Sunshine Bleeds A Black Edge (The Wild Things (standalone) Book 3)

by A. Wilding Wells

  “Rebel, there are things... Dammit.” Her voice cracks, and her shoulders slump. Then she sweeps a hand through the mess of gold and silver on the bed, driving it off the edge with rapid force.

  Objects ping and bounce off the walls and the floor. She howls a sound I’ve never heard come from her or anyone else before. I can’t even name that sort of pain, even with what I’ve gone through.

  I take a seat next to her. “Whatever it is we’re going to be okay.” I clutch her hand in mine and twist our fingers as fat tears roll down her powdery cheeks in long rivers.

  “Etta…breathe.”

  “I’m sorry, Rebel. I’m sorry for everything.” Etta covers her face with her hands and sobs. My stomach swirls. Everything? What does everything include? “It’s all my fault. Everything that’s happened is my fault, and there isn’t a thing I can do to fix it.”

  I toss an arm over Etta’s shoulder and tug her to my side. Her slumped body holds a defeated sentence that’s making my pulse race. “Sounds to me like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders. You want to unload some onto me? I’ll help you carry it.”

  “If I do that, it’ll only make things worse, because too much of the weight will shift onto you. I can’t do that. The burden… Jesus. The weight of it is too much for anyone.”

  “But you’re not going to tell me what it is?” I ask. I grip her hand and search her face as she stares at our twinned fingers. Her gaze moves to my eyes. Shock and revulsion are all I see when she takes her free hand to her mouth and bites her knuckle.

  “Hey, I promise you can tell me anything. I’m your kid. That means we’re locked for life. We’ve been through a lot. How bad can it be? Tell me what’s got you all choked up and scared-lookin’.”

  She shakes her head. I haven’t seen her look like this since way back, when she told me that she was going ahead with the operation and everything that went along with it.

  “I would if I could. You’ve been the kind of son a father could only dream of having. You’ve supported me through some of the hardest things I’ve gone through. I’m not sure who I’d be right now if it weren’t for you.” She wipes her face with her sleeve. “Have you talked to Ruby?”

  “No. Thought she might be here with you.

  “I don’t know where she is. Rowdy saw me walking and gave me a lift. Might want to go to the cemetery.”

  “And why’s that?” I ask, gripping the back of my neck as it tenses.

  “That’s between you and her, son.”

  “Seems more like it’s between you and Ruby.”

  “She has no idea what’s between us. And, truthfully, she never may.” Etta struggles through a shaky breath.

  “There is a truth hiding somewhere dark in this town about the Klines’ murder-suicide and Ruby. Why do I think you know something about it?”

  “Rebel, I will say this one time. Don’t ask me anything like that ever again. For you and Rifle and for Ruby.” She walks to the window. With her fists full of curtains, she yanks them apart then leans her forehead onto the glass.

  “But not for you?”

  “Let’s leave me out of it.” Her tone is grim, everything about her stance hopeless.

  I stand and amble to Etta. I lean my back against the wall as I wait and watch for clues. But the silence hangs, so I ask the obvious question.

  “Is this a police matter?”

  Etta mumbles something under her breath then backs up one step. Her shaky fingers land on her equally trembling chin. “This is more than that… It’s a matter of the heart and soul.”

  “Etta, you can trust me with your life. I love you, and it doesn’t matter what happened.”

  “It does matter, son.” Etta paces a line back and forth, wringing her hands and sighing every so often.

  “I need to find Ruby. Need to get to the bottom of some things.”

  She perches her hands on her hips but speaks to the floor. “Let me tell you something about Ruby. She is brave and courageous, and you need to let her share her story in her own time. Don’t push her.”

  “Her story?” I take two steps and close the gap between us. “You know something?”

  She tips her face up. “I know everything. Every motherfucking thing. Wish I didn’t, but I do. I know more than anyone what happened that week. If only I didn’t.” She muffles a sob in her sleeve.

  I’m rattled and unsure how far to push her. But I need to find Ruby.

  “You gonna be okay if I go find her?” I ask.

  “I’m going to be fine.” Though her voice betrays her promise. “You are too. We are all going to be okay. We have each other.”

