Paranormal After Dark: 20 Paranormal Tales of Demons, Shifters, Werewolves, Vampires, Fae, Witches, Magics, Ghosts and More

by Rebecca Hamilton

  "It’s fine. I get it."

  Smith was silent, then, "You mind telling me what happened back there? Why you ran off?"

  Claire stopped walking. In one breath she told him exactly what she had told Ethan and Logan. She finished by saying: "Don't talk me out of leaving. As soon as I get home I'm going to call my aunt and get everything arranged. Hopefully I'll be gone within a few days."

  "I'm not going to talk you out of it," he said.

  "You're not?"

  "No. I think its best. It's too dangerous for you here, and I don't even know what I'm up against."

  She nodded, knowing he was right.

  Smith put his arm around her. "Come on. Let me give you a ride home."

  * * *

  THE NEXT DAY, Claire woke up more determined than ever. All night she made plans to get out of town. In two days. That’s when she’d finally leave Bandon, something she’d wanted to do for a long time. But not like this. Not running for her life.

  Her mother hadn’t tried to stop her, which Claire didn’t expect. But what had surprised her is her mother suggesting that maybe they both could move. Somewhere new where they could start over. Claire liked that idea.

  All night Logan and Ethan had tried calling her, but she didn’t want to speak to either of them just yet. They might want to talk her out of leaving, and she didn’t want anyone changing her mind. But now that her plans were set, there was really only one thing to do. She wanted to have one last day at the beach with all of her friends.

  She texted Kate, then Steph and Audrey. She followed it up with Ethan and Logan. Just a simple text that said: Party at the beach. Noon. Meet at the lockers. She didn’t respond to any follow up questions, especially from Ethan. She would explain everything there.

  Even though Claire said noon, she arrived at eleven to have some time to herself. She wasn’t really alone though. The beach was crowded with children, parents, couples; pretty much everyone had showed up. It was a gorgeous day, one of the warmest of the year.

  Claire spread her towel on a sandy spot of beach right in the middle of everyone. It’s where she felt safest. She stretched out on her bare belly and looked up. Near the snack station, Officer Johnson was ordering a drink. She closed her eyes and rested her head on her forearm, not letting herself think of anything.

  Just before noon, Claire straightened and headed to her beach locker near the snack station.

  Ethan was already there waiting for her in his bathing suit. "What's going on? Why are you avoiding me?"

  She began spinning the combination on her locker. "I can't stay, Ethan."

  He let out a sigh. "So that’s what this is all about. Look, I didn't ask you to and I won't."

  Claire stopped moving. She didn't know whether to be relieved or slightly let down.

  He took hold of her hand. "It's not that I want you to go, but I think you're safer if you do."

  "You’re wrong," a voice said from behind her. Claire turned around.

  "You can't leave," Logan said. "He'll just follow you."

  "You don't know that," she said.

  "And you don't know that he won't. Leaving won't accomplish anything. We need to end this here."

  She let go of Ethan's hand and crossed her arms to her chest. "How? By killing someone I know?"

  "Anne said that's the only way," Logan said.

  "There’s got to be something we’re missing. An option we haven’t thought of yet."

  "And what about Gage?"

  Claire returned to spinning the dial on her locker. "What about him? Once he realizes I've left, he'll forget about me and move on."

  "To what?"

  "Lay off,” Ethan said. “She's made up her mind."

  Logan took hold of her arm. "Please, Claire. You need to stay. Gage has to be stopped."

  Ethan knocked his hand away. "She said no."

  Claire couldn't look at him. "I'm sorry, Logan."

  Why couldn't she remember her combination?

  Logan stared at her for a moment before he turned around and walked toward the ocean, his surfboard in hand.

  "Don't worry about him," Ethan said. "He'll get over it."

  "Uh-huh.” The locker door opened. She withdrew money from her pant packet.

  Ethan placed his hand over hers. “Let me. What do you want?”

