When Trouble Comes: Twisted Book 5

by Ho, Jo

  Copyright ©2018 Jo Ho

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this story are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Jo Ho.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Afterword

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Orange flames burned as brightly as the mid-afternoon sun as the yellow dress inside the metal trashcan withered to a blackened husk.

  In stark contrast to the riot of color before her, Eve’s face was pale. She stared through the billowing smoke, her green eyes fixed on the dress as if there was nothing else in the world. She would not look away, not until the very last piece of it was destroyed.

  Though the smoke stung her eyes making them water, she stared through the discomfort, watching with her hands gripped tightly by her sides until the battered material turned to ash. With nothing to feed on, the fire soon died out, but still, Eve couldn’t move. She couldn’t resign herself to what had happened.

  A strong hand found its way to her shoulder, holding it in a firm grasp. It was her brother Si. While the dress had burned, he had stood in solidarity beside her, but now that there was nothing left of it, she could feel his unspoken need to move on. There were things they needed to discuss, things he didn’t feel safe talking about, despite being in their own backyard where they couldn’t be overheard by others. When she didn’t respond, he shook her slightly to get her attention. Only then did she turn to him — though she didn’t really see him, her eyes glazed over with shock as they were.

  “Come inside,” he said.

  Eve blinked. She had heard the words that came out of his mouth but they reverberated in her head, echoing along with that crazy buzzing that sounded like hornets.

  “What?” she asked.

  He gestured towards the house. “Inside Eve. Come on. I’ll get us some coffee.”

  He started inside, tossing a look over his shoulder to make sure she was following. Her feet moved obediently, though she didn’t feel connected to them. It was as if she wasn’t in her body, like she was floating all the way back. She followed him blindly inside “for coffee,” because that is what people did apparently when their whole world came crashing down around them.

  By the time she was inside their kitchen, Si had already set two mugs on the central island and was pouring their drinks. Black liquid swirled into the mugs as their familiar aroma brought Eve back into her body, little by little. With every inhale, she could almost imagine that it was just another Saturday morning. With no school, she could have a leisurely breakfast with her brother. Maybe he’d whip up those pancakes she loved.

  She wrapped her hands around her favorite mug, a handmade ceramic cup with a blue lighthouse printed on it that she had bought on a family day-trip to Cape Cod. Though the lighthouse had faded from years of use and there was a chip on the rim, Eve hadn’t been able to throw the cup away. Like most first-generation immigrants — her parents were originally from Jamaica — they had always struggled for money and had instilled in their children the need to be thrifty. Subsequently, Eve had a habit of hoarding things until they were on their last legs.

  Well, some things. She hadn’t given a thought to destroying that dress. Couldn’t wait to get rid of it, actually.

  Again.

  Picturing that dress made unwanted memories surge to the forefront of her mind. She felt so cold inside that she wanted the heat from the cup to burn her fingers, anything to take that numbing chill away. Setting down the coffee pot, Si took a seat on a stool opposite her, concern oozing from his very being.

  “We need to talk about what just happened,” he began, his voice gentle, as if he were speaking to a scared child.

  Eve’s eyes slid from the table up to his face. “I know.”

  “We were the only people there, I know we were,” Si continued. “It was a forest in the middle of nowhere!”

  “I know,” Eve repeated. “I don’t think anyone else saw what happened.”

  “Then who could it be? It can’t be him, it’s not possible…” Si trailed off, desperately trying to wrap his head around it all.

  “A lot of things happening lately that shouldn’t be possible,” Eve replied darkly before realizing what she had said. She hoped Si wouldn’t pick up on it.

  “There are? Like what?” he demanded immediately.

  Of course he would. Just my luck.

  More than anything, she wanted to tell him. If Si knew the truth, she wouldn’t have this additional burden to bear on her own. Yes, she had the other girls, but they were still new to her. She didn’t have the trust, the loyalty, the absolute faith that they would never hurt her that she had with her brother. If life had shown her one thing, it was that given the chance, people always disappointed you. Except for Si. He waited, watching her with that familiar concern of his that Eve had grown to know.

  “Nothing. I’m talking nonsense,” she mumbled hoping that he would accept her answer and move on.

  “Has something else happened?” he pushed, apparently unwilling to let it lie.

  “It’s nothing, really. Just some stuff happening at school.”

  Si set his untouched coffee on the table, running his hand through his thick curls. “Until we can get to the bottom of this, I think it’s best if you aren’t alone. We’ll spend the day together, go watch a movie or something before you come with me to work.”

  Ordinarily, a day hanging out with him wouldn’t have sounded bad, but Eve could see the dark rings beneath his eyes, caused by a particularly late shift at work followed by her impromptu wake-up call. Her brother was the kind of person who needed at least eight hours to function. He would be next to useless without more rest. She didn’t need that on her conscience along with everything else.

