Darkhouse (Experiment in Terror #1)

by Karina Halle

  The key resumed rattling.

  “Bingo!”

  I heard the door creak open.

  “Great. Can we get out of here now?” I asked. The longer I stood there watching my shadow dance in the dust around me, the more my eyes were starting to play tricks on me.

  “You don’t want to check out the second floor?” I heard his voice getting more muffled, as if he was out of the room and onto the staircase of the interior hall. I could see it in my head—the trails of kelp on the stairs. I wanted to warn him to not go up there, to watch his step, but instead I scooted myself out of the building and into the bright, howling wind outside.

  I looked up at the sky, eyes wide open and took in the deepest breath I could imagine.

  “Sorry.”

  I jumped and looked over at Dex, who had come out of the building.

  “We don’t have to go up there until later anyway. Though I’m sure there will be enough interesting events downstairs.” He turned and locked the door behind him.

  I didn’t even want to begin to think about what “events” could transpire.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Despite the fact that we would be returning to the lighthouse later that evening, I was especially glad (and relieved) when we came back to the house to find it warm and cozy, with the twins playing video games and a giant mess of Chinese food on the kitchen table.

  “Right on time!” Uncle Al exclaimed as we walked in the door. “Please sit, you must be hungry. You’re both pale as...ghosts!” He laughed at that last line.

  I managed a wry smile and plopped down in the chair.

  “Boys!” Al yelled at the living room, his voice booming. “Put down those video games and come eat your damn food!”

  I heard the twins moan from the other room, and in a few moments they appeared, looking bleary-eyed as if they had just gotten up from a nap or a graphic-induced coma.

  “Hey, cuz!” Matt slapped me hard on the back. He looked over at Dex then back at me. “This one of the ghosts you found at the lighthouse?” He exchanged a mocking look with his brother.

  I rolled my eyes. “Har har. This is Dex. Dex, these are my cousins Matt and Tony.”

  Dex gave them a casual salute and nod. “I’d ask which one is the evil one but you’re probably both evil. Am I right?”

  Matt and Tony exchanged a worried glance but smiled once they realized Dex was kidding.

  Tony laughed and looked at me. “Where did you find this joker?”

  “At the lighthouse, sheesh,” Dex joked.

  “Boys, sit and shut up!” commanded Al, throwing paper plates down on the table in front of us and keeping his eyes on Dex and the twins. I could tell he wasn’t sure how well his sons would mesh would Dex. Something told me that he had been in a similar situation before. The twins did seem volatile at times, but I didn’t know Dex well enough (or at all) to know what to expect from him either. “Expect the unexpected” seemed to be his life’s motto.

  The boys sat down obediently and started scooping mounds of chow mein on their plates.

  “Boys!” Al barked again. “The guests eat first.”

  He shot Dex and me an apologetic look.

  “Don’t worry about it, Uncle Al,” Dex said. I couldn’t help but smile at his choice of words. “Back where I come from, it’s customary for guests to eat last. You know, how like the lioness eats first before feeding her cubs.”

  “And where do you come from?”

  “Seattle,” was Dex’s sincere reply.

  Al laughed. “Remind me not to eat at your house then!”

  “Oh, but you’d be missing out. My girlfriend is an amazing cook.” He leaned back in his chair, the smug smile returning. His eyes sparkled brightly. I did not appreciate how much more relaxed, and adorable, he looked when he mentioned her.

  “Girlfriend?” Matt questioned and looked over at me suspiciously as he handed over a carton of sweet and sour pork. I gave him a look, trying to let him know that Dex was in no way a love interest to me. “Is she hot?”

  “Oh phfff,” I chided him. ”What does that matter?”

  Dex looked at me, surprised. “Of course it matters.” He looked at the boys and Al. “For your information, yes, she is.”

  Oh geez. Please don’t say it’s Jennifer.

  “How hot?” Tony asked, goading him.

  Dex pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and took out a wallet-sized photo. He handed it across the table to Tony, who shared it with Matt. I couldn’t see it from where I was.