  “Lemonade and a slice of pizza.”

  “Got it. Wait here. I’ll be right back.” He kissed her on the cheek and walked to the long line of people all waiting for food.

  Claire squinted and searched the shoreline for Logan. He was wading into the water. He always went surfing when he was upset.

  She was about to close her locker, when she saw the corner of a black envelope sticking out from beneath her jeans. She slid it out and turned it over in her hands. No markings anywhere to indicate whom it could be from. She brought it close to her and inhaled. The ocean. She slipped her finger into it and broke the seal. Inside was a letter on fancy stationary that read:

  My Dearest Claire,

  Have you already forgotten that you belong to me? Try leaving Bandon and I will kill everyone you love. I do not make threats. You are mine.

  Gage

  Claire's head spun, and she placed her hand on the lockers to steady herself. As soon as her mind stopped reeling, she tossed the letter into her locker, slammed the door, and bolted for the nearest bathroom before she had a complete breakdown in front of everyone.

  Once inside a bathroom stall, Claire slumped to the concrete floor between the wall and the toilet. She tried to take deep breaths, but they caught in her chest until great tears spilled onto her bare legs. There was no way out. Never had she felt so helpless. At least with her father she had options. But Gage was different. She wiped at her eyes with her wrist and tilted her head back, staring into the glare of the fluorescent lights.

  But the hopelessness wasn't what was making her sick to her stomach, a pain that had started the night before. There were too many signs, too many coincidences. Gage had to be someone she knew and loved: Ethan or Logan. She clutched her aching stomach.

  Other than Smith, they were the only ones who knew about her decision to leave. Then last night she’d remembered what Gage had said at the car accident, about meeting her at the spot where she learned to ride a dirt bike. At first, she hadn’t thought too much about it, but then she realized only Logan and Ethan knew where that was. And they were the only ones who knew about the gun. And they were the only ones who had found her last night. Claire was sure now, despite the innocence she saw in each of their eyes. Maybe whoever it was didn’t know he was Gage. Or maybe he did know and was the best liar she’d ever met. More tears fell.

  Minutes passed by as she considered her options. Leave and risk everyone getting killed? Stay and become a killer-freak like Gage?

  Or.

  She sat up. Do exactly what Logan had suggested.

  Kill Gage.

  When Anne told her that Gage was someone she knew and she’d have to kill them, Claire didn't think she could do it, but too much had happened. And now she was backed into a corner. She shook her head, stood, and brushed herself off. No matter what mask Gage wore, she'd kill anyone who would make her into a victim again.

  Resolved and determined, she went to the bathroom sink and washed her hands. She met her gaze in the mirror for a fraction of a second and then looked down. No matter who it is, she thought, before shutting off the water and leaving the bathroom.

  Claire stepped into the sunlight. In her mind she was already planning how to kill Gage, but first she had to figure out who he was. That would be the hard part.

  She turned the corner of the large, brick bathhouse, and nearly ran into several kids running toward the beach. Without warning, a strong arm wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her backwards into a muscled chest. The perpetrator practically lifted her up and dragged her to the wall.

  "Hello, Claire," a familiar, poisonous voice said in her ear. "I have something for you."
<
br />   Before she could scream, Gage stabbed a syringe into her neck. A warm liquid rushed into her vein.

  "You can thank me later," he whispered before removing the syringe and disappearing into the sea of happy beachgoers.

  Chapter 34

  CLAIRE BROUGHT HER hand up to her neck. Time slowed and the people around her began to spin. She blinked slowly. Not far away she saw Kate at the lockers waving at her. A bright pink cast was on her arm. It matched her pink bikini. I like it, she thought before she crumbled to the floor.

  A searing pain, much like she imagined how fire would feel, exploded all over her body. She curled into a tight ball on the sand, unable to make a sound. The fire was everywhere, lapping at her skin, boiling her blood, cooking her insides. If only she could scream, she might be able to release some of the pain.

