Dead by Dawn by Bret Wellman Read Free Book Online

drive?” said Sarah.
    “So, we’ll be leaving on Thursday. That way we can still leave tomorrow and make it by the weekend.”
    Sarah thought about it, and the trip sounded fine to her. “Just one thing though.”
    Caitlin sighed. “What is it?”
    “I think I’m grounded.”
    “Grounded, what are you twelve?”
    “Sometimes I think so.”
    “Sneak out.”
    “What?” This made Sarah sit up.
    “You’re eighteen years old, legally an adult. What are they gonna do about it?”
    “Um I don’t know, maybe lock me in the basement for the rest of my life.”
    There was a knock at her bedroom door and jiggling of the door handle.
    “Sarah?” came her dad’s voice.
    “Gotta go,” she said, hanging up the phone.
    “Open the door.”
    She practically ran to the door to open it. About half way she stepped on a hairpin and had to limp the rest of the journey.
    Her dad was a whole head’s length taller than her. He looked a lot like her brother only manlier and more confident.
    She flung herself against his chest and wrapped her arms around him. “Oh how I’ve missed you Father.”
    “Yea yea, we both know you’re in trouble,” he said.
    She peered up at him with one closed eye. “How bad is it?”
    “According to your mother, whom I love dearly and stand behind in all things, you messed up pretty good.”
    “But I-“
    “I’m not finished. You know that bridge you jumped off of, the one that could have killed you? When I was your age I jumped off it too.” He winked down at her. “Now how am I supposed to yell at someone for doing something I did myself?”
    “You can’t?” Sarah asked, hopeful.
    “I can pretend to, so do me a favor and whip up some tears to go show your mom.”
    It wasn’t a very hard task. She had been fearing this moment before her dad walked into the room. The tears were already waiting on standby.
    “Well you don’t have to look that convincing,” he said, a big smile spreading across his face.
    With rising horror, Sarah realized she couldn’t stop the full on cry from erupting from her.
    “I’m sorry,” she said.
    “You should be,” said her dad, glancing back in the direction his wife would hear.
    “I didn’t think it was a big deal.” She sniffed and hated the nasally sound. “I really didn’t.”
    “And what do you think now?” asked her dad, amused.
    “It was stupid, people die every day. I shouldn’t do things that increase my chances of becoming one of them.”
    “Then it sounds like my work here is done.” He turned to leave.
    “Wait,” said Sarah.
    “You have something else to confess?”
    “Caitlin wants me to go on a road trip with her. We’d be going to visit her cousin in New York. Can I go?”
    Her dad shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Let’s give it a few hours before we tell your mother though.”
    Sarah fought back the sniffles as her dad walked away. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and cursed herself for falling apart.
    As soon as she had pulled herself back together, she called Caitlin back.
    “You sure you want to do this?” Sarah asked.
    “Are you crying?”
    “No.”
    “Don’t lie to me Sarah.”
    “I’m fine, do you want to go on the road trip or not?”
    “Hell yes I do. Did you get permission to go?”
    “I just did.”
    “Sweet, make sure you’re packed. I’ll be there in the afternoon tomorrow.”
    “Wait,” said Sarah. “I just read an article about a new sickness that’s spreading. Do you really think it’s a good time to head into the city?”
    “Oh my gosh Sarah, they say the same thing every year. It’s fine.”
    “You’re probably right. See you in a few.”
    “Tomorrow, be ready.” Caitlin hung up.
    Sarah stood up and began packing her clothes, forgetting all about the article she’d just read. Her thoughts shifted to things related only to the good time she was going to have.
    It would be the first trip she ever took like this: a landmark occasion. First she would take this trip and meet new