Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (34 page)
“Everything’s cool here,” Isaac stated calmly, but still obviously angry.
“Yes, Miss Amaya, everything’s okay,” Cat said, returning Isaac’s glare.
“Good, glad to hear it,” Miss Amaya gushed.
The Damianic Bombshells took the stage again and began playing their next song as the gym erupted into cheers.
“Thanks,” Cat said turning to Matt.
“I did it for Hannah,” he replied coldly.
“Oh, well thanks anyway.”
Hannah squeezed Matt’s hand, not saying a word, flashing a worried look at Cat.
“Whatever,” he replied, leading Hannah away from the dance floor.
“I just can’t win,” Cat murmured to Ryan and Julie.
“What was that all about, anyway?” Julie asked.
“I don’t know, just Isaac being Isaac! I think I’ve had enough for tonight, let’s go home,” Cat said, sounding defeated.
Isaac and his group watched as Hannah got into Matt’s car and drove away. “This isn’t over by a long shot. He’s going to pay for this. My sister will never be with a normie! Ever!” he growled furiously.
“We’ll come up with another plan, babe, don’t worry,” Amelia said, turning toward the Stone twins.
Pulling into the driveway at the Bancroft residence, Matt put his car in park and sighed.
“I understand if you don’t want to be around me anymore,” Hannah said somberly.
Matt turned to her and smiled. “Don’t be silly, I’m not going to let your brother stand in the way of this. I like you too much for that to happen,” he replied. Hannah leaned over, kissed him quickly on the lips, and then exited the car.
“Thanks for tonight, I really enjoyed it,” Hannah said with a shy smile.
“I had fun too,” he replied, grinning foolishly, still reeling from the kiss.
“See you Monday,” she said.
“Yeah, see you Monday,” he said and then pulled out of the driveway with a huge grin still on his face.
Wow, my first kiss!
He thought. Turning on the radio full blast, he rolled down the window, not caring that it was eleven thirty at night, or that it was lightly snowing. Dogs began barking and neighbors could be seen coming out of their houses to see what all the noise was about.
Driving up the icy, winding, narrow road, Matt rolled up his windows as the cold wind began to bother him. He smiled as he grabbed the phone from his pocket and began texting a message to Hannah. A deer darted out in front of him and he swerved, dropping his phone. “Crap! Damn animals!” he groaned, feeling around the floor for his cell while trying to keep his eyes on the road. Hearing a light tapping on his driver’s side window, Matt sat up startled, but saw nothing there.
“What the hell was that?” he asked out loud, clutching the steering wheel, and checking all the windows. “Great, now I’m hearing things,” he said, resuming the search for his cell. A louder knock caused him to sit up quickly. His eyes grew wide with shock as he saw a girl flying next to his car, holding on to the mirror. Matt instantly recognized her as Becca, one of the missing girls. He couldn’t mistake those golden locks of hair that were plastered on missing flyers everywhere. He yelled as she bared her fangs and hissed violently. Swerving the car left and right, Matt tried to shake her off.
Becca raised her finger to her lips making a shushing sound. She grinned wickedly and then slowly pointed to the road ahead. Following her finger’s direction, Matt was startled to see Linda standing in the road in front of him. He stepped hard on the brakes causing the car to slide on the treacherous ice. Trying to regain control of the car, Matt watched on in horror as he barreled into a tree.
Groggy, Matt lifted his face off the steering wheel as blood ran down his forehead and onto his cheek. His first thought was,
great the air bags didn’t deploy.
His head ached and his chest felt heavy from the pressure of hitting the bottom of the steering wheel.
What the hell just happened?
He thought as he wiped the blood from his cheek and felt the knot that was developing on his temple. Matt’s eyes flew open as the realization of what just happened hit him. He quickly pressed the button for the automatic locks on his car door and was relieved to hear the locking sound. He frantically looked around for the girls but couldn’t see them.
Matt realized his foot was still on the accelerator after hearing the sound of the tires spinning in the snow. He applied the brakes, and then threw the car in reverse, only to find out it wouldn’t budge. After several attempts, he hit the steering wheel in frustration and turned the car off. He noticed the glow of his phone’s screen out the corner of his eye and saw that it was on the floor in front of the passenger seat. Relieved, he grabbed for it and then felt his whole car shake as if something had crashed onto the roof. Hearing light scratching followed by giggling had Matt quickly dialing 911. “Dammit! No signal!” he said, and then slammed the phone down.
