Desolation

Moreno climbed into his car – a nice, sensible Prius – and drove off. They waited a minute or two to make sure he didn’t come back to pick up something he’d forgotten, then Kelly, Linda and Ronnie got out of the van. Warrick stayed with Two for the moment. Out of all of them, Two was integral to what they were about to do – their very own sniffer dog.

  They stayed behind the van while three cars passed, then remained hidden as a woman walked by on the opposite side of the road. When the street emptied, they hurried across, but before they’d reached the far sidewalk a truck turned a corner and snatched them in its headlights. It immediately altered course, veering towards them.

  “We can’t be in trouble already,” said Linda. “We haven’t broken any laws today.”

  The truck pulled up right beside them and a girl jumped out from the passenger side. The girl from the jail. The driver – an old man – kept the engine running.

  “Amber,” said Kelly.

  “You’ve got to help me,” Amber said. Her clothes were in tatters. “If you’re really not after us, then I need your help. Please.”

  Ronnie frowned. “Why would we be after you?”

  “Because other people are,” said Amber. “I need to know if I can trust you.”

  Ronnie hesitated, and Linda remained quiet, but Kelly spoke up. “You can trust us,” she said. “What’s wrong?”

  Amber moved to the rear of the van, and pulled the tarp back.

  “Jesus,” said Linda.

  Kelly and Ronnie lent Amber a hand and they lifted her friend off the truck. Milo, that was his name. He was ruined. A bloody mess. The moment they were clear of the truck, the driver put his foot down and got the hell out of there.

  Kelly stepped back, her shirt smeared with blood. “What happened to him?”

  “Bikers,” said Amber. “They chained him, dragged him behind them.”

  “We saw bikers on our way into town,” Kelly said, like that contributed to the conversation in any meaningful way.

  “Listen,” said Ronnie, “we have some basic medical training, but this … we can’t handle something like this. We need to get him to a hospital. The nearest is maybe sixty miles away.”

  Amber shook her head. “We can’t leave town.”

  “He won’t survive unless we—”

  “If he leaves this town, they’ll kill him,” Amber said. “If you can bandage him up, please do that. All I have to do is get him to his car. I’m pretty sure it’s at the impound lot.”

  “What good’ll that do?” Linda asked.

  “It’s just what we need to do. Please.”

  Ronnie hesitated for the briefest of moments. “Let’s put him in the van.”

  Warrick got out, tied the dog to a fire hydrant, and helped them carry Milo across the street and into the van. When he was settled, Linda threw a blanket over him, then they closed the door and looked at Amber.

  “I really think a hospital is the way to go here,” Linda said.

  “His car,” Amber said. “We just need his car.”

  “You’re the boss …”

  “Thank you,” Amber said. “All of you, thank you for doing this. I’m sorry I can’t go into more detail, but …”

  “You’ve got secrets,” said Kelly. “Who doesn’t?”

  “Yeah, man,” said Warrick, “we don’t take this shit personally, we really don’t. We’ve been on the Dark Highway long enough to learn to respect other people’s privacy.”

  Amber looked up, eyes widening slightly.

  “I had a feeling you’d recognise the term. You have that look about you. The bikers – they’re part of whatever it is you’re into?”

  Amber nodded. “We’ve been running from them for weeks.”

  “What did you do to piss them off?” Ronnie asked.

  “I’m … I’m sorry, I am, but I don’t know if I should tell you. I don’t know you and it might … It’s dangerous.”

  “Danger’s our middle name,” said Warrick.

  Kelly rolled her eyes, then smiled at Amber. “Warrick may be overly dramatic, but he’s not wrong. This is what we do. We travel the Dark Highway and we fight the forces of darkness.”

  Amber frowned at her. “Why?”

  “Because if we don’t, who will?”

  “I don’t know,” said Amber. “Whoever the darkness is threatening, I guess. So you actually drive around looking for trouble?”

  “We each have our reasons,” said Kelly. “What has you on the Highway?”

  Amber hesitated. “My parents.”

  Warrick shook his head glumly. “They kick you out?”

  “They’re trying to kill me.”