  “I’ll be fine. The girls are coming over today,” she answered.

  It wasn’t strictly a lie. They would be coming over, once she messaged them all, although she couldn’t tell them about the dress… That would lead to a conversation on the-thing-that-happened which she wouldn’t, couldn’t allow to ever happen. It just wasn’t something she’d be able to discuss without someone, not even with these girls.

  Her discovery last night had given her an idea that she needed to discuss with them, but there was an added bonus to see them — she knew she’d never be able to handle an entire day with Si without blurting everything out. He had a way of getting things out of her whether she wanted him to know or not.

  “I’m glad you’ve made some friends again. It’s been too long,” he said.

  “Look who’s talking,” Eve replied, to Si’s astonishment.

  “I’ve got friends. What do you think Gavin, Lee, and Stuart are?”

  “Staff. They’re not friends when you pay them to hang around you,” Eve said.

  Si dismissed her com
ment with a careless wave of his hand. “I’m fine. Besides, it’s not like there aren’t other things to worry about,” he said, his brows knitting together. “What time will the girls get here?”

  “I don’t need a babysitter. I’m just down the hall from you until they arrive. You can go back to sleep.”

  He didn’t want to concede her argument, but his eyelids were already beginning to droop. “Wake me if you need me to make you all some snacks or something,” he said, half asleep already.

  “And now you’re back to thinking we’re five again,” Eve replied. It felt nice to joke with him, almost as if things were normal. He reached the edge of the room but stopped, turning back to face her.

  “I’m leaving the door open. If anything happens, I’m right here.”

  Her throat choked up. Eve found she couldn’t reply. If she answered, she knew she would start crying, so she gave him a small nod instead as he went out of the kitchen. She could hear his footsteps starting up the creaky wooden stairs, down the upstairs hall, all the way to his room.

  When he got to his room, she took out her phone and messaged the girls.

  * * *

  A strange hissing sound woke Marley.

  Forcing her eyes open, she blinked the sleep away until Cassie’s back came into view. She was sitting in front of her make-up mirror applying foundation to her face with a gadget that looked like a chrome spray gun. It was a serious-looking piece of kit, but one Marley was beginning to get used to when it came to Cassie.

  She stirred, stretching her arms over her head as she yawned. Cassie looked at her through the mirror.

  “Eve wants us to meet her at her house this morning. She’s got a lead or idea or something,” she said.

  Marley didn’t take offense that Cassie hadn’t bothered to greet her. It was just another of her quirks. She had found that it was easier to label Cassie’s oddities as such, rather than to think they were anything personal. It certainly made life easier this way.

  “Did she say what?” Marley croaked, her voice still not having woken up yet.

  Cassie sprayed the tip of her nose delicately. “Nope, just that we should all meet there. She can’t reach Tyler though. You haven’t heard from her have you?”

  Marley pushed herself up until she was sitting in bed, covering up another big yawn before answering. “No. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve back from her since she went off with her sister.”

  Cassie put the spray gun down. She looked concerned, but she also looked like she was trying not to frown — not until her foundation dried, anyway. “We should check on her.”

  Marley nodded, already moving out of bed. “Can you do it? I need to pee and shower quick. I’ve got to see my dad before we head off to Eve’s.”

  “But you were with him yesterday…” Cassie said, seemingly unable to understand why Marley would want to see her dad two days in a row.

  “We’ve got some unfinished business,” was Marley’s only response as she headed into the bathroom with a towel.

  With Marley busy in the bathroom, Cassie pushed her chair back and stood up. The rest of her make-up would have to wait until she’d spoken to Tyler. She wasn’t used to the world seeing her without her made-up face, so this was by no means a simple feat. Sighing, feeling apprehensive, she left the room.

  Chapter 2

  Someone was trying to pound their way into her head.

  Bang… bang… BANG! Tyler tried to drown them out with her pillow, but still, the noise continued unabated. Frustrated, she hurled the pillow across the room wondering who could be at her door at this time of the day.

  The knocking came again.

  Cursing under her breath, Tyler jumped out of bed but her feet got tangled in the sheets, almost tripping her up. Kicking them off, she staggered to the door, all as her head felt like it would explode from the pressure. Grabbing the door handle, she yanked it opened. It was Cassie. She stood there, looking apologetic, curious, and relieved. It was quite the combination of emotions.

  “What?” Tyler managed to growl.

  Cassie didn’t answer. She stared past Tyler, her eyes growing wider by the second. It wasn’t until Tyler took in her room that she felt her own shock.

  The place looked like a hurricane had hit it.

