Inversion

by Christopher Young

“I’ve been having new dreams.”

  Dr. Taylor flipped through her notebook. “So you haven’t been having the same nightmares as before?”

  “No,” Carson said. “In these dreams I have powers and so do a couple of my friends.”

  “Can you tell which friends they are?” Dr. Taylor seemed interested in what he was saying. More than she usually was.

  “Yeah. Jacob and Abigail.”

  Dr. Taylor nodded as she wrote. “And were they with you that day at the museum.”

  Carson thought it was a weird question, especially since he had told her that before. “They were. Why?”

  “I’m just piecing everything together. Please continue.”

  Carson took a deep breath. “In the dream my friends and I have powers and we are basically superheroes. My question is, are we responsible for saving the world? Is it my fault if I don’t save someone?”

  Dr. Taylor sat back against her chair. “That’s a very interesting question. I guess that’s sort of the hero’s dilemma isn’t it?”

  “What if we're supposed to be fighting someone who we have no chance of winning against,” Carson asked her.

  “That’s sort of the point isn’t it? That’s what it means to be a hero,” Dr. Taylor said. “It doesn’t matter if you have money, gadgets, or supernatural abilities. The only thing that matters is what you choose to do with what’s given to you. That’s what really makes someone a hero. Now go home. I’m glad you came to see me but I think you should be resting.”

  Carson left with even more questions than he had come with.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  |||||

  THE REST OF THE day dragged on. A part of Carson wished that he was able to stay longer with Dr. Taylor. Their short visit did nothing to help ease the guilt he was feeling. Carson had decided to return to his bed as soon as he got home but the hunger pains that attacked his stomach suggested otherwise. He counted the dark purple bruises that marked his arms as he walked into the kitchen.

  Carson reached for a box of cereal, pulling out the one with the most sugar. It wasn’t going to make him feel better but it might at least give him some much needed energy. As he moved about the kitchen his mind wandered back to the fight. He could still feel Nick’s icy grip. He could still hear the sound of Jacob screaming. Carson suddenly felt dizzy and grabbed the counter for support. The sound of his crying echoed throughout the empty house. A knocking at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

  Carson wiped away his tears and whipped open the front door. He wasn’t happy to see who was standing on the other side.

  “What the hell do you want?”

  “Hey man,” Matt said. He looked as bad as Carson was feeling. His nose was broken and his eyes had dark bruises underneath them.

  Carson ground his teeth together.

  “What do you want,” he asked bitterly. He was in no mood to deal with anyone, let alone Matt.

  “I just wanted to see if you were ok.”

  “I’m fine.” Carson tried to shut the door but Matt grabbed it before he could get it closed.

  “Seriously. I just want to talk.”

  Carson looked him over. He tried to figure out what Matt was planning. Carson took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Matt stepped inside the house.

  “We can talk here,” Carson said, folding his arms.

  Matt looked nervous. Carson had never seen him like that before.

  “I just wanted to come by and see how you were. I, um, I heard about what happened to Jacob.”

  Matt looked around the foyer, trying to avoid Carson’s glare.

  “Why do you care,” Carson asked. “After what you and your stupid friends did to me? If you hadn’t jumped me you wouldn’t have been attacked.”

  Matt looked at the ground. “I’m sorry, ok? I know it doesn’t mean anything coming from me but I’m sorry.”

  “This isn’t something you can just apologize for.”

  “I know. I can’t make up for what I did but I am thankful that you guys saved my life.”

  Carson scoffed. “Trust me. If I knew that I’d be trading Jacob’s life for yours then I would have reconsidered.”

  Matt grimaced.

  Carson continued. “Jacob was my only friend and now he’s gone. You can’t apologize for that!”

  A shockwave shook the house. Matt stumbled back.

  “Saying sorry isn’t going to bring him back. You can’t erase years of torment just because you feel guilty for one night.”

  The house continued shaking. Several of the pictures that hung on the walls fell to the floor. The windows vibrated loudly in their frames.

  “What are you doing,” Matt yelled over all the noise. They both struggled to stay upright.

  “I can’t,” Carson shouted back.

  “What do you mean you can’t?!”

  The tile beneath them cracked. Carson looked up to see the chandelier pulling free from the ceiling. Matt dove forward and grabbed Carson by the waist, pulling him out of the way just in time. The chandelier landed with a loud crash in the spot where they had just been standing. Glass and crystal exploded everywhere. The house gradually came to a standstill.

  Matt helped Carson to his feet. “Are you ok?”

  Carson nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.” He looked at the mess he had made. “I guess we’re even now.”

  Matt brushed him off. “Not even close.”

  Carson was unsure how to act. He hadn’t spent this much time with Matt without him calling him names or trying to beat him into a pulp.

  “So you have superpowers now?”

  “Yeah,” Carson said.

  “When did that happen?”

  “Look. . .,” Carson started. A loud ringing interrupted him. Carson pulled out his phone. He read the name, his heart nearly skipping a beat.

  He answered. “Abigail?”

  “Hey,” she said. Her voice was weak.

  “Are you busy right now?”

