The Suburban Book of the Dead
By Jamie Sands
()
About this ebook
No one expected the last night of the Summer holidays to be deadly.
Rain and her best friends Rachel and Jackie head to the carnival. Rain's plan was to chat up Jake, who runs the Ferris Wheel, and maybe get a kiss or two.
But then Rachel's killed in mysterious circumstances, and none of them will ever be the same again.
When Rachel returns as a ghost insisting Rain find out who killed her and why, she turns to Jake, who knows more than he seems to. In fact, he's encountered weird stuff like ghosts and monsters before.
So now she just has to grieve for a friend who she's still talking to, try not to fall deeper in love with Jake, keep her family off her back, decide who to trust, infiltrate the funfair and find Rachel's killer. Piece of cake, right?
Jamie Sands
Jamie grew up in Wellington, New Zealand, and was a library devotee and constant reader of fiction from an early age. Their fiction covers many genre including Romantic Comedy, Horror, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy and Cosy Mysteries. They’ve had stories published in Baby Teeth horror anthology, Enamel literary magazine and self published a number of roleplaying games. They live in Auckland, New Zealand, with their fiance and a round cat called Mochi. Jamie’s visited Japan twice (another trip is always planned) and would like to move into Tokyo Disneyland. Find Jamie online at their website which includes links to their facebook author page, twitter, newsletter and roleplaying games they've written. *** If you've noticed any grammatical errors, typos or plot holes, please get in touch, I'd love to correct these and it's relatively easy in digital formats.
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The Suburban Book of the Dead - Jamie Sands
1
Friday evening, at the fair
Rain’s phone beeped. A message from Rachel. Yeah, she needed to get going. She was going to kiss the boy tonight. If she was late? Well, it wouldn’t ruin her plan, but there was a chance she’d just put it off again. That wasn’t an option.
She only had tonight, then it was back to school on Monday. Back to a horrible scratchy uniform which made absolutely everyone look frumpy.
She adjusted her jeans and checked the earrings she’d stolen from her sister were facing the right way. She gave herself the once-over in the mirror.
Maybe more eyeliner? She leaned in to apply it. She took a deep breath, lowered the eyeliner pencil and looked straight into her own eyes.
‘You got this. You are Rain: Boy attracting super star. Calm. Down.’
Her phone buzzed with a message from Rachel.
Rachel: Where r u? Hurry up!
Rain replied. Leaving now. Chill.
Rain nodded at herself the mirror, grabbed her bag and headed out.
She met her two best friends at seven, outside the carnival.
‘Rain! You look so good,’ Jacky said. Rain grinned back at her and then she gave Rachel a separate smile, more of a smirk.
‘Tonight’s the night,’ she said. Her eyes strayed towards the Ferris wheel.
‘Squeee!’ Jacky clutched Rain’s hand. ‘Is it really?’
‘I don’t believe it. You’ve said the same thing every time we’ve come here. All summer, and you still haven’t spoken a word to him. What makes tonight different?’
‘It’s the last day of the holidays, we’re seniors at school this year and life is short. Tonight I’m really gonna do it, that’s what’s different. Okay?’
Rachel looked away, backing off for the moment. Rain knew she’d been uncharacteristically shy about Ferris Wheel Boy. She’d been with boys before, but she was used to it being a boy she already knew; a boy from school, or a friend of a friend.
Ferris Wheel Boy was a stranger and gave her butterflies.
She’d broken things off with her last boyfriend when she got bored. Ferris Wheel Boy looked as if he’d never bore her.
They went into the fair, taking the familiar path up one row of side shows. Cutting between the shooting range and the clowns’ heads game to the snack alley. There the scent of burnt sugar and chocolate syrup almost masked the smell of rubbish decomposing.
They bought carnival food: a hot dog for Jacky, candy floss for Rain and sugar crusted nuts for Rachel. Rain’s gaze slipped to the Ferris wheel. Her heart thumped. She thought of hundreds of reasons to back out. Good, valid reasons like she needed to stick with her friends or she felt sick from the smells of the place. (Or that she still had feelings for her ex. That wasn’t true.)
‘Tonight you’re doing it,’ she told herself. She struck out towards the Ferris wheel. Rain: boy attracting superhero was unstoppable.
The line for the Ferris wheel was short. Rain assumed the posture she’d seen in one of her sister’s fashion magazines. Shifting her weight to one side, she let her hip jut out and lifted her chin.
‘What with you?’ Rachel said. ‘You hurt your back or something?’
‘I’m fine,’ Rain hissed, although she was blushing. ‘Just be cool, okay?’
The boy operating the Ferris wheel looked towards them. Rain took a step forward, struck the pose and smiled at him. She held her candy floss to one side, hoping it would make her look fun and carefree but not younger than her eighteen years.