  Cups and glasses sat everywhere with varying amounts of water inside. Papers scribbled with untidy notes and drawings littered the carpet floor, along with the wrappers of the countless candy bars that Tyler had eaten in place of an actual meal. In the harsh light of day, Tyler remembered how desperate she had been last night to create a potion that would heal Ally. She was so consumed with the thought that she had drunk her own energy potion and eaten the candy bars while she worked until her body had crashed. Seeing the wreckage from her long night, Tyler lunged for the papers, gathering them into an untidy pile that she dumped into her school bag. Picking up a trash can, she quickly threw the candy wrappers into the bin as Cassie entered the room gingerly, obviously wondering whether the CDC should be notified.

  “What happened in here?” Cassie asked, moving towards the table that was also covered by glasses half-filled with water. “Did you have a party and forget to tell us?”

  Tyler choked out a laugh. As if.

  “Eve’s been calling but you haven’t answered your phone,” Cassie supplied. This startled Tyler.

  “She has? I haven’t heard it ring,” she said, looking for her phone and finding it half hidden beneath her bed, where it must have fallen. She picked it up, looking at the home screen, where it showed she had several missed calls. Luckily they were all from Eve, which meant no other horror had happened to Ally since yesterday. She never slept through calls like this, especially several in a row. What was happening to her?

  Grabbing a pair of drinking glasses beside her, Tyler moved to one of the twin sinks, pouring the contents away. Cassie followed suit, grabbing the glasses from the table, helping her to tidy things up. A wave of gratitude came over her. Cassie could be a strange little thing, but at least she wasn’t leaving Tyler to clean up by herself. She was still feeling this gratitude when she saw Cassie reach for the glass on her bedside, taking it towards the sink, where she went to pour its contents away.

  “No!” Tyler cried, lunging towards her as she snatched the glass away from her. A few drops of the clear liquid splashed onto the brown carpet, leaving a wet stain, though luckily, most of the water stayed in the glass. Cassie watched her, wide-eyed, trying to make sense of her behavior. “This one has a drink I really like.”

  Cassie’s eyes slid down to the glass in Tyler’s hand. The liquid inside looked like normal water, and she clearly had a hard time trying to believe her, but Tyler needed her to, as the glass contained her energy potion. Feeling shaken and wanting to get rid of that terrible pressure inside her head, she gulped down a few mouthfuls now, desperate for it to do its work. She needed to feel rejuvenated, like she was ready to take on the world. As always, it wasn’t long before she could feel its magic running through her body, healing the tiredness she felt and taking away the throbbing headache with it. She sat the rest of the glass back down on the table.

  “How did it go with your sister yesterday?” Cassie asked, finally deciding that it was best if she just ignored Tyler’s strange behavior.

  “Great, until Ally took ill,” Tyler replied, trying not to feel the helpless fear she had felt yesterday at seeing Ally’s eyes roll into the back of her head and her sinking to the ground.

  “Is she OK?” Cassie asked, unaware of Ally’s health issues. Tyler didn’t have the strength to explain it all to her now, so she simply nodded.

  “What did Eve want?” she asked, changing the subject.

  “She wants us to come over. She has something she wants to talk over with us.”

  Tyler nodded. “OK. But I’m on call with work. If anyone drops out, I’m first to go in.”

  “I’m sure that’s fine,” Cassie replied. “Marley’s taking a shower now, then she nee
ds to see her dad before we go. She said she wouldn’t be long though. You should probably clean yourself up. You’re a bit of a mess.”

  Tyler knew she was right even without checking a mirror. Her hair was greasy and flat against her head. She felt dirty in general with the kind of grubbiness that could only be washed away. Sliding her feet into her flip flops and grabbing her wash bag, she started heading out when she noticed that Cassie was still there.

  “I’ll tidy up around here, you obviously need the help,” Cassie said matter-of-factly.

  Tyler was too relieved by her offer to refuse. “Knock yourself out,” she said, leaving the room, taking her phone with her. She would give a quick call to Ally to make sure she was feeling better today, but she didn’t want to do it in front of Cassie. She didn’t feel close enough to her yet for her to hear a personal conversation between the two of them. Reaching the bathroom, she hung out in the corridor as she dialed Ally’s number. Her heart swelled with relief and love when her little sister’s chirpy voice answered. “Hey Bug…”

  * * *

  Cassie grabbed several mugs, taking them to the sink as she started cleaning up. She had meant what she said. Tyler didn’t look too hot, and judging by the state of her room, she wasn’t feeling it either. Not until she had taken a drink from that glass of her “special” water. Cassie wasn’t born yesterday.

  She knew there was something different about it, having seen Tyler perk up immediately after having only a few mouthfuls. She waited until all the mugs were clean. It had to look legitimate after all. She didn’t want Tyler to realize that she had ulterior motives for staying in here.