Sam looked at Wyatt and then Laurie. “Take him to another room, won’t you, Laurie?”
Laurie took Wyatt’s hand without a word and led him to the kitchen area behind the counter.
With Wyatt away, Sam reluctantly turned back to Dana’s wound. It stared back at him, like some grotesque mocking smile. Kyle snapped a finger at Sam, reaching for the cotton pads. He passed them over, the scent of alcohol a welcome reprieve from the rotten stench coming from Dana’s hip.
Kyle started wiping, working from the outside in. The blood cleared away, revealing gnarled, leaky flesh. Kyle continued to wipe, but he stopped when he hit something solid. He cleaned around the area, careful not to dislodge the object. It was a tooth, still stuck in one of the puncture holes. He gently wiped around the tooth, and then he gripped it inside the cloth. He looked at Sam for approval. Sam didn’t want to nod. He knew this was going to haunt him for the rest of his life. But it had to be done, for Dana’s sake. He nodded and watched as Kyle tugged. There was a slight pop of escaping wretched gas and a tiny stream of blood.
Sam waited a few seconds, then let out a breath of relief.
Kyle lifted the tooth away, but it slipped from his cotton grip. He tried to catch it, but struck the wound in the process.
The flesh around the freshly unplugged hole swelled upward, spraying tiny jets of fluid, and then, like some sort of septic volcano, erupted in a lava of puss and blood. Dana cried out and slapped a hand on the infection on his hip. He scratched at the wound, tearing away skin, oblivious to the further damage he was doing.
Sam fell back, gagged and then vomited under one of the booths.
“Get away from him,” Kyle said, on his feet. “Now.”
“What? No,” Sam said. “I’m fine.”
“You may be, but he isn’t,” Kyle said. He pointed at Dana’s hip.
They all turned and looked. Under the skin that Dana had scratched away, a patch of inky black spread out in all directions. The dark flesh grew thicker and started to swirl about, lifting up off the body like a black flame. Sam recognized it immediately. It was the same thing that had consumed all those people in the woods. It was taking Dana, too.
Dana’s body convulsed and shook, his feet jittering on the tile floor. His eyes snapped open, and he reached up to Jimmy, catching hold of his pant leg. “Help me, Jimmy. It hurts. It hurts so fuckin’ bad.”
Jimmy’s eyes swelled with tears. It was obvious he felt as helpless as Sam did. He took Dana’s hand, despite the darkness claiming his body, and squeezed it. “I’m here for you, brother.”
Sam watched in horror as the roiling darkness was sucked inside Dana’s body, like a piece of dust in a vacuum. Dana gave a final jerk and then lay still, his lifeless eyes staring at Jimmy.
Jimmy reached down and closed Dana’s eyelids with a sigh.
“The fuck is goin’ on ’round here, Sam?” Jimmy said, starting to lose control. “You!” Jimmy said, pointing at Kyle. “You shoulda done more!” Jimmy stood, his tall frame looming heavily over Kyle’s own six-foot height.
“Hey man, take it easy,” Kyle said, taking a step back. He raised his hands as a gesture of submission. “There was nothing I could do for him. We’ve seen this happen to a few other people already.”
Jimmy took another strong step forward, halving the distance between him and Kyle.
Cash stepped forward and rested a hand on Jimmy’s chest. “Jimmy, he’s telling the tru—”
“Oh, fuck!” Sam said, trying to backpedal away from Dana, his boots slick with puss and blood.
Dana sat upright and stared straight ahead with jet black eyes. He looked around the room like he was confused and in pain. He jumped up to a standing position, something he could have never done before. He was a skinny guy, but he wasn’t an athlete. Everyone took a step back, including Jimmy.
“The light,” Dana said in a voice that sounded like many, layers of it echoing softly. “It hurts. It hurts my eyes!”
Sam watched with a mix of fear and loss, as the skin on Dana’s arms started to blacken like paper towel laid in a puddle of ink. He pushed himself back further.
That’s not Dana anymore.
The Dana-thing raised an arm to shield its eyes from the light. It spotted Sam and realized it was not alone. It looked around the room and started to growl when it saw the others.
