The Shadow Box: Paranormal Suspense and Dark Fantasy Thriller Novels

by Travis Luedke

  I awoke hours later, 3:35 a.m. She was there, her arms wrapped around me, as usual. She was awake, lying across my chest, staring at me, concerned. Then I recalled her being there with me at the skatepark.

  “How the hell did we get home?”

  “I drove your car.”

  “Wow, I don’t remember coming home. How did I get in the house?” I winced with the spike of pain through my nose that accompanied any movement as I tried to sit up and look at her.

  She hesitated with the answer. “I … helped you walk in.”

  “Was my Dad here?”

  “He was asleep on the couch. He didn’t see us come in.”

  “How much of the fight did you see?”

  “I showed up when they were leaving. Very fortunate for them. I was too worried about you to go after them, but they’ll get theirs soon enough. Every dog has its day.”

  “And the burning dog shit on their porches shall stink to high heaven,” I teased her, trying to smile through the throbbing pain in my head. I wished I hadn’t woke up at all.

  “Well, that’s not my style, but I’ll take care of them.” She smiled, but it didn’t really reach her eyes, it was a Cheshire cat grin, a predator’s show of teeth.

  “Well, I certainly had no idea you could drive.” I lost the desire to speak as all the aches and pains throbbed between my head, ribs, and groin.

  “I have many hidden talents.” She traced her fingers down my chest suggestively.

  “So I’m learning.” I laid my head back, willing the pain to go away. And I wondered how much of my dream might have been reality.

  “Tell me what happened, I want the details of who, how, and why.” Not a question or a request.

  She ordered, commanded, a voice filled with authority. I told her everything. I unloaded the whole tale with my head down and eyes closed.

  I told her about the visions, all of them, past, present, and future pending. She took it all in stride, listening patiently. I told her about Bobby Krager, Rachelle and the ice, and then about the vision of Tommy. I explained how Rachelle had set me up for Tommy and gang, and then everything during and after the fight that I could recall.

  She ran her fingertips down my temples in a soothing massage as she pledged, “I will take care of everything. This has gone too far. I cannot permit it to continue. It was a mistake to wait this long before getting involved. Now it’s my problem, don’t worry about it. Get some rest, stay home from school tomorrow, and get plenty of sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  I was already drifting off back to sleep by the time she finished speaking. My dreams mercifully returned to the sensual little pink tongue of Nadia licking its way up and down my body, stealing all my aches and pains.

  * * * *

  Stendhal

  “The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.”

  Tiberius

  “It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them.”

  Chapter 14

  Tuesday, October 26th

  My nose and ribs still throbbed anytime I moved too fast, but my other aches and pains had virtually disappeared, almost like it had never happened.

  In the bathroom mirror, I looked for any marks to evidence the fight. My eyes had a darker shadowy look, but no real black eyes or bruises to speak of. My ribs showed a slightly discolored mark where I’d been kicked. My knuckles had a couple of tiny scabs that looked days old. It was weird, a little bit eerie. I healed up super-fast. I vaguely recalled shadowy dreams where Nadia was actually licking my wounds, but dismissed it as just another of the many strange dreams I had when she slept in my bed. I had become quite adept at the art of denial in relation to Nadia.

  I took the day off completely, hangin’ around the house. More like moping around the house. My skateboard was gone. Last time I’d seen it was when Justin stole it. That pretty much eliminated skating from my immediate plans. I didn’t have high hopes of recovering the board. A new board with trucks and wheels and grip tape can easily run a couple hundred bucks. There goes all my meager savings. I could always get something cheap or even grab a used one, but skate equipment is usually worth what you pay for it.

  I watched TV for a while, listened to my iPod, and read part of a paranormal thriller novel by T.W. Luedke that I’d checked out from the high school library a couple months ago, way overdue for return. I turned off my cell phone earlier in the day and saw no reason to turn it back on. A very quiet, uneventful day off from school.

  I spent half the day thinking about Anita, the way she acted after homecoming, the way she’d looked at me and walked away after that first fight with Tommy at school. What could I expect from her? Was it over? Was that the end of our friendship?

