Page 8 of Heat Haze
Frank groans at my outburst, crossing his arms. “You done? Don’t be pathetic, Nico.”
“Frank…” Grant’s tone is gentler now, but I know what he’s hiding: pity. Like a tick burrowing into my skin. Pity in every form. Making me feel so pathetic andsosmall.
Something inside of me is getting ready to snap. I let my eyes fall shut, taking in the deepest breath I can. “I’m not going to argue with you guys. I’m just going to go get some fresh air.”
“Wait, Nico!” Nadine calls from behind me, but I don’t even acknowledge it. I push open the door to the guest room, finding myself face to face with the three brothers. My brow furrows, and I gulp instinctively.
My voice is barely louder than a whisper, words failing to come out. “Uh…”
“Where ya goin’?” Damien asks, nudging Lucio’s side again.
That’s a question I don’t even really know the answer to. “Just… for a walk. I… need some fresh air.” It’s not a lie, I need some fresh airandsome space from my friends.
“Alrighty.” He doesn’t pester further. “We were just comin’ to check on y’all before we head to bed. Try to be quiet on your way in, ‘kay?”
As he steps out of the way I can only let out a weak noise of affirmation. “Uh-uh.” Damien and Lucio walk past me, but Toro’s hand shoots out to grab my forearm. I glance up at him, my face all misty-eyed and stupid looking.
His expression softens alongside his grip on me, brows pushed together as his lip quivers slightly. It’s almost like he wants to say something but he doesn’t know how. Damien smacks his hand away, a scowl on his face.
“Leave ‘im alone, Toro.” He flashes me that signature smile. “Sorry. Go have a nice walk, Nico.”
I awkwardly scratch behind my ear, averting my gaze to the floor. I excuse myself, scurrying down the stairs as they squeal and whine with each step. Everything just feels a little overwhelming, and only when I step out into the night air does my mind ease up a bit.
Still not cold, but definitely more tolerable than it was before. I sigh, letting myself whimper quietly. I should’ve just kept my mouth shut. Now all my friends are pissed at me and the ride home is going to be the most awkward experience of my life.
My legs move on their own, walking down the beaten path that’ll take me to god knows where. It’s mostly just fields, although there are a few gangly trees out in the distance. I doubt I’ll walk that far. There’s a barn and some kind of shed, and even a couple fenced areas for plants and animals alike.
I find myself walking over to where the pigs are, keeping a reasonable distance because I’m definitely not afraid one is going to jump over the fence and chase me.There’s something wet and red in their trough, and they seem to be enjoying it since they’re gulping it down like a last meal. I never really thought about what pigs eat until now.
The sky above me is a fleeting blue, so many stars just waiting to be counted. I can barely believe it, back home it’s nothing but clouds and clear skies. Not having light pollution does wonders for stargazing. The moon is full, shining brighter than I’ve ever seen it before.
It’s such a pretty sight that I have to dig for my phone in my pocket, pulling it up to aim at the sky. My finger hovers over the capture button, but before I press it I hear the most bloodcurdling scream of my entire life. My phone falls to the dirt before a loud crunch fills the air.
“Fuck…” I mutter, kneeling down to pick it up. It’s so cracked a piece of the screen falls off and onto the grass. I have no clue what to do with all that, so I just shove it in my pocket and begin making my way back to the house.
I think the scream was Nadine’s, which means she was either making a big deal over a rat or Grant was tickling her. Just the thought of spending the night in the room with them is bothering me.
Of course I’m dumb enough to drop my phone and break it. As if having no car and no signal wasn’t bad enough, now when wedoget a signal I won’t have a stupid phone to use it on.
Dirt and gravel crunch underneath my converse sneakers, each step bringing me closer to the house. As I step up onto the porch, the sound of shoes thudding against old wood becomes a lot more noticeable. It’s loud, and before I get a chance to even process what the hell is going on I see a figure charging at the door full speed.
I barely have time to react, throwing myself to the side of the porch before Levi comes tumbling out. He’s screaming bloody murder, and Damien is hot on his tail. My jaw drops, a hand instinctively moving to cover my mouth as Levi tumbles to the ground with a cry.
My legs won’t move. My body is frozen. Damien is looming over him with both hands firmly planted on the wooden handle of an ax. The blood dripping from the sharp blade isn’t lost on me, but I can’t really focus on that when he raises it up high into the air…
…and swings it down right on Levi’s head.
CHAPTER SIX
A spray of thick red blood shoots out of his skull, the blade slicing through bone and brain matter alike. Bloodstained metal hits the dirt with a heavyclunk. Tears trace silent paths down my cheeks, but I know I can’t just stand here and be next.
Running isn’t gonna work. Damien is clearly fast, and I don’t know anything about this place. I have to move, though. I have to. Without a second thought I slip right back into the house. Thankfully the landing is empty, but now I need todosomething—and quickly. I could go upstairs, but that’s where everyone was when I left.
In a move I hope I don’t regret, I push open the basement door. The smell hits my already watery eyes and I have to stifle a gag. It’s the most repulsively pungent thing I’ve ever inhaled. I don’t want to hide here. But—
Footsteps.
Left with no other choice, I hurry down the stairs as quietly as possible. It’s almost pitch black down here. I stretch my arms out, feeling my way around the room. That horrible scent just won’t go away, though.
