I look up and answer with more honesty than Ginny can probably comprehend. “I have no idea.”
CHAPTER 16
T
here’s a witch
and a vampire on my doorstep, and they yell and I fill their bags. I used to love Halloween. Especially in my neighborhood. John, Ricky, and I would get together and hit every house. In middle school we started egging and using shaving cream. It was fun, but not as much as that rush of all that candy and how cool it was to be somebody else. I shut the door and Dad’s standing in the hall.
“Everything okay, Benny?” He steps closer.
“Yeah, yeah, I was lost in my head. You know?” I force a little laugh and that brings a smile to his face.
“Do I ever. These days? It’s all I do.”
Dad lost his job because he refused the transfer; we move in a few days; yesterday my interim came home; today is Halloween and our next dare. I’ve had to begin packing up my childhood; my grades are in the toilet; and the dare we’re about to complete, Ricky says it’s going to get us arrested or killed. For real.
And there’s Alexia. It’s so sad, I don’t know if I’m more angry or frustrated or ashamed. She called Chantel crying, and when Chantel went to her house, Alexia had the same kind of bruises I saw around her wrist up around her bicep. Jesse was angry, said he was being set up over the dares, took it out on her. When Chantel told me that, I almost choked. It’s my fault this happened. It was my idea to pin it on Jesse. Sometimes I think I have good ideas, and then I do shit like this, and I realize how much I don’t understand.
I feel like going up to my room, climbing into one of the boxes and sealing myself off from my life. But I say, “It’s okay, Dad. We’ll get through this.”
“Yeah, I guess,” he says, “but I wanted to retire here. In this house.” His eyes are filled and I have to look away. “Days like this, the kids. Reminds me of you and Ginny growing up. God, it was so much fun.”
I feel like I’ve been kicked in the ribs, but the doorbell rings again, and I look at Dad.
He runs a hand over his head. “I’ll be okay, I promise.”
“I know.” But I don’t. I’m heading out to potentially bring him more headache.
I open the door, take care of the kids, and then say good-bye to Dad, who’s leaning against the wall, half-dazed. He waves, and I take the steps and notice the pumpkin. It’s fake, plugged into the socket, dimly burning in the fading daylight.
—
I watch the street,
notice the parents who are out, and wonder how we’re going to get behind the gym without being seen. Between them and the security cameras on each corner, we need to skirt along the edge and haul ass. John’s quiet and seems to be thinking the same as me. I point to a house next to the building. The lights are off. John nods and I move like I know what the hell I’m doing.
I open the metal gate and it creaks. John shuts it behind us and I walk onto the porch, digging in my pocket as if looking for my key. The storm door bumps behind us and my heart pounds in my ears.
“Ben, what are we doing?”
“Turn around and tell me if you see any of those parents watching us.”
The floorboards creak under John’s feet and I cringe. But there’s no light or noise from inside, and a second later John whispers, “We’re good.”
I take a deep breath. “Count to five and then head to the backyard. We’ll hop the fence.”
“’K. One, two, three . . .”
While John counts, I take two more steadying breaths. I should have stayed home with my parents and enjoyed our last Halloween in the house.
“Five.”
We move together, down the steps and to the back. The front door pops loudly, but we’re already halfway to the back. John keeps moving and heads to the far corner, and even with a cast, easily vaults over the low fence and disappears in the shadows. I follow and land next to him. We scramble to a tree twenty yards away, and it feels like we’re crossing enemy lines in some war.
We sit and listen. I wait for someone to come out of the house yelling at us, or for the cops to roll up. Nothing happens. The night grows darker. John flicks the wrist on his broken arm as if looking for a watch.
“Shit. I can’t wait for this to get cut off. What time is it?”
“I don’t know.”
John looks at me for a long moment, to the point that it’s uncomfortable.
“What? I don’t wear a watch.”
He looks away. “That’s not it.” He pauses, looks around. “What are we doing? And don’t tell me the next dare, I know that. I mean, big picture. Yeah, I need the money and all, but there’s no way we’re pulling that off. And I’m starting to think this whole legacy bullshit is just that. What does it matter what kids at school think of us when we’re gone? They sure as shit don’t think much of us now.”