  I didn’t have a clue where I stood with her. I debated calling her, but in the end it seemed best to just wait. I didn’t know what to say to her anyways.

  And I had this, depression, this crappy, gunky feeling. Tommy would probably die. I had fucked that up. I hated the bastard. But did he deserve to die for being an asshole?

  Hopeless. That’s how I felt, hopeless and powerless to do anything but watch these visions play out to their strange, gruesome ends.

  Dad came home around 6:30 p.m. and we shared pizza from Papa John’s. I turned on my cell and noticed a couple texts from Anita and Rafe asking if I was OK, and I replied: CYA manana. I didn’t feel like talking to anyone, so I shut the phone off and fell asleep.

  I woke later to Nadia’s cool hands sliding around me, cuddling with me under the blankets. It was late, just past midnight.

  “Hi, honey, how was your day?” She mimicked some housewife sitcom personality.

  “Super lame. I did absolutely nothing. It was so lame that it was kinda cool – if that makes sense.”

  “No, but I don’t mind. Not everything in life makes sense.”

  “Late night hunh? Wild party?”

  “I had some things to take care of. But it’s all handled now. Problems solved.” She snuggled up with her head buried in my neck.

  I worked my angle. “I realized my skateboard was stolen last night, I might be able to get it back, but who knows. Got any cash for a skateboard fund in your bag of tricks?” How does a guy get used to this kind of thing? I don’t know, but it was no big deal to ask her for money. It had become normal.

  “Who stole it?” Her head popped up to peg me with that intense stare.

  “Justin. He took it during the fight. I guess they were afraid I’d use it. I probably would’ve.”

  She slipped her head back down into her usual spot in the crook of my neck. “I’ll get it back for you. But in the meantime we’ll get you a new one.”

  “Can I get a side of fries and a milkshake to go with that?” I teased her.

  “Go to sleep. Its late and you need rest.”

  And of course, I crashed right out in her embrace.

  * * * *

  Chapter 15

  Wednesday, October 27th

  I felt pretty good all things considered. I’d resigned myself to the idea that Tommy was dead, sooner or later – only a matter of time. Slim chance that this one vision would be the only one that didn’t come true.

  Nadia did exactly what she promised. She left a note on the dresser with $305.00 cash.

  Dear Misha:

  Here’s a good start on the skateboard fund. If it’s not enough I will get you more tomorrow.

  Love

  Natasha

  P.S. The $5 is for fries and a milkshake.

  She put a smile on my face first thing in the morning with her thoughtful note, a great start to the day. I arrived at school with hopes I might put Anita’s issues to rest, and maybe even catch a happy ending on the makeup. I still had enough money for a hotel room. She wasn’t in the library before school started, so I dropped her a text.

  Mike: Hey sexy where R U?

  Anita: Im sexy?

  Mike: OOOOH YEAH! J
/>   Anita: J @ Library now

  Anita entered the library as her last message popped up on my screen. I walked up to her feeling nervous, unsure of where I stood. I took a chance and stepped in close to hug her. She accepted me as if we hadn’t seen each other in a lifetime, pulling me in tightly.

  I whispered, “Did you miss me?”

  She murmured yes in my ear. She was back, the affectionate, passionate Anita. The fiery jealous demoness was on hiatus for the moment.

  “I heard about the fight. Justin sent me a text that Tommy kicked your ass, but then Rafe said that you were killing Tommy right up until Jim and Derek grabbed you.” She paused to run her fingers across my face to see for herself that I was unharmed. “I was really worried. Then you didn’t come to school, and I thought you were hurt bad, but my Dad wouldn’t give me a ride to come see you. And then your cell was turned off.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, she was almost crying. This was a far better reunion than I expected. Anita was truly worried. She obviously still cared, a lot.

  “I’m fine.” I kissed her and wiped away the tears. “Really, he didn’t do much damage.” I held her gaze to reassure her. “Did you see how Tommy looked?”