  Tony and Matt’s eyes widened. Even Al looked over and let out a low whistle.

  “Seriously? This is your girlfriend?” Matt asked incredulously.

  “Either that or it’s some random hot girl I’m groping in a photo booth. Still win-win.” Dex grinned, and for the first time I was not charmed by his smile. I felt low. Lower than cave dweller in a really low cave. I busily stuffed food in my face.

  “She looks really familiar,” Tony mused.

  “Well, she was in Maxim,” Dex announced.

  I choked on a piece of pork at the same time the twins cried out “Maxim?!?”

  I started coughing, my face turning red. Everyone turned to look at me.

  “Are you OK, Perry?” Al asked, about to get up.

  I nodded frantically and waved for him to sit back down. This was the last thing I needed.

  The boys turned their attention back to the photo, but out of the corner of my eye, I could see Dex was watching me. I refused to look at him.

  “Why was she in Maxim? Is she famous?” Tony asked.

  “Ever seen the show Wine Babes? It’s on the Shownet website but also gets viewed a lot on YouTube.” Dex was still looking at me as he said this.

  “No way!” Matt cried out. “I love that show! I mean, I’ve seen it. She’s one of the babes.”

  “Is this the video of the girls with wine who recommended what McDonald’s hamburger it should go with?” Al asked. I looked at him, surprised. He gave me an explanatory look. “I don’t even know how to operate the internet half the time, but I’ve seen that show.”

  Dex turned his attention to Al (thank God). “You have? That’s excellent! Good to know the demographic is broadening. Yes, that’s my girlfriend Jennifer Rodriguez, and I’m the show’s cameraman and music composer.”

  “She’s your girlfriend? What the hell are doing with her?” Tony said, looking disgusted and obviously referring to me.

  “Hey!” I exclaimed indignantly.

  Dex laughed. “Management. Gotta do what the boss says!”

  My jaw dropped. I looked at Dex, livid. Management? Boss? This whole damn show was his fucking idea, excuse my language, that dirty stinking liar!

  Now, Dex was the one who was ignoring my blatant stare. Man, if looks could kill then I was trying to commit a triple homicide with mine.

  Al kicked me under the table. I snapped my head at him. He gave me a worried look. I think he thought I was about to blow a gasket. In the past I had been known to blow up a lot at my parents—my temper isn’t exactly a mild one—so I guess he thought I might do the same to Dex. He was also probably a little unsure of how to handle a female’s wrath. Either way, though Dex and the boys weren’t noticing my flushed face and grinding teeth, Uncle Al sure was.

  I took a deep breath, composed myself and started shoving more food in my mouth. I suddenly had no idea what the truth was. Was Dex here because he wanted to be or what? Was this the lie or was everything that he told me earlier the lie?

  I was so mad.

  “Wow,” Tony said and handed the picture back to Dex. I was glad he didn’t even attempt to show it to me.

  The rest of the dinner went swimmingly—for everyone else. I just kept admonishing myself for being attracted to Dex in the first place and for even thinking that he could be attracted to me. Granted, I never actually had those thoughts, but I figured I must have subconsciously wanted that because I was feeling so stupid and disappointed over his “hot g
irlfriend.” On the surface, however, I played it cool. I laughed at Uncle Al’s stupid jokes and pretended to be interested in whatever video games Dex and the twins were bonding over. I avoided all eye contact with Dex, though, lest his inquisitive eyes pick up on something. I had no doubt he’d see how I really felt inside, and for the sake of my pride, I would rather he think I was an antisocial bitch than to let him know the truth.

  When dinner was over and the twins had convinced Dex to watch a few rounds of some lame zombie game they were playing, I headed for Uncle Al’s liquor cabinet in the kitchen.

  Al watched me curiously as he threw the paper plates in the garbage.

  “I can make you something, Perry,” he offered sweetly. I felt like he was handling me with kid gloves.

  I grabbed a bottle of vodka. Ah, dependable vodka.

  “No, that’s OK. I just need some juice of some sort.”