  “Yes, we do,” I say, hugging Etta and knowing that my search for Ruby might be a long one. “Remember that… Got it?”

  “It’s gotten me through everything. I got it.”

  Chapter 44

  Ruby

  I tear out of the driveway in the Jeep, knowing full well where I’m headed: Rebel’s farm.

  Bile swims in my belly, hoping for release, which could come any second.

  I thought that damn ring and those crosses would turn up at some point, but not like that. Not in the form of a necklace made by Echo for Etta.

  I’m clocking seventy-five on the road Rebel lives on, needing to beat him to his farm. I press harder, metal meeting metal. Eighty-five…ninety. My heart beats are flying as fast. Shit, I didn’t think the Jeep had it in her. I glance at the speedometer, and in that blur of a second, I get an eerie sense that my life is about to change again.

  The sound of glass is what I hear first. Then I feel it—the pressure on my skin. Next comes knives. Then weight on my chest. Must be ten thousand pounds. I’m upside down, I think. Warm liquid runs over my body and down my throat. Gasoline? Blood? My mouth fills and I choke. It smells like burned rubber and something I can’t distinguish. It’s okay. I’m almost to Rebel’s farm. I need to get there… I can clean up there.

  Dizzy. So dizzy and tired. Are you tired, Opal? I can see her, but she doesn’t answer me. I’m coming to see you. I’m coming to tell you I’m sorry. It’s all my fault and I’m coming to take your pain away today.

  “RUBY!”

  Rebel? I can tell him the truth now because I’m almost free from my body and my soul will now be free too. The truth… Yes, it will set me free. Mom was right.

  There’s so much pressure on my chest. And yelling. Why is he yelling at me? Is he angry I told him the truth? I don’t remember telling him anything. But he won’t stop yelling.

  “Leave me alone. I’m tired.”

  “Ruby Mae…you fucking listen to me. You are not tired. You are… You fucking wake up. Ruby…open your eyes.”

  I turn to find him...the man who keeps yelling. Is it him? God. So, now, you’re here? He sounds mad at me. Mad like those boys were a long time ago when they hurt me and Opal. What did we do to deserve all their anger?

  So cold and numb. Full, heavy, and hot. How can I feel all these things?

  “Ruby, we’re gonna get you out of here, and you’re gonna be okay and then you’re gonna be my wife and we’re… We’ll live happily forever and…RUBY! Don’t do that, baby. Fucking stag... You fucking piece of shit, if you killed my girl… RUBY!”

  Who the hell is Stag? Must be one of those boys who hurt me and Opal. Stag is hairy and heavy. And jabbing me hard. Yes, it’s them again. Why now?

  “Ruby, stay with me. As soon as they get here, they’ll haul this piece of shit stag and Jeep off you and… Fuck, baby. Ruby, I hear ’em coming… You hear that? The sirens—that’s for you. They’re gonna save you now… Hang on another minute.”

  It’s so quiet here…sleeping.

  “Rebel, we need you to back up. Back the fuck up so we can get at her,” someone says. Someone loud. God?

  “RUBY!”

  Things happen fast, in blurs and blinks. I’m jostled around and then the weight is gone. I hear cursing and crying and I can’t tell if it’s Lenny or Opal or Rebel. Who is cr
ying? Is that my baby? I couldn’t keep you, baby. They gave you to me without a spine, and then I gave you freedom.

  I open my eyes and someone is talking to me. Hands touching me. Too many hands. Too much pain.

  “Leave her alone,” I say. “You’re hurting her… She doesn’t understand… Let her go!”

  They let Opal go and they take me.

  It’s better in the bright light. Calm. Peaceful. Painless. Pretty sparkles and sleep. Goodbye, Rebel… I’m tired... Too tired. Need to sleep…

  Forever.

  Chapter 45

  Rebel

  I haul ass out of the driveway. This fucking mystery is mounting into something fierce. More people…more questions. And what now? What in Sam Hill does Etta have in this whole thing? Apparently, plenty. I’m scared shitless to find out what went down that week between Ruby and Etta and the possible murders. Damn, I’m at a loss. What next?

  I might be taking the curve a little fast, but my nerves are devouring me like some flesh-eating disease I can’t control.

