The Midnight Within

Chapter 14

Jessie was almost asleep, her little pig tailed head bobbing as she valiantly fought to stay awake. She had sat on the porch with her pumpkin sitting between her feet for hours, even forgoing the Peanuts Halloween special in favor of waiting for her brother to come home. Daniel had promised her days ago that he would help her carve it but each time Jessie had asked him he had brushed her off. So tonight she decided to wait up no matter if it was a school night or not. She had everything she needed, with an apple from the table and a juice box from the fridge.

It got darker, the streetlights kicking on as the bats began their nightly dance of swooping and diving across the darkened yard. She began to shiver, going inside only after Nick threatened to spank her and send her to bed. Inside where it was warm she climbed up into the big bay window eagerly waiting until she saw the tall dark figure of her brother crossing the street. Popping up like a jack in the box, Jessie climbed down from her window perch and ran for the door. Nick's angry shouts followed her out as she ran down the wooden steps and out across the lawn to greet him.

She didn't care about Nicks threats, all she cared about was that Daniel was home and they could now carve her prize pumpkin. Careful not to drop it she yelled.

" Danny! Danny! You're late snot head! " Then giggled, sticking her tongue out at him.

" Yeah I know kido. Zakk and I had stuff to do. " Daniel tussled Jessie's blond hair as he grinned down at her and the huge pumpkin.

" What stuff? "

" Big people stuff. " He tugged one of her pigtails. "

The pumpkin had to be half her size, they had picked it out the week before against Nick's wishes. He had been furious when they came home with it. Thankfully their mother had taken their side for once and blown him off. What was one lousy pumpkin anyway? It had been all that Jessie wanted to talk about from the moment she had herd the patch was open.

" You always have stuff to do. " Jessie said, following him to the stairs.

" I know and I promise to help you in a little bit. Is Nick in his room? " His room was their old den, he used it for his office. If Nick stayed in his room then Daniel might have a chance to get some stuff and get out of the house before he even noticed. It all depended on how much Nick had to drink that night. A few times he had even offered Daniel a drink and talked about how they should all go fishing sometime.

At the top of the steps he crossed the porch and held the door for Jessie, letting it slam

shut behind them as she continued to talk in her to fast kids voice.

" You promised we could carve my pumpkin when you got home. You promised! " The hurt was evident in her voice and the way her lip trembled. Daniel felt bad but had wanted to avoid Nick, in fact he wouldn't have come back to the house at all, Had he not had a fight with Zakk.

" I know kido, I'm really sorry and I swear we will carve it tomorrow. "

" I want to do it now! " There was a definite wine to her voice as she trailed him into the livingroom. " You keep saying tomorrow and then tomorrow comes and you don't come home until late. "

" You should know by now Jessica that Daniel never keeps promises. "

Nick was standing in the kitchen doorway with drink in hand. Dressed in his charcoal sea sucker suit Nick swayed back and forth, his eyes and nose red from the booze. Daniel's expression darkened as he fixed Nick with a venomous stare. He was tempted to say something about the pot calling the kettle black but kept his mouth shut. Kneeling down he forced a smile for Jessie. " Tomorrow for sure ok? " He pinched her wet cheek and stood back up. All he wanted was to get the hell out of there.