Son of a Gun: A Fiery Florida Urban Fantasy Thriller (Black Tar Souls Book 2) by Martin Shannon

Author:Martin Shannon [Shannon, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Weird Florida LLC
Published: 2021-05-10T22:00:00+00:00

10

Fragile

In my mind's eye, I scrambled. I tried to pull her away, to remove the younger me from a dark decision made in anger, but the skinny girl standing in that frothing water wouldn't listen, no matter what I tried.

The lifeguard led her to the screaming Vortex, a high-speed water slide loaded to the hilt with twists and turns, but also something else.

It had a half-pipe section with just enough space to slow down and maneuver yourself out and onto the grass.

I knew that because I'd done it before. I hadn't planned to, but one time I caught air at just the wrong time while shooting down the slide. My skinny body hit the lip wrong and I ended up in the wet grass struggling to get air back in my lungs.

There's still time, Christine. Do not do it. Turn around. Go home. Tell your Mom you want to leave. Don't become this person. It will haunt you. Please!

I didn't listen. I never did. I was angry. Angry at Cindy and angry at myself for not doing anything about it. I was weak and I hated myself for it. I hated my flat chest and stringy hair. I hated the leering and twisted faces that always seemed to flitter about on the edges of my vision, their black eyes glistening only to vanish when I looked for them.

I wanted control of my life, and I was going to get it come hell or something worse.

The lifeguard turned away, Cindy turning with him. This was the time when he'd go over the safety protocols with her. It was all a formality, she knew how to ride the slide and he knew it, but a few extra seconds of sneaking glances was all but expected.

I knew it because I'd planned it.

I pulled the rubber mat tight against my back and inched closer to the yawning portal. I had to time it up right. Water roared around my feet. Crystalline bubbles tickled my calves, while something else moved in the water, something black and oily.

"Hold the mat tight to your body and don't let it go."

I smiled to myself. She'd be letting go today. She'd be letting a lot go.

"You can get banged up just past the half-pipe if you aren't careful. Do you understand? Do not sit up there or you risk hitting your head."

Cindy nodded her blond curls like she cared, but I knew better. All she cared about was the attention. She wanted all of it. All eyes had to be on her. That was my advantage, no one would see the skinny little girl slip down the slide ahead of her.

They would be too busy watching her.

I’d counted on it.

"All right. Are you ready?"

That was my cue. I pulled the mat tight one more time and raced through the hip deep water to reach the twisting entrance before they could turn around.

Please stop, Christine!

I pleaded with her, with myself, and with my memories, but they wouldn't listen. They never listened.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.