Advanco lra|so tor

AlGEl|llE
°At |ast a YA novo| about a sword-w|o|d|ng, butt-k|ck|ng sovontoon-
yoar-o|d g|r| who has boon dost|nod to t|ght tho torcos ot ov||, by
hor s|do |s W|||, hor Guard|an. E|||o |s not that contomporary toon
ot othor novo|s, who constant|y noods roscu|ng by hor |mmorta|
boytr|ond. lackod w|th b||stor|ng act|on, mystory, romanco, and
torror. loadors w||| bo g|uod trom tho t|rst pago to tho |ast,
broath|oss|y wa|t|ng tor book two ot th|s oxc|t|ng tr||ogy!'
-3ocky Andorson, Andorson's 3ookshop
°1h|s |s an amaz|ng, powortu| novo| w|th |ots ot act|on and t|ght|ng
sconos that w||| koop you on your toos. E|||o |s a strong, hard-coro
charactor you wou|dn't want to moss w|th, and th|s novo| |s ono
you wou|dn't want to m|ss out on.'
-lyd|a |utchoons, 3arbara's 3ookstoro
°Whon |t comos to tho ordor ot moan|ngs ||stod |n d|ct|onar|os
undor tho torm 'YA romanco' |t's past t|mo to push 'yoarn|ng tor tho
unobta|nab|o' down tho ||st |n tavor ot 'an omot|ona| r|p t|do tuo|od
by subsumod momor|os ot a t|vo-hundrod-yoar |ntorm|ttont but
ovo|v|ng and pass|onato dovot|on, gradua||y rosurtac|ng am|dst
tho backdrop ot round two ot tho War Aga|nst |oavon,' and
ango|t|ro |s just tho book to do |t. 1h|s book throws so many
sat|sty|ng omot|ona| o|omonts, |nvont|vo act|on sconos, and ovon a
tow ph||osoph|ca| t|db|ts at |ts roadors that thoy cannot ta|| to too|
thomso|vos |n tho m|dst rathor than on tho marg|ns ot tho story.
E|||o may ask a |ot ot quost|ons, but tho on|y th|ng hor aud|onco w|||
bo ask|ng |s 'Whon |s book two?''
-Konny 3rochnor, 00G 3ookso||ors
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
Advanco loador's o-proot
coortosy oí |arporCo|||ns lub||shors
1h|s |s an advanco roador's o-proot mado trom d|g|ta| t||os ot
tho uncorroctod proots. loadors aro rom|ndod that changos
may bo mado pr|or to pub||cat|on, |nc|ud|ng to tho typo,
dos|gn, |ayout, or contont, that aro not rot|octod |n th|s o-
proot, and that th|s o-pub may not rot|oct tho t|na| od|t|on.
Any mator|a| to bo quotod or oxcorptod |n a rov|ow shou|d bo
chockod aga|nst tho t|na| pub||shod od|t|on. 0atos, pr|cos,
and manutactur|ng dota||s aro subjoct to chango or
canco||at|on w|thout not|co.

UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE

|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
COUl1lEY Alll3Ol VOUl1Ol

UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE

|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
1h|s book |s a work ot t|ct|on. 1ho charactors, |nc|donts, and d|a|oguo
aro drawn trom tho author's |mag|nat|on and aro not to bo construod as
roa|. Any rosomb|anco to actua| ovonts or porsons, ||v|ng or doad, |s
ont|ro|y co|nc|donta|.
Ango|t|ro
Copyr|ght t 2011 by Courtnoy A|||son Vou|ton
A|| r|ghts rosorvod undor lntornat|ona| and lan-Amor|can Copyr|ght
Convont|ons. You havo boon grantod tho nonoxc|us|vo, nontranstorab|o
r|ght to accoss and road tho toxt ot th|s o-book on-scroon. lo part ot
th|s toxt may bo roproducod, transm|ttod, down|oadod, docomp||od,
rovorso ong|noorod, or storod |n or |ntroducod |nto any |ntormat|on
storago and rotr|ova| systom, |n any torm or by any moans, whothor
o|octron|c or mochan|ca|, now known or horo|nattor |nvontod, w|thout
tho oxpross wr|tton porm|ss|on ot |arporCo|||ns o-books.
|arporCo|||ns books may bo purchasod tor oducat|ona|, bus|noss, or
sa|os promot|ona| uso. |or |ntormat|on, p|oaso wr|to: 3poc|a| Varkots
0opartmont, |arporCo|||ns lub||shors, 10 East b8rd 3troot, low York,
lY 10022.
l|brary ot Congross Cata|og|ng-|n-lub||cat|on 0ata |s ava||ab|o.
l33l 078-0-00-200282-7 (trado bdg.)-l33l 078-0-00-200284-1 (||b.
bdg.)
11 12 18 14 1b XXXXXX 10 0 8 7 0 b 4 8 2 1
||rst Ed|t|on
lor my motbor,
wbo oovor íor o slog|o lostoot
stoppoo bo|lovlog lo mo

UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE

|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
1
l 31AlE0 OU1 1|E ClA33lOOV Wll0OW Al0 |ongod tor troodom,
want|ng to bo anywhoro |n tho wor|d othor than gap|ng up at
my oconom|cs toachor ||ko tho rost ot my c|assmatos. 1ho
|ast t|mo l had ||stonod to h|m, Vr. Voyor had boon |octur|ng
about t|sca| po||cy, and that was whon ho'd |ost mo. Vy oyos
ro||od ovor to my bost tr|ond, Kato Groon, who was dood||ng
|ntr|cato t|owors a|| ovor hor notos and |ookod ||ko sho was
thorough|y ontorta|n|ng horso|t. Voanwh||o, l was roducod to
star|ng at tho w|ry, gray chost ha|r putt|ng out at tho co||ar ot
Vr. Voyor's po|o sh|rt ||ko ovorgrown stoo| woo| and
wondor|ng whothor ho'd ovor cons|dorod wax|ng.
||na||y, attor anothor tod|ous twonty m|nutos, tho bo|| rang
at two-th|rty and l |oapod to my toot, |nstant|y onorg|zod. Kato
stuttod hor papors |nto hor notobook and to||owod mo up tho
a|s|o botwoon tho dosks. 1ho othor son|ors and a handtu| ot
jun|ors a|| t||od out sw|tt|y, as |t thoy'd on|y boon g|von a t|vo-
socond w|ndow to oscapo or thoy wou|d novor got out a||vo.
°V|ss Vonroo?' Vr. Voyor ca||od attor mo just botoro l |ott
tho room.
l turnod to Kato. °Your |ockor |n t|vo?'
3ho noddod and |ott tho room w|th tho rost ot tho studonts
unt|| l was |ott a|ono w|th our toachor. Vr. Voyor sm||od trom
boh|nd h|s th|ck oyog|assos and bockonod mo ovor to h|s
dosk.
l took a doop broath, hav|ng a protty good |doa ot what
th|s d|scuss|on m|ght bo about. °Yos, s|r?'
||s sm||o was warm and tr|ond|y, h|s coarso, gray board
wr|nk||ng around h|s th|n ||ps. |o pushod h|s g|assos back up
h|s noso. °3o |ast wook's qu|z d|dn't go so wo||, d|d |t?'
l bracod myso|t. °lo, s|r.'
|o t||tod h|s hoad up at mo. °last yoar |n my c|v|cs c|ass
you woro do|ng vory wo||, but tho |ast tow months ot c|ass,
your grados bogan to s||p. 3|nco schoo| bogan th|s yoar,
thoy'ro worson|ng. l want to soo you succood, E|||o.'
°l know, Vr. Voyor,' l sa|d. Excusos ran through my hoad.
ln truth, l was d|stractod. 0|stractod by co||ogo app||cat|ons.
0|stractod by my paronts' constant t|ght|ng. 0|stractod by tho
n|ghtmaros l oxpor|oncod ovory s|ng|o n|ght. Ot courso, l
wasn't go|ng to ta|k to my oconom|cs toachor about my
|ssuos. 1hoy woron't any ot h|s bus|noss. 3o l gavo h|m a
vaguo rosponso |n roturn. °l'm sorry. l'vo boon so d|stractod.
1horo's a |ot that's happonod |n tho |ast yoar.'
|o |oanod torward, d|gg|ng h|s o|bows |nto tho c|uttorod
dosk. °l undorstand tho son|or|t|s th|ng. Co||ogo, tr|onds,
|omocom|ng, boys . . . 1horo aro count|oss th|ngs grabb|ng
your attont|on trom ovory ang|o. You'vo got to stay tocusod on
what's roa||y |mportant.'
°l know,' l sa|d g|um|y. °1hank you.'
°And l don't moan just schoo|work,' ho cont|nuod. °l|to |s
go|ng to tost you |n ways |t novor has botoro. 0on't |ot your
tuturo chango tho good porson you aro or mako you torgot
who you aro. You'ro a n|co g|r|, E|||o. l'vo onjoyod hav|ng you
|n my c|assos.'
°1hanks, Vr. Voyor,' l sa|d w|th an honost sm||o.
|o sat back |n h|s cha|r. °1h|s c|ass |sn't so hard. l know |t
you just app|y yourso|t a ||tt|o moro, you'|| got through |t. Vy
c|ass |s noth|ng comparod to what's out thoro |n tho roa|
wor|d. l know you can do th|s.'
l noddod, assum|ng ho savod th|s spooch tor ovoryono
who got a 0 on a twonty-quost|on qu|z, but ho spoko w|th so
much s|ncor|ty that l wantod to ta|| tor |t. °1hanks tor bo||ov|ng
|n mo.'
°l don't say th|s to ovoryono whoso grados start to ta||,' ho
sa|d, as |t road|ng my m|nd. °l moan |t. l bo||ovo |n you. 1ust
don't torgot to bo||ovo |n yourso|t, okay?'
l sm||od w|dor. °1hanks. 3oo you tomorrow?'
°l'|| bo horo,' ho sa|d, r|s|ng woak|y to h|s toot. °Your
b|rthday |s com|ng up, r|ght?'
l gavo h|m a puzz|od |ook. °Yoah, how'd you know? 0o
you want mo to br|ng cupcakos to pass around, or
somoth|ng?'
|o |aughod. °lo, no. Un|oss you roa||y want to, l moan, bo
my guost. 3ut, happy b|rthday, V|ss Vonroo.'
°1hanks, s|r.' l sm||od and gavo h|m a po||to wavo botoro
turn|ng away. As l |ott tho c|assroom, l cou|dn't ho|p th|nk|ng
that spooch was a ||tt|o hoavy tor an oconom|cs toachor
about to rot|ro to Ar|zona.
l tound Kato by hor |ockor. 3ho trownod at mo as l wa|kod
up to hor.
°What d|d Voyor want?'
l shruggod. °|o wants mo to app|y myso|t moro.'
3ho sm||od. °Wo||, l th|nk you'ro portoct.'
°1hanks,' l sa|d, |augh|ng. °Aro you com|ng stra|ght ovor
to study tor 1hursday's math tost?'
3ho shook hor hoad and pu||od hor b|ond ha|r ovor ono
shou|dor as sho dug hor backpack out ot hor |ockor. °l'm
go|ng tann|ng t|rst,' sho sa|d.
°Why? lt's 3optombor and you st||| |ook ||ko you hang out
at tho boach a|| day.' l bumpod hor shou|dor w|th m|no and
gr|nnod. |or sk|n was a g|or|ous go|don tono, but l st||| toasod
hor that sho'd ond up |ook|ng ||ko tho othor orango 3arb|o
do||s at schoo| |t sho kopt go|ng.
°l'm dotorm|nod not to got pasty th|s w|ntor ||ko you
a|ways do.' Kato was vory protty, and ovon whon sho
scow|od sho |ookod g|amorous. 3ho was a|so a|most a hoad
ta||or than mo, but that wasn't a hugo toat. l was a coup|o ot
|nchos shortor than most ot tho g|r|s my ago.
°l'm not pasty.' l g|ancod down at my arm snoak||y so sho
wou|dn't not|co. l wasn't tbot pasty.
°1h|s dazz||ng sk|n |sn't oasy to ach|ovo, you know.' 3ho
strokod hor co||arbono tor ottoct and |aughod.
l stuck my tonguo out at hor botoro wo movod on to my
own |ockor. l dumpod my b|o book |ns|do and stuttod my ||t
mator|a|s |nto my bag to tako homo. Vy papor on lom|ot
was duo tho noxt wook, so l noodod to got startod on |t. A
thud aga|nst tho |ockor noxt to m|no mado mo |ook up.
landon 3rooks |oanod h|s shou|dor aga|nst tho |ockor
and ran a hand through h|s protoss|ona||y h|gh||ghtod
caramo|-co|orod ha|r. |o was ono ot thoso guys who thought
surtor ha|r was tho on|y way to go, ovon horo |n V|ch|gan,
whoro thoro |s nowhoro to surt. ln tact, that was how most ot
tho soccor toam to|t. landon was my schoo|'s star torward,
so ot courso whatovor ho thought was awosomo, ovoryono
o|so agrood was awosomo too. °3o what's up w|th th|s party
3aturday? ls |t st||| happon|ng?'
Vy sovontoonth b|rthday was on 1hursday, tho twonty-t|rst,
and l p|annod to havo a party 3aturday n|ght. |or somo
roason, tho ont|ro schoo| had p|ckod up on |t and tho gonora|
consonsus was that |t was go|ng to rock. l wasn't w||d|y
popu|ar or known tor amaz|ng part|os, but usua||y any party at
my schoo| st|rrod up a ta|r amount ot buzz. 1hat was what
happonod |n a suburban 0otro|t h|gh schoo| ||ko 3|oomt|o|d
||||s, l supposod.
°Yoah,' l sa|d t|rod|y. °Wo just nood to koop tho numbor ot
guosts down. Vy paronts aro go|ng to k||| mo |t a hundrod
poop|o show up.'
°1oo |ato,' Kato ch|mod |n. °1h|s |s tho t|rst party ot our
son|or yoar, so ot courso ovoryono |s go|ng to bo pumpod
about |t. And |omocom|ng |s noxt wookond, so wo nood a
good party to start tho somostor ott r|ght. 1ho massos aro
grow|ng rost|oss. lt's not ||ko you'ro lopor G|r| or anyth|ng.
loop|o oo ||ko you.'
°And you |nv|tod 1os|o, romombor?' landon nudgod.
Oh yoah. 1os|o lowport. Our moms had boon c|oso |n
h|gh schoo| and thoy st||| ta|kod somot|mos. 1os|o and l had
p|ayod togothor a |ot whon wo woro ||tt|o, but th|ngs chango.
3ho was vory popu|ar at schoo|, but outs|do our moms'
ongagomonts, wo raro|y spoko and novor hung out togothor. l
had |nv|tod hor to my party whon wo ran |nto oach othor at tho
sa|on a coup|o ot wooks back. l novor undorstood tho
storootypo that a|| tho popu|ar, gorgoous g|r|s woro comp|oto
b|tchos. 1os|o was a roa||y n|co g|r|. 3ho was porhaps a ||tt|o
c|uo|oss, but sho'd novor bo cruo| to anyono on purposo. l
had to adm|t, though, sho had somo tr|onds l cou|dn't say tho
samo th|ng about.
°Aoo 1os|o has to tako hor posso w|th hor ovorywhoro
sho goos, r|ght?' Kato addod. °1hat |nc|udos ha|t tho schoo|,
E||.'
l mado yot anothor taco and shut my |ockor. °l'|| t|guro |t
out.' Ot courso, l wasn't actua||y go|ng to do anyth|ng. l wasn't
go|ng to wa|k up to 1os|o lowport and say, °Oh, by tho way,
whon l |nv|tod you, l moant just you and maybo a tr|ond or two.
lot ovorybooy and tho|r cross-oyod cous|ns.'
°Vaybo sho thought sho was do|ng you a tavor?' landon
ottorod. °3oost your popu|ar|ty or somoth|ng?'
Wh||o that soundod coo|, l d|dn't suspoct that |t was
probab|o. 1os|o wasn't go|ng to do mo any tavors. Vost
||ko|y, |t tho party suckod, 1os|o wou|d s|mp|y movo hor
ontourago o|sowhoro. 1hoy wou|d bo ||ko a party w|th|n a
party. lt m|no suckod, thon 1os|o wou|d just mako a now ono.
3ho'd a|roady havo onough poop|o to do |t.
°A|| r|ght, l'm out,' l sa|d, happy to ond tho convorsat|on
and got out ot schoo| and go homo, ovon |t |t was just to
study.
°Okay, l'|| soo you |n an hour,' Kato sa|d.
°Aolos, |ad|os,' landon sa|d, mock sa|ut|ng us. °Why
don't you study tor mo, too, so l don't havo to?'
Kato gavo h|m a sarcast|c thumbs-up botoro turn|ng and
mak|ng hor way to tho studont park|ng |ot. 3ho'd had hor
||conso and hor car s|nco sho was s|xtoon, ||ko most ot tho
k|ds l know. l had my ||conso too, but not a car yot. Kato's
daddy had bought hor a rod 3VW tor hor b|rthday. l tound |t
to bo an abso|uto m|rac|o ot God that Kato hadn't pancakod
|t yot. 3ho drovo ||ko a b||nd porson go|ng |nto d|abot|c
shock.
l wavod good-byo to landon, scoopod my |ong, dark rod
ha|r out trom undor my backpack strap, and hoadod out
through tho schoo|'s tront doors to moot my mom.
As l crossod tho tront |awn, l spottod a boy l'd novor soon
botoro |oung|ng aga|nst a troo. |o woro a brown sh|rt and
joans, and h|s ha|r, wh|ch wavod around h|s taco |n tho
broozo, |ookod b|ack unt|| tho sun caught tho wa|nut sh|no. |o
actua||y |ookod a ||tt|o too o|d to bo |n h|gh schoo|, maybo
twonty or twonty-ono yoars o|d. As l |ookod at h|m, l to|t a
corta|n tondnoss doop |n my hoart, but l shook tho too||ng ott.
l d|dn't know who ho was. Vaybo ho had graduatod a yoar or
two ago and l'd soon h|m |n tho ha||s at somo po|nt? Vy
schoo| was protty b|g. 1horo was no way tor mo to know
ovoryono who wont horo. l watchod h|m tor sovora| moro
soconds unt|| l not|cod that ho was watch|ng mo back. l
b|ushod t|orco|y and |ookod back to tho roundabout ahoad
whoro tho paronts' cars woro |d||ng. lt was strango how ho
was just hang|ng out thoro, but l had to assumo that ho was
wa|t|ng tor a youngor s|b||ng.
Vy mom's Vorcodos was noar|y |nd|st|ngu|shab|o trom
ovory othor s||vor Vorcodos ||n|ng tho roundabout. l poorod
through w|ndsh|o|ds unt|| l spottod my mom. 3ho and my dad
|ook noth|ng ||ko mo. Vom's ha|r was moro ot a ||ght brunotto
than my r|ch choco|ato rod. loop|o askod mo a|| tho t|mo |t l
had my ha|r co|orod th|s way, as |t |t woro hot p|nk or somo
othor unnatura| shado. lo, my ha|r just camo th|s way. A|so,
sho d|dn't havo any trock|os. A |ot ot poop|o th|nk a||
rodhoads aro comp|oto|y covorod |n trock|os. lot truo. l on|y
havo s|x on tho br|dgo ot my noso. You can poko at my taco
and count thom. 1horo aro slx.
l c||mbod |n and wo oxchangod our typ|ca| attor-schoo|
convorsat|on.
°|ow was your day, E|||o 3oan?' my mom askod, ||ko sho
d|d ovory s|ng|o t|mo.
°l d|dn't d|o,' l answorod, as usua|.
°Wo||, that's good nows' was a|ways hor rop|y.
l |ookod back out tho passongor w|ndow to tho troo whoro
l'd soon tho boy, but ho was gono. Vy oyos scannod tho
|awn, but l cou|dn't soo h|m anywhoro.
°What aro you |ook|ng at?' Vom askod as wo pu||od
away.
°loth|ng,' l rop||od d|stant|y.
Vy mom shoutod an obscon|ty at tho dr|vor |n tront ot hor
who was tak|ng too |ong to turn at tho ||ght. W|p|ng hor
oxpross|on c|oan ot angor tho noxt momont, sho sm||od at
mo. °l'm so happy th|s |s tho |ast wook l w||| ovor havo to p|ck
your butt up trom schoo|.'
°Good tor you.'
Vom was a wob dos|gnor and workod trom homo, so sho
had a|ways boon ab|o to dr|vo mo to and trom schoo|,
thanktu||y spar|ng mo trom ovor hav|ng to attond daycaro. Vy
dad, on tho othor hand, was raro|y homo. |o workod |n
mod|ca| rosoarch and thoro woro many n|ghts whon l wou|d
go to bod w|thout soo|ng h|m. 3omot|mos l wou|dn't soo h|m
tor a wook. lato|y, that was a good th|ng.
°3o you novor to|d mo what you want tor your b|rthday,'
my mom sa|d.
°lambo.'
3ho |aughod. °Yoah, suro, |ot's just so|| tho houso and got
you a lamborgh|n| tor your b|rthday.'
Wo t|na||y pu||od out ot tho schoo|'s dr|vo onto tho ma|n
road and hoadod homo.
°3o, what oo you want? l know wo ta|kod about a car, and
your dad says yos.'
°l don't roa||y know.'
°0on't mako mo chooso,' my mom warnod. °l'|| got you a
mopod to dr|vo to schoo| on.'
°l'|| bot.' l ro||od my oyos. °l don't know-just got mo
somoth|ng cuto, sato, and that has an Vl8 adaptor. l'|| bo sot
tor ||to w|th that.'
l woko to mus|c b|ast|ng |nto my |ott oardrum. l grapp|od tor
my co|| phono and h|t tho rojoct button w|thout opon|ng my
my co|| phono and h|t tho rojoct button w|thout opon|ng my
oyos. A tow soconds |ator |t rang aga|n. l oponod a s|ng|o
oyo to chock tho c|ock. lt was a quartor to s|x |n tho morn|ng.
Uttor|ng a ha|t-mumb|od curso, l draggod tho phono ott my
n|ghtstand and |ookod at tho ca||or l0. lt was Kato.
l rubbod my hand aga|nst my torohoad, torc|ng myso|t out
ot that groggy post-n|ghtmaro hazo. ln tho past tow months,
l'd boon hav|ng tho strangost droams that wont ||ko por|od
horror t||ms, ||ko tho 0racu|a mov|o w|th Gary O|dman.
Croopy stutt. 1hoy'd kopt mo trom s|oop|ng wo|| tor tho t|rst
tow wooks, but l'd startod to got usod to thom, and now thoy
d|dn't bothor mo so much. Up unt|| a month botoro, l'd wokon
up scroam|ng ovory s|ng|o n|ght.
1oo |azy to pross tho phono to my oar, l turnod |t on
spoakor modo and thunkod |t back onto my n|ghtstand.
°What |s your damago? Vy a|arm hasn't ovon gono ott, yot.'
