I eyed J.J. with an eyebrow raised, hesitation and skepticism clearly across my face.
“Squirrels.” J.J. winked at me and smiled, but then narrowed is eyes when he noticed my apprehension. “What is it, P.K.?” He winced at his own use of my nickname. The very nickname that stood for the fact that someday I would marry his best friend. The same best friend that had put us both through Hell the last 48 hours. It didn’t hurt me though. Honestly nothing could hurt much worse than what I had already been through.
“I don’t want to stay with Matty.” I said quietly. “I don’t want to be away from Bodhi. He’s been there by my side through it all.”
J.J. took a deep breath and eyed me strangely. “Paige... You don’t have to stay with him. Not if you don’t want to. You don’t have to leave. I have a guest room. You and Bodhi are more than welcome to stay in there for as long as it takes for us to get things straightened out.”
Tears stung my eyes. “Where do we even begin on trying to fix this, J? How do we fix Trent?”
J.J. swallowed hard and ran a hand through his hair. “I honestly have no clue, Paige. I’ve already called Zoe and Riley. They’re going to start working on getting in touch with a Priest who might be able to help. I just know that we can’t give up. Not yet.”
I ran my hand across the smooth wood of the countertop and started thinking about every line in the grain. How even the trees that grow twisted can still produce beautiful scores in the wood. How every log must be cut and split open to create something magnificent. How despite knots and irregular grain, something strong and arresting can still be found if you work with it even though it has its flaws. Trent had been scored by something evil; something that had begun to twist the innermost fibers of his being. He and I had been split and cut open and now we must try to salvage something beautiful out of this mess.
I traced the paths with my fingertip and nodded my head, agreeing with J.J.
“Shit!” J.J. exclaimed as he looked at his watch. “I’ve got to get to the shop. I have a client coming in for a consult. I shouldn’t be longer than a couple of hours. You and Bodhi gonna be okay here at the house for a bit?”
I turned and looked out the window and saw Bodhi was now lying on his back, soaking up the afternoon sun. “Go do your thing, J. You don’t have to watch me 24/7, I’ll be fine. Plus, I should really go to the house and get some more of my things.”
J.J. grabbed my shoulder and turned me to look him in the eye. “Do NOT go to that house by yourself, Paige. I’m serious. You and I can go when I get done at the shop.”
I scowled and averted my gaze.
I don’t need a babysitter. I’m going to the house. I’m sure Trent isn’t even home, but if he is, I won’t go inside. I don’t need J.J. watching me as I fall apart and have to pack up my belongings from the house I shared with his best friend.
J.J. put a finger under my chin and brought my eyes back to his. “Paige, please. Just wait here. I’ll make this as quick as possible. I’d reschedule if I could.”
“You’re going to be late, J.J. Go! Bodhi and I are going to Netflix and chill on the couch.” I gave his shoulder a shove and started ushering him out the kitchen and toward the front door.
“I’m serious, Paige.” He said over his shoulder at me.
“I know, Jason.” I rolled my eyes as I continued pushing him through the living room.
He stopped when we got to the front door and turned around. “I’ll call you when I’m on my way home so you can tell me what you’d like for me to pick up for dinner.”
I nodded my head and gave him a smirk. “Or you could cook for me.”
“Whatever you want.” J.J. leaned forward and gave me a kiss on my forehead and then gave me a hug. “I’ll see you soon.” He whispered softly in my ear and then let go of me so he could leave.
I waited for the sound of the Corvette’s engine to rev before going to the back door and calling Bodhi inside. I had made up my mind. I was going to the house and I was taking Bodhi with me. If I saw the Yukon in the driveway, I would turn around and go straight back to J.J.’s. If I didn’t, I would go in and grab what I needed and get out. J.J. wouldn’t have to know until after we were both home and both full from dinner.
chapter 21
“Okay, boy... I’m going to be five minutes. That’s it!” I turned toward Bodhi and gave him a quick head rub. He’s sitting in the front seat beside me, his golden eyes looking at me skeptically. “Okay, ten minutes tops! I’ll be fast!” Bodhi tilted his head. “I know, boy. But we don’t have to have J.J. here. Trent isn’t here and we’ll be back at the house before J.J. even knows we’re gone.” Bodhi seemed to accept that and turned his big body around in the seat so he could curl up and lay down. I stared out the windshield and tapped my fingers nervously on the steering wheel of my Jeep.
