6. The Darker Side

Chapter Five

He was being watched, he knew it. He kept picturing some weird wheel that kept spinning, with eyes that were watching him. He’d read it somewhere but wasn’t sure where. He once thought their house was a library with all the books within its walls. He didn’t want to open his eyes. What was supposed to be a fun night, had turned into a worse nightmare that haunted house even thought about. But anger made his eyes snap open. Anger that his siblings, his parents might have gotten hurt. The first thing he saw was his grandmother. “Granny.”

She smiled at him, and gave his hand a squeeze. “Hey, baby.”

He cleared his throat. “Granny, I’m in high school now.”

“I don’t care.”

Chris resigned himself to getting hugs from her. She looked like she’d been crying. “Granny, what’s wrong?” He tried to sit up but she shook her head. He arched an eyebrow at her and hit the button to raise the head of the bed. “Granny, I’m not a kid anymore, I’m practically an adult, almost as tall as Dad.”

He saw it in her face. “What’s wrong with Dad?”

“He was…poisoned. The doctors are trying to identify the poison, so they can administer the antidote.”

If she hadn’t been in his way, Chris would have gotten out of the bed. “No. Dad’s gonna be okay.”

“I’m afraid it’s taking too long, honey, it’s after midnight, your father was brought in around eleven.” She took a shaky breath. “I’m sorry.”

“My sisters?”
Laura patted his hand. “They’re okay. So is your mother, she’s with your father right now.”

Chris narrowed his eyes. She hadn’t mentioned his brother and he felt the anger grow. “And Jason?”

“Right here.”

Chris snapped his head to the right to see Jason in the other bed. “You’re okay.”

“I am.”

“I want to see my sisters.”

As if on cue, he heard Ashlan’s voice. It sounded rough, but it was hers. He saw her, Courtney and Rielle. Rielle charged the bed, somehow dodged Granny and launched herself at Chris. “You scared us.”

“Didn’t intend to.” Some things were fuzzy. “How?”

“The woman from two years ago, grabbed me, shoved you back in the half-full grave, left you to die.”

Chris could hear the anger in his brother’s voice. “I’m still here.”

The door opened again and a tall man who looked like a biker, complete with long hair and beard walked in. He nodded to Chris. “Glad to see you feeling better, thought you were a goner there.” He held out a hand that looked he’d just finished working on his motorcycle. “Vince.”

Chris shook his hand. “Thank you.”

Vince grinned. “Welcome. Gotta run, but glad you’re still among the living.” He laughed at his own joke and was gone. 

A second later, his grandfather walked in, rested a hand on his grandmother’s shoulder. Chris swallowed hard. “No.”

Malcolm gave him a look. “Chris?”

“Dad’s not going to die, I won’t let him.”

Laura went pale. “Honey…” She looked up at Malcolm. “Maybe you’d better talk to him.”

As soon as she moved, Chris got out of bed. “No.” He bolted out of the hospital room and looked up and down the corridor. Then he realized he was wearing a hospital gown. He muttered something he’d heard on TV and knew his mother would wash his mouth out if she’d heard him.