*****
Unfortunately, through no fault of his own, Adam missed a few weeks of summer break. Both Kyle and Vance took trips up to visit their friend while he was still in the hospital to check on his progress. He was doing exceptionally well for someone who’d died briefly. The doctors could have released him after the first week, but they were overly cautious about his head injury. That tombstone fractured his skull and both Kyle and Vance joked about Adam’s newfangled yamaka made of white hospital gauze. Adam was in good spirits despite his head being cracked, but Kyle could tell he was a little restless from staying in bed so long. Kyle never mentioned Vance’s sudden departure from the accident scene or the unexplained seizure Adam suffered after being brought back to life. Adam was doing well and back with his friends and that’s all Kyle cared about.
Shortly after Adam was released from the hospital, school was back in session. On typical school mornings, Kyle left his house first and stopped by to pick up Vance, then both of them headed to Adam’s house to pick him up. It was their routine and only sickness would alter it. The first school week passed before Kyle and Vance noticed subtle changes in Adam’s behavior. It wasn’t an all-consuming change, but more like new and unusual ticks in his personality. They still found him fun to hang out with, but many of his comments confused them. Kyle observed that Adam’s meek demeanor would be tainted at times. He would become aggressive for no reason then revert back to his normal self, and it was his sudden aggressiveness that Kyle didn’t understand.
One weekend while the three friends were all together, Adam threatened to ‘kill’ Vance, and it wasn’t conveyed in a joking manner. Vance became upset and rode his bike home. Kyle guided his bike over to Adam and said,
“Adam, why did you say that? He didn’t do anything.”
“I don’t know. It just came out. I didn’t mean it. I like Vance.”
“I know you do, but ever since you got hurt, you’ve been acting differently.”
“I know. I don’t understand it. My mother and father say I’m different now. I don’t like it. I just want to be normal like before.”
“You are normal most of the time.”
“But I want to be normal all of the time.”
Kyle could sense the pain and conflict Adam felt, and wished he had some way of helping him. They resumed riding around the neighborhood, eventually ending up at Vance’s house. Kyle knocked on the door while Adam sat on his bike in the driveway. Vance’s mother opened the door and peeked outside.
“Hello Kyle. Hi Adam. Adam, it’s nice to see you’re okay.”
“Thank you Mrs. Gidwell,” Adam said speaking loud enough so she could hear him.
“Can we see Vance?” Kyle asked.
“Sure. Let me get him.”
As she walked away, Kyle motioned for Adam to join him at the door. Adam set his bike down and strolled over.
“You’ve got to apologize to Vance,” Kyle said.
“I know. I didn’t mean it,” Adam said staring down at the porch.
Vance timidly approached the door and held it open, then said, “What do you want?”
“Vance, I’m really sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it. I don’t know why I’m saying so many strange things now,” Adam said shuffling from side to side as he looked at Vance.
“Thanks Adam. We’re cool. I’ve been wondering why you’ve been talking like that too,” Vance replied.
“Vance, get your bike. Let’s ride over to the school and hang out on the steps. I want to talk to you both about something, and it concerns you Adam,” Kyle said as he stepped back from the door.
“Okay, hold on. Let me tell my mother I’m leaving.”
Vance shut the front door as Kyle and Adam returned to their bikes. They flipped their bikes to face the street then heard the back door shut. Vance’s rattling chain signaled that he was already coasting towards them, so they all glided down the driveway and onto the sidewalk. It was just like old times. They rode in close formation, but then Kyle wanted to race and pulled away. Vance and Adam pedaled with all their might trying to catch Kyle, but Vance was the first to tucker out. Kyle laughed and slowed down to allow his companions to catch up.
They scrambled around the corner onto Catherine Avenue, pedaled past the cemetery, and kept going until they saw the school’s parking lot. After taking a shortcut through the parking lot, they hustled down the walkway leading to the short stairway at the school’s side doors. The building provided wonderful shade from the sun. Well-groomed bushes ran along the entire length of the school with a break where the entrance stairs sat. The six steel doors with small glass windows acted as guardians, keeping everyone out. Kyle saw a small flock of sparrows shoot skyward as they coasted to a stop at the base of the stairs. Each released their kickstands, dismounted their bikes, and sat close to one another on the stairs.
“Man, I wish we had something sweet like a couple of candy bars,” Vance said as he wiped beads of sweat from his forehead.
“Ahhh man, that would be awesome,” Adam replied as he propped himself up on the step behind him and leaned back.