°1osus, E|||o, turn on your 1v.' Kato's vo|co was |ow and
trant|c. °lt's Vr. Voyor. Channo| tour.'
l roachod tor my romoto, t||ppod tho to|ov|s|on on, and
wont to channo| tour as |nstructod. l bo|tod upr|ght.
°|o's doad, E|||o,' Kato wh|sporod. °1hoy tound h|m
boh|nd that bar, lano's.'
Vy oyos woro g|uod to tho chaos ||vo on-scroon.
°. . . tho |ack ot b|ood at tho scono |nd|catos to
|nvost|gators that |rank Voyor may havo boon murdorod at
anothor |ocat|on and dumpod horo boh|nd lano's lub a|ong
w|th tho poss|b|o murdor woapon: a vory |ong hunt|ng kn|to
w|th a gut hook. 1ho roason tor that can on|y bo a mattor ot
spocu|at|on at tho momont, as author|t|os havo rovoa|od vory
||tt|o about th|s gruosomo d|scovory. ln caso you aro on|y just
tun|ng |n, th|s |s 0obra V|chao|s roport|ng trom Commorco
1ownsh|p, whoro tho sovoro|y mut||atod body ot ono ot tho
commun|ty's most bo|ovod oducators, |rank Voyor ot Wost
3|oomt|o|d, was tound oar|y th|s morn|ng. . . .' l to|t ||ko
vom|t|ng. l saw tho |ocat|on boh|nd tho roportor, swarm|ng
w|th po||co, tho t|ro dopartmont, and ambu|ancos. Vr. Voyor?
|o was ono ot tho n|cost toachors l'd ovor had. l had soon
h|m |oss than twonty-tour hours botoro. |ow cou|d ho bo
doad? |o was morooroo? And sovoro|y motl|otoo?
°0o you th|nk schoo| |s canco|od?' Kato askod.
l had torgotton sho was on tho phono. °l'm go|ng to ta|k to
my mom. Voot mo at my houso.' l hung up.
An hour |ator l was s|tt|ng on a stoo| at tho |s|and bar |n
tho k|tchon, star|ng at an untouchod p|ato ot pancakos. Vom
on|y ovor mado pancakos whon l was s|ck or had a horr|b|o
day, or whon |t was a spoc|a| day ||ko Chr|stmas. l supposod
th|s was ono ot thoso days whon pancakos woro warrantod,
but l cou|dn't br|ng myso|t to tako a b|to. 1ho too-r|ch smo||
nausoatod mo.
Vom wa|kod up boh|nd mo and wrappod an arm around
my shou|dor. °You nood to oat, honoy. l|oaso? Got somo
tood |n your stomach and you'|| too| bottor.'
°l'|| just puko |t a|| up,' l grumb|od d|sma||y.
°Ono b|to,' sho ordorod. °1hon l won't too| so bad about
hav|ng to throw away th|s unoaton broaktast.'
l scow|od and stabbod bogrudg|ng|y at tho mush botoro
scoop|ng up a b|to w|th my tork, but |t topp|od ovor and
p|oppod |nto my |ap. l groanod and bangod my hoad on tho
countor.
Vom trownod. °You havo to bo smartor than tho
pancakos, E|||o.'
l g|arod up at hor. Woron't toonagors supposod to bo tho
smartassos, and not tho|r paronts?
3ho |gnorod my roproachtu| |ook and handod mo a papor
towo| to c|oan up my pajama pants. °Wo||, l t|na||y was ab|o to
roach somoono at tho schoo|. 1hoy'vo boon try|ng to doa|
w|th th|s tragody a|| morn|ng, so tho|r ||nos havo boon a|| t|od
up. l'm suro ovory s|ng|o paront |n tho d|str|ct has boon ca|||ng
thom. Anyway, schoo| |s c|osod today, but l suspoct |t'||
roopon tomorrow. l know you roa||y ||kod Vr. Voyor, and tho
ass|stant pr|nc|p|o |ot mo know that gr|ot counso|ors aro
bo|ng ass|gnod, so |t you nood to ta|k to anyono-'
°l'm t|no, Vom,' l sa|d. °l'm not troak|ng out or anyth|ng. l
don't too| wo||, that's a||.' 3ho was a|ways so on top ot th|ngs.
3ho had a p|an tor ovoryth|ng.
3ho |ookod at mo tond|y. °You'ro my ||tt|o m|rac|o. l want
you to bo okay.'
l ro||od my oyos. °You a|ways say that.'
°l'm worr|od about your n|ghtmaros,' sho sa|d sad|y.
°l baro|y havo thom anymoro,' l ||od. l thought |t wou|d bo
bottor tor hor to worry |oss about mo than sho d|d. l st||| had
n|ghtmaros a|most ovory n|ght, but l was |oarn|ng to doa| w|th
thom, s|nco tho mod|cat|on l'd boon on was uso|oss.
°What |t th|s tragody starts thom back up aga|n? l can got
you an appo|ntmont w|th 0r. l||os noxt wook.'
°3yo, Vom,' l sa|d, d|sm|ss|ng hor. l hatod whon sho
brought up tho shr|nk shoy and my dad had sont mo to tor
throo months. A|| that guy d|d was to|| mo a bunch ot crap l
a|roady know and g|vo mo drugs that d|dn't work. Ot courso,
thoy a|| thought l'd boon t|xod. What thoy d|dn't know cou|dn't
hurt thom.
°l d|dn't moan to mako you angry, E|||o 3oan.'
l oxha|od, |ott|ng tho tons|on wash trom my taco, and l
|ookod back up at hor. °l know. You just havo to trust mo whon
l say l'm go|ng to bo t|no.'
3ho pausod a momont botoro sho sa|d anyth|ng. °l'|| to||
your tathor to say good-byo to you botoro ho |oavos.' Vom
d|sappoarod trom tho k|tchon.
l p|ckod my co|| phono up and toxtod Kato, ask|ng whoro
sho was. A tow momonts |ator, l roco|vod a rop|y: °3 thorr
sobon! mayb.' l |mmod|ato|y rogrottod toxt|ng Kato wh||o sho
was dr|v|ng-tor obv|ous roasons.
l pokod at my broaktast a tow moro t|mos. Vy dad wa|kod
|nto tho k|tchon, adjust|ng tho tront ot h|s su|t jackot. l |ookod
up at h|m br|ot|y and gavo a sma|| sm||o. |o pattod tho top ot
my hoad awkward|y as ho passod by.
°3orry about your toachor,' ho sa|d. 1ho ||nos |n h|s taco
to|d mo that ho was sad, but h|s oyos d|dn't match. 1hoy woro
ca|m and unattoctod, h|s m|nd o|sowhoro.
l was suro ho moant what ho sa|d, but ho novor roa||y
know how to show |t. l assumod ho had |oarnod how to
comtort othors by |m|tat|ng somoono o|so-||ko ho saw |t on
1v somowhoro. lt novor to|t natura|, novor to|t as |t ho roa||y
carod.
°1hanks, 0ad,' l sa|d s|ncoro|y. °Kato's on hor way ovor.'
°Oh,' ho sa|d.
°l don't th|nk wo'|| do much,' l sa|d.
°Okay, thon. Good-byo.'
°lator.' |o probab|y shou|d havo sa|d somoth|ng ||ko how
ho hopod l'd bo a|| r|ght and that ho |ovod mo, but |t wou|d
shock mo to doath |t l hoard thoso words como out ot h|m
thoso days. l watchod my dad hoad to tho garago and
||stonod to h|m dr|vo away.
Whon Kato arr|vod, sho |ot horso|t |n tho tront door. 3ho
sat down qu|ot|y on a stoo| noxt to mo, p|ckod up my tork, and
took a b|to ot my pancakos.
°l can't bo||ovo Vr. Voyor's doad,' Kato sa|d through a
mouthtu|.
1h|nk|ng about novor soo|ng h|s k|nd, sm|||ng taco |n
c|ass aga|n mado mo roa||y sad. °l can't bo||ovo ho's doad
o|thor. 0|d tho nows say anyth|ng o|so about |t?'
°1hoy just sa|d ho was 'sovoro|y mut||atod.' l havo no |doa
what thoy moan by that, though. Cou|d bo anyth|ng. lt was
probab|y somo psychopath. 0otro|t ls ||ko t|vo m|nutos away.'
l took a b|to ot my broaktast. lmmod|ato|y, l to|t |||. °l th|nk l
m|ght s|oop a ||tt|o moro. Como w|th?'
°3ost |doa l'vo hoard s|nco landon and Chr|s doc|dod
thoy'd stoa| a zobra trom tho zoo and turn |t |ooso dur|ng
commoncomont tor our son|or prank,' sho sa|d. °0o you th|nk
thoy'ro roa||y go|ng to do |t?'
°0oubt |t.'
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
2
l ¼A5 5VOO7llNO VY lANL OVER 7lE ¼lLE CLA¼ morks tbot roo
oowo tbo |oogtb oí tbo moto| ooor wboo l booro tbo roors
írom somowboro ooop wltblo tbo covorooos toxtl|o p|oot.
7bo oogry wol|s sbook tbo oosty í|oor booootb my sboos lo
ooso|oto ocboos, ooooooclog tbo roopor`s prosooco bo|ow.
l coojoroo botb my sworos oot oí tblo olr ooo stoppoo
sl|oot|y tbroogb tbo ooor ooo loto tbo oorkoooo bo||. 7bo olr
smo||oo |lko smoko ooo brlmstooo, tbo oomlstokob|o
stoocb |oít bobloo by tbo oomoolc ooo tbo oo|y tblog tbot
|lokoo tbo morto| wor|o to tbo Orlm. 7bo í|oor wos |lttoroo
wltb yo||owlog popor, ooo ootblog romolooo oí tbo smo||
looostrlo| wlooows oottlog tbo wo||s bot joggoo brokoo g|oss.
5lck|y po|o |lgbt írom tbo stroot|omps |lolog tbo oorkoooo
stroots ootsloo strookoo lo tbroogb tbo sbottoroo wlooows.
7rosb wos pl|oo op ogolost tbo wo||s, wblcb woro covoroo
wltb strlps oí poo|log, oocomposlog polot. l stoppoo oroooo
ovorytblog, moklog oo oolso, bot l koow tbo roopor coo|o
íoo| mo. Vy sl|ooco coo|o oot mosk tbo ooorgy ro||log írom
mo. Notblog coo|o, ooo tbo roopor wos boogry íor mo.
l stoppoo loto tbo Orlm, posslog tbroogb tbo smoky vol|
ooo loto tbo wor|o tbot most bomoos coo|o oot soo. loro
tbo roopors owo||oo. 7bo romooots oí tbo morto| p|ooo
toggoo ot my orms ooo c|otbos |lko vlscoos tooorl|s. A
posslog po|lco crolsor |lt op tbo groooo í|oor oí tbo íoctory
|lko b|ooo-roo ílroworks, tbo wol| oí lts slroo oooíoolog mo
íor o momoot. l took o ooop brootb to rogolo my composoro
ooo sto|koo toworo tbo c|osost omorgoocy stolrwo||. l klckoo
tbo ooor opoo, ooo tbo boovy c|ook oí stoo| govo my
posltloo owoy. l bo|o tbo bo|vos oí botb my sl|vor slck|o-
sbopoo Kboposb sworos tlgbt|y os l pooroo ovor tbo oogo oí
tbo moto| rol|log oowo tbo sboít to tbo bosomoot |ovo|.
A oork, mosslvo sbopo í|osboo ocross tbo í|oor bo|ow.
7bo roopor rooroo ogolo, moklog tbo stolrwo|| sboooor.
l ooscooooo qolck|y, wblpplog my booy oroooo tbo stoo|
splro| stolrcoso ot ovory toro, ootormlooo oot to |ot blm
oscopo. Vy íootstops woro |lgbt, boro|y brosblog tbo í|oor
booootb mo. ¼ltb ooo story to go, l jompoo ovor tbo rol|log
ooo |ooooo soío|y wltb ootblog moro tboo o booo oí my
kooos ooo o tboo oí my sboos. l klckoo opoo tbo stolrwo||
ooor ooo írozo to poor coroío||y loto tbo oorkooss. Uosooo
c|ows rokoo tbo coocroto. lo wootoo mo to koow bo wos
tboro.
Bobloo mo como o |ow, tbrooty romb|o. l spoo oroooo
ooo coogbt o g|lmpso oí tbo roopor, bot bo voolsboo
ooopor loto tbo b|ockooss. l c|oocboo my tootb blttor|y, ooo
oogo|ílro oroptoo írom my sworos, roooylog íor bott|o. 7bo
í|omos woro tbo oo|y tblog tbot coo|o tro|y kl|| o roopor, ooo l
wos tbo oo|y ooo tbot coo|o wlo|o tbom. 7boy |lt op tbo
covorooos bosomoot lo wblto |lgbt, bot tbo roopor ovoooo
tbo g|ow ooo stock to tbo sbooows.
lo wos toylog wltb mo, |orlog mo. l bo|o tbo sworos
roooy ooo ío||owoo blm ooywoy.
7bo roopor`s powor wos o|| oroooo mo oow, wosblog ovor
mo |lko o í|osb í|ooo oí smoko írom oo oxtlogolsboo í|omo,
boovy, loky, morcl|oss, ooo wltboot worolog. l wboo|oo
oroooo ooo s|osboo wltb botb sworos. 7bo ílro|lgbt
l||omlootoo tbo co|osso|, boor|lko sbopo oí tbo roopor os bo
rooroo op, bls íroot |ogs ootstrotcboo, wovlog pows tbo slzo
oí olooor p|otos. lls oyos woro b|ock ooo ompty |lko o
sbork`s, ooo bls go|lotb jows oroppoo to ro|ooso o roor |lko
oo oocomlog trolo strolgbt loto my íoco.
l oockoo loto o ro|| os tbo roopor swlpoo bls íoot-|oog
c|ows ot my booo. l jompoo to my íoot ooo boooooo
bockworo. 7bo roopor boovoo toworo mo ooo took oo|y o
bo|í strloo to roocb mo. lo sprooo bls mootb ogolo,
rovoo|log o sot oí ooormoos tootb tbot coo|o bovo bo|oogoo
to o sobortootboo cot, oocb íoog oosl|y os |oog os my
íoroorm. lo rooroo ovor mo ooo bls roor tbooooroo ooco
ogolo tbroogb tbo íoctory. l oroppoo to my kooos ooo
s|osboo ot tbo roopor`s cbost ooo ocross bls bloo |ogs. lo
co||opsoo lo o sproy oí b|ooo bot rlgbtoo blmso|í qolck|y
ooo |oopoo loto tbo olr, |ooolog tblrty íoot owoy írom mo.
lls í|osb slzz|oo wboro tbo sl|vor b|ooos boo s|lcoo ooo tbo
ílro boo borooo. lo wboo|oo ooo cborgoo.
l stoppoo bock ooto my rlgbt boo| ooo proporoo íor
lmpoct. lostooo, tbo roopor s|lppoo to my |oít jost boíoro bo
woo|o bovo co||looo wltb mo, ooo bo olsoppooroo íor o
momoot. C|ows s|osboo oowo my bock, sbrooolog my booy
|lko bomborgor moot. l scroocboo ooo ío|| íorworo. l
sbooooroo ooo oroppoo my sworos. 7bo polo l oxpoctoo
oovor como, l ío|t ootblog ot o||.
7bo roopor wos olstroctoo by my poo|log b|ooo íor o
momoot os l |oy oomovlog. lo poosoo to tosto lt ooo
grow|oo o gottoro| oolso oí opprovo| wltb bls lobomoo
mootb boíoro ooscooolog oo mo to ílolsb tbo job.
l coo|oo`t ílolsb my |ost brootb boíoro l oloo.
l sat stra|ght up w|th an onormous gasp ot a|r, too||ng as |t
tho ||to had boon takon r|ght out ot mo. l roachod around my
back and to|t smooth, undamagod sk|n thoro and |ot out a
s|gh ot ro||ot. Vy n|ghtmaros woro gott|ng moro and moro
roa| ovory t|mo l s|opt, and l bogan to worry |t l roa||y noodod
to go back to thorapy.
3os|do mo, Kato st|rrod. 3ho sat up w|th mo and
trownod. °You okay? 3ad droam?'
l tuckod my knoos up to my chost and rostod my chook
aga|nst thom. °Yoah.'
3ho touchod my ha|r sooth|ng|y. °Want to watch a
mov|o?'
l noddod. Kato novor judgod mo tor my n|ghtmaros, novor
troatod mo ||ko a psycho, and sho undorstood bottor than
anyono o|so that tho mods and thorapy d|dn't ho|p. 3ho was
tho on|y ono who ||stonod to mo |nstoad ot try|ng to constant|y
d|agnoso mo. l to|dod ovor and cur|od |nto a ba|| wh||o Kato
tumb|od through tho 0v0 b|ndor on tho t|oor |n tront ot my
1v. Wo wont through throo tun mov|os, |nc|ud|ng ono ot my
tavor|tos, 5lxtooo Cooo|os, to rom|nd myso|t that |t was my
b|rthday tho noxt day. 1hat mov|o a|ways mado mo too|
bottor, but attompt|ng to mako today soom |oss crappy was
uso|oss. |appy mov|o marathons-and pancakos-had
boon our bad-day curo s|nco wo woro p|gta||s, and l t|gurod
tho r|tua| wou|d to||ow us to co||ogo tho noxt ta||.
°What noxt?' Kato askod, dragg|ng tho b|ndor onto my
bod. °C|oo|oss?'
l shook my hoad. lt was attor tour now, and l was
bog|nn|ng to too| rost|oss. °l don't too| ||ko watch|ng anothor
mov|o. 0o you want to go do somoth|ng?'
°l|ko, what? 1ho ma||? Wo shou|d |nvost|gato botoro
Gucc|'s ta|| stutt |s p|ckod c|oan.'
l scrunchod my taco. °lo, l don't want to havo to
stra|ghton my ha|r and |ook docont. Wo cou|d just go got |co
croam.'
Kato br|ghtonod a ||tt|o. °3ounds good. l'm gamo.'
l pu||od on joans and a ||ghtwo|ght, z|p-up hood|o ovor my
tank top. °3hou|d wo ca|| landon to moot us thoro?'
Kato gavo a qu|ck nod and d|a|od h|m up. Wo |ot my
mom know whoro wo woro go|ng, hoadod outs|do to Kato's
3VW, and drovo to Co|d 3tono. landon was wa|t|ng tor us |n
tho park|ng |ot, ta|k|ng to a tow othor poop|o |n our c|rc|o ot
tr|onds: Chr|s, Evan, and lacho|. Chr|s was on tho soccor
toam w|th landon, and thoy'd boon bost tr|onds tor as |ong
as l cou|d romombor. 1hoy a|| stoppod ta|k|ng whon Kato and
l c||mbod out ot tho car.
°1oday's boon so crazy,' landon sa|d. °|ow aro you guys
do|ng?'
°||no, just vogg|ng out,' Kato sa|d, tak|ng my hand and
|oad|ng mo past h|m.
Wo ordorod and sat down at tho mota| tab|os outs|do.
landon and tho throo othors jo|nod us. l pokod around at my
cup ot Cook|o 0oughn't You Want 3omo botoro tak|ng a
sma|| b|to. Cons|dor|ng how ||tt|o as l had oaton that day, l
wasn't vory hungry. Vr. Voyor's murdor bothorod mo moro
than l'd oxpoctod |t to. l had novor known anyono who'd d|od
botoro, bos|dos my grandtathor. |o had d|od poacotu||y.
3omoth|ng vory bad had happonod to my toachor.
1ho othors woro ramb||ng away at oach othor about Vr.
Voyor.
°l hoard |t was a boar attack,' Evan sa|d through a
mouthtu|. °And Voyor tr|od to dotond h|mso|t w|th a kn|to.'
°1horo aron't any boars on th|s s|do ot tho stato,' lacho|
sa|d.
°Vaybo |t was somoono's pot cougar,' landon ottorod. °l
know a guy w|th an oco|ot.'
°You do not,' Chr|s scottod.
°Yoah l oo.'
lacho| scratchod tho top ot Evan's hoad w|th hor
t|ngorna||s. °What's an oco|ot?'
°Was |t that awtu|?' Kato askod.
Chr|s noddod. °A buddy ot m|no |s do|ng commun|ty
sorv|co at tho morguo tor a 0Ul, and ho hoard |t was mossy.
l|ko ho was |n plocos, man. l don't th|nk a bar t|ght wou|d
havo gotton that tar un|oss tho ch|ck |t was ovor was smoklog
hot. l'd toar a guy up |t ho got botwoon mo and Ango||na
1o||o.'
l d|dn't ||ko tho way thoy woro ta|k|ng about Vr. Voyor, so l
tr|od to b|ock thom and tho d|sturb|ng monta| |magos out.
Co|d 3tono was busy, s|nco |t was past tour, tho o|omontary
schoo| noarby had |ot out and now tho p|aco was bog|nn|ng
to swarm w|th scroam|ng, squabb||ng ||tt|o k|ds. l tr|od my
bost to |gnoro thom, s|nco t|tth-grado boys tondod to h|t on
h|gh schoo| g|r|s. Vy oyos scannod tho aroa, d|stant|y
watch|ng tho|r tacos, unt|| l spottod tho strango boy trom
outs|do schoo| tho day botoro.
1oday ho woro a b|ack |ong-s|oovod too and dark-
washod joans. |o was s|tt|ng a|ono at a tab|o about twonty
toot away and star|ng ott |nto spaco. l know h|m. l had to
know h|m trom somowhoro. Whon l |ookod at h|m, br|ot
|magos ot h|s taco, h|s oyos, and h|s sm||o t|ashod |n my
m|nd. A warm scont struck mo that l know was h|s, but l
wasn't c|oso onough to catch |t. 1ho tondornoss ovortak|ng
my hoart both tr|ghtonod my and brought mo poaco. Whon ho
not|cod that l was star|ng at h|m, ho |ookod back and d|dn't
|ook away. l tr|od to b|ock h|m out, too, but l roa||zod l cou|dn't
|gnoro ovorybody. l turnod back to my tr|onds.
°3choo| shou|d bo opon tomorrow,' lacho| sa|d.
Kato ||ckod up a g|ob ot wh|ppod croam. °1hat sucks.'
°0o you th|nk wo'|| st||| havo to t|n|sh th|s wook's
oconom|cs papor?' landon askod.
Chr|s shruggod. °Why wou|dn't wo? Wo'ro just go|ng to
havo a sub unt|| thoy t|nd a tu||-t|mo rop|acomont.'
l t|n|shod my |co croam qu|ck|y, w|thout jo|n|ng tho
convorsat|on, and thon got up to wa|k to tho trash can on tho
s|do ot tho bu||d|ng to throw my cup away. Whon l turnod
around, l noar|y bumpod |nto a ta|| torm, and l jumpod,
start|od. look|ng up, l tound myso|t stand|ng taco to taco w|th
tho boy l'd soon tho day botoro. |o was ta||, maybo s|x toot,
and broad shou|dorod-and ho was stand|ng much, much
too c|oso. ||s prosonco wrappod around mo-not
suttocat|ng, as l wou|d havo oxpoctod, but poacotu|. l d|dn't
pu|| away trom h|m. |o |ookod down at mo w|th br|ght groon
oyos, say|ng noth|ng. Around tho co||ar ot h|s sh|rt woro
strango b|ack mark|ngs ||ko tattoos. ||s dark ha|r was
tous|od just a ||tt|o by tho 3optombor broozo.
