Meridia Falls Series 1 Books 1 & 2: The Spark & Sunburst (Meridia Falls Boxsets)

by D. B. Green

  Penny. My heartbeat slows and my head fills with her wonderful warmth. It’s like she’s sending me a… My phone suddenly vibrates with a text message.

  I don’t know why, but I just got a feeling you were in trouble and needed me. I’ve tried to do the mind thing, but I’m not sure it worked. Please tell me you’re OK. I didn’t want to call because, knowing my luck, you’d be halfway up the stairs and get busted.

  Penny xx

  I type a reply. Her beautiful face fills my mind as my fingers fly over the buttons.

  I was on the verge of a panic attack. Like right on the edge. I had a Roaxatol in my hand when I felt you in my mind. You did send me a message. Thank you. And don’t worry, I made it home without Anne finding out.

  Logan xx

  I drop the pill back in the bottle and push down the lid. Another message alert vibrates on my phone.

  Logan, dump that bottle of pills in the trash. Roaxatol is not good at all. I have a report on the side effects. I’ll show it to you later. I should have shown it to you last night. Don’t take anymore pills. Ever.

  Penny xx

  OK. I promise. And we were too busy with researching. No time for reports.

  Logan xx

  Wonderful, earth-shattering research.

  Penny xx

  Yes, it was… Mrs. Collins to be.

  Logan xx

  Hey, more like Mr. Summers to be. Do you still mean it? You haven’t changed your mind about getting married, have you?

  Penny xx

  No way! It sounds strange, but I’ve never wanted anything more than to marry you.

  Logan xx

  Good! But what will people say?

  Penny xx

  Screw what they say! I love you and I want to marry you.

  Logan xx

  I want to marry you, too. I can’t wait. I love you and I would take any name, so long as I’m with you.

  Penny xx

  I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life. My destiny is to be with Penny Summers. My destiny is Penny Summers. Sunburst. The medical reports jump into my mind. We’re connected and have been for a long time. Is it our destiny? Or did someone manufacture it? Either way, it doesn’t matter. She is my life - and always has been. I just didn’t know who she was until yesterday. Closing my eyes, I feel her warmth in my mind as my phone chimes with another message.

  I’ve got to contact Cross. He needs to know about last night. I have an alternative way to contact him. I’ll give that a try before school. I can’t wait to see you again, Logan. Maybe we can sneak away from classes for some more research.

  Penny xx

  Definitely. I hope we can. I miss you already. Let me know if you get through to Cross.

  Logan xx

  There’s a sharp knock on my door. It makes me jump, shattering the moment with Penny. “Logan, honey.” It’s Anne. “Are you up?”

  “Just about.” I roll the Roaxatol bottle around in my hand and then drop it in the trash can next to the dresser. Bye bye, Roaxatol. I have total faith in my bride-to-be. That sounds weird. Weird, but wonderful at the same time… “Fiancée.” The word rolls off my tongue like sweet maple syrup.

  “What was that, Logan?”

  Shit. Anne’s still outside my door. Did she hear? “Nothing. I’m just getting dressed.”

  “I’m sorry, Logan. I’ve got to leave early. There’s been an incident at the bakery,” Anne says. “Ellis is picking me up any minute now.”

  “Incident!?” I shout. “Anything I can do to help?”

  “It’s nothing major. Just an impromptu business meeting that appears to have taken over the entire coffee shop. Charlotte isn’t in until this afternoon, Harmony’s in Halifax, and Tom, bless him, can’t cope with the early morning rush on top of the meeting.”

  Izzy pokes her head out from behind the curtain and she chirps. “Don’t forget to see if you can find out who Izzy belongs to.”

  “I won’t forget. I’ll ask the coffee shop regulars too.”

  A muffled double beep from a car horn comes from outside. Ellis.

  “Ellis is here, Logan. I’ll have to go… There are Pop-Tarts in the kitchen.” I can hear her wry laugh and imagine her disapproving look. “I’ve set up a litter box in the fourth washroom downstairs. Drop by the bakery after school if you have time. Bring your… friend.”

