Fractured Light (9 page)

Through a mouthful, Mike said, “Did you guys see that girl I was talking to?”

“Amanda?” May asked.

“Yeah, I guess that’s her name. Anyway, she’s going out with me tomorrow.”

“You asked her out without even finding out her name?” Christian asked.

“She’s hot,” he replied.

“Your’e terrible!” May cried.

Mike shrugged. “I’m a player. That’s what I do.”

“Are you serious?” I asked.

Mike leaned forward. “Yeah, so? What’s your problem?”

“You’re my problem. You like to play games? Let’s play horse. I’ll be the front end and you be yourself.”

Adam dropped his head, shaking it back and forth. May looked pleased and Mike looked mad—no—furious. He barely opened his mouth as he hissed, “Why don’t you pull that halo down and choke yourself with it, you self-righteous little—”

Before Mike could finish his sentence, Christian lunged himself across the table and punched Mike in the mouth.

M
IKE FELL BACKWARD OUT OF HIS CHAIR WITH
C
HRISTIAN
on top. He attempted to wiggle free, but Christian pinned his shoulder to the ground. With his free hand, Christian continued to punch Mike’s face despite Adam’s attempts to pull him back.

“Get off him, man!” Adam yelled.

Just then an enormous fry cook bounded out of the kitchen. He too tried to pry Christian off, but was unsuccessful. May burst into tears.

Finally, I found my voice. “Christian!” I thought I yelled it, but his name barely squeaked out.

As if he’d heard me, Christian stood, breathing heavily, fists clenched tight.

“Get out of here!” the cook barked at Christian. Grease dripped from a spatula in his hand.

I wasn’t sure if Christian heard or not, because all he did was turn to me and stare in shock—no, horror is more like it. He walked around the table, stepped over spilled food, and took me by the arms. “Are you okay?” he asked, as if I’d been the one fighting.

“I’m fine. Let’s go.” I pulled him toward the front door, but he stopped briefly, reached inside his pocket, and pulled out a fifty-dollar bill. He dropped the money on the table and then followed me out.

Mike’s voice echoed behind us, “Watch your back, Knight!”

May caught up to us outside. “Are you all right, Christian?” she said, face streaked with tears.

He looked at her as if he wasn’t sure what she was talking about. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Can we just get out of here?” I asked. I didn’t want to admit it, but the fight had frightened me. I stuffed my hands into my pockets to keep them from shaking.

Christian’s eyes never left mine. “May, will you take us to my car? I’ll save you a trip and take Llona home.”

No one said a word the short ride back to the school and only when May parked the car did she turn and say, “I know Mike had it coming, but I hate fights.”

“Sorry,” Christian said.

It bothered me to see May so distraught. Like I’d done with the waitress, I reached over and placed my hand on her arm. Almost like saying a prayer, I summoned Light. When it warmed my palm, I willed it to May and in less than a second her rigid body and face muscles relaxed. “Go home and get some rest,” I said.

She smiled and nodded, looking almost dreamy. That was easy. Too bad I couldn’t use it on myself.

I stood next to Christian, arms folded, as May’s car drove away. The extreme energy I’d felt before now felt scattered, like metal balls fired inside a pinball machine.

“I’m so sorry,” Christian said again.

“Huh?”

“I should never have fought in front of you.”

I shook my head. “It’s me who should apologize. I’m the one with the big mouth.”

“No. You spoke the truth, but I didn’t have to fight.”

“It’s not a big deal. Don’t worry about it.”

“Not a big deal?” He pulled my arm from my chest and held my hand. “You’re shaking.”

I pulled it back, embarrassed. “I just overdid it today.”

“It’s more than that, and you know it.”

“Can we just go? I’m really tired.”

Christian eyed me thoughtfully. “Sure. If that’s what you want.”

He opened the SUV door and waited until I was inside before closing it. I looked around. The upholstery was all leather and the car had been equipped with GPS, DVD player, the works. “This is a nice,” I said as we drove out of the parking lot.

“Thanks. My dad split the cost with me. I worked three summers saving up for it.”

“Doing what?”

“Private lessons.”

“What kind of lessons?”

“Um, fighting and stuff.”

“Fighting? Like karate?”

“Something like that.” Christian glanced in the rearview mirror after rounding a corner.

“So you’re a professional fighter?”

He laughed. “I wouldn’t say that. I’ve just had enough years of experience that I can teach.”

“But you’ve been teaching for three years.”

He shifted in the seat and cleared his throat. “It’s nothing really.”

I couldn’t tell if he was being modest or if he was avoiding my questions. I decided not to press the issue. I looked out the passenger window and toward the full moon.

“You like the moon, don’t you?” Christian asked.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“It is beautiful, especially when it’s full.” He checked the rearview mirror again, and I thought I noticed his grip tighten on the steering wheel.

