Feet propped on the windowsill, Bri gazes beyond her sock-covered toes to the scene outside her hotel room. The autumn evening has ushered in a nipping breeze, which now wisps through the trees dotting the hotel’s property. Even within the tranquility of her room, the rustling leaves fill her ears as she sits in otherwise relative silence. Wonderment stirs as she stares out the window, contemplating if it was planned or by happenchance that the walkway’s yellow incandescent lights cast an array of dancing shadows on the pathways below.
She pulls her flannel blanket tight as another wind gust whips through the trees. Now, snuggled deep with the confines of her quilt, her stomach gives a grumbling reminder that she hasn’t eaten since breakfast. Torn between wanting something to eat but not wanting to move, Bri chooses to stay put.
Her attention refocuses on the dancing leaves in the walkway lights, when another thought replaces that of the hotel designer. The corners of her lips push into a smile as she remembers Dr. Kytle’s words before she left the hospital tonight. He said as long as Danny’s condition continues to improve, he sees no reason she wouldn’t be able to go home in two weeks. In reality, she was to be released before now. But Dr. Kytle pushed to have Dany remain a little longer. He cited the severities of her injuries and wanting to be sure everything was on the right path to heal properly. Bri believed him. But she also thinks he did it to help her. In passing, she told him of her housing situation, and he expressed concern that even though the hospital would push to have Danny discharged, Bri’s current situation wasn’t best for Danny’s recovery. So, as much as it pained her to leave Danny in the hospital, she knew it was the best course of action. But now with Danny on a secure road to recovery and an imminent date at hand, she revisits some of those questions. Where will they stay? Yes, she has two beds here in the hotel room, but is this the best environment for Danny? What about asking Chief Gaskin if they could stay in their own house? Bri rejects this option before she even has time to formulate any details. What about a rental place? There are usually rentals open out on Sidle Road. She had the money with her dad’s life insurance policy. Although she was still coming to terms with using it. To her, it just felt morbid. Besides, she didn’t want to be in Cullton any more than necessary. But on the other hand, she couldn’t push Danny to leave. Her sister just didn’t need any more stress right now.
Bri blows a long hard sigh as she flops her head back into the chair’s cushion. “I don’t need this stress.” She mutters as the room’s heat kicks on, blowing a warm gust in her face. The blast sends a shiver up her spine as Fifth Quarter flashes through her mind, bringing with it the recollection of two past dreams. Cautiously she glances over her shoulder as the memories begin to replay themselves. “Sam killed on Bitner Road. I dreamed of a dark road that night. Sheer coincidence? Maybe.” And if it were the only dream, she’d say yes. “Dylan drowned in Rothman’s Quarry. I dreamed of a body of water and a person in the water. But the sequence of that dream was vague. Very vague. Again, was it coincidence? I don’t know. And”—Bri shutters—“Jacob. I saw a body fly into the flames minutes before Jacob went into the fire. It wasn’t a dream. I saw it clear as day. Just like witnessing it for a second time when it really happened.” Bri lets out a frustrated scream. “Oh, God. Please tell me I’m not losing my mind.” Her thumbs press into her temples. “Jacob’s death was just over a week ago and I can still see it like it happened today.” Her thumbs cease their rubbing, and her hand runs through her hair. “Man, I couldn’t even bring myself to go to his funeral. And then there’s what happened to me at the church. The flash of…memories. And the lightning later that night—and now I’m alone, talking to myself in my hotel room. Ahhh—”
Bri’s phone vibrates across the windowsill, shaking all thoughts from her mind. She reaches her hand out, snatching the phone before it crashes to the floor. As she does, she catches sight of a name and avatar in the illuminated screen.
“Hey you,” she says, hitting the phone icon button.
“Hey, how are things in Cullton?” asks Kayden.
“I’m not sure. I’ve steered clear of the town for over a week. Jacob’s death kinda freaked me out a bit. Still freaking out over it.”
“Sorry. I know that had to be a hell of a sight. You okay?”
“Eh, I’m not sure. Just trying to avoid people.” Bri huffs. “Say. Do you happen to believe in premonitions, do ya?”
“Premonitions? Girl, that’s an off the wall question. Are you going to tell me you’re clairvoyant?”
Bri lets out a quick chuckle. “Never mind. I was just letting my mind wander. But I do have some good news. Danny and I were told she should be released from the hospital in two weeks.”
“Awesome!”
Bri pulls the phone from her ear, shaking her head from Kayden’s scream of excitement. “Yeah, Danny and I are pretty excited too.”
“Well, let me know when you guys want to stay at the beach house, and I’ll see to it that you get all the information.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much, Kayden. I-I can’t thank—”
“Girl, it’s all good. I told you I would help in any way I could. Hell, if it’s okay with you and Danny, I’d like to visit you guys for a couple of days.”
“Well, it is your beach house. Of course—”
“Not at the beach house, but if you want company then too, sure. I was talking about now. Well, now-ish. Or whenever would be a good time for you guys?”
“Are you kidding? I’d love for you to come for a couple of days,” says Bri.
“Excellent! Talk it over with Danny and let me know.”
“You bet,” says Bri. Uneasiness crawling through her body, she pulls the phone away from her ear and takes several deep breathes. “Kayden?” she says in a soft voice.
“Yeah.”
After a brisk exhale, Bri says, “Nothing. Never mind. It-It’s not important.”
“Girl, out with it.”
“Well, I know you have far-reaching contacts. And you used them to find out about the altered police report. I was…I mean…” Bri pulls her phone away, taking a couple deep breaths. “Look, there’ve been three deaths, all teenage boys, all from the same crowd. And all three happened kinda at once. At least around the same time frame.”
“Yeah, I saw that. I’ve kinda been keeping an eye on any news related to your little town,” says Kayden. “But all the deaths have been explained. And they all seem, well, pretty cut and dry.”
“Yeah, they do. It just seems weird that the report you found, it cites six attackers. There’s also what Dr. Kytle said about the attackers, that they may have been former students of my dad’s.”
“You think those three boys might have been part of the six?” asks Kayden.
“I don’t know. It seems really weird. And—”
“What was that?” asks Kayden.
“My stomach. I’ve been pushing back dinner. Guess it wants another say in the matter.”
“Well, I better let you go eat.”
“No, it’s okay,” protests Bri.
“Nah, go eat,” says Kayden. “We can talk more later. Love ya, girlfriend.”