Shades

“We’ll let the police decide that, Matthew.” Bedrik glanced at the engine. The wires had been cut. “I’ll bet your father will be very happy to learn how you’re spending your spare time. Imagine his reaction when you’re expelled from school.”

“No!” Matt lashed out, driving the wire cutters into Bedrik’s side. The point punched through his skin. Bedrik tossed him to the ground and felt his ribs. His fingers came away wet and red.

“You little shit.”

Moaning, Matt struggled to rise. Bedrik kicked him in the crotch. The boy collapsed, choking.

“Forget the police. Forget your father. You drew blood. I’ll deal with you myself.”

“Please,” Matt sobbed. “I didn’t mean to do it. I was just pissed off.”

“Who else knows you’re here?” Bedrik demanded. “Chuck? Ronnie and Jeremy?”

Danny?

Bedrik’s anger faded. An idea occurred to him. It was perfect.

“Nobody,” Matt moaned. “I swear. I didn’t tell no one. Chuck’s at home fucking around with his bass Ronnie and Jeremy went up to Hook Mountain to get stoned. I don’t know where Danny is. We haven’t seen him much lately.”

“You miss your friend, do you?”

Matt looked up at him and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “Who…Danny?”

“Yes. You’re resentful of the time he no longer spends with you?”

“Well, yeah…sort of.”

“Then I’ll make sure you see more of him. Stand up.”

“Are you gonna kick me again?”

“No, I’m not going to kick you. I’m going to help you. Come inside.”

Matt paused. “No way.”

“Come inside or I’ll call the police immediately and you can deal with your father’s retribution when you get home.”

Lowering his head, Matt followed the teacher inside the house. He limped, walking slowly and cradling his swollen testicles through his jeans. Bedrik closed the door behind them.

Then the screaming started. It continued for a very long time.

789

Later, Bedrik returned to Gethsemane Cemetery and stood in front of a headstone. Sam Oberman stood guard nearby, his body occupied by another. A ball of fireflies hovered over the grave. The name on the stone was Timothy Wells. His spirit was enraged, his mind like a hornet’s nest, seething with images. A crowbar. Blood. Teeth. Violation. A used condom. A child’s Halloween mask. Bedrik didn’t know what it all meant, and didn’t care. If he’d had more time, he’d have searched Wells’ memories in detail. But he didn’t. Timothy Wells longed for release. For revenge. That was enough.

“Come forth,” Bedrik commanded.

Timothy Wells’ shade slithered from the soil and knelt in front of its master.

Bedrik returned home and the shade followed. They went inside.

The screaming continued.

789

Then it stopped.

SEVEN

Haven’t seen much of you lately, man,” Chuck said to Danny as they walked to school together. “What, you too good to hang out with us anymore?”

“Sorry,” Danny apologized. He felt guilty for blowing off his friends from the Hill. But he couldn’t explain it to them either. Ronnie and Jeremy would laugh. Chuck and Matt would think he’d gone crazy. “I’ve just been busy with stuff.”

“Like what?”

Danny shrugged. “Just school. Studying. Shit like that.”

“Studying?” Chuck frowned. “Since when?”

“I don’t want to be stuck in this town forever. I can’t play an instrument like you. I suck at sports. And my Mom sure ain’t gonna put me through college. So I’ve got to start doing better in school.”

“Who are you and what did you do with Danny?”

Snickering, Danny punched him in the arm. Chuck hit him back. Then the two boys laughed. It felt good.

“Man,” Chuck said. “You studying…and I thought Matt was the only one acting weird.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you hung out with us more lately, you’d know. Two nights ago, he went over to Mr. Bedrik’s house. He was gonna cut the wires on his car, the way Jeremy showed us.”

Danny’s stomach fluttered. “Did he get caught?”

“No.”

“Then what happened?”

“We don’t know what happened. He showed up for school yesterday and he was all buddy-buddy with Bedrik. Ronnie gave him shit about it at lunch, and Matt said it was all just a misunderstanding. Said Bedrik was an okay guy and he forgave him for the whole detention thing.”

“A misunderstanding? Matt’s old man beat the shit out of him for that. I can’t believe he let it drop.”

“Well, he did. Like I said, he’s been acting weird. There’s other stuff, too. He’s been eyeing the girls like fresh meat.”

“Nothing weird about that.”

“Yeah, but even the ugly ones. And he’s talking to himself a lot. He’s really fucked up. You should talk to him, Danny.”

“Why me?”

Chuck sighed. “You know how Ronnie and Jeremy are. If Matt opens up to them, they’ll just razz him. And he won’t talk to me about whatever’s going on. I already tried. Maybe he’ll talk to you.”

“Okay,” Danny agreed. “I’ll try.”

789

Danny tried talking to Matt during fifth period, when they had English class together. Matt’s attention was focused elsewhere.

“What’s your problem?” Danny asked.

“Check her out,” Matt said, nodding towards Valerie Hutchenson. “What’s her name?”