  Her footsteps thud down the stairs, contrasting my stealthy climb up them minutes earlier. I pull back the curtains. Ellis stands by the rear door of the Mercedes. He pulls open the door as Anne dashes out of the house. Izzy circles on the windowsill, her tail flicking against my chin. “I hope you know where the fourth washroom is, because I’ve got no idea.” She chirps and returns to staring out of the window.

  I pull out the Polaroid of me and Penny from my jacket pocket. A close-up of our happy, smiling faces stare at each other. I sit down on the bed and turn over the photo. Penny’s drawn our initials on the back on either side of a silver heart. I smile and grab Cassie’s photo from the bedside table and set the Polaroid against the left-hand side of the frame. “This is Penny. I only met her yesterday, but I’m going to marry her, Cassie. I wish you could meet her.”

  The door. “The shrinks lied… Mom lied. The door is real. You were taken… dragged through it,” I say, my eyes drifting from Cassie to Penny. “We found another white door last night in the forest. They do exist. I’ll write you a letter later and tell you all about it… I should tell Harmony, too, but she’s out of town. I’ll make sure to see her when she gets back.” I clutch the photo frame with both hands. “Dad didn’t take you, Cassie. He’s innocent…”

  I drop the frame on the bed and run to the closet in the corner of the room. My trunk is at the back. I drag it out onto the carpet and lift open the lid. The old, screwed-up prison visiting order nestles in the bottom corner, tucked inside a death row visitation letter. Why did I keep them all this time? I reach inside and straighten out the crumpled paper. Flipping open my phone, I dial the number on the letter.

  The call connects with a hiss of static. “Wendell Penitentiary. How can I help?” The woman is surprised, like she wasn’t expecting a call this early. I check my watch. Crap. I forgot about the time difference.

  “My name is Logan Collins. I want to request a visit to see my father, Patrick Collins.”

  08:11 GMT-4

  SEVEN TREES FARM | MERIDIA FALLS

  It’s just as cold as yesterday. I keep the truck engine running and turn up the heat, but it does nothing the stop my icy breath swirling in front of my face. I lean forward and wipe the windscreen with my jacket sleeve - I can’t tell if it’s steamed up or just mist from outside. Suddenly, Maz comes running into the courtyard, flinging her arms around like a flapping swan on a lake. I push open the passenger door for her.

  “Kill the lights,” she says, panting for breath as she slides into the seat. She slaps her hand down on the dash. “My stepdad is on the freakin’ warpath. I don’t want him knowing I’m getting a lift to school.”

  I cut the engine and turn off the lights, just-in-time, as a sleek black Limo glides down the driveway. It’s almost invisible in the early morning darkness. “Not the usual kind of farm vehicle,” I quip.

  “No, it’s not.” Maz keeps her eyes fixed on the car until the tail lights disappear from view. “One of his colleagues sent the Limo to pick him up.” She strains her neck to make sure it’s gone. “Something big was going down at the apple plant or something.” A grin forms on her lips. “Even Candy landed a mouthful from him this morning - and that never happens.”

  “Do you want me to wait a moment before we go?”

  Maz glances up the driveway to the farmhouse. Lights stream from the windows like a burning fire on a distant hillside. “We’d better make a move before Candy sets off for school.” The grin spreads wider across her face. “I’m winning today and I don’t want to give her any reason to claw back my victory.”

  “Little victories,” I say, as I start up t
he engine. “They keep us going.” I head out of the courtyard and turn left, back down to the farm entrance.

  “How’s your hand?” Maz asks, staring at the bandage wrapped around it.

  “It feels a lot better,” I say. “Still looks like an old man’s hand, hence the bandage.”

  Maz half-smiles and then glances nervously over her shoulder. “That was some night.”

  “Just a bit,” I say. “You don’t know the half of it.”

  Maz snaps her head back around. “You didn’t go back to that freakin’ door, did you!?” Her blue eyes open wide. “Not to that crypt!?”

  “No. Nothing like that,” I say, as I turn right onto Maple Avenue.

  “Penny,” she says, the grin back on her face. Even hearing someone else speak her name fills my stomach with butterflies. “Wow… By the look on your face, you must have had one hell of a good night.” She laughs. “Your face is redder than one of Isaac’s apples.” She pulls a bottle of Diet Coke from her bag and twists off the lid, quickly bringing it to her lips to catch the fizz.

