Caller 107 by Matthew S. Cox

Author:Matthew S. Cox [Cox, Matthew S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult, Fantasy
ISBN: 9781949174090
Google: NnShDwAAQBAJ
Amazon: 1949174093
Goodreads: 40381989
Publisher: Division Zero Press
Published: 2014-07-12T05:00:00+00:00

16

Across the River

Natalie sank into the seat, cringing from the frigid, watery embrace she couldn’t escape. She gave her father a weak smile as he closed the door for her, then let her gaze fall back to her lap once he walked away.

She leaned forward, rigid, in an effort not to soak too much into the leather. Dad paused at the rear of the car, no doubt releasing some emotion he didn’t want her to witness. Guilt made her feel even colder as she berated herself for being hostile to him. She glanced out the window at the side mirror. The face staring back at her looked dead: grey and drawn, with black hollow eyes and an accusing glare.

A gleam spread over the wood-paneled dashboard from the overhead light. Fixated on the angry wraith in the mirror, she didn’t notice her father get in.

Is that what Etan saw? No wonder he pissed himself.

She jumped when the engine started, then folded her arms across her stomach. Shivering chattered her teeth. Her father froze in place, head shifting to the right with a terrified look.

“Please tell me that you’ve been this cold all night, it’s not like a sign of failure?”

Natalie offered a noncommittal shrug. “I dunno. I don’t wanna hurt you anymore. I think I’m shaking ’cause I’m scared.”

He held her hand and tried to rub warmth into it.

“Mr. Copeland said he might be able to get the school to let me take retests. I swear I’ll work my butt off if I get the chance. I dunno if they’ll let me though. A psych would have to sign off saying I was under extreme dumbass.”

Dad sputtered a chuckle. “Extreme duress. From the divorce and such, I bet.”

“No.” She made a face so sad he couldn’t maintain eye contact. “Dumbass. You guys didn’t make me start ignoring school.”

“Nat, don’t dwell on that now. I don’t think the blame lies with any one person here. Let’s just concentrate on moving forward.”

She nodded, squeezing his hand. He dropped the car in gear and pulled out, astounded at the lack of other people. Comets of streetlamp light shot over the windshield. She peered to her right, watching the buildings go by one after the other. Two blocks later, she broke the silence.

“You want to see where it happened?”

The car swerved as his flinch transferred to the wheel, rocking back and forth. “Are you… still lying there?”

“Probably.” She muttered. “DJ Todd didn’t let me look back, said it was something I wouldn’t want to remember.”

“That’s a good sign.” His fingers creaked on the wheel.

“Why?” She glanced over at him.

He smiled, trying to look comforting. “It sounds like he expects you to make it. Why would he worry about that if he thought you’d fail?”

“I guess.” She looked at her lap again. “I’m not mad at you, Dad. Mom’s the one who ruined it.”

“We all had a part to play, hon. Your mother didn’t make me drag you through the court system so much.”

“Yeah, she did. She was mad at you for divorcing her even though it was her fault.

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