Brightest Kind of Darkness

by P. T. Michelle

  I loved the fact I could distract him so easily, but forced myself to focus as I sat beside him.

  When Ethan opened his notebook, I tried not to look at the graphic images as he flipped through them, but my gaze was drawn, despite my squeamish stomach. Ethan blew past a picture he’d drawn of me slipping the telephone into the end table drawer, then turned to a page he’d dog-eared.

  “What do you see?” he asked, placing the notebook in my lap.

  I studied the drawing of me standing near the payphone at Walmart. Ethan’s artistic skills were truly awe-inspiring. The art leapt off the page. “You should enroll in college art classes. Your talent is truly amazing.”

  His lips crooked as if pleased, but he clasped my chin and turned my attention back to the page. “What do you see, Nara?”

  Thunder boomed as I scanned the picture once more. “I’m dressed in winter clothes and standing next to a payphone. The building, streetlights and shadows are in the background. I look very tense and worried, which I was.”

  Ethan quickly flipped to another page he’d marked. “And here?”

  I studied the second drawing. “I’m on the phone. I have an anxious look on my face as I glance over my shoulder.”

  “What else?” Lightning flashed through the room, highlighting his expectant expression.

  I furrowed my brow. “There’s a dark sense of tension in this picture, though I don’t know why I feel that way.”

  Ethan turned to another page. “This is you talking to Jody outside her car. What do you see?”

  I studied myself. “I’m fisting my hands. I look anxious. Tension is all over my face and in the way I’m standing. It wasn’t as dark outside as you’ve drawn it though.”

  Rain pummeled the front door while Ethan turned to yet another page. It was the scene from the hall when I’d tried to warn Sophia. “Whoa,” I said, an eerie shiver passing through me. Blinking at the image, I pointed to the paper. “Why is there a dark shadow all around me? It was the middle of the day.”

  “Exactly. That dark shadow is in every one of these pictures.” As Ethan flipped through all the pictures once more, I saw what he was talking about.

  My gaze locked with his. “I’ve never seen any shadows when these events happened. And how is it that you saw them? Except for the event with Sophia, none of these were from my dreams, but real-life outcomes I initiated after my dreams.”

  “Remember I told you that I used to see flashes of images in my mind whenever I touched people. Each of these scenes were outside of the ‘dream’ I’d had about your normal day. I figured they might have something to do with your negative vibes—the reason I’d taken your dreams in the first place—so each time a scene came to me outside of your dreams, I drew them.”

  Ethan flipped to a few more drawings: the one of me riding in the car to Farmville with my mom, another of me laying on the floor at Aunt Sage’s, surrounded by the dogs and the next one of me diving for a ball in goal during practice.

  “There aren’t any shadows in these pictures, Nara. They’ve only shown up in the scenes where you were trying to change the outcome of something you’d dreamed.”

  Rumbling thunder shook the house and the lights flickered. My pulse accelerated and I reflexively dug my nails deep into my palm. “You think the shadows are Fate, don’t you? I noticed you called it ‘him’.”

  Ethan nodded. “After I made the connection to the shadows in my drawings, it became a him.”

  “But I can’t see him, so how do I stop Fate?”

  Ethan threaded his warm fingers with mine. “I have an idea how you might be able to see Fate. I don’t know if it’ll work, but I think it’s worth trying if you’ll trust me.”

  I wasn’t ready to face Fate as a physical entity. He was ominous enough as an unseen presence. But I folded my fingers around Ethan’s, feeling more confident. “I trust you.”

  Running his finger in a gentle caress along the bend of my thumb, Ethan searched my face. “Do you trust me enough to sleep with me?”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “What?” I stood and gulped my excitement and apprehension, even as my hand remained locked with his.

  Ethan followed me, folding his hand tighter around mine. A burst of heat shot across my cheeks, and I involuntarily swept my gaze along his bare chest and defined abs. The dragon tattoo only enhanced his earthiness and dark mysterious edges. Without even trying, he was devastatingly beautiful and dangerously seductive. Warmth flowed like melted chocolate sliding through my veins, its rich thickness slowing my ability to think. “Well, I—”

  His lips twitched in amusement, even as his blue eyes sparked. “I meant sleep with me. Like, literally.”