What am I doing here? I can’t step foot back in that house. Why did I think this was a good idea? Why couldn’t I just wait for J.J. to finish his work? Oh, that’s right, because of your pride, Paige. Ugh... Hurry up. Just get it over with. Get in there and get out!
I took a steadying breath and wrapped my hands around the wheel. Nodding my head, I swallowed and turned to look at Bodhi. He lifted his head in response. “Okay, stay here, boy. I’ll be right back. Be good.” I reached out and gave him a pat on his head before opening my door and climbing out of the Jeep.
I had to force each step as I walked across the driveway and to the front door. I slowly inserted my key into the lock and turned to look over my shoulder. Bodhi was sitting up now in the passenger seat, keeping a close eye on my every move. I held out my hand to him and motioned to him to lie down and then turned around to open the door. As soon as I turned the knob, my stomach began turning in circles. I pushed the door open and stepped inside, flipping the light switch on in the entry way.
Oh my God...
I was met with a wave of heat that had sweat forming on my brow immediately.
It must be over 35° Celsius in here. Why is it so hot in here?
I stood in the foyer, looking around. The TV was on; white noise rippling on the screen, static coming through the speakers. There were dozens of sheets of paper strewn across the room. Pages were scattered on the floor, from the living room to the dining room to the kitchen. I knelt down, reaching out and gathering several pieces into my hands. The same three words were scratched into each page over and over again with dark black ink.
I want her. I want her. I want her. I want her.
On several of the pages, the word no was scrawled across the entire sheet of paper covering the repetition of the three other words.
This is Trent’s handwriting... but yet, it isn’t.
My hands started to tremble and shake as I rose to my feet and slowly made my way through the living room, picking up every piece of paper in my vicinity. I paused when I heard the faint bark of Bodhi coming from outside the house. I turned and gasped, frozen with fear.
“Boo.” Trent snarled.
The papers slipped from my fingertips and scattered across the stained concrete floor. I swallowed and my lips parted to allow me to speak but Trent placed his finger on them and stopped their progress.
“Shhhhhh...” He said as he slowly pulled my bottom lip down and trailed his finger down my chin and then down the middle of my chest. My nostrils flared as I blew out the breath I was holding. “Oh, Paige...” He kept his finger in the middle of my sternum as he took a step around me. “I knew you’d be back.” His voice was deeper and louder than usual.
No. This isn’t Trent. This is... whatever Trent is now.
My eyes followed his movement. He continued to walk around me, his right palm flattening against my chest as he stopped right behind me. I winced when he pulled my back to his chest and held me there.
“Just couldn’t stay away, could you?” He whispered in my ear. “Of course not, you love Trent way too much.” A sinister laugh escaped his lips.
My eyes widened and instantly fille
d with tears.
Trent slid his hand up my chest and to my throat. “Oh, Paige...”
I whimpered.
“Shhhhh... it’s a good thing you love him the way you do...” He tightened his grip around my throat and quickly moved around me, getting in my face. Our noses were practically touching. My pulse thundered against his palm as I started to hyperventilate. Trent closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, smiling wickedly. “It’s going to make this so much fun.”
“Make what fun?” I murmured, honestly afraid of hearing the answer. Trent leaned in closely and pressed his temple to mine. Unexpectedly, his tongue darted out and licked my cheek and tears began to spill over my eyes.
“Burying you.” He whispered in my ear.
I turned my face towards his just in time to see him rearing his head back. He rammed his head into mine and pain exploded through my skull, causing me to blink several times since it instantly blurred my vision. My hands flew up to the sides of my face but Trent caught me by the wrists and jerked me towards him.
“We’re not done yet.” He growled and then shoved me so hard that my body flung into the arm of the chair in the living room.
My body turned and tumbled onto the floor, while I tried to throw my arms out in front of me to lessen the impact. That was a terrible idea. I still smacked my head clean on the concrete floor and it would seem that I probably fractured one or both wrists as well, if the pain crawling up my arms was any indication.
