HAVEN BLACK - complete

MIDNIGHT VEHICLE

Chapter 11 – MIDNIGHT VEHICLE

The next few days went by agonizingly slow. I glanced out my bedroom window and over the street yet again, and sighed. It felt like an eternity since I'd seen Jill and although I checked far more often than I should have, there was no sign of her around her house, and I hadn't seen her at school either. It was hard to picture her face clearly now, if only I had a photo to remember her by in all her exquisite beauty. It felt like my memories of her were gradually fading away.

To help pass the time of my bleak existence and to get my mind off Jill, I started writing some lyrics for a song - I figured that this could be a healthy outlet for me and my miserable frame of mind. Looking back over the words that I had messily scribbled on an A4 notepad, I realized how depressed I really was. Heavy metal blasted out defiantly from my stereo speakers and I momentarily heard the vocalist sing about a troubled relationship break up.

Mom had been feeling better in the last few days; at least I have that to be grateful for. She had cooked dinner tonight and had made one of my favorites – lasagna, in an attempt to cheer me up from my slump.

The street lamps clicked on as the sun's light faded over the trees and behind the horizon. I stood up from the desk and made my way down stairs into the living room where my mom sat watching the news. Grabbing a blanket and sitting down next to her, she put her arm around me and smiled. I didn't know how much time I would have left with her, so I tried to appreciate these little special moments.

The news played on the television and as usual, most of it was negative.

"Another horrific car bombing in the Middle East killed 46 people this morning and ISIL claims responsibility," the female news reported stated from behind her over-sized desk as the wall of screens behind her showed the footage of the bombing. "Most victims were women and children from a play ground that the car was parked beside."

"Why are some people so evil?" I asked Mom.

"It's really unfortunate Jacob, but the reality is that most of these people that are evil, terrorist and murderers for example, don't actually believe they are evil. They think that we are the bad ones, because we don't share the same beliefs or ideals as they do," Mom continued. "But the saddest part of it is the innocent people that get tied up in it and become the victims. We're still fairly primitive humans, some clearly more than others, and these acts of war show this."

"Maybe if everyone just came together, we might be able to fix things like war, poverty, and cancer..." I replied wishfully.

Mom looked at me with a strong worry in her eyes, "I'm sorry Jacob, even if there was a cure for me, it'd just be too late."

Deep silence fell upon the room as we reflected on our thoughts.

Loud laughter burst out of the television as the news finished and a sitcom started, snapping me out from my contemplation.

Having no interest in the comedy show on TV, I stood up off the couch and out of the room. "Good night Mom, don't stay up too late."

"Good night Jacob," she replied yawning.

I walked into the dimly lit kitchen and drunk a glass of water; as I looked out of the window and into our small backyard I registered that it was pitch-black outside with the exception of a small handful of bright stars that managed to shine bright enough for their light to travel the billions of miles into my tiny, insignificant retinas.

How can we be all alone in the universe?

I mused for a few moments before Mom suddenly broke out in laughter from the den, breaking my train of thought.

It's good to hear her laugh, it's so rare these days.

I dragged my feet up stairs and into the bathroom where I had a shower; The hot water scorched ever so slightly on my skin, but it felt good. Fearing a large power bill, I reluctantly turned the shower head off and dressed into my sleeping t-shirt and boxer shorts. It was still quite early in the night (thanks to Mom being able to do some of the house work), but I had no reason to stay awake, so I sat on my bed and looked out of the window over to Jill's house, once more – still no signs of movement.

Drawing my curtains closed, I jumped under the sheets and slowly drifted to sleep.

Disorientation numbed my sensors as my slumber ended and I slowly awoke. My room was still dark, with the exception of a slither of light between the curtains from the street lamps outside. A low pitch gurgle rumbled from outside my window. Parting my curtains open, I noticed that I had left my window ajar. Casting my eyes across the street to the source of the sound, I observed a long, dark car that sat ominously with its engine running, next to Jill's house; A ghostly vapor misted out through the car exhausts, dancing its way up towards the tree tops above. With its midnight black paint and windows that were completely blacked out, it looked more like the shadow of a car - it appeared to blend into the dark and misty night air, almost out of reach from the yellow tinged, diffused beams of light that shone halfheartedly from the street lamps.

One of the car doors started to open gradually. I spotted a leg dressed in black step out...Suddenly, a loud retching noise erupted from the room next to mine.

It must be Mom, vomiting from her sickness. I quickly headed for her room, picking up a small blue bucket from the bathroom on the way. Opening up her bedroom door, the sweet stench of sick struck my nostrils viciously. I gagged, but continued on, bucket in hand, to my mom who now lay feebly hunched over in bed. Running around the side, I slid the bucket underneath her face just in time to catch the next torrent of vomit that gushed out and into the bucket.

"I'm sorry Jacob," my mom thinly said catching a breath as she looked up at the large patch of vomit that soaked into the bed spread from her first retching just moments ago.

"That's okay Mom. I'll go and get you some water," I said softly, stroking her shoulder. I stood up and ran downstairs and into the kitchen, pouring water from the sink tap and into a sipper bottle. Wide awake now, I carried myself quickly up the stairs and back into my mother's room. Mom had lay back down on her pillow and was now softly snoring away. Somewhat relieved, I placed the drink bottle on her bedside table and collected the bucket that was half full of vomit and lugged it, at arm's length, to the toilet where it was flushed away. I retrieved a thick blanket from the hallway cupboard and went back into Mom's room. Pulling the vomit covered duvet carefully off her bed, I folded it up so it was safe to carry and placed the clean blanket over the bed and over my mum. The air in the room reeked so I reached over the bedside table and opened the window. Collecting the soiled duvet off the floor, I made my way back down the stairs and into the laundry where I washed the sick off the bedding and squashed it into the sink to soak overnight.

Exhausted, I made my way back up stairs to my room and remembered the strange car that had been outside. Using the last of my energy, I stumbled to the window and peered out, anxiety welled up inside me.

Was Jill finally home? Will I get to see her again?

The car was still there.

Then, without warning, the sound of its V8 engine thundered as I caught a brief glimpse of the rear of the car as it sped hurriedly down the road - with none of its lights on.

The street lights momentarily surged in brightness before sparking and blowing out, descending the street into the black of the night.

That was definitely not Jill, it looked more like the Mafia or some sort of official.

My heart dropped into my stomach from disappointment - but a tiny glimmer of hope that Jill had returned, remained.