Prologue
The figure was as dark as night, the blackest of black. There was no color, just black, even with no color he could make out the evil grin that shown on its face.
Without warning it pulled him closer, he could feel its lips brushing the side of his face as it spoke. “Remember.” It whispered into his ear. He stumbled backwards as it released its grip on him, and in a blink just as fast as it had appeared, it turned and disappeared into the shadows. He looked up and found that he was no longer in the alley he had run down, he was now standing in front of a large white house.
With a bone-rattling scream, he jerked awake from the horrible thing that waits for him in his dreams. His name is Jason Scottsdale, and for the past two years since his parents finalized their divorce, his dreams have been haunted by a strange malevolent shadowy figure. The dreams started out very mild, flashes of images, but as things grew harder for his mother, his five-year-old sister and himself, the dreams also became worse, much worse. He had often found himself lashing out in violent outbursts, and on one occasion, he almost beat another neighborhood boy to death after they had merely bumped arms passing on the sidewalk.
He was sent to The Jenkins Juvenal Correctional home, where he saw a psychiatrist and several doctors daily. After only four months, he was released after he completely turned things around and was no longer having the horrific dreams. The doctors said that it was a miraculous turn around for a boy his age that had gone through as much as he had. They said that he had suffered from a total mental break down, and couldn’t control the rage that had built up inside caused by his parents divorce.
Finally, he was able to go back to school and out into public with his friends without a chaperon. For the first time in two years, life was finally looking good again for him.
That was until a month ago when the dreams started again, only now they were ten times worse than they had ever been. Now it seemed that the dark figure was using his family and friends to cause him much more pain. It had often shown him graphic visions of one of them dead, or he saw it killing them.
“Not again.” He muttered wiping the sweat from his face his hand pausing just below his eyes as he remembered the dream. “This has got to stop, I can’t take it anymore.”
“Jason!” His mother Connie shouted as she burst into the room, her hair still in her night curlers, and her sleeping mask resting on her forehead. “Are you okay? I heard you screaming again.”
“Yeah mom I’m fine, just another nightmare that’s all.”
“Look at you, you’re sweating. You look like someone dumped a bucket of water over your head while you were sleeping.”
“I’m fine, it’s just a little hot in here that’s all.”
“What was this one about?”
“Mom.”
“Was it like all the others?”
“Yes it was, but it means nothing.”
“That’s a month straight that you have been having dreams like this. I think we may have to go see one of those dream doctors if this happens again.”
“No doctors. I’ll be fine, just go back to bed and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay, just think about what I said, I mean it, we will go if this happens again.”
Okay already I get your point.”
Well good night then.” She said as she slid off his bed and walked out of his room closing the door behind her. She paused in the hallway outside his room, a tear falling from her eye. She didn’t want to put him through the daily doctor visits again but this was just becoming too much. Not only for him, but for her as well, she didn’t know how much more of this she could handle.
Jason slid back down in his bed repeating over and over that he wasn’t going to dream about the figure again. The mere thought of the doctor visits again was worse than dreaming about the damned figure, but he didn’t want to have to go through either of them. He closed his eyes letting exhaustion win him over.
Connie slowly made her way back to her bed, her thoughts dwelling on her son. Like Jason, she pushed them from her mind and drifted off to sleep.
1
For Jason, it was more then just therapy from life but from the dreams that haunted him while he slept. The movies helped occupy his mind to keep him from thinking about the dark figure. Tonight that usually successful method of therapy gave him no comfort. Nothing seemed to get the visions of his nightmare from last night out of his head. More so, because it hadn’t just been a friend he had seen being killed, it had been his girlfriend Steph.
Suddenly he felt a jab at his side breaking him from his daze. “Wh-what’s up?” He stuttered out glancing over to Steph.
“Well for one you’ve missed the last half hour of the movie, and for two you were totally ignoring me.”
“Sorry sweetheart, things are just a little weird for me right now.”
“Weird?”
“Yeah, do you remember the nightmares I keep telling you about?”
“Yeah the ones you used to tell me about when we first met.”
“Well they started up again, and for the past month I have been having really bad ones. So bad in fact that I wake up screaming and sweating profusely. Mom came in last night screaming and freaking out again, but this time she started talking about going to see a dream doctor.”
“Dream doctor?”
“Yeah I was reading up on them while I was in the home and I guess they are pretty good to see when it comes to nightmares or night terrors some call it.”
“Was she serious about taking you? I mean it was hard for you to see the doctors when you had to in the home.”
“She said that if it happens again that we aren’t even going to discuss it, that we are going to go whether I like it or not.”
“Man that sucks.” Was all she was able to get out before they heard the front door open and Siselia, Jason’s little sister, came running in. The pitter-patter of her feet could be heard as she ran through the house to the family room.
“Stephy, Stephy.” She yelled as she leapt onto Steph’s lap
“Why hello little lady, did you and your mom have fun at the movies?”
“Yeah, we saw a dinosaur movie. The big dinosaur went boom boom when it walked.” She jumped to the floor imitating the dinosaur stomping around, growling at both of them.
“Okay, little miss I think they get the point.” Connie said stepping into the room. “Remember its tubby time for you, give kisses and get up to the bathroom.”
“Bye-bye Stephy, bye-bye Jay-Jay.” She said as she jumped up kissing them both, giggled and disappeared out of the room. Her dinosaur imitation could be heard as she stomped up the stairs growling and chomping at invisible dinosaurs.
