Darkness Falls Read online

  Ambling toward the door, I focus on the wooden house-shaped key holder clinging to the tan wall right next to it. A set of keys on a silver Tree of Life keychain dangles from one of its hooks. A small smile tugs at my lips. It must be.

  Twisting the handle, I gently pull the door open and wander into the attached two-car garage. One of the bays sits empty, but the other houses a gold Ford Escape. Betting that the home’s residents loaded up in one vehicle, I’d say this one is up for grabs.

  I pocket the keychain and stride back into the kitchen. I had better check my post again before Chris catches me slacking off. Pausing at the kitchen window, I draw one lacey curtain away from the window and peer outside. After scanning the backyard, which is free of human or animal intrusion, my eyes drift to a roiling sky. It’s mesmerizing.

  Puffy gray clouds swim in an ashen atmosphere. Although they tumble slowly now, I fear those clouds will twirl in somersaults soon enough. In pursuit of a better view, I let the curtain slip from my hand, swishing over the pane until it falls back into place along the window’s side.

  I disobey my orders and stride toward the front door. Yanking it open, a rush of wind chases the hair off my shoulders, launching it behind me like a cape for just a moment. The breeze was subtle during my run. It’s definitely growing stronger.

  Stepping onto the winding sidewalk, my feet meander while my eyes rove. A mere three steps into the blustering night, the resounding thud of footsteps echoes behind me. I turn back toward the front door just in time to see Chris barreling through it. For a kid who probably weighs sixty pounds soaking wet, it sounds like a herd of elephants when he runs. “Quinn, it’s getting really dark outside all of a sudden!”

  Standing side by side, we both tilt our heads back, our eyes devouring the scene above. The dark swirling billows are mesmerizing. Leaning on each other to maintain balance, the sound of rushing wind fills our ears.

  “Quinn! Chris! What are you doing out there!” Jeff calls as he bursts through the open front door. “Come on inside. A storm’s a-brewing!”

  With Jeff in the lead, we hustle inside, allowing the front door to abruptly halt the wind that was just chasing us.

  Chapter 64

  Inside, Aidan slouches on the couch. Jasmine sits next to him, her body melding into the cushions. They both look as if they’ve aged by a decade since they last sat here.

  Chris excitedly updates Jasmine and Aidan on the current weather conditions. He seems to have forgotten his failed mission of guarding the house. That’s probably for the best. Those creepy guys must have seen the storm coming and, if they had any brains, found a place to wait it out.

  Jasmine and Aidan barely acknowledge any of Chris’ words, but that doesn’t deter him from embellishing his account of the brewing storm. When he finishes speaking, silence falls over the room. Jasmine stretches her legs and starts to rise. “Hey, Chris,” she says. “How about you and I go round up some food? Let’s see what we can find.”

  Without another word, he runs to the kitchen. As she trails behind Chris, Jasmine throws Aidan a knowing glance. My eyes shoot toward Aidan just in time to see the subtle nod he passes back.

  Once they leave the room, Aidan leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He folds his hands, dropping his chin on the rounded steeple they form. His tired eyes capture the sadness seeping from his words. “So, Wes seems to be getting worse no matter what we do. Even Doctor Jeff here can’t fix him,” Aidan explains.

  Jeff shrugs his shoulders. “He’s resting but we have got to get him to that military base. They must have medical staff there. Someone who can help us. The sooner the better.”

  “Yeah,” Aidan agrees. “We’ve got to move faster, but at this rate, he’ll need to rest more than he’ll be able to walk.”

  “Guys,” I start excitedly. “I know how we can get him there. Fast.”

  I’m practically jumping out of my skin when the rush of words flies out of my mouth. “There’s a car parked in the garage, the keys are hanging right there in the kitchen,” glancing back and forth between them, I continue. “Let’s just take it. Let’s get the hell out of here and get to that base.”

  Running a hand through his hair, Jeff exhales a deep sigh and meets my eyes, “We already stole one car. What’s one more? I think we should do it.”

  Aidan eases back into the couch cushions and rubs his forehead. “Yeah, you’re right. We can’t keep this pace.”

