The Twisted Climb

By J.C. Kavanagh

Falling to sleep has never been so tiring.

Sleep climbers Jayden, Connor and Max meet in a strange, moonlit dream land where the only way to ‘fall’ asleep is to climb. The climbing is not so simple, though. The mountain is full of night-time animals and things that could only exist in a dream world. Jayden, a brash, assertive girl, battles her own demons while joining forces with Connor, a calm, intuitive young man, and Max, a young teenager trying to be a man in a boy’s body.
Together, they climb their way up the mountain but their many adventures are interrupted by Richard Hatemore, an evil, sickly-looking boy who will stop at nothing to prevent them from reaching their goal. As the sleep climbers move closer to the top, they begin to work as a team and ultimately, face their greatest challenge together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
• Release date: Jun 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781772991352

J.C. Kavanagh

Writing has always been a favourite activity for J.C. Kavanagh. Early career days revolved around the newspaper business as journalist and photographer and J.C. worked her way up to the role of Editor. She was instrumental in launching a small newspaper, reporting local news and photographing people, events, sports games and the occasional crotchety politician. Her focus later shifted to the private sector, where, for 20 years, she worked in communications and marketing. In 2014, an unexpected business restructuring put a halt to her career and J.C., with the support of her partner, Ian, jumped full-time into creative writing - what she calls her word movies. Since that time, she has written 10 books, though The Twisted Climb is her first foray into the young adult genre. J.C. lives in a small town in Ontario, Canada, and finds copious writing ideas from the wooded areas and wildlife surrounding her property, and even while harnessing the winds on Georgian Bay’s pristine waters. You can reach J.C. at www.facebook.com/j.c.kavanagh or via e-mail at [e-mail].

Book preview

The Twisted Climb

By J.C. Kavanagh

Digital ISBNs:

EPUB: 9781772991352

Kindle: 9781772991369

WEB: 9781772991376

Print ISBN: 9781772991383

Copyright 2016 by J.C. Kavanagh

Cover art by Michelle Lee

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book

Dedication

To Ian, for helping to make my dreams come true.

Chapter 1

Green Eyes

Jayden Nanjee looked up. The full moon shone like a ghostly yellow torch against the midnight black of the night sky. The pale, low-lying clouds seemed to hug the earth as the moon peeked in and out of their embrace. They reminded Jayden of the lumpy potatoes her mother served when she felt like making dinner. She raised one hand and stared at the light brown skin that contrasted so starkly against the vivid pink of her pyjamas.

I think I’m dreaming, she said out loud.

Suddenly, a wolf howled. Then another. There was a forlorn quality to their cries, triggering goosebumps on Jayden’s arms and the hairs prickled along the back of her neck.

I have to climb, but climb where?

A multitude of carefully pruned apple trees surrounded her. The bony limbs cast mysterious shadows in the moonlight and their heavily laden branches seemed to moan under the weight of its fruit. Above the trees, a mountainside loomed, covered in shadows. The gloom was broken only by the dim glow of street lights rimming a long, twisting road.

Her bare feet made no sound on the lush grass as she broke into a run and within minutes, a cornfield came into view, jutting past the edge of the orchard. She reduced her pace and turned around. Something behind her was advancing stealthily. Jayden’s eyes watered with the strain of searching the orchard, where the trees wavered and danced in the moon shadows.

She stiffened and then stifled a scream. Racing toward her, with ears laid back and fangs bared, was an angry pack of wolves. Mind racing, she reviewed her options. Should she run out of the orchard, past the cornfield and toward the street lights on the mountainside? There might be help in one of the homes along the way. Jayden glanced upward. Or should she climb one of the trees and mount some kind of defense?

I’ll never make it to those street lights, she muttered. The wolves were advancing way too fast. And I can’t hide in these bright pink pj’s.

Jumping and grabbing the lowest branch, Jayden pulled herself upward, swinging one leg around it. Then, arms and legs hugging the limb and her butt hanging down, Jayden looked back. The wolves were so close, the glare of the moon reflected in their eyes and gobs of frothy drool dripped from their jaws. Panic spread its tantalizing fingers around her body as the lead wolf raced ahead of the pack, snarling and snapping its sharp, yellow fangs. Before terror fully consumed her, Jayden pulled her butt up and twisted her body to the top of the branch, just as the wolf attacked.

Aaagh!

* * *

You’re going to be late for school!

Jayden’s eyes snapped open. She reached for her cell phone on the chair beside her bed, which served double-duty as a night table and light stand. It was 7:40 a.m.

I’m not going to call you again! hollered her mother.

Okay, okay, mumbled Jayden under her breath. I heard you the first time! she bellowed.

Jayden rolled out of bed and rubbed her eyes. An uncomfortable thought nagged at her and she was certain something bad happened during the night. But was it something real or something in a dream? Dreams usually reflected good times but life with her mother was more like a nightmare.

She combed her long, black hair, pulled it into a ponytail and examined her face in the mirror. Her mother’s green eyes peered back at her, contrasting with the light brown colouring and black hair inherited from her dad. Everyone told her she was beautiful in a striking way. Jayden pretended to agree with them, but she knew it was a lie. She was ugly from the inside out.

After making her way to the kitchen, Jayden sat down at the table and studied her mother. Patty Watson-Nanjee stood at the counter, stirring her coffee with jerky movements. She must have pulled another all-nighter judging by her messy, dyed-blond hair, smudged eye makeup and bloodshot eyes. She looked quizzically at Jayden, a half-smoked cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth.

Want one? she asked, offering the package.

Ma, I just woke up.

Her mother stamped out the cigarette in quick, angry motions. Well, aren’t you Miss Priss this morning.

Jayden rolled her eyes. It was better to keep the conversation easy and calm. Obviously, Ma had a bad night. Jayden wished she could tell her how her own sleepless nights were getting worse.

