Edge of Darkness Box Set

by Margaret McHeyzer

  “Taylor.” She rolls her eyes while teasingly pushing on my shoulder. “He’s got to work.”

  “Has he got a job?” I ask and furrow my eyebrows together.

  “Yeah, he’s saving to buy a car. He works as a dishwasher in a restaurant downtown. He’s working from one until eight tonight.”

  “Wow, really?”

  “Yeah. I’m really proud of him.”

  “I didn’t take him for a dishwasher.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “He’s tall and lanky and he wears those glasses, he’s kinda a nerd.”

  “That’s not nice.” Sam holds back a smile. “True, but not nice.”

  “I gotta say, I think he’s really sweet, Sam. You know how he came over for dinner the other night?”

  “Yeah, and Dad kept looking at him like he wanted to kill him.”

  I laugh and know exactly what look she’s talking about, because that’s Dad being Dad. He did it to Levi the first few times he came over. “You know what I liked about him?” I look over to Sam and she shakes her head. “I like how when you sat at the table, he pushed your chair in. Like an old-fashioned guy. Like they used to do in the olden days, and like Dad does for Mom.”

  Sam smiles, and a pink hue creeps up to sit high on her cheeks. “I asked him about that when I walked him out. He said his Dad once told him, ‘Son, we may not have a lot of money but we can show the important women in our lives how much we appreciate them by simple manners.’ My heart melted when he told me that.”

  “Aw.” My heart skips a beat too at hearing such a beautiful thing. “That’s so cute,” I say as we take a few more steps forward toward the entry.

  “I know. You know what else?” I shake my head. “He opened the door for me and waited for me to go through before he came out.”

  “He sounds like Dad. He always holds the door open for Mom and us, and pushes her chair in, makes her a drink at night.”

  “I know.”

  “Just two?” the bored woman working the admission asks when we step up.

  “Yes please,” I say taking out some of the money Mom gave us.

  When we’ve paid and entered, we head over to some of the rides first. “Which one do you want to go on?” I ask Sam.

  Sam’s eyes light up when she sees the Drop Tower. “That,” she excitedly squeals as she sizes up the height.

  “Ugh,” I mumble and walk beside her. Sam loves anything with extreme height. “Alright.” I don’t really think it matters what I say, she’ll be on that ride whether I join her or not.

  “Come on, it’ll be fun.” She links her arm with mine and picks up speed to get to the already forming line. “I hope it goes really fast.” She looks up and watches the slow ascent to the peak of the ride. “Watch, Dakota.” She’s looking up, shielding her eyes from the sun when we hear a lot of high pitched scream as the suspended seats free drop toward the ground. “Oh my God. That looks like so much fun.”

  “Yeah, fun,” my voice is flat, showing no enthusiasm. Sam tilts her head to the side and her smile drops. I feel like such a spoil sport. “Sorry, Sam.”

  “S’okay, I know you hate heights. Maybe you can sit this one out and I’ll go on my own?”

  I slump my shoulders even further and feel like a crappy sister. Everything she’s done for me, and I can’t even go on a stupid ride with her. “No way,” I perk up. “I declare today to be ‘Dakota and Sam Day.’ And if you want to go on a ride like that . . .” I say and point up to the ridiculously high ride, “ . . . then we’re going to go on it and any other ride you want to go on too.”

  Sam throws her arms around me and hugs me. “Thank you,” she whispers. “I know this mustn’t be easy for you.” She gives me a kiss on the cheek and steps back to look up as the seats on one side start their trip back to the top with new victims . . . I mean passengers.

  It doesn’t take long before we’re at the front of the line and it’s our turn. My stomach knots and my pulse quickens as the fat, sweaty guy calls us up and directs us to two available seats. “You sure you’ll be okay?” Sam asks while the guy checks our harnesses.

  “Yeah,” I lie. My heart’s in my throat and my skin prickles as sweat forms small beads across my forehead. Sam’s eyebrows lift and she tilts her head to the side. “I swear, I’ll be fine.”

  “Just close your eyes and enjoy the ride.”

  Enjoy the ride, she says. Like that’s going to happen.

