Darkness Echoes: A Spooky YA Short Story Collection

by L. A. Starkey

  “I agree, this seems a little much, considering the history here. Maybe we should reconsider. I mean what if we’re next?” Kitty watched Jenna squirm in her seat until Colt spoke up again.

  “Kitty’s right, let’s forget this idea and head back to my place. We can watch some scary movies and eat popcorn.” He tossed the planchette onto the spirit board and stood up.

  “No. We need to do this, Colt.” Jenna snapped her lips tight and crossed her arms. Anger built in her expression, and she glared across the table at him.

  “Take it easy, Jenna,” Kitty said, with a nervous giggle. She didn’t understand what had come over her best friend or what the big deal was. Sure, she’d wanted to try out the board, but they could do that at Colt’s house after the movie.

  “No, I will not take it easy. I don’t care about the stupid board either, but we need to tell her, Colt. I’m not going back to your house for more pretending and lies. And besides, we ate all the popcorn last night—remember?” Jenna bit her lip and waited for Kitty to understand.

  “Last night?” Kitty asked, thinking back to the night before when both were too busy to come over. “What’s going on?”

  Jenna’s expression softened, but the words spilled from her face like verbal vomit. “It’s just that we all got so close this summer and me and Colt, well, we really like each other now, Kitt. It isn’t like we wanted this to happen, but it has and well…we still want to be friends, but Colt and I really want to be together.” She watched as Kitty processed the words and confirmed them by giving Colt a cold stare. “Please don’t hate us, Kitt. We still both love you, it’s just I’m tired of living the lie and keeping it from you. Colt, you need to say something.” Tears spilled and ran down her cheeks.

  Kitty turned her glare to him. “Yeah, Colt, say something. Tell me again how great I am, call me Kitty Bug and make me feel like your very special girl when you kiss me. And you.” Kitty glared at her best friend and watched her cower. “How could you do this to me? All this time, you’ve been betraying me? Both of you!” The wind picked up again, sending another howling breeze through the house kicking up dust and debris. Voices began to whisper on the wind, and while Colt and Jenna scurried to the door afraid, Kitty sat frozen in her seat.

  “Come on, Kitty. Let’s get out of here. We’ll figure this out at home.” Colt waved her to the door, and Jenna grabbed his arm tight. For the first time, Kitty saw them as they were—a couple. All the events from the past months of summer came to mind, and it all seemed very clear. She felt like a fool.

  She stood as the wind violently blew her hair from behind. The curtains of the old house flapped, and the candles that were left with a flame extinguished, leaving her to stare at them in the darkness. “You two better just go! Get the hell out of here before you become the next missing teens from Willow Haven!” She fought the tears from spilling, but as the two turned to leave her alone, she couldn’t hold them back any longer. As the wind died down, she sat at the table and relit the candles with the lighter Colt left behind. Staring at the planchette Jenna had forgotten when she’d grabbed up the spirit board, Kitty decided to have one last tantrum. She banged her fist on the table, and then ran her fingers into her hair as she wept.

  ***

  “People suck, don’t they, Brother?” Dahlia whispered low and softly in her brother’s ear as they watched the drama unfold below.

  “Yes, they do, Dahl,” said Dominic as he watched Kitty sob from where he perched against the rail. “But that one…she’s got spirit.” She’d been brave standing up to her friends and he was impressed. Not even the house stopped her from her rant while it sent the others scurrying away in fear.

  “Indeed. I’d like to find out how much,” Dahlia said with a smirk. Dominic hated how much she liked a challenge, and her tone spoke that there’d be no mercy for the beauty before him.

  His sister’s bony elbow prompted him, and he followed her to the front balcony where they launched and landed quietly on the ground.

  ***

  “I said leave me alone,” Kitty called to the front door as a shadow appeared there. She was certain it was Colt and Jenna returning.

  “Well, that’s not very hospitable, especially considering it’s not your house,” Dahlia said with a lite tone as she entered the room.

  “Sorry, I thought you were someone else,” Kitty said as she stood. She dropped the planchette on the table and slowly stepped toward the door. “It’s all yours.”

