A Perfect Darkness

by Jaime Rush

  Petra nodded.

  “If we get separated, we meet in the lingerie department at Wal-Mart at eight o’clock.”

  Amy saw her break. Both lanes were crawling, a school bus slowing the right lane even more. The bus lights began to blink, indicating it was going to stop. She zipped in front of a car in the left lane. The Buick butted in two cars back. The car in front of her sped up, trying to outrun having to stop. The Stop sign was just swinging out. The car in front of her passed the bus. The kids would be in a line, ready to board the bus and not scattered around.

  She swung in front of the bus and turned right. The bus driver honked, but she breathed out in relief that there were no kids in front of the car. Seconds later she turned into a large apartment complex. She saw a strip of woods to the right, just beyond a small park area. Luckily it was too cold for anyone to be using it. Good thing. She tore right through it. She aimed for an opening in the trees she hoped was big enough to accommodate the car. Branches scratched along the sides. She stopped once the car was completely in the woods and cut the engine. They both threw their doors open and ran.

  “This way,” Amy said, breathless from fear. “Damn!”

  The Buick screeched in. He pulled into a close spot and left the car as fast as they had. He made better time, too, running just outside the edge of the trees.

  Amy headed back toward the road on the other side. Running in a dress wasn’t cutting it. The skirt rubbed against her legs and hindered her movement. She hiked it up to her thighs.

  Between gasps, Petra said, “We should go…different ways. That way he’ll only…get one of us. We’ll stick to our backup plan.” She continued straight.

  Even with a plan, Amy could see that the whole thing was falling apart. Damn remote viewing! She broke out of the woods into the backyards of clusters of town houses. Her chest hurt. She was out of shape for running for her life. Over her heartbeat she heard something else: footsteps. He had gone after her.

  She ran to the front of the town houses and crouched at the rear corner of one of the cars in the parking lot. Her throat was so dry she could barely swallow.

  A man said, “Can I help you find something?”

  Another man said, “Girl just stole my wallet. I saw her run this way.”

  “What is it with kids these days? I saw a girl over there a minute ago.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  Amy grimaced.

  “Should I call the cops?”

  “I am a cop. I’ll take care of her. Please go back inside.”

  Like hell he was. Wearing loose pants and a light jacket, he was dressed to move quickly. She bent down low enough to see the black sneakers of the man she thought of as Buick coming toward her. She crept around the corner and saw him with his hand at his waistband, ready to grab his weapon. He had handcuffs clipped to his belt. She dashed to the low bushes along the side of the building. In the near distance she heard the ’Cuda’s throaty engine start. Petra had doubled back and gotten the car. Good, get out of here!

  “Yeah, it’s me,” Buick said in a low voice. “Petra is in the Barracuda in the Bowie area. I’ve got the other one in my sights. I’ll bring her in soon.”

  Amy shivered. She hoped like hell he couldn’t actually see her. In a crouch, she ducked around the back corner, toward the next set of buildings, and then into the space between them. She paused, hearing his footsteps close behind her. Dammit, she didn’t have enough time to get any distance away. She picked up a rock and lobbed it toward the bushes along the back of the next building. Make him think she’d gone that way.

  She ran toward the front and came upon a muddy black truck jacked up on huge tires. With a glance to make sure Mr. Buick hadn’t come around yet, she climbed into the bed of the truck and dropped down. The bed floor was covered with beer cans and camping equipment. She pulled a tattered green tarp over her. His footsteps crunched on the grass as he walked back to the parking area. While she was holding back her ragged breaths, she heard no breathing effort from him.

  If he caught her, she’d be trapped. He’d cuff her, take her away. The thought of it squeezed her stomach. She said the Lord’s Prayer as his footsteps grew closer, and then it morphed into, I can’t do this anymore. I can’t. If I get away, I’ll forget everything and go into hiding. Panic welled up inside her, washing over her in waves.

  Remember that speech you just gave Petra. I will get away.

  Dammit, it was a lot harder to take her advice than to give it.