  “All ready,” the controller calls.

  My eyes are glued to him. “Last chance,” Sam says close to my ear.

  “Nah, I’m good.” I don’t take my eyes off the guy, instead I watch as we slowly ascend toward the clouds. Everyone below gets smaller and smaller, as my heart evens out and I find a kind of peace up here. “I like this,” I say to Sam as we climb higher.

  “See, it’s not that bad.”

  I look over the breathtaking horizon. Green grass meets an alluring sapphire sky which creates an illusion of soft waves peaking in the distance. “Wow,” I murmur as I marvel at the spectacular sight created free for everyone’s pleasure.

  “Beautiful, right?” Sam asks. I nod my head and keep watching the absolute perfect painting with the finest of brushstrokes.

  “It’s simply . . .” Suddenly it happens. The carriage drops, my stomach is still at the top, while we’re hurtling toward the ground. I don’t scream, I don’t do anything. Sam’s arms are flapping around in the air as she lets out an almighty scream.

  We get to the ground in seconds although it took a few minutes to drag us to the top. “Oh my GOD!” Sam yells when we safely reach the bottom. “I want to go again.”

  “That was so much fun.”

  Sam’s eyes are wide and bright and I can imagine I must look the same as her. We jump out of our seats and run down the few steps to line up again. “Hey, let’s go on the Pendulum Swing first, then the Ferris Wheel, then we can come back and do this,” Sam eagerly looks at me, her smile broad and encouraging.

  “Hell yeah, let’s go before I lose my nerve.”

  We go and line up at the Pendulum Swing and wait our turn. “Oh my God, Dakota, I never in a million years thought you’d do this.” She bumps shoulders with me and smiles. “I’m so proud of you.”

  The day goes by in a blur, and we spend a lot of time up in the air, only to be thrown from side to side, upside down and round and round on various rides.

  It’s getting on in the afternoon and we decide to stop and have a bite to eat before we check out the side attractions.

  “I feel like having a burger and a milk shake,” Sam says to me as we walk toward the covered food area.

  “Burger and lime lemonade,” I say. “Oh my God, and a piece of key lime pie.”

  Sam’s head whips around and she looks at me. Her mouth falls open and her eyes widen. “Oh yeah, key lime pie. How did I forget key lime pie?” She smacks her cheek playfully and quickly shakes her head. “What the hell is wrong with me? Maybe I can have dessert first.”

  We both chuckle and head directly over to one of the food vans selling what we want. When we get our food and drinks, we find a spot and head over to sit and eat. “You know, today’s been fun,” I say as I bite into my burger.

  “It has.”

  “Hi, Dakota, Sam,” I hear Reece’s distinct, deep voice. I look to my left and he sits down beside me. On the opposite side is someone else who looks a lot like Reece. “You remember my brother Miles?”

  “Hi,” both Sam and I chorus together. Miles is almost exactly the spitting image of Reece, but much older. I bite into my burger and keep an eye on Miles.

  “Wanna get some lunch?” Miles asks Reece.

  “Yeah I’ll have . . .” He turns his face to look at what I’m having and jerks his chin up to Miles. “Can I have a burger and a soda?”

  “’Spose I gotta buy it?” Miles questions Reece.

  “Jerk,” Reece mumbles.

  Miles stands and walks around the bac
k of Reece, then darts his hand out and smacks Reece on the back of the head. Reece’s head jerks forward and he turns to flip his brother the bird.

  “Don’t you have another brother?” I ask putting down my burger.

  “I’m one of three. My younger brother, Luke, has recently turned five. Miles is twenty-one.”

  Mentally I’m doing the math in my head, but unconsciously my mouth opens and says, “That’s gotta suck. Huge age gaps.” I slap a hand to my mouth and look away. “Sorry, clearly I have a problem with saying what I think.”

  Reece laughs and shakes his head. “I think it’s cute,” he says shyly.

