by Allegra Skye
Of course, Keira thought. She knew something like this would happen soon enough, and while she was happy for Amanda, she still felt left out.
“I want you back before ten,” their father said. He stood with his arms crossed, and looked unhappy.
“No one has curfews here!” Amanda snapped. “Seniors do what they want!”
“Not in our family they don’t!” he replied. “And how do you plan on getting there? Mom’s car is in the shop, and I need mine tonight. I’m on the late shift.”
Amanda thought for a moment, stumped but determined.
“I’ll get someone to pick me up,” Amanda said bruskly.
“Who?” her father insisted.
“I don’t know,” Amanda said, “someone. Why’s it such a big deal?”
“It is a big deal,” her father said, “you have to know who you’re driving with.”
“OK, then, I’ll call Tom, OK?” Amanda snapped, exasperated.
“Who?” her Dad asked.
“That’s her new boyfriend,” her mom chimed in.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Amanda corrected, more annoyed.
“He’s not picking you up,” her Dad said. “I don’t know him, and I don’t like the idea of your being driven by a boy you barely know.”
Amanda rolled her eyes. “You’re being ridiculous!”
Her dad darkened. “If you keep up this tone with me, you’re not going at all! You’ll be grounded!”
“Mom!” Amanda yelled, exasperated, looking for support.
“Your father means the best for you, dear,” she said.
“Fine!” she snapped. “Then have it your way. I won’t go at all! Happy now!?”
Keira suddenly felt bad for Amanda, and she wanted to help diffuse the tension in the room. She hated it when people fought. Without thinking, she stepped up.
“I’ll drive her,” Keira heard herself say.
They all turned and looked at her, startled.
“I can drop her off, then bring Dad the car back in time for his shift,” she added.
“That’s fine with me,” her father said.
Amanda flushed, “Fine. I’ll let her drive me. But you’re treating me like a baby. It’s unnecessary. I don’t always have to be worrying about if you’re worried. It’s my life and I can go with anyone I want. Lots of people would be happy to drive me,” She said, then bolted out of the room.
“Amanda!” her mother called out, horrified.
Keira was surprised. This kind of behavior was extremely unusual for her, and these kinds of outbursts were not tolerated by the family.
“Get back here Amanda, this minute!” her father called after her.
But she was gone, up to her room.
“She’s been rude and nasty,” her father said, “ever since we got to Everstock. She’s changing right in front of our eyes.”
“It’s senior year, Phil,” her mother breathed.
“Call it what you want,” he said, “I don’t like it.”
Keira took a deep breath. Amanda’s changes had been going on for a long time, even before they got to Everstock. Their Dad just hadn’t noticed.
“I’ll go upstairs and speak to her,” her mother said, and got up and left.
Keira was relieved to have both of them gone. She and her father, left alone, looked at each other for a long moment.
“Kids drink at parties,” he started to explain. “It’s a new town, we don’t know who’s who, how long she’ll stay out, what’s going on. We have to be careful.”
“I understand,” said Keira.
“Why aren’t you going to the party, too?” he then asked, suddenly realizing that Keira wasn’t going.
“I wasn’t invited,” said Keira.
He stared hard at her for a moment, and pursed his lips. “Why not?”
“I’m sure it’s for the popular kids. And their dates, if they have one.”
Keira realized how little their father knew about what went on in their day to day lives. He was always so busy working, had such serious matters to take care of.
“I’m sorry,” her father said.
For a wonderful moment, Keira’s heart warmed. “It’s okay, dad. You have other things to worry about. I know how rough it is for you at the hospital.”
“It’s this new virus that’s going around,” her father said. “Actually, it’s not a virus. That’s what they thought at first. Now they think it’s a bacterial infection, very resistant to antibiotics.”
“Yikes,” Keira said.
“Everyone expected to see a marked decrease in cases after summer, but the weather’s been unpredictable, and it’s still around in full force.”
Keira shuddered.
“We’ve had to take some emergency measures and hospital admissions are way up now. Twice the number of last week even.” He seemed relieved to be talking about it. “People of all ages are being admitted.”
Keira was becoming nauseous. Her father didn’t usually share such details about his work. He must be really worried about it. And, for sure, he couldn’t talk to her mother like this. Her mother only wanted to hear positive things.
“At first people think it’s a little scratch,” he continued, “but before long there’s blistering, infection, fever, de-hyrdration.”
“I didn’t realize,” said Keira. “I thought it was just something from the bite of mosquitos.”
Her father paused, took a long breath and shook his head. “No,” he said, “this has nothing to do with the bite of mosquitoes. Patients have two bite marks on their throats, peculiar looking. Inexplicable, really.Two bites on their throats? Keira’s heart clenched. “Sounds terrifying.”
“It’s confusing, health officials are trying to keep it quiet, so people won’t start to panic “
“Panic about what?” asked Keira, shaking. “Bites from vampires?”
“Vampires?” her father looked at her as if she were insane. “What makes you say something like that? That’s ridiculous.”
Keira wanted to tell him how strange the town was, that everyone seemed infected with something, a strand of cruelty that went way beyond what she had ever experienced. But it was clear he wouldn’t be able to relate.
