When Darkness Comes

by Beck Cummings

  I heard a growl behind me and it was even more sinister than Bodhi’s. I whipped around. Nothing was there. Goosebumps rose from my flesh and I swear I heard a child laugh. It felt like the night at the Fort all over again.

  I quickly ran up the stairs toward the bedroom, turning on every light in my path along the way. I jumped across the bed, scrambling to get to my cell phone on the night stand. My gaze darted back and forth between the doorway and the phone in my hands, as I tried to pull up J.J.’s number with trembling fingers. Thinking twice, I shoved my phone in the pocket of my hoodie and darted back down the stairs. I grabbed my purse from the dining room table, threw it on my right shoulder and stepped into my UGGS that had been slipped off at the door.

  “Bodhi, oh buddy...” I kneeled down and stroked his head with my right hand. “C’mon, boy. We’ve got to get out of here. C’mon, get up.” I rose to my feet and patted my thigh while keeping my left arm as close to my body as possible, still in pain. We stepped out into the damp night and I slammed the door behind me, not even bothering to lock it with my key.

  †

  I took a steadying breath and glanced over my shoulder to see Bodhi watching me intently from the passenger seat of my Jeep parked on the street. I swallowed hard, lifting my fist up to knock on the door. Lowering my hand, I secured my left arm to my chest and listened to shuffling coming from behind the wooden door. I closed my eyes as I heard the doorknob turn.

  “P.K., what are you doing here?” J.J. asked.

  Lifting my eyes to his, a tear trickled down my cheek. J.J. set his jaw and his eyes widened as he took in the sight of me. Standing in front of him, in Trent’s sweats, my arm clutched to my chest, my eyes puffy from crying the entire drive over... I’m sure I looked just as bad as I felt. I broke down again, stumbling forward into his arms.

  “Get in here, you’re freezing.” He said as he backed us into the entryway of his house.

  “Wait!” I pushed back from him and turned to look out the door. “Bodhi. I couldn’t leave him in that house. Not after what happened to him.”

  J.J. carefully moved me to the side and ran to the street in his bare feet, not caring that the rain had begun to fall harder. I watched as he threw the passenger door of my Jeep wide open and leaned in, scooping Bodhi up in his arms. He turned around and swung the door shut with a push of his foot before trotting back up to the house.

  “This dog is a lot heavier than I thought.” He exhaled loudly and set Bodhi at my feet, closing the front door behind us.

  J.J. looked ridiculous, dripping wet in just a pair of plaid pajama pants. His black hair had gone limp and now stuck to his forehead. He lifted a hand and ran it back and forth on his head, making the strands stand up again.

  “Are you coming back to bed?”

  J.J. and I turned our attention toward the voice that had just interrupted us. A leggy brunette stood in the hallway with nothing on but one of J.J.’s black V-necks.

  “Oh my gosh… I’m so sorry…” My hands flew to my mouth in embarrassment before I could even think about my injured wrist. “Ouch…” I whimpered as I tucked my left arm back to my chest.

  J.J. rushed to stand in front of me and gently reached for my hand. I shook my head no at him and he promptly rolled his eyes at me.

  “I really should go. I shouldn’t have bothered you.” I whispered.

  He exhaled and narrowed his eyes at me, before turning around to address his bed mate. “Elise…” He walked to stand beside her in the hallway and leaned in to say something to her that I couldn’t hear. Her look of confusion quickly turned to a look of anger as she gave me a once over and looked back at J.J. I can’t imagine her being threatened by the girl who was in the two-sizes-too-big sweatpants and sweatshirt with bed head and tear-stained cheeks, but she clearly was for some reason. Perhaps my knocking on J.J.’s door before 5 a.m. was enough to sour her stomach.

  Turning on her heel, Elise strode to the back of the house and quickly returned with shoes and jeans on. She still had on one of J.J.’s V-necks and with her purse in hand, she stormed out the front door and left me staring at J.J. in silence.

  “What happened, Paige?” J.J. questioned, walking back to me.