  “Oh.” I released the breath I’d been holding and felt a brief stab of disappointment. Loosening my tight grip on his hand, I squinted in confusion. “I’m not sure how that will help—”

  Before I could finish, he pulled me close and spoke in a velvet purr in my ear, “Loved your reaction though.”

  I pressed my hot face to his jaw and felt him smile.

  Kissing my forehead, he pulled back, his expression serious once more. “Back to my idea. I think the crystal your aunt gave you is what allowed you to see my dreams. If you wear the necklace and fall asleep while I’m holding you, maybe you’ll be able to see your own dreams through my eyes. In other words, you might be able to see the shadows I’ve been seeing.”

  I shuddered at the idea of wearing the crystal necklace again, but his idea was worth trying. “If this works, how does this help me face Fate?”

  Ethan’s eyes held warmth and encouragement. “The shadow seems to show himself when you’re interfering in the natural course. You’ll just have to try to change someone else’s Fate.”

  I frowned. “But I’ve never consciously tried to manipulate something within my dream, since my dream is just a preview of my next day. I’m just going through my day.”

  “Hmmm.” He gnawed his bottom lip for a second, thinking. “I still think you can make this work, mainly because you’ll be watching yourself go through your daily routine.”

  “You think I’ll see myself like you do?”

  “That’s the hope. That picture I drew of you hiding the phone in the end table drawer? That was the night your dad was supposed to call. Even though you’d already prevented him from calling by contacting the phone company, you hid the phone in the drawer. Were you trying to make sure?”

  “Exactly. I wasn’t taking any chances.”

  “Did you notice the slight shadow in the background behind you?”

  “No. Was Fate there?”

  “He was, but just barely. If you can do something like that in your dream tonight, you might be able to get him to show himself, however faint he may be. And then you can confront him.”

  I scowled doubtfully and Ethan squeezed my hands. “Don’t you think it’s worth a try?”

  “I’m scared.”

  He pulled me close and his chest felt so warm. “I’ll be with you, holding you tight. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  I marveled that he cared enough to come up with a plan to help me. “I’m so lucky I met you.”

  He kissed the tip of my nose. “I’m the lucky one.”

  “Then if we’re going to sleep, we may as well be comfortable.” Taking a step back, I pulled my long-sleeved t-shirt off. Static electricity crackled as the shirt dragged against the white spaghetti-strapped tank top I’d left on.

  Ethan waited for me to shut off the kitchen light before he followed me upstairs to my room.

  Thunder rolled, followed by lightning strobes as we entered my room. Crawling across my bed, I turned on the tiny lamp on my nightstand and retrieved the crystal necklace from my jewelry box.

  Ethan kicked off his shoes and took the necklace. Sitting beside me, he slid the chain over my head. When he tugged my comforter and sheets back and bolts of static flashed, Ethan’s hand fisted on the bedding. He didn’t say a wo
rd, but I couldn’t miss the protective anger in his eyes as he pulled me down beside him. For several seconds, we laid side-by-side, staring up at the ceiling. Then he hooked his arm around my waist and gathered me against him, spooning my back to his chest.

  Snuggling close to his warmth, I listened to the storm raging outside. Lightning lit up the entire room, highlighting the dragon tattoo on his forearm. I stared at the symbols inside the flames’ tips. There was an Egyptian Ankh, a Native American medicine wheel, a Celtic cross, a rising phoenix, the Hindu Om symbol. On and on they continued.

  I slowly ran my finger across his tattoo. “What do all the symbols mean?”

  He brought my fingers to his mouth, kissing each knuckle. “They’re for protection, just like the dragon is a symbol of protection.”

  “But why all the different ones?”

  Ethan tugged on the elastic band in my hair, freeing my ponytail. “I’ve come in contact with people with different religious beliefs,” he said as he slid his fingers through my hair. Lifting the tips to his nose, he inhaled. “Their issues are entwined with their cultural and religious beliefs, so I do what I can to protect myself.”