  “That was my next guess.”

  “Or they were,” said Amber. “Don’t know if they still are. Last I saw of them they were running from the same thing I am.”

  “Which is?” Linda asked.

  Amber gave a grim smile. “I think it’s best if you don’t know the details.”

  “Fair enough. Can I ask, though – why are you safe here? Why don’t those bikers just come in after you?”

  “Honestly? A big invisible wall keeps them out.”

  “Cool,” said Warrick.

  “And why are you here?” Amber asked.

  “Children are going missing,” said Ronnie. “One a year. Heard anything about that?”

  “I guess I have,” said Amber. “It’s a long story, and I don’t know if I understand it fully yet, but the mayor here, a guy called Jesper … You know about making deals with Demons?”

  “We’ve had some experience with people who have,” Linda said.

  “Well, Jesper made a deal with the Shining Demon, Astaroth, two hundred years ago. The price he’s paying is one child’s soul every year.”

  Ronnie narrowed his eyes. “You know about this and Jesper’s still walking around?”

  Amber glared back. “When he told us, we were handcuffed. Then the bikers got us. We didn’t have time to fight the good fight.”

  “No one’s accusing anyone of anything,” Kelly said, giving a glare of her own to Ronnie. “There’s a kid who’s just gone missing. For all we know, he might still be alive. His name’s Austin Cooke. Did Jesper mention where he might be being kept?”

  “I doubt he knows,” Amber said. “He’s absolved himself of all responsibility when it comes to that stuff. He outsources.”

  “Seriously?” Warrick said. “This is somewhere beyond cold.” He went off to untie Two.

  “Jesper didn’t mention who he’s hired?” Linda asked. “Did he talk about the Narrow Man?”

  “He didn’t really offer up any details, sorry.”

  “Maybe he’ll offer some up to us,” Ronnie said.

  “Maybe,” said Amber. “If you can get to him. Which I doubt. Those cops of his are killers. I saw the Chief shoot a man in cold blood. Yeah, the guy was a serial killer, but still. It wouldn’t take much to convince them you’re more trouble than you’re worth.”

  “Do you have any idea what Hell Night is?” Linda asked.

  “Oh yeah,” Amber said grimly. “It’s happened one night a year for the last hundred years. Tomorrow night this town goes nuts. All the kids get put into their own little panic rooms, and all the adults turn into demons.”

  Linda’s face went slack. “All of them?”

  “Everyone over the age of eighteen.”

  Warrick came back with Two, but as soon as the dog got within sniffing distance of Amber he stopped, his hackles raised, and started growling.

  Amber backed off. “Whoa. Wow. Easy, boy.”

  Kelly and the others said nothing.

  “Sorry,” Amber said, keeping her eyes on Two. “Dogs usually love me.”

  “You sure about that?” asked Warrick. “Two here is a very talented doggy. He can track people, he can sniff out certain substances, and he can smell a demon a mile off.”

  Amber’s face went slack.

  Kelly frowned. “You a demon, too, Amber?”

  “Uh …” r />
  “Time to be honest with us. Your friend is bleeding to death in the back of our van. Are you a demon?”

  Amber sagged. “Sort of.”

  “Two, quiet, please,” said Warrick, and Two growled a little more, then sat and scratched himself. Warrick looked at Amber. “How can you be sort-of a demon? That’s like being sort-of a Twinkie. You either are a delightful and nutritious snack or you’re not. Which one are you?”

  “I … I guess I’m the Twinkie,” said Amber.

  “What deal did you make?” Linda asked.

  “I didn’t,” Amber said. “My parents did, and they had me, and I inherited.”

  Linda clicked her fingers. “That’s why they were trying to kill you! They want to eat you!” Then she blushed. “Sorry. I’ve read about this kind of thing. Didn’t mean to get so excited, though.”

  “No problem.”

  “So now you’re on the run,” Warrick said wistfully. “Travelling the Dark Highway, a lone wolf. With your friend, who is another wolf. Two lone wolves. Two wolves, really. Not really alone. Two wolves in a car. Travelling. One of them naked and bloody. The other with her ass hanging out.”

