Hide 3: Freefall: The HIDE Series, #3

By Jax Spenser

THIS IS EPISODE THREE IN THE FIVE PART SERIES

 

After a very disturbing dream and massive act of vandalism, Keegan, as the outsider, stands accused and fights to prove his innocence to the very strange John Bruce and the extremely threatening Simon James. Following their interrogation, Keegan discovers a dark series of underground tunnels that run under the high school and town. 

While navigating this creepy underworld, Keegan draws on strength that he never knew he had, but the tunnels only raise more questions about what is going on in Sedonia Falls. He senses something is very wrong with the town. This fear is bolstered when Lizzy, who's unwavering friendship has been the best thing about this move, delivers a cryptic message that sends him on a trip to the neighboring town of Sedona, but first he has to pass through a terrible test using his newfound strength.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jax Spenser Books
• Release date: Feb 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393482536

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 Jax Spenser Books

Cover design by Matt Delisle

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.

Chapter 1

I’M CONFUSED. I’m staring at a bowl of soggy corn flakes wondering: how can someone vandalize a town? I mean really, how bad can it be? And what was Dad so freaked about? He’s probably pissed he had to get up so early, but still he was freaked about something. He sounded a little scared. But why?

I try to stand and a wave of pain rolls through my legs. I’m beat. Tired and sore. Even my fingers and my feet are aching. I’m probably not a hundred percent after leaving the hospital, l but I don’t have time to complain about it, I want to see the school.

I load my backpack with school folders, a social studies book, and—the Memory Book, then sling it over my shoulder. I definitely need my journal now that so much has been happening. I head out the door in a hurry.

Retracing the path back to Lizzy’s house, I turn onto Camelot, then Brigadoon, and finally 42nd Street. I could probably go down another street to get to school quicker but like the idea of accidently running into Lizzy.

No luck. I stand on the sidewalk in front of her house watching for any signs of the cute girl that I couldn’t take my eyes off of at the hospital. If I were brave enough, I would just march up to her door and knock. But I’m not. I shove my hands into my pockets and head on to school to see why Dad ran out early.

Then, without thinking about it, I veer off the sidewalk, walk over the grass, the curb, and onto to the street where the drain is. Soon, it becomes my only thought and I stare at this one spot in the street. Images attempt to form in my head. A dream? What was it? I get that feeling of air leaking out of a tire again. In the dream I was going inside of the drain, or I think I was ... but now I can’t remember. A second later, the thought is gone. Like it was there one moment, and then wiped clean out of my head the next. Jesus, maybe this is what Mom was talking about. Is this the beginning? But it was only a dream, does it even matter? It’s not like it was real.

I snap back to what I’m doing. And, what I’m doing is being a stalker, just standing on the street in front of Lizzy’s house. This isn’t how I was hoping to run into her.

I hurry away, down a couple more streets and turn up toward the school. It’s maybe two or three blocks up on the right, at the bottom of the mountain, near the elbow of the monster, cradling the town.

Closer to the school, I see a couple of kids. I don’t recognize them. However, they’re not heading to school, instead they’re just milling around, looking out of place. Then I get the first stare, and I know something’s up. Kids I don’t know, watching me like they don’t trust me. It’s a cold look that I know too well from my old school. A look mixed with undeserved hate. It makes me feel like a target: a large one, and all sights are set on me. I wasn’t expecting it here though, not after Sandra’s instant social promotion, her impenetrable force field of acceptance. Why does it feel like it’s gone?

Then I see it. Spray paint covering a wall. I get closer and realize it’s some kind of writing. Graffiti. I’d seen it in Oklahoma when our town had a problem with gangs. Now here it is in this perfect community. It definitely doesn’t belong in a town that seems like it was built last week. But vandalism? No, this must be some prank by kids.

I pick up the pace to school. Along the sidewalk, a can of spray paint lays on its side. I grab