Carol stood at the entrance of the park, her feet wouldn't move another inch. Her desolate eyes stared at the peaceful foliage of the park. The fragrant wildflowers, the dark green leaves of the tall trees and the blades of grass. Such a beautiful sight, disguising its true nature. Every day, for the last few years, Carol ventured to this same location, the entrance of the park, reliving the last time she saw Kaysha. People would often walk by, shaking their heads at the poor young woman muttering to herself the last conversation she had with Kaysha so many years ago...
"Look Carol, I'm tired of walking around the park to get home. Walking around the park adds damn near another forty-five minutes to my trip and tonight I just can't do it. "
"But Kaysha, it's dark and you don't know what's out there. There's no kind of light in the park, you can barely see your hand in front of your face. "
"Carol I know you're worried, but I'm a big girl, I'm not afraid and nothing is gonna happen to me. "
"Well can't you catch a cab tonight if you're so tired?" her voice pleading.
"Cab? Cabs cost money, money that I don't have. " Kaysha said, exasperated, "Look, I'll call you when I get home. As soon as my feet touch my living room floor, I will call you, promise. Okay?"
"Okay Kay, but you better call me as soon as you get in the house, understand. " Carol said, hugging her tightly, kissing her cheek.
"Calm down hun, I'll be fine. "
Carol watched her friend until she disappeared into the mist covered park.
"Hmm.. not so bad, just really dark. " Kaysha whispered to herself. Tucking her hands in her coat pockets, humming softly to herself, she hurried through the park. The slick sounds of her sneakers against the damp ground and the crickets chirping filled her ears. The park seemed to get even darker as she made her way through the park, so much so that Kaysha could barely see anything. Fumbling in her pockets, she found her Bic lighter. With trembling fingers, she struggled to spark the lighter, which after several attemtpts, slipped between her sweaty hands, falling to the ground.
"Fuck!" Kaysha hissed, dropping to her knees, blindly feeling around for the lighter.
"Little girls shouldn't say such bad words. " a voice said. Kaysha jumped up, the tiny hairs on her neck standing on end, her heart began to pound.
"W-Who's there?" she nervously stuttered, her outstretched arms feeling around, grasping empty air. "Don't fuck with me! I have a gun and I'm not afraid to use it!" she lied.
"Little girls shouldn't play with guns. But then again, little girls shouldn't lie either, should they Kaysha?" the voice said again, almost whispering in her ear. Kaysha let out an ear piercing shriek as she took off running through the park, slipping on the wet grass, stumbling over the fallen branches, barreling through the low handing leafy tree branches. Suddenly she ran into a brick wall, or what she thought was a brick wall, which sent her sprawling on the ground. The mixture of tears and sweat flowing into her eyes cut off what little sight she had.
"Oh God, please don't hurt me. I just want to go home. Please.. Please" she sobbed.
The murky darkness of unconsciousness surrounded her as she felt a blow on the base of her skull.
When Kaysha finally regained consciousness, she realized several things. One, she was home. Two, she couldn't remember how she got home. Three, she didn't know how long she was out or how much time passed. And when she yanked the covers off her body, she noticed a slight bulge in her night shirt. Snatching it off her body, she looked down at her body in horror--she was pregnant!
"Oh God!" she hysterically screamed. Carol came bursting through the bedroom door. Tears immediately sprang in her eyes as she watched her hysterical friend. Grabbing the comforter, she covered her nude body, hugging her close.
"Shh, calm down Kaysha. I'm here honey. " she said, stroking her hair.
"Carol what happened to me?" she cried over and over again.
"Sweetie, do you remember anything that happened the night you walked through the park?"
"I can't remember anything that happened last night. Why is that Carol? Did the fall I took do something to me? I mean I remember hitting my head, but that's it. "
"Kaysha I want you to listen to me very carefully. " she paused, taking a deep breath, holding Kaysha's face between her shaking hands, "You've been unconscious for almost three months now. The doctors let me bring you home after four weeks, because being in the hospital was only making you deteriorate faster. They couldn't understand why, but you died twice in the hospital. A specialist suggested sending you home and for some reason, the doctors agreed. You've been fine ever since, except for the pregnancy. Who's the father so I can call him?"
Kaysha nearly fainted as she tried to absorb everything that Carol told her. Three months! Pregnant!
"Carol, I'm a virgin. I never had sex with anyone, let alone got pregnant. " she whispered.
"I know you're a virgin, honey. The doctors performed a rape kit on you when they found you. "
"Found me? Where did they find me?"
"I called the cops when you didn't call me or show up for work. They found you unconscious, your clothes in tatters at the edge of the park. " Kaysha's head began to pound as she struggled to recall what happened that night.
"Carol I don't know what happened that night, but I have got to find out. And fast, because I don't know who is the father. "
Several hours later and several doctors and police examinations later, Kaysha was finally able to get some rest. Every so often, she would stroke her belly, crying softly. Even when she slept, her hand stayed on her stomach. After a few hours of tossing and turning, crying in her sleep, Kaysha sat up in the bed. Walking over to the window, as if a drawn there by some magnetic force. Even in the midnight darkness, she could clearly see a man standing below her window. She watched in fascination as his lips moved, mouthing her name. She slowly raised the window, once it was opened she took a step back and waited. With a frigid rush of air, the man appeared.
"My beautiful Kaysha. " he whispered, taking her in his arms, kissing her passionately. Kaysha melted in his arms as she succumbed to the kiss. Carrying her to the bed, the stranger laid her atop the covers. With a razor sharp fingernail, he sliced through her nightgown until she laid before him nude. He lovingly stroked her swollen belly, kissing her navel. Looking into Kaysha eyes, he knew she was deep in his trance. But for some reason, he desperately wanted to talk to her. Kissing her again, bringing her out of the trance, he sat there waiting for her to regain her senses. Kaysha blinked hard, several times before she was aware of her surrounding.
"Hello Kaysha. " Kaysha recoiled at the sound of the familar voice. Her eyes flew to her side where he sat, her screams died in her throat when she finally saw him. His eyes were faintly colored gray, almost transparent. His skin had an eerie green tint to it, his hair was a deep forest green, with tiny leaves snaking through his long locks. Despite the odd coloring, he was very handsome, his full and sensual lips curled into a childlike smile.
"You were in the park that night, weren't you?" she finally managed to whisper.
"Aye. I didn't mean to frighten you. I apologize for that. "
"Who are you?" she asked. Her eyes followed his as they roamed over her body, making her aware that she was naked. Grabbing her ruined nightgown, she vainly tried to cover herself.
"Who am I? Hmm.. interesting question, but one that I cannot answer with mere words. " he trailed off. He slowly began to rub her leg, traveling up her thigh. Despite her fear, his touch seemed vaguely familiar to her.
"You're the father aren't you?" He looked at her and merely smiled.
