Nightside

by Holly Hook

  He only lets go of my hand when the worker asks if anyone else would like a go. Riley raises his hand and strides to the ladder.

  "Watch me." He removes his leather jacket, putting it over the rope fence beside me. Underneath, Riley wears a white shirt that hugs his body, and though he's not overly muscular, he's got perfect proportions and his jeans give his butt the best lift. Around me, I sense other girls watching, and I move to the side, trying to block the view.

  With one look back at me, he grips the horizontal ladder and climbs on. His movement is breathtaking. He grips the ladder gently but confidently, and I watch as he navigates across without tilting into the water below. The carnival worker's jaw drops. The ladder barely sways and Riley maintains his cool, not even trembling with effort. As he reaches the finish line and climbs over, rising to his feet to the sound of scattered applause, the defeated worker snatches a cat off the rack of huge stuffed animals and hands it to him.

  I can't believe it. I stand there, open-mouthed, as Riley lifts the cat and lowers it over the rope fence at me.

  "You--"

  "I was able to do it last night. Why not now?" he whispers.

  "I thought you weren't supposed to draw attention to yourself?"

  "Screw the rules. I don't care anymore. Want to do the Ferris Wheel next?"

  I take the smiling cat, hugging it to my chest, as Riley seizes his coat and throws it back over himself. "Um, sure."

  "Riley."

  I jump as the voice of an angry man strikes me. Backing away from the source, I turn to find a guy in a black suit standing there, who looks to be in his late twenties with dark hair and a chiseled face that belongs on the statue of a Greek god. A dark mustache wrinkles with disapproval. But inside those dark eyes and a copper ring like Riley's is anger. He turns all of it on Riley, who pauses near the rope fence. Around us, people turn to stare.

  I sense I should back away, as much as I don't want to leave Riley to face this guy alone.

  "Yes, Father?" Riley asks, and not without a bit of sarcasm.

  I gulp.

  The guy says nothing for a moment. The air ripples with tension as something silent passes between the guys. This man looks too young to be Riley's father, but there's age in those deep eyes I can't put my finger on. He waves Riley over to him.

  Gaze dropping to the pavement, Riley obeys.

  His father whispers something in his ear and Riley's face falls. My heart sinks to my shoes and I know this awesome night is over.

  "I have to go," Riley says to me, turning his back.

  Not again. I watch as he walks away, ahead of the angry man. The guy gives me one glare and I take another step back, legs working on their own, as a flash of anger and confusion fill me. The two vanish into the thickening crowd, leaving me standing in the middle of the pier, hugging nobody but a smiling cat.

  * * * * *

  I don't sleep well. My dreams weave in an out. Darkness. Stars. The pier and the cat smiling as Riley turns away and merges with the night.

  Chills sweep over me and sweat runs down my back. I turn over. A fever. I must be getting food poisoning. Am I in my bed? Outside? In a realistic dream? My pulse races in my ears as the sun starts to peek through the window and I force my eyes open.

  The sweat remains and I shiver under my blanket. Yes, I'm sick, but my stomach no longer rumbles and at least the horrible itch over my skin is gone. I stare at the ceiling, blinking away the fitful night.

  I smell iron.

  I throw off my blanket to get the heat and the fever off me, and the light coming through the window is just enough to reveal the horror.

  Reddish stains, some drying to a brick brown, cover my long night shirt and paint terrifying shapes on my chest, stomach, and sleeves. Some of it has gotten onto the sheets, too, as if I murdered someone in my sleep and crawled back into bed.

  Out in the kitchen, Mom starts a pot of coffee.

  I hold up my hands, which are thankfully free of blood, but every time I take a breath the smell invades. My ears ring, but I take a breath and manage to steady myself. One rational thought manages to form. I've got to clean this up.

  What is happening?

  First the creepy people, and then Riley and his family's weird rules, and then this. He knows something. I sense it, and now I have to find out what it is once and for all.

