Midnight house, p.1
Midnight House, page 1
© 2021 Ian Dawson. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
ISBN 978-1-09835-436-7 eBook 978-1-09835-437-4
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
CHAPTER FIFTY
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
CHAPTER SIXTY
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
CHAPTER SEVENTY
CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE
CHAPTER EIGHTY
CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO
CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE
CHAPTER NINETY
CHAPTER NINETY-ONE
CHAPTER NINETY-TWO
CHAPTER NINETY-THREE
CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR
CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE
CHAPTER NINETY-SIX
CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN
CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT
CHAPTER NINETY-NINE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ONE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWO
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THREE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIX
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIX
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVEN
SUNDAY
CHAPTER
ONE
Escape.
The word kept repeating itself over and over in Daniel Robinson’s brain as he raced through the Center Court of Redding’s Mount Shasta Mall.
Escape.
The sounds from the sixteen-year-old’s surroundings were muted by the cacophony of his breathing, the blood pounding in his ears, and the voice inside his head repeating the same word again and again:
Escape.
The plastic Foot Locker bag in his right hand bounced clumsily against his right thigh. The stores on either side of him flew past in a dizzying blur. Victoria’s Secret. Sunglass Hut. Hot Topic. What was that store he had to get to before it was too late? Oh, Yeah...
Escape.
The fear and anxiety had gripped him in a split second. He had just left Foot Locker with his new gym shoes when he heard a male voice yell out, “Hey, Daniel!”
He was sure it wasn’t his best friend, Kyle. Kyle had gone to the Kaleidoscope Coffee kiosk while Daniel waited in line to buy his shoes with the Christmas money his grandparents had given him.
The voice that had called out was deeper. Louder. Unrecognizable.
Daniel had stopped mid-step and turned to see two older boys – a tall one in a blue jacket, the other in a grey hoodie - moving toward him. Moving toward him fast.
Too fast.
Their quick movements triggered something primal inside Daniel’s brain.
Fight or flight. Fight or flight.
Escape.
Daniel made a mad dash away from his pursuers, the rest of reality fading to a blur.
As he ran, his memory flashed back to summer in the field behind his neighborhood two years prior when two older boys – Austin and James - chased him down, abducted, and tortured him.
Nausea seized him. Daniel felt like history was repeating itself.
And in a public place, no less?
He wanted to yell for help. Wanted to scream. But his mouth and throat felt bone dry, incapable of speech. That’s why he knew there was only one thing he could do:
Escape.
As shoppers shifted, lunged, and hobbled out of his way, Daniel could see his potential savior fast-approaching: the exit doors to the mall parking lot. Through the tinted glass surrounding the mall’s exit, he could see the ever-present winter clouds. He was grateful to be wearing his new black windbreaker, given the frigid Redding weather he was about to encounter.
As a final attempt to stop his pursuers, Daniel tossed the Foot Locker bag backward.
With both hands free, he made a final push toward the doors. The smell from the Cinnabon to his right hit his nose as his arms hit the push bar on the exit door.
Daniel shoved the door outward and charged into the brisk February air, crossing the partially dry cement toward the parking lot.
As his feet hit the asphalt, a horn blared to his left and snapped him back into reality.
The front of a dark blue Dodge truck braked to a halt a few feet in front of Daniel. Daniel could see the driver cursing at him through the rain-speckled windshield, but there was no time to apologize.
Daniel looked back one last time at the mall doors, then continued to run across the car-packed lot.
He had to get to where he would feel safe.
And to where Kyle would know exactly where to find him.
CHAPTER
TWO
It happened in a flash.
Kyle Hanson had just finished ordering iced coffees for himself and Daniel at Kaleidoscope – chocolate for him, caramel for Daniel – when he heard a voice yell out to his right, “Hey, Daniel!”
Kyle turned in the voice’s direction and saw Daniel racing past, two older boys in pursuit.
He sprinted after Daniel and the two boys chasing him. He could see Daniel was farther ahead of them, running like he was trying to outrun his worst nightmare.
He knew he had to get ahead of them and block their way before they got to Daniel. He knew if he was in his basketball shoes and uniform he’d be a lot faster. Instead, he was in a black Enterprise High School hoodie, jeans, and pair of old Adidas, which he didn’t mind getting dirty in the rain.
Kyle dodged and weaved around a group of young mothers, an elderly couple, and a woman with a small service dog, gaining ground and accelerating his speed faster by moving his arms more rapidly.
Kyle saw Daniel charge ahead and out the doors to the Mount Shasta Mall parking lot.
The two older boys slowed down just enough for Kyle to use a quick burst of energy to leap forward and land in front of them, blocking their exit from the mall.
“Hey, fellas,” Kyle said, out of breath, but still trying to speak and remain composed. “What’s up?”
“That guy,” the taller one in a blue jacket began, breathing heavy and pointing toward the exit doors, “he left his card on the counter.” The boy in blue – the jacket proudly displaying the Redding Christian Academy logo – flashed a Chase debit card in his large hand.
“Why’d he run?” the other guy in a grey hoodie said, his face beet red from his recent exertion.
That explains why they knew his name. “It’s a long story,” Kyle said to the winded duo, taking Daniel’s Foot Locker bag from them. “I’ll make sure he gets his card back.”
“Why should we give it to you?” the boy in blue asked suspiciously.
“Name on the card is Daniel August Robinson, right?” Kyle asked with a slight, knowing smile.
The boy in blue looked, showed his friend, then slowly handed Kyle Daniel’s debit card.
“Tell your friend we didn’t mean to scare him,” the guy in grey with the beet-red face said.
