by C. C. Hunter
She gasped slightly as if she could see something in his head.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing.” She looked back at his palm and studied it for several long, silent seconds. Was she making up some crap? Hadn’t she practiced this before? Come on, just tell me I’ll live a happy life and collect your money.
“What do you see?” Tami asked, as if too excited to wait.
“I … see …” She paused. “I see that you will have amazing powers. But if you use them for good or evil is yet to be known.”
“That’s kind of ominous,” Tami said.
The woman looked up at Tami. “The future can always be a little frightening.” Then she looked back down, and after touching his wrist with her other hand, she traced a line over his palm only halfway across his hand. “You will come to many forks in life’s path. Some sooner than others. Some more painful than others. You will have to want to survive. Never …” Her voice grew deeper. “Never turn your back on a challenge. Fight for the right to live.”
Chase frowned. The woman was a lunatic. She was talking mumbo-jumbo, but for some reason her words gave him chills. He pulled his hand away. “Fine.” Glancing toward Mindy to make sure she hadn’t disappeared, he then looked back at Tami.
“You still want to do this?” he asked her, not sure he liked the stuff he’d heard and not sure Tami’s fortune would be any better.
“You’ve paid for it,” the palm reader said as if there were no refunds.
“Yeah,” Tami said. “I guess I shouldn’t turn my back on a challenge, either.” She chuckled, sounding a little nervous.
Chase stood up and moved the chair out a few inches, making it easy for Tami to get seated. Before he could move his hand, she sat down and her long, dark hair slipped over the back of his hand. His breath almost caught at how soft it felt. He wished he could leave his hand there. Enjoy the silky feel of her long strands against his knuckles. Yet suddenly afraid his touch wasn’t wanted, he pulled his hand away.
The woman leaned in and slipped her hand under Tami’s. Like with him, Chase saw the palm reader’s eyes widen and he heard her gasp. Okay, so that was how she played it. She pretended as if everyone’s palm told bad things.
But then she pulled her hand out from under Tami’s. “I’m sorry. I realize it was rude what I said earlier. If you would like your money back, I’m fine with a refund.”
November 1, 12 p.m.
News Flash: Update
Emergency crew nearing the site of local plane crash
Thanks to a slight decrease in snowfall, the three teams making their way to the crash site of the Cessna 210 that was flown by Dr. Edward Tallman and carrying four other passengers, is reportedly making good time. The team leader radioed that they have hopes of arriving on the mountain ledge in less than two hours. With the temperatures dropping into single digits, paramedics worry that the weather conditions alone could present a significant risk to any survivors.
It is unclear if Dr. Tallman and passengers have survival training for extreme weather conditions. Local medical teams are on standby to treat any survivors. Yet with each hour that passes, hope of finding the Tallmans and Miss Collins alive diminishes. In spite of the dire situation, family and friends of the victims remain hopeful.
“I know Edward,” said a close friend of Dr. Tallman. “He’s a doctor for God’s sake. If at all possible, he’s doing everything he can to keep his family safe.”
October 31, 1:30 p.m.
Chapter Four
Tami looked confused. “A refund? No,” she said, a little hesitant, obviously finding the woman’s behavior as odd as Chase did. “I want you to finish. At least I think I do,” she muttered, then glanced back at Chase.
He didn’t say anything because he didn’t think it should be his call, but he secretly hoped Tami said no. He hadn’t liked the good-or-evil crap the woman said about him and he suspected he wouldn’t like what she said about Tami.
“Are you sure?” the gypsy asked again, putting Chase on high alert.
“Yes,” Tami said, now sounding determined.
She nodded and reached for Tami’s hand again. She traced a line on Tami’s palm and stopped only a fourth of an inch in. Then, blinking, she glanced away, as if to ponder some thought.
Chase saw her stare at her sign for several long seconds. She closed her eyes. She inhaled, her chest rising, then she let out the air slowly. When she opened her eyes she looked up at Tami and adjusted her shoulders. “You will have a good life. Two children. A boy and a girl.”