  Chapter Four

  The Derp House has one thing going for it: a trash chute. It's rusty and leads to our garbage cans outside, but I dispose of the old night shirt and change into some clean jeans and another T-shirt. Then I shower, taking it all off again, but feel no better when I get out.

  Dad, what is happening? Why did you have to ditch us?

  Then I wouldn't have woken up here with blood all over me.

  By the time I get out of the shower, I've stopped shivering. Then I take my bed sheet--at least the comforter is fine--and throw that in the old washing machine that squeals when I start it. Hopefully Mom doesn't notice.

  It's Sunday, so I greet her as she sits at the table, sipping her coffee.

  "Hey. I might have a job starting in a week," she tells me, "The interview went well and they don't get new people in very often, so my chances are good. It's at the emergency vet."

  I should hug her but I can't. The old washing machine grumbles in the other room, adding to the ominous mood. "That's awesome. Say, I'm going to head up to the library in a bit. Get some Internet time."

  "We'll have to hook that up soon," Mom says, a glimmer in her eye. But does she sound doubtful?

  Outside, clouds move over the sun. Rain. Yay.

  But I need to find Riley. I should have looked up his address at the library yesterday instead of looking at the history of logging in Moon's Peak, but oh, well.

  I head to the library and find some old phone book records on the computer. After shifting through them for a bit, I find a single Beaumont address, and it's on the opposite side of town as the Derp House. Once I put it down in my phone's notepad feature, I head back out, walking along a curvy side street until it turns into a road. The address is a couple of miles from downtown, away from everyone, and I glimpse an open field of cut trees and another filled with saplings on my walk. I'm headed into wilderness.

  As I approach the address, a roof rises from the lush trees, tucked back into the woods, and I glimpse dark windows and almost what look like towers peeking over the leaves. Is that a brick mansion?

  Yes.

  The Beaumonts live in a freaking mansion. That gets more obvious the closer I get. The clouds thicken as I approach. Riley lives here and saw that I inhabit the Derp House. But he doesn't care about that.

  My back prickles, but after checking the road and seeing no one, I make it to the front gate. It's closed, keeping out everyone, and I don't even see a mailbox at the front. The house has a pair of lion statues near the stone porch, and the lawn is very lush with trimmed shrubs and hedges. The double doors are made of polished wood and the brick of the house has vines growing up its sides, but it only adds to the effect.

  The Beaumonts have money.

  I push at the gate and surprisingly it opens with a squeak. I imagine this huge house would scare off most people. The dark windows and the closed curtains all scream do not trespass. Back in the city, I wouldn't have done this, no way, but things are different now. I can't go without answers.

  I walk up and knock on the door.

  And then I wait. This place feels so dead that I wonder if I have the right address. Pulling out my phone, I eye the numbers. Yes. They match the ones on the door.

  Just when I decide to turn back and hope to see Riley tonight, one of the polished doors squeaks open a hair. A copper-rimmed eye peeks out.

  My heart jumps into my throat.

  "Olivia. Crap," Riley says in a panic, throwing the door open all the way. "You're not supposed to be here. We have to leave now."

  I backpedal from the door, tensing. My thoughts turn back to the man from last night and I wait
for him to come out next, snarling at me to leave, but instead, Riley squints and motions to a black car parked next to one of the shrubs. There are several vehicles there, all shining and new, and Riley gets out a remote and unlocks the car. We're to get in. His stride alone tells me that.

  So I do. Can I trust Riley? Something seems off about him, but I've come this far and I can't go back now. The alternative is to go home and wonder if I'm going insane.

  He starts the car, which has an all-leather interior and purrs like a kitten. The history books were right. The Beaumonts are loaded. Without a word, Riley backs out and drives out of the still-open gate, saying absolutely nothing. He grips the steering wheel as if a tornado is trying to rip him away.

  I should apologize. But I open my mouth and nothing comes out. What gives? I'm about to tell him something I don't even want to tell myself. Sweat snakes in between my fingers as I grip the leather seat.

