Shadows of Desperation

“I didn't kill James.”

“What? I never said that.”

"I know you all think that I did it. Me! You think I disappeared because I wanted to? I couldn't stand the way you all looked at me.” My body coughed out a laugh at the absurdity of it all, a laugh that sounded harsh and wrong in my ears but there wasn't anything I could do to change it. All I could do is keep talking. “No, I didn't kill him but I goddamn watched him die. I think he died. He was screaming when bark closed up around his face. The tree had teeth. Teeth!”

Grant slammed a fist onto the table. "That can't happen!"

"You think I don't know that! But it fucking did. Look at these!" I thrust my hands, palm-side up, in front of Grant's face with an intensity that made him flinch. “Do you see the scars? That's where the tree bit me, Grant. It fucking bit me while I was trying to peel James out of its insides.”

Grant covered his face in his hands. "Believe me, I wouldn't ask you if I had anyone else. We just need eyes out there. I need you, man."