Free Dead Dreams ((Young Adult Paranormal Romance) ( Dead Dreams Trilogy)) by Michelle Wright

for their own problems. Others hung aimlessly in the streets. They were the jobless and bored looking to take on any opportunity that came their way. Then there were the lost who; like Adam and Summer were homeless and drifting, waking everyday wondering where they would sleep later that night. He wasn’t that far from the house and without a clue where he was he turned into a narrow alley its high walls creating a claustr ophobic and threatening feeling . Adam only had one urge, to bang his head repeat edly against the rough concrete and remove the demons.
    “ Hey buddy what are you doing? ”
    An old man slightly hunched over had stopped and was watching the spectacle in horror.
    “ Loo k what you’ve done to your head young man, why do such a thing? ”
    “ What’s it to you? ” He replied, as the blood started to trickle down his face .
    “ Now now don’t be so mean , I’m only trying to help. ”
    “ I don’t need your help , if I wanna bash my brains out I’ll do it! ”
    “ Such an angry young man, what ever it is it can’t be that bad, surely? ”
    “ Wanna bet? ”
    No matter what , Adam was determined to do what he wanted to do. N o-one was ever going to get the chance to order him around again; even a kindly old man had become a threat.
    “ What do you want? ” His suspicions heightened.
    “ To help you, that’s all. ”
    “ Why is it that every where I go s ome dickhead is wanting to help. I f I wanna kill myself or crush my brain to pieces then it’s my business. ”
    “ That’s the problem, it’s not just your business. ”
    “ What does that mean? ”
    “ That there are people out there who care and want to help, why don’t you come with me, I can give you something to eat maybe? ”
    Was this yet another Reggie or Rone? W hat k ind of a strange twisted game was being played out and who was behind it? There were far too many co-incidences and encounters with str angers on the sidewalk that was creating deeper paranoia in Adam with each passing hour. His immediate impulse was to go back for Summer and run even though the old man seemed harmless , there was something about him that Adam didn’t like and it was making him uneasy.
    “ What’s wrong with your eyes, ” Adam remarked. “ T hey’re vacant li ke you’re spaced out on something? ”
    “ That’s the way I look, my m other always told me I had the strangest eyes and she never could figure out which side of the family I inherited them from. ”
    “ I have to agree with her. ”
    “ Have you seen this? ” He said pointing to some wilted flowers propped up against the opposite wall.
    “ What are they for ? ”
    “ Someone was killed there a few weeks back , robbed for a few dollars. This isn’t the place for a young man to be, t his area has seen its fair share of trouble. ”
    “ Then it’s time I left , nice knowing you. ” He replied nervously regretting that he’d taken a wrong turn.
    Turn ing fast on his heels he returned to the house, grateful for the sanctuary. The story of a recent murder a stones throw from where he had been staying sent shivers through Adam who was outwardly cocky and self-assured . S treet-life , drive by’s and muggings were alien, something he ’d only ever seen on Cops and America ’ s most wanted. I n his neighbourhood murders and serious crimes were unheard of, the worse being an occasional break-in or auto theft. The only way to find out what crimes were committed in other places was found in the newspaper that was unceremoniously dumped onto the drive from the adol escent delivery boy on his bike. W ilted flowers against a cracked and dirty wall would have been unthinkable.
    Reluctantly returning h e found Summer exactly where he ’d le ft her; sitting alone with her head tilted back staring at the ceiling, the chair slightly rocking.
    “ Yeh? ” She remarked sensing his presence.
    “ I’m back. ”
    “ And then? ”
    “ And then…we go someplace. ”
    “ Where’s