  Carson first eyed the mess he made and then Matt. “No. Why?”

  “Can you meet me at the pier in an hour?”

  “Sure,” Carson said. “I’ll see you there.”

  Carson hung up the phone. There were so many things he wanted to ask but he knew he was going to have to wait until he saw her.

  “I have to go,” Carson said, opening the door. Glass crunched under his feet as he walked. Matt followed and Carson locked the door behind them.

  “I know I’ve done a lot to you and that it’s not going to go away just because I apologize but I am going to try to make amends,” Matt said.

  “Why,” Carson asked bluntly. “Why after all this time?”

  “I almost died. That changes a person. When Nick grabbed me he shone some sort of light in my eyes. I saw horrible things in that light. It’s not something I ever want to see again.”

  Carson didn’t want to think about what Jacob saw before the end.

  “If you ever need anything,” Matt said. “Just ask.”

  ***

  The beach did nothing to ease Carson’s mind. A cold wind blew across the rolling waves which drew with it a curtain of mist. The pier was mostly empty except for a few elderly people walking along the wooden planks. Carson noticed a small blob of color at the edge of the water. Stepping onto the sand he felt his energy falter slightly. It was strange to not have his constant connection to the earth.

  Abigail looked as rough as he did. Her eyes were red from nonstop crying. Her skin looked even paler than usual. She wore a light blue sweater with the hood pulled up over her head. Strands of her hair poked out from the sides. She was still beautiful despite the circumstances.

  “Hey,” Carson said. “Can I sit?”

  “Sure,” she said.

  Carson joined her in watching the waves crash on the shore.

  “How are you holding up,” he asked her.

  Abigail just shook her head and continued watchin
g the waves.

  “We have to go after him,” she finally said. “We have to stop Nick before he hurts anyone else.”

  She reached into the front pocket of her sweater and pulled out a rolled up newspaper. She handed it over to Carson.

  “Read the front page.”

  A black and white picture of a crime scene took up most of the page. Above it in big bold letters it read:

  Serial Killer On The Loose In Augusta?

  Carson skimmed through the article. Each sentence was more surreal than the last. The article read like a horror story. Seven people were found dead in alleyways without a sliver of evidence to help police find the killer.

  “We have to do something,” Abigail said.

  “How can we,” Carson asked. “He kicked our asses when there were three of us. We didn’t even stand a chance then. What makes you think we can do it now?”

  Abigail’s face went red with anger. “Are you kidding me? We are the only ones who even have a shot at stopping him. Don’t you think we owe it to Jacob to at least try?”

  Carson shook his head. “It’s a suicide mission. The only thing we’d accomplish is getting ourselves killed.”

  “So what? You’re going to let him get away with killing Jacob? What about all the others that he’s killed since then? Or the people that he could still go after? Grow a spine and stand up for something.”

  “I am,” he yelled. “I’m standing up for us so that we don’t end up the same way that Jacob did.”

  Abigail was taken aback. She couldn’t hold her tears back any longer.

  “We have to try,” she said between sobs.

  “I want to stop him too. I really do.” Carson’s body seemed to move on its own, his hands reaching out and touching her shoulders.

  “I want him to pay for what he did,” Carson said. “But if we go after him then we won’t be coming back alive.”

  “He’s not going to stop,” Abigail said ominously.

  “We’re going to lose no matter what,” Carson continued to argue. “If we go after him then the only thing we will accomplish is dying sooner rather than later.”

  He looked out at the dark blue waves. White foam spread out at his feet as they rolled in from some far away place. “I’m sorry but maybe if we stay under his radar then. . .”

  “Then what,” Abigail asked. “Hope he goes after someone else? As long as it’s not you right?”

  “I have people I need to protect. If I die then there’s no one left to protect my mom. Or you.”

  “Don’t you dare,” she said through gritted teeth. Anger replaced the sadness in her eyes. She pushed Carson back without touching him. The gust of wind was cold and strong.

  “We are the only ones who have a chance to do this without anyone else getting hurt and you’re only worried about yourself.”

  Carson reached out and grabbed Abigail’s wrist.

  “I don’t want you to get hurt, Abigail. I. . .” Carson stumbled over his words as he tried to get the last of the sentence out. “I love you.”

  She ripped her arm from his grip, disgusted.

  “I can’t believe you. You’re pathetic,” she spat.

  Abigail’s hands flew up, another icy blast of wind knocking Carson into the sand.

  “You’re a coward,” she screamed. The wind howled along with her. “He died because of you. All of this is your fault. When are you going to own up to that and take some responsibility for something for once in your life?”

  The grey skies above them burst, the rain falling in heavy sheets. Carson was instantly drenched. He screamed after her but the rain drowned out his voice.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  |||||

  THE HEAVY RAINS CONTINUED through the night and into the next morning. Carson hadn’t heard anything from Nick since the night Jacob died besides what Abigail showed him in the newspaper. Carson absentmindedly messed with the tie that hung around his neck. He watched the rain falling outside his window. The soft purple silk slithered through his fingers. He watched the tie fold around his hands. Thumb-sized giraffes were printed on both sides of it. His mind drifted back to when he got it.

