Read Online The Nightcrawler by Mick Ridgewell - Free Book Online Page A

there?”
    “Sorry, I’ll be right out.”
    When he opened the door, Beth stood leaning on the opposite wall. Roger was stunned. Sports Illustrated would not be able to print a better cover for the swimsuit edition than what he was looking at.
    She held her arms out in a runway model pose and said. “Well, what do you think?”  
    Roger searched for an answer but all he could muster was a boyish grin. She returned the smile and he followed her to the pool.
    Roger looked up the road. It was dark, but for the streetlights illuminating the black pavement. Turning in the opposite direction the scene was the same. A fog seemed to hover just above the tops of the light standards. In the distance the two rows of lights merged. A brightness different from the street lamps blossomed, causing Roger a sense of unease. As it got closer he realized headlights were headed his way. Closer and closer they came, now two distinct orbs. Squinting, Roger struggled to see the oncoming demon. The rumble of the laboring motor indicated a high rate of speed. The lights were close enough to make out now. That car. The same car, the same dream. A big red noisy car. New but not new. Or was it old but not old? It didn’t make sense. Speeding straight at him. Each streetlight extinguished as it passed. The headlights bright and blinding, freezing him to the spot. Then darkness. He saw himself lying on his back looking at the stars. His body in the same grotesque position as the dream he had in old Pete’s truck. Roger knew what would come next but he was helpless not to look. That same guy. Why did he look so angry, staring down at the twisted, bleeding body? Close your eyes, Roger, and he’ll go away. When he opened them again the guy was gone. Somebody else stood over him. Come closer. Help me . Roger fought the confusion that pushed him toward panic. He seemed to be communicating to this person without speaking. It was a girl. She came closer and held out her hand. Big sister Lisa had come to his rescue. He wanted to reach for her but couldn’t. Then she began to back away. Not walking, more like floating. Her legs weren’t moving. He screamed her name. LISAAAA!  
    Roger woke confused and terrified. His breathing came in heavy gulps and sweat dripped from his face, as he sat bolt upright in the dark.  
    Beth rushed in, flicking on the light.
    “Hey Vermont, are you okay?”  
    They both blinked and looked to the floor until their eyes adjusted and he saw Beth standing in the doorway. “What the hell? I thought you were being murdered in here.”
    He told her about the dream. About the car and the guy. The angry guy.  
    She was sitting next to him on the bed hoping to offer some comfort, her hand on his leg. He just stared blankly at the wall.  
    “Who’s Lisa?” she asked.
    Without looking at her he answered in a monotone almost trembling voice, “My sister.”  
    “She died when I was ten. She was twelve, almost thirteen. We were tobogganing near the pond at the park. She wasn’t supposed to use that side of the hill. She slid right out on the ice. All the way to the middle of the pond. She got halfway back then she was gone.”
    “As far back as I can remember Mom called her my guardian angel. She saved my life when I was two and after that she was my protector. Then she was gone.”  
    He looked at Beth and she wiped a tear from his cheek.
    “Sounds like she is still your guardian angel,” Beth said, then leaned over and kissed his cheek where the tear had been. “It’s the middle of the night. I’m going back to bed.”
    She staggered back to the door, yawning while she walked. She stopped at the door, turned to look at Roger, like a mother looking in on a child who had just had a bad dream.  
    “Good night, Roger,” she said and turned out the light.
    Roger’s dream was a vague memory, replaced by the vision of Beth, standing at the door in her little nightie. It took all his control, combined with a huge fear of