Refraction

By Erin Lee and M W Brown

Detours come in passing.

Living sister Amy is trying to move on. Traumatized by her kidnapping, she runs to the only person she believes will help. But old wounds split open; making the events in room 303 seem childish.

Her dead twin, on the other hand, doesn't want to move forward. Schooled by her tormentor, Zoe takes a detour from peaceful rest. For now, she has a score to settle. But the powerful connection with her twin draws her back to the real world. Like refracted light changing as it passes through glass, Zoe's priorities alter too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crazy Ink
• Release date: Oct 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393865612

Erin Lee

Erin Lee lives in Queensland, Australia and has been working with children for over 25 years. She has worked in both long day care and primary school settings and has a passion for inclusive education and helping all children find joy in learning. Erin has three children of her own and says they have helped contribute ideas and themes towards her quirky writing style. Her experience working in the classroom has motivated her to write books that bring joy to little readers, but also resource educators to help teach fundamental skills to children, such as being safe, respectful learners.

Book preview

Erin Lee

M W Brown

COPYRIGHT © 2019 BY Crazy Ink

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Book Layout © Crazy Ink

Refraction/Crazy Ink/Lee/Brown.—1st ed.

Detours come in passing.

Living sister Amy is trying to move on. Traumatized by her kidnapping, she runs to the only person she believes will help. But old wounds split open; making the events in room 303 seem childish.

Her dead twin, on the other hand, doesn’t want to move forward. Schooled by her tormentor, Zoe takes a detour from peaceful rest. For now, she has a score to settle. But the powerful connection with her twin draws her back to the real world. Like refracted light changing as it passes through glass, Zoe’s priorities alter too.

Will the bends between life and death set the sisters off in the wrong directions again?

Dedications

For my parents—although we aren’t together every day, I see both of you each time I look in the mirror

-  M W Brown

For anyone who isn’t afraid to stare into a mirror and make eye contact.

-  Erin Lee

Chapter One

Amy

Only in New York City can a person run through a motel and into a crowded street covered in blood without anyone stopping them. The busy street was a blur as I cut through the sidewalk and into the first alley I could see. It was bad enough that my frantic pace was calling attention to me, but I didn’t need any more issues.

Behind a dumpster, I ripped off my bloody sweatshirt, turning it inside out so that I looked more homeless than killer. Spitting in it, I did the best I could to scrub the blood off my face. I had no idea how I looked and probably didn’t want to know.

Throwing it back on, my heart beat so loud I could hear it in my ears as I fumbled in Zoe’s bag for my phone. Sinking down against a graffiti-stained wall, I sat on filthy pavement while begging my fingers to stop shaking enough to punch in Riley’s face on my contact thumbnails. In my reflection, I could see that I’d done a hell of a job getting the obvious blood off. Later, and soon, I’d get to a sink.

It rang three times before going to voicemail. My heart sunk. I had no one else to call. He was, like it or not, the closest thing to family I had left on this earth. Looking around from one side to the other, I made sure the alleyway was clear before standing up to compose myself. I could at least get farther away from the motel. There was no telling if someone would call the cops.

No sooner had I thought it than I jumped at the sound of a police siren. Then, released a long breath of trapped air as it moved into the distance and in the opposite direction. Begging myself to calm down, I wished Zoe would appear. But there was nothing. I wasn’t sure if it was that I was so panicked or if my sister just wasn’t there. Frankly, it didn’t matter. A dead girl could not exactly talk me out of this jam.

I don’t know what told me to do it. It didn’t matter. As I walked at what seemed like a normal pace out the other end of the alley, I plucked through my contacts until I found him – Dad.

Breathing in hard through my nose, I didn’t give myself time to think. The man had raised me. He’d at least be a place for me to stay. It wasn’t like I’d have to stay long. And I was too old for him to pull anything. My father picked up on the second ring. His voice hadn’t changed; nasally and deep.

Amy?

Hi. I miss you. It wasn’t really a lie. It also wasn’t the truth. It had been six years. Why I’d even bothered to keep his number was something of a mystery to me and, I was sure, to him. I knew he knew about Zoe’s death. He was also her next of kin. But he’d been noticeably missing from her services. Riley had said it was out of respect. That was something I doubted for sure. What man blew off his own kid’s funeral? But right then, it was all semantics. I’d just killed a man. And for the first time in nearly a decade, I really needed my dad.

What’s wrong?

Nothing, I stammered. Can I come see you?

Um. Where are you?

Home, I lied. There was no way I was placing myself in the Big Apple. I could come to you or we could meet somewhere. I just miss you.

Jesus. It’s early. Are you okay? Are you still in Brattleboro?

Yes.

Same apartment?

No, a new one. And it’s a mess. Let’s not meet there. What if we met up in Burlington?

When?

Tomorrow. Say five? We could try that diner we used to go to all the time.

Finley’s?