  I turn left onto Main Street as memories of the perfect night - and morning - with Penny flash through my mind. Her emerald-green eyes, vanilla perfume, and butterfly-inducing smile. We made love… “We made love all night long.”

  “Shit!” Maz spits Coke all over the dash. “You had sex with Penny!?”

  Crap. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” My face burns with embarrassment.

  Maz wipes the Coke dribbles from her chin. The corner of her mouth already curling into a grin. “It was only a freakin’ first date.”

  “It wasn’t a date!” I counter.

  Maz’s eyes open even wider. “You… you… slut!” She bursts out laughing.

  “Hey! It wasn’t sleazy, it was beautiful.”

  Her left eyebrow raises, like it will disappear under her fringe. “Keep your eye on the road, Loverboy.” She taps the Coke-covered dash. “We don’t want to crash while you’re romanticizing.”

  “Something else happened as well,” I say. “I’m just bursting to tell someone.”

  Maz rests her chin on her hand and grins. “I’m all ears, Newb.” She takes another sip of Coke.

  “This morning… I proposed to Penny.”

  “You did what!?” More Coke splatters over the dash. Maz wipes her chin again. “Was that a ‘caught in the moment’ thing or did you really mean it?”

  “I meant it,” I say, my face tingling. “I know it sounds weird, but I really want to marry her.”

  Maz leans back into the seat, pressing the back of her head into the worn leather. She lets out a long breath, then takes another sip of Coke. Her left eyebrow raises again. “What did Penny say?”

  “She said yes. Without hesitation.”

  “You two are freakin’ nuts.” Maz glances sideways at me. “But, congratulations, Newbie. Something that makes you smile like that is A-OK with me.” She laughs and gently whacks my arm. “The Cheshire Cat is back in town.”

  I run my hand through my hair. “I don’t know if I’m doing this right,” I say. “Is it normal?”

  “What, asking someone to marry you after a first date?” She takes another sip of Coke and shakes her head. “Sure, Newbie.” She grins, not trying to hide the sarcasm in her voice. “That’s everyday, normal behavior around here.”

  “No, I don’t mean with Penny,” I say. “I meant us. Should I be telling you stuff like this? I’ve not had friends before…” Izzy jumps into my mind. “Well, only the four-legged, feline kind. Do you know anyone who’s lost a black cat?”

  “Nope.” Maz shakes her head and narrows her eyes. “When you and Penny were…” She’s cut off by her cell phone. “It’s Steve,” she says, pressing the phone to her ear. “Good morning, Gorgeous.” Her mouth drops open. “Whoa, slow down.” She glances at me. “Logan’s here. I’m gonna put you on speaker.”

  “Sorry, Babe,” Steve says. His tinny voice hisses through the cell phone speaker. “My dad was having none of it.”

  “Did you tell him about the crypt?” Maz says.

  “I’m getting to that. Like I said, dad was having none of it. I told him we saw someone carrying a body into the university chapel. He thought I was pranking him… until I said it was Mr. Randall from the school. He spat out his coffee.”

  Maz glances at me and then at the dash. She half-smiles and then takes another sip of Coke.

  “Dad says a missing person’s report was filed for Mr. Randall. Yesterday.” He pauses for a second and then lowers his voice. “My dad was knocking on Judge Travers door at six thirty this morning trying to get a search warrant.”

  “Why didn’t you call me earlier?”

  “I did, but you didn’t answer.”

  “Sorry, my stepdad was like the devil incarnate at breakfast.” Maz stares at the phone and her lips curl into a small grin. “He smashed Candy’s cell phone when she got a text message. I figured it best to put mine on silent.”

  “So, what happens now, Steve?” I ask.

  “My dad wants us there when they search the chapel. He’s gonna request your presence from the school.” Steve pauses. “He wants us all there.”

  “What about Penny?” I ask.

  “I’ll call her after I hang up,” he says. “If I don’t get through, you can fill her in at school. Dad says it should be sometime this morning. I’ll see you soon, Babe.” Steve makes a kissing noise through the phone.