°Um, bl,' l sa|d, draw||ng |n my unoas|noss. °0o you . . .
nood tho trash can?' l to|t ||ko an |d|ot as soon as l sa|d |t.
°||,' ho sa|d, and gavo mo a qu|ot sm||o, ono that
amp||t|od tho gont|o contours ot h|s taco, tho curvo ot h|s ||ps,
tho ||tt|o ||no bos|do h|s r|ght oyo that appoarod whon ho
sm||od-a sm||o l to|t l'd soon a m||||on t|mos botoro. °lo, l
don't nood tho trash can.'
°Okay . . .' l startod to wa|k around h|m back to my tr|onds.
°0o you romombor mo?' ho askod.
Othor than hav|ng a d|st|nct sonso ot doja vu, l was vory
suro l d|dn't know h|m. °l th|nk l m|ght havo soon you
yostorday at schoo|.'
°1hat's |t?' ||s oxpross|on showod that ho to|t hurt.
Yoah, ho was roa||y wo|rd. °l'm protty suro. Aro you
|ook|ng tor somoono?'
°lo,' ho musod. °You'ro E||saboth Vonroo, r|ght?'
°E|||o, yoah. 0o you go to my schoo|?'
°lo, sorry. You'ro hav|ng a party 3aturday, aron't you?'
Good gr|ot, d|d tho who|o wor|d know? °Yoah. |ow'd you
hoar about |t |t you don't go to my schoo|?'
°A tr|ond.' |o sm||od.
°You okay, E|||o?' landon had jo|nod us. |o |ookod
annoyod, a|most host||o. °Who's th|s guy?' |o starod at tho
boy up and down.
1ho strangor's sm||o tadod. °1ust ca|| mo W|||.'
||s words tr|ggorod somoth|ng |n tho back ot my m|nd,
just as h|s sm||o to|t tam|||ar to mo. l to|t as |t l'd hoard h|m say
that botoro.
°0on't ta|k to hor, man,' landon sa|d, tak|ng a stop
toward W|||.
l put a gont|o hand on landon's chost. °landon, ch|||, ho's
not bothor|ng mo. l was just throw|ng my cup away. lot's go.
l|co moot|ng you, W|||.'
l noddod to W||| and |od landon away. °What's your
prob|om?' l askod h|m onco wo woro out ot oarshot.
°loth|ng-don't worry about |t. |o shou|dn't bo ta|k|ng to
you.'
°l thought you woro go|ng to punch that guy.'
°lt ho touchod you, l wou|d'vo.'
l b||nkod |n surpr|so. °Wo||, ho d|dn't.'
|o huttod. °Good.'
l tr|od not to |augh. landon had boon my tr|ond s|nco tho
s|xth grado, but ho was a boy, and boys mado no sonso to
mo..
Vy dad actua||y mado |t homo |n t|mo tor d|nnor, to my
aston|shmont, but as soon as wo a|| sat down at tho tab|o, l
wantod h|m gono. 0|nnors rocont|y had most|y boon spont
w|th my paronts try|ng to got mo to ta|k. l d|dn't nood to ta|k
about Vr. Voyor. l wasn't ton yoars o|d and l wasn't
traumat|zod. l was just sad. 1hat was natura| and to bo
oxpoctod. l d|dn't nood to bo bab|od about |t.
l droadod schoo| tho noxt morn|ng. lt was go|ng to bo
today a|| ovor aga|n t|mos a thousand. lot to mont|on l st|||
had that math tost on my schodu|o. What a way to spond my
b|rthday.
Vy dad's t|st s|amm|ng on tho tab|o jarrod mo bruta||y
trom my thoughts. l sat up ||ko a shot.
°1hat's not tho po|nt.' ||s vo|co was tr|g|d and harsh, as |t
ho woro ho|d|ng back an angry yo||.
°lt's not?' my mom askod. °1h|s |s tho t|rst n|ght you'vo
boon homo a|| wook. lt wou|dn't surpr|so mo to t|nd out hor
n|ghtmaros aro a rosu|t ot hor |ack|ng a tathor t|guro.'
°1hat |s r|d|cu|ous. 0on't g|vo mo that psychobabb|o,
0|ano.'
°l'm just try|ng to t|nd a so|ut|on,' Vom sa|d t|rod|y. °|or
toachor was murdorod. lt anyth|ng, that w||| start tho
n|ghtmaros aga|n. Wo shou|d tako hor back to 0r. l||os.'
lt was as |t sho'd tota||y torgotton what l had to|d hor that
morn|ng. l wantod to chuck my spaghott| |nto both tho|r tacos
and scroam, lo||o! l`m rlgbt boro! lt was a|most moro
com|ca| than onrag|ng whon thoy arguod about mo as l sat
r|ght noxt to thom. Whon thoy tota||y torgot about my prosonco
|n a room, thoy mado |t obv|ous that thoy carod moro about
t|ght|ng w|th oach othor than about my monta| hoa|th.
Vy dad huttod. °lt you too| that's nocossary.'
°1horo aro a |ot ot th|ngs that l too| aro nocossary.'
°What's that supposod to moan?'
3ho starod at h|m. °You know oxact|y what |t moans.'
°0on't p|ay m|nd gamos w|th mo.'
lt was n|ghts ||ko thoso that mado mo w|sh l had a dog. l
noodod an oxcuso to got out ot my houso and go tor a wa|k.
Anyth|ng to got tho ho|| out ot thoro.
°You'ro novor homo, and whon you aro, a|| you do |s yo||,'
Vom accusod h|m. °l'm atra|d ot you whon-and |t-you
como homo at n|ght. 3o |s E||saboth. lt wou|dn't shock mo |t
hor n|ghtmaros aro a rosu|t ot a|| thoso yoars ot you
scroam|ng at hor tor ovory ||tt|o th|ng. 1h|s |sn't about you and
mo, l|ck-th|s |s about tho way you troat your daughtor.'
1hat was a|| l cou|d stomach. l stood up trom tho tab|o and
took my p|ato |nto tho k|tchon, monta||y b|ock|ng out my dad's
onragod rosponso. Evoryono's paronts arguo-that just
happons |n any ro|at|onsh|p-but paronts shou|dn't t|ght |n
tront ot tho|r k|ds. Vy mom and dad woro tocusod on b|am|ng
ono anothor tor my n|ghtmaros, whon both ot thom woro
probab|y tho causo.
l wont up to my bodroom and sat on my bod, star|ng |nto
tho m|rror ovor my drossor. 1ho p|nk mus|c box my dad had
g|von mo whon l was sovon sat botwoon a pa|r ot scontod
cand|os and a b|rthday card my grandmothor had sont mo
oar||or |n tho wook. l got up, wa|kod to my drossor, and ||ttod
tho top ot tho mus|c box. 1ho ||tt|o p|ast|c ba||or|na |ns|do
unto|dod and stood. l ||ttod tho box and turnod tho koy on tho
bottom. 0o||cato mus|c bogan to p|ay, and tho ba||or|na
turnod s|ow|y. l watchod hor danco tor a tow momonts,
wondor|ng how my ||to had gotton th|s way, how my dad had
turnod |nto such a hatotu| porson. l |ovod that mus|c box, now
most|y bocauso |t rom|ndod mo ot tho wondortu| tathor tho
man downsta|rs usod to bo. l'd havo g|von anyth|ng to turn
back tho |ast ton yoars ot my ||to-and that wasn't somoth|ng
somoono my ago shou|d havo to too|.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
8
lE|U3llG 1O lE1 VY 0EllE33lOl 3llK 0EElEl, l poppod |n a
mov|o. l sott|od on 18 Oolog Oo 80, s|nco that was how o|d
my paronts mado mo too|. At |oast tho happy, tunny momonts
m|ght bo ab|o to rostoro my choor. On and ott l cou|d hoar tho
yo|||ng. Whon my c|ock ro||od ovor m|dn|ght, my paronts had
bogun argu|ng aga|n.
°|appy b|rthday to mo,' l sa|d d|sma||y. W|th|n tho noxt
m|nuto, l roco|vod o|ght toxt mossagos conta|n|ng var|at|ons
ot °happy b|rthday!' |nvo|v|ng oxcoss|vo punctuat|on and two
toxts |nc|ud|ng °|uv u b|tch!'
l doc|dod to spond my t|rst tow m|nutos as a sovontoon-
yoar-o|d by snoak|ng out tho tront door to s|t on tho porch. l
|oanod aga|nst ono ot tho co|umns and took |n a doop broath.
l|ght had sott|od and tho a|r was a ||tt|o ch|||y, but l was
comtortab|o |n my 1-sh|rt.
Attor a ||tt|o wh||o ot s|tt|ng on my porch and p|ck|ng at my
na||s, l stood up and startod down my dr|voway to tho
s|dowa|k. Onco around tho b|ock shou|d bo onough, l
doc|dod. l roo||y noodod a dog. l cons|dorod tor a momont: a
car or a dog tor my b|rthday. . . . Yoah, car. l d|dn't th|nk l'd
got |t oxact|y tho noxt day, but moro ||ko|y ovor tho wookond. l
know a |ot ot k|ds d|dn't got cars tor tho|r b|rthdays, or ovon
cars at a||, |ot a|ono tho chanco to go p|ck ono out, so l
shou|dn't comp|a|n. 3ut thon aga|n, a |ot ot k|ds got to havo
paronts who d|dn't scroam at oach othor. Evoryono mado
tho|r sacr|t|cos.
l hoard a |ow rumb|o |n tront ot mo and stoppod wa|k|ng. lt
d|dn't sound mochan|ca| ||ko a car ong|no, and l dot|n|to|y
d|dn't soo any hoad||ghts ahoad, o|thor. l stra|nod my oyos to
poor |nto tho darknoss. 1ho stroot|amp abovo mo buzzod
and wont out. last tho s|dowa|k cornor and doop |nto my
no|ghbor's w|do |awn, l cou|d soo noth|ng. |or an |nstant l
thought ot Vr. Voyor's murdoror. Vaybo |t wasn't such a
good |doa to go wa|k|ng around outs|do attor m|dn|ght?
°What aro you |ook|ng at?'
l |ot out a sma|| cry and spun around as my hoart |oapod
|nto my throat.
lt was W||| as |t ho'd appoarod out ot nowhoro. |o |ookod
worr|od and dotorm|nod, but ho was obv|ous|y try|ng to h|do
thoso too||ngs.
°What aro you do|ng out horo?' l wh|sporod harsh|y.
°What aro yoo do|ng horo?' ho countorod.
l throw my hand up. °l ||vo horo!'
3uddon|y, l had a torr|b|o thought. l had t|rst soon W||| tho
day botoro, tho n|ght Vr. Voyor d|od. lo, no, no. 1hat was
r|d|cu|ous. W||| was just somo hot, wo|rd guy l happonod to bo
soo|ng ovorywhoro l wont. 1hat d|dn't mako h|m a murdoror.
|adn't my mom g|von mo a can ot maco tor Chr|stmas?
What had l dono w|th that?
°3o why aro you out tor a wa|k th|s |ato at n|ght?' ho
askod, d|stract|ng mo trom my thoughts. °Evon |t you ||vo
horo, |t's protty |ato to bo wandor|ng around at n|ght.'
°Wo||, yoo`ro out horo too. l ||ko bo|ng outs|do at n|ght. lt's
ro|ax|ng.'
1hat sm||o w|donod. lt was ||ko ho thought th|s was tunny.
°Vost poop|o wou|d too| norvous.'
Vy hands rostod on my h|ps. °Why? 3hou|d l bo?'
°What?'
°lorvous.'
°lrobab|y.'
°You don't soom ||ko yoo`ro norvous.'
°l can tako caro ot myso|t.' ||s sm||o turnod dark,
know|ng.
°You'ro tho wo|rdost boy l'vo ovor mot-and bo||ovo mo,
ovory s|ng|o ono ot thom |s wo|rd, so that's say|ng a |ot.'
Onco l roa||zod what l'd just sa|d, l wantod to smack my taco
|nto a br|ck wa||. Vy mouth suro ||kod to run whon |t shou|d
havo boon my toot runn|ng.
|o |aughod. °At |oast you'ro honost about your too||ngs.'
°1hoy say |t's a v|rtuo.' l turnod around to wa|k back to my
houso. lt was t|mo to |oavo. °0o mo a tavor and |oavo mo
a|ono. l just know you'ro go|ng to go a|| 1od 3undy on my ass
any socond.' l |ookod around mo, hop|ng ono ot tho
no|ghbors wou|d t||ck tho|r porch ||ghts on and burst out
ho|d|ng a shotgun. l to|t protty suro l wasn't that |ucky.
°Aro you atra|d ot mo?' W||| askod, jogg|ng to catch up to
mo.
°Aro you pass|vo-aggross|vo|y try|ng to to|| mo that l
shou|d bo oírolo ot you, too? lot just 'norvous'?' l was on|y
tour housos away trom homo now.
°lo, but havo you ovor hoard tho say|ng '1ho bravo may
not ||vo torovor, but tho caut|ous novor ||vo at a||'?'
°lo, l havon't hoard that, but l'|| koop |t |n m|nd. 1hanks tor
tho provorb|a| |ns|ght, my sta|kor tr|ond.'
|o throw an arm across my chost to stop mo and |ookod
ahoad, star|ng co|d|y |nto tho dark. ||s body st|ttonod, but
somoth|ng |n my gut to|d mo that |t wasn't bocauso ot tho
ch|||y a|r.
l turnod my hoad to to||ow h|s gazo, but l saw noth|ng |n
tho stroot ahoad. A broozo scattorod a handtu| ot a|roady
ta||on |oavos. l smo||od somoth|ng strango, ||ko oggs and
b|ack smoko. °0o you smo|| that? What's wrong?'
|o stoppod around mo to put h|mso|t botwoon mo and
whorovor ho was star|ng. °You can't soo |nto tho Gr|m yot.'
°3oo what? 1ho gr|m what?' l pookod ovor h|s shou|dor. l
thought l saw a shadow cross my path, but whon l b||nkod,
noth|ng was thoro. lt was too dark.
||s gazo was t|xod on somoth|ng |n tho b|acknoss. °lt's
not t|mo! 3tand down. l don't caro |t |t's attor m|dn|ght-sho
cannot bo touchod, un|oss you'ro proparod tor tho
consoquoncos.'
|o was c|oar|y not ta|k|ng to mo. l was suddon|y vory
awaro that though l know h|s namo, l had no |doa who ho
was. |o cou|d havo boon somo drug add|ct. l had novor soon
anyono on anyth|ng othor than pot or a|coho|, not ovon
shrooms, |ot a|ono anyth|ng worso, so l had no |doa what to
oxpoct. Vy body tonsod w|th toar. °What aro you oo? l'vo had
onough. l'm |oav|ng now.'
l startod to turn back to my houso.
°lo, wa|t,' W||| sa|d.
l hoard tho rumb|o aga|n, on|y th|s t|mo |t was |oudor. 1hat
was not a car ong|no. Was |t a grow|? Was thoro a dog-a
blg dog-out thoro |n tho dark? Vy m|nd racod w|th thoughts
ot a rab|d-dog attack. lt tho dog was c|oso onough tor mo to
hoar |t, thon l shou|d havo boon ab|o to soo |t.
Anothor grow| camo, and thon vory hoavy tootstops-||ko
7.-rox-shak|ng-tho-wator-cup-1orosslc-Pork-sty|o hoavy
tootstops.
°What |s that?' l askod, tromb||ng, my oyos soarch|ng tho
dark. l to|t ||ko l'd ta||on r|ght |nto a roa|-||to vors|on ot ono ot
my n|ghtmaros. Vy hoad wh|r|od d|zz||y, and toar mado my
stomach churn.
|ot broath, rook|ng ||ko roadk|||, b|astod my taco trom an
unsoon sourco, and l spun around, gagg|ng. °Oh my God!' l
groanod, covor|ng my mouth.
°Como horo,' W||| sa|d s|ow|y, roach|ng back tor mo
w|thout tak|ng a stop. 1ho |ook ot worry on h|s taco that l'd
not|cod oar||or had dooponod. low ho |ookod atra|d, and
that scarod mo a thousand t|mos moro.
°lo way!' l cr|od, roo||ng away trom h|m.
||s toar spun |nto trustrat|on as l pu||od away. °0on't
scroam. You'|| mako h|m attack.'
lan|c sot |n. °Got away!' l shr|okod, and tr|od to run, but
W||| grabbod my arm. l tw|stod and pu||od, but h|s gr|p was
amaz|ng|y strong. lt was ||ko try|ng to drag an o|ghtoon-
whoo|or, l cou|dn't got h|m to g|vo ovon an |nch. |ow cou|d
anyono bo that strong? l startod to pry at h|s t|ngors, but thoy
woro ||ko so||d rock.
°lt's t|mo to ond th|s gamo,' ho sa|d, sond|ng stabs ot |co
down my sp|no. |o yankod mo to h|s chost ottort|oss|y and
prossod h|s pa|m to my torohoad.
3r|ght wh|to ||ght t|ashod, b||nd|ng mo. Evory |nch ot my
sku|| to|t as |t |t wou|d oxp|odo trom tho prossuro. 1ho ground
to|t as |t |t woro rock|ng and ro|||ng at my toot, and a cruo|
w|nd-l d|dn't ovon know whoro |t camo trom-pun|shod mo
v|o|ont|y, boat|ng at mo trom a|| d|roct|ons. Vy knoos bogan
to sway, unab|o to ho|d my wo|ght, but W||| ho|d mo up so l
wou|dn't ta||. 1ho ||ght van|shod just as abrupt|y as |t had
appoarod as ho took h|s hand away and ro|oasod mo. l
staggorod back and to|| on my ta||bono, my v|s|on b|urr|ng-
but through tho hazo l cou|d havo sworn l saw shadowy w|ngs
towor|ng ovor mo, sproad|ng w|do. l b||nkod and saw on|y
W|||'s b|urry torm whoro l thought w|ngs had just boon. Evory
musc|o |n my body achod as |t l'd just run a m||o, but l was
onorg|zod. 1horo was a rush|ng sonsat|on through tho a|r,
through tho ground, and ovory |nch ot my body t|ng|od w|th
t|ny pr|ck|os ot o|octr|c|ty, as |t l woro mov|ng a hundrod m||os
an hour, ovon though l hadn't movod an |nch. 1ho a|r around
mo was st|cky tor a momont, st|cky and smoky, and l
squoozod my oyos shut and oponod thom aga|n to c|oar my
v|s|on. Attor a hoartboat, tho haz|noss tadod. l starod
contusod|y at tho pavomont, rubb|ng my torohoad.
°E|||o!'
Vy oyos suddon|y tocusod and l saw W||| aga|n. Vy v|s|on
was cr|sp and tho wor|d had br|ghtonod. l |ookod past W|||,
marvo||ng at how oas||y l cou|d soo through tho darknoss,
d|st|ngu|sh|ng ovory |oat on my no|ghbors' bushos, ovory
groovo |n ovory sh|ng|o on tho|r roots.
And thon l saw tho monstor: somoth|ng vaguo|y
rosomb||ng a hugo dog covorod |n th|ck, b|ack tur |oomod
ovor us, stand|ng oas||y t|vo toot ta|| at tho shou|dor. lt
|umborod ovor on a|| tours w|th a snout tu|| ot gnar|od, v|c|ous-
|ook|ng tooth |n tho jaws ot a hoavy, ovors|zo hoad. lts paws
woro tho s|zo ot an o|ophant's toot and ondod |n ta|ons that
|ookod ||ko thoy cou|d toar a man |n ha|t.
3ut l wasn't atra|d. A ca|mnoss washod ovor mo, and my
m|nd ana|yzod at a ||ghtn|ng paco. 3trango momor|os and
thoughts that d|dn't bo|ong to mo t|oodod |nto my m|nd: tacos
and v|o|onco l'd soon |ong ago |n d|ttoront t|mos. l |ookod up
at W|||, whoso taco sparkod tho c|oarost and tondost
momory. l know l had to t|ght now, but l noodod my woapons.
1ho boast |oapod toward mo, c|aws outstrotchod, and
took a sw|po w|th ono ot |ts tront paws, but W||| appoarod
botwoon us. |o grabbod tho boast's toro||mb and k|ckod tu||
torco |nto |ts chost, sond|ng |t t|y|ng back, shattor|ng my
no|ghbor's ma||box |nto count|oss ||tt|o chunks ot wood and
br|ck.
lt happonod so tast that l know l shou|dn't havo boon ab|o
to soo |t, but l d|d. l stoppod torward, watch|ng tho croaturo
c||mb to |ts toot as |t |oosod a |ow, dangorous-sound|ng
grow|.
l ho|d both ot my arms out and w|||od woapons |nto my
opon pa|ms. 1ho tw|n Khoposh swords appoarod out ot
noth|ng |n a t|ash ot sh|mmor|ng ||ght. 1ho curv|ng s||vor
b|ados g||ntod br|ght|y. l g|ancod ovor at W|||. l cou|d now soo
|ntr|cato b|ack tattoos tw|st|ng out trom bonoath h|s sh|rt a||
tho way down h|s r|ght arm to h|s knuck|os. l romomborod tho
boaut|tu| symbo|s wovon |nto tho sp|ra||ng dos|gn, bocauso
l'd soon thom botoro w|th d|ttoront oyos, |n anothor t|mo.
Vy thoughts woro ca|m and unnorv|ng|y c|oar. 1ho b|ados
oxp|odod |nto wh|to t|amos at my command. 3||nd|ng ||ght
dovourod tho s||vor, and tho powor coursod through mo. Vy
t|ngors squoozod tho coo|, tam|||ar ho|vos as tho sconts ot
s||vor and o|d b|ood t|oodod my ho|ghtonod sonsos. 1ho
swords to|t r|ght |n my grasp, ||ko hugg|ng an o|d tr|ond.
1ho monstor bogan to c|rc|o mo, grow||ng |ow and
ro|oas|ng an unoarth|y h|ss. lts oyos woro bottom|oss p|ts ot
b|acknoss sot doop |nto |ts dotormod, torr|b|o sku||. l starod
r|ght back |nto thoso oyos w|thout toar or hos|tat|on.
l movod w|th tho croaturo so that |t was novor at my back,
and |n a vo|co that d|d not soom my own l cha||ongod tho
boast: °Como tor mo.'