“Dana?” Jimmy said, taking a step forward.
The Dana-thing lunged at Jimmy and struck him in the chest, tossing him across the diner. It then grabbed one of the diner tables and ripped it from the bolts that held it to the floor. The Dana-thing looked at Sam and shrieked in anger, lifting the table over its head.
Sam raised his arms in defense, waiting for the blow, but the table never dropped. Instead there was a loud crash and the sound of glass shattering, as the table smashed through one of the front diner windows.
The Dana-thing let out another angry shriek and then jumped through the broken window. It screamed and lashed out at the overhead lights as it ran under the filling-station carport. Flecks of black skin peeled away from its body and floated to the ground like ash.
Ash.
It was everywhere. Beneath their feet. In the air. In their lungs.
Are we breathing in these fuckers’ bodies?
The Dana-thing continued to shriek, until it finally disappeared into the woods.
17
Griffin stopped halfway up his front steps. He turned to Julie and asked, “You sure you don’t have someplace you’d rather be?”
“Rather be?” It was clear that to Julie Barnes, the question of where she’d prefer to be, and with whom, was ridiculous. “I did my research on every home owner in town. You were a military man before you took up the brush. If things get dangerous, I’d rather be with you.”
“See, that’s just the thing,” Griffin said. “If things get dangerous, I’m going to rush right into the middle of it.”
Julie frowned.
Hadn’t thought of that, had you? Griffin smiled. Julie was charming, and ruthless in a real-estate agent kind of way, but she clearly hadn’t thought things through. Being with the strongest warrior often meant becoming a larger target yourself.
Regardless, she stepped up next to him and said, “You know I’ve got no one in town to go see. It’s just...the idea of being alone...”
Griffin sighed. “I understand.” He headed for the front door and opened the screen. “Mi casa es su casa. Unless you want to buy it, then you can screw off.”
Julie laughed and slapped his shoulder as he opened the door. He let her enter first, but she stopped short and said, “Umm.”
Griffin took her shoulders, moved her to the side and stepped in. Avalon was in the kitchen at the end of the hall, sitting in a chair.
Tied to a chair.
Radar stumbled into view, looking sheepish. “Uh, Mr. Butler. I—she...”
Hearing nothing beyond normal worry in Radar’s voice, Griffin had a pretty good idea of what was going on. Even more so when Avalon called out, “It’s okay, Dad.”
“What’s going on?” he asked Radar.
“She, uh, she was having a pretty bad craving.”
“I asked them to do it,” Avalon said.
“She kind of freaked out for a bit,” Radar said. “But she’s chilled out pretty good.”
Griffin looked beyond Radar to the kitchen, where Lisa was now silently cutting the rope binding Avalon. “You okay now, Ava?”
She gave an embarrassed thumbs up. “Aside from my wounded pride, I’m dandy. Asked them to tie me up, didn’t I?”
Griffin smiled. Before Avalon had become an addict, she’d been a fighter, like him. Like her mother. He was glad to see some of that personality coming back.
Once Avalon was free, she stood and hurried into the downstairs bathroom.
“That’s not where I keep my oxy,” Griffin called out with a smile.
“So not funny, Dad,” Avalon said, though she was fighting a grin. She slammed
the door, rushing to the toilet.
Radar seemed to notice Julie for the first time, his eyes flitting down to her bust for a moment. “Uh, hi, Ms. Barnes.”
“Joshua,” she said, and stepped into the hall, heading for the living room.
Radar watched her strut away, hormones guiding his eyes. When he noticed Griffin smiling at him, he turned red and said, “Sorry.”
Griffin smiled. “Far as I know, she’s single.”
Radar looked petrified. “But—”
Griffin gave Radar a shove. Felt good to be teasing. “I used to be fourteen. Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Does it get easier?” Radar asked.
Griffin tilted his head, watching Julie bend over to inspect his DVD collection. “Sorry. But you’ll get better at hiding it.” He turned to Radar. “Haven’t seen your father, have you?”
Radar’s smile faded. “I thought he was locked up.”
“Let him out a little while ago. He’s sobered up.”
