When Darkness Falls Read Online Free Page B

hopeful promise between them, but now, the lyrics felt ominous, as if a weight were fastened around her neck. Events from the night before rushed back as a quiet panic overtook her. Was Dan beckoning her to join him in the grave? She pushed away the morbid thought and hit the dial to silence the song, but then she realized that the radio was already off. A shudder went through her as she tightened her hands on the steering wheel. She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. A pale face, marked with large brown eyes that looked like mud puddles of fear with dark hair billowing down the sides. The person staring back at her was a stranger. She had to get a grip or she would end up in the nut house! She turned on the radio and forced herself to get lost in the music. Then, she spied a McDonald’s up ahead. Being around other people would help restore a sense of normalcy. She stopped and got a soda for herself and water for Beasty. A few minutes later, she was on the road again, feeling better about things.
    She arrived in Salt Lake just as the sun was setting, turning the sky a fiery orange and blue swirl. The snow-capped mountains to the left of the interstate were standing jagged and tall against the clear, blue sky. They were much taller than the rolling mountains in the South but not nearly as green, but they were substantial and impressive. The mountains to the right were smaller, more like the height of the ones she was used to seeing back home. She’d often heard people refer to Salt Lake as The Valley , and now she knew why. Everything was built between the two mountain ranges, and it struck her that she could almost see across the entire valley. The lack of trees was unsettling, and she felt exposed as she drove through the open space. As she passed downtown, she caught sight of the spirals from the Temple, surrounded by high-rise buildings, but she could only glance because she had to keep her focus on the road. It was intimidating to drive on a crowded interstate with multiple lanes of traffic and cars haphazardly weaving in and out. Thankfully, her GPS led her straight to her destination, and she was relieved when she turned onto the street of a quaint neighborhood that had a few larger trees. The houses had a historical feel that reminded her of home. She pulled up to a particular house and double-checked the address. “This is our new home, Beasty,” she said with a sigh.
    The house was a cross between a craftsman style and Tudor, probably built in the late thirties or forties. Like most of the houses on the street, the siding was made from brown brick that looked aged. The white trim around the windows and doors was coming off in large flakes, a telltale sign that someone had painted latex over oil. Wide steps led up to the front porch, and there was an old rocker situated at one end that someone had started painting dark green and abandoned halfway through the project. The landscaping consisted of a few spindly bushes that looked like they were in desperate need of water, and the yard had patches of brown. The overall feel of the place was neglect—a house that had potential if someone would make the effort to bring it out.
    She took a deep breath and got out of the car. She could do this. She could do this. She kept repeating the mantra over and over. It was hard to get excited about living with Darbie, especially since her mom had pushed her into it. From the minute her mom brought up the idea of moving to Salt Lake, Chloe had wanted to get a place of her own, but her mom insisted that she live with Darbie to help share the costs. “You don’t even have a job yet, Chloe. Move in with Darbie for a while until you get your feet on the ground,” she’d said. But what she really meant was Move in with Darbie so that she can keep tabs on you. That way we’ll know if you flip your lid for good.
    Chloe had only met Darbie twice, and that was two times too many as far as she was concerned. She was