  He opened the fridge and handed me a carton of pulpy orange juice and watched me as I made my drink. I was getting very tired of people watching me all day.

  “He’s an interesting fellow,” he said quietly.

  I took a slow sip of my drink. It was very strong. I wasn’t used to that.

  “Just watch out,” he said, looking over at the living room. “I know you are a grown woman now, but you’re still my niece and your parents would kill me if you got hurt.”

  “I’ll be fine. I can defend myself, remember? Knee strike?” I joked, making a kicking motion with my right leg.

  Uncle Al smiled. “Oh, I remember, Perry. I saw your karate recitals. But you know what I mean. This man is a lot older than you and has his own agenda. Have fun. Enjoy this moment. And I really hope you get something out of this in the end. But watch your heart, OK, bella?”

  I gave Al a tired look. “Heart? Oh, come on, Uncle Al, I just met the guy. Men are the last thing on my mind right now, especially someone like that. I have a hard enough time dealing with myself, let alone another head case.”

  He chuckled and nodded. “I know, but what kind of uncle would I be if I didn’t try and protect little Perry?”

  He reached over for the phone and handed it to me. “By the way, call your mother. She phoned a few times before dinner. I didn’t want to tell you before you had some food in your system.”

  I exhaled grumpily and snatched the phone from him.

  ***

  By the time I was done dealing with my mother, I was exhausted beyond words. I was just about to go plunk myself down on the couch and mindlessly watch the twins play their games when a huge sound exploded and the whole house shook for a second. The kitchen door flew open, blowing the leftover paper plates off of the table.

  “What was that?” I yelled. I hoped it wasn’t the lurch of an earthquake since we were in prime tsunami zone.

  Dex hopped to his feet. The windows all started to rattle and Al ran out of his study to the kitchen door.

  “I guess the real storm is starting!” he cried out.

  He went to close the door but Dex snuck past him and ran out into the stormy night.

  “Hey,” Al yelled after him. “Be careful!”

  I love storms. I ran out after Dex. Al tried to grab me but I outmaneuvered him.

  “Perry,” he warned. But the twins followed me as well, and Al was more than outnumbered. I turned around and saw him shut the door and peer at us through the window.

  The weather was absolutely wild; the gusts were coming in so strong and blunt that it was hard to stay upright at times. It wasn’t raining yet but the air did feel weighted, like it was about to let loose at any moment. Thunder’s mighty rumble shook the sky and the ground beneath us. We waited—spread out on the dark lawn looking toward the ocean—with bated breath for the lightning to show its face. A few seconds later (nine Mississippis to be precise) it forked aggressively from the heavy clouds down to the churning waves on the horizon.

  It was during the lightening flash that I saw something I had never seen before. In the distance was a solitary island, shaped like a sharp anvil. On top of that mound was what looked like another lighthouse.

  Just like the one I had made up.

  I froze, keeping my eyes on the spot even as the strike faded and turned my view back to black.

  As the boys made impressed noises at Mother Nature’s display, I waited for the next strike to happen so I could get a better look. It seemed odd that I had never seen that lighthouse out there before and even odder that I was talking about it earlier. Perhaps I had seen it before through the fog and just never consciously recognized it. Perhaps I read it about it in the history books without realizing it.

  Thunder shook the air again with even more power than before; its vibrations rattled around in my skull like balls in a washing machine. I started counting and at five Mississippis, the lightning struck.

  This time there were several electric branches that forked out, some sideways, heading in the direction of the offshore lighthouse that was now clearly illuminated. There was no denying that it was there.

  “The Tillamook Lighthouse,” Dex said. I looked beside me. He was standing to my side and I hadn’t even noticed. His cheekbones were obsidian shadows against the house’s flickering porch light. I couldn’t see his eyes but I could feel them. He was looking at me, not the lightning show.

  “Like that story you made up,” he said without emotion. “We should go do this. Now.”

  As he said it, another huge gust of forceful wind knocked me off my feet a little and the thunder growled again, only closer now. It was definitely a sign from God that we should not be traipsing off to the lighthouse, but Dex had already turned and was running back into the house.