Chase stared at the woman, thinking her whole tone and demeanor had changed. And from the frown on Tami’s lips, he wasn’t the only one who’d noticed it.
Tami tilted her head to the side and studied the woman. “Why do I think you’re lying?”
The palm reader stiffened. She put her hand over her chest. Her large ruby ring caught the sunlight and flickered. “I speak from my heart.”
“But does your heart tell the truth?” Tami asked.
She raised her chin, her mouth thinned. “I have read your fortune, now be gone with you and let me find other customers.”
“What are you not telling me?” Tami asked, sounding frightened.
Chase wanted to reach over and touch her shoulder, but didn’t know if she would welcome it. Then he thought, what the hell? He put his hand on her shoulder. “Let’s just go,” he said.
“Am I going to die or something?” Tami asked the woman.
The woman’s eyes became cold, distant. “We are all going to die.” She glanced out at the crowd. “See her? She’s going to die.” The woman motioned to the right. “That boy there. He’s going to die. There is no one safe from death.”
Tami, frowning, stood up and stared down at the woman. “You really suck at this.”
“Just be on your way. Go!” She shooed them away like mosquitoes.
“Come on.” Chase touched Tami’s elbow. As they stepped a few feet away, Tami stopped and looked up at him. “Am I crazy? Didn’t you think she was lying, too?”
Chase chose his words carefully. “I think she’s nothing but an old biddy who doesn’t know her ass from a hole in the ground.”
Tami laughed and then sobered. “I don’t think I’ll ever have my palm read again.”
“Me, either,” Chase said.
Tami made a face. “I mean, all she tells me is that we’re all going to die someday. Talk about obvious.”
“Hey. It was better than I got. I might grow up to be evil. She might as well have said I’d be a serial killer or something. Oh, and I might or might not die. If I turn my back on a challenge I’m gonna be a goner.”
Tami laughed. “You’re right, she was just a crazy old lady, wasn’t she?” She leaned in and bumped his shoulder with hers. A nice bump. Like he was more than just her best friend’s little brother.
“Yeah,” he said, and not sure if it was accidental, he shifted a little away so as not to crowd her, but he couldn’t stop smiling.
Tami looked around. “Oh, crap.”
“What?” he asked.
“Where’s Mindy and that creep?”
Shit. For two minutes he’d forgotten about her. Chase’s smile vanished and he turned to look where he’d last seen them. They were gone.
Gone.
Oh, shit! He didn’t trust Eric, and even less now that he knew Tami considered him a creep, too. “I’ll call her.” Grabbing his phone, he dialed his sister’s number. It rang. In Tami’s pocket.
“Oh,” Tami said and pulled out the phone. “I’m sorry. She handed it to me and I just …”
Chase tried not to panic. Mindy had to be around. Had to.
“I’m sorry,” Tami said again.
“It’s not your fault. Let’s just find her.”
***
Ten minutes later he and Tami had covered three streets and hadn’t found his sister. “Sometimes she makes me so mad,” Chase muttered.
Tami sighed. “My brother us
ed to make me mad, too.”
Chase ran though the Tami data he had logged away in his brain. He didn’t recall ever hearing about her brother, but …
“And now you two get along?” he asked.
“He died,” Tami said.
“I’m sorry, I … I didn’t know.” He paused, not sure he should ask, but he wanted to know. He cared. “What happened?”
“Leukemia. It was almost four years ago, but I still miss him.”
“Man, that sucks,” Chase said. “I mean, Mindy drives me crazy sometimes, but I can’t imagine not having her around.”
“Yeah.” After a few long moments, Tami suggested they go back to where the palm reader was in case Mindy was looking for them, too. Not having a better idea, Chase agreed. But if Mindy wasn’t there, he was calling his dad.
He didn’t know if it was the crazy palm reader’s negative vibe playing with his mind, but he got a bad feeling. A feeling as if something really terrible was coming. As if to punctuate his point, a cold wind rolled past.