“You two enjoy your movie tonight?”
“Yeah, but Jason dozed off and missed the last half hour of it.”
“Well that’ll teach him to go to bed on time, so he’s not passing out in the middle of the day.”
“Thanks mom.”
“No problem honey. Now I have to go give Siselia her bath.” Connie said turning and disappearing upstairs to the bathroom.
“Well I guess I’ll take that as my cue to get going myself, school tomorrow can’t be late.”
“Okay I’ll walk you out” Steph slid off the couch grabbing her coat, slipping it on as she walked to the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She added as she opened the door and started to walk outside.
“Forgetting something.”
“Huh, oh yeah sorry.” She said as she leaned back into the house kissing him.
He watched her pull out of the drive way and speed off down the street disappearing around the corner. “What the hell was that?” He muttered. “She never forgets to kiss me good bye, and she says I’m the distracted one tonight.” His face tensed as his frustration got the best of him. He turned and stepped back into the house slamming the door behind him.
*******************
Several minutes later Steph’s car pulled up in the driveway of a large burgundy house. She honked her horn several times, and Tobey Kail local football hero and not to mention her ex-boyfriend came running out.
After only three large strides he was standing next to, the car and seconds later he was all over Steph groping and kissing her. “Miss me baby?”
“Damn right I did, did you dump that dork piece of shit yet?”
“No, give me a couple of days, I want to do it at school so it will have a bigger effect of his pathetic life.”
“Come on baby, I’m getting tired of having to share my time with a loser like him.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t be much longer, now get over here and show me how much you missed me.” Without hesitation, he practically jumped across the car again groping and kissing her. She clumsily shifted the car into reverse and backed out of the driveway slamming it into drive, speeding away down the street.
*******************
Jason climbed the stairs going to his bedroom, what had just happened and what happened last night played in his head. He just couldn’t believe that she forgot to kiss him and then acted as if nothing had happened. It had been some time since he had listened to his gut in matters like this, and right now, it was telling him that something was wrong.
As he walked past the bathroom, he heard Siselia’s voice singing a variety of her favorite songs as mom gave her a bath. A smile found its way onto his face replacing the scowl that he wore.
His room had an odd chill to it, not warm and soothing like the rest of the house. As he swung the door shut, he felt a cool breeze blow past him sending a chill up his spine. Across the room, he saw that the window over his desk was open and the breeze was blowing his papers off the desk. He didn’t remember leaving the window open, but he probably forgot again. His memory seemed to be getting worse.
As he pushed the window shut, he picked up his phone and dialed Steph’s cell number. There was no ring just the click and her voice mail picked up. “Hey I can’t get to this thing right now, so leave me a message and I’ll catch you later, peace.” The beep rung in his ear, but he paused for a couple of seconds before leaving his message choosing his words carefully.
“Hey sweetheart, just wanted to make sure you got home okay. You seemed a little out of it when you left the house. Well…call me tonight or I’ll just see you in school tomorrow. I love you, bye.”
He slammed the phone down on the hook, his anger swelling inside him. She never forwarded her cell, never, always joking that all her best men call in the middle of the night. The only time he could remember her forwarding it was when they were messing around and they didn’t want to be bothered by anyone. “I must be a fucking dumb ass, or maybe I just have ‘pathetic loser’ tattooed across my forehead.” Frustrated a sigh escaped his lips as he fell back onto his bed.
His frustration once again won him over and he passed out, deep sleep finding him quickly. Soon he found himself standing outside Steph’s house, there wasn’t a single light on, leaving the house eerily dark. Jason’s eye fell upon the empty driveway, Steph’s car wasn’t in its usual spot.
Suddenly he heard something from behind him, it was like a breeze blowing and then quickly stopping. Oddly enough, it reminded him of the sound the doors made when they opened in the old sci-fi movies. He looked over his shoulder but nothing was there, as he turned around, he found himself face to face with the dark figure.
Time seemed to stand still as they stared at one another, Jason frozen in place he was even too scared to run. He couldn’t tell if the figure was even looking at him, as usual he couldn’t make anything out just the same old black coloration. Finally, Jason’s frustration got the best of him, something he wasn’t sure was a good idea, but he couldn’t take it anymore. He turned to walk away but felt a heavy hand grip his shoulder before his foot ever left the pavement. He was spun back around and yanked forwards closer to the figure, just as it had in the dream the night before.
“Okay if I can’t leave then what am I suppose to be doing here?” He shouted.
“Learn.” The figure whispered as it pointed up to Steph’s dark bedroom. Again, Jason could have sworn he saw the figure smile as it stepped back into the shadows and disappeared. Everything went black and Jason found himself waking to the sound of his alarm clock going off.
Monday
He slid out of bed and carelessly got dressed for school, he walked downstairs only to find that his mother and sister had already left for the day. Peeking in the refrigerator, he found the lunch his mom had left for him. As he went to step away from the refrigerator to close the door, he heard a noise from behind him. He froze in his place wondering what the hell was behind him. Was it the figure again? It couldn’t be he mumbled in his head, it was daytime and it never came to him during the day.
“Who’s there?” He called behind him, but there was no answer.” Whose there I said?” He said again with a little more force in his voice, but again no answer came. He spun around quickly to confront whoever was there.