  What was in that box? The crosses and the ring? Had to be. Unless it was some other clue to this crazy mystery.

  I round the curve, and my eyes trick my mind. My heart tricks my stomach. I slam on the brakes as I fly at a vision of holy hell.

  “Ruby! NO!”

  I grab my phone and finger in 911. Then I yell something at the person on the other end of the line about a car accident and death and fucking who knows what else.

  There’s no air coming into my lungs, but vomit spews from my throat at the horrid sight. Her Jeep is flipped and partially flattened, and coming out of her now missing windshield is the biggest fucking buck I’ve ever seen. He’s thrashing through his death call, and he has my Ruby pinned under his massive rack of antlers.

  On my stomach, I crawl to her. “Ruby...baby…talk to me.”

  “Opal? I’m coming.” Her whisper is drowned in a gurgle of blood.

  “No! You’re not fucking going to Opal. You’re mine and we’re going to get married and we’re going to… RUBY! Come back to me.”

  I have never felt more helpless in my entire life. Not even when Paris was in a coma. Nor when Rocket was standing in the mirror in his red lingerie. Or when Ruby told me that she’d lost her virginity to the Kline twins. No. Not ever…more than now. My Ruby is dying before my eyes. And this fucking stag is going to kill her.

  I kick the sonuvabitch everywhere I can, trying to kill it. If it dies, she might live.

  “Ruby!”

  “Leave her alone…take me,” Ruby mutters. “She doesn’t understand. Don’t hurt her.”

  I crawl in next to her, as close as I can, and grab the stag’s antlers, trying to still him. I’m too fucking weak to save her. He’s pierced her to the seat, antlers stabbing through her in multiple places. Shredding her right before my eyes.

  “Ruby…listen to me… Don’t you leave me. You here that… Those are sirens, baby. Those are sirens for you.” I can’t stop sobbing, and my heart? My heart is gone by default. Because, if she leaves me now, I will not survive. I cannot lose my woman twice. I need her.

  Hands force me back. I’m swinging, punching…a feral animal out of control over love and promise. My future is dying in front of me and I’m gonna kill death before it kills her.

  “Rebel, back the fuck up!” Someone restrains me. Pins me to a tree and yells in my face. Someone angry and red-faced… Someone crying and howling…and holding me.

  Who is it? I can’t see straight. Dick Kline? My godfather is here?

  “RUBY!” I push him away.

  Another person grabs me and fucking ties me to the tree like I’m crazy. Maybe I am. Ruby is blood-covered and that fucking stag is killing her.

  “Get off me! I need to help her!”

  “Somebody give him something. He’s going to kill himself. Give him a fucking tranquilizer!” an EMT shouts.

  I know him, but I’m so frazzled I can’t name him.

  “Rebel, calm down. You need to be able to understand that I’m giving you something.”

  “Yes, I understand. I think I’m having a panic attack… I think…”

  I think I just died of a broken heart.

  Because, when they pulled my Ruby from that wreckage, she wasn’t moving. She was spurting blood like a stuck pig and there weren’t enough hands to cover those leaking holes on her body.

  “Ruby Mae Rose, you will not die today. You will not DIE TODAY,” I say. Then I say it again. I say it again… I say… I…

  I love you, Ruby Mae… Please don’t leave me again.

  Chapter 46

  Ruby

  So, this is Heaven? Yes. I knew when I was hugging Opal again that I’d arrived. I thought I would feel light and free. Except I’m not. I feel strapped in and suffocated. Where is my voice? And why can’t I move? And why is everything pink? Non-fucking-stop pink! I hate pink. Are those my eyelids? Who is that talking? I know that voice. And I know that one too. Someone who loves me.

  “Is she ever going to wake up?”

  I think it’s Rebel. I want to tell him I am awake. All he needs to do is help me open my eyes.

  “We’re seeing positive reactions. We can’t promise anything. She’s not out of the woods, but she’s closer to the edge.”

  The edge? What the hell? The edge of what? This is crazy. And where is Opal? She keeps coming…then leaving. Everyone is talking at me. They all seem familiar. But no one shows their faces. Why are they hiding from me? Do they finally know my secret and they don’t want me to see their disgust?