  I hadn’t thought about the religious perspective as it pertained to the darkness he saw, but it made sense that he would experience different kinds of “negative energy” based on the sender’s belief system. Lacing my hand with his, I lifted our linked hands and kissed the dragon on his forearm. “I’m in awe that you figured out how to protect yourself.”

  “Not in every way,” he murmured, sounding frustrated. Was he thinking about the feather tattoo?

  Thunder crashed as I glanced over my shoulder. “Did you find anything on the web about your feather tattoo?”

  Lightning illuminated his blue eyes a split second before the power failed, sending the room into total darkness. “Nothing new,” he said right before his lips touched mine.

  Caught by surprise, I gasped, then pressed my lips to his and flattened my palm against his chest. I wanted to experience every contour of his sleek muscles.

  Cupping my face, he pulled me toward him. Fingers slipped into my hair, clasping my head as he deepened our kiss. My insides burned and I pushed closer with a blistering need to be as connected to him as possible.

  Ethan’s fingers curled tight in my hair. I felt the tension in his hold before he broke our kiss. Grasping my waist, he pressed his forehead against mine and exhaled several harsh breaths. “Nara, we need to stop before we both don’t want to.”

  “I don’t think I want to,” I said, molding myself to him.

  Lightning flashed again, highlighting his pained smile. “It’s good to know I’m not the only one who lays in bed at night fantasizing about holding you like this.”

  Before I could respond, he rolled me over and hooked his arm around my waist. Spooning me tight against his body once more, he whispered into my hair, “I love you, Sunshine.”

  My insides melted, hearing it for real this time. Ethan had shown his love for me in so many ways. Why was my selfish heart locking away the “I love you so much it hurts” silent scream in my mind? I felt the emotions, but why couldn’t I say them? Wrapping my arms around his on my waist, tears filled my eyes as I tried my best to tell him what he meant to me. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “You’d be devastated,” he said with a hollow laugh, then slid his leg between mine, locking us together. “I won’t be able to prevent you from seeing my dreams, Nara. Just know that you’re protected as long as I hold you. If this works, then you’ll eventually move on to seeing yourself in the dreams and that’s when you’ll need to look for the shadow.”

  It suddenly occurred to me that if Ethan saw my dreams like watching a movie, then he saw…my face heated instantly. “Um, since you see my whole day, where are you when I’m taking a shower?”

  His lips touched my ear. “Waiting in your bedroom.”

  Yeah, right. I groaned in embarrassment. “All my secrets are revealed.”

  “I don’t know exactly how you feel about me, Nara. That secret is still yours. And about the other… I’ve respected your privacy.”

  Pleased heat shot down my neck and across my chest. Now I knew why he hadn’t seen Fate attack me in the shower. “Wow, that’s impressive. It would’ve been so easy to—”

  “That’s cheating.” He kissed the curve of my ear. “If I ever see you without your clothes, it’ll be your choice and not in some dream.”

  Ethan’s sincere comment, spoken in his deep, husky voice, sent a jolt of pleasure shooting through me. Tell him you love him, damn it! What was wrong with me? I quietly sniffed back tears of frustration.

  The thunder and lightning were starting to fade to distant rumbles and faint blips, but the gusty wind continued to blow rain in a watery, thrumming rush against my bedroom window. The rhythmic sound, combined with the relaxing sensation of Ethan’s fingers sliding through my hair, lulled me. Closing my eyes, I drifted to sleep.

  “Ethan?” I whispered, holding my hands straight out as I stumbled in total darkness. I heard thunder in the distance, but no lightning cut through the blackness. I stepped carefully, hoping to find a door or wall with a light switch.

  Something zoomed past, a wave of rotting flesh and sharp sulfur following its wake. The acrid smell burned my nose and throat, making the tiny hairs on my arms rise up. A scurrying sound preceded a faint hiss. I froze and gulped, hoping it didn’t sense me. Claws scrabbled and I heard it turning around. Whatever it was, it had detected my presence. Nails gouged the ground and a grunt echoed in my direction as if it had bolted toward me. I knew I couldn’t outrun it, so I jerked my hands up and tensed, ready for the impact.