  “No need to apologize,” the raven-haired girl replied as an equally dark and handsome young man entered behind her, blocking Kitty’s exit. “My brother and I were just coming to stargaze. Would you like to join us?”

  “I was really just leaving…but…I guess I can hang around.” Kitty felt their eyes on her, as if considering her, yet she didn’t know what for. She’d just lost her two best friends, and if they were interested, she may as well make more. She didn’t like being alone, and surely siblings couldn’t hurt her like her like Colt and Jenna had.

  The boy stepped forward. “I’m Dominic Dane. This is Dahlia. Have you ever been stargazing? The upstairs balcony is the perfect place to see the sky.”

  Kitty’s heart raced. “So I’ve heard, but I’ve never actually been up there. I usually stay away from here considering its history, but I came with some friends. They left just before you arrived, and I was about to follow. My name is Kitty, by the way.” Kitty thought the two were curiously symmetrical, as if their beauty needed the other’s to exist—like strange counterparts keeping the whole world in balance.

  “Well, if they do they’re welcome to join us.” Dahlia turned and led the way upstairs. Dominic swept his arm to motion Kitty go before him. Kitty’s eyes followed Dahlia, whose hair was so long and black that she seemed to disappear in the darkness ahead. Kitty hurried her steps to keep up, thinking her own light locks were probably more visible to the young man behind her.

  At the top of the stairs, they took a left and made their way into a bedroom where the mattresses were long missing from the bedframes and weather-worn furnishings sat in the shadows. Dahlia weaved her way around an old bed and trunk, which were only visible because of the moonlight that shone into the room from the French doors that led to the back balcony. As Dahlia threw them open, Kitty took a deep breath.

  The view made her swoon as she stopped in the doorway and felt Dominic’s hand on her shoulder. His touch was heavy for a moment, as if grounding her to the earth or nailing her to the floor. Once it left, she noticed the sight before her. The lake shone indigo and melted into a navy sky. Tiny pinpoints of light sprinkled the darkness, and the waxing moon was nearly full shining like silver. He opened the doors wider for her and himself and then slid his fingers down her arm and took her hand. Surprised by the gesture, she allowed him to lead her to a place beside his sister where she could lie down and enjoy the stars.

  The three of them lay there for the next hour mostly in silence, only speaking to point out a shooting star or constellation. Kitty was amazed at their knowledge about stars, and she hoped their friendship would extend past the night, especially when she caught Dominic staring at her. She smiled and he returned it. Even in the dark of night, she could see his eyes were the palest blue and stark in contrast to the rest of him. The sting from Jenna and Colt’s betrayal was lessened in the hour with them. Colt who?

  “Can we walk you home?” Dominic asked, as he extended a hand to help the girls up. His sister waved it away and bounced to her feet as Dominic pulled Kitty to hers.

  Kitty brushed off her jeans and shook her head, “No thanks, I drove. I parked out behind the azalea bush.” The bush was overgrown and large enough with its neighboring shrubs to hide her golf cart. Everyone in the area had a cart since it was the most efficient way to travel around the lakefront properties. Kitty had gotten her own for her birthday years ago. “I can give you a ride though, if you like. Where do you live?” Kitty asked.

  She watched as Dahlia straighten
ed her wrap, adjusting her brooch so it sat right at her collarbone. It was either a moth or butterfly, but Kitty wasn’t sure which. “We don’t want to put you out,” said the girl.

  “It’s really no bother,” Kitty assured.

  “We just moved back to the neighborhood a month ago. We’ve been terribly busy with home studies and trying to unpack our belongings that we haven’t gotten out much. We’re hoping to change that a little, though we do tend to like our privacy.” Dahlia weaved the dark maze of the house and Kitty followed carefully. Some parts were so dark she couldn’t see and she stumbled a few times trying to keep Dahlia’s pace. More than once she felt the weight of Dominic’s hand steadying her.

  “I’m right out here,” Kitty said, leading the way out to the cart.

