Page 36 of No Quarter

“I think you should settle down in a small town with Tom,” Will said. “I think you’d both thrive in a place like this.”

Valerie hesitated for a moment before replying. “I don’t know ... I’ve always been a city girl. I’m not sure if I could handle living in a smaller town forever.”

That wordforeverfrightened her.

Yes, Valerie,she thought.Forever. That’s what getting married meant. She imagined herself in a small cottage somewhere. A good life. A happy life. And then a flash of her being in a straight jacket in a psychiatric ward somewhere. Tom left with his life in ruins.

She didn’t know if she could put him through even the chance of that happening.

“I think you’d be surprised how much of a positive influence a place like this can have,” Will said. “There’s something to be said for the slow pace of life and the close-knit community. I think you’d find it refreshing. It might help.”

Charlie nodded in agreement. “There’s a lot to be said for small town living, that’s for sure. Some people find it boring though. Different strokes.”

Valerie thought about it for a moment before answering. “I’m quite happy in my apartment for now, thanks.”

“Does Tom want to move?” Charlie asked.

It was an innocent question. But it was just another question to add to the pile surrounding their engagement. They hadn’t even told Tom’s family yet. But it all seemed to be happening so quickly.

Out in the darkness, Valerie saw something for a moment. A flicker of white moving in the shadows next to a house.Was that a person in a shroud?she thought.The illness is still here ...

She shook the vision from her mind. “Elmwood is around this corner.”

“Nice change of topic,” Charlie joked. But he was right.

They drove around the turn and the looming gates of Elmwood appeared. By the side of the road, someone was standing with the hood of their car up, looking down at the car’s insides.

Valerie rolled down her window.

“Doctor Whitmore,” she said loudly, recognizing the man immediately.

“I’m afraid my car has broken down,” the doctor said as Charlie parked beside him. “Can you give me a hand? I think I can get it going again with some help.”

Charlie stepped out of the car and looked under the hood of Doctor Whitmore’s car.

“Uh, Doc, I think you’ve got a gas leak somewhere. Can’t you smell it?”

“Oh, no,” the doctor said, laughing. “I’m afraid I don’t have a very strong sense of smell. Back during my Arkham University days, a friend of mine botched an experiment with ammonia. The old nose has never been the same since.”

“I don’t think this can be fixed easily,” Charlie said, closing the hood. “I think you’re out of luck for the night.”

Will appeared at the back of them. “I’m afraid I’m useless with this sort of thing.”

“Me too!” Doctor Whitmore laughed. “Perhaps it runs in the profession.”

Valerie felt the first few patters of rain on her face. Within seconds, those countless drops merged into a downpour.

“Might I advise that we get back to the car,” Will said over the thunderous rain.

“We’ll give you a lift, Doctor Whitmore,” Valerie offered.

“Thank you, I don’t fancy spending the night out here in this!”

“Come on!” Charlie said.

The four figures in the rain ran back to the car. Valerie thought they were momentarily like children, laughing at their predicament. She knew implicitly why. Such moments make you feel alive.

The four of them piled back into the car, shook the rain from their clothes, and closed the doors. The rain battered the car like a million thumping fingers, and Valerie was brought back to a memory as a child: sitting in a tent with her favorite uncle, listening to the rain outside trying to get in.

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