That’s why I have to be at work so late so many night,” he went on, matter of factly. “We’re trying all kinds of things at the hospital. That’s why I didn’t know about the volleyball team.”
Compared to what he was telling her now, the volleyball team seemed silly. Keira wondered why she’d even cared. She felt badly for her father, living under so much pressure, with so many peoples’ lives in his hands. She wished she could help him. More and more these days she thought of doing something important with her life, like him. Maybe she’d go to medical school. She would love to be able to help get rid of pain and suffering in life. Was it even possible? One day she hoped to talk with him about it.
“Okay,” he pushed himself away from the table, now. “Thanks for listening, and thanks for giving your sister a ride.”
“No problem, dad,” Keira said. “That’s what sisters are for, right?”
“That’s what I always thought,” he said.
“Me too,” said Keira.
He turned and looked at her oddly again. For a second he seemed to realize that in some strange, inexplicable way his two girls had grown apart. And with that, a look of alarm quickly flashed across his face.
But Keira wasn’t worried. She was happy with who she was. She didn’t feel the need to be like Amanda, to be a popular girl.
Besides, she had other things to worry about. The images of those shadows on the street hadn’t left her mind. And as she grabbed the car keys and prepared to give Amanda a ride, she had a sinking feeling that something would be out there, waiting for her.
CHAPTER 7
The party was called for eight o’clock. Keira wanted to talk to Amanda before she drove there, but Amanda stayed up in her room. Keira knew she was probably getting ready, changing outfi
ts, trying out one after another, doing her makeup and texting her friends about what a pain her father was. Keira decided to wait for her downstairs in the living room. Amanda would come down when she was ready.
The living room was a wide room with a comfortable wrap around sofa, marble coffee table and big baby grand piano in the corner. It was designed to give the feeling that everything in the world was in perfect order. There were floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over a spacious backyard, where you could see big, old trees and a garden planted full of autumn flowers. The flowers were staying in bloom, long after they usually did. Probably because of the unnatural weather, thought Keira. It was even quite warm tonight.
Finally, Amanda tripped into the living room, looking particularly radiant. She had on a lovely, shirred, pink, knit top over her jeans and a new matching lipstick.
“Thanks for the lift,” she said to Keira. “Tom was going to pick me up, but dad makes everything such a problem.”
Keira got up. “Let’s go,” she said, as the two of them went outside.
“I don’t know what’s got into dad,” Amanda said, as she slipped into the car.
“He’s got a lot on his mind,” said Keira.
“It’s not just that. He’s so annoying,” said Amanda. “It’s like he doesn’t want me to grow up.”
“That’s silly,” said Keira as she closed the car door and turned on the ignition.
“To you, everything’s silly,” Amanda replied.
Clearly, she was looking for a fight and Keira wasn’t going to get pulled into it. Keira put on her seat belt and started the car.
“Put on your seat belt,” she said to Amanda.
“You turning into Dad now? Bossing me around?” She rolled down the car window and let the air blow on her face.
“Come on, Amanda, put it on.”
“Make me!” Amanda yelled back.
Dad’s right, Keira thought.Amanda is changing.
“Fine,” Keira said. “It’s your choice. I can’t force you.”
Keira pulled out slowly onto the road, trying to be extra cautious, knowing that Amanda didn’t have her seatbelt on.
They drove in silence for a minute. Finally, Keira cleared her throat.
“Dad just wants the best for everyone,” Keira said.
“You always stick up for dad. You’re such a goody goody,” Amanda said. “I don’t know how we’re even twins.”
Keira took a swift, painful breath. She’d been thinking the same thing herself. How was it possible that twins could be so different? Amanda had become so ungrateful for everything. Keira loved her anyway, but she wondered if Amanda felt the same way about her.
Keira turned the car onto the main road and as she did, Amanda put her hand on her arm.
“Don’t go that way,” she said. “I know a shortcut. Take the road behind the school—it lands right at the place we’re headed. It will save us at least ten minutes.”
“I’d rather not,” Keira said. “I don’t know these roads that well.”
“Oh stop being a sissy,” Amanda snapped. “A road’s a road. And I’m telling you how to get there.”
“What’s the big rush?” Keira asked.
“For you, nothing, maybe, but for me, it matters. Tom’s waiting for me and I don’t want to be late. Can you even relate to that?”
“Of course I can,” said Keira.
“Really? I don’t know how, because—” and she stopped.
“Because I never even had a boyfriend?” Keira finished her sentence.
Amanda shrugged. “Something like that.”
They drove for a while in the thick, tense silence.
“You don’t know everything about me, Amanda,” Keira said quietly. “There are people in my life. I have feelings.”
Keira felt Amanda look away.
“I’m sorry, Keira,” she said. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I just wish we could think the same way, share more things together.”
That was the first time Amanda had ever said anything like that. Keira’s eyes filled with tears. “Me, too,” she said.
“Can we take the shortcut,” Amanda said softly, “please?”
