The Broken Darkness by Theresa Braun

Author:Theresa Braun [Braun, Theresa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

They’d dodged the traffic just fine, despite Mack’s lame warning. Jaxon wished he’d had his handgun that was in the glovebox of his truck as he led the way over the open field. By the light of the yellowish moon, his gait was hesitant, his hands in the back pockets of his jeans.

Jaxon heard the flick of Marla’s lighter.

She puffed the cigarette to life, the embers firing up.

The cameraman paused to check his equipment.

“Can I have one?” Jaxon asked.

She slipped a stick from the pack and lit it.

“And, you better blur out my fucking face on that feed,” Jaxon said to the camera guy.

“You got it, chum.” He wiped the lens with his sleeve.

“What’re you filming for, anyway?” Jaxon asked.

“Trying to pilot a new show called ‘Legend Trippers’.”

Jaxon chuckled. “Perfect.” He flinched at a crunching sound in the shrubs. “Did you hear that?”

Her hand unsteady as she inhaled smoke, Marla shook her head.

The cameraman began recording.

Jaxon surveyed the open space and the rusted iron base of the trestle. Graffiti decorated the beams and empty beer bottles hid in the dirt, gum and candy wrappers littering the ground. He tossed his smoke and extinguished it with his heel.

“You okay?” he asked Marla.

She nodded, drawing in the last drag before tossing the butt to the trestle base.

Extending his hand, Jaxon waited for her take it. Then he plodded into the woods, Marla staggering along behind him.

Crickets chirruped. Leaves swished in the breeze.

At the sound of a sudden rustling, they paused, scanning the area.

Marla grimaced and grabbed ahold of Jaxon’s upper arm, squeezing it. Her breath tickled his neck, and the hairs rose along his body. He wasn’t sure if it was because she was close, or because he was afraid.

The outline of a girl wearing a dress appeared between the trees, her arms limp at her sides. As she waddled closer, her dark hair shone in the moonlight and her eyes twinkled with a neon green.

“Natalie?” Marla asked, letting go of Jaxon and taking a couple of steps forward.

Sections of her dress were tattered and flecked with dirt. “I’m alright. I’m going home.”

Marla dashed to the girl, throwing her arms around her. “Oh, thank God.”

The girl didn't react.

“Come on, let’s go.” Marla let go of her cousin and watched the darkness as if expecting to see something. All was oddly silent and still.

“I want to walk. It’s so beautiful tonight.” The girl swayed on her feet.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Marla tilted her head and wrinkled her nose.

“No, really.” Her shoulders drooped. “I’m fine.”

Slowly turning away, Natalie’s steps were so light she left no imprints in the grass. Her skirt swooshed in the returning wind.

Marla bit her lip as she looked at Jaxon. She tried to speak, but nothing came out.

The girl disappeared into a thicket.

Jaxon knew he had to do something and lunged forward.

The cameraman whispered, “No! What are you doing?”

But Jaxon went anyway. When he scurried into the shadows to scoop her up, she wasn’t there. The moon

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