  Petra wanted to take the car and haul ass. She wanted to get herself and the car safely back to the tomb. But she wasn’t alone in this. Their pursuer had gone after Amy when they split up, and now she was in trouble, big trouble. How could she just leave Amy? Then again, she might get caught, too.

  No, no, think positive like she does. Even if it is annoying.

  She opened her cell phone, pressed a button and said, “Eric,” to activate the voice command.

  He answered on the first ring. “Where the hell are you?”

  “Bowie, near the Wal-Mart, getting the car. Before you rant, I need to tell you, they can remote view us. That’s how they saw where we were. There’s a guy after us, and he means business. Amy and I split up, and he went after her. I’m in the ’Cuda.”

  “Get back here,” he said. “If she’s going to risk her ass for a car, let them catch her.”

  “You don’t mean that, Eric. We’re a team.”

  “Obviously not, if you’re going to run off without me.”

  “You wouldn’t come anyway.” She had to admit that having him with them would have been nice, but she never wanted to see him blowtorch anyone. “I’m going to get Amy. I’ve got to concentrate on my driving. ’Bye.”

  Feeling stronger, she tossed the phone onto the seat and turned down the street from which they’d turned. Amy had to be there somewhere. She expected to see her dart across the street any second. When she didn’t see her, Petra pulled into a complex of town houses, and saw Mr. Buick stalking toward a black truck. He held a gun close to his thigh. She tuned in her hearing. Amy’s breathing. She could hear her someplace close. The truck!

  Panic grabbed her throat. He was about to find her, and she had to stop him. How? She punched the gas pedal and drove right at him. When he jerked up his arm to shoot at her, she fell sideways as the car rammed the truck. He fell backward, and Amy shot up out of the truck, shock on her face. Even more shock when she saw Petra waving her on.

  Amy jumped out of the truck bed and dove into the open window of the car as Petra backed up. Mr. Buick was scrambling for his gun as residents came pouring out of their homes to see what the commotion was. He’d snatched it up and tucked it under his jacket as Petra tore out and turned onto the street.

  The light was green, then turned yellow. Petra floored the accelerator.

  Gotta make the light!

  One more second.

  She flew through just as it turned red.

  Only then did she glance at Amy, sprawled in the passenger seat. “Are you all right?” she asked.

  Amy looked shell-shocked, with her hair sticking out and her face flushed. “Yeah, I think so. I’m just…surprised.”

  “That I hit the truck you were hiding in. I didn’t actually mean to do that.”

  “No, that you came for me. I thought you’d hightail it.”

  Petra gave her a sheepish grin. “I considered it. But I knew you’d do the same for me.”

  “Thanks.”

  She turned into the Wal-Mart entrance. Amy pointed to the far right corner. “The car is over there. Drop me off near it and then park behind the building. I’ll pick you up. We can’t bring his car back,” she added, anticipating Petra’s protest. “I heard Buick calling someone to tell them you were in it. I’m sorry.”

  Petra knew she’d never see it again. “Me, too.”

  Amy jumped out, and Petra drove around to the back of the building. She pressed her cheek against the steering wheel and then punched the C
D player Eject button. She grabbed the U2 CD and the case and got out. The front corner of the Barracuda was dented, but the car had withstood the ramming well. A minute later Amy drove up in a beige older-model Toyota Camry. Plain, common…the perfect car to blend in.

  As they pulled away, Amy’s cell phone vibrated in her backpack. Petra recited the number on the screen. With a sigh, Amy said, “Ozzie, my neighbor and friend. Put him on speaker phone…Yeah, Oz.”

  “Amy, you’re scaring me to death here. I’ve been trying to call since you hung up on me. Let me help. I need to help. I’ve watched movies where an innocent person is being chased by the bad cops and stuff. I saw that Will Smith movie like ten times. You need someone on the outside.”

  “You are helping. You’re taking care of Orn’ry until I can get him. That’s really important to me.”

  “No, I’m talking about big help. Like getting you supplies or joining up with you.”

