Beneath the Tracks by W.A. Roberts

Author:W.A. Roberts [Roberts, W.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: W.A. Roberts
Published: 2021-04-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Riley knocks hard on the window, bracing for Ace’s wrath as he slams the window open and glares. She’ll never get used to that anger being directed at her, but here she is, staring him down with a glare of her own.

"What now?"

"Why are you always so pissed at me?" she asks, shoving him back to crawl through the window.

"I don't know. Maybe because you don't understand the meaning of 'leave me alone.'"

"Ha, I've never left you alone. That's why we're friends."

She slips on some toys and lands hard on her wrists.

"Ow, shit," she mutters. "Thought you were keeping your room clean?"

Ace kneels to help her. "Are you okay?"

Riley bites her lips to hold back the cry as she bends her wrist and winds up clutching it close.

"Riley-"

"Don't 'Riley' me. I got something to ask you." She stands, drops her bag onto his bed, and pulls out the library book. Ace hovers at her side, eyes narrowing as she opens it to the page labeled ‘pukwudgies’ that is filled with pictures of a hairy humanoid figure covered in porcupine quills on its back, with a canine nose, large ears and cold black eyes. "Is that what attacked you in the woods?"

Ace's eyes go wide as he vehemently shakes his head. "No."

"Liar." Riley slams the books shut. "I can see it in your eyes."

"You don't know anything. Where'd you even get that book?"

"A friend."

"Now who's lying?"

"Asshole." Riley flips through the pages until she comes across the photos of the pukwudgies again. "This is the thing that grabbed you, isn't it?"

She shoves the book at him, watching the sweat form on his brow as he stares at the photos. She grips the book tight to keep from shaking as Ace’s gaze is glued to the page before he knocks the book out of her hand. "No. I don't know what grabbed me that day."

"Ace." Riley moves closer, knowing that pushing him could set him over the edge again, but she needs him to admit to seeing the same beast that chased her through the woods. "I know it happened really fast, and it was dark, but -"

"I don't know!" he yells, his fists going white as he turns away from her. "I don't..."

Riley gapes at him, unsure if this is his anger or fear talking. Turning away, she takes in the unplugged television and clock, the foil that covers all the windows, the countless toys on the floor, that made entering his room nearly impossible. He's nearly barricaded himself inside this space, and she thinks about the shadow outside stalking her, warning her away with the same arrows and whispered words described in this book, and wonders how often it shows up here.

She thinks of Martin's friend that got taken away and the other kids who might have faced the creature. She wonders if the others ever stared into its eyes and tried to fight it. If maybe the stories of the dead are the ones who tried.

She knows Ace would

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