“I could go for some too,” Kyle said then he quickly scanned the area to ensure they were alone. “Look, this is what I wanted to tell the both of you.” Kyle’s smile faded.
Looking directly at Adam, Kyle said, “I hope you guys don’t think I’m crazy, but Adam, I think something happened to you when you hit your head.” He paused and his eyes dropped down to the stairs. “The day you had your accident, me and Vance came looking for you. It was Vance that saw you laying in the cemetery. We jumped over the fence to see if you were alright, but you weren’t, and I went and got help.” Kyle glanced sideways at Vance, reluctant to continue. “Well…Vance became upset. Isn’t that right Vance?”
Vance’s eyes widened then he nodded his head.
Kyle continued, “He was really sad to see you hurt so badly, so he went home.”
Vance interrupted and said, “I’m sorry Adam. I’ve never seen anything like that, and I couldn’t take it. I’m sorry.”
“That's okay Vance. You’re the one that found me,” Adam said as he softly patted Vance’s knee in appreciation.
“I stuck around,” Kyle continued. “An officer kneeled down to check on you. I thought you were dead. Then the paramedics came over and used those defibrillator paddles on you a couple of times. Your body jumped and they found your pulse. Okay, this is the weird part. When that SUV knocked you off your bike, your head hit the tombstone of a guy named Brian Kinkaid. He was a serial killer they executed a couple of years ago. While the paramedics were packing up the defibrillator, your body jumped up again. I mean it really jumped. Your back was arched so high, it looked like something was holding you up. Man, it was really scary, and everybody who saw it jumped, including the paramedics. Eventually, one of them had to force you back down. It was the weirdest thing I'd ever seen.”
Both Vance and Adam stared at Kyle with confused looks, then Adam leaned forward and said,
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Look, I found a lot of stuff online about Brian Kinkaid,” Kyle explained. “He was totally crazy. He killed seven people in town, and he vowed to come back from the dead and kill everybody that had anything to do with his arrest, trial, and death.”
“I still don’t know why you’re telling me this.”
Kyle swallowed the large lump in his throat then took a deep breath.
“Adam…some of the things you’ve been saying. Some of them were the same words Brian Kinkaid said. The way you spoke to Vance earlier today. That’s the way Brian Kinkaid spoke. I saw some of the courtroom footage.”
Adam stared without blinking, then leaned back. “So what does that mean?”
“I don’t know, man.”
“Then why did you bring all of this up Kyle?” Vance asked, still confused by what Kyle was trying to say.
“Well, you know Adam’s been acting a little strange since the accident, and…an
d…, well maybe Brian Kinkaid’s spirit jumped into Adam’s body right when he came back to life. You didn’t see how twisted his body looked when it jumped up the third time.”
The high-pitched squawks of distant birds were the only sounds at that moment. Kyle could feel their piercing stares stabbing him like needles in a pin cushion. Would they believe him or would they think he’s the crazy one? The shade felt colder…as cold as their stares. He wished someone would say something. He looked down, remorseful of his comments and unsure about what was going through their minds.
“Kyle,” Adam said, but Kyle kept his head down. “Kyle!” Kyle looked up. “Do you really think his spirit jumped into me?”
In a hushed tone, Kyle said, “I don’t know. Maybe I’ve seen too many of those stupid horror movies. I just know that since your accident, you don’t act like your old self.”
“Adam, it’s true,” Vance said. “You never talked like that to me before, but I don’t believe anything jumped into you. However, something did happen from the accident. Some type of side effect. You were hurt really bad.”
Adam was speechless. He looked at both of them, then looked off into the distance.
“Adam,” Kyle called.
“Wait,” Adam answered then turned to look at Vance. “Vance, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was so mean to you,” then he turned to Kyle and said, “Kyle, I don’t know. You say you see these things, and I see it sometimes. I don’t know what to think.”
“Look man, I’m sorry too. Maybe I’m crazy. Seeing you lying there like that scared the hell outta me. Hey, let’s just forget it, okay? Let’s forget it.”
“I’m with that,” Vance said.
“Alright…forgotten,” Adam agreed. “I’m really down for a couple of candy bars. I’ll treat.”
Adam strode over to his bike followed by his good friends and they took off towards the neighborhood Circle K up the street. A couple of weeks flew by and life for the three friends returned to normal. Kyle never mentioned Brian Kinkaid’s name to them again, and Adam didn’t snap at Vance anymore.