Read Online Shades by Brian Keene, Geoff Cooper - Free Book Online Page B

He limped, walking slowly and cradling his swollen testicles through his jeans. Bedrik closed the door behind them.
    Then the screaming started. It continued for a very long time.
     
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    Later, Bedrik returned to Gethsemane Cemetery and stood in front of a headstone. Sam Oberman stood guard nearby, his body occupied by another. A ball of fireflies hovered over the grave. The name on the stone was Timothy Wells. His spirit was enraged, his mind like a hornet’s nest, seething with images. A crowbar. Blood. Teeth. Violation. A used condom. A child’s Halloween mask. Bedrik didn’t know what it all meant, and didn’t care. If he’d had more time, he’d have searched Wells’ memories in detail. But he didn’t. Timothy Wells longed for release. For revenge. That was enough.
    “Come forth,” Bedrik commanded.
    Timothy Wells’ shade slithered from the soil and knelt in front of its master.
    Bedrik returned home and the shade followed. They went inside.
    The screaming continued.
     
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    Then it stopped.

 
     
    SEVEN
     
     
     
    Haven’t seen much of you lately, man,” Chuck said to Danny as they walked to school together. “What, you too good to hang out with us anymore?”
    “Sorry,” Danny apologized. He felt guilty for blowing off his friends from the Hill. But he couldn’t explain it to them either. Ronnie and Jeremy would laugh. Chuck and Matt would think he’d gone crazy. “I’ve just been busy with stuff.”
    “Like what?”
    Danny shrugged. “Just school. Studying. Shit like that.”
    “Studying?” Chuck frowned. “Since when?”
    “I don’t want to be stuck in this town forever. I can’t play an instrument like you. I suck at sports. And my Mom sure ain’t gonna put me through college. So I’ve got to start doing better in school.”
    “Who are you and what did you do with Danny?”
    Snickering, Danny punched him in the arm. Chuck hit him back. Then the two boys laughed. It felt good.
    “Man,” Chuck said. “You studying …and I thought Matt was the only one acting weird.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “If you hung out with us more lately, you’d know. Two nights ago, he went over to Mr. Bedrik’s house. He was gonna cut the wires on his car, the way Jeremy showed us.”
    Danny’s stomach fluttered. “Did he get caught?”
    “No.”
    “Then what happened?”
    “We don’t know what happened. He showed up for school yesterday and he was all buddy-buddy with Bedrik. Ronnie gave him shit about it at lunch, and Matt said it was all just a misunderstanding. Said Bedrik was an okay guy and he forgave him for the whole detention thing.”
    “A misunderstanding? Matt’s old man beat the shit out of him for that. I can’t believe he let it drop.”
    “Well, he did. Like I said, he’s been acting weird. There’s other stuff, too. He’s been eyeing the girls like fresh meat.”
    “Nothing weird about that.”
    “Yeah, but even the ugly ones. And he’s talking to himself a lot. He’s really fucked up. You should talk to him, Danny.”
    “Why me?”
    Chuck sighed. “You know how Ronnie and Jeremy are. If Matt opens up to them, they’ll just razz him. And he won’t talk to me about whatever’s going on. I already tried. Maybe he’ll talk to you.”
    “Okay,” Danny agreed. “I’ll try.”
     
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    Danny tried talking to Matt during fifth period, when they had English class together. Matt’s attention was focused elsewhere.
    “What’s your problem?” Danny asked.
    “Check her out,” Matt said, nodding towards Valerie Hutchenson. “What’s her name?”
    Danny was confused. “Val? Dude, you’ve known her since first grade. Are you on drugs or something?”
    “Val.” Matt said it slowly. “She got a boyfriend?”
    “She likes Ronnie. You know that.”
    He smiled. “She’s got a ripe little body.”
    “Matt, you’re acting like a real creep.”
    “Am I?”
    “Yeah,” Danny said. “You are. Jeremy wouldn’t even act like this. What’s