“Iodine, sweetie. Gotta make sure you don’t get any nasty infections. This is going to hurt again, try not to cry.” She laughed as she applied more of the stuff and I bit back my scream.
“She stumbled into a dumpster as we were looking for a good place to watch the fireworks.” Brooke explained.
“Did she also get poked with needles?” The First Aid Lady asked. “There are several punctures. They’re not very deep, but it looks like fish hooks punctures.”
“Bad razor shave?” Brook offered.
The First Aid Lady smirked. “Whatever.” She closed her bag. “I’d take her to the doctor to get a tetanus shot. Those dumpsters are very rusty. She should be able to keep the leg though.” She walked off as her radio blared with a new casualty of the night.
I reached down to rub my throbbing leg, and a part of my jeans were gone. “She cut my jeans!”
“Price of being stupid and getting hurt.” Brooke walked over and looked at me. Her blue eyes glared into my own, they were ablaze with anger. “Don’t wander off again!”
I swallowed down my own angry retort. “I saw Gabe.” Was all I got out as the familiar laughing of the Rainbow Twins intruded the night.
Set walked up with arms around each one as they held onto him as if he were a prize they had won. In his left hand was a red pouch that dangled next to Jill’s gaudy earring. He tossed the pouch at Brooke and she snatched it out of the air like a cat grabbing a bird.
“Hi, Brooky Blue.” Jill laughed.
It was clear they were drunk.
“Did you find them?” Brooke hissed between her taunt lips.
“Oh, I found them alright.” Set greedily eyed his meals and then kissed them on their heads as if he were giving them his blessing.
“Set.” Gabe said.
Set nodded. “Red did. Now my cousins, I bid you farewell”
“You’re Brooky Blue’s cousin.” Katie slurred. They both laughed as the three of them reentered the streaming throng of people.
Gabe walked over to Brooke and took the pouch from her trembling hand. He knelt down again and began to unwrap the bandage around my leg. “I’m going to kill him.” Brooke hissed.
Gabe laughed. The sound was like chimes in the night. “You say that all the time.” He looked up at me and I quickly put my hand down. I was about to touch his face again.
“Deep down, she likes him.” He smiled.
I smiled back, unable to keep the smile from going from ear to ear.
“No I don’t.” Brooke fumed. “He’s an arrogant, self-centered, ego maniac!” The last finished on a higher note than the first. Gabe just chuckled and I couldn’t help but chuckle at Brooke’s tirade also.
He had finished taking the bandage off, and I could see that the wound wasn’t very big, but it was really red. He looked at it with some concern. He opened the pouched and poured some dust into his hand. It sparkled like diamonds in the light.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“It’s a powder that helps stop the swelling and keeps it from getting polluted.” He explained. “It’s used a lot in the village we come from in Japan.”
“Polluted?” I asked.
Gabe looked embarrassed and my heart skipped a beat. “Uhm, infected I guess is a better word.” Then he looked earnestly into my eyes. “I won’t lie to you, JJ. This isn’t very pleasant. It’s going to hurt, a lot.” Then, “Trust me?”
Fireworks began to explode in the sky above us, illuminating the area even more. As the sparkles of fireworks reflected in his perfect, glassy eyes, I caught my breath as I nodded and the butterflies reawakened in my stomach. His smile reassured me that everything would be okay and then as the fireworks continued, out of the corner of my eye, I saw his hand toss the power onto my leg and the night went black.
My head bounced against the tram window and it shook me awake. Groggily, I placed my hand on my aching head, and Brooke slowly came into focus in the seat across from me.
“Hey, sleepy head.” Her smile mocked me.
“Where are we?” My body ached. I peered around for Gabe, but only unfamiliar faces gazed back at me from the seats and aisle around us. “Where’s Gabe?”
“On his way home, just like us. Weren’t the fireworks great?” She sighed contently.
“Fireworks? I don’t remember seeing them.”
Brooke nodded sadly and gestured to those around us that I had been drinking.
