Dark Creations: Dark Ending (Part 6) by Jennifer Martucci, Christopher Martucci Page A

head to toe.
    “ Where’s your mother, and who the hell is she?” Kyle’s aunt nodded to Amber.  “And why are you dressed like that?” she added and referred to the uniforms they wore.  Amber had forgotten about them and guessed they looked strange.
    “Aunt Christina, I need you,” Kyle implored.  “Please, we need your help.  I need you to trust me.  Do you trust me?”
    “Of course!” his aunt’s hand went to her heart as she answered and she looked wounded that he’d even asked.  “I’ve known you since before you were born.  You’re the most responsible kid I’ve ever known.”
    “Then I need you to just trust me and not ask what’s going on.  There is so much I need to tell you but can’t, not now.  There’s not enough time.”  He locked eyes with his aunt and Amber wondered how the woman had lasted as long as she had under the spell of his searching stare, how her knees hadn’t buckled.  She guessed the woman possessed superior strength as she appeared to still need convincing.  If he had looked at Amber as he looked at his Aunt Christina, she would have given him whatever he asked for. 
    “Please,” he continued.  “Terrible things have happened, and are happening.  More is about to unfold if we don’t deal with it.”
    Kyle’s aunt rubbed her temples and closed her eyes before pinching the bridge of her nose and exhaling loudly.  “I don’t know what to do here,” she said more to herself than anyone else.  She opened her eyes and huffed, “You can’t just drop this on me and not tell me what the hell is going on and where my sister is.”
    Kyle lowered his eyes to his sister cradled in his arms.  He shifted his weight from one leg to the next.  When he looked up, Amber saw that tears threatened.  “All I can tell you is something terrible is happening,” he repeated.
    “This is crazy, Kyle!” his aunt startled her by nearly shouting.  “It doesn’t make sense!  You’re not making sense!” Her voice had become shrill.  “What are you talking about?”
    “Please, Aunt Christina!  I have to go.  We have to stop this.  But the girls need to stay here and we need to borrow some clothes.  We can’t walk around dressed like this.”
    Kyle’s aunt shook her head and raised her hands then dropped them to her sides exasperatedly.
    “What choice do I have?” she asked.  “You are my nephew and they are my nieces. I love you kids.  You guys are my family.  How can I turn you away?” she continued and sounded as if she were unraveling. 
    “ Did Uncle Steve leave any clothes behind when he left?” Kyle asked.
    “Just some jeans and T shirts,” his aunt replied and rubbed her forehead.
    “Okay, that will do,” Kyle said.
    “Come on,” his aunt waved them inside.  “Put the girls upstairs in my bed then grab whatever clothes you need from the guest bedroom.”
    “Thank you,” Kyle said genuinely and his aunt gripped his wrist.
    “Kyle, just tell me this, okay?” she asked and Kyle nodded.  “You’re not involved with drug dealers or some radical group of god-only-know s-what, are you?”
    “No, Aunt Christina, I’m not in deep with a drug cartel or terrorists, I promise.”
    A fraction of the worry creasing his aunt’s face relaxed and Kyle led the way upstairs.  Amber hurried behind him and placed Jackie beside her sister in bed.  She covered them then followed Kyle to a small bedroom that smelled of rose-scented potpourri and mothballs.  His aunt appeared in the doorway and shoved clothes at Amber. 
    “I’m shorter than you and a bit wider, but these are Capri p ants that are a bit tight on me, so they should fit.  The shirt should be fine, too.”
    “Thank you,” Amber said and felt a swell of gratitude so great, her eyes filled with tears. 
    She disappeared back downstairs and left Amber alone with Kyle.  Worry niggled at Amber’s brain.  She wondered whether Kyle’s aunt would call the police.  If she did, the Taft