  People nearby spoke fast; their voices were high-pitched like they’d been sucking helium. She wanted to swat at them, tell them to go away and let her suffer in silence. And then she felt herself being picked up and carried. The small breeze from moving stung every nerve ending in her skin, causing her even more pain. Voices kept talking. The sound of a door opening and closing. And then only one voice.

  "Claire?” the voice asked, slower, deeper, and this time Claire recognized it as Logan's. She gripped his hand and felt him squeeze it back.

  The pain, once burning, began to lessen and change into a coolness that coursed through her blood. She became aware of a couch beneath her, and the soft humming of appliances. She must be in the lifeguard’s lounge.

  Claire stretched her legs. They felt much better now that the fire was gone. In fact they felt great, lighter somehow. She opened her eyes.

  Logan was kneeling on the floor next to her, his hair wet and head lowered. She watched him for a moment, wondering if it was him who had stabbed her only moments ago, but her thoughts stopped altogether when her system was shocked by a surge of energy. It tightened her muscles, shocked her nerve endings, and even seemed to bring parts of her mind more alive. She sat up and inhaled.

  Logan looked up. "You okay?"

  Claire nodded slowly, focusing only on her surroundings. She felt incredible, almost as if she were a new person. Everything around her was sharper somehow, more clear. She smiled.

  "Claire?" Logan said, frowning.

  Her eyes went to the doorway, to where some people were crowding around trying to peek at her through the door’s small window. Some new part of her loved that she was making a spectacle.

  “Get out of here!” Logan snapped at them and then returned his attention to Claire. “What happened out there?”

  She easily told the truth. "Gage was here. He injected me with something, probably the same drug he takes."

  When she said it, she tried to pay attention to his reaction, knowing it was important, but it was hard. She just didn't care.

  He took hold of her arm. "Gage was here? When?"

  "A while ago. He injected me," she pointed to her neck, "and then took off. Weird."

  Logan glanced toward the door.

  "Don't worry about it. He's long gone," she said.

  He looked back at her. "Don't worry? When he possibly gave you the same stuff that turned him into a monster?" His voice was growing louder.

  Claire ruffled his hair. "It’s okay. I'm not going to become a homicidal maniac quite yet. Gage told me on the cliffs that it takes three times, but whatever it is, I feel great." She stood and stretched. "Quit staring at me like that. It's not a big deal."

  "Would you listen to yourself?" He stood up. "This is huge! I can't believe you're not freaking out!"

  She rolled her eyes just as the door flew open. Kate and Ethan rushed in.

  Ethan came to her, his gaze scanning her up and down.

  "I thought you said she was messed up?" he said, glancing back at Kate.

  Kate's mouth was open. "She was. She was having some sort of a seizure on the ground."

  Claire let out a long, exaggerated breath. "You guys, I'm fine. Can we please just go swimming already?"

  Logan was shaking his head. “Not until we understand what happened."

  "What happened?" Ethan asked.

  “I’m bored. Later," Claire said.

  She opened the door and walked straight toward the beach, not caring when she stepped on people’s blankets or kicked up sand. Every part of her breathed with new life and she no longer felt any guilt or anger, not even in the deepest part of her heart where she concealed her darkest pains.

  All of it was just gone.

  So this is what it felt like to be alive. She wanted to run, dance, scream; nothing seemed impossible. She dived into the water. The coolness of it didn’t shock her like she thought it would. She stayed underwater for a long time, feeling like she could hold her breath forever. Whatever drug Gage had injected her with, she loved it.

  When her head broke the surface of the water, she heard, "Claire!" She glanced toward the beach. Ethan and Kate were standing together calling her name.

  She swam toward them, until she could touch bottom, and then walked out of the sea.

  "What do you think you’re doing?" Kate asked. “We need to get you checked out.”

  Claire shook her wet hair. "What's it to you? I'm not hurting anyone."

  "Yeah, well, you’re not acting real smart right now," Kate said while scratching at the inside of her cast.