Keira didn’t like it. But she didn’t want to upset her any further. Clearly, she was really on edge.
“OK,” Keira said finally, and turned the car from the main road to the narrow, winding road behind the school.
As she turned, the wind suddenly picked up and a sudden splatter of rain dashed against the windows. It was followed by an instant downpour.
“Oh God!” Amanda cried. “Roll up the windows, quick! My hair!”
They both scrambled to roll up the windows.
As they did, for just a brief second Keira got a glimpse out the window, and her heart stopped. She could have sworn she saw a pair of glowing yellow eyes—the same from the tree in her house—staring back at her from the trees..
But she had no time to look. She focused back on the road.
Another fierce sheet of rain slapped across the windshield, as an even rougher wind shook the car.
“What is this?” Amanda called out, alarmed. “A thunder storm?”
Keira was also alarmed. The rain was getting harder, and it was harder for Keira to see through the windshield, which was growing more wet by the minute.
“Turn up the wipers!” Amanda commanded.
But they were already on as high as they could go.
Another huge gust of wind rocked the car back and forth on the narrow road. As it did, Keira saw the car veer dangerously close to the side of the road. There was no shoulder, and if they went off, there was a steep ravine on either side, sloping down into the woods.
“Stop the car!” Amanda yelled, terrified.
Keira had been thinking the same thing. Even though they weren’t going that fast—she’d kept it slow the whole way through, only going about 10 miles an hour, she now tried to stop, stepping on the brakes. But the road was covered in wet leaves, and as she stepped on the brakes, the car began to slide.
Keira stepped harder on the brakes, but the car only slid more, and was now spinning in a full circle. Keira’s heart stopped, as she saw the world spin all around her, and realized that she’d lost complete control of the car.
“Help!” Amanda yelled.
Keira’s throat was dry, and she was too scared to scream.
The car slid off the road. As the tires slipped off the pavement, the entire car went off balance, and it flipped upside down.
There was a huge crashing sound, as they smashed into something that felt like a metal railing, then flipped over it. The car continued to roll, flipping over and over, down into the ravine, through the terrible winds and pounding rain. They both screamed and screamed.
Everything was whirling, utter chaos, as Keira’s world turned upside down, again and again.
Keira felt her head crash against the steering wheel.
Then suddenly, all was quiet and dark.
CHAPTER 8
Keira heard her name being called from far away, but could barely open her eyes. It felt as if they were glued together. Her head pounded badly. Where was she? What happened?
“Open your eyes, open your eyes,” someone was saying to her. She tried to open them, but they quickly closed shut. It was too overwhelming. All the noise, people, flashing lights. Much better resting in the darkness, alone.
She heard a voice, “I saw her open her eyes!”
There was a tightness around her arms and chest, and her head kept throbbing. What were they saying?Alive? What happened? Where was she?
The voices around her got closer. Then she heard a crash of metal, and felt hands cradling her, holding her, reaching into the car and slowly lifting her out. She felt something put around her neck and felt herself being placed onto a stretcher.
“Breathing is regular,” a woman’s voice reported.
Keira tried to shake herself awake. Her head hurt. She tried to lift herself up, but couldn�
��t make it. Her body trembled and she felt too weak.
“Don’t move,” the woman’s voice was urgent. “Just lay still.”
Keira couldn’t stand the sound of the woman’s grating voice.
“Just take it easy. You’re still in shock.”
Keira shook her head back and forth ever so slightly, in defiance. Thankfully, it moved just fine. She squinted her eyes, pressed them hard together and then forced them to open.
Keira looked around. Emergency tape had been put up around her, and a crowd had gathered, kids from school, passersby, policemen. Keira racked her brain. What exactly had happened?
Slowly, pieces came to her. She and Amanda had been in the car, driving to the party, they’d taken the back road. The car started sliding, losing control. Oh God, they must have crashed! Her stomach clutched.
Where was Amanda? She hadn’t worn her seat belt. Had she been thrown out of the car onto the road?
“Amanda, Amanda,” Keira started wailing, as the woman medic behind her came over to her side and put her hand on Keira’s forehead. Keira wanted to push it away.
“Shhh, be still, it’s okay,” the medic tried to calm her.
But Keira wouldn’t let her. Nothing was okay. She felt herself bathed in a world of lies and false comfort. The woman was lying, and Keira knew it. People loved saying things were okay when they weren’t. They loved confusing your mind, making you trust them. Then when you found out the truth, it hurt worse than before.
“Where’s my sister?” Keira strained to speak.
“Close your eyes and rest,” the woman murmured.
Keira needed the truth. She opened her eyes wider, looking around, trying to find her sister.
“Close your eyes, dear. It will be better for you.”
Keira felt an odd sensation of fire in her chest and mind. She forced herself to keep looking around. The world looked lopsided and out of shape. Keira felt as though she’d woken up into a different universe.
She stared at the people she could see. They seemed to be dense and full of sorrow. Overcome by confusion, she was about to close her eyes, when suddenly, she saw a beautiful indigo light, floating above, then coming closer. She’d never seen anything so radiant before. It was glowing at her, bringing comfort.