“Boo!” Scott said causing Jason to stumble backwards almost falling into the refrigerator.
“Asshole!” Jason shouted as he punched Scott in the arm. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“That was the whole idea dumb ass.”
“Okay, save the degrading names for the jocks at school.”
“They just always sound better attached to you.” Scott said grabbing Jason in their customary headlock greeting. “So what’s up with you today anyway? You seem just a little jumpy.”
“Nothing I just had another bad night, feel like I didn’t get a single second of sleep.”
“Nightmares again?”
“That would constitute for me saying another bad night.”
“Take it easy killer, want to talk about it real quick before we have to take off? We have to make it quick though the girls are in the car waiting on us.”
“No, I think I can manage without a little pep talk but thanks.”
“Well let’s get this pathetic mobile closet case on the road.” Scott said laughing as he darted out the door to escape Jason’s barrage of punches.
When Jason turned from locking the back door of the house, his eyes caught a glimpse of Jordan sitting in the back seat of Scott’s car. She had a way of looking at him that always made him melt. He never attempted anything with her because he felt that it would ruin their friendship. She had told him on a number of occasions that she liked him and would like to try and take their friendship to the next level but Jason always found a way to change the subject fast enough to escape the question.
“Come on jackass, we’re going to be late if you spend too much more time concentrating on little Miss Juliet here.”
“You’re such an ass, you know that.” Jenn said from the passenger seat. She was Scott’s girl and for as long as he could remember, she had always been. “Give poor Romeo a break.”
“Why? Even in the movie everyone gave him shit, so why can’t I?”
“Because I’ll kick your scrawny ass if you don’t cut it out.”
“Okay boss lady I get the hint. Now Jay get your ass in the car so we can go.” The group burst into laughter as Jason slid into the back seat and Scott blasted the radio, his personal therapy for everything, and gunned it out of the driveway and sped off down the street.
The ride to school was filled with laughter, everyone cracking jokes on each other. They always started the day this way, saying that it got them primed for a day of pencil pushing and slave labor. It wasn’t that they hated school, but rather that they were seniors and they were almost at the end of the High School road. They all planned to go to college but right now, they planned to have the time of their lives before it was back to the books.
“Hey Scott did you study for that quiz we’ve got in Mr. Raith’s class tomorrow?” Jordan asked shouting over the music.
“A little, but I bet even my meager studying was more then Jason’s. I bet he hasn’t even cracked the book yet.”
“Well have you?” Jordan said turning to Jason.
“Okay so I’m surrounded by a group of preverbal book worms, and my studying doesn’t meet your standards.”
“Just answer the lady’s question smart ass.” Scott shouted.”
“No, no I haven’t, are you happy now?”
“You got that right, but not as happy as your mom will be when she’s beating your ass for failing a quiz this close to finals and the end of the year.”
“I don’t plan to fail that’s why I have the lot of you.”
“Well ladies the truth finally comes out, well at least we’re good for something I guess.” They all burst into laughter again as Scott pulled the car into the student parking lot across from the school. “Hey Jay isn’t that Steph over there with that loser jock Tobey?” Jason didn’t respond as he caught a glimpse of Steph laughing and hanging all over Tobey who he thought was her ex-boyfriend.
“She just isn’t right.” Jordan muttered seeing the upset look that Jason had.
“I’ll talk to her, after all she is my friend and we don’t want anything said that maybe regretted afterwards. Jenn said sliding out of the car.
“You okay Jay?” Scott said as they got out of the car.
“That's peachy, just peachy.”
“Calm down, I’m sure there’s a good reason that she’s hanging around with him again. If you want I’ll ask her what’s up with them.”
“Please, now we had better get going you know how Mrs. Carns gets when we miss her opening thoughts for the day.”
“Oh God lets hurry, we don’t want to miss the tales of her last sewing nightmare.” Jenn said bursting into laughter. Everyone chimed in laughing along with her as they all started for the school.
Steph caught an eye of Jason and the others walking up to the school, she knew that he had to have seen her and Tobey laughing and carrying on. “Step one complete.” She said as she slid off her car and ran across the street to catch up to them.
“Hey Steph, what kept you?” Jenn said seeing Steph coming up behind them as they stepped into the school.
“Hey Jenn, oh I was just telling Tobey about the movie Jason and I watched last night. He also likes to catch a movie every now and again.”
“Oh I bet he does.” Jason muttered just low enough that no one heard him.
Several minutes later, the bell rang and the group dispersed from their lockers and headed for their classrooms. Mrs. Carns’s class went by quickly, giving way to second period, Jason felt no urge to hurry to class. Something seemed to be weighing him down. His mind drifted between the last two nightmares he had, and the episode with Steph. He heard the bell ring as he shuffled down the hall. The halls quickly emptied, leaving Jason to his lonely stroll to class. He couldn’t keep his head straight, part of him wanted to beat the shit out of Tobey for being with Steph, and the other half sat confused at the whole situation. It had seemed that as of late, he was of two minds about everything. One side was full of anger and didn’t care about anything, and the other was calm and passive to the point of annoying.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped, a scream escaping his month as he reeled around to see who had grabbed him.
“Calm down Jason, it’s just me.” Mr. McKinney the principle said inching his way forward closing the distance between them.
“I’m okay you just startled me that’s all.”