  “Get some better clothes and shoes on,” he yelled over his shoulder, and went into the house. Matt and Tony decided to go back in too.

  “You guys are fucking crazy,” Tony said as he walked past me. Matt gave me a shove to get me walking with them. He leaned in.

  “I agree,” he said. “Watch yourself.”

  This was probably the first time I had ever seen my cousins act remotely brotherly towards me. I wasn’t sure if now, of all times, was the best time for them to start.

  ***

  Once again, Dex and I were heading up the beach toward the lighthouse. But it was already a million times different from the way it was in the afternoon.

  For one reason, we had half the equipment. The tripod, sound gear, and lighting were all left behind. Dex had his camera on his shoulder and that was it.

  For two, we were surrounded by complete darkness. The moon was in a permanent grave somewhere in that tumultuous sky, and the only light we had was from the lightning as it moved further north of us and inland. Its flashes were growing weaker and farther apart. Lightning wasn’t exactly the most pleasant light to find your way by.

  For three, we were in the midst of an increasingly violent storm. Rain started to fall sporadically, though we were spared the brunt of a total downpour thus far. The gusts of wind came stronger and more furious by the minute until it felt like the entire contents of the beach were lodged in my hair. Not to mention the number of times it knocked me down into the sand. And I’m no lightweight.

  Luckily, the first few times that my boots couldn’t grip on the slippery, sliding dunes, Dex was there to grab my arm and steady me. My iPhone light was completely useless at this point, and I had to put it away, in case kernels of sand got lodged in there forever.

  Dex still had a flashlight he had borrowed from Al. It was dinky and fading fast, but it was still a source of light. There was the bulb on his camera as well, but that would be a last resort. Considering Dex said he paid for all of his equipment himself, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t pull out his camera until we were inside the lighthouse and safe from the elements.

  Seconds after brushing away Dex’s hand in the dark (he was trying to steady me, don’t get any interesting ideas), I found myself losing my footing again. The wind howled into my side and the tip of my left b
oot got tangled up in the strewn dune grass.

  I lofted forward in slow motion and face planted into the sand. It didn’t hurt but that didn’t stop me from feeling stupid.

  I breathed sand for a few before pushing myself off of the ground and onto my butt. My vision was black ink. I could barely see my hand in front of me, especially as the storm was constantly blowing my hair in my face. Even my yellow pea coat, chosen for its bright and eye-catching properties, was a hazy, grainy grey outline.

  I expected Dex to give me a hand any moment. But I didn’t sense Dex near me anymore.

  “Dex?” I said tentatively. My voice was barely audible in the wind. Hair flew in my mouth. It tasted like old fish.

  “Dex!” I cried out louder. I listened hard, holding my breath. I could only hear the howling wind and the faint thump of waves carried on it.

  With great care, I got to my feet, keeping as low to the ground as possible. It was so disorienting being in the dark with no idea whatsoever what way was east or west, where the lighthouse was, where the house was, or where Dex was. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I started to panic.

  The lightning struck again in the distance. It was not enough to light up anything near me but at least I could deduce which way was north—I was facing it.

  I turned around, knowing that I had to go south and up a slight cliff if I wanted to get to the lighthouse. That’s where Dex had to be. He had the flashlight after all.

  And I had my phone. I brought it out of my pocket and turned on the flashlight app, but unless the light was less than a foot away, I couldn’t see dick.

  Step by unsteady step, I walked forward, periodically calling out Dex’s name, until the unstable sand left my feet and I felt hard, sloping terrain. It felt like I was walking up the same area as I had the week before.

  I scrambled up the slope, grasping the wet grass and loose rocks until I finally found myself on top of the cliff.

  I paused to catch my breath and then made a few quick steps forward in case I got lazy and took a wrong step too close to the edge.

  Now what? The ground was mercifully level, but I was still extremely blind. You’d think my night vision would have kicked in, but the most I could see was the shadow of my hand in front of my face.