  “You have to get it,” Jacob said to him. They stood side by side in front of the only mirror that the store had.

  Carson laughed loudly. “Why? I’m definitely not wearing it to your brother’s wedding. There’s literally nowhere that I could wear this tie too.”

  Jacob held up the tie, showing off the pattern of giraffes that dotted the soft purple fabric.

  Jacob pressed his finger against his chin, thinking.

  “I know,” he said suddenly. His eyes lit up.

  “Wear it to my funeral.”

  “What?”

  He handed it to Carson. “If I die before you, wear this to my funeral. It’ll be like an inside joke. Something that only you and I and no one else will get.”

  “I guess,” Carson said. The conversation was making him feel uncomfortable. Death wasn’t something he liked talking about.

  “But if I die before you, you have to wear this one.” Carson reached up and pulled down a lime green tie with bright pink stripes.

  “Deal,” Jacob said excitedly.

  Ellie came in just then, pulling Carson out of his reverie.

  “You look nice,” she said. “Where are you going?”

  “Over to the Huangs. They’re having a funeral for Jacob.”

  Ellie moved further into the room, blocking his view of the window. “Oh, really? I didn’t hear anything about it.”

  Carson finished with his tie. “They’re keeping it really small.”

  “That’s good I guess. Do you need a ride?”

  Carson leaned past his mother to look at the pouring rain.

  “Sure.”

  The funeral was even smaller than Carson thought it would be. Besides him there was only his mother and a couple other people that he didn’t recognize. Jacob’s father and brother were nowhere to be seen. Carson had expected a wake of some sort but the coffin was nowhere in sight.

  “He’s already been taken to the cemetery,” Mrs. Huang told him when he asked.

  Carson felt relieved. He didn’t know how he would react to seeing Jacob’s lifeless body. How could he face him when it was his fault he was dead?

  The rest of what could be called the funeral was as quiet as it was when Carson first arrived. They all sat in one of the many living rooms drinking tea that Jacob’s mother had prepared. No one said anything. They just drank their tea and either stared at the floor or at each other. Carson had never felt more out of place. He was just about to announce that he was leaving when he heard the front door loudly open. A burst of wind traveled through the house. Everyone craned their necks to see who it was. Carson did the same, surprised to see Abigail standing in the front of the door.

  “I’ll see what’s going on,” Carson quickly said to Mrs. Huang. He jumped from his seat and ran to the foyer.

  Abigail was dressed in all black. Dark sunglasses covered her eyes.

  “What are you doing here,” Carson asked.

  Abigail looked disgusted at what she saw. “What the hell is all this?”

  She motioned to the people sitting in the other room, watching. “Tea and cookies? Is that really all he gets?”

  Carson could see that Mrs. Huang looked hurt. She could hear everything Abigail was saying.

  “Let’s talk outside,” Carson said, motioning to the door.

  She pulled her sunglasses from her face so that everyone could see her red, puffy eyes.

  “He deserved better.”

  Outside Carson was the first to talk.

  “That wasn’t right,” he said. “They’re grieving right now.”

  Abigail let out a short, sharp laugh. “Really? Is that what you call it? It looks more like tea time at grandmas.”

  Carson shook his head.

  “You knew him for so long. Does
n’t it bother you that they just threw him into the ground and didn’t bother to give him the memorial that he deserves?”

  “I do, but. . .”

  “But what? Say something if you really feel that way. Stop being such a pushover,” Abigail said.

  The flowers and plants around them swayed from the constant wind.

  “I still can’t believe he’s gone,” Carson said, trying to ease the tension.

  “Cut the shit,” Abigail snapped back. “Nick’s still out there. He’s already killed more people. How can you act like that’s not happening?”

  Carson’s back straightened. His attitude shifted.

  “How many times do we have to go over this? He was too strong when there were three of us. He killed Jacob with just a touch. There’s no chance that we’re going to win.”

  The wind around them picked up. The rain continued.

  “I never said that we were going to win,” Abigail said matter-of-factly. “I just expect us to try. Jacob would have done the same for us without hesitation. You know that he would. Try and tell me that I’m wrong.”

  Carson disagreed. “You just have survivor's guilt. I feel it too. He didn’t die for us to just run back towards the danger.”

  “I’m going to stop him with or without your help,” Abigail said. “But I think that you should help. If not for me then for Jacob. He at least deserves that much.”

  Carson turned away from her.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I just can’t.”

  Abigail grimaced and focused the wind into the palm of her hand. She lifted it and launched it at Carson, blasting him back. His back slammed into a nearby tree.

  “Stop doing that,” Carson shouted.

  Abigail stepped out into the rain. A bubble of air appeared around her, keeping her dry. She paused and looked back at him with fire in her eyes.

  “I’m going after him. Tonight. If you change your mind then meet me at my house before five. After that I’m going, whether you’re with me or not.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

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  CARSON SAT ON HIS bed staring mindlessly at the t.v. Abigail’s words echoed in his head, stinging more every time they repeated.