Yes.

Okay, it’s a date, he said, adding, Amy, I’ve missed you too.

He sounded sincere. I gagged.

I hadn’t hung up the phone before the vomit came on. In a wave I didn’t see coming, my stomach lurched. From there, it all came up. Turning to the side of the building so as not to make more of a spectacle of myself, I barfed until the contents of my stomach came up clear.

You okay? A homeless man with leathery skin, a hole in his hat and overgrown beard called out to me from about six feet away.

Yeah. Just sick.

Detox?

I nodded.

Ya need some shit?

No. I’m okay, I said, grateful that he even cared. Some shit? Does he mean drugs? Sorry. Wrong twin. What I need is a time machine and shower.

Putting down a rattling bag of empty tin cans, he walked toward me with both hands in the air, as if to signal he wasn’t here to hurt me. As if I was worried about it. I almost wanted to laugh. If Homeless Ted had any clue what I’d just done he’d be the one afraid of me, not me of him.

Shelter’s up that way.

I assumed he meant a homeless shelter. Oh. Thanks.

Can’t get in ’til five. But they might let you wash up a bit. Want me to ask?

I shook my head. I needed to get as far away from the motel as possible and quickly.

No, but thanks. I called my friend. I should be all set.

Okay, he said, frowning. He turned back and walked toward his bag.

Hey, I called after him. Thanks for caring. Want this?

He turned around and looked me in the eye as I produced one of Ansel’s stupid coins from the front pocket of Zoe’s travel bag. The old man took it without ever telling me his name. He winked, wished me well, and told me to be careful. I promised I’d do my best and got on my way.

Burlington. It was as good as any place...

Zo! Where the hell are you? Don’t leave me alone! Don’t make me resort to Dad.

Chapter Two

Zoe

W hat’s happening? Ansel muttered.

I walked up behind him just as Charon, aka Bobby, had walked up to me when I’d first arrived in the maze. Ansel was kneeling on the ground and staring at his hands. As my shadow fell across him, he sprung around onto his backside and threw his hands over his face.

Perhaps he was reliving Amy’s brutal attack on him. Maybe he thought he was hallucinating in the dingy motel room. Whatever he thought, I didn’t care. I wanted to thump his hands away and scream in his face.

My sister killed you, you piece of shit, but that’s nothing compared to what I’m going to do to you.

Instead I smiled as serenely as I could, I had my angel disguise on after all. I didn’t want him to know who I was. Not yet. I took a deep breath and pushed my anger and disgust away.

Hello, Dr. Ansel.

I raised my eyebrows. The beautiful, unfamiliar voice that emerged from my mouth had the innocent softness of a mother comforting her child mixed with the rich huskiness of a blues singer.

Ansel lowered his hands slightly. The lenses of his wire rimmed glasses amplified the surprise as his eyes widened.

Is this heaven?

Do you really think a depraved scumbag like you would get to heaven?

I wanted to laugh out loud, but I rustled my wings and shook my head instead.

No, Dr. Ansel. You died and the life you led brought you to this place. If you wish to leave this maze, you must find the center, and along the way confess your sins. I am here to guide you.

Ansel staggered to his feet. Where am I?

The life you led created this place, I repeated. I was enjoying being just as vague as Charon had been, but the truth was, I still didn’t know where exactly I was. All I knew was what Charon had told me, which I couldn’t believe, and that my mother had come to take me away from my maze. I hoped she was still waiting for me, but I wasn’t ready to move on quite yet. First, I had to deal with the deranged doctor.

He squinted at me, and I ignored the inner Zoe suggestion to punch his big, bulbous nose. Ansel moved closer, studying my face with great interest. Could he see the real me through my angel mask? I had to distract him.

Your first task awaits you.

Are you an angel?

Anger bristled through my body.

Arrogant asshole! How dare you ignore me. I’m going to make you suffer so much.

I am your guide. I look how you expect me to look. Charon’s words drifted easily from my mouth.

But I don’t believe in God or angels. I believe in logic and science.

Yet, the first question you asked was if you were in heaven.

Ansel frowned.

You may be a man of science, but didn’t you expect to see an angel waiting for you?

I didn’t want there to be nothing. The creases in Ansel’s forehead deepened.

There is more than you imagine. You must make your way through the maze and when you reach the center you will move on.

Where to?

Each path will be a different challenge for you—each one relates to your life and the sins you have committed. How you complete the tasks will decide where you go from here. I had an idea.

Charon had explained time like a series of boxes, so I closed my eyes and imagined a box containing the last moments I had seen Bobby.

I heard a rustle in the hedge beside me and opened my eyes. A mirror had appeared.

Your friend Robert made...bad choices, I said as I waved my hand.

Bobby appeared in the mirror. He lay on the floor and, just as he pushed himself up onto his elbows, the room exploded into orange flames. A chorus of tortured screams