CLICK…
Matt stared with wide eyes at the locks as he realized they had disengaged. He hit the automatic switch again, trembling as another evil giggle came from above. He gasped as the locks all disengaged once more. After locking the doors again, Matt reached around into the backseat and grabbed the hammer on the floor that his dad had told him to leave in the car. “Thank you, dad,” he whispered, pulling it close to him, preparing to swing at anything that came near.
Slowly his left backseat window began to roll down. He rolled it back up and then hit the window lock button. Slouching back into his seat, Matt gripped the hammer even tighter with fear in his eyes. Everything went silent. Looking around frantically, Matt searched his surroundings for any sign of the girls. Suddenly his car door was viciously ripped from it hinges and tossed aside as Amy grabbed Matt and pulled him from the car.
“You made this entirely too easy,” Amy said evilly. She yanked him up by his neck and dangled him above the ground. “Why doesn’t Matt want to come out and play with us girls? Huh?” she asked, looking back at Linda and Becca.
“What do you want from me?” Matt choked out.
Amy laughed. “Do you hear that girls, he wants to know what we want from him.” Becca covered her mouth as she giggled. Linda stood by, avoiding Matt’s stare in her direction.
“Linda, why are you doing this?” Matt asked hoarsely.
“Matt, just be quiet, this will all be over soon…please,” Linda pleaded with him as she fought back tears and tried to keep a stoic face. Matt gripped the hammer tighter and mustered enough strength to take a swing at Amy. She moved her head out of the way and swatted the hammer from his hand.
“Now that’s not very nice. Didn’t your mom teach you not to hit girls?” Amy asked. She tightened her grip on Matt and threw him forcefully through the air.
He hit the ground with a sickening thud and skidded to the other side of the road into a ditch. He lay there still, the pain coursing through his body. He tried to move his left arm, but couldn’t, it was broken. Linda started toward him, but was yanked back by Amy.
“You want to join your little friend, then keep going. If not, stay back!” Amy growled. Linda stood still, watching helplessly as Matt tried to move.
“Amy, I think he’s scared enough. I think he’s got the message,” Becca said, seeing the crazed look in Amy’s eyes.
“Who gave you permission to think?” Amy growled, causing Becca to back up. Turning her attention back to Matt, “Now, where was I? Oh yeah, we want to send a big message to your little friend Cat. Not verbally of course. It’s more like a visual one,” Amy stated arrogantly, walking over to Matt as he struggled to prop himself up against a tree with his uninjured arm. Every part of his body felt like it was on fire. He watched as Amy moved closer to him and crouched down. “So how many tears do you think Catherine will shed over her little friend’s demise?” she whispered menacingly. Matt shuddered as she giggled. Through his blurry vision he watched Amy rear back with her fangs bared. He resigned himself, waiting for her attack, and then to his amazement she abruptly flew out of view. He heard sounds of a struggle close by, but his vision was worsening and he couldn’t make out what was happening. Then there was silence.
He heard a soothing but muffled whisper, “It’s okay Matt, you’re safe now.” Matt mustered a relieved smile, and then felt someone scoop him up, gently cradling him close in a fireman’s carry.
Hannah stuck to the shadows, moving quietly, relieved that the grounds of the hospital were silent. It was after visiting hours and as she spied the window she needed, Hannah ascended the building. Landing on the window’s ledge, she peered into Matt’s room. She gasped, seeing him lying there in the bed, pale against the bright white sheets. His arm was raised in a sling and several bandages were wrapped around his forehead. She could hear the numerous machines he was hooked up to beeping periodically.
A nurse walked into the room and fiddled with one of the machines, oblivious to the fact she was being watched. Hannah focused her eyes, concentrating on the nurse. As if in a trance, the nurse turned around, made her way to the window, and opened it. The nurse then retraced her steps and left the room, closing the door behind her. Hannah climbed in and moved quickly to Matt’s side. Taking his hand, she shivered at his lack of warmth. She thought back to the end of their night together.