  Petra couldn’t help but grin. This Ozzie guy reminded her of Eric, jonesing for adventure.

  “Okay, here’s something you can do,” Amy said. “I had to leave a really special car behind the Wal-Mart in Bowie. Go get it and tuck it away somewhere. I’ll hide the key…Petra, take the key off the ring.” Amy slowed down. “I’m on North Crain Highway at the light at Governor Bridge Road, heading to Annapolis. I’m throwing the key next to the road.”

  “How will I know the car?”

  “Look in the paper today. There’s a description of it. By the way, that’s because the police are looking for it. ’Bye, Oz, gotta drive.”

  Hope spiked. “Will he do it?” Petra asked.

  “Probably not.”

  “I’d better call Eric, let him know we’re all right,” Petra said, pulling out her phone. “Hey,” she said when he answered. “We’re on the way back.”

  She expected him to harangue her, but he was eerily calm. “All right, I’ll see you soon. Be careful.”

  Petra leaned against the door. “There were a few moments there when I didn’t think we were going to make it.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “You, too?”

  “You think I’m brave all the time? I’m scared a lot. I just don’t let myself get walloped by fear.”

  Petra smiled at Amy’s candor. “I didn’t want to like you.”

  She grinned back. “I know.”

  Petra laughed. “I’m glad you’re on our team.”

  “Thanks.”

  They sank into silence, both lost in thought.

  She’d been scared, all right, but she’d done it, Petra realized. She wasn’t the pretty, helpless girl that she always felt like. She glanced behind them, then turned back to the front. There was no looking back now. They could only look forward. If only she knew what lay ahead.

  CHAPTER 19

  “You are both idiots! I can’t believe you took such a stupid risk,” Eric bellowed as soon as they walked into the main room. He grabbed one of their arms in each hand and squeezed so hard Amy yelped in pain.

  She tried to pull free. “They didn’t know about the car.”

  Petra was right, Amy realized: he hadn’t thought she would go on her own to get it. And Eric certainly didn’t think Petra would go with her.

  He gritted his teeth. “Do you think this is a game?”

  Petra trembled, her eyes wide. “Of course not!”

  Amy was willing to bet she’d seen him like this before. Again she tried to pull away from Eric’s grip, but he held on tight. “Let me go—you’re hurting me.”

  He leaned down into her face. “Good. You need some sense hurt into you. You could have gotten yourself killed. Or even worse, caught.”

  Amy shivered, thinking of Lucas. “Every hour that goes by increases the chance that we lose Lucas forever.”

  He flung both their arms free in disgust. “Don’t let your desperation and your emotions make you stupid. I’m in charge of our little operation, understand?”

  “Why you?” Amy asked. Not that she was challenging him, but she didn’t like that he’d made the assumption.

  “Because I’m—”

  “Please don’t say ‘a man,’” Amy said, her hand out to stop him.

  “First of all, someone has to be in charge. Are either of you volunteering?” He didn’t give them a chance to respond. “I’m the one who figured out that we were being watched in the first place. I’ve got the strongest ability. And”—he leaned down into her face—“I’m the man.”

  “Argh.” She turned away, shaking her head.

  “And you almost got caught,” he went on. “Do you see a pattern? Lucas goes against our protocol and gets caught? You run off by yourselves and almost get caught?”

  Petra said, “We would have been fine if they didn’t have someone remote viewing us.”

  “Yeah, what’d you mean by that?”

  “I felt him, just like I can feel you. Then we had a tail, this creepy guy with dark eyes and a gun.”

  “And handcuffs,” Amy added. “He’s trouble. And not one of us.”

  “How do you—”

  “No glow.”

  Having spent his rage, Eric dropped down onto the couch. His expression, and arms-crossed posture, still radiated anger. Then he saw Amy, really saw her. “Whoa. What happened to you?”

  She scanned herself. Had she been cut? Nope, no blood anywhere. Her dress was torn, and it and she were filthy. “I had to run through the woods.”