  We turn down an obscured dirt road I'm amazed Riley was able to see in the first place. A shudder runs up my spine. He's taking me to isolation. "Where are we going?"

  "You shouldn't have come to my house. Why do they have to list it in the phone books?"

  "You know about that?"

  "Dad has been trying to get the librarians to remove those records for years," he explains. "I shouldn't even be telling you that. Olivia, what are you thinking? You saw my father last night."

  "Yeah, he seemed pleasant," I say. At least he's talking. "I'll tell you what I'm thinking. Park somewhere. Something's happening and I have the feeling it's connected to this town. And you must know about it."

  Riley turns off the dirt road and into the trees, following barely-visible tire tracks. A few raindrops patter against the glass. We get under a thick pine, which blocks out most of the light. But from here, a large lake spreads out, one I didn't know about until now.

  He swallows. "Olivia, what's happening? I know you've seen those creeps and if they've come back--"

  "It's not them," I say, gulping down my own horror. "It's me." I brace myself and force out the words, telling Riley about the weird craving I had yesterday morning, and the itch, and then my fitful night and waking up to this morning's horror. My voice sounds a million miles away as I speak.

  But Riley's expression isn't lost on me. His deep eyes widen with each passing sentence and he grips the steering wheel with one hand, working his fingers against the leather.

  I finish, waiting for the worst.

  He thinks I'm insane. He must. Heck, I'm thinking the same thing. The stress of Dad's leaving as done this to me.

  "I don't know what to think," I add, voice raspy. Yeah, I'm about to lose it in front of this hottie.

  "Olivia. I...I...I shouldn't have..." He faces the lake. "I know what's happening to you and you probably think you're insane, but trust me, you're not. I'm going to have to confess something, too."

  I'm about to learn the truth of the Beaumont family. About Riley. My jaw drops as silence drags out. Riley works his jaw, but then he suddenly tenses and faces me with horror. "Get down! They're here."

  They're here?

  Then I see them.

  The tattooed man and the two other guys, stepping out from the surrounding trees and fanning out in front of the car. The leader stands with his muscular arms folded, glaring.

  Riley shoves the keys back in the ignition. "Olivia. Take the car and go. I'll deal with them."

  I don't get it. "You said they wouldn't bother us!"

  "I broke the rules. I can't protect you anymore," he says, throwing the door open and slamming it behind him.

  Paralysis steals over me as Riley faces off with the three men. He balls his fists and they glare at each other, silent threats passing between them. The tattooed man, who has some kind of monster stretching across half his face, circles Riley, waiting for him to make the first move.

  But Riley waits.

  I should go. But I can't ditch him here.

  The guy on the left, a man in leather and dreadlocks, approaches the car, closing in like a silent predator.

  But his move isn't lost on Riley. He turns his head so that I can see his face, and the guy stops in his tracks. Riley bares his teeth. I blink. For a split second, his canines appear pointed, almost like he has--

  The dreadlocked man charges Riley, but he ducks, faster than anyone should, and vaults his attacker into the tattooed guy. A loud thump sounds as the two go down and Riley turns his aggression on the third man, a bald one with a pointed beard.

  I should go. Riley wants me to get out of here. But I can't stop watching.

  The two collide. Riley shuffles back into a tree while the third guy claws at him with his nails, teeth also bared. But Riley jackknifes his hands through the man's arm and grasps his throat. With a swift motion, he twists the man's neck.

  Even from inside the car, I hear the snap.

  Riley releases the bald man, letting his body slump to the ground.

  Vomit rises in my mouth. He just killed a dude. I might be from the city, but I've never seen a murder before.

  The keys wait in the ignition. All I have to do is turn them and stomp on the accelerator. I could even run over the two guys pushing themselves off the ground. Help Riley. Why can't I move?