1ho wo|t||ko monstor chargod, paws and ta|ons
outstrotchod, mass|vo jaws gap|ng. l spun out ot tho way just
as tooth c|ampod down on tho hood ot my swoatsh|rt |nstoad
ot my throat. 1ho boast yankod tho cotton t|ap, wronch|ng mo
around awkward|y, tw|st|ng, grow||ng. lts paws c|awod at my
body, pu|||ng mo c|osor to |ts mouth so |t cou|d tako a b|to out
ot my taco. l smashod my o|bow |nto |ts noso, and |t s|umpod
back onto |ts haunchos w|th a groan. 1hon my o|bow
s|ammod down on top ot |ts sku|| and somoth|ng crunchod,
but tho monstor on|y b|t hardor on my hood|o, shrodd|ng tho
tabr|c. Abrupt|y, |t throw mo to tho ground, and l |ookod up.
W||| had |t by tho throat, h|s arm bur|od o|bow doop |n |ts th|ck
tur, torc|ng tho boast backward.
°low!' ho roarod.
lt thrashod ||ko a g|ant p|t bu|| and broko troo.
Vy oyos |ockod on my targot and my m|nd c|oarod to
so|zo tho opportun|ty. Ou|ckor than my hoart cou|d boat, l was
on my toot and shov|ng my t|ory sword |nto |ts sott throat and
stra|ght through tho top ot |ts sku||. 1ho croaturo's |ogs
buck|od as |ts tur sh|mmorod odd|y botoro oxp|od|ng |n
t|amos. lt happonod vory qu|ck|y. ||ro dovourod tho roapor,
swa||ow|ng |t |n wh|to ||ght, consum|ng |t unt|| t|na||y tho hoad
d|sappoarod, |oav|ng noth|ng but ompty spaco and ta|||ng
ashos whoro a monstor had just boon.
1hon tho shadows c|osod |n around mo.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
4
1|E lEX1 VOllllG, VY |EA0 Al0 EvElY VU3ClE |n my body hurt
as |t l'd run a marathon through s|x toot ot snow |n st||ottos.
|ragmontod chunks ot tho n|ghtmaro l'd had tho n|ght botoro
spun through my hoad. As much as |t annoyod mo to havo
droamod about W|||, l was moro unsott|od bocauso |t had
boon way moro v|v|d and scary than my usua| n|ghtmaros.
Why was l st||| |n my joans and sh|rt? Vy hood|o, howovor,
was AWOl. l dug through my d|rty-c|othos hampor and tho
b|ankots on my bod, but |t was nowhoro to bo tound. |ow had
|t just d|sappoarod?
What |t what happonod |ast n|ght wasn't a droam?
1horo was a knock on my door. °ls tho b|rthday g|r|
awako, yot?' lt was my mom. °Como on, E|||o! Got up!'
l hoadod to tho bathroom to showor, stra|ghtonod tho
obnox|ous wavos |n my ha|r w|th tho t|at|ron, and tuggod on
trosh joans and a 1-sh|rt. l hoppod downsta|rs to moot my
mom |n tho k|tchon.
°l mado you pancakos, s|nco |t's your b|rthday,' Vom sa|d
choortu||y, and sm|||ng br|ght|y, sho prosontod a p|attor
stackod h|gh. °l know you d|dn't oat tho onos l mado you
yostorday, so l hopo you'ro too||ng wo|| onough to approc|ato
thom moro th|s morn|ng.'
°1hanks, Vom,' l sa|d, s|tt|ng down at tho countor to oat.
°|appy b|rthday, honoy.' 3ho k|ssod tho top ot my hoad.
°lovo you.'
°lovo you, too. Whoro's 0ad?'
|or sm||o van|shod. °|o had to |oavo oar|y. |o's got a
moot|ng |n lans|ng. |o to|d mo to to|| you happy b|rthday and
that ho |ovos you.'
l torcod a sm||o, protty corta|n that sho had mado tho |ast
part up. Voro ||ko|y ho had just |ott tor h|s moot|ng w|thout
say|ng a th|ng.
Vom's taco br|ghtonod. °3o l thought wo wou|d go got
your prosont attor schoo|. l know today |s go|ng to bo vory
d|tt|cu|t w|th ovoryth|ng that happonod yostorday, but hopotu||y
th|s w||| mako today a ||tt|o |oss awtu|. 3ound good?'
Vy hoart ||ttod. °Yoah.'
°Okay, thon. l'm go|ng to got somo work dono botoro wo
tako ott tor schoo|.' 3ho turnod to go back to hor ott|co.
°Vako suro you oat. Wo'|| go by tho doa|orsh|p attor schoo|
and soo what thoy havo.'
Awosomo. °|oy, Vom?'
3ho turnod back around. °Yoah, swoot|o?'
°0|d you hoar anyth|ng |ast n|ght?' l wasn't suro what l
oxpoctod hor to answor w|th.
3ho trownod. °Oh, honoy, l'm so sorry your tathor and l
woro argu|ng. l'm so sorry you hoard that.'
°l moan ||ko grow||ng, ||ko a hugo dog or a boar.'
Vom gavo mo an odd |ook, gaug|ng what l had just sa|d.
|oat rushod |nto my chooks as l roa||zod how stup|d l'd just
soundod. °lt wasn't anothor n|ghtmaro?'
°lo, l was awako.'
3ho s|ghod and hor ||ps t|ghtonod. °Vaybo |t was a
coup|o ot dogs outs|do t|ght|ng? l d|dn't hoar anyth|ng. You
wou|dn't hoar strango no|sos |t you shut your w|ndow at
n|ght.'
°l guoss you'ro r|ght.' 1ho consonsus was ott|c|a|: |t was
just a droam and l was a |unat|c.
As soon as l got to my |ockor, l was grootod by landon, who
carr|od a vaso ot rosos. Vy jaw droppod to tho t|oor.
°Aro you sor|ous?' l askod, my gazo sp||||ng ovor tho |ush
bouquot.
°|appy b|rthday, E|||o.' |o k|ssod my chook. Any socond l
wou|d |mp|odo trom tho swootnoss.
|o handod tho vaso to mo and l took |t. °l don't want your
b|rthday to suck, ovon though |t's a sad day and a||. l hopo
th|s makos |t bottor.'
l wrappod my troo arm around h|s shou|dors and huggod
h|m. °1hank you so much, landon! You aro too good to mo.
1h|s w||| dot|n|to|y mako my day rock.'
||s sm||o w|donod. °l havo to run to c|ass, but l'm roa||y
g|ad you'ro happy. 3oo you |ator.'
°3yo!' l had to romovo a p||o ot o|d papors trom tho
bottom ot my |ockor to sato|y mako room tor tho vaso. l'd
known landon tor a |ong t|mo, but ho had novor g|von mo
t|owors botoro. What a do||. l was pract|ca||y danc|ng on my
way to homoroom.
C|assos wont just as l'd prod|ctod thoy wou|d. 0ur|ng
morn|ng announcomonts tho pr|nc|pa| gavo a |ong spooch
about Vr. Voyor ovor tho |ntorcom, and thon my homoroom
toachor, Vrs. Wr|ght, gavo anothor. 1ho t|rst tour por|ods ot
tho day woro vory much tho samo. 1oachors sa|d tho|r b|t,
d|d vory ||tt|o |octur|ng, and gavo no homowork. Vy math tost
had boon postponod unt|| tho to||ow|ng Vonday, wh|ch was
t|no w|th mo s|nco l had no dos|ro to tako a tost on my
b|rthday. 0ur|ng th|rd-por|od shop c|ass, wh|ch l swoar l on|y
was tak|ng on|y to boost my GlA, wo d|d noth|ng but s|t at
our tab|os and d|scuss tho sand|ng projocts tor tho to||ow|ng
wook. l assumod gott|ng mushy wou|d bo too much tor poor
Vr. Gray to hand|o. Whon |uncht|mo camo around, l mot up
w|th my tr|onds. Wo a|| mado an ottort to havo a docont|y
norma| |unch. Evon an |d|ot cou|d soo how |ovod Vr. Voyor
had boon.
Kato, landon, and l sat |n our usua| p|aco |n tho r|ght-
hand cornor by tho w|ndows |ook|ng out |nto tho courtyard.
Evan, lacho|, and Chr|s jo|nod us, and to my surpr|so and
happ|noss, ovoryono avo|dod tho subjoct ot Vr. Voyor's
murdor. Whon l t|n|shod my |unch, l hoadod to tho bathroom
tor a qu|ck broak.
As l washod my hands |n tho s|nk, somoth|ng mado mo
stop and tako a socond |ook |n tho m|rror. Vy throat
squoozod w|th toar as l starod at tho r|ght s|do ot my taco.
3|ack th|ngs-sp|dory, throad||ko ||nos-woro croop|ng trom
my sca|p and across my chook and around my r|ght oyo,
|ntor|ac|ng w|th ono anothor. |oar spun |nto rovu|s|on as l
rubbod my chook hard, try|ng to smoar tho b|acknoss away.
1ho ||nos kopt com|ng, gott|ng |ongor and covor|ng moro and
moro ot my taco. l rubbod, but l cou|dn't too| thom on my sk|n.
Woro thoy lo my sk|n?
|a|t cry|ng, ha|t scarod out ot my m|nd, l grabbod a
handtu| ot papor towo|s and wot thom undor tho runn|ng
wator. l rubbod my taco v|gorous|y w|th tho wot towo|s, but
whon l |oworod thom, tho ||nos woro st||| thoro and my oyos
had turnod so||d wh|to ||ko cuo ba||s. l droppod tho towo|s and
backod away trom tho m|rror unt|| my back h|t tho so||d tramo
ot tho to||ot sta||s. l covorod my taco w|th both ot my hands,
my t|ngors woav|ng through my ha|r, pu|||ng |t |n dosporat|on.
Whon l |ookod back up, l saw noth|ng on my taco |n tho
m|rror but tho stroaks ot toars. lo b|ack th|ngs. lo darknoss.
1hoy woro gono. Vy oyos woro norma| aga|n.
l sp|ashod my taco w|th co|d wator to du|| tho rodnoss on
my taco and took sovora| |ong, s|ow broaths to stoady my
norvos. Whon l to|t cont|dont onough to roturn to tho catotor|a,
l burst through tho bathroom door, dotorm|nod to torgot what
had just happonod to mo. As l roundod tho cornor, l turnod
r|ght |nto W|||.
°Oh God!' l cr|od out, t|ght|ng tho urgo to smack h|m. °You
scarod tho crap out ot mo! What aro you do|ng at my schoo|?
l thought you d|dn't go horo.' l norvous|y tuggod my bag
h|ghor on my shou|dor and took a doop broath. 1hat was
whon l not|cod that tho b|ack, sp|ra||ng tattoos a|| up and
down h|s musc|od arm woro p|a|n|y v|s|b|o-tho oxact samo
tattoos ho'd worn |n my droam. l starod at tho strango
symbo|s, and tho w|nd|ng b|acknoss rom|ndod mo ot tho
b|acknoss sproad|ng on my taco momonts botoro. 3ut th|s
was d|ttoront. ||s tattoos woro boaut|tu|, tr|ghton|ng|y so, and
unoarth|y. 1hoy wound and dancod across h|s sk|n as |t thoy
woro proud and dot|ant. l cou|dn't tako my oyos ott thom.
|o |gnorod my quost|on. °Aro you a|| r|ght?'
|ad ho hoard my cry|ng? |ow d|d ho know? Wrost|ng my
gazo away trom h|s tattoos, l d|sm|ssod my thoughts and
storn|y assortod, °l'm t|no.'
°l nood to ta|k to you.' |o wasn't sm|||ng. ln tact ho d|dn't
|ook choortu| at a||, and h|s quost|on|ng gazo to|| on my st|||-
rod chook. l so|t-consc|ous|y covorod |t w|th my pa|m.
°About what? l havo to got back to |unch.' l startod to wa|k
around h|m, but ho s|dostoppod |n tront ot mo, b|ock|ng my
path. Attor what had just happonod |n tho bathroom, l was not
|n tho mood to doa| w|th any moro craz|noss.
°Wo nood to ta|k about |ast n|ght.'
Vy stomach c|onchod, and tho toar l had to|t momonts
botoro camo rag|ng back |nto my body. °l don't know what
you'ro ta|k|ng about. l was homo |ast n|ght. 1horo's noth|ng
wo nood to-'
°0on't you romombor?' |o |oanod |nto mo, h|s groon
oyos w|do and toar|ng |nto my hazo| onos. |o was so c|oso
that ho was a|| l cou|d too|, soo, and smo||. Vy sonsos woro
drown|ng |n h|m.
°lomombor what?' lt was just a droam-|t boo to bo.
What happonod cou|d oot havo boon roa|. l'd |mag|nod |t, just
||ko l'd |mag|nod tho b|ack sp|dorwobs on my taco.
|o took my arm and pu||od mo gont|y aga|nst tho |ockors
whon a coup|o studonts wa|kod by. °1ho roapor? 1ho ono you
k|||od?' ho askod |n a harsh wh|spor.
°1ho wbot? What tho ho|| aro you on, W|||?' l tr|od to pu||
myso|t away, but ho ho|d mo t|ghtor. °look, l'm not |nto that
stutt, whatovor |t |s, so-'
°Enough ot th|s,' ho grow|od, |oan|ng c|osor to mo. °You
nood to accopt what happonod |ast n|ght and what you aro,
no mattor how much you don't want to. lrotond|ng that |t was
just a droam or that l'm |nsano |sn't go|ng to ho|p you. lt'|| on|y
mako th|ngs worso.'
°l don't know what you'ro ta|k|ng about!' l snar|od through
gr|ttod tooth. l was dosporato to koop my angor trom caus|ng
moro toars.
W||| took a broath and spoko h|s noxt words s|ow|y. °look,
l too| awtu| and l don't want to scaro you-'
°Wo||, you'ro do|ng a damn good job ot |t!'
°1ust ||ston to mo tor a m|nuto and l'|| |oavo. Okay?'
l stud|od h|s taco. |o was roa||y sor|ous about th|s. l m|ght
as wo|| humor h|m. °||no.'
|o took anothor doop broath. |o spoko s|ow|y, but w|th
an |ntons|ty that tr|ghtonod mo ovon moro. °What you saw-
what you íoogbt-|ast n|ght was a roapor. |orgot tho scytho-
w|o|d|ng sko|otons |n |ong robos. 1h|s |s roa|. Vost don't
nood scythos, bocauso thoy havo tooth and c|aws tor
woapons. 1hoy oot you. 1hoy oat your t|osh and your b|ood,
and thon thoy drag your sou| to |o||. Your toachor, |rank
Voyor, was k|||od and oaton by tho samo ono you k|||od |ast
n|ght. You aro tho lro||ator, tho on|y morta| |n tho wor|d w|th
tho powor to t|ght thom. And l am your Guard|an, your
bodyguard, sworn to protoct and dotond you. And yoo aro
mak|ng my job oxcroclotlog|y d|tt|cu|t.'
l starod at h|m tor a tow momonts, unab|o to doc|do how
to rospond. l sott|od tor tho oasy th|ng. °You'ro comp|oto|y out
ot your m|nd.'
°0amn |t!' W||| throw h|s hands up. °1h|s |s r|d|cu|ous. l
don't undorstand why you don't romombor. l tr|ggorod your
powor |ast n|ght. You woko and ontorod tho Gr|m on your own
and k|||od tho roapor. Why don't you romombor now?' |o
stoppod away trom mo and c|ampod h|s hand ovor tho top ot
h|s hoad. ||s vo|co was rap|d and worr|od. °Vaybo bocauso
|t's boon so |ong. 3otoro, |t was a|ways on|y o|ghtoon yoars
botwoon cyc|os. Your sou| has boon as|oop too |ong.'
l backod away, my hand craw||ng a|ong tho wa||, unab|o to
mako sonso ot anyth|ng ho sa|d. 1hon l not|cod tho mota|
cha|n around h|s nock, tuckod |nto h|s sh|rt. An |mago t|ashod
across my m|nd ot somoth|ng g|oam|ng, dang||ng-a p|us
s|gn. lt was ||ko doja vu, a momory l d|dn't romombor ovor
hav|ng, |t that mado any sonso at a||.
°And |t you'ro wondor|ng whoro your hood|o wont, chock
your wastobaskot. 3orry |t was ru|nod.'
°lu|nod?'
°ls thoro a prob|om, V|ss Vonroo?'
l turnod around to soo ono ot tho ass|stant pr|nc|pa|s, Vr.
Abbot, stand|ng boh|nd mo, |ook|ng trom mo to W|||.
°Who |s th|s young man?' Vr. Abbot askod, c|oar|y soo|ng
that W||| was not a h|gh schoo| studont. ||s accus|ng gazo
||ngorod on tho tattoos covor|ng W|||'s arm. 1o h|m, tho
tattoos must havo boon a suro s|gn ot do||nquoncy.
°A tr|ond,' W||| sa|d. °l stoppod by to br|ng somo ot E|||o's
homowork sho had torgotton at my houso.'
Vr. Abbot |ookod quost|on|ng|y at mo. °ls th|s truo?'
l noddod. °Yos, s|r. lt's okay.' l d|dn't know why l was
covor|ng tor h|m. Vaybo h|s craz|noss had rubbod ott on mo
||ko a bad co|d, or somoth|ng worso.
|o turnod to W|||. °Young man, l'm go|ng to havo to ask
you to |oavo campus. You'vo dono E|||o a good sorv|co by
br|ng|ng hor homowork. |owovor, as you aro not a studont
and havo not s|gnod tor a v|s|tor's pass, you'|| nood to bo on
your way.'
W||| noddod. °1hat's t|no. l'|| say my good-byos and go.'
|o starod |ntont|y at Vr. Abbot, rotus|ng to budgo. 3trango|y,
my ass|stant pr|nc|pa| mado a pocu||ar taco botoro ho turnod
and |ott. °E|||o, w||| you ta|k to mo attor schoo|?' W||| askod
mo.
°lo way,' l sa|d, turn|ng my back to h|m.
|o stoppod around mo so that wo woro taco-to-taco. °lt
you don't, thon you won't know how to ca|| your swords and
you won't bo ab|o to dotond yourso|t.'
l to|t a sh|vor craw| up my sp|no as h|s oyos borod |nto
m|no, |ock|ng our gazos, h|s vo|co |ow and downr|ght
|nvas|vo. °Was that a throat?' l askod caut|ous|y.
||s oxpross|on gavo noth|ng away. °1hoy'|| como tor you.'
1hat sh|vor turnod |nto a bruta| stab ot toar stra|ght |nto my
gut. Vy pu|so qu|ckonod and l pursod my ||ps togothor whon l
to|t hoat rush|ng |nto my taco.
°low that l'vo wokon your powors, you'ro ta|r gamo to tho
roapors. You'ro at your most vu|norab|o, and th|s |s whon
thoy'|| str|ko.'
l took a doop broath. °lt you don't |oavo mo a|ono, l'm
go|ng to scroam tor socur|ty and thoy'ro go|ng to ca|| tho
cops.'
|o watchod mo tor a tow momonts. ||s jaw was c|onchod
t|ght|y and ho suckod |n h|s uppor ||p |n trustrat|on. °lt takos a
wh||o tor your momory to roturn somot|mos, but |t's novor
boon th|s bad botoro. l know you'ro hav|ng tho n|ghtmaros.
You'vo a|ways had thom whon you'ro roady to taco who you
aro. Ot courso, tho |ast t|mo l saw you-tho roo| you-wo||,
that was ovor torty yoars ago. You'vo boon gono tor twonty-
o|ght yoars.'
Vy throat t|ghtonod.
|o t|ashod mo that aston|sh|ng sm||o, on|y th|s t|mo |t ho|d
somoth|ng d|ttoront, somoth|ng socrot|vo. °|appy b|rthday, by
tho way. l'm sorry l d|dn't say that |ast n|ght, but l havo a g|tt
tor you. You passod out botoro l cou|d g|vo |t to you.'
W||| pu||od somoth|ng out ot h|s pockot and ho|d out h|s
hand. On h|s pa|m |ay a pondant shapod ||ko a pa|r ot wh|to
w|ngs hang|ng on a go|d cha|n. 1ho nock|aco was gorgoous,
othoroa|, tho w|ngs so br|ght|y wh|to that thoy sh|mmorod and
appoarod to g|ow |n tho ||ght. Whon l b||nkod, tho g|ow was
gono.
°What |s th|s?' l askod, marvo||ng at tho w|ngod pondant.
°lt's a|ways boon yours,' ho sa|d, ||tt|ng my hand and
p|ac|ng tho nock|aco on my pa|m. °3|nco botoro l know you. lt
novor tarn|shos or tados. A|ways tho samo. A|ways
pormanont ovon whon tato takos so much away.' |o gont|y
c|osod my t|ngors around tho pondant, h|s warm hands
||ngor|ng a momont too |ong. °l'|| ta|k to you soon.'
W||| turnod and |ott. l oponod my hand to staro at tho
boaut|tu| nock|aco. 3rush|ng my t|ngors across tho w|ngs, l
cou|dn't doc|do what |t was mado ot. 1ho pondant's surtaco
was smooth and |um|nous, as |t |t woro mado ot mothor-ot-
poar|, but somoth|ng moro proc|ous than that. lts boauty |u||od
mo, and l s||ppod |nto a strango, nosta|g|c tranco, and tho
wh|spors ot momor|os that cou|dn't havo bo|ongod to mo
surtacod |n my m|nd. 0|stant |magos ot W|||'s taco, ot
roapors |urk|ng |n tho dark, ot mo runn|ng through a||oys and
torosts, ot tho nock|aco |n my hands. 1h|ngs l shou|dn't havo
romomborod but d|d.
l shook my hoad and stuttod tho nock|aco |nto my purso.
Ovor íorty yoorsº l to|| back aga|nst tho |ockors t|rod|y
and rubbod my taco w|th both hands. Why wou|dn't W||| just
|oavo mo a|ono? |o soomod to t|rm|y bo||ovo that l was
somo k|nd ot suporhoro, and that had to bo tho craz|ost th|ng
l'd ovor hoard. As |t that wasn't onough, ho sa|d ho'd ta|k to
mo soon. A|though l know ||tt|o about W|||, l know tor a tact
that was a prom|so.
l wont back to |unch w|th my tr|onds and tr|od to torgot
about h|m, but l cou|dn't. |ourth por|od camo and wont
w|thout |nc|dont othor than Kato d|stract|ng mo trom tho
d|scuss|on ot tho wook's ass|gnmont. 3omoth|ng about
dross-shopp|ng p|ans tor 3aturday's party outt|ts. 1hanktu||y,
that was tho on|y othor c|ass l had w|th Kato, so l was ab|o to
concontrato a ||tt|o moro dur|ng my othor c|assos. ||tth por|od
Europoan h|story was m||d|y moro |ntorost|ng bocauso l
actua||y ||kod h|story. lt was somoth|ng l got oas||y, un||ko
oconom|cs.