I shake my head and stare into the dark. That was a lot. But it was also exactly what I’ve been thinking for a while. “But don’t you like the dares? Just them, by themselves.”
“I guess. It’s like it was before with Ricky. But you know how that ended, so it’s hard to say they make all of that go away? Is that how it is for you?”
This is so much like the conversation I had with Ricky, I give the same answer. “The rush, like when we were kids. I love it. I’m not gonna lie. But I hope it’s different this time. What else can I do?”
John nods. “I get it. I’m not there with you. But I am here.”
“Good, you’re here.” Ricky’s voice comes out of the trees, and I sink into John before I realize who’s spoken. Ricky emerges with Trevor, who’s got his laptop out and is intently working on what he sees on his screen.
“Shit, you scared me!” I sit up and act calm, but my heart is thudding.
Ricky ignores me and turns to Trevor. “How long?”
Trevor scrunches his face. “Two minutes, give or take.”
Ricky’s eyes play over the screen, and it’s difficult to tell if he likes what he sees. He turns to us. “In about two minutes, the school alarm is going to go off. Before that happens, we need to haul ass over to the cemetery. This will buy us a half hour, tops, and we’ll need all that time.”
“What? Why?” My voice sounds like a small child’s.
“Without this distraction, we’ll get caught in the cemetery. Trevor’s hacked into the system.”
“That’s insane. You said this could be illegal, but are you trying to get caught?” John’s voice is much stronger than mine.
Ricky’s jaw tightens. “He’s under McNeil’s account. It will look like the ass accidentally scheduled a fire drill when they go and investigate.”
My brain scrambles with all that’s going on. What we’re doing
is
illegal. And if whatever we’re about to do requires a distraction large enough to pull police and fire crews away from would-be vandals prowling town, there’s no way it can be good.
The alarm sounds. Trevor snaps his laptop closed and slides it into the bag around his shoulder. “We should run.”
And we do. We fly over the back trails that the cross-country kids use and make our way to the cemetery in no time. Red and blue lights flash out of the entrance and sirens wail, all heading away from where we came. We move down the hill and into the back clearing of the cemetery, where they haven’t buried anyone. Yet.
My heart is pounding and my legs are wobbly and my mouth is dry.
“Over here.” Ricky motions us over to a wall of overgrown ivy. He pulls back a section, like a curtain, and behind it is a catapult.
Every year the physics class builds these as a project for extra credit. I didn’t bother to take the opportunity. They’re for tomorrow when kids bring in pumpkins for the annual pumpkin launch. The catapult that throws the pumpkin the farthest wins.
“We have to wheel it out.” Ricky points to the dolly beneath it.
He and I take hold and haul the sucker. John shakes his head, and Trevor keeps at his computer.
“Right here,” Ricky says, and two orange spray-painted X’s are visible.
We set the back edge of the catapult on them and stand aside. I stare at the contraption and consider its function. This is a good one, possibly the best. It’s downright medieval looking and the counterweight is enormous.
I peer into the dark and think I see something light-colored in the distance. Then lights flood on.
John and I hunker down.
“I rigged these.” Ricky points up to the trees where ten workshop lamps shine down. Four on the catapult. Two on the space just beyond, and four on the light-colored space I saw: hay bales. “They run off a lead cord from the house over there. Let’s hope they don’t blow a fuse.” He laughs, and is the only one doing so. “I had the same guys who built the ramps drag in all this. What do you think?”
It’s impressive. The work is intricate and the plan beautifully orchestrated. The sirens are audible in the distance and the entire scene has a sense of urgency that will certainly translate to the film. I refuse to say any of this. “What the fuck are we doing?”
“Really, Benny? You haven’t figured this out?” He bends over and unzips a black bag that must have been sitting here. He pulls out a helmet, and affixed to the top is a camera. He hands it to me. “We’re going for a ride. And you are first.”
I take the helmet, not because I want to, but because I have no choice. Or do I? “Ricky, seriously?”
He nods. “What?”
I wave my arms around. “All this. How much did you tell O. P.? Because there’s no way he would come up with this on his own. He is either from this town or this is your idea.”
John lets out a low groan at my side. Trevor keeps checking the laptop.