  Riley wastes no time. I watch him leap on the tattooed man, who tries to push himself off the dreadlocked guy. Teeth once again bared--he cannot have fangs--he wraps his arms around the stalker's neck and gives him the same treatment. Another snap echoes off the trees. The dreadlocked man tries to push himself up, but Riley stomps on his neck with his boot.

  Crunch.

  I'm going to throw up.

  Slowly, Riley looks up at me. His dark eyes soften and he closes his mouth. We stare at each other as silence drags out. None of this makes sense. I'm going completely insane, but Riley just killed three people with his bare hands. It's like he's not even human--

  "Olivia, get out. I have to dispose of the bodies. Who knows if anyone else is out there?"

  Huh?

  Dispose of the bodies?

  Yeah. Of course. We can't have the cops coming after us. Riley just broke two necks with those beautiful, gentle hands--

  "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to see this, but, never mind. I can't hide things from you anymore." Riley leans down to move the body.

  He's a killer.

  No human could have done what he just did. All three men were bigger than him. I eye the keys again as my heart races.

  "Don't go. Please," Riley says, hands up. "I won't hurt you. I'd never do that. If you leave now, you're going to be in a lot more danger than you are now."

  His words shake me to the core. I'm in danger, I don't understand what's happening, and now I've witnessed real death. But Riley's eyes are wide. Begging.

  I've gotten him into this mess.

  "Olivia, please. If I leave to throw these bodies in the lake, someone else might come for you. And if you're going to sit there and stare, I have to stay here."

  I shake my head, jarred out of my state. And I throw open the car door.

  "Well, I've never seen anyone kill people with their bare hands before," I say.

  "I know." Riley grunts as he heaves the tattooed man over his shoulder. For a moment, his wide, lifeless eyes stare at me, sending another shudder down my spine. "Stay close. I'm the only one who can help you now. This shouldn't take long. No one comes out to this lake and it'll take forever for anyone to notice these guys. I hope."

  "What if we get caught?" I ask.

  Riley eyes me with a frown. "That's the least of our problems. Let me deal with it." His teeth look normal again. I was seeing things.

  Thoughts swirling with confusion, I follow Riley down to the lake, stunned. But no one else comes for us.

  And Riley continues to carry the body without much effort. I watch as he stops at the rocky shore of the lake and tosses the body into the water. Gentle waves lap at it and pull it away from the shore, where it blends with the dull gray color.


  "Two more," he mutters.

  "Two more," I gasp.

  "I'll explain everything once we're out of here," Riley says. "I owe it to you after what I did."

  "What you did?"

  But he doesn't explain. My legs beg me to run but the mystery beckons. I need answers and Riley is the only link.

  I walk with him as he throws the second and then the third body into the lake, which float off to join the first. "Let's go," he says, wiping his hands on his leather coat. "It's best we go to a public place, just in case."

  * * * * *

  What other choice do I have but to get in the car with Riley?

  Relief allows me to drop my shoulders from my ears when he drives out of the woods and towards town. The rain drives down harder than ever, splattering the windshield and turning the world blurry. Town passes. People rush in and out of cars, vanishing into stores. Riley turns towards the pier and parks at a cafe I haven't seen before, a seaside one that looks out on the ocean. It's a pleasant-looking blue building with an open deck now shining with rain, and a warm interior that welcomes us as we walk inside. A sign tells us to seat ourselves, and Riley waves me to the back of the cafe, to a booth that's tucked back from everyone else. He waves to an old woman behind the counter who offers a warm smile.

  We sit, and Riley doesn't touch either menu.

  "Back to not eating, I see," I try to joke.

  "Do you think you want to see me eat?" he asks. "You saw what I did back there.” He speaks like I should know what he means.

  “Riley, I don't get it,” I blurt. Or maybe I do and I just don't want to say it. Everything's adding up to a terrifying picture and I don't want that last piece to snap into place.

  “I'll just come out and say it. I think you've figured it out, but here it is.” Riley grips the edge of the table and tenses, lowering his voice until I can barely hear him. “I'm a vampire.”

  Chapter Five