  Anita started laughing through the tears. “Oh god, I thought he was hit by a bus! He had two black eyes and his lips were all fat and split open. Rumor has it you knocked some of his teeth loose. I’m surprised he even showed up to school. You’ll see him today. He looks like total shit!”

  Though he needed a good ass whooping, I just couldn’t feel good about it. I knew far worse was coming his way, and soon.

  The day rolled out smoothly. I was in high spirits through first period shop class and second period English.

  Right up until lunch.

  I was sitting in the cafeteria eating pizza and fries with Anita when Vice Principal Arnez entered. Arnez, a short, half bald Hispanic man in his fifties, walked into the center of the room and announced, “I was just informed that a tenth grade student here at Moses Lake High School passed away late yesterday evening. Thomas Schroeder died in a motorcycle accident in the sand dunes last night. I’d like to offer my condolences to all his friends and family. Thomas will be sorely missed here at school. If any of you feel a need to talk with someone my door is always open. Counselors Luna and Channing will also be available for you at any time.”

  The world slid out from underneath me. I knew it was coming, but …

  Anita asked if I was okay, and I couldn’t speak to answer. I felt the eyes of the entire room on me as I slowly got up and walked out of the cafeteria. My feet moved independent of my thought processes, carrying me out to the parking lot, away from the stares of my fellow students that felt like a jury convicting me for Tommy’s death.

  Anita followed me outside. “Slow down, wait.” I kept walking on automatic, Robomike. “Are you okay? Mike, are you okay?”

  I needed to breathe, to think, to be alone, to get away from everything and everyone. I couldn’t face people while my conscience screamed with the guilt of Tommy’s untimely death.

  I turned on Anita and yelled in her face, “Leave me alone!” My feet carried me off to my car, leaving her standing at the edge of the parking lot, bewildered.

  I drove aimlessly, my body on auto pilot while my mind raced to find some sense of equilibrium. It was easy to hate Tommy when he was such an asshole, but now I faced the fact that I had allowed his death to happen. I hadn’t really done much about it. Tommy’s death settled on my shoulders in soul-crushing guilt.

  The past few days slid through my mind. Tommy drunk, walking out of the dance to leave Rachelle there alone. Rachelle staring me down, hate in her eyes, as I danced the night away. Then Tommy, mad as a hornet swinging at me at school. Tommy acted as if he really believed I had jumped him homecoming night. And then that vision of Tommy flying through the night air with his motorbike, smashing into the pit floor at breakneck velocity. My guts turned cold. Then my final memory of Tommy, of attacking him in mindless rage, punishing his face ruthlessly, relentlessly. And there at the end of it all, Nadia, cradling my head in her hands.

  I suddenly saw her face as her lips morphed to a cold smile, her golden cat eyes taking on an aspect of menace, her smile that drifted into a wicked-serious look. Snatches of her words over the past few weeks rose to the surface of my mind, and aligned to form new possibilities.

  “I think he’s gonna be a problem. Would you like me to take care of him for you?”

  “Let’s just say that I’ll make sure he never bothers you again.”

  “I showed up when they were leaving. Very fortunate for them. I was too worried about you to go after them, but they’ll get theirs soon enough. Every dog has its day.”

  “I will take care of everything. This has gone too far. I cannot permit it to continue.”

  Deep in the recesses of my mind, I reached towards strange fuzzy logic conclusions. Was it really a coincidence that Nadia had made threats and Tommy was dead?

  Right. “Stop blaming people. This is all on me. I didn’t stop it when I could have.” There’s no way Tommy’s death had anything to do with Nadia. It was an unfortunate accident. My heart rejected the idea that Nadia was capable of such a thing. There was nowhere to lay blame apart from myself, my own failure to change what I knew would happen.

  I played the what-if game. Maybe if I’d been more persistent or persuasive, I could have talked my way through the situation instead of pummeling Tommy like a raving lunatic. Maybe I could’ve gotten Rachelle to admit to Tommy that my visions were real, serious. Maybe I could’ve done a focused text message campaign on them both. I didn’t even try to be diplomatic. I just brawled with him, like an animal.

