-Chapter Three-
Zane sat on the back step of the ambulance, trying to
figure out what the hell had happened. An emergency medical expert was looking
over the few scratches and bruises he endured when he hit the ground, breaking
through some sticks and small rocks below. He overheard one medic explain to an
officer that Zane was likely in shock, but Zane knew that wasn’t it. Yes, he
was shocked over what he had just seen, but he was able to stay focused on his
surroundings.
“Excuse me, Mr. Zane Staples.”
Zane looked up at the officer. “Yes?”
“We need to ask you a few questions before you leave with
your parents. Let me know when you are ready to talk.” The officer’s badge
showed that his name was Wadleigh.
“I can talk now, Officer Wadleigh.” Zane rubbed his eyes
and slid down from the ambulance, standing before the cop. “What do you need to
know?”
The questions seemed fairly straight forward. However,
Zane didn’t have the exact answers the officer was likely looking for. In fact,
he knew nothing. The only question he easily answered was that he last saw
Dylan at Fun Zone last night at around ten-thirty. Zane thought about
mentioning the previous evening’s weather phenomena, but seemed it would only
lead to more questions than answers. Zane held his lips tight and only reacted
to the direct questions.
Once the drilling was through, Zane’s mother walked him
to the family wagon. His father, who was at work when the call came, was also
waiting with an open door for his only child. Walking toward the open door, his
father reached out to him, bracing him briefly before he sunk down into the
backseat. Once inside, his father apologized for Zane’s loss.
“Dylan was my best friend.” He planted his face into his
hands and began to sob. “How could this happen?” he muttered through his
weeping breath.
Richard turned, reached back and patted his hand on his
son’s shoulder. Zane looked up. While he knew he couldn’t just blurt it out, he
felt the weather somehow was tied to what had happened. It just seemed too
weird that his girlfriend was now sick and his best friend was burned alive…
all after a very odd weather experience.
It was around dinner time when Zane finally came out of
his room. The day started out bright but was ending dark and dreary. His
parents were sitting on the couch in front of the television, as usual. His
mother motioned for him to grab the leftovers from the oven.
“I didn’t want to disturb you. I knew you wanted to be
alone. There’s some meatloaf and potato in the oven if you are hungry.”
Zane looked toward the kitchen, but could not stomach
food at this point. He walked to the handheld phone and studied the buttons on
the keypad. He began punching in the numbers to Tabitha’s. He was sure she knew
what happened, but really just wanted to talk to someone he knew would
understand him.
“Hello! Mr. Blake! Can I please speak with Tabitha?” Zane
waited.
“I am sorry.” There was a long pause. “Tabitha is not
here.”
“Is she out?” Zane was a little confused. “I thought she
was sick?”
There was still a long pause. “No, she is not out with
friends. She is still sick. Her mother took her to the medical facility in
Brighton. She was coughing up blood.”
This was something Zane did not want to hear. He just
lost one friend and could not lose another.
“I told the police you were out last night with my little
girl. They will be talking to you soon. You better pray what happened to your
friend doesn’t happen to my little girl.” Zane felt the harsh words spray
through the receiver. “You stay away from her now.”
Zane pushed the off button and placed the phone down on
the night stand in the hall. He collapsed into an open chair beside the desk.
His mother looked on from the living room. “What’s the
matter, honey?”
Zane looked up. “Tabitha is getting worse.”
Lorraine darted from the couch to his side in mere
seconds, holding him and pressing his head against her stomach. There were no
words. They were not necessary.
Zane had to find out what was wrong. He needed to find
his other friends and some of the people who were out that last night. He
needed to know if anyone was feeling similar symptoms. He pushed himself away
from his mother and stood to his feet. “I have to go out and find Freddie and
Ray. I need to know that they are safe.”
“Wait just a minute,” Lorraine grabbed her son’s arm. “It
may not be safe out there. What if there is a killer out there running around?”
Zane agreed that there was a killer out there, but believed
this killer was something stranger than man. “I have to go, Mom. Please don’t
stop me.” Zane looked at his father for permission, getting a positive nod. He
hugged his mother and bolted.
Chapter 4 to be posted on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015
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