  “Oh God,” said Amber, one hand going to the seat of her pants. “Oh my God, my ass is hanging out.”

  Kelly punched Warrick’s shoulder. “Be nice.”

  Warrick rubbed his shoulder, physically hurt but emotionally wounded. “I was just saying her jeans have really taken a pounding. I didn’t mean anything by it, Amber. Honest.”

  “It’s okay,” Amber said, blushing.

  “So, uh … can we see?”

  Amber looked at him. “Can you see my ass?”

  “Oh! No! Sorry, that’s not what I … no! I meant can we see you … change?”

  “You don’t have to,” said Kelly quickly.

  “You totally don’t have to,” Warrick agreed. “Only, I like to draw. I’ve been working on a comic strip, like, about our adventures? Inspired by our adventures, anyway. I’ve taken some liberties.”

  “A lot of liberties,” said Linda.

  “A few mild exaggerations,” Warrick said.

  “The character based on Warrick himself hooks up with a new girl in every story,” said Kelly. “He also has more muscles and brains than the real Warrick, doesn’t run from every fight like the real Warrick, is—”

  “Nothing’s been published yet,” Warrick interrupted, “but I’m hopeful. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll do it all as a web comic. That’s the plan. But my point is, I’m a very visual person. I mean, I’d just love to … What colour are you, for a start?”

  “Red,” said Amber.

  “Red,” said Warrick. “The classic red. You don’t find very many reds around. You’d think you would, but they’re mostly different shades of grey. Do you have, uh … y’know … do you have … uh …?” He touched his forehead.

  “Horns?” Amber prompted.

  “Yes,” Warrick said meekly. “Do you have horns?”

  “Yes,” she said. “Do you want me to show you?”

  He stared at her, and bit his lip. “Could you?” he asked softly. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I mean?”

  “Sure,” said Amber. “Will your dog mind?”

  “Two will be fine once he sees how cool we are with you.”

  “Okay then,” said Amber. She looked around, made sure no one was walking by, and then her skin turned red and she grew taller and stronger and her horns curled over her head.

  Warrick’s mouth dropped open. “Golly.”

  “You’re beautiful,” said Linda.

  Ronnie didn’t say anything. He just stared at her, up and down.

  Only Kelly moved. She walked right up to Amber, stood toe to toe with her. They were of equal height now, if the horns weren’t taken into account. Kelly raised her hand. Traced her fingertip along Amber’s cheek, down to her chin, let it drop.

  “You know what?” Kelly said. “I think I prefer you the other way.”

  Amber blinked at her.

  Then she reverted, and Kelly looked down at her, and smiled. “There’s my cutie,” she said, just as a police cruiser turned on to the street.

  “Shit,” said Kelly, and grabbed Amber’s hand and bolted into the shadows. Lights flashed and a siren yelped and she glanced back, saw her friends hightail it in different directions. She wasn’t worried about them. They could all take care of themselves.

  She ran with Amber until they came to a narrow, curving street, then they hopped a wall and waited, catching their breath.

  “What if the cops search the van?” Amber asked, still panting. “If they find Milo, they might kill him.”

  “Ronnie won’t let that happen,” Kelly assured her. “The van is technically Warrick’s, but Ronnie takes care of it and he is very protective.”

  “Then we need to get Milo’s car,” said Amber. She took out her phone, brought up a map. “The impound lot is three blocks away.”

  “What is so special about this car?”

  “I just need it, that’s all. I could do it myself, but …”

  Kelly smiled. “Are you kidding? You are an intrigue. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

  “Thanks,” said Amber, and started walking.

  “Besides,” Kelly said, eyes flicking down, “your ass is hanging out.”

  Amber spun, hands behind her, and Kelly laughed and jogged to catch up. They walked side by side until they came to an old movie theatre, the kind with one or two screens that hadn’t yet been taken over and refitted as a multiplex. A showing must just have ended, because a trickle of people was emerging into the night.

  “That’s more people on one street than I’ve seen since we arrived,” Kelly whispered.