  I jump to my feet, digging into my pocket to retrieve the keys when Aidan raises a hand, motioning me to stop. “Quinn, I don’t think we should leave right now,” he says. “There’s a storm out there and it’s dark. Let’s just wait until morning. At least we’ll be able to see where we’re going then.”

  As if on cue, thunder erupts in the atmosphere. Rain strikes the roof like pebbles. Tree branches lash the windows. Momentarily startled, thankfulness washes through me as I envision the house’s stone exterior. At least we’re safe inside this structure.

  After a moment’s hesitation, Aidan rises to his feet and takes a step closer to me. “Quinn, would you mind hanging with Chris tonight? Maybe just keep him busy and make sure he gets some sleep?” He nods his head toward the hallway. “That way the rest of us can watch over Wes tonight and just…be there in case he needs anything.”

  Reaching toward him, I squeeze his hand and agree without hesitation.

  Jasmine emerges from the kitchen with plates of tuna and crackers. Chris trails behind her, carrying cups of water. They make a few trips between the kitchen and the bedroom, carting more food and drinks, before Chris returns to me alone.

  He slouches onto the couch. “Well, Jasmine said I have to watch you tonight cuz they’re too busy taking care of Wes.” He jabs a thumb toward the bedroom.

  “Gee, thanks,” I say. “I hope it’s not too much trouble for you.” Seriously, this kid practically begged to tag along with us and now he’s acting like I’m a burden.

  “It’s okay,” he says reluctantly. “So, Jasmine found some food in the kitchen. You want anything?”

  My stomach responds for me, loudly growling before I can affirm that I would love to see what food choices await me.

  He snickers before raising his eyebrows and says, “Guess that’s a yes.”

  As we enter the kitchen, the aroma of canned tuna engulfs the small space. The smell makes my nose crinkle. I’m not a fan of seafood or its distinct odor.

  I quickly forget the offending scent when my eyes land on the cluttered counter, which is a treasure trove of food packages. Chris and Jasmine must have emptied every cupboard and drawer. A smile tugs at my lips as I scan the cans and boxes stacked atop the speckled white countertops.

  Gazing longingly at cans of mandarin oranges, boxes of cereal, and pouches of beef jerky, my mouth waters.

  “Well, go on,” Chris says. “Dig in.”

  Since I have access to an actual sink and water, I take advantage of it and wash up before selecting my feast. Chris watches with fascination while I devour five strips of teriyaki jerky, two handfuls of Cinnamon Life cereal, and an entire can of fruit.

  “Wow, Quinn,” he says with awe. “I didn’t know a girl could eat that much.” I start to question why I always seem to get stuck with this kid when I remember where everyone else is. I place both hands on the bistro kitchen table and push myself up.

  “I’m gonna clean up in here. Why don’t you go use the bathroom and we’ll get ready for bed,” I say.

  He gives a quick nod and marches out to the living room and down the hallway.

  The house has a second bedroom, but I don’t know if Jasmine or either of the guys will need some space overnight, so we’ll leave it empty. After wiping up my crumbs and tossing the empty wrappers in the trash, I search for bedding. The sole linen closet in the hallway holds all that I need. Loading my arms with pillows and blankets, I dump them on the couch and start building makeshift nests so that Chris and I can bunk in the living room.

  When Chris
is ready for bed, I make sure he’s settled on his share of the couch before I venture down the hallway, pausing outside of Wes’ door. The sound of muffled voices confirms they are all still awake, but I continue on to the bathroom. I care about Wes, but the most I can do right now is keep Chris occupied, so the others can focus on their friend.

  Besides, tomorrow we’ll get him to the base. I bet there are medical people there that can fix him all up.

  Chapter 65

  Within minutes of burrowing into the couch, the world fades away. Hazy images flit through my mind. Wes’ strong jawline and thin lips morph into Riley’s warm brown eyes and high cheekbones. The image of my sister vanishes as I’m running along a wooded path. Gnarled tree limbs reach toward me as my feet glide over the ground. I stumble to a stop when the creepy guys from my earlier run jump into the path.