‘Hey,’ he said. He reached out for her ticket. His skin was tanned from the long hours outdoors in the sun, his shoulders looked muscled and smooth under his t-shirt. What would those arms feel like around her?
‘Hey.’ Her heart pounded furiously; it felt like it was rattling her ribcage. She smiled and held his gaze, not giving him her ticket just yet.
‘So, um, I’ve seen you a few times now,’ she said.
The boy smiled at her, one side of his mouth hitching up more than the other. She thought he looked world weary and stunning; he must be at least nineteen, maybe twenty. His eyes were an intriguing mix of green and grey and his hair was dark, almost black.
‘You guys are really keen on the Ferris wheel, huh? I’ve seen you come past a bunch of times.’
Rain’s smile turned from practised boy-attracting super wattage to genuine happiness.
‘I’ve noticed you too.’. She felt Jacky and Rachel’s gazes burning into the back of her neck.
‘You have, have you?’ The boy raised an eyebrow. She felt a thrill of excitement.
His eyes glinted with a smile, crinkled up in the corners.
‘Yeah, and I was wondering, when do you get a break?’ She took a bite of her candy floss, to make it seem like she didn’t care about his answer too much.
‘I get a break right after this ride. Jim’ll take over so I can go for a drink.’
‘Cool.’ She wasn’t sure whose move was next. It seemed weird to ask herself along on his break, so she twisted a finger in her hair and hoped for the best.
‘Why don’t you join me?’ he said, leaning in a bit closer. Rain caught a brief hint of his scent, intoxicating and sultry.
‘Could be cool,’ she said. She moved into the Ferris wheel’s car. Rachel sat beside her. Jacky hopped in and sat facing backwards.
They waited until they were up in the air before they congratulated her.
‘You were so cool,’ Jacky gushed. She put her hand on Rain’s knee.
‘And he’s better looking than your last three boyfriends, so. That’s good,’ Rachel said.
‘Thanks.’
She leaned back in the seat, nudging Rachel with her elbow. Her bravery had paid off, and the Ferris wheel boy had not only asked her to join him on his break but had noticed her before! He knew who she was: it was huge. She realised she hadn’t asked his name.
‘But I’m not saying I approve,’ Rachel continued. ‘Just because he’s cute doesn’t mean he’s a good person, he could be one of those freaks who sends pictures of their dick.’
‘Gross, Rach,’ Jacky said. She stuck her tongue out in disgust.
Rain laughed gently. Most people saw Rachel as abrasive but Rain knew she used it to as a defence, and she was fiercely protective of her and Jacky.
‘Yeah, I know,’ Rain said, laughing. ‘You know me, I’m always careful.’
Rachel smirked back and relaxed into her chair.
They were high enough to see over the city now. The sun was going down and the clouds were turning pink. The breeze at the top of the wheel felt cool and refreshing. Rain leaned on Rachel and sighed happily. This was going to be the perfect ending to the summer.
The Ferris wheel stopped moving when they were at the top. Jacky fussed around in her bag and pulled out her camera, being careful not to smear the case with her mustardy fingers.
‘A photo for prosperity.’
‘You mean posterity,’ Rachel said.
‘A little prosperity would be nice too, though,’ Rain said.
‘Lean in, you two.’ Jacky positioned the camera. Rain pressed her cheek to Rachel’s and grinned. Jacky shuffled around in the car, making it sway alarmingly. She moved in front and took a photo of the three of them.
‘Sit down, will you, Jacky?’ Rachel said. ‘I’m getting seasick.’
‘We’re up in the air, not at sea,’ Rain laughed. ‘You can’t get seasick up here.’
‘You know what I mean, I don’t want a repeat of the caramel corn incident,’ Rachel said. Jacky sat down, her eyes wide. Rain felt bad for her.
‘I bet it will be an awesome photo of us, Jacky. You have to get prints for us okay?’ She brightened up and nodded.
‘Gimme,’ Rachel said. She leaned over to take the camera off Jacky. She held it at arm’s length, shuffling so all three of them were in frame before snapping off a few more pictures.
‘I dunno why you even bother with a camera, isn’t your phone enough?’ Rachel grumbled as she handed the camera back to Jacky.
‘My phone’s no good, remember? It’s my brother’s old one.’ Jacky pouted. ‘Anyway, I like my camera. It’s vintage.’
‘You just don’t understand about hand me downs,’ Rain said. She elbowed Rachel, laughing a little.
‘Ow.’
‘Lucky only child that you are.’
Rachel rubbed her arm and scowled at Rain.
‘If this is another rant about how lucky I am to never have to share anything you can leave off, I’ve heard it before. Besides, with you two always coming around it’s like I have two sisters who use up my make-up and stretch out my clothes.’
