Vision of Shadows (30 page)

“How?” he prompted.

“Let me think,” I said. “There was this one woman who was killed in an accident. She was in a taxicab. She blamed her husband for that.”

“Why?” Payne asked. “Why do women blame their husbands for everything? Was he driving the taxi?”

“No,” I replied. “But she wouldn’t have been in the taxi if he had remembered to pick her up at the airport, but he was
busy
with his secretary.”

“Busy?” Payne questioned. “By busy you mean…”

“Yup.”

“Well then ok
ay,” Payne said. “I guess he
was
to blame. What happened?”

“She tried to haunt him,” I answered. “Couldn’t. She tried to haunt the secretary, same thing. She tried to perform all these acts of mischief that she’d seen in movies. She couldn’t even make them get chilly. She was pissed. She wanted me to do stuff. I have to give her credit for some of the creative ideas she came up with. And if I’m being honest, I felt bad enough for her, and I disliked him enough that I thought about it. He was living with the secretary the day after the funeral. And he was cheating on her as well.”

“So why didn’t you help her?” Payne asked.

“I did,” I answered. “I helped her move on. She needed to get rid of the need for vengeance to move on. She finally was able to and she did.”

We stood there a moment in silence. I could tell Payne was unhappy with my solution, but he didn’t say anything.

“After she moved on,” I added, “I arranged for the second mistress to walk in on the husband and the secretary at a convention. Both women chased him through the hotel
with all his coworkers watching while he was wearing nothing but his dress socks.”

Payne smiled. “That’s my…” I watched his f
ace register shock. “What the….”

He
took off at top speed toward the house.

“Zack
,” I screamed and ran after Payne, who had already closed half the distance. “Zack!”

But Zack wasn’t hearing me. He had climbed all the way up a tree. He was at least fifteen feet up on a branch
that didn’t look sturdy. He was jumping up and down on it, trying to get it to snap beneath his feet. The rest of the family must have heard the commotion because they were running out at top speed, Uncle Mark leading the way. I could hear the wood splinter. Payne got to the tree and started to climb. He was halfway to Zack by the time I got there. I looked up into Zack’s eyes and saw only hatred pouring out. Payne was getting closer, but I could tell he wouldn’t be on time. The wood started to break. Zack looked down, realized the branch would snap at any second, and stood straight up. He looked at me and sneered. “Catch me if you can,
darling.”

Just then
, I saw the familiar sight of shadow smoke rising from Zack. I saw the hatred on Zack’s face quickly change to confusion. When he realized where he was, the panic set in.

He screamed
. Payne called out to Zack, inches away. But not close enough. The branch snapped and Zack fell.

Payne dove for him. Reaching him in midair, Payne spun so he was underneath. I saw Zack’s terrified eyes as he fell
, and both he and Payne hit the ground. I stumbled back. I could feel the pain of bones snapping. I tried to move closer, but I couldn’t get to him. Uncle Mark and Aunt Breanne were in my way. Aunt Breanne was yelling not to move Zack, but Uncle Mark told her he knew what he was doing.

H
earing Zack call out for his mother was like being stabbed in the heart.

Payne healed quickly enough and sprung to his feet just as Uncle Mark scooped Zack’s tiny little form in his arms. He looked at Payne. I could see the silent gratitude pass from my uncle to Payne.

Payne winced. “I think he’s hurt bad.” 

Uncle Mark nodded and ran to the house. Everyone followed, including me. I saw Grandpa still on the porch
, holding the door open for them. As everyone filed inside, I went to follow. Then Jay appeared between me and the door.

“That was just a taste of what I can do
,” he spat. “If you don’t run, right now, I will hurt them over and over again.”

I stood there, unable to move. Jay, who had been so sweet once, had done this. He’d done everything. He was never going to stop. 

“Run,” Jay repeated in a whisper. 

I didn’t have time to think. I backed up, hearing the commotion inside. I heard someone say something about Zack’s spine being broken. With tears in my eyes, I ran. I ran for the back of the yard. I fought with the gate to let myself out. I took a moment to look at the house that in a few short months had become more of a home to me than my place in Manhattan with my parents had ever been. Inside was the family that I had grown to love. I knew they loved me, each and every one. Knowing that beyond any doubt meant more to me than I ever knew it could. 

I was so aware of how much it meant to me in that moment because I knew I had to go. I might never see them again. With one last silent goodbye, I turned and ran. I just hoped they understood.

Sometimes, Dreams Do Come True

The sun was just beginning to set when I left. I kep
t to route near the stream. Soon it was pretty dark. I knew it wouldn’t take too long for someone to see I was missing, so I changed directions. I had no idea where I was going. All I knew was I had to get away before someone else I loved was hurt. 

Suddenly
, I found myself in a clearing. This was where Payne and I spent an afternoon getting to know one another. I remembered Payne had told me this clearing was right between where most of the McKnights lived to one side and the Blackburns to the other. 

Well, I had just come from one direction, so the other direction ahead of me was where the McKnights had their homes. There were two other directions I could take. One way I knew would lead me to the school. So, I went the other way.  