Jayden ignored her mother’s agitation and began twisting her ponytail into a fat, sausage ringlet. She pretended to examine the box of cereal on the table, remembering the one-sided conversations she used to have with the characters on the box. Will you come out and play with me? was her ritual morning question to the cartoon characters. But they always remained where they were, motionless and silent, stuck in the cold cardboard. Man, that feels like a century ago. Thoughts of happier childhood days came flooding back. The time when sleep came easily and without recurring nightmares. When playing and colouring were daily priorities. Now in her final year of high school, Jayden remembered her 12-year-old self, the girl who couldn’t wait to take on all the responsibilities of an adult. She slowly shook her head. What was I thinking? She wished her childhood would come back and never end.

Ya got half an hour to get outta here, her mother said, looking at the dust-covered clock hanging crookedly on the beige wall. After that, I need the bathroom to get gussied up for the employment centre.

Jayden looked up from her cereal, raising one eyebrow. You got fired again?

It wasn’t my fault. Her mother flashed a defensive look. Those fools at the hotel don’t understand a woman’s needs. And besides, she added, the tips were lousy.

Jayden glanced at the empty liquor bottles on the counter, all ‘permanently borrowed’ from the hotel, as her mother liked to say. It wouldn’t be the first time Ma got caught stealing.

Whatever, Jayden muttered under her breath.

Don’t give me any lip, girl! Ma hissed. "I try my best, and all you give me in return is attitude." Her pale face darkened to purple with suppressed rage. Jayden sighed. If she didn’t get out now, her mother would commence her daily morning rant. Before she could escape, the tirade began.

"If it wasn’t for your father deserting us, we’d have a better life. I’d have some money, and my own car, and I would not need a stinkin’ low-life, menial job."

Jayden shook her head furiously. It’ll just make her madder if I defend Dad. Don’t do it…. don’t do it. But as usual, she couldn’t stop herself. She stood slowly, putting the words together that would surely detonate Ma’s short fuse.

He left because you won’t stop drinking!

Ma smacked her coffee cup on the counter. "Get out. Get out now!"

Jayden picked up her cell phone from the table, thrust it into the pocket of her backpack and swung the bag over her shoulder. Blood rushed to her face as it always did when she was upset, creating a prickling heat. Slamming the apartment door behind her, Jayden ran along the hall and sprinted down the three flights of stairs, banging the outer door so forcefully it ricocheted off the brick wall and nearly hit her in the face.

Oh, Dad. Her conflicting emotions swirled and threatened to overwhelm her. If he hadn’t left, would things be any better? Or worse? Couldn’t be any worse. Jayden was constantly amazed at how she could hate him and love him at the same time. Why am I even here? she reflected sadly. There seemed to be no peace, no joy in her life. The bitter unfairness of it made her gut burn and fuelled her resentment.

Damn you, Dad. You’re the one who told me life was what you made of it — your choices determined your happiness. Well, if that’s true, then why didn’t you choose to make me happy? I’m your only child.

Jayden sighed and kicked a pebble onto the road. There was only one way to make herself feel better. She had to make someone else feel worse.

Chapter 2

The Queen

Whaddya say we go lunch fishing? Jayden asked, using their code for stealing someone’s lunch. She and her friends slouched by the school’s outer gate, the only place on the grounds they could smoke. Jayden revelled in her position as leader of the Bully Biahtches, a nasty name chosen by others and perfect for its four female members. Jayden was the cruellest and prettiest of the gang, revered by the bullies and despised by the bullied.

Gordie Winfield had an awesome lunch last week, Marj reminded them. Remember the huge BLT and the bag of Oreo cookies? Marj Daniels, dyed-blond and blue-eyed, was the unofficial deputy of the gang, always quick to think up ways to ridicule and torment others.

Well, lookie, lookie, said Jayden, nodding her head toward an approaching student. Here he comes now.

Gordie adjusted the volume on his headset, spying the girls at the gate when he raised his head. Long blond hair flew across his face as he shook his head in disgust. They made fun of him last week, shoving him between them and emptying the contents of his backpack. One of them even stole his lunch. Dad always told him to be nice to girls, but these girls weren’t nice. They were the meanest girls he had ever met. Now the bunch of them were looking at him and that wasn’t a good sign. Trying to avoid them, he made an abrupt turn into the school’s parking lot, stepping over the curb. But it was too late.

Whatchya got there, Gordie-boy? Marj demanded, yanking the headset from his ears. Any good tunes you want to share? She smiled wickedly.

The other two girls, Barbara Hughes and Jackie Vanderpost, moved in front of him. He turned and was about to take a step, but Marj blocked him. He tried to side-step her, but was confronted by Jayden. She smiled but it didn’t reach her cold, green eyes. Snake eyes, thought Gordie.

Why are you in such a hurry? purred Jayden. You’re one of the best looking guys in school so why wouldn’t you want to chat with us cool girls?

Gordie looked at each of them. He reminded himself of his father’s advice about being nice to girls. All girls. Do you need my help? he asked, trying to be a gentleman.

"Do we need your help? repeated Jayden. What do you think, girls? Do we need Gordie’s help?"

Marj reached over and wrapped one arm around his waist. I forgot to eat breakfast, she said, looking up at him and batting her long, black artificial eyelashes. They made her blue eyes look bigger. Maybe you can buy me something in the cafeteria? she suggested sweetly, slyly removing his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans.

Hold on there! Gordie protested, trying to snatch his wallet. Marj waved him away and threw it to Barbara. Unfolding the wallet, Barbara opened it, exposing two ten dollar bills. Gordie lunged, but Barbara ducked and threw the wallet to Jayden. Calmly removing the bills and tucking