Summer of Darkness

By Kelvin Bueckert

There's a sucker born every minute.
That was the old saying and Dwayne had found it to be true.
Business was booming!
Girls were flocking to join his dreams of a better world. What a pity it was that they wanted to abandon him as soon as they realized what those dreams actually meant. Still, let them run, the thrill was in the chase, wasn't it?
Slaves were meant to be enjoyed.
Dwayne only had one problem.
His sister.
She was a strange bird. For some reason, she had become disturbed by her dear brother's behavior. As if his business was anybody else's business.
Word on the street was that she was even working to shut him down!
As if! There was only one remedy for busybodies.
They needed to die.
Dwayne chuckled to himself as he nailed a glossy recruitment poster to the wood.
He wasn't exactly sure what his sister was planning for him but he knew what he was going to do about her.
Only one person could win this little game and he was going to do what it took to be the one.
As he finished pounding the nails he took a step back and admired his handiwork.
"Looking for excitement and adventure! Young women are encouraged to apply today for well-paying work in North America. Limited spaces are available so act now to reserve yours! For more information call..."
That sign sucked them in every time.
Now all he had to do was wait.
After today's harvest, he would settle things with his sister.
Sure, it would be a battle but it would be a battle that he would enjoy.
If only he could settle the niggling doubt deep within his soul.
What if his sister's hand was stronger than he thought?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kelvin Bueckert
• Release date: Apr 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393761747

Kelvin Bueckert

Kelvin is a diverse writer who has written drama, humor, suspense, poetry, and pretty much, whatever he feels like writing. His writings have been featured in many different and diverse places such as The Pedestal Magazine, Horizon Magazine, The Fifth Dimension, Writer Online, The Martian Wave, Lyrica Webzine of Romantic Fiction, Bewildering Stories, Alephion, Washing the Color of Water Golden, and many others. As an actor, producer, writer and director Kelvin has been involved with many productions. So, if you have a show in the works, why not contact him? Awards 2nd Place in a Canada Post Essay Contest Honorable Mention in the Unscrambled Eggs poetry contest. Runner up in Breakaway Magazine's Hey World essay contest. 4th Place in the Spinetinglers contest. Outstanding Community Achievement as part of the Austin Manitoba 150th Anniversary celebrations. Garageband, song of the day. Compo10 song contest winner  

Book preview

1

Chapter 1

-Ivenka

Eighteen.

She was only eighteen when she fell.

The day was full of fluttering snowflakes.

The sky cluttered with grey formless clouds.

The ground polluted with a few dirty white drifts. Refuse of the season that lay piled against the rows of ramshackle wooden houses that filled her village.

Once these had been the homes of the wealthy and the happy. Over the years, they had become rotted out wrecks much like the people who lived within them.

The girl crossed her arms, trying to keep a little of her warmth to herself as the winter battered against her fragile jacket. Still, despite the weather she kept moving forward.

The girl grasped at the air, searching in vain for a foundation as she felt her feet slipping.

Pain shot through her as her bottom slammed into the frozen ground. She gasped and then quickly staggered back to her feet.

This was no time to quit.

She had almost reached her destination. She could see it. The bulletin board was only a few steps away. A few feet beyond the giant rusted statue of a soldier riding horseback. That triumphant memorial honoring all those who had died fighting for a better future.

Do you think there will be anything today? A neighbor boy asked as he joined her.

Who knows. Maybe someday God will remember us. Maybe someday things will be better. The girl began to scan the board. Trying to find hope amid the chaos of fluttering paper.

Maybe it will be better someday, just not the way you think.

The girl looked at the boy as confusion was written over her face. What do you mean?

The boy shrugged. I don’t know. That’s what your Grandfather used to say before he died. Maybe it will be better someday, just not the way you think.

The girl grimaced as she visualized the wasted form of her grandfather. How he had shriveled as the cancer had eaten away at his liver. She shuddered and willed her thoughts into the present.

A few girls her age were clustering around her. They met here at the bulletin board every morning. Today they were chattering about something exciting.

Opportunity!

The girl looked up at the colorful advertisement flapping in the icy wind.

Girls. America needs you! Work as a waitress, earn up to ten dollars an hour. Housing and travel provided. All interested women should meet at the town hall at noon. Promptness is encouraged as spaces are limited.

Ooooh!

What if they take us all! It would be such an adventure.

The chatter swirled around the scarf wrapped tightly around the girl’s head. Being short, she was easily forced backward as more people shoved their way toward the bulletin board to read the exciting news.

The two young people headed back along the street where they had just come. Their minds spun at the unbelievable opportunity that had just presented itself.

It’s only for girls. The boy sounded disappointed. Does that mean you’ll leave me?

We already discussed this.

The boy hung his head. I know.

Don’t worry. I won’t forget about you. The girl smiled. I’ll work hard. I’ll save up all the money I can and then I’ll send you what you need to join me.

The boy nodded silently, wiping a tear from his face.

The girl headed back toward crowd of women and girls milling around the weathered bulletin board.

If someone wanted to pay her way out of this town, they would be her savior.

What were the instructions to sign up again?

2

Chapter 2

-Dwayne

He was bored. That’s why his powerful fingers tapped the steering wheel. The fact that he was getting closer gave him some comfort. Yet, he couldn’t help but wish he had already reached his destination. This road was familiar and so endless. As the van engine continued to hum Dwayne felt his thoughts wandering.

You’re nothing.

You’ll always be nothing.

Those were the words his father had bellowed at him during the beatings. Oh so long ago that had been. Out there in the countryside, out there in that pleasant neighborhood of fake smiles and barely concealed evil.

He had only been a tender boy then. Crying with the shock of every violent blow but fortunately, as time went by he had hardened into the man he was today.

Now at last he had made something of himself. He was one of the most wanted criminals in the world.

His father would be proud of him.

He cranked the steering wheel, prompting the truck to careen left onto a narrow path through the woods. Behind him he could hear the screaming as his cargo was tossed about.

He grinned like a savage beast about to devour its helpless prey.

Some wondered why he still handled affairs like this personally. The truth was, he handled cases like this personally simply because he enjoyed what happened at the end of the journey.

This cargo promised to be especially interesting. The last round of posters had netted a fine catch. A wonderful haul of beautiful young women desperate for a better life and willing to do anything to get it. In his eyes, a woman like this was the perfect woman.

She would do whatever she was asked.

Up ahead he could see the narrow path begin to widen. Adrenaline began to course through his veins. They were almost to the fun part.

The screams began again as the vehicle hit a series of potholes.

"Shut up back there! We’re almost to the border.