  “I ruined your date, that’s what.” I said apologetically.

  “It wasn’t a date; it was a hook up. You’re more important. What happened?” He gently took my hand in his and examined my wrist. “Are these marks from fingers? Paige, who did this to you?”

  I recounted everything that had happened earlier with Trent while J.J. just held my hand in his. His chest rose and fell while he listened intently, his breaths quickening with every word I spoke.

  “It was like he wasn’t even himself. I thought he was sleepwalking maybe, but I just don’t know. Do you think it has to do with the scratches?” I asked quietly.

  J.J. licked his lips and nodded his head twice before letting go of my hands and walking out of the living room. He returned in record time wearing jeans and his black Converse along with a plain black V-neck.

  “J.J., no, you can’t go over there…” I rushed over to where he was grabbing his keys from the kitchen counter.

  “The hell I can’t, Paige. Please move.” He tried to go around me but I side-stepped and blocked his path, garnering an eye roll from him in response.

  “Please, don’t. You don’t know what he’s capable of.” I pleaded with him.

  “No, I didn’t know. But now I do.” He put his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes, his silently pleading with mine to move out of his way. “I HAVE to go over there, Paige. It followed him home. There’s something demonic in that house.”

  “Why would it follow him home? I don’t understand.”

  “Look, we go in to these places looking for things we probably shouldn’t want to find. We open ourselves up to whatever entities are there and… And I don’t know why. It doesn’t make sense. We haven’t done anything different on our investigations.”

  He carefully pushed me aside and headed for the back door.

  “Bodhi, stay.” I ordered as I ran out the door behind J.J.

  J.J. had already climbed into the Corvette and started the engine. I raced to the passenger side and opened the door before he had a chance to put the car into gear.

  “What the fuck, Paige? Get back inside. You’re hurt.” He pointed toward the house and my arm.

  I shook my head while I buckled my seatbelt and glanced at the clock on the dash. 5 a.m. I was exhausted and didn’t think I had it in me to fight anymore tonight. I didn’t say a word, just sat and stared at J.J., waiting for him to pull out of the driveway. As he put the car in reverse, I turned to look out the window. Lightning lit up the menacing storm clouds above and I silently prayed that Trent would still be gone when we got to the house, because if he wasn’t, I really didn’t know what J.J. and I would have to face.

  chapter 19

  We stood in silence on the front porch, listening to the noise coming from the house I shared with Trent. Rock music thrummed through the front door, adding to our apprehension of what was on the other side of this door.

  J.J. reached out to turn the brushed copper doorknob. “Shit!” He hissed, jerking his hand back quickly.

  “What’s wrong?” I watched as he shook his hand in front of his body.

  “That fucking burned!”

  “Burned?” I looked from him to the doorknob.

  “Yeah, that’s what I fucking said.”

  “Hey!” I turned and swatted his arm with my good hand. “Don’t you dare speak to me like that.”

  J.J. gritted his teeth and exhaled. “I’m sorry. This is bad. There’s something that doesn’t want us here.”

  J.J. reached forward again and grabbed the handle one more time. “Damn it!” He turned and doubled over in pain.

  I’m done with this...

  Without a second thought, I reached forward and grabbed the handle with a strong grip. I let out a long breath and closed my eyes, but t
he burning sensation never came. Twisting the knob, I pushed the door open and stepped across the threshold. Spinning on my heel, I looked back at J.J. who was still standing on the porch.

  We exchanged looks that said What the hell? as J.J. entered the house. Walking side by side, we made our way across the living room. I paused and knelt down, turning off the surround sound that was pumping out the deafening death metal. I gave J.J. a nod as I rose and we continued our path, stopping when the kitchen came into view.

  A bottle of Jack Daniels and a bottle of Coca-Cola sat side by side on top of the granite countertop. Trent stood, leaning against the counter, with his back towards us. A loud clap of thunder startled me, but Trent just continued to stand there, unshaken.

  “A little early, don’t you think?” J.J. walked up to the island and pulled out a barstool one-handed and sat down.