  Sam kicks me under the table discreetly—which is actually really obvious to everyone—and tilts her head toward Reece. ‘Stop it,’ I mouth to her. “How come your older brother wants to hang out with you?” I ask. Suddenly I feel my entire face turn red, heat is rolling off me as I realize exactly what I said. “Crap, sorry, that sounded so bad. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  Reece is chuckling as his eyes widen in surprise. “I can’t believe you said that. Anything else you want to insult? You may as well get it out of the way now while you’re still on a roll.”

  “She’s got a case of foot in mouth syndrome,” Sam interjects happily.

  “Shut up,” I playfully snap.

  “Please, go on. Maybe she doesn’t like the jeans I’m wearing today, or the t-shirt. Should I have styled my hair on the side?” Reece flips at his hair, teasing me further.

  “Dude,” Miles says walking back to the table with a tray full of food, having caught Reece playing with his hair.

  Sam and I look at each other and burst into laughter. “Great, now you’ve given my brother ammunition for the next three months.”

  Miles picks up a fry and throws it at Reece. “They weren’t the ones playing with their hair. And even if they were, they’re chicks, it’s what they’re supposed to do.”

  “Sexist much?” Sam says.

  “Nah, not like that. You misunderstood what I was saying.”

  “Dude, these two are a force to be reckoned with. Don’t argue with them, you won’t win,” Reece points to us.

  “I misunderstood what you were saying?” Sam turns her body toward Miles in order to continue this with him. He watches her and smirks to himself. “How can I misunderstand a sexist comment?”

  Miles chuckles and I smile too. “You went and did it now, brother,” Reece says in an ‘oh shit’ tone.

  “I’m just saying, girls can do that kind of stuff all the time but guys really can’t or don’t. It’s not typical guy behavior.” He shoves a fry into his mouth and winks at me. He can obviously see Sam’s trying to goad him, and clearly he’s okay with it. “Reece, is this what you have to put up with at school? All this ‘girl power’ crap?”

  I can’t help but laugh. Miles has Sam worked out, and now he’s giving it right back to her, making her work even harder.

  “Crap?” Sam shrieks. “Seriously?”

  “Next thing you know they’re going to want equal pay too.” Miles keeps eating his fries, one by one. Reece is shoveling his burger in his mouth and Sam realizes exactly what’s going on. I finish my burger and watch the amusing sparring match between Sam and Miles.

  “I’m tired of you,” Sam says casually to Miles.

  And that’s all the four of us need to laugh. “Your brother’s having a great time teasing Sam.” I sip some of my soda.

  “He likes to talk shit; he’s harmless.” Reece polishes off his burger then lifts his soda to finish that too. I look over to Sam and Miles and they’re having an easy conversation with each other. I’m surprised because usually guys who are in their twenties aren’t so easy to get on with. They’d usually think girls our age are beneath them and not really worth their time unless they’re hoping to get laid.

  Suddenly reality hits hard. The thought of Miles trying to chat up Sam for sex smacks me in the face like a bolt of lightning. “Your brother’s not going to get laid,” I say to Reece as I turn to face him.

  Reece’s face drops, and his eyebrows knit tightly together. “What?” I look to Miles and Sam, then back to Reece. It takes Reece a couple of seconds, before his eyes tell me he finally understands what I’m saying. “First, she’s jail bait, second, he has a girlfriend he’s been dating for like two years, and third, the only reason he’s here is because I saw you and wanted to spend time with you.”

  I stare at Reece, trying to find words. But I’m afraid the only thing I can do is blink at him. “Huh,” I puff. The words aren’t forming, I don’t actually comprehend what he’s saying.

  “Is ‘huh’ all you can say?”

  My blinks increase, as does the white noise in my head. “Um.” A barrage of questions surges through me; suddenly I’m tripping over my own tongue.

  “Now it’s ‘um.’ Maybe by the time the sun goes down, I might get a complete sentence,” Reece teases me.

  “You’re right about one thing.” Miles says to Reece. I look over to Miles. “She really is pretty, little bro, but not sure what you said to her to get her to go quiet.” He winks at me and gives me a goofy smile.

  Sam kicks me under the table again, and I look at her. “Stop kicking me or you’ll give me a damn bruise,” I snap at her.

