Fiends on the Other Side

by Vera Strange

  The shadow monsters were gaining on him.

  Adrenaline coursing through him, Jamal cut around the corner. The skull necklace flared brighter. He thought about hiding in the janitor’s closet or the bathroom, but that would make it worse. It was darker in there. Instead, he ran for the exit, bolting past the security guard, who yelled, “Hey, kid, get back here!”

  But Jamal didn’t care; he had to get away from the shadows.

  He burst outside into the bright sunlight. Only then did the shadow monsters vanish. The second they hit the threshold of the door where sunlight fell, they evaporated like smoke.

  The security guard chased after him, snagging his arm and yanking him back toward the school. “Wait, d-didn’t you see them?” Jamal stammered. “I-I can’t go back there.”

  The security guard frowned at him. His sweat-stained uniform stuck to his pudgy frame. “See what?” he growled, narrowing his eyes.

  “The shadows…They were chasing me,” Jamal managed. “I swear it.”

  “Nice try, kiddo,” he said with a chuckle. “What I saw was you trying to skip school. You’re lucky I’m just giving you a warning this time. Next time, it’s straight to detention.”

  Jamal stared back into the school, his heart hammering in his chest. Sweat poured down his face. But there were no shadow monsters waiting to get him. The hallway looked completely normal. Stranger yet, the security guard hadn’t been able to see them.

  The guard gave him a funny look. “You okay? You look a little sick.”

  “Yeah…I’m fine,” Jamal lied, blinking to clear his head. He knew he couldn’t answer honestly. The guard wouldn’t believe him. The truth was…he felt really far from fine.

  Were his eyes playing tricks on him? Or was this the shadow man punishing him for running away?

  * * *

  “Next year’s pep rallies are gonna be the bomb,” Malik said, sitting at a packed table surrounded by his adoring fan club. “Just wait.”

  Still feeling shaken, Jamal tucked his head down and headed for the other side of the cafeteria with his lunch tray. “I wish that could be me for once,” he whispered to himself.

  At that moment, someone shoved him from behind.

  Jamal tripped forward, his milk carton spilling all over him and soaking his clothes, but somehow he managed to stop himself before he hit the floor. Slowly, he turned.

  “Look, Invisible Boy’s talking to himself,” Colton sneered, glaring at Jamal.

  His friends cracked up.

  “Just wait for gym class,” Colton added in a low voice. He clenched his fists. “You’re gonna pay big-time for your little escape act yesterday.”

  They left Jamal dripping with milk and dreading next period. He glanced over at Malik’s table to see if there was an empty seat, but it was packed. There were even kids standing around the perimeter, just wanting to be close to his brother. Feeling dejected, Jamal slid into a seat at an empty table. He glanced around to make sure no one was watching him—not that he needed to worry.

  After all, he was invisible.

  Jamal pulled out the skull necklace to examine it. It hadn’t warned him about Colton. The eye sockets remained dark. “Why aren’t you glowing right now?” he whispered. “Why don’t you protect me from Colton?”

  The skull just stared back at him. He remembered how it had glowed around the shadow man, and then when the shadows attacked him in science class and the hallway.

  His grandmother’s message flashed through his head.

  Beware of the shadows. This will protect you.

  That was when it clicked. The necklace wasn’t supposed to protect him from everyday bullies; it was supposed to protect him from Dr. Facilier and whatever dark magic he had unleashed on Jamal. The shadow monsters had to be the shadow man’s doing. He was probably mad that Jamal had refused to take his deal the day before.

  That was also why the necklace hadn’t glowed in the alley when Colton and his friends started to bully him. That was why it was dark now. It all made sense.

  Also, that had to be why Dr. Facilier wanted it so badly. It held some kind of power over the shadow man, even though Jamal didn’t understand it fully. But then another anxious thought raced into his head.

  If the necklace really did have power over the shadow man, then what was Dr. Facilier willing to do to get it?

  The shadow monsters might only be the beginning.

  A hand grabbed his shoulder. Jamal jumped.