  “Thanks for the offer, but the air is so nice tonight I’d much prefer to walk,” Dahlia said, holding onto her brother’s arm. “I’m sure we’ll meet up again sometime.”

  “Certainly,” Kitty eagerly replied, feeling unsure if the new friendship would ever form. Did I say something wrong?

  Dominic gave her a polite smile. “It’s been great meeting you, Kitty. Don’t be a stranger.” With a wink, he turned and led his sister across the lawn in the opposite direction from Kitty’s home.

  Kitty watched them walk away and then climbed on her cart. Dominic’s parting words gave her hope. As the two disappeared into the shadows, Kitty glanced back at the pale grey house that seemed to glow in the moonlight. Maybe the place wasn’t so bad after all?

  An owl screeched out suddenly, like the scream of a desperate girl, sending chills down Kitty’s spine. She stomped the gas, jerking herself back against the seat as she sped off into the night.

  ***

  As the screech owl sounded in the distance, Dominic picked up a pebble and tossed it, skipping it down the road. “Why didn’t we take the ride, Dahl? We could have gone to the end of the street. It would have made things easier,” he said brushing his hand off on his jeans. He glanced back toward the house as his sister spoke.

  “Patience, my sweet brother. She’s going to be even more broken and needy in a few days. Let’s let her simmer a bit.”

  “If you say so, Sis. You always know what’s best,” he said, his sarcasm earning him an evil glance. Dominic’s shoulders slumped as he sighed. If he kept telling himself that, perhaps one day he’d believe it.

  Chapter Two

  Kitty threw her books on the table and went directly to the freezer for something sweet. School had been lonely and boring and only ice cream was going to lift her spirits. She ripped off the paper lid and grabbed a spoon on her way to find the TV remote. It had been a week and a half since the night at Whisper House. She hadn’t seen the strange siblings since, but she’d seen her betrayers at school. Looking back on the past few months and how blind she’d been formed a lump in her throat. All the glances and smiles between the two, the constant bickering and teasing, and even the way Colt had started leaving for home the minute Jenna had to leave. He even volunteered to walk her home, since it was on his way. How stupid could she be to not see it? It was her fault she supposed. She thought he was just being a gentleman.

  “Kitty, I need you to run some errands tonight, if you don’t mind,” said her mother. Annie Carver was burying herself in work since her divorce and sometimes needed her daughter’s help to keep up. “My orders are in, and if you could just make the usual rounds I’d appreciate it.”

  Kitty stifled her groan. “Sure thing, Mom. You wouldn’t happen to have anything for Mrs. Thompson and Jenna’s mom would you?” She hoped that the two back-stabbers’ mothers had forgotten to place their monthly order for the diet shakes her mom sold, but the expression on her mom’s face answered the question for her.

  “Oh, Kitty, I’m sorry, but I really need you to do it if it’s not too much trouble. I know it’s awkward, but maybe they won’t be home.” Her mom bit her lip, awaiting a response.

  Kitty knew she should agree and get it over with, but her mom wasn’t doing her and her misery any favors. “Well, if they aren’t home it only means they’re off somewhere together.” She paused and listened for her mother’s sigh, which came right on cue. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll get it done. I might stop off at Blue’s for more ice cream though.”

  “You keep eating like that, and you’ll need my diet drink,” teased her mother.

  “No thanks, that stuff is disgusting. I’ll take my chances with Rocky Road.” Kitty dragged her spoon along the bottom of the carton getting every bit of creamy goodness.

  ***

  The days had been getting shorter since October’s arrival, and the leaves were brittle on the ground. Kitty watched her streetlight start up with a dull glow as she headed out on her golf cart with her mother’s orders stacked in the seat beside her. Driving past Whisper House, she watched the creepy old structure remembering the mysterious siblings she’d searched the stars with. As she wondered where they lived, movement on the lawn caught her attention causing her to slow the cart. Staring into the shadows she hoped that she’d see Dominic there. The lake behind Whisper House was rough, and she could hear the waves rippling. The wind picked up as if it were a warning telling her to keep moving. She pressed the pedal and made a turn down Backstabber Boulevard. She had two stops before she got to Jenna’s and was glad when she wasn’t home. Two more stops after, and then it was on to Colt’s.

