Divine Falls

Chapter 8: Darkness Falls

When I get home, Leon is in the living room watching tv with mom. I make eye contact with her but I can't deal with two heartbreaking things, so I go straight up to my room. I lay down in my bed and cuddle my pillow to my chest. I push every thought of Pierce and his touch out of my head. I can still feel him no matter how much I try. It isn't going away. I close my eyes for a moment and end up falling asleep.

I'm falling into nothing but a darkness that creeps in every corner. It lingers around me, swallowing me up. My eyes open to see Leon shaking my limp body. I groan and stretch out.

"I'm up, I'm up. What do you want?" I say.

"To show you what I got planned. Now get up. It's like seven right now."

"I would love too only if you don't make me talk to mom again. It didn't go so well." I turn around toward him and rub the sleep out my eyes. 

Leon sits down next to me. "Yeah she mentioned it. Don't be mad at me. I just thought it was time to get over the past. You know mom loves you."

"Mom loves to be in my business. I am over it though so please stop trying." I jump out of bed yawning. I put my shoes on and grab a jacket. "Let's roll brother."

"Holding a grudge is just as bad, you know." 

I ignore his remark. We head downstairs to his car. Images of the truck overwhelms me. It gives me a funny feeling that I do not like. Leon merges with traffic on the highway. I love car rides on the highway so I wonder if that's my surprise. Something about driving with the window open is so peaceful but with recent events I don't think I will be enjoying it as much.

"Can I get a hint of our destination?" I ask.

"Nope but you will like it."

"Hopefully." I laugh. Being with my brother makes me forget about Pierce hurting me. I turn up the radio and Leon and I sing every song that comes on even if we don't know it. He starts making up his own words. He's just saying gibberish. I laugh so hard my stomach hurts. He turns into an exit. I look out the window and see we are in a small downtown. He pulls into a parking lot with a big futuristic building that says, "Freezes & Tag".

"Okay you got me. Where the hell are we?" I ask.

"Exactly what the sign says. Come on, it will be fun." He gets out of the car and I follow behind him. When we make it inside there is a dining area, an arcade and a whole lot of teenage kids. It looks futuristic with pictures of aliens and astronauts on the wall. It's like we are in outer space or another dimension. I do love galaxy themed anything. 

Leon points to the menu. "They serve smoothies, milkshakes and ices. The names of the drinks are cool too."

I read the menu and see names like "blast from the past",  "green mint alien" and "space world". It does smell good here and it reminds me of Shake N' Cake but with arcades. It brings me to a nostalgic space of security and serenity. It can be a new place to hang without those evil witches and their henchmen.

"I like it so far but what's back there?" I ask. Beyond the dining area there's a black curtain that people keeps walking in and out of.

"That's where the magic happens. Come on." He leads me to the curtain and we both go inside what looks to be a tunnel. It's dark but there are bright tiny stars on the ceiling and the floor. Almost like the ones in my room but smaller. It's like heaven made its way to earth. It's so beautiful. I smile and touch the walls. It feels like we are with the stars.

"Wow this is amazing" I smile. We continue to the end of the tunnel where a long counter is blocking off the next area behind it. A guy dressed like a space cadet is standing on the other side. There's fake weapons and padding gear behind him.