  “Wow, you look like you’ve just seen a ghost,” said someone with a familiar voice.

  It was only Riley.

  Her eyes fixed on the skull necklace, but he quickly tucked it away. “Mind if I join you?”

  “It’s a free country,” Jamal said, hating how bitter he sounded. He wished he could be excited that Riley wanted to hang out with him, but he knew that once she met his brother she would forget about him. “Not like anyone else is clamoring for the privilege of sitting with me.”

  He couldn’t help it. His eyes darted over to Malik and his fan club across the cafeteria. Riley followed his gaze to his twin brother.

  “You know, there are worse things than eating alone,” she said. “Trust me, this is my fifth school in the last two years. You get used to it, Invisible Boy.”

  “Ugh, you heard that?” Jamal actually wanted to disappear.

  “Hey, I’ve been called worse,” Riley said with a snort. “Plus, I told you, invisibility powers rule.”

  “If I’m so invisible, why can you see me?” Jamal asked, pushing his tray away. His appetite had fled, too.

  “Because I know what it’s like to feel invisible,” Riley said, popping a chicken nugget in her mouth. “And at least you have a brother. I’m an only child, and it’s not very cool. Especially when your dad has to move for work, which means you have to move, too.”

  “Yeah, that must be tough,” Jamal said, feeling something strange. A hopeful stirring in his chest. He risked a glance at Riley. Their eyes met, and she smiled. A genuine smile that made her eyes crinkle at the corners. Was this what it was like to have a friend?

  A real one?

  “Well, I’m hoping this time we stay here,” Riley went on. “My grandma lives out in the bayou. And my mama wants to be closer to her roots.”

  “Wow, in the bayou?” Jamal said. “I didn’t realize anyone lived out there. I’ve just heard the old legends—the ones about the witches.”

  “Boo!” Riley said, making him jump. “And she’s not a witch. Not in the way you’re thinking. Not like the Salem stuff. Let’s just say…Grandma is a bit different,” she said with a mysterious smile. “But I love her. Sometimes I think she might be my best friend.”

  “That’s pretty cool,” Jamal said, wishing he’d had that kind of relationship with his grandmother. “Mine just died last month. We weren’t very close. But she did leave me this….”

  He pulled the skull necklace out of his shirt. Riley’s eyes fixed on it—and widened. It was almost like she recognized it, like she’d seen the necklace before. He opened his mouth to ask her about it when raucous cheering broke out across the cafeteria.

  “My fellow classmates,” Malik said, rising to his feet in an impromptu victory speech, “I want to thank you for the honor of being your class president next year.”

  Applause broke out, followed by cheers of “Go, Malik!” and “Mr. President!”

  Riley rose to her feet and joined the class in clapping for Malik. She was no longer paying attention to Jamal. This was what always happened. Soon enough, she’d forget that he existed.

  Jamal just couldn’t stand it anymore, not after what he’d been through that day. “Sorry, but I’ve gotta go,” he said to Riley before dumping his tray and fleeing from the cafeteria.

  Riley watched him leave with a strange expression on her face. So much for my chance at having an actual friend, Jamal thought. Why did his brother always ruin everything for him?

  He pulled up his hoodie and hurried into the hall,
wishing he really could disappear. He was tempted to run away and skip school altogether. He could sneak out the back door and avoid the security guard this time. Gym class was his next period—and that meant he’d have to face Colton and his friends. It would be worse than the previous year’s awful wedgie incident.

  As he continued down the hall, it seemed to grow darker and more shadowy. His heart began to pound. How could he be so stupid and wander off alone? Suddenly, his shadow started to move on its own. It grabbed for Jamal’s neck.

  “Get off me!” he screamed, bolting down the hall. But unlike the earlier shadow monsters, he couldn’t run from his own shadow.

  It followed him, reaching for his neck again.

  There was no way to escape it. He felt the shadow fingers close around his throat. They pressed down, harder…harder…strangling him. Stars danced in his vision. He felt like he was about to pass out when—

  He reached for the skull necklace and pulled it out.