Radar shook his head. “He hasn’t been home. I’d have heard his truck.”
And that left only one place in town Charley Wilson would have gone. The man was going to spend the rest of his life sleeping in a jail cell. But at least he didn’t know where Radar was. Even sober, Griffin didn’t trust that Charley would be safe, not that many places were these days. But so far, the Butler household remained unscathed.
The toilet flushed, and Avalon exited the bathroom. She gave her father a sheepish grin and said, “Jerk.”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head. “I’m glad you’re fighting it.”
“It sucks,” she said.
“It’ll get better soon.”
“Says the man who has never been addicted to anything. You’re like an organic, non-GMO, free-range egg.”
Griffin laughed. “Yeah, well, good parents take care of themselves, so they can be around longer for their kids.” He realized he’d said it in front of Radar. Before he could apologize, a horn honked out front.
“It’s Frost,” Julie said from the living room, looking out the window. She strutted back into the hall. “Time to go?”
“Actually,” Griffin said. “Would you mind hanging out here for a bit? I’d feel better knowing there was an adult around.” He looked at Radar and Avalon. “No offense.” They both just shrugged, though Radar looked a little nervous about the prospect of spending more time with Curvy Barnes.
“I’m not good with—”
“We won’t be long,” Griffin said, backing toward the door. “And I wasn’t joking about what I said on the stairs.” He kept the message vague on purpose, not wanting to worry Avalon the way he wanted to worry Julie. If she came, she was likely to get herself, or someone else, hurt or killed. He added, “Please? It would really mean a lot to me,” like a thick helping of maple syrup, placing his hand on her wrist.
She smiled uncomfortably at first, but then larger. “Fine. But please hurry.”
“And be careful,” Avalon said, kissing his cheek. He kissed her back and turned to Radar. “There’s more rope in the basement, if you need it.”
Radar started to smile, but stopped when Griffin very seriously said, “I mean it. Don’t let her leave.”
A knock on the door turned Griffin around. He opened it to find Frost, fist raised to knock again. “You ready?”
He nodded and turned back to the others, who had gathered in the hall. “We’ll stop in on our way back. If things get tough without power, head to the station. The doors are...”
“Barely on?” Avalon said. “I remember last night just fine. And I’ve seen what’s out there now.” She got right in front of him, dead serious and said, “You’re not allowed to die.”
Griffin felt a swell of emotion, but tamped it down and nodded. “Yes ma’am,” he said, and then turned to Frost. “Let’s go.” They headed out the door and down the steps to the still-running cruiser.
You’re not allowed to die. The words played through his mind, but it wasn’t Avalon’s voice speaking them. It was his. He’d said those same words to Jess, just an hour before she passed away. Griffin wasn’t normally superstitious, but his gut was telling him to sit tight and take cover. Problem was, Frost would never go for that, and he wasn’t about to let her die, either. At least, not alone.
18
Sam walked back to the diner’s kitchen, where Wyatt sat on a chair, glass of milk in hand. He stared aimlessly at his drink, eyes fringed red from crying.
Sam squatted down and pulled Wyatt close, hugging him tightly. Wyatt’s small body shook with sobs, and Sam let himself cry, too, his head a swirling mess. “I’m sorry, Wyatt. I’m so sorry you were here for this.”
“Uncle Dana,” Wyatt croaked out between sobs. “Is he…”
Sam took Wyatt by the shoulders and gently pushed him back, so he could look at him. He’d never had to deliver news like this to his son. The divorce was hard enough, but death...that was permanent. No coming back. No visitations. He decided honesty was the best course of action. It’s what he’d want. “He’s gone... He’s gone to Heaven.”
Wyatt sniffed. “Is that really true, Dad? You don’t go to church. And I know you don’t like Pastor Dodge, even though he’s nice to Mom.”
“How nice?” Sam asked, instantly regretting the question. It was none of his business, and it was so very far from the right time to think about such things.
“Mom cries a lot with him,” Wyatt said. “When they talk...about you. He says mom should try to work it out. That leaving isn’t the right thing.”
Sam nearly fell over with surprise. Ken Dodge was telling Tess not to leave?
