> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pragmaticissues.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Hollow Season Chapters 4-6 - URL: https://www.pragmaticissues.com/the-hollow-season-chapters-4-6/ - Published: 2026-09-10T00:19:42.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-10T00:19:42.000Z - Author: C. M. Clark By C.M. Clark THE HOLLOW SEASON **Chapter Four — Things People Say** By Monday, Alex had decided there were two Idaho Springs. There was the one tourists saw. That Idaho Springs smelled like pizza, coffee, beer and sugar. It sold polished stones, Colorado T-shirts, antiques and things made from wood. It had people taking photographs of old buildings and motorcycles rolling lazily down streets beneath mountains that looked too large to be real. Then there was the other one. Alex had only seen pieces of that Idaho Springs. Mostly after dark. He wasn’t sure anyone else had. His father certainly hadn’t. Or wouldn’t admit it. ‘You understand you’re starting school tomorrow?’ Steve stood in Alex’s doorway holding an empty coffee mug. Alex was lying on his bed with headphones around his neck. ‘That’s generally how school works.’ ‘You have everything?’ ‘No.’ Steve waited. Alex looked up. ‘Was that a real question?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Then no.’ ‘What don’t you have?’ ‘I don’t know.’ Steve closed his eyes. ‘Alex.’ ‘Dad.’ ‘I’m trying here.’ Alex immediately regretted it. Not because Steve looked angry. Because he looked tired. The move had done that. Or maybe something else had. Since arriving in Idaho Springs, his father had been distracted. Little things. Standing at windows. Forgetting conversations. Twice Alex had caught him looking through old boxes that hadn’t been unpacked. Yesterday morning Steve had driven downtown alone. When Jessica asked where he’d gone, he’d said coffee. Alex had seen the coffee machine running when Steve left. ‘I’ve got everything,’ Alex said. Steve opened his eyes. ‘You sure?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Okay.’ He started away. ‘Dad.’ Steve looked back. ‘Did you ever hang out here?’ ‘Here where?’ ‘Idaho Springs.’ The pause was tiny. Alex noticed it anyway. ‘Probably.’ ‘That’s not an answer.’ ‘I grew up in Colorado.’ ‘You already said that.’ Steve leaned against the doorframe. ‘What’s this about?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘Alex.’ ‘You keep acting like you recognise stuff.’ Steve shrugged. ‘Maybe I do.’ ‘Like what?’ ‘I don’t know. Buildings. Streets.’ ‘The Buffalo?’ Something flickered across his father’s face. Gone immediately. ‘What about it?’ ‘You keep staring at it.’ ‘I stared at it once.’ ‘Twice.’ ‘Apparently you’re keeping records.’ ‘Apparently you’re avoiding the question.’ Steve smiled. Not happily. ‘Maybe I went there with my parents when I was a kid.’ ‘Did you?’ ‘I don’t remember.’ ‘How do you not remember?’ ‘Because I’m fifty-two, Alex. Eventually your brain starts throwing shit away.’ ‘Convenient.’ Steve straightened. ‘Get your stuff ready for tomorrow.’ Conversation over. Alex watched him leave. A few seconds later Jessica appeared. She looked down the hallway after Steve. Then at Alex. ‘What was that?’ ‘Apparently dementia.’ Jessica laughed before she could stop herself. ‘Don’t.’ ‘You laughed.’ ‘I absolutely did not.’ ‘You absolutely did.’ She came into the room. ‘Go easy on him.’ Alex sat up. ‘Why?’ ‘Because moving was harder for him than he’s admitting.’ ‘Moving from Aspen?’ ‘I don’t think it’s Aspen.’ That caught him. ‘What does that mean?’ Jessica immediately looked like she’d said too much. ‘Nothing.’ ‘Jessica.’ ‘I just mean change.’ ‘That’s not what you meant.’ She pointed at him. ‘School tomorrow.’ ‘Coward.’ ‘Correct.’ She left. Alex stared after her. Something was going on. Maybe nothing supernatural. Maybe nothing interesting. Adults were perfectly capable of creating mysteries out of ordinary stupidity. He grabbed his hoodie. He needed air. Main Street was busy. That helped. Alex had discovered he preferred Idaho Springs when there were people around. Families. Tourists. Dogs. Old men drinking beer. Kids begging for sweets. Motorcycles parked in rows. Normal things. He wandered without any particular destination. Past Beau Jo’s. Past shop windows crowded with stones and jewellery. Past racks of postcards. Past Tommyknocker. The afternoon sun hit the brick buildings and made the whole street look warmer than it actually was. He bought a Coke and kept walking. He was passing an antique shop when someone spoke beside him. ‘You found me.’ Alex nearly dropped the bottle. The girl was sitting on a bench. Dark hair. Pale skin. Black jeans with a rip across one knee. Old trainers. She looked completely ordinary. Which somehow made her more unsettling. ‘Jesus Christ.’ She smiled. ‘Sorry.’ ‘No, you aren’t.’ ‘Not really.’ Alex stared at her. ‘You disappeared.’ ‘Did I?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Maybe you stopped looking.’ ‘I walked to the corner.’ ‘Wrong corner.’ Alex frowned. She took a drink from a paper coffee cup. ‘Are you always this weird?’ ‘Usually.’ ‘Good to know.’ Alex remained standing. ‘You know my name.’ ‘You told me.’ ‘You never told me yours.’ She considered this. ‘Nell.’ ‘Nell?’ ‘Is there something wrong with Nell?’ ‘No.’ ‘Your face says there is.’ ‘It’s just old-fashioned.’ ‘So is Alex.’ ‘No it isn’t.’ ‘Alexander?’ ‘Alex.’ ‘Still old.’ He sat at the opposite end of the bench. ‘You from here?’ ‘Sort of.’ ‘What does sort of mean?’ ‘I live here.’ ‘Then yes.’ ‘If you say so.’ Alex looked at her. ‘You do this on purpose.’ ‘What?’ ‘Answer questions in the most irritating way possible.’ Nell smiled. ‘I think you do too.’ Fair. People moved along the pavement in front of them. For a while neither spoke. Then Nell nodded towards his Coke. ‘You shouldn’t drink that.’ Alex looked at the bottle. ‘Why?’ ‘It’ll kill you.’ ‘Eventually.’ ‘Everything does.’ She said it casually. Alex turned towards her. ‘You’re cheerful.’ ‘I’m realistic.’ ‘You’re strange.’ ‘You’re new.’ ‘You’ve mentioned that.’ ‘New people notice things.’ Alex waited. ‘What things?’ Nell looked towards Main Street. ‘Things everybody else stopped noticing.’ ‘Such as?’ ‘Sounds.’ ‘What sounds?’ ‘Doors.’ ‘Doors?’ ‘Footsteps.’ Alex stared at her. ‘Are you trying to scare me?’ ‘No.’ ‘Because you’re not very good at it.’ ‘Good.’ She stood. ‘Come on.’ ‘Where?’ ‘You’re new. I’ll show you something.’ ‘This is how teenagers get murdered.’ Nell looked at him. ‘Sometimes.’ Alex didn’t laugh. She did. ‘Relax.’ She started walking. Against his better judgement, Alex followed. She knew the town differently from Jessica. Jessica knew restaurants. Businesses. People. Where to park. Which streets became miserable when tourists arrived. Nell knew gaps. She showed Alex a narrow passage between two buildings he’d walked past three times without noticing. An old staircase. A courtyard hidden behind shops. A faded advertisement painted high on a brick wall. ‘That thing’s ancient.’ ‘Not really.’ ‘Looks ancient.’ ‘People think anything older than their parents is ancient.’ ‘You sound eighty.’ Nell glanced at him. ‘Maybe I am.’ ‘You look good for eighty.’ ‘Thank you.’ They emerged onto Main Street again. A motorcycle rolled past. Nell stopped. Alex nearly walked into her. ‘What?’ She was watching it. Black Harley. Tall handlebars. The rider disappeared around the corner. Nell’s expression had changed. ‘You okay?’ ‘Fine.’ ‘You don’t look fine.’ ‘You shouldn’t go near motorcycles parked here at night.’ Alex laughed. Nell didn’t. His laughter died. ‘Why?’ ‘Because they don’t always belong to people.’ He stared at her. ‘What does that mean?’ ‘Exactly what I said.’ ‘Motorcycles belong to people.’ ‘Usually.’ ‘You’re fucking with me.’ Nell continued walking. Alex caught up. ‘Hey.’ ‘What?’ ‘What are you talking about?’ ‘Something people say.’ ‘Who?’ ‘People.’ ‘Very specific.’ They passed the Buffalo. Nell didn’t look at it. Not once. Alex noticed because everyone looked at restaurants when they walked past them. Menus. Windows. People eating. Nell kept her eyes straight ahead. ‘What about this place?’ She stopped. ‘What about it?’ ‘My dad acts weird around it.’ That got her attention. ‘Your dad?’ ‘Steve.’ Nell looked through the window. For the first time, Alex saw something close to fear in her face. ‘What?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘You know him?’ ‘No.’ ‘You looked at him yesterday.’ ‘I look at lots of people.’ ‘You looked at him like you knew him.’ ‘I don’t.’ ‘Then why—’ ‘Alex.’ Her voice changed. Quiet. Serious. ‘Don’t ask your father about this town.’ He stared at her. ‘Why?’ ‘Because he might remember.’ ‘Remember what?’ Nell stepped backwards. ‘I’ll see you around.’ ‘No. Don’t do that disappearing shit again.’ She smiled faintly. ‘Then keep up.’ She turned and walked into the crowd. Alex followed. A family blocked him for perhaps three seconds. When they moved, Nell was gone. Again. ‘Fuck.’ An elderly man sitting outside a nearby shop looked up. ‘Problem?’ Alex hesitated. ‘No.’ Then changed his mind. ‘Actually, yeah.’ The man waited. ‘Girl just came through here. Dark hair. Black jeans.’ The man’s face remained blank. ‘Didn’t see her.’ ‘She literally walked past you.’ ‘Lots of people walk past me.’ Alex looked down the street. Nothing. ‘Her name’s Nell.’ The old man stopped smiling. It was subtle. But Alex saw it. ‘What?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘You know her?’ ‘Nope.’ Too fast. ‘You do.’ The man stood. ‘Enjoy your afternoon, kid.’ ‘Wait.’ He went inside. The OPEN sign flipped to CLOSED. Alex stared through the glass. The old man disappeared into the back. ‘What the hell is wrong with everybody?’ A church bell sounded somewhere. Alex checked his phone. 3:17. The bell rang again. Then again. Three times. And stopped. That night, Jessica made tacos. Steve drank two beers. Alex watched both of them. Normal dinner. Normal conversation. Jessica complained about work. Steve complained about the moving company. Alex complained about school despite not having attended it yet. Nobody mentioned disappearing girls. Nobody mentioned motorcycles. Nobody mentioned the Buffalo. Halfway through dinner, Alex asked casually: ‘Who’s Nell?’ Steve’s fork stopped. Jessica looked at him. ‘Nell who?’ ‘I don’t know.’ Steve resumed eating. ‘School?’ ‘No.’ ‘Then how would we know?’ Alex watched his father. ‘Met her downtown.’ Jessica smiled. ‘The girl?’ ‘What girl?’ ‘The one you were staring at.’ ‘I wasn’t staring.’ ‘You crossed an entire street.’ ‘That’s called walking.’ ‘What’s her surname?’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Where does she live?’ ‘I don’t know.’ Jessica grinned. ‘Excellent detective work.’ Alex ignored her. ‘She said something weird.’ Steve looked up. ‘What?’ ‘She told me not to ask you about Idaho Springs.’ Silence. Jessica’s smile disappeared. Steve stared at him. ‘She said what?’ There it was. Not confusion. Fear. Alex felt something cold move through his stomach. ‘Why?’ ‘Describe her.’ ‘Dad—’ ‘Describe her.’ Jessica put down her fork. ‘Steve.’ ‘Dark hair. About my age. Pale. Her name’s Nell.’ Steve’s expression changed. ‘Nell what?’ ‘I just said I don’t know.’ ‘What did she want?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘Did she ask about me?’ ‘Kind of.’ Steve stood. His chair scraped hard across the floor. Jessica flinched. ‘Steve, what the hell?’ ‘Alex, stay away from her.’ Alex stared at him. ‘Why?’ ‘I mean it.’ ‘You don’t even know her.’ ‘Neither do you.’ ‘Then why are you freaking out?’ ‘I’m not freaking out.’ ‘You just jumped out of your chair.’ Jessica touched Steve’s arm. ‘Sit down.’ He didn’t. ‘Dad.’ Steve looked towards the kitchen window. Outside was darkness. ‘There were stories when I was a kid.’ Alex waited. ‘What stories?’ Steve rubbed his face. ‘Stupid shit.’ ‘About Nell?’ ‘No.’ ‘Then what?’ Steve looked at Jessica. Then back at Alex. ‘I don’t remember.’ Alex almost laughed. ‘Bullshit.’ ‘Alex.’ ‘You keep saying you don’t remember.’ ‘I don’t.’ ‘Then how do you know I should stay away from her?’ Steve had no answer. He left the kitchen. Jessica watched him go. Alex stared at her. ‘You still think this is about moving?’ She didn’t answer. Steve couldn’t sleep. At 1:43 in the morning he gave up trying. Jessica slept beside him. He went downstairs. The house creaked beneath his feet. He poured a glass of water. Stood at the kitchen sink. Looked towards the black window. Nell. The name meant nothing. He was almost certain. Almost. He drank. Something moved in the reflection. Steve spun around. Empty kitchen. ‘Jesus.’ He set the glass down. Too much stress. Moving. New house. Alex. Jessica. Old town. Old— Steve stopped. A memory came without warning. Summer. Heat. A girl laughing. Not Alex’s girl. Another girl. Older. Blonde hair. A denim jacket. Someone saying: Nora, wait up. Steve gripped the counter. His heart began pounding. Nora. He hadn’t thought his sister’s name in years. No. That wasn’t true. He thought about her. Sometimes. Less as he got older. But he remembered Nora. Of course he remembered Nora. What he didn’t remember was Idaho Springs. Except suddenly he did. A little. A street at night. Nora walking ahead of him. Music coming from somewhere. A motorcycle. Steve closed his eyes. The memory vanished. ‘Fuck.’ He opened them. Someone was standing outside the kitchen window. A girl. Dark hair. Pale face. Steve stumbled backwards. The girl lifted one hand. Not waving. Pressing her palm against the glass. Steve couldn’t move. Her lips formed one word. He couldn’t hear it through the window. He didn’t need to. Steve. The kitchen light flickered. Darkness. One second. Maybe two. The light returned. The window was empty. Steve stood alone. His water glass lay shattered on the floor. Upstairs, nobody had heard it break. And several streets below them, Main Street was quiet. Almost. Outside the Buffalo Restaurant & Bar sat a black Harley Davidson. Its engine was cold. Its chrome reflected the streetlights. There was nobody anywhere near it. At 2:06 a.m., the engine started. ——————- **THE HOLLOW SEASON** **Chapter Five — Just One Drink** Steve loved Jessica. He was fairly certain of that. The problem was that he wasn’t in love with her. There was a difference, although Steve had spent the better part of two years pretending there wasn’t. Love was comfortable. Love was remembering that Jessica hated onions but liked onion powder, a distinction Steve still considered ridiculous. Love was knowing she slept with one foot outside the blankets. Love was bringing her coffee without asking. Love was stopping at the chemist because she’d mentioned a headache that morning. Love was looking at another person and wanting their life to be easier because you were in it. Steve did all those things. Being in love was something else. He remembered being in love. That was the problem. It had been irrational. Terrifying. Physical. There had been years when Alex’s mother could walk into a room and Steve would feel something change in his chest before he even saw her. Then she’d disappeared. No goodbye. No explanation. No body. Just gone. For a long time Steve had believed grief required a corpse. He’d learned otherwise. Jessica was different. Jessica was safe. Or she’d seemed safe. Lately, Steve wasn’t so sure. ‘We need to talk about the mortgage.’ Steve kept his eyes on the television. There it was. Saturday morning. Coffee. Mortgage. ‘Good morning to you too.’ Jessica dropped a folder onto the coffee table. ‘I mentioned it last night.’ ‘You mentioned it while I was brushing my teeth.’ ‘And you said we’d talk today.’ Steve muted the television. ‘Okay.’ Jessica sat opposite him. She’d already showered. Hair done. Makeup. Jeans that probably cost more than Steve’s first car. He looked at the folder. ‘What’s this?’ ‘Numbers.’ ‘That sounds ominous.’ ‘It’s not ominous.’ Steve opened it. It was ominous. Mortgage. Property taxes. Insurance. Utilities. A list of repairs Jessica wanted done before winter. Roof inspection. New windows in the back bedroom. Bathroom renovation. Kitchen appliances. Steve looked up. ‘Kitchen appliances?’ ‘Eventually.’ ‘The appliances work.’ ‘They’re old.’ ‘So am I.’ Jessica didn’t laugh. Steve looked back at the paper. ‘What’s the total?’ ‘That’s not really the point.’ ‘Usually when someone hands me a page full of dollar signs, the total is exactly the point.’ Jessica leaned back. ‘You’re living here now.’ There it was. Steve felt himself retreating. He’d become good at retreating without physically moving. ‘I know.’ ‘So is Alex.’ ‘I know that too.’ ‘Then I don’t think it’s unreasonable that you contribute.’ ‘I do contribute.’ ‘I didn’t say you didn’t.’ ‘I paid the moving expenses. I’m paying groceries. I gave you money towards the mortgage.’ ‘I’m talking about something permanent.’ Steve closed the folder. ‘Permanent how?’ Jessica hesitated. Just long enough. ‘Maybe we refinance.’ ‘We?’ ‘Steve.’ ‘It’s your house.’ ‘It’s our home.’ That sounded beautiful. It was supposed to. Steve stared at her. Jessica reached across the coffee table and touched his hand. ‘I’m not trying to fight.’ ‘Neither am I.’ ‘I just want us to build something together.’ Steve looked at her hand. Manicured nails. Diamond bracelet. He’d bought that. Christmas. Three thousand dollars. He hadn’t intended to spend three thousand dollars. Jessica had shown it to him online three times. Not asked for it. Just shown him. The same way she’d shown him the new refrigerator. The bathroom tiles. The weekend in Santa Fe. The handbag. Jessica rarely asked Steve for anything. She didn’t have to. ‘I’ll look at it.’ Her face softened. ‘Thank you.’ She kissed him. Quick. Warm. Familiar. Then she took her coffee and went upstairs. Steve sat alone. The folder remained on the table. He looked at the television. Somebody was renovating a house. He laughed. ‘Of course.’ Alex found the folder twenty minutes later. Steve was standing at the kitchen counter when he heard: ‘Are you fucking kidding me?’ He closed his eyes. ‘Alex.’ Alex walked in holding the papers. ‘You’re paying for her house now?’ ‘Put that down.’ ‘She’s charging you rent?’ ‘She’s not charging me rent.’ ‘Looks like rent.’ ‘It’s none of your business.’ Alex laughed. ‘We moved here because of her. I’d say it’s a little bit my business.’ ‘You are seventeen.’ ‘Yeah, you’ve mentioned that.’ ‘Then act like it.’ The words came out harder than Steve intended. Alex’s expression changed. ‘Right.’ ‘That’s not what I meant.’ ‘Sure.’ ‘Give me the folder.’ Alex tossed it onto the counter. ‘She’s using you.’ Steve felt anger rise immediately. Not because Alex was necessarily wrong. Because Steve had thought the same thing. ‘Enough.’ ‘She is.’ ‘You don’t know anything about our relationship.’ ‘I know she got you to sell our house.’ ‘We discussed that.’ ‘You discussed it.’ ‘Alex.’ ‘You told me.’ Steve slammed his hand against the counter. ‘Enough!’ Silence. Alex stared at him. Steve regretted it immediately. ‘I’m sorry.’ ‘Don’t.’ ‘Alex—’ ‘You always do that.’ ‘Do what?’ ‘Pick her.’ Steve stared at him. ‘That isn’t fair.’ ‘Isn’t it?’ ‘No.’ ‘We left Aspen because she didn’t want to move there.’ ‘That’s not what happened.’ ‘You sold our house.’ ‘It made financial sense.’ ‘You moved me into hers.’ ‘We needed a fresh start.’ ‘You needed one.’ That hit. Alex saw it. Kept going. ‘You didn’t ask me.’ ‘I am your father. I don’t need your permission to make every decision.’ ‘No. Apparently you need Jessica’s.’ ‘Watch yourself.’ Alex laughed bitterly. ‘There he is.’ ‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘No. Say it.’ Alex’s eyes were wet now. That changed everything. Steve’s anger disappeared. Alex looked away. ‘You used to be my dad.’ ‘I’m still your dad.’ ‘Not like before.’ Steve didn’t know what to say. Alex did. ‘Before her, it was us.’ ‘Alex.’ ‘After Mum disappeared, it was us.’ Steve flinched. ‘Don’t.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because we’re not doing this.’ ‘Exactly.’ Alex looked at him. ‘We never fucking do.’ He walked out. ‘Alex.’ The front door slammed. Steve stood in the kitchen. The house went quiet. For several seconds he didn’t move. Then Jessica came downstairs. ‘What happened?’ Steve looked at her. ‘Nothing.’ ‘That didn’t sound like nothing.’ ‘We argued.’ ‘About?’ Steve glanced at the folder. Jessica followed his eyes. Her expression hardened. ‘He went through that?’ ‘It was sitting on the table.’ ‘He had no right.’ Steve almost laughed. That was what she took from it. Not why Alex was angry. Not what Steve had said. The folder. ‘He’s upset about the move.’ ‘He’s been upset about the move since before we moved.’ ‘Maybe I should’ve listened.’ Jessica stared at him. ‘What does that mean?’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘You wanted this too.’ Steve looked at her. Had he? He genuinely couldn’t remember anymore. There had been dinners. Weekends. Jessica talking about how impossible Aspen was. How expensive. How isolated. How Steve’s house was too large for two people. How Idaho Springs put them closer to Denver. How much equity Steve had. How sensible selling would be. All reasonable. All true. And somehow every reasonable conversation had moved Steve one inch closer to Jessica’s life until he’d looked around and realised his own was gone. ‘Steve?’ ‘I need some air.’ Jessica folded her arms. ‘Of course you do.’ ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘Apparently everybody’s saying nothing today.’ He grabbed his jacket. ‘Where are you going?’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Steve.’ He closed the door behind him. He walked. That surprised him. Steve wasn’t a walking person. He owned a perfectly functional vehicle specifically so he wouldn’t have to walk unnecessarily. But Idaho Springs made walking easy. Downhill towards town. Mountain air. Traffic humming somewhere beyond the buildings. People wandering between shops. By the time Steve reached Main Street, his anger had become something heavier. Guilt. Alex had been right about one thing. There had been a time when it was just them. After his mother disappeared, Alex had slept in Steve’s room for almost six months. Not every night. Most. He’d been eight. He would wake up crying because he’d dreamed she came home. Steve would move over. Alex would climb beneath the blankets. Neither would mention it in the morning. They survived together. Bad meals. Missed school forms. Laundry disasters. Christmases neither wanted to celebrate. Birthdays with an empty chair nobody acknowledged. Steve had spent years worrying he wasn’t enough for Alex. Then Jessica came along. For the first time in years somebody took care of Steve. That was the truth he didn’t like admitting. Jessica made reservations. Remembered appointments. Bought groceries. Planned trips. Told him where they were going for dinner. Asked what he wanted and then usually decided anyway. Steve had mistaken relief for love. Maybe that wasn’t fair either. He did love her. He just— ‘Shit.’ He’d stopped walking. The Buffalo was in front of him. Again. Steve looked at the building. He hadn’t consciously walked there. At least he didn’t think he had. People moved through the doorway. Warm light inside. Voices. Glasses. Food. Normal. Steve checked his phone. A text from Jessica. **Are you coming back?** Then another. **We need to finish this conversation.** Then Alex. No message. Steve put the phone away. ‘One drink.’ The Buffalo smelled familiar. That bothered him immediately. Beer. Wood. Food. Old building. There was nothing unusual about those smells. Still. Steve stood just inside the doorway longer than necessary. Something in his chest loosened. Not dramatically. Just enough. Like coming home after a long trip. ‘You eating or drinking?’ Steve turned. A man behind the bar was looking at him. ‘Drinking.’ ‘Anywhere you like.’ Steve took a stool. ‘Beer.’ The bartender waited. ‘Dealer’s choice.’ ‘Dangerous thing to say in a bar.’ ‘Long day.’ ‘Then I’ll be kind.’ A beer appeared. Steve took a drink. Cold. Perfect. He exhaled. For the first time all day, nobody wanted anything from him. Nobody needed an answer. Nobody wanted money. Nobody wanted an apology. Nobody wanted him to explain why he’d moved. Nobody wanted him to explain why he’d stayed. Nobody wanted him to explain what happened to Alex’s mother. Steve stared into the glass. He ordered another. He didn’t notice the man at the far end of the bar until the second beer. Older. Grey hair. Local, Steve assumed. The man had been talking with two other people when he glanced over. His eyes settled on Steve. Stayed there. Steve looked away. A minute later the man moved closer. ‘You new in town?’ Steve turned. ‘That obvious?’ ‘Small town.’ ‘Just moved from Aspen.’ The man nodded. ‘Jessica Mercer’s place?’ Steve smiled. ‘Smaller town than I thought.’ ‘Gets smaller the longer you’re here.’ The man offered his hand. ‘Dan.’ ‘Steve.’ They shook. Dan looked at him for another second. Something unreadable passed through his face. ‘Steve what?’ ‘Miller.’ Dan’s hand stopped. Only for an instant. Then released. ‘Miller.’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘You from Colorado?’ Steve frowned. ‘Born and raised.’ Dan nodded slowly. ‘Thought so.’ ‘Do I know you?’ ‘Don’t think so.’ ‘You looked like you recognised the name.’ Dan picked up his beer. ‘Names repeat around here.’ Steve waited for more. None came. ‘You been in Idaho Springs before?’ There it was again. Steve looked towards the shelves behind the bar. ‘Probably.’ Dan smiled faintly. ‘Probably.’ ‘I was here when I was young. I think.’ ‘You think?’ Steve rubbed his forehead. ‘I’ve been having these weird memories since we moved.’ Dan didn’t laugh. Didn’t make a joke. That surprised Steve. ‘What kind?’ ‘Nothing important.’ ‘Those are usually the important ones.’ Steve looked at him. Dan drank his beer. ‘How long have you lived here?’ ‘Long enough.’ ‘Everybody in this town answers questions like that?’ ‘Pretty much.’ Steve laughed. He liked Dan. There was something easy about him. No performance. No obligation. Steve finished his beer. His phone vibrated. Jessica. He ignored it. ‘Another?’ Steve looked at the bartender. He should go home. Talk to Jessica. Find Alex. Apologise. Be a father. Be a boyfriend. Be whatever version of himself everybody required. Instead he pushed the empty glass forward. ‘Yeah.’ By the fourth beer, Steve felt better. Not drunk. Better. Dan had moved on to another conversation. A baseball game played silently on a television. Someone laughed behind Steve. Plates came out of the kitchen. The room was warm. Comfortable. Steve couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt comfortable. His phone vibrated again. He turned it face down. Outside, Main Street darkened. Tourists drifted towards hotels and cars. Shops closed. Streetlights came on. Inside the Buffalo, Steve ordered another beer. And something in the building seemed to settle around him. Not touching. Not moving. Simply recognising. Steve looked towards the back of the room. For a moment he saw a girl standing near the hallway. Young. Blonde. Denim jacket. Steve’s heart stopped. ‘Nora?’ The girl turned. Not Nora. A waitress. Dark hair. Twenty-five at most. ‘You need something?’ Steve stared at her. ‘No.’ She smiled politely and walked away. Steve rubbed his face. Nora. Why did he keep thinking about Nora? He hadn’t seen his sister since— Steve stopped. Since when? He knew the answer. Of course he knew. 1. 1975. He’d been a kid. Nora had been— His mind slid away from the memory. Actually slid. Steve felt it happen. He reached for it. Nothing. A door slammed somewhere in the back. Steve jumped. Dan glanced over. Their eyes met. Dan had seen something in Steve’s face. ‘You all right?’ ‘Yeah.’ Dan didn’t look convinced. Steve picked up his beer. ‘Just tired.’ Dan looked towards the back hallway. Then at Steve. ‘First week in town?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Give it time.’ Steve laughed. ‘That’s what everybody keeps telling me.’ Dan didn’t. ‘I’m sure they do.’ Steve returned home after eleven. Jessica was asleep. Or pretending to be. Alex’s bedroom door was closed. Steve stood outside it. Raised his hand. Almost knocked. Didn’t. Tomorrow. He’d fix it tomorrow. He went downstairs for water. His jacket smelled faintly of cigarettes even though nobody had been smoking inside the Buffalo. Steve lifted the collar. Another smell beneath it. Something sweet. Perfume. Old perfume. He knew it. He couldn’t remember from where. Steve checked the pockets. Keys. Wallet. Receipt. Something else. Paper. He pulled it out. A photograph. Steve stared. Black and white. Old. Four teenagers standing on Main Street. The edges were worn soft. One of them was Steve. Much younger. Maybe twelve. Beside him stood a blonde girl in a denim jacket. Nora. Steve stopped breathing. He turned the photograph over. Someone had written a date on the back. **AUGUST 1975** Underneath it were four words. Written in faded blue ink. **NORA, DON’T GO INSIDE.** Steve dropped the photograph. It landed face-up on the kitchen floor. He stared at his sister. Then slowly looked towards the window. Far below the house, hidden among the darkened buildings of Main Street, the Buffalo Restaurant & Bar was still open. Steve had no idea how the photograph had gotten into his pocket. He had no idea who had written the warning. And he had absolutely no memory of the photograph being taken. But he knew one thing. He would go back tomorrow. ———————- **THE HOLLOW SEASON** **Chapter Six — Jyllian** Alex lasted forty-three minutes at his new school. Technically, fifty-one. But the first eight had been orientation, and Alex didn’t think those counted. By 9:17 on Tuesday morning, he was sitting in the principal’s office with blood drying beneath his nose and somebody else’s blood on the knuckles of his right hand. Steve sat beside him. He hadn’t spoken for almost five minutes. That was worse than yelling. Across the desk, Principal Warren folded his hands. ‘The other student says Alex hit him first.’ ‘I did.’ Steve turned. ‘Alex.’ ‘He asked.’ ‘Nobody asked you.’ ‘I meant him.’ Principal Warren leaned back. ‘Why did you hit him?’ Alex shrugged. ‘He was being an asshole.’ Steve closed his eyes. ‘Wonderful.’ ‘I’m asking seriously,’ Warren said. ‘I answered seriously.’ ‘Alex.’ Steve’s voice was low now. Warning. Alex stared at the floor. The office smelled like cheap coffee and disinfectant. There were framed photographs on the wall showing smiling students receiving awards for things Alex couldn’t imagine caring about. Principal Warren waited. Alex finally said, ‘He said something about my mum.’ Steve looked at him. That changed things. ‘What?’ Alex shrugged again. ‘I don’t know.’ ‘What did he say?’ ‘Doesn’t matter.’ ‘It clearly matters.’ ‘I said it doesn’t.’ Principal Warren glanced between them. ‘There were comments made.’ Steve’s jaw tightened. ‘What kind of comments?’ Warren hesitated. Alex knew exactly why. Nobody enjoyed saying cruel things in front of adults when another teenager had already done the dirty work. ‘Apparently some students had heard that Alex’s mother left the family.’ Steve went still. ‘She didn’t leave the family.’ Alex looked at him. Steve continued. ‘She disappeared.’ ‘Dad.’ ‘There’s a difference.’ Warren nodded. ‘Of course.’ ‘And what exactly did the other kid say?’ Alex sighed. ‘He said maybe she disappeared because living with me sucked.’ Silence. Steve’s anger evaporated. He looked at his son. Alex hated that look. Pity. He could handle anger. Pity made him want to break something else. ‘So I hit him.’ Principal Warren said, ‘And then he hit you.’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Then you hit him again.’ ‘He wasn’t getting smarter.’ Steve almost smiled. Almost. Warren noticed. ‘Mr Miller.’ ‘Sorry.’ He wasn’t. They drove home in silence. Jessica called twice. Steve ignored both. Alex watched the mountains through the passenger window. Finally Steve said: ‘Did he hurt you?’ ‘Not really.’ ‘Your nose?’ ‘It’s fine.’ ‘Any headache?’ ‘No.’ ‘Dizzy?’ ‘Dad.’ ‘Just checking.’ Another mile. Then: ‘You can’t punch everybody who says something stupid.’ ‘I know.’ ‘Because you’re going to hear stupid things.’ ‘I know.’ ‘Especially being new.’ ‘I know.’ Steve gripped the steering wheel. ‘Stop saying you know.’ ‘Then stop saying things I know.’ Steve laughed unexpectedly. Alex looked at him. ‘What?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘You laughed.’ ‘I did not.’ ‘You absolutely did.’ Steve shook his head. For the first time in weeks, something between them felt normal. Then his phone rang through the car speakers. **JESSICA CALLING.** The moment disappeared. Steve declined the call. Alex looked away. ‘You can answer.’ ‘I don’t need to.’ ‘She’ll keep calling.’ ‘I know.’ There it was. Alex smiled faintly. Steve caught it. ‘Shut up.’ The online-school decision happened that evening. Jessica hated it. Alex knew she hated it before she said a word. She had that look she’d developed whenever Steve made a decision without discussing it with her. ‘You’re rewarding him.’ Steve sat at the kitchen table with his laptop open. ‘I’m not rewarding anybody.’ ‘He assaulted another student.’ ‘He got into a fight.’ ‘Same thing.’ ‘He’s seventeen.’ ‘Exactly.’ Alex sat on the stairs listening. He wasn’t supposed to be. That had never stopped him. Jessica lowered her voice. ‘What happens when he gets a job? Somebody says something he doesn’t like and he punches them?’ ‘That’s not what happened.’ ‘According to him.’ Steve went quiet. Jessica continued. ‘He needs structure.’ ‘Online school has structure.’ ‘It has a computer.’ ‘Jess.’ ‘You can’t keep changing everything because Alex is unhappy.’ A long pause. Then Steve said: ‘I changed everything because you were unhappy.’ Alex stopped breathing. Jessica did too. ‘Excuse me?’ Steve immediately regretted it. Alex could hear it in the silence. ‘I didn’t mean—’ ‘No. Finish that.’ ‘I’m tired.’ ‘Of me?’ ‘That’s not what I said.’ ‘Then what did you say?’ Alex quietly went upstairs. He didn’t need to hear the rest. For once, his father had said enough. Online school began Thursday. By Thursday afternoon, Alex had discovered the greatest educational advancement in human history: You could finish school early. No bells. No sitting around waiting for thirty other people. No gym class. No lunchroom. No forced conversations with people who had known him for twelve minutes and somehow already knew about his mother. He finished everything assigned by 1:36. At 1:37 he left the house. He found Jyllian outside a shop on Main Street. Or maybe she found him. Alex was starting to suspect there wasn’t much difference. She sat on a low brick wall eating chips from a small paper bag. Dark hair loose over her shoulders. Black jeans. White shirt. Old denim jacket. Alex stopped. ‘Jyllian.’ She looked up. ‘Alex.’ ‘So that actually is your name?’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘Why wouldn’t it be?’ ‘You gave me Nell before.’ Jyllian smiled. ‘Did I?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Maybe I didn’t know if I liked you yet.’ ‘So you gave me a fake name?’ ‘Wouldn’t you?’ ‘No.’ ‘You punched somebody on your first day of school.’ Alex stared at her. ‘How the hell do you know that?’ She ate another chip. ‘Small town.’ ‘That happened two days ago.’ ‘Very small town.’ He sat beside her. ‘His name was Tyler.’ ‘I know.’ ‘Of course you do.’ She offered him the bag. Alex took a chip. ‘Was he being an asshole?’ ‘Massive.’ ‘Then he probably deserved it.’ Alex looked at her. ‘That’s it?’ ‘What?’ ‘No speech?’ ‘About violence?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Don’t hit people.’ ‘There it is.’ ‘Unless they really deserve it.’ Alex laughed. Jyllian smiled. There was something different about her today. Less guarded. Or maybe Alex was becoming accustomed to her. ‘I got kicked out.’ ‘Already?’ ‘Technically pulled out.’ ‘Impressive.’ ‘Online school.’ ‘So you’re free.’ ‘I still have school.’ ‘But you’re free.’ Alex considered it. ‘Yeah.’ Jyllian stood. ‘Good.’ ‘Why?’ She started walking. ‘Now I can show you the good stuff.’ Jyllian’s Idaho Springs wasn’t Jessica’s Idaho Springs. Jessica knew restaurants. Parking. Tourist seasons. Where to buy groceries. Which businesses closed early. Jyllian knew the town’s forgotten places. Old stairs leading nowhere. Alleys Alex would never have noticed. A narrow path where the mountain seemed to press against the backs of buildings. An abandoned-looking structure with windows that had been boarded so long the plywood had turned almost black. She showed him carvings in bricks. Names. Dates. Initials. ‘1921?’ Alex touched one. ‘Could be.’ ‘How do you know all this?’ ‘I pay attention.’ ‘Nobody pays this much attention.’ ‘I do.’ They climbed until Main Street looked smaller below them. The interstate hummed beyond town. Mountains surrounded everything. Alex sat on a rock. Jyllian sat beside him. For a while neither spoke. It was comfortable. That surprised him. Alex wasn’t good at comfortable silence. Silence usually meant someone was angry. Or leaving. ‘You hate it here,’ Jyllian said. ‘Not hate.’ ‘You definitely hate.’ ‘I hate parts.’ ‘Which parts?’ Alex looked towards the town. ‘My dad’s girlfriend.’ Jyllian laughed. ‘She’s not technically Idaho Springs.’ ‘She owns property. I’m counting her.’ ‘Fair.’ ‘School.’ ‘Gone.’ ‘Tourists.’ ‘You’re basically one.’ ‘Fuck off.’ She smiled. Alex continued. ‘My dad acting weird.’ Jyllian stopped smiling. ‘Weird how?’ ‘He keeps going to the Buffalo.’ She looked towards Main Street. ‘That’s not weird.’ ‘It is for him.’ ‘Maybe he likes it.’ ‘He does.’ Alex pulled at loose grass. ‘That’s the problem.’ Jyllian waited. ‘I barely see him now.’ ‘You live together.’ ‘Doesn’t mean shit.’ He hadn’t intended to say that. But Jyllian didn’t react. So he continued. ‘He used to be different.’ ‘Before Jessica?’ ‘Before everything.’ Jyllian looked at him. ‘Your mum?’ Alex stared down at his hands. ‘People know about that too?’ ‘Small town.’ ‘Right.’ He expected her to ask what happened. Everybody did. Instead she said: ‘Do you miss her?’ Alex looked at her. Such a simple question. Nobody asked that. They asked whether there had been news. Whether police still investigated. Whether Steve had considered declaring her dead. Whether Alex remembered the day she disappeared. Nobody asked if he missed her. ‘Every day.’ Jyllian nodded. ‘I know.’ Alex frowned. ‘How?’ She looked away. ‘Because that’s how missing people work.’ Something in her voice had changed. ‘You lose someone?’ Jyllian was quiet for several seconds. ‘Lots of people.’ ‘Family?’ She smiled without humour. ‘Something like that.’ Alex wanted to ask. Didn’t. That seemed to surprise her. ‘You’re not going to interrogate me?’ ‘You didn’t interrogate me.’ ‘Maybe you’re learning.’ ‘Don’t get excited.’ She bumped her shoulder against his. Alex smiled. They spent the afternoon together. Nothing happened. That was why Alex remembered it later. Nothing supernatural. Nothing frightening. They bought coffee. Jyllian hated his order. He hated hers. They wandered through shops. She put on a ridiculous cowboy hat and made Alex take a picture. The picture came out blurry. Jyllian blamed his phone. Alex blamed her face. She punched his shoulder. They shared pizza. Alex caught her dipping crust in honey. ‘Traitor.’ ‘It’s good.’ ‘I know.’ ‘You told Jessica it was disgusting.’ ‘How do you know that?’ Jyllian smiled. ‘Small town.’ ‘You’re abusing that excuse.’ ‘Definitely.’ At one shop, an elderly woman behind the counter smiled at Jyllian. ‘Haven’t seen you in a while.’ Alex looked at her. Jyllian answered easily. ‘Been around.’ ‘Your mother doing well?’ A tiny pause. ‘Fine.’ The woman nodded. ‘Good.’ They left. Outside, Alex said: ‘See? You do exist.’ Jyllian laughed. ‘Disappointed?’ ‘A little.’ ‘You thought I was imaginary?’ ‘I was considering it.’ ‘You’d invent someone better.’ ‘I probably would.’ ‘Asshole.’ They were both laughing when they reached the Buffalo. Steve’s car was parked nearby. Alex stopped. The laughter ended. ‘He’s here again.’ Jyllian followed his gaze. ‘Looks like it.’ ‘It’s three-thirty.’ ‘Maybe he’s eating.’ ‘He came home drunk last night.’ Jyllian said nothing. Alex looked through the window. Steve sat at the bar. Talking to Dan. Laughing. Relaxed. Alex hadn’t seen his father laugh like that at home since the move. Something ugly tightened in his chest. ‘Fuck him.’ ‘Alex.’ ‘What?’ ‘Nothing.’ He started walking. Jyllian remained behind. Alex turned. ‘Coming?’ She was staring at the Buffalo. ‘In a minute.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Need to do something.’ Alex shrugged. ‘I’ll wait.’ ‘Don’t.’ That caught him. ‘What?’ Jyllian smiled. ‘Go home. I’ll find you tomorrow.’ ‘You always say things like a stalker.’ ‘Maybe I am.’ ‘Terrible stalker. I know your name now.’ She smiled. ‘Go.’ Alex hesitated. Then left. Jyllian watched until he disappeared around the corner. Only then did she turn towards the Buffalo. Dan saw her before she entered. He always did. That irritated her. Jyllian stood outside the window. Dan was behind the bar talking to Steve. He glanced towards the glass. Their eyes met. Jyllian’s expression hardened. Dan excused himself. Walked towards the door. Steve didn’t notice. Dan stepped outside. ‘You need to stop.’ Jyllian leaned against the brick. ‘Hello to you too.’ ‘I mean it.’ ‘You usually do.’ ‘Leave the boy alone.’ Jyllian smiled. ‘Which one?’ Dan’s face changed. ‘Don’t.’ ‘Steve isn’t a boy anymore.’ ‘You know who I’m talking about.’ ‘Alex likes me.’ ‘That’s what worries me.’ Jyllian looked through the window. Steve lifted his beer. ‘He’s unhappy.’ ‘That doesn’t make him yours.’ Her eyes moved back to Dan. ‘You don’t know what belongs to me.’ Dan stared at her. For a second neither spoke. People walked past them. A couple holding hands. A family carrying shopping bags. Nobody paid attention. Then Dan said: ‘He doesn’t know.’ ‘Not yet.’ ‘And Steve?’ Jyllian’s smile disappeared. ‘Steve remembers more every day.’ ‘Because he’s here.’ ‘Because it’s time.’ Dan stepped closer. ‘Whatever happened before, Alex had nothing to do with it.’ Jyllian looked genuinely hurt. ‘You think I’d hurt him?’ ‘I think you’ve hurt people without meaning to.’ That landed. She looked away. Dan softened slightly. ‘Jyllian.’ ‘Don’t.’ ‘Then tell me what you’re doing.’ She looked through the Buffalo window again. Steve was staring into his glass. ‘I don’t know yet.’ Dan laughed once. No humour in it. ‘That’s even worse.’ Jyllian pushed away from the wall. ‘I should go.’ ‘Jyllian.’ She stopped. Dan looked at her carefully. ‘Does he know what you are?’ Her face became completely still. ‘Do you?’ Dan didn’t answer. Jyllian smiled. ‘Thought so.’ She walked away. Dan watched her disappear into the afternoon crowd. Unlike everyone else in Idaho Springs, Dan didn’t have the luxury of not seeing her. He had tried. Years ago. There were people in town who could walk directly past Jyllian without noticing anything unusual. There were people she could stand beside without leaving so much as a memory. Dan had never been one of them. Whatever allowed Jyllian to decide who saw her had never worked on him. He didn’t know why. Neither did she. Dan returned inside. Steve looked over. ‘Everything okay?’ Dan glanced through the window. Jyllian was gone. ‘Yeah.’ ‘Friend of yours?’ Dan paused. Steve had seen her. That interested him. ‘Something like that.’ Steve took another drink. ‘She looked familiar.’ Dan stared at him. ‘Did she?’ Steve frowned. ‘Probably nothing.’ ‘Probably.’ Dan picked up a glass and began wiping it. Steve looked towards the door again. ‘Who is she?’ Dan could have answered. He could have told Steve to take Alex and Jessica, get in the car and leave Idaho Springs before sundown. He could have told him never to come back. Instead Dan set the glass down. ‘Ask your son.’ Alex was awake at 12:14 that night when his phone vibrated. Unknown number. **You awake?** Alex stared at it. **Who is this?** Three dots appeared. **Your imaginary friend.** Alex smiled. **Jyllian?** **See. Learning.** **How did you get my number?** A pause. **Small town.** Alex laughed quietly. **That excuse is officially bullshit.** **Meet me tomorrow?** He didn’t hesitate. **Yeah.** Three dots. Then: **Good.** Another message followed. **I like being with you.** Alex stared at the screen. Something warm moved through his chest. He typed: **I like being with you too.** The response took longer this time. **I know.** Alex rolled his eyes. **Cocky.** No answer. Then one final message appeared. **Don’t let your dad stay at the Buffalo after midnight.** Alex sat upright. He typed immediately. **Why?** The message showed as delivered. No response. **Jyllian?** Nothing. **What happens after midnight?** Nothing. Alex called the number. A recorded voice answered. **The number you have dialled is not in service.** Alex lowered the phone. ‘What the fuck?’ Across town, Jyllian stood alone at the entrance to Main Street. Her phone was nowhere in sight. Behind her, the mountains were black. Ahead, the Buffalo glowed warmly in the darkness. A motorcycle engine started somewhere she couldn’t see. Jyllian closed her eyes. ‘Not tonight.’ The engine revved. She opened them. At the far end of Main Street, one headlight appeared. Jyllian didn’t move. The motorcycle began coming towards her. Slowly. And for the first time since Alex had met her, Jyllian looked afraid. ———————