“I didn’t drink anything.” I angrily whispered at her, which made my head hurt.
Brooke nodded again. “I know.” She patted my leg.
I shoved her hand away. “Fuck off.”
She laughed.
Folding my arms across my chest, I watched the lights go by through the window. We didn’t speak the rest of the way, though she chatted with those around us, which annoyed me. We walked to the car in silence and the drive home was the same way.
I got out, slammed the door and limped up to the house. The living room light was on, something my Dad always does for me.
“Hey, I’m going to be gone until semester starts.” Brooke yelled to me. “I’ll call you when I get back in town.”
Even though I was angry at her, I didn’t want her to be gone for a week and a half. “Where you going?”
“Vaca with the parents. Going back to Japan to see some relatives.” Brooke said.
“Are your cousins going too?”
She nodded. “Take care of that leg, and come up with a better story for your dad. Not that he wouldn’t believe that you ran into a dumpster, but at least make it more exciting.”
I snarled. “Ha, ha.”
She laughed, waved and drove away.
While I watched her go, and as she came to the end of the block, her brake lights came on. I shuddered as they reminded me of the glowing red eyes of the people in the alley. “It wasn’t a dumpster.” I whispered to the cold air, before entering the house to a dog happy to see me.
Going to my room, I peeled off my clothes, but not before I gave them a deep inhale. I immediately threw them into the corner; they smelled of alcohol, smoke, and stink. Not what I was hoping for. Disgusted, I limped to the bathroom, washed my face, put on my night shirt and climbed into bed. Cooper jumped up on the bed, turned around several times before settling at the foot. I put my hands behind my head and stared up at the ceiling. As I turned over the nights events in my head, my leg throbbed.
“I know it wasn’t a dumpster.” The night heard me say. “Dumpster’s don’t have glowing green eyes and tentacles with spiky cactus pads on them. And what about those two people I saw? They had red glowing eyes? Was it just a trick of the light? People don’t have glowing red eyes, except in pictures.” I sighed. My eyes widened. “Vampires?” A cold chill went through my body. “I can’t imagine falling in love with someone who could never see the light of day or touch a body with the temperature of an ice cube. Much better to have the warmth of the sun, than cold of the night.” Again I sighed. “This is ridiculous. Why would Brooke think I ran into a dumpster? Then again, I don’t remember telling her what happened. Not even during the ride home. It was just too bizarre. Anyway, I…” the knock at my door startled me.
“Anyone in there I should be concerned about?” My Dad’s voice asked.
“Just a beautiful, golden haired, four legged man of my dreams.” On cue, Cooper barked.
He laughed. “People are going to talk if you keep sleeping with that dog, not that I mind.”
I smiled. “He loves me unconditionally, I’ll never find that in a boy.”
My Dad sighed through the door. “Someday honey. Anyway, glad you made it home safely. Want to go to breakfast?”
Mostly safe, I thought. “Sure,” I started, then, “can we go downtown for lunch instead?”
There was a hesitation behind the closed door. Dad doesn’t like to go downtown. The crowds bother him. Not that my Dad is a recluse, he doesn’t mind small functions, especially the ones at school. He loves going to t
hose, but the idea of mingling in large crowds never set well with him. I remember Mom having to hold his hand like a small child anytime we went Christmas shopping or anytime we went on vacation to Disney Land or Eliches.
As the silence stretched on, I started to regret asking, when, “Sure, honey.” His voice was tight.
“We don’t have to, Dad. I know how you hate the crowds.”
“No, no, it will be good to get out. Stretch the legs see how the populace lives. Any place in particular?”
I nodded my head, and was glad he couldn’t see me do it. “No, just someplace on 16th Street.”
His response was very controlled. “Eleven Thirty?”
“Great. Love you Dad.”
“Love you too, JJ.”
I heard his footsteps retreat down the hall and his door close. My leg continued to throb lightly and when the ceiling finally fell out of focus, the rhythmic beating of a helicopter’s blades gently lulled me to sleep.
