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“Janey? That was Janey?” Pyro whispered. He felt his knees going as Chatter shot forward and grabbed him.
“That was Janet Revers, formerly known as Janey as a child,” Lio said gently. Diesel got a stool under his ass as Pyro exchanged glances with Chance. The past rose and smacked him in the face.
Twenty years ago.
Dakota Williams ran as if the hounds of hell were after him, and they may as well be for all intents and purposes. His father had flown at him in a drunken temper. Dakota knew to give it a few hours before returning because his dad would have forgotten the imagined slight. Dakota’s feet flew down the road and headed into the woods at the end of the lane. Munster Avenue ended with the start of the Black Hills. Breathing heavily and slowing once he’d reached the safety of the treeline, Dakota headed towards the small lake he liked to fish and swim in.
He was eight years old and tired of being his father’s punch bag. Dakota’s mother did her best to protect him but often failed. Dakota didn’t know why she just didn’t leave the asshole. His father was a monster. Dakota approached the lake, kicked his shoes off, and sat on a rock, dangling his feet in the cool water. He loved this place. It was quiet. Most people preferred the other side of the lake with its colourful boats and café. Here, it was just him. Or it should be just him. A sniffle reached Dakota’s ears, and he glanced around.
To his fury, he spied a girl hiding behind a rock. She wasn’t looking at him but staring out at the water as she rubbed tears from her eyes. Dakota recognised her, Janey Revers, from school. Janey was in his year, and while not one of the popular kids, she had a good circle of friends. Yet Janey sat here crying her heart out.
“What’s wrong with you?” Dakota spat, annoyed at his private haven being invaded.
“You scared me!” Janey exclaimed, wiping her tears away. She glared at him as if he was spying on her.
“Why are you here? This is my spot, Janey Revers!” Dakota growled angrily.
“No, it’s not Dakota Williams!” Janey fired up. Dakota sat back and watched her thoughtfully as she rubbed tears from her eyes.
“Amy Meller and Candy Batton been picking on you?” Dakota said, and Janey’s head snapped to him. Yeah, he’d guessed right. Those two witches were notorious in school for bullying. They often had Carly and Belle Adams tagging along. Janey sniffed and wiped her nose before staring at him.
“You planning to bully me too, Dakota?” Janey asked with a small whimper.
“Nope, I’m going to show you how to ignore them, and we’re going to be friends,” Dakota announced boldly. Janey Revers was well out of his comfort zone for buddies. While Janey was one of the middling popular kids, Dakota was way at the bottom of the school.
“I think I’d like that Dakota Williams,” Janey replied after a few moments. She sent him a tremulous smile, and Dakota grinned. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Three years later.
Dakota stared in horror at the scene in his kitchen. His father, well past drunk, was murderous. The terrible image of his mother’s broken body, her glassy eyes looking at him, registering nothing, put the fear of God into him. His dad growled, and Dakota froze as the asshole’s glare turned to him. Dakota’s mother was dead. The thought sank into Dakota’s mind, and he reacted. He raced out of the door and headed to the one place he’d be able to get help. The Revers’ house was at the end of Munster Ave, and Dakota flew towards it. Dakota saw Janey standing at her gate, gawking at him in puzzlement.
They’d become close friends over the last three years, and Janey’s parents had welcomed him into their life. Janey’s mom made him packed lunches for when his mother had no money to feed him, and he often had breakfast and dinner at their house. Dakota’s mom had given up on living, and Dakota had resented her weakness. As usual, she had done nothing wrong tonight, yet his father had flown off the handle.
“Run!” Janey yelled, fear in her voice. Dakota looked back and flinched. His dad was pounding the pavement behind him. Dakota put on a burst of speed, but his father caught him around the neck. Janey screamed as Dakota swung around and his father’s bruising fist hit him in the face.
“Daddy!” Janey shrieked as Dakota was roughly dragged down the road back to his home. He struggled against his father’s grip on his hair but couldn’t get free. Janey’s screams echoed in his ears as she yelled for her father to come and help.
“Little cunt!” His dad grunted as he shoved Dakota through the kitchen door. Two more blows stunned Dakota, and he tripped over his mother’s body. Tears leaked from his eyes as his father kicked him, and he curled up into a small ball. Dakota prayed that Janey’s dad, Tom Revers, would come and rescue him. Splashing sounds made Dakota look up, and he saw, with horror, his father throwing liquid everywhere. A wicked grin crossed his dad’s face as he pulled a lighter and flicked it on.
“Burn in hell, you little bastard!” his dad swore and then threw the lighter. Dakota screeched as flames rushed toward him, and he burrowed into the corner. His father escaped through the backdoor, leaving Dakota trapped.
“Dakota!” Tom Revers roared from outside minutes later.
“Here! Here, Mr Revers!” Dakota cried in reply and screamed in pain as flames licked his back. The back door kicked open, and a towering figure covered in a blanket rushed through. The flames were searing Dakota’s shoulders and back as Mr Revers headed towards him, ignoring the fire and snatched him up. Mr Revers put his head down and barrelled through the inferno. They both dropped to the wet grass as sirens wailed through the air, and Mr Revers rolled, putting the flames out on his legs. Hands batted at Dakota, and he glanced up and saw Beryl Revers putting out the flames on his back through pain-filled eyes. Janey stood close, tears dripping down her face as police cars pulled up, followed by an ambulance.
“He killed Mom; she’s in there dead,” Dakota ground out through teeth gritted in agony. Tears fell down his face, matching Janey’s as shock and horror settled deep into him. Medics raced towards Dakota and Tom Revers as Janey hovered and tried to get close.
“Dakota says his mother is inside, but his father murdered her,” Beryl said to a police officer. Janey had dropped to her knees next to him and clasped his hand.
“Was the boy trying to rescue her?” the cop asked.
“No,” Janey’s mom said sadly. “His dad deliberately dragged him into the house and set fire to it.” The cop drew in a harsh breath as he glanced at the paramedics treating the kid.
“Asshole tried to burn his kid alive?”
“Yes, my husband just reached Dakota in time; wait, where are you taking him? Hey, I’m going with him!” Janey’s mom called as Dakota was lifted onto a gurney.
“Ma’am,” the officer said, trying to stop her.