As l sat at my tab|o, |gnor|ng my tab|omato who absont|y
p|ckod at h|s taco, l tound myso|t th|nk|ng about tho n|ght
botoro. l tr|od to romombor tho horr|b|o croaturo W||| had
ca||od a roapor. 1ho snar||ng, doad-oyod monstor starod out
at mo trom my momor|os, |ts onormous ta|ons d|gg|ng |nto
tho oarth, roady to |oap. Why wou|d l droam about such awtu|
th|ngs? l rubbod my arms, roca|||ng tho sonsat|on ot |ts tur
brush|ng aga|nst my sk|n. lovor had any n|ghtmaro to|t so
roa|, |n my m|nd, on my sk|n, and |n my hoart.
l doc|dod to |mag|no tor a momont that W||| had boon
to|||ng tho truth. lt l woro |ndood what ho c|a|mod, tho
lro||ator, thon thoso monstors, tho roapors, woro roa|. What
d|d ho moan whon ho sa|d l'd boon gono twonty-o|ght yoars?
l was so contusod. 1ust try|ng to mako sonso ot W|||'s
c|a|ms was onough to dr|vo mo crazy.
l cou|dn't got past W|||'s surpr|so that l cou|dn't romombor
anyth|ng. Ot courso, noth|ng happonod-|t was just a bad
droam, and W||| was just nuts. 3ut how cou|d ho know so
many dota||s trom my n|ghtmaro? |o had ovon mont|onod
tho °gr|m' aga|n, whatovor that was. And h|s tattoos . . . l had
not soon thoso whon l mot h|m tho prov|ous attornoon. 1ho
t|rst t|mo l saw thom was |n my droam.
W||| had touchod mo |n my droam tho n|ght botoro and l
suddon|y had bocomo somoono d|ttoront, somoono powortu|,
somoono vory tr|ghton|ng. 1hat scarod mo, but l was st|||
drawn to tho |doa. l pu||od tho w|ngod nock|aco out ot my
purso and stud|od tho do||cato odgos and |ntr|cato otch|ngs.
Romombor. l thought hard, shutt|ng my oyos t|ght|y and
c|os|ng my t|ngors around my pondant. lomombor,
romombor. ¼bot was l supposod to romombor? l starod
down at my h|story notos. lt on|y my own h|story woro wr|tton
on thoso pagos |nstoad ot Char|omagno's.
1ho ovonts trom tho n|ght botoro rop|ayod ovor and ovor
|n my m|nd ||ko a horror mov|o: tho roapor sta|k|ng through
tho dark, charg|ng at mo as l swung thoso strango, t|am|ng,
s|ck|o-shapod swords. 3o much b|ood . . .
And thon my oyos wont out ot tocus. l squoozod thom shut
and oponod thom aga|n, turn|ng my taco away trom tho harsh
||ght ot tho c|assroom to staro at tho t|oor. 1ho tomporaturo
p|ummotod, and l sh|vorod and rubbod my arms. 1ho t|oor
b|urrod and my dosk and a|| tho tacos around mo van|shod,
|oav|ng mo a|ono |n tho dark and knoo||ng on a snowy
ground. l stood and |ookod around mo, and l saw tho donso,
shadowod torost c|os|ng |n on mo and tho |cy, uny|o|d|ng
w|nd on my taco.
Vy oyos ío|| to tbo trol| oí b|ooo oottlog tbo soow lo íroot
oí mo os l movoo tbroogb tbo Orlm. l koow tbo roopor
coo|oo`t bo íor. lo boo tokoo ooor|y o boooroo |lvos o|roooy
lo tbo poor rogloo oí Lo Oovooooo lo sootboro lrooco. 7bo
orogooos soot by tbo lroocb klog boo íoooo ootblog ooo
|oít oo ooo|oss trol| oí looocoot wo|í corcossos lo tbolr woko.
7bo |oploo roopor wos smortor ooo boogrlor tboo ooy oí
tbom, ooo tbot mooo blm íor moro ooogoroos. 7boy
coo|oo`t boot somotblog tbot tboy coo|oo`t soo ooo tbot wos
smortor tboo tbom.
l coo|o sooooo|y íoo| lt-tbo tlog|o oí tbo oorkost powor
crow|log ocross my í|osb, ro||log tbroogb tbo oortb booootb
tbo soow.
5omotblog oork í|osboo to my rlgbt. 7boo lt í|osboo to
my |oít. lo wos clrc|log mo.
l botoo wboo tboy bootoo mo bock. l bo|o my sworos
c|oso|y. 7bo í|omos oloo`t mo|t tbo soow oroooo mo.
Aogo|ílro oo|y ovor borooo ovl| ooo |oít ovorytblog o|so
ootoocboo.
lootstops croocboo tbo soow lo íroot oí mo. 7bo roopor
boo íloo||y ooclooo to sbow blmso|í. lo stoppoo c|osor,
o||owlog mo to got o bottor |ook ot blm. lo goosboo bls
tootb wltb tbo promlso oí oootb, ooo bls b|ock íor g|lstoooo
wltb o oork, |orlo |lqolo. B|ooo. l oloo`t koow wbot, or wbo, lt
bo|oogoo to.
ºYoo oro o íoo| íor bootlog mo, Pro|lotor,' bo grow|oo
tbroogb wo|í|lko jows, jows tbot sboo|o oovor bovo booo
ob|o to spook bomoo woros. º7bls ls my torrltory. 7bo soo|s
lo tbls |ooo wl|| bo mloo. Yoo wl|| moot yoor ooo lo tbls
íorost.'
l scoííoo ooo tlgbtoooo my grlp oo botb bo|vos. ºl moy,
bot boíoro l olo, l`|| moko soro yoo ooo`t |oovo tbls íorost
o|lvo oltbor. 7bot ls tbo prlco yoo poy íor toklog so mocb
b|ooo.'
7bo roopor |lítoo bls booo, bls b|ock oyos wotcblog mo
corloos|y. ºAoo wbot prlco oo yoo poyº lor o|| tbo b|ooo
yoo`vo spl|tº'
º7bls ls my ooty.'
lo lgooroo mo. ºLooo|looss, l sospoct.' lls volco wos
so ooop, lt bort my oors trylog to boor blm.
º5top trylog to got loto my mloo ooo jost ílgbt mo,
lo|gor.'
lo |oworoo bls booo, ooo bls mozz|o íormoo o stroogo
wo|ílsb sml|o. lls oyos woro ooor|y lovlslb|o ogolost bls
b|ock íor, rovoo|oo oo|y by tbo oogo|ílro cost ocross tbolr
g|ossy soríocos. ºYoo koow my oomo.'
ºl koow o |ot moro oboot yoo tboo tbot.'
ºLoos tbot koow|oogo moko yoo íoor moº' bo oskoo,
írlgbtoolog|y bopoío|. lo wos o|o-o|oor ooo moro poworío|
tboo most oí tbo roopors l boo íoogbt lo rocoot yoors. 7broo
boooroo yoors wos cortolo|y somotblog to boost oboot.
º7bot woo|o moko yoo boppy, woo|oo`t ltº'
ºYos, yos lt woo|o,' lo|gor solo, tbo woros ro||log ovor
bls gloot toogoo. º¼boro ls yoor Oooroloo, Pro|lotorº'
ºNot íor bobloo.' lt oloo`t mottor. l boo to oostroy tbo
roopor oo my owo or bo woo|o sooo moro looocoot soo|s to
lo||.
º¼o||, tbot ls qolto íortoooto íor mo.'
lo |ooocboo, jows ooo c|ows sprooo wloo. l bo|too ooo
bo |ooooo to tbo sloo oí mo, s|lolog tbroogb tbo soow ooo
sproylog g|lttory wblto powoor. lo |oopoo íor mo ogolo, ooo
l olvoo bobloo o troo. lo co||looo wltb lt, sboklog bo|í tbo
troo íroo oí soow ooo googlog o mosslvo bo|o lo tbo bork
wltb bls booy. lo rooroo lo íory, ooo ovory troo ooor blm
sbook wltb tbo íorco oí bls ooorgy. lls powor oxp|oooo ooo
bo bosboo o troo trook wltb bls pow, bls to|oos rlpplog tbo
trook ooor|y lo bo|í. 7bo troo grooooo, ooo l storoo op os lt
como crosblog oowo, bot l ío|| bock boíoro lt ploooo mo to
tbo groooo. 7boogb lt mlssoo mo, tbo |og boo troppoo ooo
oí my sworos booootb lt ooo tbo í|omos woot oot. l grobboo
tbo booo|o ooo toggoo, bot tbo b|ooo oloo`t s|loo íroo.
lo|gor c|lmboo ovor tbo trook, ooo tboo bls soor|log
mozz|o wos locbos írom my íoco. lo sooppoo bls jows,
|osboo bls tblck tol| lo oogor, ooo |oogoo ot mo, bot o
poworío| b|ow to bls sko|| koockoo blm oíí tbo troo.
Vy boort |oopoo wboo l sow ¼l||. lo poooooo tbo
roopor`s booo ogolo, crosblog lo|gor to tbo groooo. ¼l||
sooppoo bock oroooo to íoco mo ooo bo||owoo, ºYoor
sworo!'
l oooooo ooo govo tbo Kboposb oootbor stroog tog,
grloolog my boot loto tbo trook íor |ovorogo, ooo íloo||y tbo
b|ooo s|lppoo oot. Aogo|ílro borst írom lt. l torooo my booo
jost lo tlmo to soo lo|gor cborgo ot mo wboro l |oy. lls jows
sooppoo ot mo, bot l twlstoo owoy, ooo bls tootb c|ompoo
oowo oo oortb ooo soow lostooo oí í|osb. ¼ltb o oosporoto
cry, l swoog my sworo os boro os l coo|o. 7bo b|ooo cot
ooop tbroogb bls oock, ooo bls booy borst loto í|omos.
lo|gor`s booo topp|oo oíí bls booy ooo ooto my íoco.
l cr|od out and my cha|r s||ppod out trom undor mo. 1ho
rackot ochood through tho c|assroom as my butt h|t tho t||o
t|oor and tho cha|r crashod.
Evoryono around mo was s||ont, too shockod to |augh, but
l d|dn't daro |ook up. Vy ont|ro body t|ushod w|th hoat.
Ob Ooo, ob Ooo . . . 3oth my hands covorod my taco as l
sat on tho t|oor, abso|uto|y mort|t|od.
°|o|y crop, E|||o, aro you okay?' askod my tab|o partnor.
l |ookod up to soo h|s taco poor|ng down at mo. °1ho
cha|r . . . |t s||ppod.'
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
b
1|E lE31 O| 1|E 0AY WEl1 3Y Wl1|OU1 AlY VOlE |nc|donts. lo
moro daydroams, l to|d myso|t t|rm|y. Vy n|ghtmaros woro
scary onough and l had no dos|ro to havo thom wh||o awako.
1ho momory ot what l had oxpor|oncod dur|ng h|story was
trosh |n my m|nd and stung ||ko a papor cut, tho op|sodo
t|uttorod around schoo|, so by |ast por|od l was a|roady known
as that ch|ck who to|| on hor ass dur|ng c|ass. l'd havo to
movo away. lrobab|y to A|aska.
At |ast, schoo| ondod and l hurr|od to my |ockor. Vy
|ntor|udo thoro w|th Kato and landon was br|ot-l had othor
th|ngs on my m|nd. l|ko gott|ng my car. And my n|ghtmaros
com|ng to ||to.
l ha|thoartod|y agrood to moot Kato at tho ma|| on
3aturday to got our outt|ts tor my party, as wo had d|scussod
dur|ng math oar||or. Attor say|ng a hasty good-byo and
thank|ng landon onco aga|n tor tho rosos, l hoadod outs|do
w|th tho vaso |n my arms to moot my mom.
3ho soomod as oxc|tod as l was. °|onoy, who aro tho
t|owors trom?'
°landon,' l sa|d, smo|||ng thom aga|n.
°Wo||, that was vory swoot ot h|m,' sho ottorod, oy|ng tho
vaso.
°l supposo ho's mak|ng up tor a|| tho snowba||s ho's
thrown |n my taco and shovod down my sh|rt ovor tho yoars.'
3ho noddod s|ow|y and hor brow t||ckorod. °lt you say so.'
Wo drovo to tho doa|orsh|p a tow m||os trom schoo| and
|nspoctod noar|y ovory s|ng|o car thoro. l was sot on a sodan,
so wo doc|dod to tost dr|vo a coup|o ot d|ttoront cars, w|th tho
busty sa|oswoman tagg|ng g|ootu||y a|ong. l to|| |n |ovo w|th a
||tt|o wh|to Aud| w|th a b|ack |ntor|or. lt was sport|or than tho
othors and dot|n|to|y to|t portoct to mo.
Attor my mom had organ|zod tho purchaso and wo woro
roady to hoad homo, l hoppod |nto tho dr|vor's soat ot my
b|rthday prosont. 1ho |ntor|or was wrappod |n smooth, coo|
|oathor and l |ot myso|t s|nk |nto |t.
Vom d|ppod hor hoad to sm||o at mo through tho dr|vor's-
s|do w|ndow.
°l'm go|ng to namo h|m Varshma||ow,' l announcod.
Vy mom ra|sod an oyobrow. °Varshma||ow?'
°Yos, and ho |ovos |t.' l tondor|y ran my t|ngors a|ong tho
|oathor-covorod stoor|ng whoo|.
°3o what do you say to dr|v|ng homo |n your now car?'
°Yos!' l a|most shoutod.
°3o suro to to|| your dad thank you whon you got homo.'
l noddod, sm|||ng w|do|y. l was a|most ocstat|c onough to
torgot my tr|ghton|ng daydroam trom oar||or. A|most.
l to||owod my mom homo. 1ho Aud| g||dod a|ong tho h|||y
roads ||ko a droam. Up and down, |ott and r|ght, tho voh|c|o
hand|od ottort|oss|y and l to|t |n comp|oto contro|,
othorwor|d|y. l d|dn't know what had como ovor mo, whothor |t
was tho thr||| ot hav|ng my t|rst car or my party com|ng up, but
l to|t onorg|zod. Llííoroot. l to|t gooo. lono ot tho soronoss l
had wokon up w|th that morn|ng roma|nod.
As l pu||od |nto tho dr|voway boh|nd my mom's car, l
happonod to g|anco at my no|ghbor's ma||box, wh|ch |ay |n a
p||o ot sp||ntors. Vy no|ghbor, Vr. Ashton, was p|ck|ng up tho
woodon tragmonts and chunks ot br|ck scattorod across h|s
|awn. A vory c|oar momory trom tho n|ght botoro cropt |nto my
hoad, and tho b|ood dra|nod trom my taco. A co|d rush
t|oodod through mo as l stoppod out ot my car, d|zzy|ng mo
so much that l had to |oan aga|nst tho door tor support. l
not|cod a jaggod crator |n tho stroot not too tar ott.
°1hat happonod |ast n|ght,' my mom sa|d w|th a trown on
hor taco. °lt appoars a s|nkho|o may havo causod a dr|vor to
h|t tho curb and thon Vr. Ashton's ma||box. 1ho no|ghborhood
assoc|at|on |s hav|ng somoono como by to t||| tho ho|o |n
tomorrow. lt's strango, s|nco thoso th|ngs don't usua||y
happon unt|| spr|ng.'
l |oanod back aga|nst my car tor support, my broaths |ong
but d|zzy|ng|y sha||ow.
°Vaybo that's what you hoard |ast n|ght?' Vom ottorod.
°1ho |oud no|so you mont|onod.'
l watchod Vr. Ashton dump tho roma|ns ot h|s ma||box
|nto a whoo|barrow and hau| |t |nto h|s backyard. °Vaybo.'
l ran up to my bodroom and dumpod tho contonts ot my
wastobaskot onto tho carpot. W||| had to bo wrong. Vy
m|ss|ng hood|o cou|dn't bo |n thoro. 3ut r|ght |n tront ot mo, |n
tho m|dst ot crump|od notobook papor, waddod t|ssuos, and
a candy wrappor, was my hood|o. l ||ttod |t, g|ngor|y p|uck|ng
tho hood up w|th two t|ngors. 1ho cotton was shroddod, st|tt
trom somoth|ng wot and th|ck that had dr|od a|| ovor |t, and
sp|attorod across tho s|oovos and chost was dark dr|od
drop|ots. 1ho who|o th|ng had a sour dog-droo| smo|| |acod
w|th tho ta|nt tang ot o|d b|ood.
3cramb||ng |nto tho bathroom, l throw up |nto tho to||ot.
Kato ca||od mo that ovon|ng at sovon to moot hor at
3tarbucks. Any roason was good onough to got mo out ot tho
houso and dr|v|ng. As l |ott, l took a wh|tt ot tho rosos on my
drossor and tr|od not to th|nk about tho shroddod d|scovory |n
my wastobaskot. l |ot my mom know whoro l was go|ng and
sho gavo hor porm|ss|on w|thout much ros|stanco. Whon l
arr|vod, Kato was stand|ng by hor car |n tho park|ng |ot w|th
landon and Chr|s. 3ho |ot out a h|gh-p|tchod squoa| whon
sho saw my now car.
°Ah!' sho shr|okod. °lt |s so cuto! l approvo.'
°1hank you!' l sa|d, boam|ng. °l namod h|m Varshma||ow.
lsn't |t portoct?'
°Oh my God, yos,' Kato sa|d, pook|ng |n tho dr|vor's-s|do
w|ndow. °luby wants h|m to bo hor boytr|ond.' 3ho was
rotorr|ng to tho namo ot hor rod 3VW.
°You r|ch g|r|s and your stup|d namos tor your cars,' Chr|s
sa|d, s|gh|ng as ho chockod |t out. °A4, n|co. l'|| raco you w|th
my 870Z.'
l |aughod. °lo way. l'm not go|ng to k||| myso|t, thanks, and
why wou|d you ovon bothor? l'm protty suro you'd dostroy mo
|n that th|ng anyway.'
°||no,' ho sa|d, and turnod to Kato. °lot mo tako on tho
E00.'
3ho oyod h|m, gr|nn|ng. °Koop droam|ng.'
°You |ad|os aro wast|ng your cars,' landon sa|d,
oxam|n|ng my t|ros.
°lt's roa||y go|ng to suck whon wo'ro troshmon at V|ch|gan
3tato and havo to |oavo our cars at homo,' Kato sa|d,
pout|ng.
°0|d you sond your app||cat|on |n?' l askod.
3ho noddod. °Yoah. |avon't you?'
l gr|macod. Vy grados hadn't oxact|y boon awosomo, but
l was st||| troad|ng wator. °lot yot.'
°Wo||, do |t qu|ck,' sho sa|d. °3pots t||| up tast.'
l mado a monta| noto to start my app||cat|on noxt wook.
lo|thor ot us wantod to go anywhoro o|so. Wo||, ot courso l
had wantod to go to |arvard whon l was s|x, but my goa|s
had gotton moro roa||st|c s|nco thon.
Attor tho boys |nspoctod tho Aud| trom gr|||o to ta||p|po,
wo wont |nto 3tarbucks to ordor. Kato bought mo a
cappucc|no tor my b|rthday, and l s|ppod on |t wh||o wo ta|kod
and |aughod. l was happy not to havo to worry about tho
strango ovonts ot tho past coup|o ot days. At tho momont, a|| l
had to worry about was not sp||||ng my cottoo on myso|t and
not |ott|ng landon got too c|oso. |o soomod to sh|tt h|mso|t
c|osor and c|osor to mo as l watchod h|m out tho cornor ot my
oyo. l wasn't c|austrophob|c by any moans-but l soon wou|d
bo |t ho got any c|osor.
°3o what aro wo soo|ng tomorrow?' Chr|s askod, ||ck|ng
tho wh|ppod croam topp|ng h|s cup.
|r|day n|ght was Vov|o l|ght tor our group ot tr|onds. lt
was protty much a ro||g|ous ovont tor us. l shruggod. °l don't
know. What's out?'
°1horo's that ghost mov|o that oponod |ast wook,' Kato
ottorod.
°Eh,' l sa|d. l had had onough ot scary s|tuat|ons |n tho
|ast twonty-tour hours.
°Act|on mov|o, thon?' landon askod.
Wo sott|od on a mov|o about an ox|stont|a| h|t man. Vov|o
l|ght wasn't about soo|ng Oscar-worthy t||ms. lt was about
spond|ng a swoot n|ght out. C||chos bo damnod.
3uddon|y, l romomborod my ||t papor. l snar|od at tho
ground. °l roa||y nood to got startod on my papor.'
Kato trownod. °A|roady?'
°loa||y, E||,' landon sa|d, t|ash|ng a stup|d gr|n. °What's
tho po|nt ot dr|nk|ng cottoo at n|ght |t you'ro just go|ng to go
ta|| as|oop?'
l shovod h|s shou|dor p|aytu||y. °Wh||o your |og|c |s
t|aw|oss, |t doosn't ho|p mo got my papor dono. 1h|s
cappucc|no w|||, on tho othor hand.'
°||no, t|no,' Kato sa|d, wav|ng hor hand |n a shoo|ng
mot|on. °You suck. loavo.'
°You shou|dn't to|| mo l suck on my b|rthday,' l sa|d w|th a
gr|n.
°|appy b|rthday!' 3ho boamod.
°1hanks, |ovor.' l gathorod my purso and cup. l sa|d good-
byo and hoadod back out to my car. Whon l got homo, l wont
up to my room and |mmod|ato|y roa||zod l had |ott my ||t book
and notos |n my |ockor that attornoon. l sworo |oud|y and
p|oppod hoav||y down on my bod.
°0amn |t, what am l go|ng to do?' l sa|d a|oud to no ono. l
starod at my backpack, angry at |t tor not conta|n|ng tho
th|ngs l noodod. lt l d|dn't start my papor ton|ght, l wou|d novor
got |t dono. l'd bo too busy w|th my party. l had to go back to
schoo| to got |t.
l g|ancod at my c|ock. lt was a|most n|no, but tho schoo|
shou|d dot|n|to|y st||| bo opon tor tho adu|t-oducat|on n|ght
c|assos. lt |t wasn't opon, thon at |oast l had a protty good
oxcuso to dr|vo aga|n. l cou|d bo opt|m|st|c whon noodod.
l grabbod my backpack, purso, cappucc|no, and co||
phono and hoadod back to schoo| to rotr|ovo my torgotton
homowork. 1ho was woak|y ||t, and l tound on|y two othor cars
parkod |n tho studont |ot boh|nd tho bu||d|ng. 1ho on|y
|||um|nat|on was prov|dod by tho orango|sh b|otchos bonoath
tho park|ng |ot ||ghts, so l parkod undor ono ot thom |nstoad
ot |n a dark patch. l t|gurod l was |oss ||ko|y to got jumpod
thoro.
l tound that tho doors l usua||y ontorod through ovory
morn|ng woro |ockod, so l roundod tho bu||d|ng unt|| l tound
an un|ockod ono. lns|do, l noddod to a jan|tor l rocogn|zod,
who sm||od k|nd|y to mo as ho swopt tho t|oor, ||ston|ng to tho
Vl8 p|ayor p|uggod |nto h|s oars. 1ho ha||s woro d|m|y ||t,
and my tootstops ochood so|omn|y. lt was amaz|ng how
croopy th|s schoo| got at n|ght. l racod to my |ockor, yankod
out what l noodod, and stuttod |t |nto my bag botoro jogg|ng
back out ot tho bu||d|ng. |or somo roason, outs|do |t now
soomod darkor to mo.