  “Ruby. Please come back to me. Why does this keep happening? First, Paris was in a coma. Then Bubble. Now, you? Not you too,” Rebel says. Then he sobs.

  Why is everyone crying when they’re near me? What have I done now?

  Opal shows up less and less. And I understand everything everyone is saying, but they don’t seem to understand me. I can hear them around me all the time now. Sometimes there are so many people that the voices blur. Then they cry and hold my hand and squeeze it. They squeeze it too hard. So hard that I want to scream.

  It feels like years have gone by. I have no idea what day it is. At times, I feel heavy and tired. Exhausted. Then I’m wide awake, trying to answer questions, but no one seems to hear me. Still.

  “You ought to tell her. Even in her current state she might understand you.”

  This is the same voice I hear many times every day. I think he might be my doctor.

  He and Mom have lots of conversation. She’s the only one who hasn’t said anything to me yet. She never talks to me. But she does talk about me. She’s mad about things. Mad that I have everyone’s attention again. Mad that Opal and I are seeing each other. Mad that Lenny might tell me something she wants to tell me herself. Her words are more mixed up than ever. Or is that my mind playing tricks on me?

  “How do I tell her?” Mom asks.

  “Would you like me to help you?” The doctor—or God or whoever the person is—answers.

  “No. I’m not ready.”

  “I’ll be down the hall. You can have the nurse find me if you’d like.”

  “I don’t need pulp.”

  “Help?” the doctor asks.

  “Don’t correct me all the time. You sound like Ruby. Do you have a college degree, for God’s sake? Leave me alone. I need privacy with her.”

  A warm, shaking hand rests on my cheek. Then kisses dance across my forehead.

  “Ruby Mae. I don’t know if you can hear me, but I want you to know something. I never say it…but…I’m proud of you. And I hope you decide to stay here for good. I would like that. I missed you when you were gone. I’m sorry I never told you that. But it’s true, I missed you so much.”

  Mom has never told me this. I’m proud of you. It was always something else. “You’re not such a good girl.” “You’re pretty, but I’m the prettiest.” “You aren’t as smart as you think you are.” “Those girls are better.” “They have more money.” “You got an
A, why not an A+? Work harder next time.”

  I know she loved me. Loved? But she cracked her whip and I jumped for her hoping I’d hear the words every child wants to hear. I’m proud of you.

  “Ruby. Do you hear me?” Her voice is sunk in fog. Then it rises. “I’m proud of you.” She cries.

  I do too. Because her words are so special. And needed. I don’t know if she can tell I’m crying, but it hurts everywhere in my body like I am. Hurts like I’m being ripped into a thousand pieces. I’m crying hard, and then she starts yelling for a nurse and sounds beep like crazy, making my head spin. Rebel is yelling and Opal comes to my side and tells me we’re okay. We’re both okay.

  We’re together again.

  We’re laughing.

  We’re having tapioca.

  Then Opal leaves, and I follow her vanishing form into the bright haze.

  Chapter 47

  Rebel

  “Ruby Mae, I forgive you.” I dust kisses across her hand then draw circles on her palm, knowing she’s the most ticklish there and can’t usually stand it. But nothing comes of it. Not a flinch. “Please, sweet thing. Please know I forgive you. I love you. And I want to marry you. I want you to live here. Please. Baby, do you hear me? I don’t care about anything else… I only…”

  Everything I say is a plea. An offer of forgiveness. Another promise. To Ruby. To God. To the devil. To any spirit who gives two fucks and might want a portion of my soul in exchange for her to come back. I’d give anything. My limbs. My sanity.

  What will I do without her? It was one thing to know she was somewhere in the world without me. But that she might leave this world forever? No. I can’t entertain the thought without every cell in my body dissolving.

  She’s alive. That’s all I’m hanging on to. I’ve been cursed by comas like I’m a fucking coma magnet. First, Paris. Then Bubble. And, now, my Ruby. Maybe it’s this town. The same fucking curve where I found Bubble wrapped around that tree with her boyfriend, I found Ruby. The same curve where five drunk football players from our varsity team in high school died one week before state.