  "At least I'm doing exactly what I want to do instead of always dreaming about it."

  Kate glared at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

  Claire knew what she was about to say would hurt Kate, but she no longer had a filter. "I think that cast is the best thing that could've happened to you. Call it a reality check, Kate, cuz its not like you're going anywhere. You're going to end up exactly like your mother—working in a truck stop diner for the rest of your life."

  By Kate’s expression, Claire might as well have slapped her.

  "I can’t believe I called you my best friend," Kate said before she turned around and walked away.

  "Claire," Ethan said, his voice stern, "we need to talk."

  "I don't want to talk." She walked over to him and cuddled up to his chest. "Keep me warm," she said, even though she wasn't cold.

  He took her by both arms and pushed her away. "Logan told me what Gage did to you. This is serious."

  She looked into his eyes. "Is it? Maybe this is what you secretly want."

  His brow furrowed. "I would never want this for you. And what does that even mean?"

  A smile played at her lips.

  "You think I'm Gage?” he asked. “That's insane."

  She shook free of his grip.

  Ethan continued to talk. "Gage injected you with poison. Do you get that?"

  She walked back toward the water. "I don't care, Ethan. This is the first time in my life where I don’t feel like I have to fight."

  She dove into the water and swam away.

  Chapter 35

  GAGE STARED DOWN at Claire from the top of the cliff. She swam expertly, despite the fact that the tide was coming in. He knew what she was feeling, and would've given anything to be there with her, sharing her high, feeling as if they were the only two people in the world. He breathed in deeply trying to smell her bliss.

  But he couldn't get distracted.

  He turned away from Claire and took the long way home on a trail through the forest. He couldn't be seen just yet. She was close to figuring out his true identity, and it would really mess up his plans if she did it too soon.

  He began to jog, thinking how wonderful it was not to worry about Albert anymore. For the most part, Gage now had enough control over him that he could use Albert’s voice and body to lie to Claire. She would believe anything he said.

  He leapt over a fallen log.

  Gage thought about taking Albert back to the beach. The others might notice he was missing, but after what just happened with Claire they probably all went home.

  In the end, though
, he decided not to. Screw them all. In just a few days, Claire would be his and together they would leave this place forever.

  Gage snuck through Albert’s back yard, mindful of any nosey neighbors. He moved to open the door, but discovered it was locked. With one hard tug, Gage broke the lock and opened the door.

  The house was quiet except for the sounds of his shoes against the linoleum floor, which he deliberately scuffed up, leaving angry black marks on the floor. It was good to have the house to himself—he froze. The air stirring about the kitchen smelled different. Coffee and, he sniffed, hot dogs?

  He walked into the living room. Lying on the coffee table was a small brown box and an envelope. He picked up the box first and looked inside. A silver phone. He tossed it onto the couch and tore into the envelope. It read:

  Keep this on you at all times. We'll be in touch,

  Your friends at Bodian.

  He crumpled up the paper and tossed it next to the phone. Something would have to be done about Bodian. He didn't want to be anyone's call girl.

  Just then the cell phone rang in the form of a popular rap song. He resisted the urge to smash it. Just before it stopped ringing, he picked it up and answered it. “What?”

  "I see you found the phone. Do you like it? It was very expensive," a deep voice said.

  "What do you want?"

  The voice was quiet, then, "We have a job for you."

  "Hurry up and tell me. I have my own things to do."

  "That's great, Gage, but don't forget that we are and always will be your priority." His voice was short and even deeper than before.

  Gage echoed his tone. "Not for long."

  "Don't threaten us. Your life is expendable."

  Gage grabbed a nearby lamp and tossed it across the room. "What's the job?"

  "We want you to steal Claire Williams' medical records from the hospital."

  This surprised him. "Why?"

  "That's none of your business. Just go to the hospital you put her in—”

  "She barely had a scratch."

  "Get to a computer and download her information—”