  A cynical chuckle escaped Trent’s lips as he raised the glass in his hand up over his shoulder, as if saying cheers to J.J. and then proceeded to take a sip.

  “What the fuck is your problem, Knox?” J.J. snapped at his best friend.

  Trent turned around and stared him down. His eyes were dark and mean, just like they had been at Riley’s that one morning. He very carefully set his glass on the counter and took a measured step back, crossing his arms over his chest. His expression was unreadable. An ominous roll of thunder shook the walls and a chill ran up my spine and all the way down my arms, while Trent just stood there and tilted his head to the side, studying J.J.

  “What’s yours?” He snarled.

  I stared at the man before me. He was so cold, so angry. I couldn’t speak. I could only stand in silence.

  “Answer me!” Trent commanded.

  I watched as J.J. slowly rose from the stool and squared his shoulders, readying for physical contact. I could see the rage rising in Trent. His nostrils flared and he clenched his jaw. He took a step forward and J.J. took a step to start making his way around the island. Before I could say a word, Trent swung his arm across the counter. His glass of whiskey flew across the room and hit the wall, shattering into tiny shards and crumbling to the floor. Trent’s chest heaved with rapid breaths as he leaned forward and pressed both hands onto the counter, his pupils wide, completely blacking out the irises. I trembled with fear as a tear trailed down my cheek.

  “What the hell is wrong with you, Trent?” I yelled at the man who was overcome with aftershocks of rage. I rushed over to him and grabbed his face, clinching my jaw as the pain in my wrist shot through my entire arm. I stared into the eyes of my boyfriend, except he was nowhere to be found in them. I realized in that moment that Trent was not standing before me. I was in the presence of something sinister. “What do you want? Just tell me what you want!” I cried.

  “You.” Trent growled, lowering his head and rocking back on his heels.

  I slowly lowered my hands from his face and froze. Me. It wants me? Is that why J.J. got burned when trying to open the door, but I didn’t? It didn’t want him in the house, but it wanted me?

  Acting on pure impulse, I abruptly slapped Trent square across the cheek with my good hand. “Well, I’m standing right here, you fucking coward!” I yelled. “Just leave Trent alone and you can have me!” The tone of my voice scared me. I sounded angry and bitter. Which, yes, I guess I kind of was...

  Trent leaned back slightly and snapped his gaze toward mine. A look of surprise flooded his green eyes. Trent was back.

  “You need to leave.” Trent’s voice faltered for just a moment and I felt my heart constrict in my chest.

  Before I even realized what I was doing, I reached out and touched his stubbly cheek. He leaned his head into my caress and lifted his eyes to mine. I saw fear resonating in his eyes. Not anger, not hate, but genuine despair.

  “I don’t want to leave, Trent. I love you.” I whispered to him. “I just want you back. I don’t know who you are, what this thing is. I... I didn’t mean to slap you. I would never hurt you.” My bottom lip quivered with emotion.

  Trent looked away and took a deep breath, keeping his eyes downcast the entire time. He began shaking his head slowly and scrubbed a hand over his face. “But I want to hurt you...”

  “Is it because of the scratches?” I questioned.

  Trent closed his eyes and clenched his jaw; his tell that he wasn’t planning on discussing whatever was going on with him.

  “Trent, just talk to me. I want to understand. I want to help.” I reached out, touching his forearm. His muscles tightened underneath my hand.

  “You can’t help, Paige! No one can!”

  “How do you know?! You won’t even talk to me!”

  “You want me to talk to you?! You want me to tell you how scared I am? Is that what you want to hear, Paige?”

  “What are you scared of?”

  “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “You’d be surprised. Do you want to know what I’m afraid of? Because I’ll tell you right now. I was afraid of that beautiful, mysterious man that crossed my path in a nightclub. The man that seemed too serious, too dangerous, too hard to hold. I was afraid of how he made me feel when I first met him, how he made my heart race and my palms sweat. It frightened the hell out of me how he could just waltz in from out of nowhere and completely flip my world upside down. How he could be exactly what I’ve always wanted and everything that I never knew I needed. That scares me the most, Trent. The thought of losing you... I see the hatred in your eyes and I see you slipping away.”

