Patrick D'Orazio - Into the Dark

“So, guys, what’s up?” Jeff said in a friendly voice as he approached.

“Oh, I think you know what’s up,” Michael replied. He returned Jeff’s smile, though his was smug. “I’m sure Megan already filled you in.”

“She sure did, Mike.” Jeff’s eyes narrowed, but his grin never changed as Michael tensed at hearing his name shortened.

“So I am sure you’ll understand why I’m a bit confused. Why does Jason need to go out with us?”

Michael pointed to the boy. “It’s his choice. I don’t see any reason why he can’t make the decision for himself. He asked to go.”

“He’s twelve years old, for Christ's sake! That’s goddamn why!” Megan said as she rushed forward. Jeff grabbed her as she got close and pushed her back. He cursed silently, knowing he shouldn’t have believed her promise to let him handle this.

“You’re not my mother!” Jason snapped at her. He turned to George and pointed at him. “And he’s not my father! I can do whatever I want!” Now it was Michael’s turn to move in and hold someone back. The resentment in Jason’s voice was thick as he lashed out. “My parents are dead, and I don’t need anyone else telling me what to do!”

“Yes you do!” Megan fought against Jeff, but he wrapped both arms around her as she tried to move toward the boy. “Jason, please. Don’t do this! You can’t go back out there!”

The boy crossed his arms, his face contorted with a child’s rage. But he was staring at the ground now, refusing to look at the woman pleading with him.

“Y’all are full of shit! Ain’t none of you this boy’s parents,” Frank chimed in. “As far as I can tell, he’s old enough to go with us, and ain’t a damn thing any of you have to say about it.”

“Fuck you, you fat piece of shit! I’m going to kill you!” Megan screamed as Jeff retained a tight grip on her. She scratched and beat on him, but he held firm. He noticed Lydia moving up toward them. She arrived and acted as if she were going to lay her hands on the wild woman’s shoulders, but thought better of it and hovered a few feet back.

“Bring it on, bitch! I like it rough!” Frank spit in Megan’s direction and laughed at her.

Things were getting out of control. Jeff gave Megan a sharp squeeze, and in an instant, the air went out of her lungs. She wheezed, and he shook her slightly. She gaped at him, confusion on her face. Jeff glared at her until she was totally focused on him. She was still trying to catch her breath as he continued to peer at her.

That was when Lydia chose to step in. She walked up and touched Megan’s shoulder, caressing it gently. As Megan tried to move away, Lydia’s grip tightened. Jeff tensed, not sure what was going to happen next.

Megan began to weep.

“It’s okay, it’s okay… ” Lydia shushed her like a baby. She kept repeating the words and Jeff let Megan go so she could move into Lydia’s caring embrace. After a few seconds, the older woman looked up, and Jeff mouthed a silent “thank you.” She nodded as she comforted Megan.

Jeff watched them move back, Megan wrapped in Lydia’s protective cocoon. Steadying his racing heart, he turned around.

When he did, he got a face full of Frank. Jeff jumped as the other man stared at him through bloodshot eyes. When he breathed on Jeff, the sour stench of alcohol hung in the air.

The fat man was smiling at him. Jeff spared a brief glance down and saw Megan’s revolver jammed into Frank’s dirty work jeans, suspended in place by his tremendous beer gut.

“You better get a rope around that bitch of yours, or someone else will do it for you.”

Jeff made an exaggerated effort to look Frank up and down as a dark grin crossed his face. The man looked strong, his solid arms ending in two callous-thickened hands. Frank clenched his fists, looking ready to take a swing.

“And I suppose you think you’re the just the man to do it, don’t you, Frank?”

Frank’s eyebrow rose in curiosity. It was clear he hadn’t expected Jeff to do much but cower in response to his snide comment. His smile began to evaporate, and the pent-up rage buried just below the surface snuck onto Frank’s face. He leaned in, his right fist rising as he did. Jeff stood waiting, his body tense and ready.

Michael’s hand landed with a loud slap on Frank’s shoulder and he pulled his henchman backward.

“Ease up, Frank.”

The smile instantly returned to Frank’s face, but he glared at Jeff as he moved out of Michael’s way.

“You’ll have to forgive Frank once again. As I’ve said before, he’s a little overzealous, but he’s a good man.” Michael turned to give his rotund crony an angry look.

Frank’s smile faltered, and his hand went to his throat, touching the scab left by Michael’s blade from the day before. He took another step back, and no longer looked interested in fighting with Jeff.

Before Michael turned back to Jeff, he took the opportunity to look at everyone else around the camp. Megan and Lydia had moved to the fire pit and had slumped to the ground, the older woman making sure Megan’s back was to the men. Ben had not moved from his spot on his chair, still appearing to be napping, while Cindy had come closer, her interest piqued. Teddy and Ray were watching the children, but Michael had the majority of their attention.

Jeff spared a glance at Jason. He had backed up some, and it was clear he was uncomfortable being the cause of the argument. The boy glared at the ground, sullen and bewildered at the attention he was getting.

Michael gave Jeff a weary look. “Jason wants to go, Jeff. I don’t see what the issue is.”

Jeff scratched his head in an exaggerated show of confusion. “Hmm. Well, let’s see. There are… ” He looked around at the camp. “One, two, three, four, five, six… yep, six men, plus two teenagers. That makes eight of us. So why on earth do we need a twelve year old tagging along on some sort of salvage run?”

“Well, with that many of us, it should be pretty safe for Jason to join in, don’t you think?” Michael asked. His voice was reasonable. “I mean it’s not like he hasn’t been out there before.” He chuckled. “I figure this is probably safer than some of the other stuff he’s done.”

“And he’d be even safer behind these walls.”

Michael’s expression didn’t change.

“Look, Michael. We’ve all taken plenty of risks getting here, and we’re going to have to take even more if we want to survive. But not dumb ones. Not senseless ones. That’s why we’re still alive when everyone else is dead. They made foolish choices and we didn’t.” Jeff moved a step closer, keeping his voice calm.

“So let’s not endanger a child for no better reason than that he wants to go on some stupid adventure. He’s safer in here, and you know it. Whatever we need to do out there… he doesn’t need to be a part of it.”

Michael’s face grew stony as he nodded in stiff acknowledgement of Jeff’s words. “So you don’t think he can’t take care of himself, huh?”

“I didn’t say that. The kid’s smart, and he can handle himself. But there’s no reason-”

“Yeah, yeah, there’s no reason to jeopardize him. I get it.” Michael bobbed his head, already looking bored with Jeff’s line of reasoning. “But what I don’t understand is how you think that you or I are any more capable than he is.”

“What?”

“Well, he did save your life, didn’t he?”

Jeff stared at Michael, dumbstruck. After a moment, a small bead of sweat formed on his forehead. He looked over at Jason. The boy still had his arms crossed with his head down, but now there was a trace of embarrassment on his face. Jeff closed his eyes and shook his head as he tried to control the anger he was feeling about Jason spilling his guts to Michael.