  I knew none of it would’ve gone down that way. Tommy wouldn’t have listened, Rachelle wasn’t really listening. No one but Nadia ever listened to me. Tommy wanted a fight, and Rachelle set me up. Short of kidnapping Tommy and tying him up, there was nothing I could have done to prevent what happened. I knew all this as I drove back and forth through the streets, but it didn’t help my sense of guilt over Tommy’s death.

  I eventually found myself parked in front of the skatepark – no fucking skateboard. I needed to skate. I needed the Zen-like flow of running the halfpipe. I drove a few blocks to the skate shop and spent an hour deciding on a new board and accessories. I chose a board by Santa Cruz with Slime Ball wheels and Birdcage trucks by Tony Hawk. I spent every dime of Nadia’s money on the nicest board I had ever bought. Not even enough left to buy fries and a milkshake.

  I headed back to the skatepark, trying not to think too much about anything but skating.

  The harsh thunder of wheels on concrete and the sharp smacks of boards hitting pavement replaced the silence of an hour ago. The place teemed with activity. Of course, school had just let out.

  I rode the ramps incessantly, breaking in the stiff joints of the new trucks and getting a feel for the new board. It was sheer heaven to ride. The board had great pop, bouncing up far better than my old setup.

  As I flowed back and forth across the ramps, I caught snatches of conversation from nearby skaters. Then I overheard Cleo mention something about Rachelle to Taylor. Cleo faced away from me as she spoke. “Lindsey said she’s got second degree burns on like twenty percent of her body! Imagine how messed up that is, your boyfriend dies and then some asshole puts battery acid in your damn skin lotion!”

  Taylor shook his head. “I bet it was one of those Buffalo Bill psychos!” Taylor’s voice dropped low for a Buffalo Bill impersonation from the movie Silence of the Lambs. “It puts the lotion on its skin or it gets the hose! Yes, precious, it gets the hose!”

  Cleo started giggling, then she hushed up and leaned in close to whisper, “Do you think he did it? You know, that whole jealousy thing? If he can’t have her no one else can.” She sounded snide.

  “You mean Mike?” Taylor whispered back.

  “Yeah, did you see how he went off on Tommy? I thought he was gonna kill him.” Cle
o glanced back over her shoulder to find me standing several feet away, listening. Her look said it all – she’d been talking about me.

  I didn’t really care if they were gossiping at my expense. Wasn’t the first time, and probably wouldn’t be the last. “So, what’s goin’ on? What happened?”

  Cleo looked like she’d rather be doing anything else in the world than speaking to me, but she answered. “Somebody put battery acid in Rachelle’s lotion bottle! She’s in the hospital with second and third degree burns!” Cleo spit her words in blatant accusation. She’d already made up her mind who was responsible.

  “And she rubbed it on her skin?” Made no sense to me.

  Taylor made a timely exit, skating off to the ramps. Cleo hit me with a healthy dose of attitude. “Well duh! She didn’t know! She thought it was lotion!”

  “Who the hell would do that?”

  “That’s a good question. Obviously somebody was pissed at her.” Cleo stepped up into my face.

  “Well, it wasn’t me! I was home sick all day yesterday! I didn’t even leave the house!”

  “Somebody put it there. Somebody mad enough to kill.”

  “Whatever. Sure wasn’t me.”

  I had reached my daily tolerance limit for Cleo’s mouth. I skated off to try to recapture that moment of Zen on the halfpipe. I didn’t know what the hell to think. Acid in lotion? Gave me the creeps just thinking about it.

  I skated a few more minutes till sunset, and then noticed Nadia waving from the picnic table as she chatted with some skaters. Looking at her adorable, pixie-in-a-hoodie profile, I couldn’t imagine her being involved in any of that nasty business with Rachelle or Tommy.

  I kept rolling for a few more minutes, until my stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten since Vice Principal Arnez interrupted my lunch with the news of Tommy hours earlier.

  Nadia was gone from the picnic tables.

  I checked my car, but she wasn’t there waiting. Then I remembered the one vision that hadn’t happened yet, of Nadia being attacked. I began checking all the cars, my heart up in my throat.