  “It’s too late, Paige. You can’t save me. You can’t save us.”

  Tears stung my eyes immediately and my jaw dropped. “Do you want me to move out?” I choked out.

  Trent sighed.

  “Answer me please, Trent.”

  “It’s probably for the best...” Trent stopped talking and swallowed the words that were weighing heavily on his tongue and heart. His eyes were filled with unshed tears.

  “Yeah, well, that’s pretty fucking obvious.” I said bitterly. “Where are we supposed to go, Trent?”

  Trent huffed, tilting his head and shooting me an incredulous glance before staring down J.J. “I’m sure my best friend would welcome you and Bodhi with open arms.”

  I recoiled as if Trent had been the one to slap me across the face. His comment had the same amount of sting, and I’m pretty sure it left a red handprint right across my heart.

  “It’s not even like that and you know it, Knox!” J.J. took a step toward his best friend and I straightened out my right arm to block his path.

  “You know, the funny thing is, it’s not me getting hurt that really worries you, is it?” I interjected.

  Trent turned his head to look at me, clearly perplexed at my question.

  “Go ahead and push me away now, so I won’t be able to leave you later. Ring any bells?” I didn’t give him a chance to answer, I just kept talking. “You just can’t stand the fact that someone is so madly in love with you that she will do anything for you! That she will choose you over and over and over again. It’s human nature to have the fight or flight instinct. Trent, I’m fighting. I’m standing right here FIGHTING for YOU, for US. You love me, I know you do. But you hate me for making you fall in love with me, right? RIGHT, Trent?! Well, you know what? I didn’t want someone, damn it! I wasn’t looking for anyone! I was happy where I was. With my friends, in my loft, living MY life! You wanted me to move in with you. You wanted me to marry you someday. How can we do anything we’ve talked about when you won’t let me stand by you when you need me the most?” I paused for a moment to see if he would answer me. When he turned his attention to his boots, I continued. “Fine, Trent. Fight whatever this is on your own. You’ll win. You always do. After all, Fort Knox is impenetrable.” I stared him down, daring him to retort.

  Trent’s head snapped up and he gave me a look of warning. Knowing I had pushed it a little too far, I took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to push all the air and anger out from my body.

  “It’s
okay, Trent.” I said quietly.

  His green eyes flashed with a look of confusion.

  “I will never give up on you, even though that’s what you think you deserve.” I leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Trent’s cheek before whispering in his ear, “This pain in my chest is a sign of a stubborn heart.” I turned my body away from his and walked out of the house.

  I slammed the door behind me and leaned my back against it. My lips trembled uncontrollably as the tears trailed down my cheeks. I was breaking down, physically and emotionally. A rumble of thunder shook the entire house and I stepped out onto the driveway and looked up to see storm clouds undulating above. A drop of rain fell on my cheek and I took a deep breath, calming myself. My tears quickly blended with the fat raindrops till you couldn’t tell which was which. My hair was soaked and my clothes stuck to my skin, but I didn’t care. Nothing mattered anymore. I closed my eyes and silently prayed the rain would wash away every memory of me and Trent. That maybe the chasm in my heart would flood and I wouldn’t be able to feel any more pain. Maybe I wouldn’t feel anything at all. Maybe then I could stop fighting for us.

  The front door opened and I turned around at the sound. Blinking through the raindrops, I saw Trent shrugging on his black leather jacket while standing under the shelter of the front porch. Our eyes caught and we both just stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Trent blinked and shook his head, reaching into an inner pocket of his jacket. Pulling out a box of Belmont’s, he lifted a cigarette out of the package and placed it between his lips. His gaze landed back on mine as the flame from his lighter ignited the cigarette.

  When did Trent start smoking?

  He inhaled and then pulled the cigarette from his mouth, exhaling a stream of smoke that was broken up by the rainfall. He furrowed his eyebrows and licked his lips.