  Maz reciprocates the kiss. “See you soon.” She closes her phone and shakes her head. “I don’t want to go back down into that crypt.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be able to wait outside.”

  She finishes her Coke. “It was creepy as hell down there. All those weird blocks with people in them.” Her piercing blue eyes suddenly open wide, catching the light from the early morning sun rising over the trees. “Did you find anything out from that file I took… Or were you too busy to look?” Her eyebrow disappears under her fringe again.

  “Hey, we didn’t spend all night… you know.” My face tingles again. “Well, not all night.”

  She laughs.

  “There was a list of people - Enchanters. Penny thinks it’s them in the Desino Lapse blocks. Like Mr. Randall.”

  “What the hell is an Enchanter?”

  “We didn’t find that out,” I say.

  Maz leans back into the seat again. “What the freakin’ hell is Sergeant Dillon gonna make of all those Lapse things?” Her voice trails off as we near the Main Street Bakery.

  Anne’s silver Mercedes stands outside. No sign of Ellis; he must be in the coffee shop. Parked in front of the Mercedes is a black Limo with several more executive-looking cars parked behind. “Is that the same Limo from your farm?”

  Maz strains her neck to see out of the window. “Isaac must have stopped off for a coffee.” She narrows her eyes. “On any normal day, Isaac Steele is a bastard. But today, he was a right freakin’ bastard.”

  “You should meet my stepdad,” I say

  “Bastard, too?” she asks.

  “You could say that.”

  “We need to form a club,” she says, still staring at the Limo.

  My mind races back to last night. The four of us all laughing in the forest. I think we already have.

  08:39 GMT-4

  MERIDIA HIGH SCHOOL | MERIDIA FALLS

  I wait next to Maz while she exchanges several books between her locker and bag. Standing back, I focus on the locker numbers. One of these could be Penny’s. Which one? I concentrate on the numbers, but nothing stands out. Leaning back, I kick my locker door with my boot. Penny should be here by now. As if on cue, my phone chimes with a text message. It’s Penny. I flip open my phone and read it.

  I’m not gonna make it to school. My contact says he can get me the chapel plans if I go right now. This is too good of a chance to miss. Steve called me and told me about the search warrant. If his dad gets it this morning, I’ll meet you at the chapel. If not, come over to my apartment on your
lunch break. I miss you.

  Penny xx

  I hold the phone in front of Maz. She grabs it and reads the message. “Chapel plans,” she says, shaking her head. “What does she want them for?”

  “There was a blueprint for the crypt in the file. It was huge compared to the chapel. Penny wants the original plans to compare because the sizes don’t match up.”

  Maz closes her locker door. “We should have gone with her. Anything to get out of this hell hole for the day.” She snaps the padlock together.

  A hand suddenly bangs into her locker door - Candy’s hand. My head spins with a serious case of déjà vu.

  “I bet you thought it was real funny this morning, didn’t you?” She snarls and pushes Maz into the lockers. She falls backwards, clattering into the metal doors. Candy pulls back her fist. “You’re gonna pay for laughing at me.”

  Instinctively, I grab Candy’s arm before she can hit Maz. As my fingers wrap around her bare wrist, she freezes. Everyone in the corridor freezes. Time stops, just like yesterday. Candy’s memory rush hits me like a sledgehammer. It pummels through my mind with anger and venom, like a dark storm. I’m dragged deep inside her thoughts. I witness her dad stomping on her pink cell phone and the sight of Maz over his shoulder, unable to hide her smile. I feel the curses coming from Candy’s lips as if they were coming from my own mouth. She runs barefoot up the stairs; I can feel the soft white carpet under my toes with every step she takes. Reaching the top, she darts into her bedroom. No, it’s Maz’s bedroom. Candy’s hand reaches out and she snatches a diamond pendant from Maz’s dresser. As she rubs her thumb over it, I can feel the smooth surface under my thumb too. Her smug face stares back from the vanity mirror on top of the dresser as she slips the pendant in her pocket.

  The vision stops like a car slamming on the brakes. Candy yanks her arm away from my grasp and time starts moving again.

  “This is becoming a habit.” She glances at Maz. “Hanging around with her will only bring you big trouble.”