The next morning came too early, even though the knock at my door sounded at Ten Thirty. Groggily I rolled over and Cooper stared at me expectantly by the door. A small whimper escaped his lips.
“Oh snap.” I jumped out of bed and opened the door. My Dad was about to knock again as Cooper shot passed him like a lightning bolt with me behind him. Down the stairs and through the kitchen, Cooper raced and slid to a halt in front of the sliding doors. My fingers fumbled with the latch, Cooper whimpered again, and when I got it open, Cooper dashed out into the yard, found his spot and peed.
“Sorry, Cooper.” I apologized from the door.
Cooper turned his head towards me, the relief clearly visible on his face. I left the door open and turned to my smiling Dad.
“That was close.” He went over to the table and sat down.
“Yep. Guess I was really tired.” I sat down at the table and picked a piece from his cinnamon roll.
“What did you do to your leg?” He asked.
I quickly reached down and covered the bandage with my hand. My leg had stopped throbbing and when I pushed on it, it didn’t hurt. Embarrassed, I tried to think of something. “I…I got a tattoo.”
“Really.” He said over his hot chocolate cup. “Can I see it?”
My face flush. He knew I would never get a tattoo, I abhor them, but wasn’t ready to tell him what happened until I got to see the dumpster. Therefore, “You got me. I stumbled into a dumpster as we were looking for a place to watch the fireworks.”
Merriment sprang into his eyes and I steeled myself for the abuse that was about to begin for being clumsy.
But instead, “Do we need to go and see the doctor?” he asked concerned.
I stared at him. “What?”
Even though the merriment in his eyes never drained away, he placed his hand on mine. “Do we need to see about it? I don’t want you to get blood poisoning or anything?”
I shook my head. “No. Nothing funny to say?”
He stood. “JJ, as your father, I’m concerned when you get hurt. Besides, I’m sure Brooke had plenty to say.”
“She did. Thank you, Dad.”
“No problem.” He left the kitchen and then he called from the stairs. “Honey?”
“Yes.” I answered back.
“Should we order a robot boyfriend for you from Japan?” His laughter continued through his shower.
He was still chuckling at his joke the entire drive downtown. I wouldn’t have minded so much, but every time he answered a question or pointed something out, he would use this obnoxiously bad robot voice. And then when I would make a lane change or anything he thought might be even remotely wrong while we drove, he would blurt out, “Danger, Will Robinson, danger!” Then continued laughing. While we parked, signs of the fireworks were still visible on the street. Trash collectors were busily cleaning up and the little street sweepers cruised along picking up stuff in the gutters. A smattering of people walked the mall, enjoying the bright sunny day. I took my Dad’s arm and walked together down the mall. We chatted about nothing in particular as I carefully steered us towards the alleyway across from Writer’s Corner. When we approached the alleyway, my stomach tightened and I gripped his arm tighter.
“Ow!” He complained.
I nervously laughed. “Just sneaking in a shot for all the abuse I’ve been taking.”
He laughed back. “If I wasn’t picking on you, you’d think I didn’t care.”
“Uh, huh. How many times have I heard that one?”
He squeezed my arm. “More than you probably care.”
I nodded and continued to steer him towards the alleyway.
“How about the Breckenridge Brewery?” Dad suggested.
“Ah, no. You don’t drink and I don’t like their food. How about…” Then I stopped. “Oh, snap. I just remembered that I lost my lipstick in that alley last night. It’s just over here.”
I pulled him along as he protested. “When have you started wearing lipstick?”
“Dad, I had to look good last night, what if I met someone?” My apprehension grew as we closed in on the front of the alley and my resolve was starting to erode. My knees were getting a little weak and my body began to tingle.
“Oh, of course. In case Brooke’s cousin was there. Got ya.” He nudged me as if he understood.
“Right.” I answered as I involuntarily began to slow.
“Couldn’t you just buy a new one? Downtown alleys give me the creeps. Too many monster shows when I was a kid.”
I completely understood that sentiment. “No, it was one of my favorites. Want me to explain about a girl and her lipstick?”