“I'd say it seems more like I scared the pants off of you. What’s the hold up today? Shouldn’t you be in your second period?”
“Yeah, I’ve just got a lot on my mind and I lost track.”
“Okay, well since I’m here, I’ll walk you to class so you can avoid a tardy mark.”
“Thanks.” Jason replied as they started down the hall. McKinney glanced down at Jason from time to time trying to figure out what was bothering the boy. He had been around when Jason had his breakdown and since then he was always checking up on him to make sure, nothing like that happened again.
“Are you sure you’re all right? I mean if you need to talk about anything.”
“No sir I’ll be okay, I just need to clear my head.” Jason said as they stopped in front of Mrs. Hildabrant’s classroom. Mr. McKinney opened the door letting Jason in he smiled at Mrs. Hildabrant as he took his seat.
“I’m sorry for interrupting your class I just had Jason for a minute discussing some personal matters.”
“No problem Mr. McKinney, we were just getting started he hasn’t missed a thing.”
“Good.” McKinney said as he stepped back out of the room closing the door, never taking his eyes off Jason.
Jason opened his book and got his things ready for the class, he had noticed McKinney staring at him. He didn’t want to make eye contact so he just kept his eyes on his book and paid attention hoping the class would go by quick. He got his wish, the next two classes also went by quickly and the bell ending fourth hour finally rang ushering in lunch hour for most of the seniors.
Jason practically ran to his locker dumping in the books from the first half of the day and grabbing the last two books he’d need for the rest of the day. He slammed the door shut, Scott jumped out as the door swung shut shouting, “BOO!”
“You’re such an ass, you know that.” Jason said throwing his math book at him.
“Yeah but you love it Romeo.”
“How many times have I told you not to call me that?”
“Last I could remember it was about a million but hey who’s counting anymore. Lets get going the others are waiting for us.” Jason didn’t reply he just ran behind Scott to the lunchroom. As they stepped in Jason felt a sudden pinch in his sides as Jordan attempted to tickle him. She didn’t manage to tickle him but she did a good job at scaring him so he would drop his books.
“Gotcha!” She shouted peeking around Scott.
“Is everyone looking to scare the shit out of me today, I can’t walk ten feet without someone trying to scare me. Even McKinney got his shot in today, can you believe that one.”
“Chill Romeo, Juliet here didn’t mean to scare you like that. She was only trying to be funny and, not to mention, be your friend.”
“Quit calling me that.” Jason and Jordan said in unison causing the three of them to burst out laughing. The continued to the lunch table they had made a ritual of sitting at since the beginning of the year.
“Hey guys what’s the good word today, and please make it something better then today’s menu.” Jason said sliding onto the bench.
“Well I got a sneak peek down Mrs. Hildabrant’s shirt today.” Dennis said. He was Jason’s friend from work, they had known each other for almost two years, and for as long as Jason could remember Dennis had always been a porn freak. His room was littered with posters of playmates and porn stars.
“You did.”
“You bet I did.”
“And the rumors are true, no bra.”
“Oh yeah.” The guys said in unison, Jenn and Jordan made imitation gagging gestures at the guys being the usual male pigs.
“Dude she has a nice pair of tits for a woman her age.” Dennis said slapping fives with Jason, Bryce, and Scott.
“And I always thought men tried to act semi respectable in front of women.” Jenn said glancing over at Jordan.
“Guess not, one can only come to the conclusion that when presented a pair of perky tits men go all tingly in the wrong head.”
“That’s not true, it also works with a good ass.” Scott said smacking Jenn on her butt.
“You guys are pathetic.” Jenn said sliding away from Scott.”
“Hey Jenn have you talked to Steph since first hour. I didn’t see her in Mrs. Hildabrant’s class?”
“No she never made it to fourth hour either.”
“I heard a few of her loyal followers talking in the hall that she planned on leaving after first hour to go hang out with Tobey. They didn’t say where they were going, but I bet that they went back to his house, you know how he’s always talking about how his parents are never home.” Dennis said glancing up at Jason.
Jason’s hand tensed under the table as soon as he heard Steph and Tobey’s name together. His hand started shaking and thus his arm started and soon he was completely shaking.
“Hey Jay, are you all right?” Scott questioned as he put a hand on Jason’s shoulder.
“Don’t touch me, don’t fucking touch me!” Jason shouted drowning out all other conversation in the room. He jerked his shoulder from Scott’s grip almost sending him falling to the floor. He jumped up from the table and ran out of the lunchroom slamming the doors closed behind him. Scott and the others just sat there shocked at the sight of what had just happened.
*******************
Jason ran down the hall his head was on fire, so many things going through his head he couldn’t stand it. The nightmares, Steph, Tobey, and the weird feelings of absolute rage he was feeling. He didn’t know what to do, but for now, he had to get somewhere quiet, where he would be alone. He ran through the halls until he came to the janitor’s closet. “Perfect,” He muttered to himself as he ducked in the room closing and locking the door behind him.
*******************
“I have.” Scott choked out.
“You have. When was this and what happened?”
“It was a while ago, do you remember Ronnie Sloopes?”
“Yeah wasn’t he that little kid that nearly got beaten to death by some neighborhood kid?”
