Almost Midnight (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3.5)(38)

“Fine.” Chase turned back to the piece of shit on the floor and pointed a finger at him. “If I see you before I leave, I’m gonna hit you again. And I swear when I’m done, you’ll have so much blood on you, that you’ll put that vampire to shame. So you’d better not go back to your cabin tonight.”



NOVEMBER 1, 2 P.M.

NEWS FLASH: UPDATE

Search and Rescue volunteer hurt trying to reach plane crash

One of the rescue members with Search and Rescue (SAR) has fallen down a thirty-foot embankment while trying to reach the crash site of the Cessna 210—the plane that went down last night in the Jasper Mountain Range carrying four passengers and one pilot. Two emergency crew members carried the man to the site where an emergency helicopter is meeting them to transport the man to the local hospital. While the injuries are not life threatening, initial reports state that he suffered a broken leg and collarbone.

Tom Phillips, a volunteer with SAR who is more familiar with the Jasper Mountain Range, is busy trying to find a new and safer route to get to the wreckage. Meanwhile, temperatures continue to drop, making the conditions even more dangerous for any potential survivors, as well as the team trying to reach them.





Chapter Five


OCTOBER 31, 2:15 P.M.

They stormed out of the haunted house and Chase continued to rush them forward. He didn’t want to chance meeting Eric again. He might just have to kill him. And he wanted to get Mindy somewhere quiet so he could make sure she was okay.

They made it almost a block to where a long picnic table sat in front of a concession stand. He motioned to the table, thinking Mindy might need to sit down. As soon as he got there he turned to her.

“Are you sure you’re okay? If he … if he hurt you, I’ll go back and find him and break his friggin’ neck.”

“No,” Mindy said, still standing, but her voice shook a little. “He didn’t do anything but … grope me. I’m fine.”

“Crap!” Tami said. “Look at your hand, Chase. You’re bleeding and your knuckles are swelling.”

She caught his hand and held it. “You need some ice. I’ll go get some.” She took off and Chase turned back to his sister.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to find you.”

“Oh gawd, Chase, it wasn’t your fault. I was stupid,” she said, her voice wavering a little less. “I went with him behind the curtain thinking all he’d do was kiss me, but…” She hesitated. “Please don’t tell Mom or Dad. I mean, it’s not like something really happened. He didn’t even get inside my shirt. I was just … so pissed that I fell for him and that I couldn’t stop him. He was stronger than I was.” She bit down on her lip. “Please, please don’t tell. You know this would freak them out and Dad … Hell, Dad would kill him.”

Yeah, his dad probably would kill Eric. Chase knew he wanted to. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She took a few steps closer. “Thanks to you, I am. And I’ve been so mean to you today. I’m sorry I was a bitch. I promise you that I’ll never be a snot to you again.”

Seeing Mindy acting like Mindy, the nicer Mindy, had the panic in his chest lessening. Unfortunately, the panic was probably what had stopped his hand from hurting, because it was throbbing like a mofo now.

Before he knew what Mindy intended to do, she hugged him. They hadn’t hugged each other since his mom stopped making them hug to make up after a fight. Oddly, this one was nicer.

He really did love his sister, even when she was a snot.

“Thank you,” she said and pulled back.

She looked around him. “Here comes Tami with the ice.” She glanced down at his hand. “I’m sorry you got hurt.”

“I’m fine,” he lied.

She made a face, looking from Tami back to him. “Look, I know you have a thing for Tami and … if you tell her I said this, I’ll lie and say I didn’t, but…” She looked up again. “She kind of has a thing for you, too. I didn’t approve, but after seeing you two today, I think you might be great together. So, go for it. You have my permission to date my best friend. But be nice to her.”

Chase’s head reeled with that piece of information.

“Here.” Tami came running up with a cup of ice and some paper towels. “They didn’t have any plastic baggies, so this will have to do.” She pulled him over to the picnic table. “Sit down and let me put ice on it.” He sat down on the bench facing her instead of the table. She stepped between his legs, and quickly started emptying ice into the paper towels.

“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.” It wasn’t a lie this time. Hearing that Tami had a thing for him chased the pain away.

She picked up his hand and dropped the paper towel filled with ice on it. “You were awesome,” she said. In the corner of his eye, he saw his sister move a few feet away as if giving them space.

He glanced up at Tami. “Not really. I should have chased his ass off a long time ago.”

“Mindy wouldn’t have let you. Besides, I … never thought watching a guy fight would be hot, but it was.”

“You think I’m hot?” he asked, loving the sound of that.

She grinned. “I think you’re a hero.”