As I walked, I continued to think about Jay. Could Jay have been behind everything to begin with? No, that didn’t make sense. The shadow creatures had wanted me dead while Jay still liked me. I didn’t believe Jay had tried to hurt me until I had gotten together with Payne.

So the shadow creatures were still out there as well. Could Jay be the McKnight that they kept referring to? Maybe, but the name Jay wasn’t very McKnight. Maybe Jay had parents that didn’t want to go along with the McKnight tradition of
giving their children such unique names? 

I still had questions. I still had more to worry about than just Jay.  What I didn’t have was an umbrella and it was starting to rain. Wonderful. At least if someone found me, they wouldn’t see me crying.

I kept walking through the rain, tripping as I went. At one point, there was a flash of lightning which made me jump, quickly followed by a rumble of thunder. I tripped yet again, this time falling flat on my face in the mud. I struggled to get up. There was another lightning strike, which illuminated the shadow of a house not too far away. 

Maybe my luck was changing.

I ran for it. I needed to get out of the rain. I needed some time to think. How was I going to get out of town? Where would I go? Could I never speak to my family again? I needed to hear about little Zack. He had to be okay. I could kill Jay for that alone. But of course, I couldn’t because you can’t re-kill the dead.             

How dare he? How dare Jay do this to me, to my family
. Zack was an innocent little boy. He didn’t deserve to have that terror thrust upon him, to have to suffer through the pain and the injury. Zack loved to run through the yard, playing football with his brother and father, sometimes just fooling around with his dog. Was all of that over for him?

There had
to be a price to pay. Jay had to pay. I had no idea how long it would take me, but I would make sure he did. If Jay could somehow interact with our world, there had to be a way to reach his. 

I made it to the house. It looked like no one had lived there in forever. The windows were broken. The wood was rotted. But it was still solid enough for a visitor. I stepped inside. Not only was there no light, there was no light switch. It looked like a pre-electric house.

There were no tables, or couches, or chairs. I made my way upstairs and looked around. I knew which room was the master bedroom right away, even with no bed. Each room was empty. I found myself standing in the hallway outside the bedroom. There was a spiral staircase and a candle chandelier. The candles were long gone, and the chandelier looked ready to fall. I stood there a moment and tried to imagine who might have lived here.

It happened so quickly, a vision that nearly knocked me off my feet. 

* * * *

The run
down house looked brand-new. It was beautiful and just needed furniture and a family to complete it. The paint that had long peeled was now fresh. It was a solid wood floor with white trim and great bay windows.

The
grand double door with stained glass swung open, and two men walked in. The way they were dressed looked like they were from the 1800s. The younger one gestured to the older one to look around, which he did. The one looking around had light brown hair, a square jaw, and was solidly built. He looked about twenty. His eyes were bright green. He was very handsome in an old fashioned sort of way. He looked to appreciate what he saw, though he seemed reluctant to admit it.

Still
, when he looked at the younger man, there was nothing but affection.

The younger man watched him and beamed with pride. He looked like he knew he had a winning hand. He was simply waiting for his friend to concede the pot to him.
He was equally good looking, with blonde hair and blue eyes. If anything, he looked like a fairer version of Payne. While Payne had a dark and dangerous edge to him, this guy was much more boy next door. 

“Of course, I had help,” the
blond said. “Her brothers all pitched in. Said if their sister was going to take up with the likes of me, she might as well be treated like she deserved.” He smiled with amusement at the memory.

“Take up with the likes of you, huh?” the other one said.

“Oh stop it, Bryant,” the blond one said. “It was a joke. Don’t you see? You and I are brothers. How many times have we taunted each other with nothing but good humor in our hearts? They put their sweat into this house and while giving me a dressing down with a belly laugh and a guffaw. And I worked with them, sweated with them, often bled with them, and did the same. It was a good thing. It was family. Bryant, they have accepted me as one of their own. It is not an honor I take lightly.”

“And you are certain she will take our name?” Bryant asked. “You’re sure you want her to?”

The blond one walked over to Bryant and placed his hands on Bryant’s shoulders. “More than life itself. Be happy for me, brother.” 

Bryant considered his brother a momen
t and then smiled and returned the embrace. “Tristan my boy, I am. Annabelle is such a lovely lass. It’s hard to hold her name against her. I think you and she will make a fine family.”

“Thank you, brother,” Tristan said. “We shall all be family.”

“Speaking of which,” Bryant said. “Please forgive such a crass subject, but better I bring it up now and know the truth. I am on your side, Tristan, no matter what. But there are those who believe that you and Annabelle have started that family already. I ask if this is true, not to hold it against either of you, but so I may know how best to support you.”

Tristan refused to let the question upset him. “I will not worry about such matters. Annabelle has been very clear when we shall start our family. Let them count, there shall be no doubt then.”

Bryant raised his eyebrows. “Then there is no child as of yet.”

“No, brother,” Tristan confirmed. “Not as of yet, but it is something Annabelle wants very much. A babe that has the blood of both of our families running through its veins. Neither family will be able to resist, but Annabelle insists that we do it correctly. First
, we wed. It matters to her. And so it matters to me.”

Bryant shook his head but smiled. “If I understand correctly, we better get you married quickly, my brother. And when you are, I will kiss your bride and call her sister.”