  Lightning illuminated the black space for a split second, but it was long enough to highlight the heinous creature. A thick-barrel chest and powerful arms were closing in on me, claws extended in shredding mode. Its blackened teeth dripped with blood and saliva, the snarling maw ready to devour. I let out a terrified scream just as someone gripped my waist and pulled me backward.

  The creature must’ve reached for me, because searing, knife-like pain suddenly yanked at my left thigh, tearing and ripping at the flesh and muscles. Crying out, I jerked my leg back and gagged when I smelled the iron-rich scent of my blood. Warm liquid spurted down my thigh, a thick whoosh gushing with my rampant heartbeat.

  The scene changed. I was standing in a dimly-lit living room I didn’t recognize. Thunder popped, followed by flashes of lightning. I glanced down at my thigh and let out a sob of relief. My skin and jeans were intact.

  In a nearby room, someone screamed. I started toward the sound, but my left thigh cramped, stopping me cold. Grabbing hold of the fireplace mantel, my fingers bumped a football trophy. The inscription on the brass plate read: Blue Ridge High School Varsity Football.

  The yelling escalated, a high-pitched voice screeching at ear-piercing decibels. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the dull pain radiating through my leg as I pushed open the swinging door into a kitchen. A two-headed snake monster with a human-like body held an empty steaming pan. The monster hissed at the creature cowering on the floor in a football jersey covered with dripping red liquid. Was that blood?

  The smell of burned skin and spaghetti sauce permeated the air, and yet the attacking monster continued forward, moving toward the bent over figure, swinging the hot pan. Excruciating pain laced across my back while fear immobilized me.

  I tried to yell, to demand the snake-monster stop, but tightness cinched around my waist, sucking me out of the room. I screamed and grabbed for the invisible band pulling me back, but my fingers only snagged on my own clothes. Then everything went peacefully black and soft as if I’d been surrounded by silk.

  Rubbing my face against the softness, I inhaled the earthy scent, feeling safe and protected. I welcomed the quiet tranquility. Clung to it. Only moments had passed when a faint whisper of pale light began to seep through the darkness. The serenity was about to leave me.

 
; “No,” I pleaded, grasping at invisible folds, hoping to keep the dark cloak of safety wrapped around me forever. Music filled my ears and I was in a bedroom, but kind of above it. I frowned at the perspective. I wasn’t this tall. I started to take a step but almost lost my balance. Glancing down, I was standing on a chair. This wasn’t my room, but it felt like mine.

  Razor-sharp fingernails dug into my shoulders, while rough hands shook me hard. My head snapped around, my brain sloshing in my skull. I was so dizzy my head lolled from shoulder to shoulder. Then cruel words poured in, the dam opening full blast.

  “We hate you.” Voices repeated over and over.

  A horrible image blipped in my mind, making me cringe.

  “You’re acting crazy,” a man said in a freaked-out voice.

  Another graphic picture flashed. I blinked. “Stop. Go away!”

  “You’re embarrassing me. What’s wrong with you?” a woman’s shrill words echoed in my ear.

  “Go crawl in a hole and die, you freak!” A guy my age taunted, full of spite and hatred.

  My heart pounded hard as if it were trying to burst through my chest. The screeching voices and the terrifying scenes wouldn’t stop. Over and over the insults came in loud bursts, as if people were standing all around me, but I was alone in my room. How was this happening? Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to shake away the horror.

  Fingers bit into my shoulders once more. I gasped at the surreal pain. My eyes flew open. A grotesque skeletal creature with red eyes and long curling horns clacked his boney jaw at me. Bits of bloody muscle and sinew were barely keeping its jaw together. He looked like he’d been flayed, yet he stood in front of me, a menacing, powerful force.

  “You want to die,” he said. “I see it in your eyes.”

  My stomach churned and I stumbled, almost falling off the chair. I shook my head in violent jerks. “I’m not crazy. I’m not.”

  A long skeletal arm waved. “You’re nuttier than a fruitcake.” The beast glanced down at his clawed, emaciated hand, then his red, hostile eyes jerked to me. “Do you think I’m real?”