The Island Scaregrounds by Eldritch Black

Author:Eldritch Black [Black, Eldritch]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Eldritch Black

19

A Black Cloud

Jamie had gotten home before me. Thankfully, he was glued to his video game, so he didn't notice me slip through the door but Wilson did. He ran over, sniffed my sneakers and jeans, and growled. At first I thought it was the stench of the lake on my clothes, I wasn't exactly thrilled with it myself, but then I saw him glaring at the backpack and the fur on his haunches rose up.

"What you got there, Dylaboo?" Jamie asked as he gave the backpack a nod.

"Books," I said, knowing it would kill his interest. I tried to look casual but all I could think about was getting the thing stashed away before he examined it closer...

"Hey, why are you all wet?" He glanced my way as he blasted an alien that looked like a giant roach. "You been crying again?"

"Rain, ever heard of it?" I said as I pulled my sneakers off. They'd take forever to dry out, which meant I'd have to wear my old pair and they smelt even worse than the lake.

"I didn't see any rain."

"Well, it kept turning up everywhere I went."

"Cool," Jamie seemed to like the idea and it changed the subject, which was why I'd said it. "I'd love to be able to control the weather. If I had that power, you'd have a giant black cloud following you until the day you die."

"That's nice, Jamie."

"Yep." The sound of an explosion blared out from the speakers, causing him to unleash a stream of curses as he jerked the controller and leaned in toward the TV.

I took the opportunity to run upstairs in my sopping wet socks. Jamie shouted something that was lost over the noise from the TV. I ignored him and hurried to my room, stashed the backpack under my bed and leaped back as my bedroom door flew open. Jamie stood before me, game controller in hand. His eyes narrowed. Had he seen the bag? "You got my money?" he demanded.

"I'm working on it."

"Well you better work harder, Dylaboo. Marshall's added subtitles to the video. They're hilarious, especially when you run into that tree."

"'I bet." I forced myself to stay calm. I couldn't afford a confrontation with him. Besides, I'd probably lose.

"Ew!" His nose wrinkled as he continued to glance around my room. "What's that smell? It's like pond scum, and that stinking tripe Uncle Troy cooks. Gross!"

"Go away." I stood in front of my bed, right where the backpack was, as Wilson padded into the room. "I'll get your stupid money, alright?"

Thunk.

It was the box. The ghost!

"What's that?" Jamie asked.

"Search me. Maybe our house is haunted."

"Yeah, could be," Jamie nodded slowly. "Marshall's mom is a realtor and she said a lot of people died here over the years. Right in your room, actually. They called it the Whidbey Island Murder Massacre..."

He was trying to scare me and I decided to play along. "You're lying."

"Am I?" He shrugged. "Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not..."

"I've got to get up early and get some work done.

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