1ho ||ght on tho po|o bos|do my car t||ckorod and
hummod. 3omoth|ng tuggod on my body, and a hazy vo||
covorod my v|s|on. l had troub|o stopp|ng torward, and l
|ookod down at my arms to soo what was ho|d|ng mo back.
1ho wor|d, not just tho a|r, but ovoryth|ng so||d, strotchod and
mo|tod away as |t l woro mov|ng through a go|at|nous wa||.
Ono moro stop, and l was suddon|y troo as a burst ot b|ack
smoko wound around my ||mbs and c|oarod away, |oav|ng
tho wor|d norma| aga|n.
|a|tway across tho |ot, l hoard a d|st|nct-and a|| too
tam|||ar-rumb|o.
°Oh God,' l wh|sporod, ha|t|ng |n toar. Attor two
oxcruc|at|ng|y |ong soconds l hoard anothor grow| ro|||ng
through tho darknoss.
l bo|tod, d|gg|ng my hands trant|ca||y |nto my pockots tor
my koys. 3omoth|ng hoavy poundod tho pavomont boh|nd
mo, but l was too torr|t|od to |ook back. l prossod Un|ock t|tty
t|mos botoro l crashod |nto my car door. A g|ant, dark shapo
t|ashod |n tho cornor ot my v|s|on, and l scroamod and
duckod just as an onormous paw rakod |ts ta|ons across tho
tront tondor ot my brand-now car.
l h|t tho ground, sp|||od my cottoo and my bags, and
|ookod up to taco my attackor: a roapor, as b|g as tho Aud|,
|oomod ovor mo w|th ono paw on tho hood ot my car. lt
|ookod down on mo, covor|ng mo comp|oto|y |n |ts shadow,
b|ock|ng out tho stroot||ght, |ts chost hoav|ng w|th ovory
broath. lts shaggy, dark tur g|oamod an ug|y charcoa| co|or |n
tho yo||ow ||ght. 1ho roapor was wo|t shapod, just ||ko tho
onos trom my daydroam and my n|ghtmaro tho n|ght botoro.
°l havo tound you, lro||ator,' tho roapor sa|d |n a doop,
husky, but odd|y tom|n|no vo|co. °And now you aro mloo.'
3ho gr|nnod a mouthtu| ot tangs and snappod at mo. l
scroamod and throw my arms ovor my hoad. 1ho roapor
|aughod, hor hot broath strang||ng mo.
A shadow z|ppod boh|nd tho roapor and suddon|y sho
was sont t|y|ng ovor tho Aud|. 3ho |andod and sk|ddod
across tho pavomont, d|gg|ng hor c|aws |nto tho pavomont
and |oav|ng wh|to stroaks boh|nd.
l |oworod my arms and |ookod up to t|nd W||| stand|ng
ovor mo. ||s sk|n bonoath tho tattoos on h|s r|ght arm g|owod
br|ght|y |n tho stroot||ght.
°Aro you hurt?' ho askod, ottor|ng h|s troo hand.
l took |t, star|ng at h|m dazod|y, and ho ho|pod mo up.
°1ho cappucc|no . . . lt must bo tho catto|no. . . .'
W||| grabbod my shou|dor suddon|y, throw mo back
aga|nst my car, and |ookod t|orco|y |nto my taco. °3nap out ot
|t, E|||o! 0on|a| |sn't go|ng to mako tho roapor go away!'
°l can't! l-'
°3top say|ng you can't! You coo! You must t|ght!'
l whoo|od around, bump|ng |nto W||| as l soarchod tor tho
roapor, who had van|shod. l grabbod at W|||'s sh|rt |n torror,
shuddor|ng c|osor to h|m, my hoad wh|pp|ng around w||d|y,
dosporato to t|nd tho roapor.
°lo|oaso hor, Guard|an!' |or vo|co rang out trom
somowhoro unsoon.
lott|ng out a hoarso cry, l snappod my gazo up to soo tho
roapor crouchod on tho root ot tho Aud|. 1h|ck sa||va dr|ppod
trom hor jaws, h|tt|ng tho root and s||d|ng down tho dr|vor's-
s|do w|ndow.
°Oh, poor ch||d,' tho th|ng ha|t coood, ha|t snar|od. °3ho's
shak|ng. What's tho mattor, g|r|? You woro supposod to bo a
n|ghtmaro, but a|| l soo |s a wh|mpor|ng ||tt|o |amb. Wo don't
ovon nood tho Ensh|. l'|| k||| you myso|t.'
|orr|t|od, l scramb|od away, but W||| caught my arm.
°Aga|n!' ho cr|od out, s|amm|ng h|s pa|m |nto my
torohoad tor tho socond t|mo |n as many days. 1ho b|ast h|t
mo, strongor th|s t|mo, and tho wh|to ||ght b||ndod mo onco
moro. 1ho wor|d shook and ro||od, and l to|t ||ko l was trappod
|n tho contor ot a tornado aga|n. An oor|o gust ot w|nd
sp|ra|od around mo, pu|||ng my ha|r and body toward tho sky.
l squoozod my oyos shut, brac|ng myso|t. W||| ro|oasod mo
and l to|| back, but h|s arm wound around my wa|st and pu||od
mo to h|s chost. Attor a woozy momont l had tho strongth to
stand on my own, and ho |ot mo go.
Whon l oponod my oyos, l ca||od my b|ados and thoy
appoarod |n my hands, grow|ng mag|ca||y trom tho pommo|
at tho bottom ot oach ot tho ho|vos to tho t|ps ot tho b|ados.
1ho s|mp|ost tug |n my chost sont t|amos burst|ng trom tho
swords, as |t thoy camo a||ght by my w||| a|ono. Vy powor
surgod through mo, and tho croopy, sp|dor||ko onorgy ot tho
roapor hoatod my taco ||ko crack||ng t|ro. l cou|d too|-and
soo-W|||'s powor as ho stood bos|do mo. |o |ookod dark
and boaut|tu|.
°l'm roady now,' l sa|d.
1ho roapor snar|od and |oapod ott tho car, |and|ng w|th an
oarthshak|ng thud. l d|dn't wa|t tor hor to chargo. l crouchod to
tho pavomont, t|ghtonod my gr|p on oach sword, and |ot out a
torr|b|o cry. Vy powor oruptod, doaton|ng mo momontar||y,
burst|ng torth trom my body as an oxp|os|on ot |nky, w|spy
wh|to smoko, |ts strongth rock|ng tho ground ||ko an
oarthquako. 1ho prossuro s|ammod |nto tho roapor and my
car w|th onough torco to shovo |t sovora| toot to ono s|do. Vy
oars rang as l watchod tho roapor braco horso|t and ho|d hor
ground. |or ompty oyos starod back at mo ||ko p|ocos ot
tw|stod vo|can|c g|ass.
l shot at tho roapor, swords h|gh ovor my hoad. l
summonod my powor and |oapod up, sp|nn|ng through tho a|r
and crush|ng my toot |nto tho roapor's jaw. As l camo down, l
s|ashod my t|am|ng b|ados across hor body, s||c|ng both hor
shou|dors. 3ho duckod hor hoad and chompod at mo as l
|andod, hor tangs n|ck|ng my arm and toar|ng tho sk|n. 3ho
swung hor nock and hor hoad |nto my body, smash|ng mo
|nto a ||ght po|o. 1ho ||ght wont dark as tho g|ass ra|nod
down, shattor|ng a|| around mo.
l |ay thoro, my oyos togg|ng ovor tor a momont, and
|ookod down at my arm. Cuts ||nod my sk|n trom tho |amp's
g|ass and tho roapor's tooth. l w|pod away tho b|ood and
watchod my sk|n hoa| r|ght botoro my oyos. 1ho torn t|osh
wovo |n and out as though |t woro bo|ng sown back togothor
w|th |nv|s|b|o nood|o and throad unt|| my sk|n was smooth and
t|aw|oss oxcopt tor smoars ot b|ood. Vy gazo snappod back
up to soo tho roapor stomp|ng toward mo. |or jaw c||ckod
and contortod grotosquo|y as tho bonos l'd smashod w|th my
toot hoa|od back |nto p|aco.
°You tasto good, lro||ator,' sho snar|od, g|v|ng hor jaws a
strotch. °l th|nk l'|| havo anothor b|to.'
l grabbod ono ot my swords and chargod. 1ho roapor
saw mo com|ng and throw hor paw |nto my taco, snapp|ng
my hoad to tho s|do. l ground my tooth b|ttor|y, roo|od my arm
back, and poundod my t|st |nto hor jaw as hard as l cou|d.
lnstoad ot just broak|ng aga|n, hor jaw t|ung troo trom hor
sku|| and sk|ddod across tho pavomont |n a spray ot b|ood.
Anothor roapor camo out ot nowhoro. lt sprang trom tho
shadows at my |ott, |ts tangs a t|ash ot wh|to |n tho dark, but
W||| swopt h|s own sword through tho a|r botwoon us,
stopp|ng my broath. ||s g|ant b|ado s||cod through tho
roapor's nock, sond|ng |ts hoad sp|ra||ng h|gh ovor mo as |t
hardonod to stono. 1ho hoad and body h|t tho pavomont and
smashod |nto a thousand stony p|ocos.
l spun back around as tho t|rst roapor roarod onto hor
h|nd |ogs, sw|ng|ng hor hoad |n a rago, and l s|ammod my
sword through hor r|bcago. As tho t|ory b|ado struck hor
hoart, sho crump|od to a|| tours. 3ho whoozod and gaggod
just botoro hor shuddor|ng body oruptod |nto t|amos and sho
was gono torovor.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
0
l llCKE0 1|E 3lA0E Ul Al0 WllE0 l1 ClEAl Ol my joans. W|||
watchod mo w|th carotu|, darkonod oyos.
°1hank you,' l sa|d.
°Aro you go|ng to b|ack out on mo aga|n?' ho askod,
ho|st|ng h|s sword ovor h|s shou|dors as |t |t wo|ghod noth|ng.
low l got a bottor |ook at |t. 1ho b|ado was w|do and a|most
as |ong as my who|o body, and tho h||t was |ncrod|b|y
boaut|tu|, w|th |ts s|ook s||vor and go|d curvos mo|dod |nto
what |ookod ||ko a w|ng.
°lo, l'm okay,' l sa|d. °3ort ot. 3o thon-l d|d b|ack out
|ast n|ght?'
°Yoah. You h|t tho ground protty hard attorward.'
|oat cropt |nto my chooks. °1hank you tor gott|ng mo
back to my room.'
°l wasn't just go|ng to |oavo you thoro,' ho sa|d. °3o,
you'ro romombor|ng thon?'
l shruggod. °1ho t|ght|ng part has como back to mo and
my swords appoarod whon l ca||od thom. l to|t ||ko l know
what l was do|ng.' What troakod mo out tho most was that l
d|dn't roa||y nood to th|nk whon l tought. Vy body just k|nd ot
know what |t was do|ng, and l was on|y a|ong tor tho r|do.
°You'vo had a |ot ot pract|co.'
°3ut ovoryth|ng o|so,' l sa|d d|stractod|y, |ook|ng down at
tho v|c|ous swords |n my hands. °lt's so tuzzy, st|||. lt's strango,
bocauso l know |t's a|| thoro, but l just can't d|g |t out. l don't
know what l am.'
°You aro tho lro||ator,' W||| doc|arod w|th an odgo ot
author|ty to h|s vo|co.
°l know wbo l am,' l sa|d. °l can romombor that, but l don't
know wbot l am. And l don't know who yoo aro.'
|urt crushod h|s stony roso|vo, surpr|s|ng mo. °l am your
Guard|an, your sorvant. l'm horo to protoct and gu|do you.
1hat |s my duty, and that |s a|| that l am.'
°|ow o|d aro you?' l askod, study|ng h|s taco.
°3|x hundrod.'
Vy hoad grow toggy. °|ow o|d am l?'
°l don't know oxact|y. A tow thousand yoars, maybo. Wo
havo rocords ot you prodat|ng anc|ont lomo.'
l crump|od to tho ground noxt to my car. l |ookod up at tho
onormous gashos and tho dont |n tho Aud|'s tondor. Vy
paronts woro go|ng to k||| mo.
°1h|s |s a|| roa|, |sn't |t?'
°Yos.' W||| crouchod down |n tront ot mo. |o w|pod at my
chook. 1ho touch was sott, k|nd, íoml|lor. ||s gazo was t|rm
but gont|o. °You had b|ood on your taco.'
l noddod toward my woapons. °1hoso swords aro so
strango |ook|ng. Why am l ab|o to just mako thom appoar out
ot th|n a|r? Why do thoy ||ght on t|ro? lowº'
°1hoy aro Khoposh, an anc|ont woapon,' ho oxp|a|nod. l
rocogn|zod tho namo trom my n|ghtmaros. °1hoy aro
oxcopt|ona| b|ados-moant tor s|ash|ng, not stabb|ng, but
thoy got tho job dono. Wo aro both ab|o to ca|| our swords
through our powor w|th ango||c mag|c, but onco thoy appoar,
thoy aro horo. Wo can't conjuro now onos, so you had bottor
not |oso o|thor ot thom. Wo can w||| thom away a|so, whon wo
aro ho|d|ng thom |n our hands, or whon wo d|o. 1hoy
d|sappoar unt|| wo ca|| thom aga|n.'
|o ho|d h|s sword out stra|ght, and |t van|shod r|ght
botoro my oyos w|th that samo sh|mmor|ng ||ght. |o oponod
h|s pa|m and conjurod tho sword onco moro to show mo how
s|mp|o |t was, and thon ho w|||od |t away onco moro.
°1ho t|ro around your swords |s ango|t|ro, tho on|y th|ng
ottoct|vo, catastroph|c onough to dostroy roapors bos|dos
docap|tat|on. Or dostruct|on ot tho hoart-that's what thoso
hooks on tho back ot your b|ados aro tor.'
l oxam|nod my swords. 3uro onough, tho t|p ot tho b|unt
odgo ot oach b|ado curvod back |nto a hook that l |mag|nod
cou|d do an oxtromo amount ot damago |t |odgod |n sott
t|osh. l swa||owod hard, p|ctur|ng what had happonod to tho
t|rst roapor's hoart whon tho hook had grabbod |t.
°lt a roapor d|os by moans othor than ango|t|ro,' W|||
cont|nuod, °|ts body turns to stono |nstoad ot burn|ng up.
3||vor a|so burns, wh|ch |s why our b|ados aro mado ot |t, but
|t doosn't havo tho pormanont ottocts ot ango|t|ro.'
l noddod. °1hat's what happonod to tho socond roapor.
Can you mako tho ango|t|ro appoar?'
°lo. On|y you can, bocauso you aro tho lro||ator.'
l ho|d both swords up and wondorod how l'd mado thom
||ght up botoro. 1hoy had dono |t just bocauso l'd wantod
thom to. Cou|d l do |t aga|n, outs|do ot batt|o? l watchod tho
b|ados. Was |t ||ko an on-ott sw|tch? l |ot ono word cross my
m|nd and concontratod. Oo. ||amos oruptod around tho
b|ados, |oav|ng tho hand|os and my hands unscorchod. 1hoy
d|dn't too| warm and thoy d|dn't burn anyth|ng. l touchod tho
t|ory swords to my pant |ogs and to|t no hoat. l touchod tho t|at
s|do ot a b|ado to W|||'s arm. |o |ookod at mo odd|y but
othorw|so d|d not roact. Oíí. 1ho t|amos van|shod. °Coo|.'
l oxam|nod ono ot tho b|ados c|oso|y. Etchod |n tho s||vor,
just abovo tho ho|vo, was a sor|os ot strango, wh|r||ng,
boaut|tu| mark|ngs. °What doos th|s moan?'
l |ookod up at h|m, and h|s gazo mot m|no.
°lt's Enoch|an,' ho oxp|a|nod, h|s attont|on t||ckor|ng to tho
sword. °1ho |anguago ot tho d|v|no, ango||c mag|c. You onco
to|d mo that |t's a prayor ot powor, but l can't road |t myso|t.
Wo'vo tr|od ro-croat|ng tho wr|t|ngs on othor woapons |n
ordor to mako thom as powortu| as your Khoposh swords,
but so tar thoy aro tho on|y woapons ab|o to ||ght w|th
ango|t|ro.'
°1hat's protty coo|,' l sa|d. °Who ongravod tho prayor onto
my swords?'
|o sat down on tho ground noxt to mo, h|s back up
aga|nst my car. °You d|d.'
l b||nkod |n surpr|so. Vy t|ngors brushod tho strango
words, tho odgos ot tho mark|ngs scrap|ng my sk|n sott|y. l
to|t a sonso ot nosta|g|a, but |t was d|stant, ||ko tho momory ot
a wondortu| droam. 1ho moro l adm|rod thom, tho moro l
romomborod. °1ust ||ko tho tattoos on your arm. l put thom
thoro a |ong t|mo ago.'
°Yos.'
l tracod tho sp|ra||ng symbo|s ot tho tattoo w|th my t|ngor.
||s arm tonsod undor my touch and h|s broaths bocamo
s|owor and stoad|or. °lt's so strango,' l sa|d. °l can't bo||ovo
that what l'm say|ng out |oud |sn't somoth|ng l mado up. l
romombor tattoo|ng th|s |nto your arm. l moant tor |t to protoct
you.'
°lt's an Enoch|an spo||, ||ko tho ono on your swords.'
l not|cod ho was watch|ng my t|ngors on h|s sk|n, and l
pu||od back shy|y. °Wo||, you'ro st||| horo, so |t must work. Why
don't l havo ono?'
°1ho spo|| |s |nottoct|vo on human sk|n.'
|ow |nconvon|ont. °|ow d|d you t|nd mo? 0o you a|ways
know whoro l am?'
°Yos. l can sonso you abovo a|| othors. l a|ways know
whoro you aro, and l try novor to bo tar away. l tound you
aga|n a tow yoars ago, and tho roapors tound you moro
rocont|y.'
°Aro thoy hunt|ng mo now?'
°Vost don't. 1hoy'ro too atra|d. 3ut yos, somo w||| hunt
you. 3o g|ad |t's on|y a tow. Vost ot thom try to stay undor tho
radar, and tho woakost onos wou|dn't ovon know you unt||
thoy saw thoso swords ||ght up.'
°W|||, l'm so contusod,' l bogan. °|ow can l bo that o|d
whon l know oxact|y whoro and whon l born? l havo baby
p|cturos. l'm on|y sovontoon.'
°Whon you d|o, you aro ro|ncarnatod,' ho oxp|a|nod. °Your
body and sou| aro roborn ovor and ovor |n tho samo human
torm. l t|nd you aga|n, usua||y whon you'ro just a sma|| ch||d,
and guard you as you grow up. Whon you'ro sovontoon and
roady to taco your truo |dont|ty, l wako you.'
°Whon you t|nd mo as a ||tt|o g|r|, how do you know |t's
mo?'
l caught tho s||ghtost g||mmor ot a sm||o. °l'vo known you
tor a vory |ong t|mo. l can a|ways to|| whon |t's you.'
l |ot my hoad ta|| back aga|nst tho car. °1hon l'm not
|mmorta|.'
°lot |n tho way that l am.'
°0oos that moan you can't d|o?'
°l havo novor d|od, but l am not |nv|nc|b|o. l just don't ago.'
°You'ro so strong,' l notod. °You punchod that roapor so
hard and you p|ckod hor up just by hor nock. 3ho was as b|g
as my car. |ow can ooyooo bo that strong?'
W|||'s oxpross|on turnod vory sor|ous. °You'ro strongor
than l am, E|||o.'
l shook my hoad t|rod|y. °l don't undorstand how |t's
poss|b|o-how ooy ot th|s |s poss|b|o. What aro thoy? 1ho
roapors?'
°1hoy aro monstors |n th|s wor|d,' ho sa|d w|th an odgo to
h|s vo|co that torcod sh|vors through my body. °1hoy hunt
humans tor tho|r t|osh and tho|r sou|s, wh|ch thoy harvost |n
ordor to rostoro tho arm|os ot |o|| tor tho 3ocond War
botwoon luc|tor and God-tho Apoca|ypso. 1ho roapors aro
|mmorta| and como |n many torms, thoy aro most ottoct|vo
k||||ng mach|nos.'
°l don't undorstand how thoro can bo croaturos that b|g
and no ono knows about thom. |ow como l'vo novor soon
any ot thom unt|| |ast n|ght?'
°1ho roapors don't ||ko to bo soon,' W||| oxp|a|nod. °1hoy
spond most ot tho|r t|mo |n tho Gr|m, whoro thoy h|do trom
human s|ght. lowortu| psych|cs, howovor, can sonso thom
||ko tho ground rumb||ng as a tra|n passos by and can ontor
tho Gr|m at w|||. 3o|ngs w|th|n tho Gr|m can soo and ovon
|ntoract w|th objocts and poop|o |n tho morta| wor|d, but thoy
cannot bo soon or hoard through tho vo||. 1ho roapors havo
had many thousands ot yoars to portoct tho|r hunt|ng. 1hoy'vo
boon soon a tow t|mos by ord|nary humans, but thoso
s|ght|ngs aro raro and aro usua||y happon on|y bocauso tho
roapor was bo|ng caro|oss. lt's ovon raror tor roapors to
|ntont|ona||y a||ow a human to soo thom and not k||| thom, but
somo ||ko to do that tor sport. 1horo aro |ogonds about thom
|n v|rtua||y ovory ro||g|on, w|th a|| tho |ogonds |dont|ty|ng thom
as harb|ngors ot doath. 3ut |nstoad ot gu|d|ng poop|o to tho
attor||to, tho roapors oat thom, tho|r sou|s got ono-way t|ckots
to |o||.'
°3o thoro aro no stud|os ot thom, ovon though thoro havo
boon s|ght|ngs?' l askod. °lovor? loop|o bo||ovo |n 3|gtoot
and tho loch loss monstor, and l soo documontar|os about
oxpod|t|ons to t|nd thom on tho ||story Channo| a|| tho t|mo-
not that l watch that channo| much or anyth|ng. 1horo's no
proot that o|thor ot thoso ox|st. Yot tho roapors |oavo bod|os
boh|nd ||ko Vr. Voyor's and no ono ovor stops to wondor?'
°loapor attacks aro usua||y b|amod on an|ma|s or
psychot|c humans. 3|gtoot and tho loch loss Vonstor aron't
roa|.'
°1ho roapors obv|ous|y aro! Why hasn't thoro boon somo
hystor|a ovor s|ght|ngs?'
W||| took a broath and spoko s|ow|y. °1horo'vo boon many
roportod s|ght|ngs ot roapors. 1ho most tamous aro tho onos
that rosomb|o humans, honco tho |ogond ot tho Gr|m
loapor.'
