The Long Fall of Night: The Long Fall of Night Book 1 by AJ Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

left a light on for us.” He pointed to the flickering in the front window, the curtains drawn back just enough to not be a fire hazard, making the candle visible from the street. He’d have to yell at Charlotte for calling attention to herself for him, even as it warmed his heart to know she expected him despite her directive to stay put.
    Elliot glanced at his watch. “It’s nearly three in the morning. She’s not going to be mad at how late we are?”
    “She knows I’m coming. Plus I have a key, so we can be quiet and get some sleep before we bugout again.” It bothered him, Elliot hinting at going back to the city, but his sister’s old minivan sat under the carport, so if Elliot left, Ash still had legal wheels. Even if hers is a piece of shit compared to this beauty. He let his fingers linger on the leather-covered steering wheel. He’s weird for never driving it. I’d be driving it everywhere if it were mine.
    Elliot seemed to be waiting for his lead, so he got out and stretched, looking up and down the street for signs of movement. Other than the rhythmic shuffle of the few spring leaves in a light breeze, there was nothing. He dug in the trunk for their meager supplies, feeling itchy about how poorly provisioned they were despite having decided getting out of the city was a better plan. Well, Charlotte would have some stuff, and they could hit up one of the lakes’ many sporting goods stores and the grocery before the shit hit the fan. There would be better equipment up here anyway.
    The door creaked lightly when he unlocked and opened it, the tiny living room to the left a mix of shadow and light from the lone candle. They shuffled in and stood briefly to let their eyes adjust.
    Quietly removing his shoes, Ash looked around, memories rushing at him from the years he’d lived here. He supposed he was in a reflective mood as they stood on the cusp of possibly leaving this house for good. The wall over the couch bore the enormous portrait of their family taken just before their father had left for Afghanistan the second and final time, and while the furniture was different, it was laid out the same as it had always been. Only their dad’s recliner had remained untouched, the perch from which he’d read to them at bedtime or pulled them into his lap to explain the ways of the world, outdated in style but not worn. No one sat in it now.
    All that was missing was the chug-chug of the ancient fridge, making and dropping its load of ice and waking the dead.
    “Everything okay?” Elliot whispered, pulling Ash back to the present. He realized how long he’d been standing there and shook himself mentally. Now was not the time to get maudlin.
    “Yeah.” He moved into the hallway to the right of the front entry, toward the bedrooms. Charlotte’s door was cracked only a sliver, but Riley’s was wide open. He peeked in and saw a neatly made twin bed with a solar system pattern on the comforter in the dim moonlight through the window. Figuring Riley had gotten scared and bunked with his mom, Ash stepped into the room and set their bags on the floor. Elliot shuffled in behind him, looking about ready to drop on his feet.
    “You take this room. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
    Elliot looked…disappointed. “But won’t your nephew freak if there’s a stranger in his bed?”
    “Nah,” Ash said, scrubbing his face, stubble rasping on his palms. “It’ll be fine. Go on.”
    Elliot hooked a thumb over his shoulder, in the direction of the living room. “But there’s a recliner. I could sleep there.
    Ash went rigid. “No one sits in the recliner.”
    “Is that like no one puts Baby in a corner?”
    “Fine. Sleep on the fucking floor or in your car. I don’t care.” Ash turned on his heel and moved to the hall closet. He pulled down a small lockbox and went to the living room, snagging his grandmother’s afghan from the back of the couch and tossing one of the throw pillows flat on the cushion. He stowed