  “Help…me…please,” he choked out.

  Suddenly, the necklace burst to life, igniting with red light.

  The flare of light drowned out his shadow, making it vanish for a moment. The fingers disappeared from around his neck. He could breathe deeply. Swallowing oxygen like it was cool water, he dashed down the hall. He didn’t want to wait to see if the shadow would come back and attack him again. Next time might be worse.

  He felt certain it was the shadow man’s doing. Dr. Facilier wanted that necklace, and he was willing to unleash those monsters on Jamal to get it.

  “So, I’ve got some big news,” Malik announced once they were all seated around the dinner table and the steaming pot of jambalaya their father had made for dinner. Jamal’s mouth watered at the aroma of sausage, rice, chicken, and spices.

  The table was set with a tablecloth and candles that cast flickering light. Malik set his new trumpet on the table, where it gleamed like it had been freshly polished. It was his most prized possession. He carried it around the house with him, filling their cramped space with its bright notes and only putting it away in the case under his bed when he went to sleep.

  “Is it good news?” Mom asked with a slight trill in her voice. She clasped her hands together and gave him her undivided attention, her dark eyes dancing with excitement.

  “Of course it’s good news,” Dad said with a chuckle, setting his newspaper aside. The front page warned of the hurricane in the Gulf. It was a category four storm and growing.

  What his father didn’t say was that when it came to Malik, it was always good news. He wouldn’t have said the same thing if it was about his other son. Jamal sank lower in his seat, his stomach churning unhappily. He wasn’t hungry anymore.

  The shadow man was right, he thought with a frown. His parents did prefer his brother.

  “I won the election!” Malik said, throwing his hands up.

  Their parents clapped for him while he prattled on excitedly about his ambitious plans for the next school year. Even though he loved jambalaya, Jamal picked at the food on his plate.

  “This calls for ice cream,” Mom said, clearing their plates and parading over to the freezer. “Chocolate, your favorite!”

  She brought them all bowls, but Jamal didn’t want ice cream. That was how bad he felt. He pushed it around, watching it melt. He kept glancing at the corners of the room, which were dimly lit and full of shadows. Were they going to come to life and try to strangle him?

  Every time one of them moved, he practically jumped out of his seat. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. He bolted out of his chair and ran to the light switch, flicking it on.

  Bright light flooded the dining room. Everyone stopped eating ice cream and turned to stare at him.

  “Whatcha trying to do?” Dad said with a frown. “Burn everyone’s eyes up?”

  “B-but…the shadows…” Jamal stammered, realizing how crazy he sounded. “It was really dark—”

  “Son, you don’t need a spotlight to eat ice cream,” Dad said. “Now turn that off and sit your butt down.”

  * * *

  Jamal wanted to fall asleep, but the shadows in the dark bedroom kept him awake. He wished he could sleep with the light on, but when he had suggested it, Malik had just teased him. “Wait, are you afraid of the dark? Sheesh, don’t be such a baby.”

  “Uh, I just like…a little light,” Jamal said, feeling silly. His cheeks burned with shame. “You know, so I don’t trip going to the bathroom.”

  “Man, no wonder Colton and his friends pick on you so much,” Malik said, stashing his trumpet in the case, flipping the clasps shut, and sliding it under his bed. “Little J, you gotta grow up already. You know, I won’t always be around to protect you.”

  That had settled it. Jamal kept the lights off. He didn’t want to act like a baby in front of his brother, but Malik didn’t understand what was happening to him. Jamal wished he could tell his brother the truth, but Malik wouldn’t understand. Or worse yet, wouldn’t believe him.

  Jamal felt completely alone. Everything was always so easy for his brother. Why couldn’t Malik understand that it was different for Jamal?

  He tried to sleep, but he kept glancing at the shadows cast around the dark bedroom, certain they were going to attack. Frustrated, he reached for the necklace under his shirt.

  “You’ll protect me, right?” he whispered to the skull.