“Yup, that was Jason. Back then things were really bad for his mother, sister and him. His parents had just gotten divorced and he was really rattled about it. One day Jason and I were walking to the store, Ronnie bumped into him, and Jason just lost it on him. It took five people to pull him off Ronnie, and he still gave us quite a fight. Ronnie was barely conscious, he had to be rushed to the hospital, and he spent a week in intensive care. Jason was sent to The Jenkins Juvenal Correctional Home where he had to see a psychiatrist and several other doctors everyday. He was released after four months, being told that he was better but to steer clear from extreme amounts of traumatic stress.”
“That must have been rough on his mother and little sister.” Jordan said.
“It was, Mrs. Scottsdale was sued by the Sloopes’s and almost lost their house. Little Siselia almost wound up with a foster family, but oddly enough, Mr. Scottsdale was nice enough to help her out so that they didn’t end up on the streets. Jason on the other hand, was in pieces for the first month he was at the home. He actually met Steph at the home, she had been working there with her mother helping take care of the patients. She spent most of her time with him, she would come to his room and they’d talk for hours. Which was good for him and I think it was for the most part why he turned around so quickly, they said that it could have taken a year possibly two for him to be well enough to be able to go back out into public. I guess after spending so much time with her he proved them wrong and they let out him after only four months.”
“So that’s how those two met. Well it looks like she’s out grown him, and it looks like he’s walked right into a mass of traumatic stress.” Jordan said, “I’ll bet that little bitch doesn’t even care what happens to him.” She added taking a bite out of her hamburger.
“Well, for her sake I hope she has a shred of decency in her, because Jason looked like he was going to kill someone.” Jenn said, her concern showing heavily in her voice.
“I’ll see you guys later, I’m going to go check on him.” Jordan said sliding off the bench. “See you at Math class Jenn.”
“Be careful, you don’t know how rattled he is.” Jordan just nodded as she started towards the lunchroom doors. Jenn ran up next to her with Jason’s things in her hands, “Make sure he gets these.”
“I will.” Jordan said as she pushed open the door and stepped out into the hallway letting the door slowly close behind her. Jenn walked back over to the table sitting back down next to Scott, and continued quietly eating her lunch. No one else said a word, no one knew what to say. They just hoped Jason was okay and didn’t do anything to hurt himself or anyone around him. Finally, the bell rang ending lunch, the group slowly collected their things and headed for the door.
Bryce was the first to break the uneasy silence of the group, “Hey Scott are you still having that party at your house this weekend?”
“Yeah, my parents are leaving for a week, their flight leaves Friday morning. I’m having everyone show up at about nine thirty. Are you going to make it?”
“Yeah, I’m bringing Allison, you remember her don’t you.”
“Isn’t she that college chic you met at the fair last summer?”
Yeah, we started dating during Christmas break. We’re thinking about getting a place together after graduation.”
“That’s cool, I hope everything works out for you two. What about you Dennis?”
“I’m not sure I’ve got to work, but I get off at ten so I can swing by after. That is if you don’t mind me showing up in my work uniform and making you look like a huge dork.”
“Whatever, I’ll see you there then, come on Jenn we had better get to math. See you guys after school.”
“Yeah see you later.” Bryce replied. He and Dennis headed off in the opposite direction as Scott and Jenn.
2
“Scott told you about Ronnie.”
“Yeah he did, he also told us about the four months you spent in the correctional home. I know all about how you met Steph there, and how she helped you get through it all. That’s just what I want to do now, I want to help you the way she did.”
“You can’t help me, something’s very wrong with me. She never really helped fix anything, she just helped me push it back into my subconscious, she just gave me better things to think about. The anger, the rage, and the pain, they were just nestled in the back of my mind waiting for me to get weak again.”
“At least let me try to help you, you don’t know that I can’t. When I saw you lose it in the lunchroom, the first thing I thought about was how much I worried that you might do something that might get yourself hurt.
“Thanks for caring about me so much Jordan, but I don’t deserve it. I just want to be left alone right now, I’m going to go home for the rest of the day. Tell the others, especially Scott, that I’m really sorry about how I acted, and that I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“Okay.” She choked out as she stood up to leave. Jason clinched his fists feeling the pain of the cuts ripple through his hands. Again, the dark figure flashed in his mind, a smile could be barely made out on its face.
As Jordan walked down the hall from the janitor’s closet, she heard a loud bone chilling scream echo through the hall. Without thinking she spun around and darted back to the closet, when she flung open the door her eyes shot to where she had just seen Jason sitting no more then two minutes prior. Only now, he was gone as were his books.
The quietness of the day was suddenly broken as Jason broke through the school doors at blinding speed, he ran until it hurt, his chest was heaving, fighting for air as he stopped at the corner just across from his house. Sweat poured down his face drenching the front of his shirt. He had just run the entire mile and a half to his house. Never, even on his best day could he have done that at such an accelerated speed. Exhaustion slowly crept up on him, he started feeling as if he were about to pass out. His head spun out of control, making it hard for him to cross the street. He slowly staggered across the road thanking God his street wasn’t highly traveled this time of day. Finally, he made it to his front door. He fumbled through his keys, fighting to find the correct one, before getting the door open. He barely got the door closed before he was completely enveloped by his exhaustion, causing him to collapse just inside the hallway. His body hit the floor, but the hard impact with the floor didn’t faze him, he was already unconscious.
