Kren and his followers are the ones who are wrong.
I’m wondering if I have made a mistake. Kren and the others might come for Maverick anyway. It’s not in my brother’s nature to just let things go.
I turn around and head back toward Maverick’s house. I need to protect him from the worst possible outcome, despite what may happen to me. It’s my fault he’s in danger.
It’s time to stop running away.
24
MAVERICK
“WHAT THE HELL?” I stare at Ronald and wonder if he’s messing with me again. But from the distress and hurt in his eyes, I know he’s telling me the whole truth. “What are you telling me? That they killed your wife and your son?”
His mouth moves, and I think he said They took him, but I’m not sure. I sit back down and wait for him to explain.
“My wife was left for dead, and there was no sign of my son in the house. He just vanished.” He inhales deeply, fighting back the tears that well up. “After the cops did the initial investigation, including interrogating me, they ruled him a runaway. The police searched for my son, only because he was a suspect in his mother’s death until the coroner ruled she died from so-called natural causes.”
I’m at a loss for words. I feel crappy for having thought that Ronald was a creep.
“After they ruled out foul play when the autopsy revealed she died of a heart condition, the authorities believed my son witnessed my wife collapse and die, and maybe ran away because of the trauma. That makes no sense at all.” The struggle to keep it together overwhelms him, and he coughs instead of crying. “They didn’t try real hard to look for him, since he was almost eighteen years old.”
“But, what made you think it was the black-eyed kids?” I ask.
Ronald glances out the window before answering, “I put up flyers all over the place, spent countless hours searching for Ronny. He was such a good kid, and he loved baseball.”
“I’m really sorry,” I whisper.
“Ronny was crazy about the Atlanta Braves, and his favorite player was Chipper Jones. A co-worker of mine was able to get an autographed hat for Ronny’s thirteenth birthday. He rarely took that hat off. He wore it out to the point where it was so faded and raggedy. Ronny refused to get rid of it, even though you could barely make out the signature.”
The guy looks like he’s on the verge of totally breaking down. So I decide to get him back on track. “So what did you do after you put up flyers?” I ask him.
“I searched everywhere for my son. One day, I’m out at the mall showing people a picture of Ronny when some guy comes up to me and hands me a folded piece of paper and walks away without saying a word.”
I watch Ronald clasp his shaking hands. “What did it say?”
“It said that they knew what really happened to my family. Told me to look up Black Eyed Kids on the internet and call an out of state number if I wanted the truth. The message was signed, A Friend.”
“So you went online and started reading all the stories?”
“Not at first. Eventually, I got desperate. I sat at that computer for three days straight reading all I could about the BEKs. At first, it was laughable. Then, an old lady that lived two streets away was telling her neighbors about how a couple of kids with black eyes came to her door asking if they could use her phone.”
“Holy crap,” is all I could muster listening to his story.
“I know. I continued to go out and put up posters of Ronny, but also asking questions about black-eyed kids. I got a lot of funny looks, and I was about to just drop the whole BEK-thing when another guy said that he had two of them bang on his car window, asking for a ride to the nearest payphone. He refused to let them in, and he took off. He didn’t tell a soul, because the whole thing didn’t make sense. Their black eyes really scared the hell out of him.”
“I know how he feels,” I say.
“And who uses a payphone these days?” Ronald throws his hands up in the air. “Everybody and everybody’s grandma has a cell phone.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t think I’ve ever used a payphone in my entire life. I don’t even know where they are. At the gas station maybe?”
Ronald manages a little chuckle. “And that’s another strange thing about the BEKs. They might look like kids, teenagers maybe. But the way they talk, it’s like they’re out of the wrong era. They use outdated expressions, like asking to use a payphone.”
Whoa, I hadn’t thought of that. Astid does seem to be pretty out of place with modern society. I’m glad I did meet with Ronald. The man is giving me new information that I might be able to use.
“I mustered up enough courage to actually go to that old lady’s house nearby, and she told me her story, too. She believed they were demons sent by the devil himself,” Ronald says.
“You were then convinced the BEKs had something to do with your wife’s death and your son’s disappearance?” I ask.
Ronald wipes his face. “Almost. At that point, I called the number on the paper. Some guy answered and explained his network and how all of the encounters are recorded. He told me about how some of the stories get out on the internet and how many never surface. People are afraid of going public with their stories.”
I am completely captivated with Ronald’s tale. I feel really bad for the guy, and I’m convinced he might be able to help me get some answers. But I’m still not going to tell him about Astid. Something tells me he wouldn’t show her any mercy.
“After talking with so many people who encountered these kids, I became a believer,” Ronald continues. “I’m convinced my wife let them in. They took my son. There is no trace of him, and he never would have run away. This is unresolved for me. I have a dead wife and a son that disappeared in the middle of the day. I can’t even begin to contemplate what happened to Ronny.”
The two of us remain silent for a few minutes. We both look down at the table lost in our own thoughts. I’m reliving that night with Tarick over and over again, and the image of his body in the mud won’t leave me alone.