  The dark eye sockets stared back at him but didn’t offer an answer. Right when Jamal was about to drift off to sleep, he heard a strange noise coming from inside the closet.

  Thump.

  What was that? He bolted upright in bed, clutching for the necklace. The skull’s eye sockets lit up with reddish light. They cast a steady glow over the room, driving back the shadows. They lit the way to the closet door. Jamal stared at it, straining to listen for the noise.

  But it was silent.

  He relaxed slightly. I must be hearing things, he thought.

  But then it happened again.

  Thump.

  And that time the closet door rattled. Something was in there.

  “Hey, did you hear that?” Jamal whispered to Malik, who was tucked in his bed, snoring away. “Wake up!”

  But Malik just flipped over, mumbled something like “Shut up” in his sleep, and buried his head in the pillow.

  Right, I don’t need his help, Jamal reminded himself. He needed to handle this on his own. His brother wouldn’t always be around to protect him.

  Holding the skull necklace in front of him like a protective talisman, he tiptoed toward the closet door. When he got closer, the door rattled again.

  Thump.

  Something was definitely in there. But what? His heart hammering, he reached for the doorknob and gripped it. He flung open the door.

  But the closet was empty.

  There was nothing in there.

  Just piles of shoes and dirty clothes on the floor, pushed inside to hide them from their mother. He must be hearing things, he decided, breathing a sigh of relief. After all, he’d had a crazy day. He was about to shut the door when his eyes fell on something next to his sneakers, partially buried under a pile of dirty clothes.

  “Wh-what is that?” Jamal whispered, scooping it up.

  The light from the skull necklace fell over it.

  It was a tarot card.

  He held the card closer to the skull necklace, which illuminated it with reddish light. The card depicted a twisted, dark figure with long, slim legs and arms that tapered into claws.

  A shadow monster.

  Just like the ones he kept seeing everywhere. His eyes fixed on the word scrawled in ornate script.

  Death

  The skull necklace flared even brighter. This was Dr. Facilier’s work. The card looked exactly like the ones he’d used to read Jamal’s future.

  But how had it gotten into his closet?

  That was impossible. His heart pounding like it might jump out of his chest, Jamal dropped the card and slammed the cl
oset door shut. He stood there, staring at it in shock.

  Thump.

  The closet door rattled.

  “N-no, leave me alone!” Jamal cried, backing away. He tasted metal on his tongue, which only happened when he was really afraid.

  Then the death card slid under the closet door. It landed right by his foot. The shadow monster’s eyes stared at him. They lit up and started glowing with reddish light.

  Then the monster moved.

  It cracked open its jaws, exposing rows of jagged sharp teeth like a shark’s.

  It snapped at Jamal’s foot.

  “No, get away,” he said, kicking at the card.

  But more tarot cards started shooting out from under the closet door, pelting him. He bolted from the bedroom and slammed the door, hoping he was safe. He breathed a sigh of relief.

  It worked.

  But then…Thump.

  The bedroom door rattled, making him jump back. The cards started shooting out at him. He fled down the hallway, but as he ran past each door, more cards shot out from under them.

  He had to get out of the house.

  Jamal ran for the front door. He gripped the doorknob. Tarot cards pelted him, filling the living room with shadow monsters. His skull necklace flared brighter.

  He twisted the doorknob and threw the door open, revealing a shadowy figure.

  It blocked the doorway—and Jamal’s only escape path.

  The skeletal fingers extended toward him, reaching for his neck like spindly claws. Then a deep voice rang out. “Little man, you’ve got my necklace. And I want it back.”

  “Wh-what are you doing out here?” Jamal stammered, backing away from Dr. Facilier. The skull on his necklace flared. “H-how do you know where I live?”

  The shadow man grinned. His teeth glinted in the moonlight. He was standing on the front stoop, holding the cane with the crystal.

  “Enchanté,” Dr. Facilier said, tipping his top hat forward. He aimed his cane at Jamal’s throat. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? As long as you have my necklace, we’re connected.”