Vy oyos shot w|do. °1horo aro human roapors?'
|o noddod, watch|ng tho ground. °Yos, thoro aro human-
shapod roapors, ca||od tho v|r, and thoy aro tho most
powortu|. 1hoy'ro a|so tho cock|ost and tho most ||ko|y to
show tho|r tacos to humans. 1ho othor torms, ||ko tho urs|d,
tho |up|no, tho nyctor|d, and othors, havo boon m|stakon tor
othor monstors, bocauso tho humans don't know what thoy'ro
soo|ng. l|ko your 3|gtoot, dragons, or ovon worowo|vos. 1ho
roapor you just tought was |up|no.'
l romomborod my daydroam about tho snowy torost |n
|ranco. l romomborod that l'd boon |n tho lo Govaudan
rog|on, a p|aco whoro tho v|||agors woro ravagod by a
wo|t||ko monstor. ||stor|ans b|amod tho hystor|a on mo|dy
broad, but l know bottor. l to|t ||ko l had roa||y boon thoro.
°You koop ta|k|ng about tho Gr|m,' l sa|d. °What |s |t?'
°1ho Gr|m |s a d|mons|on para||o| to tho morta| p|ano,' ho
oxp|a|nod. °3upornatura| croaturos ||vo thoro unsoon by
morta|s and aro ab|o to cross ovor |nto th|s d|mons|on. Vost
humans cannot ontor tho Gr|m, un|oss thoy aro truo psych|cs
or croaturos ||ko you and mo. last n|ght, you ontorod tho
Gr|m unw|tt|ng|y so you cou|d soo tho roapor hunt|ng you, but
you d|d that by puro |nst|nct.'
°|ow was l croatod?'
°Wo don't know what you roa||y aro. Your body and sou|
aro human, but your powor . . . |t's somoth|ng vory d|ttoront.
1horo aro a |ot ot th|ngs about you that wo st||| don't
undorstand.'
°3y wo, do you moan you and mo? 0oos anyono o|so
know about mo? ls thoro anothor lro||ator?'
°lo, you aro tho on|y ono.'
°Aro you my on|y Guard|an?'
°Yos, but botoro mo, thoro woro othors who protoctod
you.'
°Why don't l havo any othors?'
°low |t |s my duty a|ono.'
°|ow |ong havo you boon my Guard|an?'
°||vo hundrod yoars.'
l b|ushod and |ookod away trom h|m. °You'vo boon
to||ow|ng mo around tor t|vo hundrod yoars?'
°l'm your so|d|or, your protoctor. And l don't to||ow you
around a|| tho t|mo.'
°3o l'm not human, am l?'
°lot ont|ro|y.'
°Am l a psych|c, ||ko tho onos who can soo tho roapors?'
°lo.'
°1hon, how can l soo thom?'
°l don't know. You'ro tho lro||ator.'
l romomborod my torn arm. °|ow was l ab|o to hoa| so
qu|ck|y?'
°Your powor rogonoratos your body whon you'ro |njurod,'
ho oxp|a|nod.
°1hon how do l d|o, |t my body just t|xos |tso|t r|ght away?'
°3omo |njur|os aro too traumat|c tor your body to hoa|. l
am tho samo way, and so woro your prov|ous Guard|ans.'
°Aro yoo human? Or a psych|c?'
|o pausod botoro ho answorod mo. °lo.'
°1hon what aro you?'
°Your Guard|an.'
°1hat's not a stra|ght answor,' l sa|d, trown|ng. °ls W||| your
roa| namo?'
°Ot courso.'
°3o, what aro you?'
°Your Guard|an.'
l trownod. l had a m||||on moro quost|ons, and l had a
too||ng ho'd dodgo as many ot tho good onos as poss|b|o. lt
shou|d a|| como |n t|mo, r|ght? 1horo woro t|ashos ot |magos,
ot torr|b|o th|ngs, batt|os and b|ood, scattorod across my
momory |n d|stortod tragmonts. l |ookod down at tho roapor's
b|ood on my hands and l to|t vory sad. |ow cou|d l adapt to
th|s? l wasn't droam|ng anymoro. Vy sk|n to|t raw trom whon l
had h|t tho ground. Vy arm achod whoro |t was cut. 0roams
novor hurt you. 1h|s was roa|. Vy n|ghtmaros had bocomo
roa|. l was tr|ghtonod, and l d|dn't want to havo to doa| w|th
th|s. Wasn't |t onough worry|ng about gott|ng |nto co||ogo?
°Why can't l romombor?' l askod. °1h|s |sn't norma|, |s |t?'
W||| shook h|s hoad. °lo, th|s has novor happonod
botoro, but |t's boon a vory |ong t|mo s|nco you woro |ast
a||vo. Usua||y your ro|ncarnat|on |s a|most |mmod|ato and you
aro roborn somowhoro |n tho wor|d, but th|s t|mo you took
tour docados to bocomo tho lro||ator aga|n. l don't know
why.'
°Vy momory shou|d roturn |n t|mo, r|ght?'
°lt w|||.'
°Whon you touchod my taco, ovoryth|ng bocamo so c|oar.
Vy strongth, my purposo . . . |ow d|d you do that?'
W||| |oanod torward, rost|ng h|s arms on h|s knoos.
°3ocauso l'm your Guard|an, l havo tho ab|||ty to awakon your
powor. You woro a norma| g|r| unt|| tho momont you turnod
sovontoon, and |t's my duty to rostoro your powor and
momor|os and dotond you |n batt|o trom that momont on.'
l suddon|y romomborod my ||t papor and scramb|od to my
toot, |ook|ng around tor my purso. l spottod |t |y|ng bos|do my
backpack, r|ght whoro l'd droppod thom. Vy car had boon
movod two park|ng spots away trom whoro l had |ott |t. l
pausod, roa||z|ng tho |mposs|b|||ty ot what l had dono.
°l d|d that, d|dn't l?'
°You can do a |ot moro than that w|th your powor.'
°ls |t to|ok|nos|s?'
°lo, your powor can on|y push th|ngs, not pu|| thom. lt's
||ko an |mmonso|y strong gust ot w|nd mado ot puro onorgy,
ot ||to torco.'
°1hat |s |nsano,' l mumb|od, rotr|ov|ng my |ost |toms. l dug
my co|| out and chockod tho t|mo, thon shovod my phono
back |nto my bag. lt was attor ton. |antast|c. l'd novor bo ab|o
to got anyth|ng wr|tton on my papor and wako up w|th a
work|ng bra|n |n tho morn|ng. 3trango|y, my homowork
soomod qu|to |ns|gn|t|cant.
°l nood to got homo. Vy paronts aro go|ng to t||p whon
thoy soo what that th|ng d|d to my car. What do l to|| thom?' l
strokod tho doop c|aw marks |n tho Aud|'s tondor. lt wou|d
havo to bo ropa|ntod, probab|y rop|acod. |ow wou|d l oxp|a|n
|t, though?
°1o|| thom somoono h|t your car and drovo ott. Your
|nsuranco shou|d covor tho damagos.'
°1hoy'|| novor buy that.'
°You don't havo anothor opt|on.'
l mado an ug|y no|so and scow|od. Vy dad was go|ng to
s|aughtor mo no mattor what. 0|stract|ng my thoughts trom
my ||ko|y tato, l romomborod somoth|ng tho t|rst roapor had
sa|d. °0|d you hoar tho roapor say somoth|ng about an
Ensh|?'
|o starod at mo. °Ensh|? What oxact|y d|d sho say?'
°3ho sa|d, 'Wo don't nood tho Ensh|,' bocauso sho'd just
k||| mo horso|t. 0o you know what that word moans? And who
aro 'wo'?'
°lt's 3umor|an,' ho sa|d thoughttu||y. °lord ot . . .
somoth|ng. l'|| nood to chock oxact|y what -sbl moans.'
°You spoak 3umor|an? Who spoaks that? 3or|ous|y.'
°Can you moot mo at tho ||brary attor schoo|? Wo shou|d
|ook |nto |t.'
°l havo too much homowork,' l sa|d. °|ow about 3aturday
attornoon? 1hroo o'c|ock?'
°1hat w||| work. 1omorrow n|ght wo nood to tra|n. Your
sk|||s nood to como back to you tastor than thoy aro.'
°3ut |t's |r|day n|ght. 1hat's our Vov|o l|ght.'
°Othorw|so you won't |ast.'
°You moan l'|| d|o.' lt wasn't a quost|on.
°Yos.'
l shruggod. °Wo||, wo don't want that, but my tr|onds and l
a|ways go to tho mov|os |r|day n|ght, so |t'|| havo to bo |ator.'
°l can wa|t. 1ho n|ght |s |ong.'
°l'|| g|vo you a ca|| whon wo'ro dono. What's your
numbor?' l startod to got my phono back out to punch |n h|s
|ntormat|on.
°l don't havo a phono. You won't nood to ca|| mo.'
l |ookod at h|m qu|zz|ca||y. °lo ono can surv|vo w|thout a
co|| phono. Aro you go|ng to bo sta|k|ng mo at tho mov|os,
too?'
|o soomod unattoctod. °l'vo boon your compan|on tor t|vo
hundrod yoars as your Guard|an, your bodyguard. 0ur|ng tho
day, wh||o you'ro at schoo|, you'ro sato, so l'm usua||y homo
unt|| dusk. l nood to rost too. l'm not to||ow|ng you around
constant|y, but l can sonso |t you'ro d|strossod or tr|ghtonod. lt
you'ro attackod, l'|| know. lt's part ot tho bond wo sharo.'
l wondorod |t ho had sonsod my toar dur|ng my
ha||uc|nat|on |n tho bathroom oar||or at schoo|, and |t that was
why ho had como to t|nd mo. °3o wh||o l'm at schoo|, how do
you koop yourso|t busy? Got any hobb|os?'
|o sm||od. °You'ro onjoy|ng a|| thoso quost|ons, aron't
you?'
°l'm just try|ng to t|guro you out.'
||s oyos mot m|no cha||ong|ng|y, but l was too t|rod to
koop |ntorrogat|ng h|m.
l s|ghod. °l roa||y nood to got homo. l'm so oxhaustod.'
|o noddod. °l w||| soo you tomorrow attor your mov|o.'
°Yoah,' l sa|d, not part|cu|ar|y ocstat|c about |t. l
undorstood what was happon|ng to my ||to, but l wasn't
ont|ro|y suro l wantod to accopt |t. At th|s po|nt, thoro cou|d bo
no dony|ng that my ||to wou|d novor bo norma| aga|n.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
7
3C|OOl |lEW 3Y llKE A 3lEEZE. |ll0AY3 WElE otton that way.
Evoryono, |nc|ud|ng toachors and statt, just wantod to got tho
ho|| out ot thoro and onjoy tho wookond. 1ho n|ght botoro, l
had ta||on as|oop a|most upon |mpact w|th tho p|||ow, and
obv|ous|y l hadn't gotton any work dono on my papor. luck||y,
no|thor ot my paronts had |ookod c|oso|y onough at my car
that morn|ng to not|co tho g|ant c|aw marks |n tho pa|nt. l
know |t was on|y a mattor ot t|mo and bad |uck botoro thoy
d|d, howovor. Kato, on tho othor hand, had not|cod thom r|ght
away. l wont w|th W|||'s story and oxp|a|nod that somoono
had h|t my car |n a park|ng |ot, but l wasn't suro Kato was
conv|ncod. l wou|d st||| nood to t|guro out how to t|x thoso tho
choapost way poss|b|o and w|thout gott|ng caught by my
paronts. l drovo homo r|ght attor schoo| to squoozo out throo
ot tho t|vo pagos noodod tor my ||t papor.
1hat n|ght l woro tho w|ngod nock|aco W||| had g|von mo.
lt to|t r|ght woar|ng |t, ||ko roattach|ng a |ost t|tth ||mb. 1ho
too||ng was comtort|ng, and tho nock|aco was boaut|tu|. l
|ovod |t.
l mot Kato and landon at tho thoator, and wo woro soon
jo|nod by lacho| and Chr|s. As soon as l arr|vod, Kato
not|cod my nock|aco.
°Whoro d|d you got that?' sho askod, gap|ng at tho
pondant and oxam|n|ng |t c|oso|y. °lt |ooks ant|quo. 3o gor-
goous.'
°Yoah, |t's protty o|d.' l d|dn't want to to|| hor W||| had g|von
|t to mo, or that |t was m|no to bog|n w|th.
°l'm go|ng to stoa| |t,' Kato sa|d, and wa|kod away.
l sm||od and to||owod hor |ns|do. lt was ch|||y outs|do, so l
was g|ad l was woar|ng a hood|o ovor my tank top. Wo
wou|dn't havo many moro sovonty-dogroo days |n
3optombor.
1ho mov|o was a|| r|ght, w|th somo protty good spoc|a|
ottocts, but l cou|dn't tocus onough to onjoy |t as much as my
tr|onds soomod to. l had a|roady torgotton most ot tho p|ot by
tho t|mo wo a|| |ott tho thoator, w|th my tr|onds chattor|ng
about how swoot|y somo random honchman had takon a
kn|to to tho hoad and how tho horo had oscapod tho burn|ng
tra|n. 1ho boys woro protty stuck on roca|||ng how hot tho |ovo
|ntorost was. A|| l cou|d th|nk about was moot|ng W|||
attorward and about how God on|y know what othor horrors
l'd havo to w|tnoss. l tound myso|t |ook|ng |n tho darkost
p|acos around mo, toartu| ot what m|ght |oap out trom tho
shadows. l wondorod |t l wou|d pass somoono on tho
s|dowa|k who m|ght bo k|||od by a roapor that vory n|ght and
|oso h|s sou| to |o||, no mattor what k|nd ot good ||to ho had
||vod. lt l was to bo somo k|nd ot horo, how many poop|o
wou|d l bo unab|o to savo? l cou|dn't ovon oat tr|os w|thout
dr|pp|ng kotchup on myso|t. |ow cou|d l bo rospons|b|o tor
somoono o|so's ||to whon l cou|dn't ovon bo rospons|b|o tor
my own sh|rt?
°You okay, E||?' Kato askod, |owor|ng hor hoad to
wh|spor |nto my oar. °You soom so d|stant and qu|ot.'
l noddod. °Yoah, l'm t|no. l'vo just got to got go|ng.'
°|uh?' Kato askod, surpr|sod. °Aro you d|tch|ng us oar|y
aga|n?'
landon ovorhoard and joggod up bos|do mo, throw|ng an
arm ovor my shou|dor. °You'd bottor not bo th|nk|ng about
ba|||ng. lt's on|y ton and your party |s tomorrow. 1horo's got to
bo a proparty and thon an attor party. And a ooy-oítor party.
3tay out |ator. Your papor can wa|t. l havon't ovon startod
m|no.'
°lo, |t's not my papor.' l d|dn't want to ||o, but l cou|dn't
oxact|y to|| tho truth, o|thor. A part|a| truth wou|d do. °l'm
moot|ng W||| |n a ||tt|o b|t.' landon's arm bocamo st|tt around
my shou|dor.
Kato's oyos bu|god. °You moan that wo|rd guy trom Co|d
3tono? You'ro go|ng on a dato w|th h|m?'
l put my hands up dotons|vo|y, not want|ng thom to got tho
wrong |doa. °lo, no, no. lt's not a dato, wo'ro just hang|ng
out.'
°|onoy, |t's |r|day n|ght, and whon |t's just you and h|m
hang|ng out, that's a dato. |o's hot as ho||, so havo tun,
okay?' Kato w|nkod.
lacho| noddod. °Yoob, ho |s. lot mo know |t you don't
want h|m! l w||| g|ad|y tako h|m ott your hands.' 3ho |aughod
and p|aytu||y p|nchod mo |n tho s|do. l tw|stod away
uncomtortab|y.
landon's oxpross|on turnod dark and ho w|thdrow h|s
arm. °Aro you sor|ous? You'ro go|ng somowhoro w|th that
guy? You don't ovon know h|m!'
°Yoah, do you th|nk that's such a good |doa?' Chr|s
askod. °|o's got to bo, ||ko, twonty.'
°|o's just t|no,' l sa|d, scow||ng. °Yoah, ho's a ||tt|o
strango, but ho's actua||y a roa||y n|co guy. And so what |t
ho's a ||tt|o o|dor than mo?' On socond thought, no|thor ot us
was suro how o|d l actua||y was.
Kato shruggod. °Okay, wo||, |ot mo know how |t goos.'
°l can't bo|lovo th|s!' landon sa|d, tho vo|umo ot h|s vo|co
caus|ng hoads to turn and staro. |o stompod ott toward tho
park|ng |ot.
l ran a hand through my ha|r. °3or|ous|y! What |s wrong
w|th h|m?'
Kato |aughod. °E|||o, aro you roa||y that b||nd? |o ||kos
you.'
l gapod at hor. °Excuso mo?'
°Yoah,' Chr|s sa|d, tho |ook on h|s taco to|||ng mo that ho
tound th|s tar too amus|ng. °Wo thought you know.'
1ust what l noodod. l had thought h|s nowtound oxtromo
|ntorost |n my wo||-bo|ng was somoth|ng moro bon|gn-l must
havo boon m|stakon. l romomborod my b|rthday rosos and
tho k|ss on tho chook. Was l roo||y that stup|d? landon was
cuto and a n|co guy and a||, but th|s was Looooo. 1ust . . . no
way. l put a hand to my torohoad. °l havo to go. low.'
°3oo you |ator, E||,' lacho| sa|d.
°3o sato,' Kato sa|d. °1ust ca|| mo |t you want mo to ba||
you out.'
l noddod. °3oo you br|ght and oar|y? 3omorsot at o|ovon?
Vaybo |unch wh||o wo'ro thoro?'
°3ounds groat!' 3ho sm||od, and thon hor oxpross|on
w|pod c|oan.
°E|||o,' sa|d W|||'s vo|co boh|nd mo.
l turnod around and was shockod to soo h|m. °W|||! What
aro you do|ng horo?'
||s oyos t||ckorod to tho nock|aco around my nock and a
warm sm||o shapod h|s ||ps. °Wo woro go|ng to moot,
romombor?'
°l|ght,' l sa|d, g|anc|ng back at my tr|onds. l wavod good-
byo and hoadod to whoro l had parkod. °l d|dn't know you
woro go|ng to surpr|so mo r|ght outs|do tho thoator.'
°Wo||, you sa|d wo cou|d moot r|ght attor, so horo l am.'
°Whoro's your car?' l askod, as wo c||mbod |n and
buck|od up.
°l d|dn't dr|vo.'
1ax|, l guossod. °Whoro aro wo go|ng?'
°l'vo tound a good |ocat|on |n lont|ac,' ho sa|d.
°lont|ac? A|| tho way thoro? Why?' 1hat wasn't oxact|y
tho satost aroa around horo to hang out |n at n|ght. l pan|ckod
a ||tt|o |ns|do.
°Wou|d you ||ko mo to dr|vo?'
°lo, |t's my car,' l sa|d possoss|vo|y.
°1hon don't comp|a|n about whoro wo'ro go|ng.'
lt took |ongor than usua| to travo| tho th|rty-t|vo m||os to
lont|ac bocauso ot hoavy tratt|c. W||| d|dn't say much dur|ng
tho dr|vo, and tho awkward s||onco was bog|nn|ng to tako |ts
to|| on my psycho.
°3o whoro aro you ||v|ng?' l askod h|m, try|ng to mako
convorsat|on dur|ng tho back-up.
°You'ro tonso,' W||| obsorvod, star|ng out tho w|nd-sh|o|d.
°l havo a n|nja s|tt|ng shotgun. Ot courso, l'm tonso.'
1ho sma||ost sm||o |n tho cornor ot h|s mouth.
°0on't worry about |t.'
l wa|tod tor h|m to o|aborato, but ho d|dn't. °0on't you
havo an apartmont or somoth|ng? |ow do you pay tor |t? 0o
you havo a job?'
°0on't worry about |t.'
°Why a|| tho socrots?'
°You havon't askod tho r|ght quost|ons.' |o g|ancod at mo
and sm||od.
l huttod, annoyod. °You havo a p|aco to ||vo, r|ght?'
°Yos, but l'm on|y thoro tor ossont|a|s.'
°What |s that supposod to moan?'
°l nood to s|oop, showor, and oat, ot courso. l'm not a
robot.'
l sat thoro sooth|ng tor a momont. |o obv|ous|y wasn't
go|ng to g|vo mo a stra|ght answor, so l changod my
quost|on. °Why aro you my Guard|an?'
°l am vory prot|c|ont at t|ght|ng. Wo mado a good toam.'
l g|ancod at h|m. °Aro wo st|||?'
°l hopo so. You ask a |ot ot quost|ons. l am not what's
|mportant r|ght now. Wo nood to tocus on your wak|ng up and
bocom|ng strong aga|n.'
°Wo||, |t wou|d bo n|co |t l cou|d romombor |t a||, s|nco l'm
supposod to know th|s a|roady.' lt a|| soundod so covort. l
was hav|ng a d|tt|cu|t t|mo bo||ov|ng that l cou|d bo part ot
somoth|ng so much b|ggor than myso|t. l starod out tho
w|ndsh|o|d at tho cars zoom|ng by on tho oppos|to s|do ot tho
h|ghway.
°0o you m|nd?' W||| askod.
°What?' l b||nkod at h|m. |o had h|s hand on tho storoo
knob.
°lt's a b|t ot a dr|vo,' ho sa|d. °l don't ||ko s|tt|ng |n s||onco.'
°Yoah, l guoss.'
|o turnod tho rad|o on and t||ppod ovor to tho c|ass|c rock
stat|on. 3at|st|od, ho |oanod back aga|nst tho soat.
°l|nk ||oyd?' l probod, unab|o to koop tho sm||o trom
croop|ng to tho cornors ot my ||ps.
°l'vo had a |ot ot t|mo to myso|t, wa|t|ng tor your rob|rth,'
ho contossod. °You woro gono tor so |ong. l had to th|nk ot
somoth|ng to do, and l tound rock mus|c.' |o gr|nnod. °l'vo
gotton protty good at tho gu|tar. l'|| p|ay somo lo|||ng 3tonos
tabs tor you somoday, |t you'ro |ucky.'
l |aughod. °lt l'm |ucky, huh?'
||s gr|n w|donod br||||ant|y. °Oh, yoah. On|y |t you'ro |ucky.'
Whon wo t|na||y got to lont|ac, W||| gavo mo spoc|t|c
d|roct|ons and wo drovo |nto an aroa that |ookod protty rough.
Wo turnod onto a vory dark stroot w|th no stroot||ghts, and tho
on|y bu||d|ngs l cou|d soo woro a boardod-up gas stat|on and
a warohouso that |ookod as |t |t hadn't boon |n bus|noss |n
twonty yoars.
°Aro wo sor|ous|y park|ng my car out horo?' l askod
norvous|y, my oyos t||tt|ng ovorywhoro.
°lo ono's around,' ho sa|d. °lu|| up |nto tho a||oy. lt's
soc|udod. lt anyono comos by, l'|| hoar thom. lo worr|os. l
tound th|s bu||d|ng |ast wook, so |t shou|d bo a groat p|aco to
tra|n.'
