Darkness Calls [SHELVED]

Darkness Calls [Chapter 5]

A death in the family can shake you to the very core. Just news of it can cause you to stagger. Or maybe it would take actually seeing the dead body in the casket for it to hit you. That someone that once upon a time was sitting across from you, eating mom’s turkey and recounting the civil war has now left the table with an empty chair. One way or another you’re going to feel the loss. Even if it was just some distant aunt that you never really knew. You might not feel personal despair, but you’ll see it in others. You might see you mother or father talking late at night at the dinner table, gripping each other’s hands tightly as they contemplate mortality. You might see your grandparents sitting in their rocking chair, reminiscing about the child that they outlived. You might see your cousins who always seem so boisterous just sitting there. Silent.

One way or another it hits you that someone died. That family died.

Willowbrooke, I realized, was one big family.

Ashley was escorted by the deputies out of the town fair but even after that, the negative affect in the air was palpable.

Joshua came with some iced tea and clubhouse sandwiches with chips. None of us really felt hungry. My stomach grumbled. Just kidding.

“Sheriff Matthews, huh?” Joshua said, drawing out a whistle. “I hope Ashley’s okay.”

“Josh, her dad just died. Don’t be stupid,” Piper said, staring at nothing in particular. She blushed. “Sorry.”

He sighed. “No, you’re right. Stupid. Do you think we should check on her?”

Piper shook her head. “No. The student council president just left to deal with a family death.” She ate a chip and tried to wash it down with the tea, scrunching up her face as she swallowed. I tasted the tea - it was fine. “Unless we want to be the next casualty, I think we should stay and help with preparations.”

Joshua sat up straighter, eyes determined. “You’re right. Ashley would kill us if we slacked off now.”

“What about you, Di- Oh, my God!” she stared slacked jaw at my empty plate. “Did you eat a baby crocodile or something?”

“Objection,” I said, through a mouthful of chips. “And blame your Amma. She’s the one who made my stomach bigger on the inside.”

“It’s like there’s a little black hole in there,” Piper said. “Anyway, you up for helping with the Founder’s Day props? I bet we’re going to need the extra hands.”

“She’s a guest, Piper,” Joshua reminded her. “You don’t need to help if you don’t want to.”

“Wow, that just makes me too ashamed to decline. Did you guys practice this?” I said.

Joshua blushed. Piper beamed proudly. “Call it my charming personality. You can ask your new friend to help.” She glanced over me. “Oh...he’s gone.”

I looked over my shoulder and sure enough, Tim was already gone. Odd. I thought he’d stay given all the excitement. Shut up, Dinah, you don’t really know him that well.

“Who was that guy?” Joshua asked, a bit of an edge in his tone.

I blinked. “You don’t know who he is?”

“Never seen him in my life,” Piper said. “Probably from out of town like you. Oh my gosh! Dinah, did you bring a boyfriend to town and didn’t tell us?”

Being missing for 6 months doesn’t leave much room for a love life, I thought but kept it to myself. “No, and are you sure? He said he knew your Amma.”

“Everyone knows Amma,” Joshua assured me. “She makes the best pies. My mom’s a bit jealous, to be honest.”

“I’ll ask her,” Piper promised. “So, are you in?”