Deep in the Darkness by Michael Laimo

Author:Michael Laimo [Laimo, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Horror
Publisher: Crossroad Press

20

"Mommy!"

I heard Jessica's voice, as crystal clear as any reality that had come my way over the years. Yet, I immediately considered this to be another dream—another dreadful scenario to clash with. I heard some noises, pots and pans banging, the scrape of something plastic.

"Come here, honey...don't go outside."

Christine's voice, keeping a leash on our daughter. I opened my eyes, still in assumption that this was all a dream: my tempered breathing, the sun-specked walls, the dolls in Jessica's room meeting my tired gaze. I felt no less alert than I had last night when I began my journey.

I stretched out under the sheets, feeling like a swimmer coming up from the bottom of a deep pool, reality's light growing clearer and brighter as I waded toward the stirring surface.

"Mommy! I want to go look for Page!"

Jessica's voice came through loud and clear, her call to Christine from somewhere near the bottom of the steps a 'real world' shove through my dream-water's surface: I'd woken up, this was no mental illusion. To be sure, I remained silent and still for at least five minutes, listening to their conversation as it filtered into my blooming consciousness.

And thinking of Page.

It was all a dream, nothing more than a crazy, nutty dream. And that was simply good and fine, a nice little positive in a world suddenly exploding with negatives. But there were still all those negatives to contend with. No small potatoes.

Speaking of which, the smell of something cooking wafted upstairs. Eggs, home fries, bacon. My stomach growled. Despite my torment (and a bastard of a headache), I smiled. This was perhaps Christine's approach to making up—I'd done the same exact thing yesterday in an effort to mend a hole in our relationship. A nice warm meal would feel plenty good right now, and might be in order before breaking the news to the family that we'd be leaving Ashborough immediately, once and for all. Car or no car.

Neil Farris...dead.

Lauren Hunter...dead.

Rosy Deighton...dead.

Jimmy Page...dead?

Jessica's voice from downstairs: "Can I wake up Daddy? He'll help me look for Page."

Christine: "We have no car right now, honey, it's in the shop. Don't worry, Page'll come back. We'll go out and call for him when daddy gets up."

I looked toward the window. Jessica's dolls were there, all of them, heads included. Sunlight poked in through creases in the blind, slashing the walls and floor. The clock said it was nearly nine o'clock; apparently Christine had decided to let me sleep in today. She and Jessica had turned in rather early last night and probably got up at the crack of dawn to do this, that, and the other thing. I wondered with no care at all as to whether I had an appointment due to arrive at any moment. Apparently Christine didn't give a shoot either. If this were any other day, I'd've been pissed off, and would have let Christine know all about it too.

But today...it was different now, wasn't it? The world had taken

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