  They circumnavigated the theatre, diving into shadows again further up. Kelly glanced back, but there was no one behind them. They walked on and she glanced back again, frowning.

  “You okay?” Amber asked.

  “Not really,” said Kelly. “I don’t think we’re alone …”

  “At least someone’s paying attention,” said a woman from in front, and Kelly glimpsed an outline, the shape of horns, and then reflected light shifted over red skin and she saw the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen standing there, fangs gleaming wickedly.

  “Hello, sweetie,” said the demon.

  “Mom,” was all Amber had time to say.

  BETTY LAMONT PUNCHED HER daughter so hard that Amber wasn’t even aware she’d hit the ground until after she’d stopped rolling.

  She heard a muffled cry of pain, looked up in time to see Kelly being hurled into the wall and collapsing.

  “We’ve never been apart for as long as this,” Betty said, strolling after Amber. “There was that week you spent at camp when you were, what, eleven? But nothing like this.”

  Amber forced herself to her feet and shifted, holding out her hands to keep Betty at bay until she’d had time to recover.

  Betty batted down her arms and grabbed her throat. “You’re a mess. Are you aware that the seat of your pants is missing? I don’t know what you’ve been getting up to, but I hope it’s been fun.”

  And then Amber’s feet left the ground and the world spun as her mother hurled her, head over heels, against a dumpster. Amber’s spine hit the corner and she cried out as she crumpled.

  “Your father and I have been having a great time,” said Betty. “Grant and Kirsty, too, of course. First of all, we couldn’t go home. I mean, that’s to be expected, right? If your daughter sabotages the offering you’re supposed to provide, you probably want to avoid places where the Shining Demon could easily find you.”

  Betty lashed a kick into her side that took all the breath from Amber’s lungs despite the black scales that had formed.

  “But it’s not like we don’t have friends, am I right? Acquaintances we’ve made along the way. And it’s not like these friends would abandon us in our hour of need. Oh no, not them. They would take any opportunity to hold our fate in t
heir hands. To lord it over us. So we’ve been scurrying from place to place, like rats. And it’s all thanks to you.”

  Amber tried getting up. Betty’s knee shot into her chin and she sprawled backwards. Betty paused.

  “What was that camp you went to? Eager Beavers, or something like that? Between you and me, Amber, that week you were gone was absolute heaven. You have no idea how stifling you were, you really don’t. We would have sent you to all kinds of camps after that if only you hadn’t been such a baby. Wah, wah, the other kids are horrible. Wah, wah, the other kids hate me. Well, they weren’t the only ones, sweetheart.”

  Betty took another step and Amber tried to kick her leg from under her, but Betty saw it coming and stomped hard on Amber’s ankle.

  “And now here we are in Alaska,” Betty continued, grinding her heel down. “Alaska. I like the sun, Amber. You know that. I like the heat. I had no intention, ever, of venturing this far north. Yet here I am, in the cold, because of you.”

  Betty stepped off her ankle and Amber scrambled up, limping and unsteady.

  “Mom, wait—”

  “Mom?” Betty laughed. “You’re really going to mom me, after everything you’ve done? After everything you said to us in New York?”

  “I didn’t say anything—”

  “You said ‘screw you’ to your father,” Betty interrupted. “Disrespecting one of us is disrespecting both of us. That’s what marriage means, Amber.”

  “What does family mean, then?” Amber fired back. “Do you have any cosy definitions for that? How about infanticide?”

  “Actually, it would be filicide,” Betty corrected. “Infanticide is when a parent kills an infant child. Honestly, just saying those words fills me with such regret. If only we’d killed you in your crib, it would have saved us so much trouble.”

  “Jesus Christ. How can you be so … evil?”

  “You are such a hypocrite,” her mother said, her eyes clear and bright as she advanced.

  Amber stumbled back. “What? What are you talking about?”

  “You went to the rallies, Amber. You signed the petitions, chanted the chants, showed your support for a woman’s right to choose. You’re pro-choice, aren’t you?”

  Amber frowned. “So are you.”

  “Of course I am,” Betty said. “I’m all for terminating unwanted pregnancies.”