As they hurried back to where they’d last seen Mindy, he noticed Tami pulling her jacket tighter, too.
“You want my coat?” He stopped and started pulling his off.
“No, I just need to zip mine. But, thanks. That’s nice.” Her smile was so sweet, his chest hurt. All he could think about was how she must have felt losing her brother. He wanted to hug her.
“You’re nice,” she said as if wanting to clarify what she’d said.
If he wasn’t so worried about his sister, he would have liked to have savored the compliment. But no, his sister had done something stupid, and he couldn’t take the time to savor.
They continued walking. Chase set the pace fast, but Tami kept up. They finally got back to the area where the different street vendors had set up shop.
Still walking toward the palm reader’s area, Chase heard someone call his name. His gut unclenched when he recognized Mindy’s voice.
He swung around, saw her hurrying toward them, and for one second he understood his mom’s saying she used when they’d arrive home a little late: “I don’t know whether to hug or hit you.”
“Where did you go?” Mindy asked, stopping in front of them and looking indignant.
“Where did I go?” he asked, and now that he wasn’t so worried, his anger rose. “I went looking for you. You disappeared, damn it. Dad told us to stay together.”
Offering him her tight-lipped frown, she cut her eyes to Eric who stood beside her, as if telling him to shut his trap in front of her new boyfriend. “We just went to grab a soda. I thought we’d be back before you two finished getting your futures told.”
“Here,” Tami said and dropped Mindy’s phone in her hands. “We were extra concerned because we realized I goofed and took your phone and we wouldn’t be able to contact you.”
That wasn’t the only reason Chase was concerned, he thought. He was worried because his sister had decided to hang out with a guy who kept looking at her as if she was candy and he needed a sugar high.
“I don’t need anyone worrying about me,” Mindy said, sounding annoyed at Tami.
“We all need someone to worry about us,” Tami said, sounding annoyed right back.
Silence descended. Angry silence. Two girls mad at each other kind of silence.
Finally, Mindy spoke up. “Let’s go and get in line for the haunted house. I heard someone say it was great.” She swung around on the heels of her shoes and started walking down the street. Eric followed her, but instead of looking where he was going he did nothing but stare at her ass.
“I don’t like that guy!” Chase growled close to Tami’s ear.
“Me, either,” she said. “But let’s do the haunted house and then I’ll claim I started my period and we have to go home.”
Chase nearly choked on his next breath. It was a good idea, but did she have to mention her period? What was that acronym Mindy tossed around for things like this? Oh, yeah, TMI. That was totally too much information.
Tami’s chuckle came close to Chase’s ear and he looked at her.
“What?” he asked, not understanding the humor dancing in her eyes.
“Sorry, I keep forgetting guys can’t handle hearing stuff like that.”
“No, I’m fine,” he lied.
“Then why are you so red?” She moved a little closer, her soft shoulder lightly whispering against his bicep. Back and then forth with each step. The warmth from that light touch made his heart skip a beat. This time, he didn’t shift away. He might have moved a tiny bit closer. Even though he was still mad enough to chew nails and spit out staples at his sister and her new boyfriend, this would go down as one of the best days of his life.
Which, according to the palm reader, might not be too long. Never turn your back on a challenge. Well, Tami was one challenge he wasn’t going to turn away from.
***
Complete darkness descended upon them. It took a second for Chase’s eyes to adjust. The first thing he did was make sure his sister and the jerk were right ahead. They were.
Without warning, a vampire, blood dripping from his fangs, pounced at them. Tami screamed, grabbed his arm, and plastered herself to his side.
Haunted houses had never done much for Chase, but after feeling Tami’s body so close to his, he wondered if he could find one in Houston that ran all year long. He’d love to bring Tami to it at least once a week.
Next a guy with a chainsaw came after them. It wasn’t a real chainsaw, but it sure as heck sounded like one. Tami held on tighter.