*******************
Several hours later Scott and the others walked out of the school chatting about their classes and the homework they had. None of them wanted to talk about what had happened to Jason during lunch, just the mere thought caused them to worry about him even more. Jenn, Scott, Dennis and Bryce started across the street to the student parking lot, when Jenn noticed Jordan had not crossed with them. “Hey Jordan what’s up, aren’t you riding with us?”
“No, I think I’m going walk home today, maybe stop by the pool on the way.”
“You sure, I mean we can give you a lift to the pool if that’s where you’re going.”
“Just go ahead I’ll be okay.” Jordan said waving the group on.
“Okay miss independent, we’ll see you later.”
“Yeah independent my ass, you know I depend on you. That is for your homework to copy.” Jordan said laughing so the group could hear her.
“Whatever, I’ll see you later.”
The group waved back as they slid into Scott’s car and pulled out of the parking lot speeding past Jordan. She said nothing, just waved back and slowly started down the street. It was an eight-block walk to the local pool that she usually swam at three times a week. It was her way of clearing her mind and relaxing.
*******************
From the darkness of his subconscious it came as it always had, invading his mind. This time it brought images of a limp and bloody figure hanging out a window. The wounds and blood-matted hair were too extreme to tell exactly who it was, but he knew that it had to be one of his friends or he would not be seeing it. “What the hell?” Jason muttered as his eyes tried to adjust to the darkness. His body rippled with pain as he tried to get up from his place on the floor. By the lack of light, it was easy to tell that it was either late evening or well into the night. Fighting back the pain, he tried to get to his feet and that was when he realized that he wasn’t at his house where he remembered falling. Quickly eyeing his surroundings, he realized that he was actually at Steph’s house. “How the hell did I get here?” He asked himself aloud, hearing his voice echo through the stillness of the dark house. From the corner of his eye he saw the silhouette of someone in a room down the hall but before he could get to his feet, they were gone. “Hello.” He bellowed through the darkness. The only reply he received was that of his heart-beating heavy in his chest rapidly pumping blood through his nervous body. Slowly he began going from room to room looking for, no, hoping for someone to be home. Each room he searched was the same, pitch black and empty not even the clocks were running. Finished with his search of the lower level of the house he decided to check Steph’s room. He slowly made his way up the flight of stairs, the steps creaking underneath his weight. Looking up from the creaking steps he again saw the silhouette but before he could take another step, it was gone. Just like before, it disappeared too quickly to make out who it was. At the top of the stairs, he peered down the long dark hallway to Steph’s door, which was slightly cracked and a tiny amount of light shown through.
“Hello.” He called out again but he received no response. His feet stopped several feet from the door not wanting to carry him any further. Suddenly, from the darkness of the hall a small silhouette leapt at him. It caused him to stumble backwards, and he almost fell down the stairs. “Damn cat.” He swore as the light from a streetlight hit the silhouette for a brief second as it darted away down the stairs.
Picking himself up he slowly made his way to her door, it was cold when his hand touched it to push it open. Still two steps outside the room he took a deep breath and stepped through the door. No words could describe the horror before his eyes. It was Steph her face all bloodied and cut, her hair was matted to her cheeks. The dark figure stood next to her with her hair wound around his black hand. For one reason or another, be it fear or just shock, he couldn’t decide but he was frozen where he stood. No matter how much he tried he couldn’t move a muscle, the will to move was there but that was about it he was not going anywhere. “Step-Steph.” He choked out through the stillness of the room.
“Ja-Jason why?” She whispered in response, as she attempted to extend a hand out to his. With a bone-rattling scream, one he remembered all to well from the other night, he found himself stiff as a board on the floor of his house the light of day shining in through the windows. In shear shock he flung himself to his feet and opened the front door, in front of him stood Steph her face still bloodied and cut, again she whispered, “Ja-Jason why?”
Jason’s head swirled as everything went black again, and again he found himself laying on the floor just inside his house the daylight shining in through the windows.
“Jason, can you hear me?” He heard through the darkness of his mind. The voice echoed in his head until it finally rang true. It was his mother, “Jason, wake up.”
“I’m, I’m awake.”
“Are you okay?”
”My head really hurts, and I can’t seem to focus.”
“Do you know where you are?”
“No.”
“You’re at home, but you’re on the floor in front of the door.” She said helping him sit up. “Do you know how you got here?” She added once he was in a stable sitting position.
“I-I can’t remember, and when I try my head feels like it’s going to explode.”
“Come on try to remember anything, something that will help figure out how you got here.”
“The last thing I remember was leaving school not feeling well, then I was out front and that’s it.”
“Jay-Jay you silly head, why are you sleeping on the floor?” Jason didn’t answer her he just ruffled her hair and tried to get to his feet.
“I’ll help you get to your room, and then I want you to get some more rest.” He just nodded as she helped him up and they started towards his room. Siselia trotted behind them making fun of him not being able to walk, calling him baby pants repeatedly. A wave of pain ripped through his body as he lay down on his bed, again his head felt as if it were on fire. Images of the figure flashed in his mind, and he could faintly make out a grin on its face. “Now get some sleep and I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”
He shifted trying to get comfortable as she walked out of the room he soon found a comfortable position and drifted off to sleep. The memories of his father filled his head as everything faded away.