“You and I have much in common,” Ronald finally says. “We have both been victims of these creatures. One day, I will get the truth. I swear it.”
I look out the window toward the dark sky. Lightning lights up the gray clouds, and I imagine thunderstorms will soon follow. Although I can’t look Ronald in the face, I know that he’s watching me.
“I have to go,” I blurt out.
It looks like Ronald isn’t going to argue. He’s a man who looks defeated. “I know,” he whispers.
He squeezes his hand into his pocket and pulls out his wallet. Ronald flips it open and a picture of his wife and son shows in the first plastic sleeve. They’re smiling in the photograph. His son looks like a younger version of him, but with more hair.
Ronald reaches in and retrieves another of his cards before handing it to me. “This is my number again, just in case. I’m staying at the Holiday Inn, a mile down this street. I’m in room 311. I’ll be there for a while. If you’re able to remember anything else, even if it seems unimportant, please either call or see me. Every little bit of information is helpful. I’d be forever grateful.”
I get up from my seat. Without making eye contact with Ronald, I take his card and put it into my back pocket.
I know he’s disappointed I wasn’t able to give him the answers he was seeking.
Answers I’m not ready to give.
The only course of action I have consists of going back to Lisa’s and hoping she has a better plan to find Astid, because I don’t know where to start. Ronald was able to give me much more information on the BEKs, and maybe I’ve found another ally in him. But I can’t be sure just yet.
He’s right, though, we do have something in common. We’re both emotional wrecks.
THE STREETLIGHTS around Lisa’s house provide the only light. Her house is completely dark, so I assume they’re all asleep. I sneak around as silently as possible while I look out for nosy neighbo
rs. The last thing I need is for the cops to bust me for trespassing.
Someone’s footsteps crunch the ground a few feet away. Adrenaline tries to block out the fear that builds up in my chest, but it’s not working. I back up against the side of the house and stop. The closer the sounds come, the louder my heart thumps in my ears. A dark shadow is coming around the corner and closes in, and I’m about to pounce.
“Mav?”
It’s Marcus.
“You about gave me a heart attack, dumbass.” I approach him and swallow the urge to punch him in the head. “What are you doing here?”
“Lisa called me.”
I’m not liking the idea of Lisa calling him. “What do you mean. She texted you?”
“No, man. She called me and said she wanted to help you find the black-eyed chick.” He shoots me a wide grin. “You know, that Astid girl is pretty hot, once you look past her black eyes and mind control powers.”
All I got was a text from Lisa. Why didn’t she call me?
We approach her window and I tap lightly. The window rises without the lights coming on. I notice she had already taken the screen down and placed it next to the window. I don’t blame her for not wanting to actually leave the house until one of us was here with her. She climbs out and hops onto the grass.
“Hey,” she says to me as she smooths out the wrinkles in her pants.
“I don’t want you to get in trouble with your folks,” I tell her. “I’d never be able to see you again if you’re caught with us.”
I want to ask her why she called Marcus and not me, but I decide that this isn’t the right time to act jealous.
“We need to go pick up Cadence,” is all Lisa says.
“Where’s your car?” I ask Marcus.
“A few blocks away. Didn’t want to get noticed here.”
I’m impressed he thought all of that out on his own. “Let’s get going then.” We head to the car. “What’s the plan?” I ask Lisa.
She replies, “I don’t know that I have one, but why not start from the beginning? Let’s go back to the barn. We all know last time that they were near there.”
“I was afraid you guys would say that.” Marcus rolls his eyes. “I’ll be the first to die, I bet. The stoner always bites the dust before anyone else,” he says dejectedly.
25
MAVERICK
CADENCE SCROLLS THROUGH her phone. “I can’t believe how many stories there are about the BEKs.”
She reads yet another one to us, and we all stare at each other for several moments in silence after she’s done.
“And these are just the stories that people reported,” I say. “How many others have experienced similar things and kept their mouths shut?”
“This Ronald guy…do you think he’s telling the truth about his son and wife?” Marcus asks. “That’s messed up. I mean, losing your entire family. Soul sucking, black-eyed aliens. It’s like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and stuff.”
“He believed it, that’s for sure.” I remember the look in Ronald’s eyes and the picture in his wallet. It all seemed pretty sincere to me.
Lisa grabs my hand and squeezes. I’m glad she chose to ride in the back with me. “Look.” She points ahead of us. Two black SUVs block the dirt road leading to the barn.
“Turn off your headlights!” I command Marcus. “Just stop for a sec.”
“What’s going on, dude?” Marcus asks as his headlights go dark.
Why do government agents always drive big black SUVs? I wish I had some binoculars right now. We’re all staring at the cars, and there’s no sign of movement. But it’s too risky to try to go around them.
I reply, “Not sure, but they obviously don’t want anyone going down that road. We’re going to have to pull over onto the grass and park.”
Marcus maneuvers his car off the road and brings it close to the woods. “What now?”
“Now, we hike,” I reply. We all get out. Cadence gives me her second flashlight and we head into the woods. “Let’s try to keep silent. I think we’ll have to turn off the flashlights the closer we get. We don’t want anyone spotting us.”
