Now You See Me (Screaming Woods)
(By Karla Doyle)
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| Author | Karla Doyle |
ROAN
At eighteen, I was a young man winning the game of life. I had a college football scholarship and a cute girlfriend on my arm for my hometown’s annual Halloween party. Forget spiking the punch. The eccentric old scientist who lives in the woods brewed something more potent… and permanently life-altering.
Twenty years later, I’m not a man, I’m a monster. Invisibility isn’t the superpower people think it is. It’s a curse. A condition I wouldn’t wish on anyone, and since the crazy old scientist doesn’t know how I got this way, or if I can spread it to others, I’m not just destined to be unseen, I’m also going to be alone. That’s how it has to be.
Until the night I post a grumpy “In Search Of” ad, and get a single reply. I don’t know why Elise agreed to my self-serving demands of complete visual anonymity, but my life was instantly fuller because she did. I don’t have to see her to fall for her. But I know it can never be more than long-distance feelings and inspiration for my right hand.
Until the day Elise surprises me by breaking our anonymity agreement and shows up in my coffee shop… and gets a monstrous surprise in return.
ELISE
People can claim otherwise, but appearances matter. I learned that after an accident left one side of my face heavily scarred. I’m used to the staring. The pointing and whispering. Kids asking their parents if I’m a monster. I’m also used to being alone, because the dating pool dried up the day I lost half my beauty.
I was searching job listings the night I found Roan’s “In Search Of” post. It’s been years since I read a singles ad, and I still don’t know why I did. Call it coincidence, fate, or the universe doing something to balance the scales. It was as if Roan wrote that ad for me.
Every day since has been better than the one before it. My friends think Roan must be a hideous ogre to be hiding behind his “no pictures, no contact” rule. I don’t care what he looks like. Roan and I click in every way–and I do mean every. He doesn’t need to touch me in person to satisfy me. But I’d like him to.
Six months after agreeing to his conditions, I want to break them. I’m ready to take the biggest risk of my life–rejection by the man I love. I want all of Roan Byrne. The good, the sexy, and if he does turn out to be an ogre, the ugly. I only hope that when he sees me, he feels the same way…”