  Exaggerated smiles mask their faces as they reach for me just like the snaking branches. I twist to escape their grasp. My brain ceases to separate the dream from reality because I jolt out of the nightmare when my body lands on the floor.

  Momentarily stunned, I swivel my head back and forth, assessing my surroundings. I’m in a living room. Chris is sleeping just a few feet away from me. The small house. We’re in the small house and Wes is…sick.

  A brief clatter pulls my attention toward the kitchen. I’m not going to sit on the floor for the rest of the night. I rise on unsteady legs and tiptoe toward the sound.

  Entering the dark kitchen slowly, I just barely decipher Jasmine’s trembling frame. My first instinct is to retreat, return to the couch, and pretend I’m still sleeping. As I take a small step backward, the floor creaks and Jasmine faces me.

  “Hey,” I whisper. “I was just coming to get a drink of water, but I don’t really need it. I’ll just go back to bed.”

  “No,” she says softly, wiping her cheeks. “Go ahead.”

  With no choice but to follow-through on my lie, I stroll over to the sink, find what I hope is a clean glass and half-fill it with water. I lean against the counter uncomfortably, gently swirling the water around in my glass.

  Jasmine sits at the table with her forehead propped on her hands. She startles me when she speaks. “I just can’t believe this is all happening.”

  When I don’t respond, she continues. “I’m so tired of all this. I just want to be home. I want this all to go away.”

  I step forward and join her at the table. “This has been the worst summer of my life. And it just keeps getting worse and worse.”

  She raises her head and looks me in the eye. The light is dim, but I believe she truly sees me for what feels like the first time. “Quinn, I’m sorry for everything you’ve gone through. I don’t know what the hell is happening, but I can’t take much more.”

  I reach out and touch her hand. “Me either.”

  Wrapping herself in a hug, she continues. “I just want to go home. I want to forget everything that’s happened.” She rocks forward and back slightly, as if soothing herself. “Nothing will ever be the same, Quinn. Whatever’s going on, it can’t just fix itself. And we sure as hell can’t rely on humans to fix it.”

  “You know, I never thought I’d say this,” I start with a half-smile. “But I think you’re right.”

  After a short chat and a long cry, Jasmine retreats to the empty bedroom to get some sleep. I return to my couch nest. My thoughts drift to Wes. Although my brain is swimming in sadness, unloading some of the emotional weight I was carrying leaves me exhausted and I quickly succumb to sleep.

  Chapter 66

  The air is hazy as I slowly enter Wes’ room. When I peer at his sleeping form, he whispers to me, “Help them, Quinn. Help them get home. Find Riley. And Quinn, I’ll tell your parents you said hi.”

  Just as I’m about to reach for his hand, my body jolts awake. Gasping for breath, I take in the trail of pink roses on the wall and remember that I’m in the living room of the gray stone house. It was a dream. It was just a dream. Wes is here, everything is going to be okay. I just really wish Riley, Mom and Dad were here too.

  Easing into alertness, my ears hone-in on the whispers of hushed voices slinking through the house.

  I scan the living room, confirming that I am alone. Chris must have woken up and joined the others. The clanking of a spoon and bowl directs my attention to the kitchen. Standing, I rub my arms in a futile attempt to smooth the goosebumps that have erupted there.

  Entering the kitchen, I find Chris sitting at the table, his head downcast, propped up by one angry fist. His other hand half-heartedly pushes a spoon around the half-full bowl of dry cereal. Jasmine and Aidan sit on his either side, slumped in their chairs, eyes downcast.

  Jeff leans against the wall with his arms crossed. He stares off into the distance, not acknowledging my presence. Misery hangs in the air like one hundred percent humidity. Not one of them meets my gaze.

  “Guys, what’s going on?” I ask quietly. I don’t really want to know, but I have to know. Sliding into the empty seat at the table, my eyes shift from one lethargic person to the next until someone answers me.

  Aidan finally breaks the silence. “He didn’t wake up.” He pauses for a moment before adding two nearly inaudible words. “He’s gone.” In that split second, I tumble back into the funnel of despair that consumed me after the crash.