The two men embraced. As they walked out, the house faded back to its current state of distress.

I was in the home of Tristan and Annabelle. The home they never got to live in. Why did that worry me?

I couldn’t think anymore. I collapsed in a corner and slept
.

* * * *

I was driving. I looked older but happy. Really happy. I also looked really pregnant and thrilled to be so. How could that be?

Then I realized it wasn’t me. It was her. The girl I saw that night with Jay. She was pregnant, driving an older style white Chrysler. It looked used but in good condition. She was listening to the radio and singing along to
“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” as she smiled.

She stopped at a red light. Perfectly happy and content, she glanced about and saw children playing nearby. With one hand on her belly, she eased the car out of the intersection when the light changed. 

She never saw the beat-up Dodge truck until it smashed into her car, right into the driver’s side. Metal met metal at a ferocious speed. Sparks flew as metal parts twisted free. The children screamed as the Chrysler came to a halt when it hit the wall of a nearby business. There was a moment of silence, broken only by the crying of the children.

Then the truck went into reverse. The metal seemed to scream in protest as the tires screeched. It took a moment for the two cars to separate. When they did, the door to the Chrysler stayed on the front grill of the Dodge. The Dodge backed up and then stopped. The children moved a little close
r. I had no idea whether it was to see if they could help or just out of curiosity. 

A man emerged from the Dodge. He held something in his hand that I couldn’t make out. He looked over to what was left of the Chrysler and the wom
an inside. He waved at the children happily. The children looked stunned beyond belief, but didn’t move; not until the man put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

My dream shifted to sometime later. The police and firefighters were there. Another car pulled up, a red Ferrari this time. The driver barely stopped the car before he bolt
ed to the wreckage. A police officer stopped him. I recognized the man by his moustache. Varick was devastated. The same could not be said for the ghost sitting by the side of the wreck. Jay was enjoying himself.

* * * *

I woke in a panic. How could I have been so blind with Jay? He was truly evil. Poor Varick, to lose your wife and unborn child like that was unspeakable. All of this time, Varick must have believed they were killed by a drunk driver, a drunk driver who then immediately took his own life over what he’d done. 

I walked over to a nearby window to see if it had stopped raining. It looked like it had, at least for now. It was still dark. I couldn’t have slept long. I wondered if Uncle Mark had started to look for me yet.

A part of me wondered if Uncle Mark would even bother or just decide he was better off without me. I pushed those feelings aside. I was past that now. I knew my uncle loved me. I had a family, and they wouldn’t stop looking for me. 

In fact, as I looked down from my window, I saw a member of that family now. Bryan Blackburn. I’d met him at my parents’ funeral. He was a sweet guy who had offered to help me get to know the town when I first moved in. I had never taken him up on that. Still, he never failed to smile at me whenever we passed each other in the hallway.
I remembered talking to him the day Payne and I were first spotted together. Unlike some in my family who gave me a hard time for dating a McKnight, Bryan had simply said, “As long as you’re happy, what else matters?”

His arrival signaled to me that my uncle had sent out search parties. I thought about hiding, but didn’t think it would work. Instead
, I decided to try and talk Bryan into pretending he hadn’t seen me.

I went down the stairs, pausing halfway when he saw me. Our eyes met as he just had started to climb. Bryan looked at me, smiled sweetly
, and waved. “Good to see you,
darling.”

Crap!

Bryan’s smile turned into Jay’s sneer. I turned and ran up the stairs, tripping along the way. I groped for what was left of the banister and pushed my way up when a hand grabbed my right ankle, pulling down several stairs. I flipped over and landed on my back. Yelping in pain, I looked up to see Bryan ready to stomp. I kicked him in the face and crawled up the steps. Bryan slipped down, giving me a little room.

Again
, I groped to get up. As I latched onto the banister, a piece of it broke off in my hand. I looked at the old and rotted piece of wood before looking down to Bryan, who had gotten up and started to approach me again. I flung the wood right at Bryan’s face. He caught it.

T
he wood glowed blue as a white mist seemed to rise from it. Bryan flung it back at me. It hit the wall beside my head before shattering into a million little pieces, several of which flew right past me. I felt a few hit my skin. Ice. Somehow, Bryan had frozen the wood as if he had dipped it in liquid nitrogen. 

If I wasn’t so terrified, I would have said it was cool.

Bryan got up and prepared to charge me. I could run, but how far could I get? There were very few places to hide once upstairs. I would be cornered. So, instead of retreating, I charged downstairs as fast as I could.  It was the last thing he expected. I smashed into Bryan using my shoulder with all my might. 

I watched as Jay, in poor Bryan’s body, went tumbling downward. Where the stairs curved, Bryan’s descent didn’t
, so he hit the banister and went through it. 

Stunned, he was on the ground at the bottom of the stairs. I went down, quickly picking up a large piece of wood along the way. As Bryan struggle
d to his hands and knees, I stood near him. I held the wood in my hands like a baseball bat. I didn’t want to use it because I hated to hurt Bryan, but I did not intend to let Jay use Bryan to turn me into a Bristol-cicle.