*******************
The blue Ford Ranger pulled up into the parking lot of The Scottsdale & Holmes Law Firm, Jason stepped out staring up at the enormous building. His father had started the firm with his best friend Dean Holmes shortly after they both graduated law school. The company’s thirteenth year anniversary was quickly approaching, so Joseph Scottsdale was putting in a lot of extra hours to clear up any loose cases to prepare for the anniversary party they were planning. Jason had been to the firm on dozens of occasions as a kid, he loved to listen to his father on the phone dealing with clients. His father had often let him talk on the phone, pretending to sue someone or telling him or her, they had to go to jail. Those were the good old days, but now that he was older he barely stepped foot in the parking lot, let alone the office. His father didn’t ask him to visit anymore saying that he had become a young adult, and shouldn’t hang out or play around the office.
Jason pushed the huge front door open allowing the cool afternoon breeze to enter the lobby. On the far side sat Mrs. Reynolds, she had been with the company since the beginning and was a very nice lady in her mid fifties. He remembered how she had always snuck him candy when his parents weren’t looking, once again the ‘old days’. “Hey Mrs. Reynolds, is my dad busy or can I go in?”
“You should know the rules by now Jason, I have to call him first before anyone can go into his office even you.” She said pausing, looking at the handsome young man standing before her. She remembered when he could barely reach the edge of the counter standing on his tiptoes. “Mr. Scottsdale your son is here to see you.” Mrs. Reynolds’s voice said over the intercom of Joseph Scottsdale’s phone. “Shall I send him sir?” She questioned.
“No Mrs. Reynolds, give me a few minutes to finish up this report I’m working on.” Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention back to his companion. “My god does he have to bother me at work, its bad enough I can’t get a minute to myself at home. Can’t that damn kid understand I’m a very busy man?” He muttered into the ear of the blonde beauty Alisa Gale who was slowly raising and lowering herself on his lap as he caressed her back.
“He’s just a kid, and I bet if he knew just how much fun you had at work he’d understand.” She said biting her lower lip feeling the pleasure rippling through her body. She began to rock faster on his lap causing a loud moan to escape her mouth.
Fifteen minutes passed and Jason continued to patiently wait in the lobby. He knew he shouldn’t be bothering his father at work but he was so excited about the new truck his grandfather had just given him for an early birthday gift. He glanced at the clock on the wall and then to Mrs. Reynolds who sat typing away at her desk just outside his father’s office.
“Mrs. Reynolds, can I go in now?” Jason questioned glancing up at the clock again.
She glanced up and the clock on the wall, “Well your father did say he only needed a few minutes, so I guess it should be ok.” Without another word, Jason walked to the huge doors, gently turned the doorknob and stepped into the office. He had only managed to get a foot in the door when he saw his father having sex with Alisa Gale who he thought was a good friend of the family’s. He was struck with shock and was unable to say anything, he fought to talk but the words stuck in his throat. His father looked around Alisa only to see the shocked look on his son’s face, as he stood frozen in the doorway. That was all he needed to know that he had just fucked things up. Alisa shamelessly continued up and down on Joseph’s lap as he fought to get the words out of his mouth to explain the situation.
“Ja-Jason, it’s not what you think.” Was the only thing that managed to escape his lips, a lie he knew that would only make the situation even worse then it already was. Jason just stood silent fighting to find the words to correct his father’s false accusation.
“NO, NO! It is what it looks like. Mom sits home cooking cleaning taking care of Siselia and I and you sit here fucking this slut bitch. What, isn’t mom enough for you now you stupid fuck? What can this dirty slut give you that mom can’t beside a one-way express ticket to hell? And you were supposed to be our friend.” Jason said tears streaming down his face. Joseph pushed Alisa off his lap fixing his pants and ran towards his son but Jason slammed the door and ran out of the building.
*******************
“Jason dinner is ready, get washed up.” Connie shouted up the stairs. “You too little miss, get up there and wash those hands and that pretty face of yours.” She said to Siselia who was playing with her toys on the living room floor.
“Okie dokie mommy.”
“Jason!” She shouted again, but still nothing. She stomped her way up the stairs, Siselia running ahead of her. Jason’s door was still closed and there wasn’t any light coming from under the door. She walked to the door knocking gently before stepping in. “Jason are you awake?” She called into the black room.
“Mom.” A low raspy voice called from the bottom of the bed. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him curled up in a ball at the foot of the bed. Even in the dark, she could see that he was shaking.
“Jason, can you hear me?”
“Mom.” He whispered again.
“What is it Jason, just tell me.” She didn’t wait for him to answer, she reached for his arm to pick him up. To her surprise, he was cold and clammy, practically freezing to the touch. She rolled him over, but fell backwards when she saw his face. It was a pale white with dark black rings around his eyes. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to move him again. “Come on Jason, help me please.” Her plea went unheard, he just lay there completely oblivious to the world around him.
Siselia peeked around the corner to see what was going on. Her little face hugged the wall as she watched Connie drag Jason from the bottom of the bed. “What’s wrong with Jay-Jay mommy?”
“Nothing baby, just go wait downstairs okay.”
“Okie dokie.” She said turning and skipping down the hall towards the kitchen. Connie laid Jason back down on his bed and reached for the phone.