“Got me. I helped with this.” Ricky puts up his hands. “Hear me out.”
I set down the helmet and cross my arms over my chest. “Go ahead.”
“The dare he sent was nothing really ballsy. And because we’re trying to make up for lost ground, I decided I’d give my two cents for something that will draw the views.” He looks back at the catapult. “I think this should do it.”
He’s right, this would get me to watch. But still. “Even after realizing how much of a douche O. P. is, you helped him.”
“Ben, this is business, you should understand that.” He looks at John. “I promised you that I’d make this right. Here’s how. What’s wrong?”
I know what John’s thinking because we talked about it, so I speak up. “It isn’t about the dare, the fun, or the legacy anymore, is it? It’s only about the cash for you.”
Ricky looks like I’ve spit in his face. He stoops down and picks up the helmet. “Ben, you know me well enough. I dig this shit more than anyone. So for me, it’s always about the thrill. I still believe in the legacy. I believe that we can walk away from this shithole as gods.” He puts the helmet back in my hands. The weight is significant. “But, yeah, it’s
also
about the money. And considering things for all of us, that’s not a bad place to be.”
I hold his gaze for a moment and take a deep breath. “Help me clip this thing.”
“But first, shirts. Guys, put ’em on. And then these.” Ricky moves to the bag and holds up black latex gloves. “We have to cover John’s cast, so we all need to wear them.”
John looks at his cast and shakes his head. We exchange a quick look, collect our gear, and put it all on. When I pick the helmet back up, my hands are shaking. Ricky is directing to Trev, who has the camera on his shoulder. I turn and John helps buckle his helmet. Ricky begins.
“Since it is Halloween, we have a special treat for you, our dear audience. You will get split screen footage of each launch. The helmet cam and our full screen.” Trevor’s camera light falls on me. I feel like a deer standing in the middle of the road.
“Of course, tonight’s dare is brought to you by Get Out There Adventure, but also, by Pizza and More.” Ricky twirls his hand and I oblige by slowly spinning for the camera. Chuck’s logo is on the front and Ginny’s daredevil crew is on the back. “So sit back and enjoy, all you ghouls. Here we go.”
Ricky steps quickly to me and my fear takes over. I say, “This is insane. If I don’t hit the target . . .”
“No more talking. We’ve had our time for that.” He gets close to my face. “You can hear those sirens, right? As soon as they go off, we’d better kill these lights, or they’ll be headed our way. Got it?”
I breathe and nod.
“Besides, this should earn you twenty-five hundred. You cool with that?”
I do the math.
Really? 10,000 hits?
Ricky guides me to the bucket, and I hesitate for a second but then lay inside. It’s wooden and sticks into my back and ribs, but I don’t say a word. “And now the helmet cam.” Ricky flips a switch and there’s an audible hum above my forehead. “Good luck.” He pats my shoulder and returns to his narration.
I have no idea what he’s saying, but can hear the murmur of his voice. My heart is pounding in my head so severely, I might hurl. I can see the target from here and I can guess that it’s about 200 feet. I weigh 150 pounds. How much force is needed to get me from here to there? Fuck, I really should give Newton the credit he deserves. Every law applies right now.
“In three, two . . .”
I cross my arms over my chest and pray.
“One!”
There’s a creak and a groan that sounds like an ancient vault being opened and my stomach drops into my spine. But then there’s a sudden
whip
, followed by a
whoosh
and I’m airborne. I can see the ground and the trees and the lights, and in the distance, the shining cop cars. Ahead lies the hay, and it seems so far away. And my body is sinking and I’m not going to make it.
I scream.
I don’t know what I’m saying. I may be crying, because I’ve only ever gone this fast in a car, and now I’ve got nothing to stop me but the ground. I’m not going to land on the hay. I’m going to hit the ground and break every bone in my body.
I’m steadily dropping, and I’ve stopped screaming and have accepted my punishment. It’s almost peaceful to think this is over. I close my eyes and . . . I sink. Into the hay and then bounce. I roll onto my back and stare up at the lights in the trees. The guys are screaming louder than the sirens, and this feels better than sex with Chantel.
As the sensation washes over me, I also know we’re all completely fucked, because if we’ve gone this far, there’s no way out now.