  “I don’t mean the dirt, I mean the dress. The hair, makeup.”

  She didn’t like the spark in Eric’s eyes as he took her in. She tugged down the short skirt. “Petra’s idea. So I didn’t look like frumpy ol’ me.” Had she been hiding under her clothing?

  “Interesting.”

  “Not really.” She had the urge to change but didn’t want him to think he could affect her behavior. She averted her gaze to the Warhol-like sun painting.

  “Lucas came to me,” Eric said.

  Amy spun around. “What?”

  “In my dreams. He warned me that you were in danger, said you were driving his car.”

  She began to pace, agitated and restless. “We have to find him…now.”

  “I’ll try remote viewing him again tonight, when I’m rested. Maybe the lights will be on.”

  Amy rubbed her arms. “But they have someone who knows when you’re there. He’ll just kick you out again. And now they can view us.”

  Petra said, “I’ll stay on alert. I think I was able to push him out like he pushed you out, Eric.”

  Amy said, “We have to do something.”

  Petra looked at her. “What about the voices?”

  Eric narrowed his eyes. “Voices?”

  “She hears voices. Maybe it’s another ability.”

  He got to his feet. “Tell me about the voices.”

  Amy said, “I don’t even know if it’s an—”

  “What voices? As you said, we don’t know what we’re capable of. We can’t dismiss anything.”

  The fear she always felt about the voices crept down her spine. “I hear people whispering. It never makes much sense, but then again, I don’t really pay attention to what they’re saying. It’s spooky. Then I fall into sleep and they go away. It only happens when I’m between wakefulness and REM sleep.”

  “Who could it be?”

  “I don’t know. I hear both women’s and men’s voices. For a while I thought it was someone in the apartment next to me. Then they moved and I still heard them. And last night someone called my name.”

  “Lucas?”

  “No, he can only visit me when I’m in REM sleep.”

  “Talk to the voices, Amy. Let them in.” He ran his hand back through his red hair in frustration. “We don’t have a lot of options.”

  She shivered. “I’ll do anything I have to do.”

  Petra was staring at the sailing painting. She climbed on the couch and took it down. “Voices can’t hurt you.”

  “I don’t trust anything an
ymore. Look what Eric can do.”

  Petra shivered. “Sorry I mentioned it.” She removed the sun painting and hung the sailing one in its place.

  Eric rolled his eyes. “There she goes again.”

  “I need change.” She regarded the violet wall. “Maybe I’ll paint this wall a deep red.”

  Amy steeled herself for Eric’s objection when she said, “I have to get my parrot.”

  “Say what?”

  “I have a cockatoo, and he doesn’t like anyone but me. My friend Ozzie is taking care of him, but he screeches and makes a ruckus because I’m not there.”

  Petra added, “His name is Orn’ry.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “And this is supposed to warm me to the idea? Uh, no. No pets in here. We’ve got enough to deal with.”

  “I’m getting my bird.”

  Eric gestured to the room. “Whose place is this, anyway?”

  “Lucas’s, technically,” Amy said. “Look, I can’t leave my parrot behind. Ozzie won’t be able to keep him and he’ll have a hard time finding him a home. Parrots bond to their owners forever. I can’t leave him to be euthanized or sold to bird breeders.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m too tired to argue about it right now. I’m going to lie down. Maybe I’ll hear the voices.”

  She closed herself in her room and slipped into another of Lucas’s shirts. It didn’t have his scent, only fabric softener. Still, wearing it made her feel closer to him.

  Someone knocked and Petra peered around the door as she opened it. “You want me to stay here while you sleep?”

  No, she wanted to be strong and not need anyone. So why had she nodded?

  Petra closed the door and sat in the chair. “You’re scared of the voices.”

  It wasn’t a question, and she couldn’t make the effort lying would take. “Seeing glows never scared me because I was used to them by the time I realized they weren’t normal. But the voices…they started a year ago, and I know they’re not normal. I don’t know what I’m letting in.”