Toxxic by Jane Hennigan

Author:Jane Hennigan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781915202727
Publisher: Watkins Media
Published: 2024-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

XX104

We used to play the dinosaur game, Dad and me. In a small copse of trees behind our old house. I call it small now, but at the time we called it ‘the forest.’

“Let’s go to the forest,” he would say, “and hunt dinosaurs.”

Overjoyed, I would stuff my small feet into a pair of wellington boots, and he’d help me pull on my coat before setting off into the wilderness.

I would close my eyes as he hid behind a tree. I would then wander around the forest – a brave dinosaur hunter tracking her prey. When I reached him, he would jump out with a roar, and I would raise my sword. Then he would cease to be the dinosaur and we would both turn and fight our imaginary, ferocious foe.

“It’s got me!” he would shout, collapsing to his knees on the muddy ground. “Save me!”

And I would, vanquishing the monster with nimble parries and savage thrusts.

Then he’d pick me up and carry me home on his back, both of us victorious, ravenous, and muddy.

“It’s Dad. Let me in.”

“It’s Dad!” Bella was off the sofa and halfway to the door before I could move.

“Wait!” I grabbed her arm. “Just wait a minute.” I whispered.

She looked up at me, confused. “Why? It’s just Dad.”

“I know, but –”

“What the hell, why’s the chain across?” His voice sounded angry, tired. But he still sounded like Dad.

“Dad?” I called over to the door. “Are you feeling alright?”

He leaned in so I could just see his face in the small space the chain allowed. His voice became calm, overly patient as if I was being silly. “Baby, I’m tired and hungry, and for some unknown reason my eldest daughter is not letting me into my own home. Apart from that, I’m fine. Now, let me in, please, Beans. It’s been a really long night.”

He sounded rational – normal even. I went over to where his face was. “It’s just, Mum said that there was this infection going around, and it affected men’s minds, and that I shouldn’t let you in. I know it sounds crazy, but she seemed serious…”

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, your mother would say that. She thinks we’re all evil sons-of-bitches.”

My hand paused on its way to the door. Dad had never said a bad word about Mum to us, not even after the divorce. It was like an unwritten rule, a united front of parenting. No matter what was going on behind the scenes, they only ever said things about how the other one loved us and wanted us to feel safe and loved.

Safe.

Did I feel safe? “How’s Jorge and Miranda?” I asked, stalling for time.

There was a pause, just a fraction longer than I would have expected. His eyes seemed to glaze over in the strip of space he’d squashed his face into. A breeze drifted over the back of my neck, like the broken threads of a spider’s web.

“They’re fine. They’re still at the hospital,” he replied.

I shivered – it felt like a lie.

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