“I saw what Uncle Dana did to Uncle Jimmy,” Wyatt said, turning the conversation back to current events. “I saw him jump out the window.”
“Look at me, Wyatt,” Sam said, running a hand over the boy’s head. “That wasn’t Uncle Dana. He’d never hurt your Uncle Jimmy, and you know that. That was…something else. Trust me, Uncle Dana is in a better place. I promise.”
That seemed to calm Wyatt a little. As long as he didn’t realize they were still stuck in the worse place, he’d be okay. Wyatt finished the rest of his milk in one long gulp and stood. He wiped his tears on his sleeve and set the empty glass on the chair. “Can I go see Uncle Jimmy?”
Sam smiled at Wyatt and ruffled his hair. “I think he’d like that.”
Sam followed Wyatt back into the front of the diner, where the out-of-towners had gathered in two small groups, whispering in hushed tones, eyeing the locals like they were all crazies. Only the doctor, Kyle, seemed to be socializing with the locals. Jimmy sat at one of the tables with Laurie and Cash, drinking coffee and talking quietly. He smiled when Wyatt ran up and gave him a hug.
It had been a long time since Sam had set foot in the Silver Springs Diner, and from the looks of things, not much had changed. Except for the busted-ass window.
The diner was a single large room with white tiled floors and a walk-up counter lined with the classic red-seated swivel stools. The main dining area consisted of a row of six smaller tables next to the windows, each with a little mini jukebox that would play the song of your choice for a quarter. There was also a row of eight larger tables in the middle. To the side of the diner was a little bakery counter, featuring Grandma’s Famous Apple and Cherry pies, despite Grandma having passed away some time ago.
Sam joined the group.
“Feeling better?” Sam asked Jimmy.
“Little sore, but I’ll survive. I gotta be honest, though,” Jimmy looked to Wyatt and back to Sam. “I don’t think everything’s quite sunk in yet. If you know what I mean.”
“I do,” Sam said.
“I was just telling Cash about our plan to go up to WPOS.”
“The plan’s crap,” Cash said, but then he winked and added, “But it’s a plan. If there is help out there to be had, we need it. What’d Becky think of the plan?”
“Uh, Cash,” Sam said. “Sheriff Rule... She
didn’t make it.”
“I was with her just a few hours ago,” Cash said.
“That’s what I was told,” Sam said. “She didn’t make it back in town before the…the shift.” He glanced at his son, and lowered his voice to a whisper. “She was cut in half.”
Cash took the baseball cap off his head, closed his eyes and made a cross over his chest. “Frost in charge now?”
Sam nodded. “She deputized Griffin.”
Cash gave a nod of approval. “Okay, look. I’ve got this place rigged bright enough to see from space, but the gennie’s going to be tapped out in the next few hours. We’re going to have to haul ass to the station, contact whoever we can and get back here ASAP, before making a run for town.
“This was our plan,” Sam said, motioning to Jimmy. “I can’t rightly ask you to—”
“You gone and forgot that I’m the best electrician north of Nashua?” Cash asked. “You’re going to need me to get that place up and running.”
“I’ll come, too,” Kyle said.
“Thanks,” Sam said.
“What about Wyatt?” Laurie asked.
“I was hoping you might—” Sam started.
“No!” Wyatt shook his head. “I’m not staying behind again.”
“You won’t be alone,” Sam replied.
Wyatt crossed his arms. “I wasn’t alone with Uncle Dana, either.”
“I know,” Sam said. And touché. “But you’re a lot safer here. Those things don’t like the light, and we’re going to have to move fast out there.”
“I am fast,” Wyatt said.
“Not fast enough,” Sam replied. “Now I don’t want to hear one more complaint. You’re staying here with Laurie, no ifs, ands or buts about it.” He looked at Laurie. “Sound about right to you?”
Laurie pulled Wyatt onto her lap. “Staying here with this cute little man? No, I wouldn’t mind one bit. But you guys better be careful. And quick.”
Sam nodded his thanks. “Now what do you have for lights?”
Refuge Book 2 - Darkness Falls Page 7