Yup, he’d just become a haunted house fan for life.
They followed the arrows, highlighting the way to walk. They dipped through a black curtain, and complete darkness swallowed them again.
Chase blinked and tried to see Mindy, who he’d sworn had gone through the curtain seconds before. He couldn’t make her out. But it could just be the light. He continued to follow the tiny blue lights past a coffin with a dead guy trying to grab them.
Worried that he’d lost his sister, he hurried Tami though the next curtain. He squinted his eyes, forcing them to adjust. No Mindy.
Then he heard it. A scream. Mindy’s scream.
It wasn’t the fun kind of scream. “Stop it!” she yelled.
Gut instantly knotted, he grabbed Tami so as not to lose her, and followed the sound of his sister’s voice. The sound led him straight toward a wall, but he discovered it was just a curtain. He swiped it back and ran inside, looking for a monster. One named Eric.
The small room filled with technical equipment had just enough light to make out shapes. Then the shapes became more visible. Eric had Mindy against a wall, his hands all over her, his mouth on hers trying to drown out her screams.
“There,” Tami yelled, but Chase already had the asshole by the collar.
Wadding the asshole’s shirt in his fist, Chase yanked him off his sister.
“Whoa, stop!” the guy screamed, holding up his hands.
“I think that’s what my sister said!” He clenched his fist and heard Tami consoling his sister.
“It was a mix-up. I thought she was into it,” Eric said.
“Liar!” a feminine voice yelled out from behind him. Not his sister, but Tami. “Mindy might have been into it for a kiss, but she never invited you to climb inside her bra! She said stop, you low-life creep.”
Eric stiffened, obviously not liking being called names by a girl. “All I did was cop a feel. She was asking for it.”
“You’re the one asking for it!” Chase pulled back his fist and plowed it right into the guy’s face, crashing against teeth and bone. It hurt like hell, but felt wonderful at the same time.
The guy went down on his ass with a loud thump. “You broke my tooth,” he bit out and started to get up.
“Don’t move!” Chase took a step closer and glared down at him. “You get up, I’m gonna break your nose next time.”
Eric stayed down, obviously hearing the truth in Chase’s vo
ice.
Chase turned to his sister, still sniffling and wiping her eyes. “Somebody call the cops.”
“No,” Mindy said. “I’m okay. Thanks to you, he didn’t … didn’t get anywhere. I just want to go home. Please. Please just get me home.”
His gut told him he needed to report this, but the pleading in his sister’s voice had him just wanting to make it easier on her.
“Fine.” Chase turned back to the piece of shit on the floor and pointed a finger at him. “If I see you before I leave, I’m gonna hit you again. And I swear when I’m done, you’ll have so much blood on you, that you’ll put that vampire to shame. So you’d better not go back to your cabin tonight.”
November 1, 2 p.m.
News Flash: Update
Search and Rescue volunteer hurt trying to reach plane crash
One of the rescue members with Search and Rescue (SAR) has fallen down a thirty-foot embankment while trying to reach the crash site of the Cessna 210—the plane that went down last night in the Jasper Mountain Range carrying four passengers and one pilot. Two emergency crew members carried the man to the site where an emergency helicopter is meeting them to transport the man to the local hospital. While the injuries are not life threatening, initial reports state that he suffered a broken leg and collarbone.
Tom Phillips, a volunteer with SAR who is more familiar with the Jasper Mountain Range, is busy trying to find a new and safer route to get to the wreckage. Meanwhile, temperatures continue to drop, making the conditions even more dangerous for any potential survivors, as well as the team trying to reach them.
October 31, 2:15 p.m.
Chapter Five
They stormed out of the haunted house and Chase continued to rush them forward. He didn’t want to chance meeting Eric again. He might just have to kill him. And he wanted to get Mindy somewhere quiet so he could make sure she was okay.
They made it almost a block to where a long picnic table sat in front of a concession stand. He motioned to the table thinking Mindy might need to sit down. As soon as he got there he turned to her.