  My meager memories of Wes’ life flash through my mind. Him joking at the fire when we first met. Him showing us the bug-infested cabin. Him sneaking through the woods at the trailer park. After that, I was too consumed with myself to notice much of the personal hell he must have been enduring. I know this, though, he never complained. Not once. And, just like losing my mom and dad, I didn’t get to say goodbye or even thank you.

  After several minutes of quiet, Jeff finds his voice. “I’m gonna head out back and see if I can find a shovel or something.” Chris jumps up from his seat, mumbling, “I’ll help.” No one is in any mental state to take care of a kid right now. Once again, I wish Riley was here with us. She’d be able to put Chris’ emotional needs before her own.

  Not sure what else to do, I clean up Chris’ untouched cereal and spoon. I want to fill the emptiness of the room with words of sympathy and understanding, but I won’t say I’m sorry. Sorry doesn’t scratch the surface of what anyone is feeling right now. I choke on a sob when I realize that Wes’ family doesn’t even know that they’ll never see him again. He left this life in a strange bed in a strange house and we have no way to tell his parents. Maybe the only consolation is that he was surrounded by friends right until the end.

  The rest of the morning passes in a blur. The guys prepare a grave in the backyard while Jasmine creates a marker for it. Together we find some Sharpies and a small flat rock. She arranges her meager supplies on the kitchen table and focuses on the task. While she carefully scripts Wes’ name in loopy letters, I wash the dishes and utensils we’ve used. Setting the clean dishes on a towel to dry, I start organizing the food Jasmine and Chris pulled out of the cupboards. Although, the more I think about it, we probably won’t need it.

  Turning away from the meaningless piles of food, I observe Jasmine’s handiwork as she outlines a tiny jet on the stone, signifying Wes’ dream of joining the Air Force.

  Chapter 67

  By mid-afternoon, we gather to say our goodbyes. Aidan and Jeff gently place Wes’ body into the hole and Jasmine carefully positions the rock marker. Memories spill out of their trembling lips as tears stream down their cheeks.

  In a soft-spoken and shaky voice, Jeff recalls meeting Wes in an ROTC Basic Course class. They ended up sitting next to each other and their mutual dislike for the professor made them fast friends.

  Aidan remains silent as Jasmine shares her favorite memory of Wes, who became a regular fixture in Jeff and Aidan’s dorm room. Jasmine lived in the same dorm and hung out with Aidan and Jeff often. She hesitantly welcomed Wes, although he sealed the deal on Halloween, when he brought a bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for the gr
oup to share.

  “How could you not like someone offering peanut butter cups?” she asks through an endless stream of tears. Aidan wraps an arm around her as she squeezes her eyes shut and shudders.

  When silence greets us once again, dark circles shadow three sets of eyes. Their sluggish movements are punctuated by slumped postures.

  Chris watches solemnly as we take turns expressing our final words for Wes. When Aidan reaches for a shovel to fill in the hole, I grab his arm. “No, you go inside and rest. Chris and I can finish up out here.” I look to Jasmine and Jeff. “Please, let us do this. All three of you need a break.”

  Aidan flashes me a weak smile and nods his head once. When he starts walking toward the house, Jasmine and Jeff follow. I don’t know how any of them are still standing right now. They were probably awake most of last night.

  When Chris picks up a shovel and hefts it into the pile of dirt, I grab the other one and mirror his action. By the time we’ve returned all of the dirt to its original resting place, my shoulders and back throb. Placing a hand on Chris’ back, I praise him. “Great job, bud. I’m really glad the others could go inside and rest. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

  Peering up at me with dirt-streaked cheeks, he simply says, “You guys are all really nice. Even when bad stuff happens.” Once again, I wonder what this kid’s home life was like. As I meet his eyes, I hope he can’t see the pity that lurks behind my smile.

  After we stow the shovels on the back porch, I tell Chris to take a shower. The house must have a well because we have working water, it’s just not heated. While he’s in the bathroom, I gather some food for a quick dinner. There’s no sign of Jasmine or the guys, so I’m guessing they went to the bedrooms and passed out. It’s much deserved if they did.