“No.”
Girly stuff was the easiest way to get him to change subjects. We stopped in front of the alleyway and my body shivered. Dad hugged me closer thinking it was from the cold, but it was because of last night’s events rushing upon me. In my mind’s eye, I could clearly see the two people with their red eyes down by the dumpster, which would have been about halfway down the alley. I involuntarily reached down and rubbed my leg. The image of the creature thing’s eyes staring at me after it flipped me on my back dominated my consciousness. I looked up at the buildings that made up the alleyway, and I marveled at how big that crocodile winged creature must have been to fly in from above me. Those buildings were really high. Dad squeezed me.
“We going in or have you come to your senses and realized it would be easier to buy a new one?”
I shook my head, took a deep breath and plunged forward. I expected things to repeat themselves, but the sound of the people walking by and the street sweepers continued to filter down the alleyway. Slightly disappointed and relieved at the same time, I halfheartedly searched the ground as I kept an eye on the blue dumpster that neared. Like walking up to someone you don’t want to talk to, the blue dumpster waited patiently for me to approach.
“Honey, seriously. This is a waste of time. And what were you doing down here anyway?” Dad complained from the other side.
“I have to have it.” I replied, ignoring the second part of his question.
His muffled grunt of resignation was combined with the occasional can being kicked.
When I approached the dumpster, my heart began to beat faster. Black filth marred the side of it and the black lids had long since been ripped away. The putrid smell of trash wafted up and out of the dumpster causing me to hold my breath or gag. I slowly knelt down next to it and the long gashes appeared in the black goop and blue paint. Ten in all traveled in a straight line towards where my back had been against the wall. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and sweat broke out on my forehead. My hand shook as I reached out to run my fingers along the scratches. Scared deeply into the metal, the edges were smooth, as if something ultra-sharp had cut through the metal like it was butter. I leaned in to look at it better when I felt something slowly moving up my left shoulder blade and firmly grab my neck…I screamed out!
“Holy crap!” Dad cried as he jumped back. Panting, he grabbed his chest a
s I spun to place my back against the wall. I put my hand over my mouth to stifle the next scream.
“Dad!” Breath came in a ragged explosion from my chest as my heart beat a thousand beats a minute. “You trying to give me a heart attack!?”
“What are you talking about?!” He bent over to catch his breath. “I’m the one having a coronary.” He took several deep breaths. “Jesus.” He straightened up and walked around a bit.
I tried to slow my breath, but as I watched the edge of the dumpster, the high pitched scratching pierced my brain and I froze once again. With my Dad out of view, the black tiger’s green eyes seemed to appear and coldness seeped into my body. I desperately tried to move, but the fear of last night was taking a hold of my body again and a whimper escaped my lips. The illusionary green eyes crept toward me and I couldn’t break away from them. Anger, seething anger and hatred, peered out from the eyes and I felt my will being drawn out my body like smoke into a filter. But unlike a filter that cleans the air and makes it pure once again, this fed upon my will corrupting and twisting it.
Suddenly a voice called to me. The voice was so faint that I could barely register it through my unconscious induced fear that I wasn’t even sure I had heard anything. The only my mind could focus on was the green eyes and the scratching that threatened to shut down my consciousness. Then a face appeared behind the green eyes. A shadowy silhouette that twisted and distorted into grotesque caricatures of a man I knew. Then as the face evolved from nightmare hideousness to sanely familiar, green eyes dissolved into brown eyes and I finally stared into my Dad’s very concerned face.
“Jennifer Julienne Ritter look at me!”
He grabbed my shoulders and shook me.
With the illusion broken, I shook my head, peered around and flung my arms around his shoulders and buried my head. His strong arms enclosed around me like a wall that would keep the nightmares at bay. My breaths came in heavy gulps, while I held back any tears that wanted to spring up and just let myself be comforted by his presence.
“Shh, it’s okay.” He told me.
Dragon Amour (Dragon-Half Breed Book 1) Page 7