“I will,” Kyle said, then added, “there are two iced coffees at the kiosk down there at Kaleidoscope,” Kyle pointed back the way they had all come. “You two can have them for your trouble. They say ‘Kyle’ and ‘Daniel’ on them.”
The two older boys looked at each other. “Thanks,” the boy in blue said.
“No problem,” Kyle said. As the two guys walked back toward the Center Court and Kaleidoscope, Kyle got a better grip on the Foot Locker bag, slid Daniel’s debit card into his jeans pocket, then headed outside.
The wind was picking up, and it had started to sprinkle.
Kyle pulled his hood over his head, then pulled out his phone to call his best friend. Kyle’s phone rang; he heard a buzzing from the Foot Locker bag. His phone rang again. The inside of the bag buzzed.
Kyle canceled the call and put his phone back in his pocket. He didn’t have to look inside the bag since he already knew Daniel’s phone was inside, but he checked anyway to make sure Daniel’s phone wasn’t damaged when his best friend had thrown it before he escaped the mall.
The phone looked okay.
Closing the bag, Kyle began his quick walk across the parking lot to where he was pretty sure he knew Daniel would be.
CHAPTER
THREE
Daniel sat on one of the wooden benches inside the entry of Outback Steakhouse, nervously tapping the black restaurant pager against his leg. Located in the mall parking lot, it was a place that he and Kyle had eaten at many times before, and it was a place where Daniel felt safe to go if there was ever any trouble.
And today definitely felt like trouble had found him.
Safely inside, he could see the bright flat-screen TVs over the bar showing sports recaps from ESPN and Fox Sports. The smells of steak and seafood hit his nose and his mouth watered.
He had told the hostess he was waiting for a friend, so the staff was leaving him alone. There were several full tables for a cold Sunday afternoon, but the restaurant wasn’t as busy as some weekends when he and his family had come here in the past.
He was hoping Kyle would remember where he would be if anything happened. It wasn’t like he could call him since he had stupidly put his phone in his Foot Locker bag.
Daniel looked out the banks of windows that flanked either side of the restaurant and saw nothing but moving cars and people in jackets with umbrellas hurrying toward their vehicles or other shelters. The rain had returned.
Had the two boys given up? Had he evaded them?
Outback’s front door opened, and a rush of cold air blew inside. Daniel tensed, certain he had been found. And he had been.
By Kyle.
Daniel breathed an internal and external sigh of relief as his best friend sat down beside him on his left. Kyle handed back Daniel’s Foot Locker bag.
Daniel opened the bag.
“Your phone’s fine,” Kyle said. He then produced something from his pocket and handed it to Daniel. “You forgot this when you left the store.”
Daniel looked at his debit card. “And that’s what...”
Kyle nodded. “That’s what they were trying to give you,” Kyle finished Daniel’s thought. “And why they knew your name.”
Daniel looked at him. Kyle looked back. “I didn’t know,” Daniel said.
Kyle nodded, taking the restaurant pager from Daniel. “Fight or flight, right?” he said.
Daniel took out his wallet, returning his debit card to its familiar home. “Fight or flight,” Daniel repeated.
“Hungry?” Kyle asked.
Daniel leaned over close to Kyle. “I don’t think I can afford this place after buying my shoes,” he said.
Kyle took out his wallet. “I might have a gift card from Christmas I can use,” he said. “I’ll just have to check the balance.” Kyle took out his phone.
Daniel took another look around. First, at the door. Then at the windows directly across from where he and Kyle were seated. And then at those behind them.
Daniel felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked over at Kyle.
“It’s okay,” Kyle said softly, giving Daniel’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “You’re safe. You’re safe.”
Daniel knew his best friend was right. Right now, at this moment, he was safe.
But Daniel also knew - now that his memories from that summer day two years ago had shot back into focus - what was coming next.
Whether he liked it or not.
MONDAY
CHAPTER
FOUR
In his nightmare that night, Daniel pumped his bike pedals as fast as he could. The summer sun bore down on him - the intense heat causing sweat to drain down his forehead, stinging his eyes, and blurring his vision.
He looked behind him and saw Austin and James giving chase. He pedaled faster. Loose gravel shot upward off his bike tires and ricocheted off his bare legs.
Daniel shot across Rancho Road to the opposite shoulder. Cars whizzed past, and he could see Austin and James gaining on him on the other side of the street.
The sun grew hotter. He felt his bike begin to slow. He looked down at his front tire: it was melting. His bike crawled to a stop. He looked back; both bike tires were glued to the asphalt.
He felt his hands begin to stick to the rubber handlebars. He pulled them off to reveal black melted plastic on both palms.
Austin and James arrived at his side. “Do you really think you can ever escape me?” Austin said with a grin.
“You don’t have to do this,” Daniel said. “It’s not too late.” He saw a giant red and chrome sixteen-wheeler barreling their direction.
“It’s too late for you!” Austin said. Austin shoved Daniel off his bike and directly into the path of the oncoming truck.
Daniel sat bolt upright in bed. Covered in sweat. Breathing hard. He could hear a thunderstorm raging outside his bedroom window as he calmed himself.
He was safe.
In his room.
Safe.
Another nightmare. Right on schedule.
Daniel climbed out of bed and turned on his overhead bedroom light. A clap of thunder sounded off outside.
Daniel stood staring at his room’s overhead light as the storm raged both outside his window and inside his head. Rain pelted his bedroom window. He knew that Austin and James were either dead or in jail, respectively, and couldn’t reach him.
He was safe.
There was that word again: safe. He didn’t feel safe. He hadn’t really since that day.
He walked to his dresser and grabbed a dry shirt and boxers. He closed his eyes, took a moment to inhale and exhale slowly, then opened his eyes. He still felt shaky, but it was manageable.
