Dark Season: The Complete Third Series (All 8 books) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Amy Cross
while now.
"Don't forget Dedston," Ruth says to him suddenly.
"No," Evan replies, looking down at his food.
Dedston? Is that a place? I wait for one of them to say something, but it seems as if Ruth's comment has killed the conversation completely.
Finishing my food, I set my knife and fork down and sit in silence. Evan and Ruth start talking about their days, discussing their 'normal' lives. It's almost as if I'm not here. I feel sorry for them. They spent so many years trying to have their own child before they had to accept that Ruth was incapable of getting pregnant. Then they went to a foster agency and they were allowed to take me in, and look what I've grown up to become. I can see the sadness in their eyes, especially Ruth's. Lately, she's started to drink a few glasses of wine each night, to 'settle' her nerves. She's started the long slide into alcoholism, and there's nothing I can do to stop her.
"You can be excused," Evan says to me, "if you wish".
I stand up, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. After carrying my plate to the kitchen and putting it into the dishwasher, I go through to my bedroom. I keep the lights off and walk over to the window. Outside, the ghosts are gathering for their nightly vigil. To be honest, if I knew what they wanted, I'd just give it to them. I don't have the energy to fight. I'd happily disappear forever, except I know that it'd hurt Evan and Ruth too much. No matter how bad things are, they cling to the hope that in some way they'll eventually get it right. They hope that one day they'll wake up and I'll suddenly be the perfect girl they always hoped I'd be. I'd willingly sacrifice myself in order to give them what they want.
Sitting on my bed, I open my mouth and stick a finger inside to feel my teeth. It was about a year ago that I first noticed something was wrong. Two of the upper teeth near the front of my mouth seemed to be being pushed aside. When they fell out, I felt new, sharper teeth coming through from my gums. It was painful and sore at first, and eventually Evan and Ruth noticed that I was reluctant to eat. They took one look at the teeth and marched me straight to the dentists' office, where I was told that I needed braces. The dentist said he'd never seen anything quite like this before, and I felt as if he just attached the braces because he felt he had to do something . I didn't really mind, though, since the braces are so bulky that they prevent me from talking. At least I don't have to worry about thinking of something to say when I'm around people. Frankly, I'd happily keep them for the rest of my life.
Looking up, I hear a scratching sound at the window. The ghosts have never done that before, but perhaps tonight is the night when they'll finally make their move. Feeling my heart-rate rising, I imagine their fingers picking away at the frame. Are they going to come inside? I stay where I am, too nervous to go and take a look, but as I stare at the window, I slowly become aware of a presence in the room. I'm reluctant to turn and look at first, because I have a horrible feeling that there's something in the room with me. Finally, I force myself to turn my head slowly to the left.
Nothing.
I relax a little. I guess my mind is playing tricks on me. Not surprising, really, considering I feel as if I'm being stalked by a bunch of ghosts.
I spend the rest of the evening alone in my room, reading. We don't have the internet at home, and watching a DVD would mean going through to the lounge since I don't have a laptop or a computer in my room. Reading and drawing are pretty much the only things I can do to pass the time, but at least I'm managing to power through the classics. The truth is, whenever I start reading, I find my mind starting to wander; I start coming up with my own stories, and I usually end up staring into space while I imagine various weird creatures. Tonight, I get so lost in my own thoughts that suddenly I glance over at the clock
"Don't forget Dedston," Ruth says to him suddenly.
"No," Evan replies, looking down at his food.
Dedston? Is that a place? I wait for one of them to say something, but it seems as if Ruth's comment has killed the conversation completely.
Finishing my food, I set my knife and fork down and sit in silence. Evan and Ruth start talking about their days, discussing their 'normal' lives. It's almost as if I'm not here. I feel sorry for them. They spent so many years trying to have their own child before they had to accept that Ruth was incapable of getting pregnant. Then they went to a foster agency and they were allowed to take me in, and look what I've grown up to become. I can see the sadness in their eyes, especially Ruth's. Lately, she's started to drink a few glasses of wine each night, to 'settle' her nerves. She's started the long slide into alcoholism, and there's nothing I can do to stop her.
"You can be excused," Evan says to me, "if you wish".
I stand up, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. After carrying my plate to the kitchen and putting it into the dishwasher, I go through to my bedroom. I keep the lights off and walk over to the window. Outside, the ghosts are gathering for their nightly vigil. To be honest, if I knew what they wanted, I'd just give it to them. I don't have the energy to fight. I'd happily disappear forever, except I know that it'd hurt Evan and Ruth too much. No matter how bad things are, they cling to the hope that in some way they'll eventually get it right. They hope that one day they'll wake up and I'll suddenly be the perfect girl they always hoped I'd be. I'd willingly sacrifice myself in order to give them what they want.
Sitting on my bed, I open my mouth and stick a finger inside to feel my teeth. It was about a year ago that I first noticed something was wrong. Two of the upper teeth near the front of my mouth seemed to be being pushed aside. When they fell out, I felt new, sharper teeth coming through from my gums. It was painful and sore at first, and eventually Evan and Ruth noticed that I was reluctant to eat. They took one look at the teeth and marched me straight to the dentists' office, where I was told that I needed braces. The dentist said he'd never seen anything quite like this before, and I felt as if he just attached the braces because he felt he had to do something . I didn't really mind, though, since the braces are so bulky that they prevent me from talking. At least I don't have to worry about thinking of something to say when I'm around people. Frankly, I'd happily keep them for the rest of my life.
Looking up, I hear a scratching sound at the window. The ghosts have never done that before, but perhaps tonight is the night when they'll finally make their move. Feeling my heart-rate rising, I imagine their fingers picking away at the frame. Are they going to come inside? I stay where I am, too nervous to go and take a look, but as I stare at the window, I slowly become aware of a presence in the room. I'm reluctant to turn and look at first, because I have a horrible feeling that there's something in the room with me. Finally, I force myself to turn my head slowly to the left.
Nothing.
I relax a little. I guess my mind is playing tricks on me. Not surprising, really, considering I feel as if I'm being stalked by a bunch of ghosts.
I spend the rest of the evening alone in my room, reading. We don't have the internet at home, and watching a DVD would mean going through to the lounge since I don't have a laptop or a computer in my room. Reading and drawing are pretty much the only things I can do to pass the time, but at least I'm managing to power through the classics. The truth is, whenever I start reading, I find my mind starting to wander; I start coming up with my own stories, and I usually end up staring into space while I imagine various weird creatures. Tonight, I get so lost in my own thoughts that suddenly I glance over at the clock
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