RAIN

Chapter seven

The phone rang on the other end of the line, thousands of miles away. She didn't answer maybe because she was wary of the strange number, fearing that it was a telemarketer. Her voicemail was activated. He hung up and dialed again. She answered this time.

"Hey, Mom," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Hi, Honey. How are you? Grandma and Grandpa told me you went to see Aunt Sofia. How is she?"

"Well actually...I didn't quite make it there yet. I had a little car accident..."

"What? Car accident? Jet, are you okay?"

The panic was thick in her voice, and Jet felt bad for causing it, but he needed his mother to know what had happened to him in case something terrible happened to him.

"Mom, calm down! I'm fine. I'm with a guy named Rain and his family in a small village near Tammut. I'm not hurt. Just some bruised ribs. My car is down an embankment, so I have to wait until the storm passes and Rain will call me a taxi."

"But are you sure you're okay, sweetheart? I can call Grandpa. He'll come get you."

"I'm fine. The storm should be over by tomorrow. Rain will help me. You'll like him. He's the sweetest person I've ever met. His aunt is a little weird though. His uncle went missing out at sea yesterday, and I'm yet to meet his cousins. Anyway, Mom, if I don't make it to Tammut by the day after tomorrow, then tell Grandpa to come and get me."

"What do you mean? Jet, are you in danger? I'm calling Grandpa right now." 

"No, I'm fine. It's just... it's a creepy little village, and it's making me conjure up the wildest stories in my head."

"Are you sure that's all it is?"

"Yes."

She breathed hard into the phone. "Well, you call me if you need anything."

"Sure. And Mom, save this number, it's Rain's."

"I can't, sweetheart. It came up as an unknown number."

Jet's mind was provoked once more. Every time he started believing that there was nothing odd about Rain and his family, something new about them surfaced that roused his suspicions.

"Fine, I'll ask Rain for it and text it to you."

"Okay. You take care of yourself, do you hear me, Jet? I told you not to go out there by yourself, but you never listen. You're father has already taken care of everything. I told you not to worry about what happened."

"I know, Mom, but I just felt like I needed a break from everything and... from myself."

"I understand. Just be careful, okay?"

"Yes, Mom. I'll call you as soon as I get a chance to. I don't want to hog the guy's phone."

"Okay, I'll tell your Dad that you called. I love you, my sweet baby boy."

He smiled loudly, hearing those words reminded him of the loving and kind parents that were waiting for him at home.

"Love you too, Mom."

He hung up the call, his eyes re-connecting with the wallpaper of Rain's phone. The unmistakable stench of cigarette smoke wafted into the wooden house and tickled Jet's nose. He twisted his face and then pushed himself off the sofa to go outside to investigate.

The front door opened with a creak. He stepped out onto the porch with the lantern in tote. The rain was now a dusty mist in the darkness and the air was damp.

Rain was sitting on the floor, his back pressed against the wall of the house and his legs folded to his chest. Coco was next to him eating his food, the sound of his teeth grinding each morsel echoed across the porch. Jet could see the amber glow of the small flame spark to life as Rain took a long drag of a cigarette.