Page 68 of Dark Shadows

Font Size:

Page 68 of Dark Shadows

She hung up, understanding crashing over her like ice water. The gun was steadily pointed at her as Wesley pulled out of the parking lot.

“Your precious FBI agent never saw me coming. He didn’t stand a chance. He's not good enough for you. None of them were,” Wesley said conversationally, as if discussing the weather.

“Where is he?”

Wesley turned onto the road leading out of town. “The barn where it all started. Kind of fitting, don't you think? The place where no one believed you. The place where I made them start believing.”

“You killed the pedophile?”

“Had to start somewhere.” Wesley shrugged. “Thought that one would make you happy. Then Beverly.” Wesley frowned. “She deserved it after how she treated you and what she said. I’d kill them all for you.”

“And Mason? What did he do to deserve it?”

Wesley's expression changed, something dark replacing the familiar warmth. “He got in the way. He made you forget who really cares about you. Who's always been watching out for you.”

“Stalking me.”

“Loving!” The word exploded from him. “Everything I did was for you. The murders, the symbols, making them believe; all of it for you! I watched you cry in my father's office. Heard everything through the vents. I knew then that I had to make them pay. Make them all see what I saw.”

“You watched and listened to my therapy sessions?” Her mouth parted.

“I listen to them all. It’s how I know the entire town's secrets. Especially the dark ones that people don’t want anyone else to know.”

The barn appeared in the distance, dark against the afternoon sky. Savanah's fingers brushed the pepper spray in her pocket that Mason had insisted she carry. Mason, who was waiting somewhere inside, who needed her.

“It's almost over, and then we can be together. We can leave together, just you and me this time. We don’t need this town. They don’t get you the way I do,” Wesley said softly, his voice almost gentle again. “Soon you'll understand. We'll make them all understand.”

Savanah stared straight ahead, her heart pounding against her ribs. She'd been wrong about so many things; Richard's watching, her mother's understanding, even her own courage.

But she wouldn't be wrong about this. She’d kill Wesley before he could hurt anyone she loved.

28

The barn loomed in the distance. It somehow appeared bigger now. More dangerous. Savanah's memories of this place had haunted her for years. The body she'd seen, the disbelief that followed, the way it had shattered her world. Now history was repeating itself, but this time, she wasn't a helpless child.

Wesley parked in front of it and turned off the engine. “Home sweet home.” His voice held that terrifying gentleness, like they’d been going to a movie matinee instead of confronting whatever horror waited for her inside. The gun never wavered from her side. “Let's go say hello and goodbye to your boyfriend.”

Inside, the barn smelled of hay and blood. Afternoon light filtered through broken boards, dust motes dancing in the beams. Mason sat slumped forward in the center of the room tied to a chair. Blood matted his hair.

“Mason?” Her voice cracked.

He lifted his head slowly, eyes focusing on her. A bruise darkened his jaw. “Savanah.”

“Shut up.” Wesley's gentle tone vanished. He pressed the gun harder against her ribs. “You don't get to talk to her anymore.”

Savanah's mind raced. The pepper spray was in her pocket, but Wesley stood too close. One wrong move and she didn’t stand a chance.

“Why, Wes?” She forced herself to meet his eyes. The same eyes that had watched over her and Tina for years. “After all this time.”

“All this time, I protected you.” He gestured with his free hand. “Watched you cry in my father's office. Heard them call you crazy. Saw what it did to you.” His laugh was hollow. “I heard it all through the heating vent. Every session. Every tear. Every time they broke you a little more. Then you left me. I followed you first to that college where you never fit in and then to that shit-hole of a town. The bar you were working at. You needed a reminder of what waited for you here. You needed to come home, back to me.”

“Run, Savanah! He won’t shoot you; he loves you.” Mason struggled against his bonds.

Wesley whirled, pointing the gun straight at Mason’ head.

“But I will shoot you!”

“Wes, please.” Savanah stepped forward, drawing his attention back to her. “Talk to me, like you used to when things got bad. Just you and me. Remember?”