing what he was doing. Took filled in the empty space. “Everyone’s seen things. Different shadows standing around at night. I swear I’ve seen someone glaring at me through the living room window.” He paused for a moment after admitting that.

“What I’m trying to say is, we’re not avoiding you. We’re worried. A single woman showing up out of the blue and moving into that house? I know several on our block that have already called up Vanessa and gave her shit for tricking you into buying that crime scene.”

Took pulled into an empty space outside the big box store and I was more than ready to thank him for his kindness. Despite this, I intended to make the return trip home by myself. “Anyway… thanks for the ride.” I wasn’t trying to be polite, perhaps he noticed. “I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m rambling.”  He wasn’t, I just didn’t like the things he was saying.

“I just think you’re really cute.” This admission stopped me about halfway out of his vehicle. I could see that he was already kicking himself. “And you thought that the best way to break the ice was to tell me that my house is haunted and I’m stupid for not noticing?”

It was a large leap in logic, but I didn’t care to hear his excuse. I slammed the door shut behind me and made for the inside of the store. Took wasn’t so willing to leave me be. “Wait!” His voice cried out while the driver’s side of his truck slapped shut. I didn’t stop moving, I was hoping that this would be enough of a hint.

But then there he was, striding up alongside me while I pursed my lips and stared directly ahead. “I wasn’t trying to insult you!” He insisted, working up the courage to try and clasp my arm. I pulled away just as soon as I felt his fingers. “I’d rather you not touch me.” I snarled.

With a gesture of mock surrender, Took tried to garner more sympathy. “I get it, you just met me, and I haven’t exactly given you the best first impression. But I want to keep helping you.” His offer didn’t feel genuine. “You want to get in my pants.” I glowered. He didn’t refute this. “I mean, if I haven’t already ruined the chance, yeah.”

His honesty, while crude, managed to sand down my coarse edges. Though while I remained defensive, I did at least give him a less fuming stare. “You don’t talk to women often, do you.” It was my turn to insult him but Took didn’t seem to mind. “Well, none of them have been as pretty as you.”

I immediately rolled my eyes. “Fuck off.” I was pissed at just how well his earnest idiocy worked on me. It also didn’t help that I’d been alone for so long and honestly? I was pent up. “You push the cart then.” I’d grumble, earning that same dumb smile. The summer heat was already excruciating. I didn’t need such handsome features enticing me to blush.