  “I’m going to get key lime pie, want a piece?” Sam offers as she looks at me.

  “Hell yeah, I want a piece.”

  “Be back in a minute.” She stands and Miles stands too. “Where are you going?” Sam casts a watchful eye over Miles.

  “These places are filled with crazy people, I’m coming along to make sure you’re safe.”

  “Hmm,” Sam huffs. “Fine.” She walks off and Miles walks alongside her. I watch them leave and I’m guessing he said something funny because she turns to him and smiles.

  “I like your brother.” I push my trash to the side and bring my soda closer to me. “He’s nice. What does he do?”

  “He recently enlisted. He’s due to leave in a couple of weeks so he’s been spending time with all of us before he goes.”

  “Why didn’t you bring your little brother with you then, considering this is a fair and little kids love it here.”

  “Luke was supposed to come, but he was running a fever last night and this morning. So we came, and Miles said he’ll take Luke somewhere when he gets better.”

  “That’s gotta suck for Luke.”

  A moment of quiet falls over us, it’s awkward and tense. I can feel Reece’s eyes on mine, and I know he’s desperate to talk to me about those photos. “Dakota, how are you holding up?” The question takes me by surprise, it’s almost as if he knows about that night, and what happened to me.

  “Wh-what?” I stutter, trying my hardest not to give anything away. “What do you mean?” There’s a scratch to my voice, a clear caution and uncertainty.

  “Levi and Lindsey,” he breathes in a small restrained tone.

  “They’re a couple now, and I’m happy for them.” I don’t dare look over to Reece, because I know he’ll see the hurt rolling off me.

  “It sounds like you’re real happy,” he says sarcastically.

  “Truthfully, I really don’t care.” I look at him, and notice his intense gaze locked on mine. “I wish they’d leave me alone.”

  “What are they doing?”

  “More what they’re saying than anything else. It doesn’t matter, summer vacation is here and by the time school starts back up again, they’ll be so immersed in each other that no one else will exist.” I shrug my shoulders, pick the rubbish up and start toying with it attempting to distract myself from this conversation.

  “What really happened? All I have is Levi’s side of the story, and what he’s saying isn’t very nice.”

  My eyes flash to his and I see he genuinely wants to know, which makes me think, maybe it wasn’t Reece who drugged then assaulted me. “It doesn’t matter. It’s all in the past now, where it deserves to stay.”

  Reece huffs and
turns on the bench seat so his body is directly facing mine. “This pisses me off so much,” he grunts. “Because I know something’s happened. You’ve changed so much. You’re quieter and more timid then before. You dress differently and you’re entire personality is different.” I look down at what I’m wearing, questioning my wardrobe choice of jeans and a t-shirt. “Something’s happened, and it’s so damn obvious to me.”

  “It’s nothing,” I try to say, but my throat constricts because I hate lying, and especially to someone who’s fighting so hard to know the truth. “Just leave it all alone, Reece.”

  He drags his hands through his hair, then down over his face. Reece lets out a huff before focusing his gaze away from me. “One day, Dakota, I hope I can prove to you that you can trust me.”

  “Hey, here’s your key lime pie,” Sam interrupts, smiling at me. But her smile is tight and her brown eyes are suspicious of the conversation she walked in on. I give her a small nod, silently telling her I’m okay.

  “What are we doing, little bro? Accompanying these two lovely ladies, or are we going to try to win Luke one of those giant stuffed dogs?” Miles asks Reece.

  “Um. What are you two doing after you finish those?” Reece asks looking between Sam and myself.

  “We’re going to check out some of the sideshows too,” Sam happily reveals, smiling. “We can all go together.”

  I roll my eyes as I shovel in forkfuls of the pie. “Then I might grab another soda, and when you’re done, we’ll head off.” Miles claps a hand to Reece’s back. “Want anything?”

  Reece picks his soda up and notices he’s finished it all. “I’ll get a soda too. Hang on, I’ll come with ya. Do you want anything?” he asks Sam and myself. Both of us shake our heads.

  The moment Reece and Miles leave, Sam leans over and says, “Whatever was going on, it looked intense. You okay?”