“You don’t think it’s the BEKs?” Lisa asks. “Maybe some government agency?”
I stop to think before saying, “I think we’ll be able to tell when the black-eyed kids are near. The buzzing in the head, the terror building up. I don’t think the SUVs belong to them. My guess is that it’s government spooks investigating the crime scene.”
Marcus grabs my shoulder. “Is this such a good idea, man? I’m not so sure we should go in the woods again. Lions and tigers and bears…oh my!”
“Shh!” Cadence slaps the back of Marcus’ head. “Stop being such a pussy.”
No matter how silent we try to be, our feet don’t cooperate. Our footsteps make all kinds of crunching and snapping sounds, and I know that we will give ourselves away. We’d make terrible ninjas.
“Let’s split up,” I suggest after walking a few hundred feet. “Cadence and Marcus head that way, and circle around to the barn. Lisa and I will keep going straight. That way, we can have two points of view, and it’s less likely we’ll all get busted. No snitching on us if you get caught.”
Cadence crosses her arms as if she’s refusing to go any further. “Really? Splitting up? Isn’t that a huge no no? Every horror movie where the teenagers split up never end well. Come on!”
“We’re making too much noise together,” I say.
Cadence looks like she wants to punch me out. “Fine, but do I have to be stuck with the damn stoner?”
“Hey!” Marcus looks sincerely hurt. “I know I’m a stoner, but I’m not a damn one.”
I point to the path going to the left. “Just keep it down. Try to anyway.”
Marcus goes first, and with a roll of her eyes, Cadence follows. I watch them until they disappear behind the trees.
I’m about to ask Lisa why she called Marcus when she wraps herself around me and pulls my face towards hers. Her lips touch mine and I begin to relax. I place my hands behind her head and the kiss deepens. Her lips part and all the worry that was in my mind moments ago disappears. Her body presses closer to mine and I back up against a tree.
She pulls away, her eyes search my face. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.” She smiles and kisses me again.
The closeness of her body next to mine brings another urge to the surface, and I break the kiss. “How long have you wanted to do that?”
“Oh, for a few years now.” She backs up and takes my hand. “Since freshman year when you were dating that bitchy blonde beach bimbo.”
A quick laugh escapes my mouth. “Cassie. Girlfriend from Hell.”
I didn’t realize it at the time, but Cassie enjoyed guys fighting over her. She lost interest in me pretty quickly, since none of my friends fell for her charming bait. She moved on.
“What did you see in her anyway?” Lisa asks.
“Uh, she had a nice personality.” Nice boobs, nice, nice butt.
“Yeah, right!” Lisa swings around, walking backward, and looks right into my eyes. “Well, now you’re mine, and I’m not letting you go.”
“Stalker!” I tease her, but I like the sound of me being hers.
“So, is it okay?” she asks.
“Okay that you’re a stalker?”
“Okay, that I call you mine?”
I guess we’re going to have the relationship talk now. Girls love that crap. “Even with my monstrous looks? You’d still want to be seen with me in public?”
She touches my still-bruised and stitched-up face. “I think your face will heal. If not, we can reevaluate the relationship at that time.” She giggles.
“That’s wrong on so many levels.”
“So?” Lisa takes a step back, and she’s waiting for my answer.
“I’ve wanted to go out with you since forever,” I reply and bend down to give her another kiss. “If you want this to be exclusive, I’m good with that.”
As soon as we approach the barn, all the good feelings I had with Lisa quickly evaporates. I can hear voices and people moving around from somewhere just over the hill. We creep closer and hide behind a tree. I make sure to kill my flashlight.
Lisa points to the beams of light cutting through the darkness, and I scan the scene. At least twenty people surround the barn. Some have instruments that beep over the ground. I see a couple of people walking around with small video cameras. Cars litter the entire area in front of the barn, and all of the people are wearing dark suits with gloves. They poke at the grass while taking notes. Some people emerge from the barn, but I can’t hear what they’re saying.
I motion to Lisa to stay put. I decide to try getting closer to the barn to eavesdrop. She nods and I give her a quick kiss on the lips before I go.
I’ve seen soldiers in basic training do the belly crawling-thing on the ground, but it’s not as easy as it looks. It’s hard to move silently, so I inch slowly forward until I can find some cover behind another tree. I pop my head up to check that the coast is clear. I wonder if Cadence and Marcus got around to the back.
I’m far away enough to be hidden, yet close enough to hear these government rats’ conversation.
“It’s useless. They’ve almost certainly left,” one man says to a female figure that faces away from me.
A beeper goes off, and I can’t hear what the second guy says.
“Call it in,” the first man says. He removes his gloves and hurries to his car. He waves his hand at the others near him and they all begin to pack up.
The woman he was talking to takes out her phone and dials. “Indications suggest they may still be in the area. Permission to stay on before we dispose of the targets.”
Dispose of the targets? I hope they’re talking about the BEKs. I gasp when the female agent turns her head, and the light catches her features.
Black-Eyed Kids: The Complete Series Page 13