I casually glanced behind us, but didn’t see anything. “Why do you keep checking the mirror?”

“What?”

“The rearview mirror. What are you looking at?”

“Nothing. Just trying to be a good driver.”

The remaining way to my house, he tried to be more casual, but I still noticed his obsession with the mirror. And he didn’t look happy.

“Is your uncle home?” Christian asked when we pulled into my driveway.

“Yeah.” Even though the garage door was shut, concealing his car, I knew Jake was there. Where else would he be?

“How can you tell? The house is dark.”

“He’s always home.” I opened my door. Christian jumped out and ran around to my side.

“I can get myself out,” I said, wondering why he was acting like we were on a date or something.

“I know you can. I just want to walk you to the door.”

That’s what he said, but as we walked toward my house, he continued to shift his eyes the way a babysitter does when she feel she’s not alone in the house.

And then she’s murdered.

I pushed back my paranoid thoughts and turned to him at the door. “I never said thank you.”

“For what?”

“For standing up for me. No one’s ever done that before.”

Christian sighed and shook his head. “If Mike had any idea how special you are, he wouldn’t have said what he did.”

My eyes met his. “What?”

He spoke quickly. “I just mean you are an incredible person. You’re great at sports, you’re kind, you’re not afraid—”

“All right, that’s enough.”

“No, it’s not, but I’ll let you off the hook.” He smiled.

When I reached for the doorknob, he said, “Before you go, promise me something.”

I waited for him to continue before I agreed to anything.

“Promise me you won’t go running tonight.”

“Why would I do that?” Actually I was planning on going out later. It was only eight o’clock.

“You just seem to have this crazy energy. Will you promise?”

“Can I ask why?”

“With the murder that happened up Ian Road, I think it’d be safer if you stayed inside.”

Right, the murder. The red shoe. That seemed like years ago. “Sure. I’ll stay inside.”

“Good. See you tomorrow?”

I nodded.

“Sleep well.” He reached out and lightly squeezed my hand. A thousand butterflies bloomed in my stomach at once.

I waited for his car to disappear before I went inside. All the lights were off and the house was unusually quiet. With a single thought, I mentally turned on the kitchen light and almost died from shock. The kitchen was spotless. I turned around. So was the living room.

I walked to Jake’s room and peeked in. “Jake?” When I didn’t hear a reply, I turned on the light. His bedroom had also been cleaned and his empty bed was made. A note on his dresser read:

Tink,

I’m sorry about earlier. You were right about everything. I promise things will be better. Don’t wait up for me, I’ll be home late.

—Jake

P.S. I hope tryouts went well!

I carried the note to my room, reading it several more times. Jake had never done anything like this before. Maybe things would be different.

*     *     *     *     *

My eyelids snapped open sometime in the middle of the night. It was dark—coffin dark. I felt my way to the window and peered into the black sky. Storm clouds must be hiding the moon. I placed my palms on the glass and summoned Light to my hands; a soft bluish glow shined into the dark. Suddenly the wind blew and shook the windowpane beneath my hands. I stumbled back, surprised

I was about to return to bed when I heard what I thought was a cat howling outside my window. It wailed and moaned, sounding like a creature from a horror movie. Once again I called on Light’s power. Squinting, I tried to locate the tortured feline. Without warning, a shadow, blacker than night, bolted past my window.

I
FINALLY THREW THE COVERS OFF AT 6:00 A.M. WHEN THE
morning sun warmed my room. I mentally turned on the lights and dressed quickly, anxious to get out of the house and away from the memories of such a horrible night’s sleep. After whatever had bolted past my window, I’d ran back to bed and buried myself in the covers. The shadow had moved so quickly I couldn’t be sure if the form had been human or animal. I didn’t fall asleep until I’d convinced myself that it had been a deer. I’d seen plenty of them in our backyard, so I logically figured that’s all it probably was.

I peeked in on Jake, who was sleeping peacefully without the television on. I quickly scribbled a note, telling him I was going running and then placed it on his dresser. I stepped out our back door, stretched a little, and then raced up the mountain, toward the sun, and over to my favorite trail. When I returned an hour-and-a-half later, Jake was gone. A short note told me he had some errands to run and would be home before I returned from school.

While I showered and got ready for school, I wondered what Jake was up to. As far as I knew, he didn’t know anybody in Utah.

Once again, I ran to school. The moon would be full for at least another day, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the timing. If basketball tryouts had been one week later, there’d be no way I’d make the team.

I headed straight for first hour instead of going to my locker. The last thing I wanted was to run into Christian. As much as I wanted to be near him, he was merely a high school distraction and one that would only cause me pain in the end. Eye on the prize, I reminded myself as I sat down.