‘Aw, so sweet.’ Rain put her arm around Rachel and grinned at Jacky. ‘We love you too.’
‘And I really love your taste in clothes,’ Jacky added, giggling.
‘Get off!’ Rachel pushed at Rain, but she was laughing.
When they got off the Ferris wheel, Rain stood around wondering what to say. Jacky and Rachel hovered, unsure if they should let her have privacy or stick together. Rain wanted to tell them to go but she was less confident now the time had come, so she didn’t say anything.
A tall older man wearing a Metallica t-shirt had arrived to take over the Ferris wheel from the boy of Rain’s dreams. The Ferris wheel boy disappeared behind the machinery and Rain used the moment to reassert herself as Rain: boy-attracting glowing goddess.
She fluffed her chestnut hair out with her hands and gave her empty candy floss cone to Jacky. She took a deep breath. The boy appeared in front of her.
‘Hey,’ he said. ‘Shall we go?’
‘I’m Rain,’ she said, taking control of the conversation as best she could. ‘These are my friends Rachel and Jacky.’
‘My name’s Storm,’ he said. Rain hesitated.
‘It is not,’ she said. But then she second guessed her assumption, because people said her name was made up all the time. ‘Is it?’ The boy was laughing, low and sexy.
‘Nah, I’m Jake. Sorry, I thought you were giving me a fake name.’
‘Real name, sadistic parents.’ It was Rain’s standard answer for the question, but this time she smiled as she said it.
Jacky and Rachel, the Ferris wheel, the carnival - faded into the distant past. The only thing that existed for Rain was right there in front of her, shrugging on a leather jacket which she thought was too hot to be wearing. His name was Jake. She liked the way it sounded. How long until could bring herself to say it out loud?
‘Shall we?’ Rain nodded and remembered her friends.
‘We’ll catch you later, Jacky wants to go on the ghost train,’ Rachel said. Her smile stretched her mouth but didn’t reach her eyes. She watched Jake more than she was looking at Rain. She took Jacky’s arm, her expression telling Rain she owed her big time.
‘Right,’ Jacky said, playing along. She was a super star at playing along. It was one of the things Rain liked about her.
‘Cool, I’ll just catch up with you later,’ Rain said. Panic rose in her as they moved away.
‘Text!’ Rachel yelled before turning a corner out of sight. Rain nodded and turned back to Jake, suddenly she didn’t feel like a boy-attracting goddess but a boring school girl who had spent the summer working up the courage to talk to one cute boy.
Jake held out his hand to her, he wore a leather cuff on his wrist along with a battered woven friendship bracelet like the ones tourists bought in Guatemala.
Rachel had been there a few years back and brought Rain one just like it. She had worn it constantly for a month and then lost it in a swimming pool. The bracelets anchored Jake in the real world. She could deal with the real world. Her nervousness vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.
She smiled and took his hand. He started moving.
He pulled her through the fairground, going too fast and weaving through the back ways, behind trailers and around tent ropes. It exhilarated Rain to see backstage, the hidden side of the carnival.
Jake called out to people as he ran, checking back on her every so often. His hand was big, his grip on her was strong and even in the heat of the summer evening his hand felt cool. Like the machinery he’d been working had left a chill on him.
Jake came to a stop and Rain stumbled, the inertia pulling her into him. He caught hold of her to stop her from falling.
‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know we were stopping.’ Jake’s body was so close to hers. The edge of the zip on his jacket brushed the exposed skin on her chest. Her breath caught in her throat.
‘It’s no problem, Rain.’ He said her name the way she imagined angels would say it. He leaned into her, she put her hand on his arm. There was a moment while both of them caught their breath and Rain got lost in his eyes.
‘Wassup bro?’ a masculine voice shouted nearby.
Flustered, Rain turned away and peered into the darkness at the edge of the fair. Jake had brought her to the back of the fairground.
There was a huge chain link perimeter fence and litter everywhere. She was staring past it when she saw something move. On the other side of the fence there was a shape. She couldn’t make it out, the light was fading fast and her eyes weren’t adjusting. She squinted into the darkness. Whatever it was scuttled to the left; silently despite the empty food packets and discarded Coke cans.
She went towards the fence, it was probably just a cat. Nothing to be concerned about. On the other hand it could be a wild dog or something really dangerous. She remembered the late nights she’d stayed up telling spooky stories. Maybe it was an escaped mental patient with a penchant for hacking up teenage girls with an axe. She bent at the waist to look closer, curious to find out.
‘What’re you doing?’ Rain straightened to see Jake holding two jumbo sized red slushies.
‘Nothing, I just, I-I thought I saw something.’ Rain smiled and took one of the cups from him. ‘Thanks.’
‘You wanna sit down?’ Jake gestured to some wooden crates and deck chairs set up next to a storage container. A couple of other teenagers were sitting there, talking and sharing a pack of potato chips.