“You really are so pathetic.” Trent called to my back as I tried to get up on my elbows. “So very pathetic.” He enunciated every syllable and his volume rose with each word.
Suddenly, Trent’s hand was in my hair, yanking my head back, my neck bending at a grotesque angle. He pulled so hard that he had me on my feet in no time at all. I was standing with my back to his chest once more, my head still tilted back so far it felt as if the vertebrae in my spine were beginning to crumble under the pressure.
I have to get away. There has to be something I can do. If I don’t, he’s going to kill me. God, it hurts so bad...
I cried out in pain as Trent kept a strong grip in my hair and walked around me, bringing us chest to chest. He reached out with his free hand and gripped my throat again.
I have to do something... this is my only chance.
I reached up with both hands, grasping at his elbows. He laughed in my face.
“You do realize that your fight is only fueling me more...” He kissed my lips while I grimaced and cried out again. “You taste so much sweeter when you’re angry.”
I dug my nails into his forearms and lifted my knee with as much force as I could muster. I didn’t know if it would be enough, but when my knee connected with Trent’s groin, he released his hold on my throat and his fingers slipped through my hair. He doubled over and I turned to make a mad dash for the back door.
That’s my way out. Right there... The very door that I watched Trent come in and leave through so many times... It’s close...
Without warning, the back of my hoodie was in Trent’s clutches and I was being dragged back toward him. Ignoring every painful synapse firing in my body, I started flailing. I raised my arm and turned just enough to connect my elbow to Trent’s temple. He dropped to the floor and I momentarily grabbed my arm, my funny bone on fire from the impact. I tried to launch myself toward the door again, but was stopped by Trent’s hand clinching my ankle. I fell forward and came face to face with the bottom step of our staircase.
Fireworks went off behind my eyelids and I could feel blood beginning to pour from my nose. I coughed and outstretched my arms. Reaching up and holding the railing, I started to drag my body up to the next step. The weight of Trent’s body on top of mine halted my progress. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me onto my back. I blinked up at him. He had sweat dripping down his face and a cut over his eyebrow. His damp hair hung in his stony eyes.
I made a fist and swung my arm towards him but he grabbed it mid-air and pinned it to my side. With his other hand, he gripped my throat once more. I scratched and clawed at his arm, but it was no use. He gave me a sadistic smile and tightened his grip.
I’m going to die. This will be the last thing I see...
I closed my eyes as I gasped for breath. My windpipe constricted further and I began to get lightheaded. I squinted as hard as I could to try and combat the darkness closing in. I instantly pictured Trent in the hot air balloon, smiling as we looked at our picture on my camera. I could picture Jean-Luc and Nic, dancing together at their wedding, her dress swirling around them. The image of my parents standing side by side on the edge of the dance floor came next. Then the one of Mathieu at his restaurant, with his glasses and coffee cup...
My lungs burn...
I could hear Bodhi’s bark in the distance.
He will wonder what happened to me...
Next thing I could see was J.J. with his tattooed arms and beanie covered head resting on the bar. I could picture him standing in my old kitchen, spatula in hand, crazy onyx hair sticking up in all directions. Then this morning... when he kissed my head and hugged me goodbye and told me to wait for him...
Why didn’t I listen to him?
As I desperately try to breathe air into my lungs, I swear I can hear him calling my name.
But I know I’m just dreaming. Because nothing hurts anymore...
I feel no more pain.
That was the moment when darkness came.
The End.
About The Author
Beck Cummings
Beck Cummings is a Contemporary Romance author. A Texas girl through and through, she currently lives in Louisiana and is a Systems Trainer by day and a horror movie addict by night. Beck is a huge fan of professional ice hockey, semi-fast cars, medium-loud music, boho chic fashion, mediocre tattoos, as well as most things Canadian. When Darkness Comes is her debut title in the From Darkness To Dawn series.
Be sure to like the From Darkness To Dawn Series page on Facebook!
Praise For Author
"From cover to cover, this one is firing on all cylinders. The characters are all so familiar feeling, and the twists will leave you aching for more."
"Cover to cover in 6 hours. Could not put it down."
"I really enjoyed this book and I couldn't put it down! It has me excited for the sequel!"
When Darkness Comes Page 24