*******************
The telephone rang out through the silence of the Suolos house, its occupants were all out in the yard relaxing by the pool. Valerie Suolos was a small woman who stood at five foot on the dot, and she was in great shape for someone her age which was forty-five. Her son Bryce sat next to her, relaxing in the evening air. Unlike his mother, he was rather tall standing at a stunning six foot three and was very athletic. They often spent evenings by the pool since it was only the two of them living in the house. Valerie and Jim Suolos had been divorced for nearly six years, but they seemed to be better friends separated than together and often went out to dinner or just hung out and talked. Bryce very rarely saw his two sisters. His older sister Andrea was happily married and lived out of state, while Samantha lived with a boyfriend and was always too busy to visit. Nevertheless, they were all happy, and always made it so everyone knew that they were.
The telephone rang again, finally, Valerie heard it echoing through the house and stood up from her chair. “Bryce if you're finished can you cover the pool for me, I don't think I’ll be going in anymore tonight.” She said as she stepped into the house. Bryce didn’t have to answer, it was usually his nightly duty to cover the pool and close everything up for the night.
Valerie paused over the telephone waiting for the caller I.D. to tell her who it was that was calling her. Finally, after the third ring her sister Connie Scottsdale’s name popped onto the I.D. screen. “Hey little sis, calling a little late tonight aren’t we? I figured with it being eight thirty that you’d be getting ready for bed.”
“No time for jokes sis.” Connie said her crying echoing over the phone
“What’s wrong Connie?”
“It’s Jason, there’s something wrong with him. Today I found him passed out on the floor by the front door when I came home from picking up Siselia from kindergarten. When I woke him up, he looked at Siselia and me as if he had just seen a ghost. It scared me pretty bad, I don’t know whether I should call a doctor or just see if it passes.”
“Where is he right now?”
“He’s right here with me. I’m really scared Val, he’s all pale and cold I don’t know what to do.”
“I don’t know, but you had better call a damn doctor!”
“Has Bryce said anything to you about something happening with Jason at school?”
“No he hasn’t, why?”
“It’s just that one of the last things Jason said that he remembered was leaving school. Can you please ask him if he knows anything? You got it Connie, call that doctor and I’ll talk to you later.” Connie didn’t reply she just hung up the phone leaning forward putting her elbows on her knees and her hands on her face. She started to dial the doctor, when the sound of Jason’s voice interrupted her.
“Mom.” He said again, only this time he didn’t whisper.
“Ja-Jason what’s wrong baby, please honey tell me what’s wrong.” Jason didn’t reply he just stood there shaking staring off into space. His face was filled with fear and he was shaking so badly it was hard for her to hold him still. “Please Jason tell me what’s wrong.”
“That fa-face, mom I’m so scared.” Was all he said, starting to cry he buried his face in her shoulder.
“What face Jason?”
“The face in my head mom, he’s waiting.”
“He who? Waiting for what?”
“He’s waiting for me to get weak, he wants out and he wants out now.”
“Who is he baby, who is he?”
“Me.”
********************
“Who was on the phone mom?” Bryce said strolling into the kitchen as Valerie hung the receiver back on the hook. “What’s wrong mom, who was it on the phone?” Bryce asked again hoping for an answer, he hadn’t seen his mother like this since her and his father had gotten divorced.
“It was your Aunt Connie, she thinks that there might be something wrong with Jason. Do you know anything about this? Has he talked to you about anything that’s bothering him?”
“No he didn’t tell me anything, but he did freak out at lunch today. He came to lunch asking about Steph, Dennis said that he had heard that she had taken off with this football guy Tobey that she used to date before Jason. After that he got weird, Scott just touched his shoulder and Jason reeled back almost knocking Scott off the bench and then he stormed out of the lunchroom. No one saw him for the rest of the day besides Jordan. She said she had found him hiding in the janitor’s closet. He had broken a bunch of mop handles and his hands were all bloody. She said that she tried to help him, but he told him that she couldn’t help him. He said something was wrong with him, I don’t remember exactly what she said.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about any of this today when you came home from school?”
“I’m sorry mom I just forgot, it freaked me out so much that I just tried not to think about it. I hate seeing Jason like that, it killed me to see him when he was in the home. I just couldn’t go through it again so I blocked it out hoping that he was just really pissed off or something and it would all just blow over. I guess I should have at least told you.”
“Yeah you should have, your aunt is really scared right now. She doesn’t know what to do, but I told her to call the doctor. I’m going to have to call your aunt and tell her all this, did you finish closing up the pool.”
“Yeah, it’s locked up tight. I’m going to bed so I can manage to get up for school on time tomorrow.”
“Night.” Was all she said as she picked up the phone again dialing Connie’s number. After four rings the machine picked up, she hung up and tried again. After the fourth try with the same results, a sense of worry began to set in. “What the hell is going on?” She asked herself aloud. She knew her sister and she would never keep letting the answering machine pick up. Something was definitely wrong and she knew she had to get over there. She hung up the phone and darted to her room quickly changing, “Bryce I’m running to your aunt to check up on them, I think something’s wrong over there. I’ll be right back.”
Bryce didn’t have a chance to respond, his mother was already running back downstairs. He heard her grab her keys and go out the door, and then the car screaming out of the driveway and down the street. “What the hell is going on?” He questioned to himself.
Valerie blew stop sign after stop sign trying to get to her sister’s house. Worry and concern had completely taken over, she didn’t care about the tickets she might get if she were caught.
“What do you mean, it’s you baby?”
“It’s me, and He’s watching me. Watching everything, I do and say, just waiting for when I’m the weakest. He Watches me.”
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