‘Sure.’
They’d barely sat down when they heard a scream. Rain jumped but Jake patted her knee and passed her the bag of chips.
‘It’s the Death Drop,’ he said. ‘Goes every ten minutes, don’t let it bug you.’
‘Yeah, of course,’ Rain said, laughing it off even though she had goose bumps up and down her arms. The Death Drop was one of those awful rides where you were strapped in and then lifted way too high into the air. You waited up there for a while, enjoying the view, and then it dropped you straight down.
Rain had ridden it, only once at the start of the summer and never again, she didn’t trust the brakes.
She took a small handful of chips and ate them without getting crumbs everywhere; she passed the bag on to the next kid and supressed a shiver. Now the sun was gone the air was cooling.
‘You’re cold,’ Jake said. He shrugged off his jacket.
He’d noticed. She slid forward on her deck chair, leaning so he could drape the jacket over her.
‘Thanks,’ she said. She looked up at him through her eyelashes, hoping it made her seem mysterious. Jake smiled his lopsided smile again.
His smell enveloped her: warm leather, boy bath products and something spicy she couldn’t identify. The weight of the jacket made it feel like he was holding her.
His plain white t-shirt fit tight enough to show off the muscle definition in his arms. A black line hinting at a tattoo showed under the sleeve and there was a long scar on his forearm. Was it a Ferris wheel related injury?
There was another scream, long and drawn out. Rain looked up at Jake, pleased she hadn’t jumped again, but curious.
‘Has it been ten minutes?’
‘Has what?’
‘Since the last one. Has it been long enough for the Death Drop to go again?’
‘No.’ He stood up, turned to the guy next to him. ‘What do you think?’
The other boy shrugged. ‘Dunno man, could it be an accident or something?’
Suddenly, screams and panicked shouts split the night. Rain jumped up.
‘What do you think it is?’ She turned to the others.
The others shrugged as the noise surged, now sounding like a whole crowd of people shouting.
‘Does this happen much?’
‘No,’ a blonde girl said.
‘Sometimes,’ said a dark haired boy.
Rain looked from one to the other, confused. She didn’t know either of them, didn’t know who was more likely to be telling her the truth.
Were Jacky and Rachel okay? What if the screams were them?
‘Don’t worry about it,’ the boy said. ‘It’s nothing.’
Rain looked at the spot beside her where Jake had been a moment ago. He’d gone.
2
Friday night, at the Fair
Rain turned to follow Jake but the dark haired boy had her by the arm, he smiled. But it wasn’t friendly, it was more like she was food. It reminded her of the predatory look of the sharks at the aquarium, all teeth.
‘What’re you doing? Let go.’ Rain looked around at the other kids.
‘Nah,’ the boy said. He tightened his grip. ‘We want you to stay.’
‘I won’t,’ she said. The others had the same hungry look about them.
‘Let me go!’ Surely someone would hear. Another boy took hold of her other arm. Together they pushed her back towards the chain link fence. Her heart beat with painful ferocity. Those smiles triggered something primal in her, a raging desire to run away.
‘It won’t hurt,’ a dark haired girl said, her eyes narrow. ‘Well, not for long.’
‘It’s too good an opportunity to miss,’ the boy said. ‘With the distraction and all.’
Fear turned Rain’s belly into a hard knot of tension, she struggled to catch her breath, trying to twist away from their grabbing hands.
‘What? What are you doing?’ Rain had thought she had been scared before, when she was getting up the nerve to talk to Jake. It was nothing compared to the terror she felt now. Was this some kind of weird hazing ritual? Were they going to rape her? Where the Hell was Jake?
One of the boys approached with a rope. Her back was to the fence now, more hands held her there while he lashed her to it by her wrists. Behind her, in the dark, she heard something rustling, were they behind her too?
‘Please, let me go,’ she said, nearly sobbing.
‘You should be pleased,’ the tallest boy said. His sandy surfer hair fell into his eyes as he tightened the knots. ‘Not everyone gets to help us out like this.’ He gave her a smile, it seemed genuine.
‘They’re never pleased though are they?’ the dark haired girl said, pouting. ‘It’s such an honour and they just whine and cry and scream.’
‘I hope she screams,’ a smaller girl said. Her eyes reflected the light back like a cat’s in the darkness.
‘The ancient ones appreciate your offering.’
The gang backed away, laughing.
‘Thanks for your sacrifice!’ Surfer Guy said, laughing. As one, the group of teenagers turned and ran.
‘Sacrifice?’ Rain gasped. But she was alone, pinned by her arms from the fence.
Behind her the rustling increased. She strained to look, see if it was the gang of kids, but she could only see the fence. The rustling changed to a low chittering noise. Like birds or rats talking to each other