Read Online Twisted Fate (Tales of Horror) by Jonas Saul - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jonas Saul
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plans—our plans.
I wore a vibrant yellow, flowery dress, one of my favorites. I had wanted something bright, yet calming and happy. I was prepared for a revelation of some kind, Jacob’s mystery surprise, and a disgruntled husband. My human nerves were rattled.
“Ten kilometers left,” John said.
I looked back and saw Jacob waking. He pushed himself up and glanced out the window as he rubbed his eyes.
“Hi baby, how’re you feeling?” I asked.
“Okay, I guess.”
“Are you worried about coming here?”
“No, I miss being here. We had great times when I was little.”
We? What the hell does that mean?
“You still are little, Jacob. There are lots of great times to come,” I said. If he only knew .
He looked at me. “Can you call me Mark for today? At least while we’re in Novar?”
I stole a glance at John. He nodded and I looked back at our son. I forced my teeth apart to say, “We can do that. But just for today.”
John put the turn signal on to exit the highway and I was immediately hit with déjà vu. I shook my head and came back to the present. John mumbled something beside me.
“What?” I asked him.
“Are you okay? You slumped down in your seat and paled, like you were frightened.”
“I’m fine,” I stuttered. “I just thought for a second that I recognized this place.”
What was it about Novar? Strange. An odd feeling.
“That’s ridiculous,” John said. “We’ve never set foot in this town.”
He gave me a look that shouted, Don’t start talking like our son .
Jacob directed his dad down a number of streets while I gawked at the familiar terrain. Why did I feel like I’d been here before? This was crazy. We were in Novar for Jacob—and our mission—and I was starting to feel like I’d been here before, too. If I had, I would’ve known about it. Odd.
“Where are you taking us, Mark?” I asked, feeling as awkward as always when using that name.
“To where I used to live. I think you’ll recognize it, Mom.”
What the hell? How could he say that? Better yet, why would he say that? He’s not old enough to know who or what I am. Information like that can only be acquired at death.
I looked at my lap to avoid seeing the passing buildings. My right leg bounced up and down, my hands shaking even though I clamped them together on my lap.
“Why do you think I should recognize Novar?” I asked him. I heard my voice crack. Even John looked over at me. And the play continues. Damn, am I good at this shit.
“Because you were my mom in 1931. We lived here until our house burned down in the great fire.”
I turned around and gaped at Jacob. What could I say? It was the first time he had said that his delusions of another life included me. In this incarnation, he wasn’t supposed to know why he’s here, and yet he focused on this town and even said he used to live here. Something weird was happening. Something I didn’t understand. I wanted no part of it. It fucked with my current reality. But should I react with how I was feeling about Novar? All I could do was turn back around and stare out the front windshield at the oddly familiar landscape. I was too close to the end to allow the ruse to be taken from me. No one could stop the killing now.
Jacob directed his dad to pull over. There wasn’t much of a shoulder on the narrow road, but John did his best to keep the car from going down a small embankment. He put the hazards on and we all got out.
The afternoon sun was warm and bright but I took off my sunglasses. I wanted to enjoy every moment as the killing time approached, see everything, feel all of it.
I smiled to myself as John and I silently followed Jacob through tall grass and weeds. We walked across a small clearing, and then my pulse raced as if I was in free-fall. I felt faint. I grabbed my chest. John reached for my arm to steady me.
I wore a vibrant yellow, flowery dress, one of my favorites. I had wanted something bright, yet calming and happy. I was prepared for a revelation of some kind, Jacob’s mystery surprise, and a disgruntled husband. My human nerves were rattled.
“Ten kilometers left,” John said.
I looked back and saw Jacob waking. He pushed himself up and glanced out the window as he rubbed his eyes.
“Hi baby, how’re you feeling?” I asked.
“Okay, I guess.”
“Are you worried about coming here?”
“No, I miss being here. We had great times when I was little.”
We? What the hell does that mean?
“You still are little, Jacob. There are lots of great times to come,” I said. If he only knew .
He looked at me. “Can you call me Mark for today? At least while we’re in Novar?”
I stole a glance at John. He nodded and I looked back at our son. I forced my teeth apart to say, “We can do that. But just for today.”
John put the turn signal on to exit the highway and I was immediately hit with déjà vu. I shook my head and came back to the present. John mumbled something beside me.
“What?” I asked him.
“Are you okay? You slumped down in your seat and paled, like you were frightened.”
“I’m fine,” I stuttered. “I just thought for a second that I recognized this place.”
What was it about Novar? Strange. An odd feeling.
“That’s ridiculous,” John said. “We’ve never set foot in this town.”
He gave me a look that shouted, Don’t start talking like our son .
Jacob directed his dad down a number of streets while I gawked at the familiar terrain. Why did I feel like I’d been here before? This was crazy. We were in Novar for Jacob—and our mission—and I was starting to feel like I’d been here before, too. If I had, I would’ve known about it. Odd.
“Where are you taking us, Mark?” I asked, feeling as awkward as always when using that name.
“To where I used to live. I think you’ll recognize it, Mom.”
What the hell? How could he say that? Better yet, why would he say that? He’s not old enough to know who or what I am. Information like that can only be acquired at death.
I looked at my lap to avoid seeing the passing buildings. My right leg bounced up and down, my hands shaking even though I clamped them together on my lap.
“Why do you think I should recognize Novar?” I asked him. I heard my voice crack. Even John looked over at me. And the play continues. Damn, am I good at this shit.
“Because you were my mom in 1931. We lived here until our house burned down in the great fire.”
I turned around and gaped at Jacob. What could I say? It was the first time he had said that his delusions of another life included me. In this incarnation, he wasn’t supposed to know why he’s here, and yet he focused on this town and even said he used to live here. Something weird was happening. Something I didn’t understand. I wanted no part of it. It fucked with my current reality. But should I react with how I was feeling about Novar? All I could do was turn back around and stare out the front windshield at the oddly familiar landscape. I was too close to the end to allow the ruse to be taken from me. No one could stop the killing now.
Jacob directed his dad to pull over. There wasn’t much of a shoulder on the narrow road, but John did his best to keep the car from going down a small embankment. He put the hazards on and we all got out.
The afternoon sun was warm and bright but I took off my sunglasses. I wanted to enjoy every moment as the killing time approached, see everything, feel all of it.
I smiled to myself as John and I silently followed Jacob through tall grass and weeds. We walked across a small clearing, and then my pulse raced as if I was in free-fall. I felt faint. I grabbed my chest. John reached for my arm to steady me.
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