  Walking up the path, she hoped the gruesome twosome would be upstairs so she would at least be spared the heartache of seeing them together. Twisting the heavy plastic bag that hung from her fingertips, she rang the doorbell. To her dismay it was Jenna who answered the door.

  “Hi Kitty,” she said. “Sorry, I thought you were our dinner.” She stepped back and waved her in. “Mrs. Thompson’s in the kitchen.”

  Kitty nodded and walked past her and to where Mrs. Thompson waited with her check. When she was done, she met up with Jenna who was back at the door paying the delivery boy from Heavenly Pizza, which was Colt’s favorite. He’d been their best customer with his love of ham and pineapple.

  Jenna placed her hand on Kitty’s shoulder as she passed. “I’m really sorry, Kitt. I never meant for it to happen. It’s just… the heart wants what it wants, you know? I mean, do you blame me? You know how persuasive Colt can be, after all.”

  Kitty was speechless. Jenna was throwing Colt under the bus like she was an innocent victim in the situation and had no mind of her own. The heart wants what it wants, sure, but loyalty meant something to Kitty. “I would have never done you this way,” was all she managed before she took off to her cart, relieved that the deliveries were done, and she could go grab her ice cream and go home.

  On the homestretch, with Rocky Road in the seat beside her, she putted down the road dreaming of a long hot bath with the carton and a spoon. Whisper House hummed in the distance, and its tattered front curtains billowed out of the broken panes as she passed. She was just about to pass the betrayer’s road again, when she saw a shadow on the balcony. It moved from the railing and went inside. Hoping it was Dominic, she stopped and turned onto the lawn and made her way across to the stone path out front. She stared up to the balcony, but there was no one there. Perhaps she’d only thought she saw someone. Disappointment filled her heart and she put the cart in reverse to leave.

  “Leaving so soon?” a deep, rich voice asked from the porch beside her. She turned to see Dominic in the front doorway. “You’ve only just arrived.”

  Kitty put the cart in park and turned in her seat. “What are you doing here? Stargazing again?” Dominic gave a warm smile and stepped out. He didn’t answer right away, so she nudged. “Well?”

  “I’m afraid if I were to say I’d only embarrass myself,” he replied.

  Kitty laughed. “Why? Are you up to no good?”

  “No, it’s just…well— I was looking for you, actually.”

  “And you thought I lived here,” Kitty said, raising a brow. She wasn’t falling for tha
t for a moment. To think that Dominic was waiting for her was silly, and he was obviously up to no good and trying to be coy. Lots of kids like to dig around in the old house and take souvenirs, but his hands were empty.

  “I just hoped you’d return to the scene of the crime,” he said. He was hard to read, but Kitty was sure he was joking. As his expression stayed serious, she began to worry. Scene of the crime? Is he talking about the missing girls? Her heart started to beat faster. As if he read her expression, he added: “You know; the place where you stole my heart.” He blushed as if he knew how ridiculous he sounded.

  “Oh,” Kitty said, letting out a long breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

  He studied her expression. “Well, whatever did you think I meant?” He stepped down and took her hand.

  “Very funny. I thought you meant the murders,” she said, watching his face as his eyes narrowed.

  “Murders? How do you know those people were murdered? Perhaps they ran away or killed themselves. Maybe the rumors of this old house are true and it simply swallowed them up.” Dominic had gotten closer as he spoke, and ended up just a breath away— close enough to kiss her.

  Kitty wanted to kiss him. She needed to, just to see if he was real. That would be much too forward. You barely know him. Her heart raced.

  Taking his other hand, she threaded her fingers through his, locking them tight. He watched amused as she studied them. “See something that fascinates you,” he asked.

  “Just wanted to make sure you’re real,” she giggled. She couldn’t believe the sound coming from her when it happened, because it sounded as if it came from someone else—someone with a crush.

  “Too good to be true, am I?” He met her eyes and raised a brow.