Absent All Remorse

Charley stirred. 

At first, she guessed the noise she heard must have been part of her dream.   Then, suddenly there it was again.  Louder this time and more forceful.  She bolted upright in bed.  It was the door.  Someone was trying to get inside her cabin.

‘Don’t panic,’ she told herself.  She pulled the blanket up to her chin.

She had lodged the chair up against the handle as best she could, just as Josh had told her to do.  Her eyes by now had adjusted to the darkness and she could see the door clearly.  It was shaking from the blows it was taking from the opposite side.  The chair against it shook violently but was still holding fast.  Charley’s heart was pounding wildly and she started to hyperventilate. 

She could feel her skin getting moist while beads of sweat pooled on her forehead.  She leapt out of bed and began to yell when it all stopped.  She couldn’t be sure if whoever it was had left or if they were still there, perhaps just listening.  She waited in silence for what seemed an eternity, daring to hardly even breathe.  Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore.  She started pounding on the wall that separated the two cabins.  Less than a minute later and there was a single knock on her door.

“Charley, it’s me, Josh.  What’s wrong?  Open the door.”

She threw on a pair of jeans and a tank top.  Cautiously, she removed the chair and cracked open the door, making sure it was really him.  She quickly slid the chain all the way back and opened the door.

“Oh, Josh!  Thank God you’re here.  Thank you!”  She pulled him inside and slammed the door shut, throwing the bolt behind him.

“What in the hell happened?”

“Someone…someone just tried to break in.”

“Did you get a look?  Do you know who it was?”

“No, nothing,” she whimpered.  She was shaking badly.  “It’s a good thing you gave me that little piece of advice, about the chair I mean.  If I hadn’t done what you told me...” her voice trailed off. “Wait a minute.  I made sure that door was locked before I turned in but when I opened it for you, it wasn’t.  The chair was the only thing that stopped them.  That means -- ,” she stopped speaking as Josh interrupted her.

“That means that whoever it was must have had a key,” he said, finishing her sentence.

“We’ve got to talk to her.  We’ve got to speak to Lena.  We need to know if she had anything to do with this!” Charley insisted.  Her shock faded, replaced with anger.

“Not tonight.  Look,” he said, checking his watch, “it’s almost three.  It’ll be light in a couple of hours.  We’ll talk to her then.  In the meantime go back to bed and try and get some sleep.”

“Are you crazy?!  After what just happened?” her voice was trembling.  “I know this may be kind of awkward for you, but I really don’t think I can stay in here alone.  Would you mind, oh hell - what am I saying? I don’t care if you mind or not.  I’m staying with you tonight.”  She was adamant.  Josh saw it would be useless trying to change her mind.

“Of course,” he said reassuringly.  “Sure.  Absolutely.”

“Thank you,” she said calming down.  Her head fell against his chest while the rest of her body trembled.  She half expected him to pull away from her.  He didn’t.  Josh wasn’t sure why, but for the first time since they’d met he felt completely relaxed with her.

He gently put his arm around her and led her inside his cabin.  He hadn’t felt this needed by someone in a long time. 

It was wonderful.