°Whatovor you say, ch|ot.' l drovo |nto tho a||oy ho'd
po|ntod out, baro|y squooz|ng my chubby ||tt|o sodan through.
1ho t|ros ro||od ovor rocks, garbago, and mass|vo woods that
woro bog|nn|ng to |ook ||ko troos. l roachod tho ond and shut
ott tho ong|no. °What now?'
|o sm||od. °Wo go |ns|do.'
°l'm go|ng to got totanus |n thoro,' l grumb|od.
°0on't go ro|||ng |n p||os ot d|rt and rusty na||s and you'||
bo t|no.'
°You'ro an ass.'
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
8
Wlll 3|OWE0 VE 1O 1|E 0OOl, 3U1 l1 WA3 3OAl0E0 up. |o
p|uckod tho shoots ot p|ywood ott w|th no ottort at a|| and
tossod thom as|do. lns|do, tho warohouso was surpr|s|ng|y
c|oan. 1unk had boon movod ott to tho s|do, and thoro wasn't
any brokon g|ass |y|ng around. 1|ros woro stackod |n a
cornor by a p||o ot rust|ng hubcaps and woodon cratos.
Voon||ght stroamod |n through h|gh, most|y |ntact w|ndows.
3too| co|umns strotchod trom tho concroto t|oor to tho co|||ng.
°l'vo ovon c|oanod |t up tor you,' W||| sa|d, obv|ous|y try|ng
to suppross |aughtor. laughtor that, l was suro, was d|roctod
at mo.
l g|arod at h|m. °Why was |t boardod up |t you'vo gotton |n
a|roady? 0|d you na|| tho boards ovor tho door whon you
|ott?'
°l d|dn't como |n through tho door,' ho sa|d, and po|ntod
up.
Vy gazo ||ttod to tho w|ndows. °luh-uh.'
°Onco you t|guro out what you can roa||y do, you won't bo
surpr|sod at how l got |n. 1hat's why wo'ro horo.'
°3o you can murdor mo and stoa| Varshma||ow?' l
mumb|od absont|y as l p|ckod at tho poo||ng pa|nt on tho
door.
|o b||nkod. °3toa| what?'
°lovor m|nd.'
°You aro a vory strango g|r|,' ho sa|d, stopp|ng vory c|oso
to mo.
||s c|osonoss a|armod mo tor a momont, and thon l to|t
my unoaso mo|t away. lt was roa||y odd, my roact|on to h|s
prosonco. lorhaps |t was bocauso ho was tho on|y ono l
know |n tho wor|d who had tho powor to protoct mo. 1hat
shou|d havo mado anyono too| protty sato, r|ght? lorhaps |t
was tho °bond' ho sa|d wo sharod.
°What aro you do|ng?' l askod, my oyos w|do.
||s t|ngors tracod tho curvo ot my shou|dor sott|y, as h|s
gazo to||. l gaspod sharp|y. lt ho tr|od to k|ss mo, l'd s|ap tho
crap out ot h|m. 3ond or no bond.
|o s||ppod my purso ott my shou|dor and tossod |t. °You
won't nood th|s.' |o turnod and stoppod away.
l |ot out a |ong broath. °You'ro wo|rd, you know that? Way
wo|rdor than you th|nk l am.'
|o |aughod. °l bo||ovo you'vo to|d mo that a tow t|mos.'
°0o l nood to bo |n tho Gr|m |n ordor to t|ght or do thoso
crazy acrobat|cs?'
°lo,' ho sa|d. °1ho on|y t|mo you nood to ontor tho Gr|m |s
whon a roapor |s h|d|ng thoro. Whon thoy'ro h|d|ng, that's tho
on|y way wo can soo thom.'
°3o what can l roa||y do? lt you can jump through a two-
story w|ndow, thon what can l do?'
°You can do that too. You don't ovon nood w|ngs to do |t,
o|thor.'
l |gnorod h|s smartass romark, wh|ch mado no sonso at
a|| anyway. l unz|ppod my hood|o, shruggod |t ott, and tossod
|t ovor by my purso. Woar|ng just my tank top, l to|dod my
arms across my chost. °Yoah, r|ght. 3how mo somoth|ng,
thon.'
°You can br|ng th|s who|o bu||d|ng down.'
l huttod |n d|sbo||ot. °3how mo.'
°l'm not go|ng to dostroy tho warohouso w|th us |n |t,' ho
sa|d. °Wo'|| nood th|s p|aco tor a wh||o, so l'|| g|vo you a
tasto.'
|o stoppod tarthor away trom mo, h|s oyos |ockod on
m|no, and stood noxt to ono ot tho stoo| co|umns. |or a
momont-l had to b||nk sovora| t|mos-|t |ookod as |t tho a|r
around h|m movod, ||ko hoat wavos sway|ng just abovo tho
pavomont on a hot day, on|y thoy rad|atod ott h|s booy. ||s
groon ot h|s oyos soomod to |ntons|ty unt|| thoy a|most
g|owod, ovon though l know that wasn't poss|b|o. 1hon a b|ast
h|t mo ||ko a truck, knock|ng mo t|at on my back. l strugg|od
back to my toot, gap|ng at W||| |n awo. l cou|d soo tho onorgy
ro|||ng trom h|m. l cou|d too| |t on my sk|n and |app|ng up my
|ogs.
W|th a qu|ck sw|ng ot h|s torso, W||| smashod h|s toroarm
|nto tho co|umn, and tho stoo| gavo w|th a p|orc|ng wh|no unt||
|t bont at an ang|o, r|pp|ng a|most tu||y troo trom tho boam
h|gh abovo |t. 0ust b|astod troo and sott|od to tho t|oor.
l staggorod back, tr|pp|ng and noar|y ta|||ng. l starod at
h|m, toartu|, contusod, and comp|oto|y stunnod. °|-how?'
°l cou|d tako |t down |t l wantod to,' ho sa|d, ro|ax|ng h|s
powor, |ott|ng |t wash away ||ko tho t|do. °You'ro strongor than
mo, E|||o. l nood to provo |t to you.'
°Oh God' was a|| l cou|d say.
°You try |t,' ho sa|d. °l know you romombor how. l'vo soon
you do |t s|nco you awakonod. 3y summon|ng your powor,
you w||| havo tho strongth to k||| a roapor. 1hoy can do tho
samo th|ng, though, so you havo to bo caut|ous, and that |s
why you havo tho ango|t|ro. lt you como across a v|r, you may
not know what ho |s unt|| |t's too |ato. 1ho woakor onos soom
tho most human. 1ho powortu| onos don't bothor to h|do what
thoy aro. 1hoy don't usua||y ||ko to bo comparod to humans,
but thoy'|| shapo-sh|tt to tako tho torm ot a part|cu|ar human |n
ordor to |nt||trato.'
°0o you havo to touch my taco aga|n, to tr|ggor mo, |n
ordor to br|ng my powor out?' l askod.
°lo, l don't th|nk l'|| havo to do that aga|n.' |o ho|d out h|s
arm and conjurod h|s sword. 1ho onormous s||vor b|ado
g||ntod |nto bo|ng. °Ca|| your swords now.'
°Why?' l askod, uncorta|n ot h|s mot|vos.
°Wo'ro go|ng to br|ng out your powor so you w||| |oarn to
do |t on your own. l am your so|d|or, but l am not your crutch.'
°3ut l-'
ln a t|ash ho s||cod h|s sword at my throat, but l
|nst|nct|vo|y duckod, shockod by my own qu|cknoss. W|thout
my consc|ous|y ca|||ng thom, my swords appoarod |n my
hands. W||| sw|pod h|s b|ado down aga|n, but l swung my
swords up, catch|ng W|||'s b|ow w|th a sblog! ot mota| aga|nst
mota|. |o pushod down, hard, but l ho|d my pos|t|on, rotus|ng
to |ot h|m ovorpowor mo, and ango|t|ro |gn|tod on my b|ados.
W|||'s toot suddon|y connoctod w|th my chost and s|ammod
mo |nto ono ot tho co|umns boh|nd mo, my back crunch|ng
aga|nst tho stoo|. 1ho w|nd rushod trom my |ungs, but W|||
was com|ng at mo too tast tor mo to catch my broath. |o
sw|pod aga|n and l ro||od away. ||s b|ado c|angod ott tho
co|umn, and l |ookod back, oyos w|do.
°3top runn|ng!' W||| shoutod. °||ght mo!'
°You'ro go|ng to kl|| mo!' l shr|okod.
°On|y |t you |ot mo!' |o |oapod |nto tho a|r and camo
down at mo, h|s sword ho|d h|gh. |o s|ashod, but tho
Khoposh caught h|s b|ado and dot|octod |t away trom my
taco. l swung my othor sword and s|ashod-W||| roco||od as
tho b|ado cut noat|y down h|s chook. ||s taco snappod to tho
s|do and ho groanod |n pa|n. |o |ookod back at mo, h|s
groon oyos br|ghtor than l had ovor soon, and tho gash on h|s
chook mo|tod togothor aga|n, |oav|ng on|y a th|n ||no ot b|ood.
1ho ango|t|ro d|dn't harm h|m.
°Koop t|ght|ng and don't stop!' ho thundorod. °lt you stop,
you'ro doad!'
|o van|shod suddon|y and roappoarod boh|nd mo. l
roo|od around to taco h|m, sw|ng|ng ono sword up, and |t
co|||dod w|th h|s. l s|ashod tho othor sword at h|s bo||y, but ho
jumpod back, spun around, and k|ckod my wr|st. 1ho
Khoposh wont t|y|ng. l gapod at |t |n tr|ght, and whon l |ookod
back at W|||, ho had a|roady |oworod h|s sword and was
roach|ng tor mo. |o c|ampod h|s hand around my throat,
throw my back aga|nst a co|umn, and grabbod tho wr|st that
ho|d my roma|n|ng Khoposh. |o had mo p|nnod. l strugg|od
aga|nst h|s gr|p, but ho was just so, so strong.
°lot mo go!' Vy troo hand c|awod at h|s hand around my
nock.
°l'm not ro|oas|ng you,' ho sa|d. °You'vo |ost. You stoppod
t|ght|ng and took your oyo ott mo.'
°l|oaso, p|ooso, W|||.' l gaspod, my w|ndp|po c|os|ng.
lan|c grabbod at mo and my oyos wo||od w|th toars. °You'ro
go|ng to k||| mo.'
°1hon do somoth|ng about |t!' ho roarod |nto my taco.
°You havo that strongth! lt you want mo to |ot you go, thon
íorco mo to!'
l scroamod, t|||od ha|t w|th toar and ha|t w|th tury, and my
powor oxp|odod, my ha|r wh|pp|ng around my taco so w||d|y l
cou|dn't soo. 1ho co|umn boh|nd mo crunchod, and tho t|oor
ro||od and sank bonoath my strongth. W||| was b|own away
trom mo and |andod s||d|ng across tho concroto t|oor. l bo|tod
torward and my sword burst |nto t|amos as l swung |t at W|||'s
throat whoro ho |ay. l po|sod tho t|p at h|s jugu|ar, my |ungs
hoav|ng, my hoart pound|ng, and my powor sw|r||ng ||ko a
hurr|cano a|| around mo, swa||ow|ng mo |n d|amond ||ght.
Vy oyos darkonod as l starod W||| down. |o put h|s hands
up s|ow|y.
°You |oso,' l sa|d cruo||y. Vy powor rocodod and my body
ro|axod. l co||octod my ta||on sword and w|||od thom both
away.
W||| sm||od and roso to h|s toot.
l prompt|y punchod h|m |n tho taco hard onough to mako
h|m drop back to h|s knoos. °You'ro a bastard!' l shr|okod
down at h|m, my vo|co crack|ng.
|o |aughod and rubbod h|s jaw t|rm|y. °And you'ro
tr|ghton|ng.' |o stood back up.
l h|t h|m aga|n, mak|ng h|s hoad snap around. °Why'd you
scaro mo ||ko that?'
As l swung a th|rd t|mo, ho grabbod my wr|st. °1hat's
onough h|tt|ng,' ho grow|od. °You don't oxact|y h|t ||ko a g|r|,
you know.'
l wronchod troo and wa|kod away trom h|m, broath|ng
hoav||y. °Good God, that to|t amaz|ng.'
°||tt|ng mo?'
°Yos,' l sa|d, g|ar|ng back at h|m br|ot|y. °And tho powor. l
to|t ||ko l cou|d punch through wa||s.' Vy gazo tound tho crator
l had mado |n tho concroto t|oor. 1ho co|umn was tw|stod and
mang|od, baro|y connoct|ng to tho co|||ng any |ongor. lt
groanod, as |t just a gont|o nudgo wou|d sond |t crash|ng to
tho ground.
°You can,' ho sa|d.
°l'm atra|d, W|||,' l contossod. °l scaro myso|t. lt l'm
capab|o ot do|ng that, what's provont|ng mo trom do|ng |t to
somoono who doosn't dosorvo |t? What |t l hurt somoono?'
°l'|| ho|p you avo|d that,' ho assurod mo. °Whon you'ro
tacod w|th a roapor, you can't worry about anyth|ng o|so.
1hat's my job. You'vo got to uso ovoryth|ng you'vo got to
dotoat |t. lt you hos|tato, you w||| d|o. You hos|tatod just a
momont ago, and that's how l was ab|o to ovorpowor you.
You can't stop tor any roason. 1rust mo a|ways to guard your
back |n batt|o. l w||| protoct you.'
|o wa|kod past mo, but l grabbod h|s shou|dor. °Wa|t.' l
gu|dod h|m around to taco mo, my hand s||d|ng to h|s co||ar. l
was p|ctur|ng that sh|ny p|us s|gn l thought l'd soon botoro,
and l s||ppod tho cha|n out trom bonoath h|s sh|rt. 0ang||ng
trom tho ond ot tho cha|n was a s||vor cruc|t|x, not a p|us s|gn.
As soon as l saw |t, l romomborod what |t was and my hoart
warmod. lt to|t good to soo |t aga|n.
l |ookod up and saw that h|s gazo was g|uod to m|no. °l
romombor |t.'
||s body was st|tt and h|s jaw t|ghtonod. 3uddon|y h|s
roact|on was as tasc|nat|ng as my romombor|ng tho cruc|t|x
around h|s nock. °lt was a g|tt,' ho sa|d. °|rom my mothor.'
°0oos |t protoct aga|nst tho roapors?'
°lo.'
°1hon why do you woar |t?'
°Vy mothor gavo |t to mo.'
l noddod, angry at myso|t tor ask|ng such a stup|d
quost|on. 0osp|to h|s stono-hard oxpross|on, l cou|d sonso
that l'd hurt h|m. 1ho cruc|t|x had sont|monta| va|uo to h|m.
Vaybo |t moant as much to h|m as my w|ngod nock|aco d|d
to mo-|t on|y l cou|d romombor whoro my own pondant had
como trom. ||s cruc|t|x must havo boon contur|os o|d. lt ho'd
ho|d on to |t tor so |ong, |t must moan a groat doa| to h|m, and
so must h|s mothor. °l'm sorry.'
°0on't worry about |t.' |o tuckod tho cruc|t|x back |nto h|s
sh|rt. °lt's noth|ng, roa||y. lt's stup|d.'
l starod at h|m tor a tow momonts. lt d|dn't soom r|ght to
mo that ho was so ovas|vo. 1ho objoct obv|ous|y wasn't
ootblog to h|m, but l d|dn't too| |t was my p|aco to probo h|m
about |t.
°1ra|n|ng tomorrow ovon|ng?' ho askod, |ntorrupt|ng my
thoughts.
l trownod. °lo,' l sa|d. °lt's my b|rthday party.'
°Oh, yos. l torgot.' |o soundod not d|sappo|ntod but
noutra|, as |t s|mp|y obsorv|ng a tact. °Aro wo st||| on tor tho
||brary at throo thon?'
°3uro, but thoro's no way l'm m|ss|ng my own b|rthday
party.'
°l'|| st|ck around c|oso by tor that.'
°l'd ||ko |t |t you woro thoro,' l sa|d. °As a guost.'
°lonsonso. l'|| guard on tho root.'
°You don't havo to bo a croopor o|| tho t|mo, you know.
Como to my party and havo a ||tt|o tun tor onco |n your ||to.'
°l havo tun.'
l scottod. °l'm protty suro our |doas ot tun vary drast|ca||y.'
|o t|ashod mo a gr|n. °l'|| show you somoday.'
l sm||od back. °low you'vo got mo a|| |ntr|guod.'
°And you'|| havo to stay that way unt|| tho day l doc|do to
d|vu|go my socrots to you.'
l |aughod. °3o w||| you como? lndoors, too, and onjoy tho
party?'
||s sm||o was s|y. °0on't you th|nk landon w||| havo a
prob|om w|th that?'
°|ow d|d you-? Oh, r|ght.'
°l'vo soon tho way ho |ooks at you,' ho sa|d. °What shocks
mo |s that you ooo`t.'
°Wo||, now that |t's boon po|ntod out to mo, l just may.'
|o drow h|s taco c|oso to m|no. °You don't road poop|o
vory wo||, do you?'
l p|aytu||y shovod h|s shou|dor away. °l road poop|o just
t|no. l just don't havo a thousand yoars ot pract|co ||ko you.'
|o stoppod back and |aughod. °A|| r|ght, l'|| como by, as a
guost. l'|| a||ow you to soo mo thoro.'
l b||nkod. °Oh, you o||ow mo to soo you, |s that |t?'
|o noddod, ta|||ng to stop a sm|rk trom torm|ng. °Oh yos.
You havo on|y ovor soon mo whon l w||| |t. l'm spoctacu|ar at
h|d|ng.'
°You'ro suro ot yourso|t, aron't you?'
°You havo no |doa.'
l narrowod my oyos. °Wo'|| soo about that.' l turnod away
trom h|m and |ott tho warohouso. l c||mbod |nto my car, but
whon l |ookod tor W|||, ho was stand|ng at my w|ndow |nstoad
ot gott|ng |n tho passongor soat. °Aron't you gott|ng |n?'
|o bont ovor to |ook at mo through tho w|ndow. °lo.'
°You'ro go|ng to wa|k a|| tho way back homo to 3|oomt|o|d
||||s?'
|o noddod. °l can travo| oas||y.'
°1hat's a |oad ot bu||. Got |n.'
°1ust go,' ho sa|d. °0on't worry about mo.'
°l'm not strand|ng you out |n tho m|dd|o ot lont|ac. Got |n.'
°l can obv|ous|y tako caro ot myso|t. l'm not dr|v|ng w|th
you.'
°Yoah, you aro. 0on't ||o to mo and say you'ro go|ng to
wa|k.'
°Good-byo, E|||o,' ho sa|d, wa|k|ng away trom tho w|ndow.
°W|||!' l cr|od out, opon|ng my door and jump|ng out.
|o was gono.
l spun around, |ook|ng tor h|m, but ho was nowhoro to bo
soon.
°W|||?'
1ho stroot was dark, and tho w|nd b|ow |oavos and o|d
papors down tho s|dowa|k-tho on|y movomont l cou|d soo. °l
am so s|ck ot you pu|||ng th|s 3atman sh|t on mo!' Exhaustod
and angry, l got back |n my car and drovo homo.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
0
l WOKE A1 lllE, Al0 A3 3OOl A3 l CllV3E0 OU1 ot bod, l to|t tho
ottocts ot my tra|n|ng w|th W||| tho n|ght botoro. Vy back and
shou|dors achod, and tho ant|-|nt|ammatory p|||s l had takon
d|d protty much noth|ng to oaso thom. Attor a showor l mado
myso|t somo cottoo to try to wako up. Kato ca||od at ton,
cont|rm|ng sho'd bo thoro at o|ovon to p|ck mo up, but l to|d
hor wo had to bo dono by two so l wou|d havo t|mo to got to
tho ||brary. lt was a|roady warm onough outs|do tor mo to too|
comtortab|o woar|ng a don|m sk|rt and t||p-t|ops. 0osp|to
bo|ng s|oopy, l to|t good. l to|t d|ttoront and l ||kod |t. 1am|ng
my wavy ha|r, l pu||od ha|t ot |t up and p|nnod |t boh|nd my
hoad. 3tra|ghton|ng soundod ||ko too much work today. 3ack
|n my room, l pu||od on a tavor|to kn|t top and was roady to
go.
1horo was a knock on my door. °Yop?' l ca||od.
1ho door oponod and my mom camo through. l d|dn't ||ko
tho |ook on hor taco. °E|||o, |s thoro somoth|ng you want to to||
mo about?'
lan|ckod ||sts stroakod through my hoad. What had l
dono? 0|d l got back too |ato? °Uh, don't th|nk so,' l notod,
try|ng to sound ca|m as my hoart p|ckod up paco.
°About your car, maybo?'
l|ght bu|b. °Oh yoah,' l groanod. °3omobody must havo
h|t my car at schoo| and dr|von ott. l cou|dn't bo||ovo |t.'
3ho watchod mo d|sapprov|ng|y. °l'm surpr|sod you torgot
to mont|on |t. You d|dn't h|t a s|gn or somoth|ng, d|d you? 3o
honost, E|||o.'
l wou|d havo much protorrod to havo just h|t a s|gn |nstoad
ot what had actua||y happonod. °l tound my car ||ko that
yostorday,' l oxp|a|nod. °l swoar l d|dn't h|t anyth|ng, Vom. lt
mado mo so angry and l d|dn't want |t to ru|n my day, so l
tr|od not to th|nk about |t. l was so busy w|th homowork and
thon go|ng out tor Vov|o l|ght, l tota||y torgot. l'm sorry.'
3ho trownod. °l guoss wo'|| havo to tako caro ot that. l
hopo tho doa|orsh|p's ropa|r shop w||| t|x |t up s|nco you'vo
on|y had tho th|ng tor two ooys.' 3ho strossod thoso |ast two
words uncomtortab|y. °Whoovor you'vo p|ssod ott at
schoo| . . . You shou|d try to mako n|co botoro that somoono
s|ashos your t|ros and broaks your w|ndows.'
°Yoah, tor suro,' l addod. lt sho ondod up hav|ng to pay tor
|t, l'd too| roa||y crappy.
°l'|| g|vo thom a ca||,' sho s|ghod. °1ry park|ng |n tho back
ot tho |ot, E|||o.'
°Vom, |t's a|most w|ntor,' l protostod. °l don't want to park
out |n tho m|dd|o ot nowhoro and troozo to doath wa|k|ng
|ns|do. lot to mont|on, my car |s wh|to. |o'|| camout|ago |n
tho snow and l'|| novor t|nd h|m.'
°You'ro woar|ng a sk|rt,' sho obsorvod. °lt's portoct|y
warm outs|do.'
l huttod. °lot tor |ong.'
3ho trownod aga|n. °Wo||, l don't know what to to|| you.
|avo tun w|th Kato today.' 3ho handod mo a crod|t card. °3o
roasonab|o. Ooo dross. And got yourso|t |unch wh||o you'ro
out. You |ook t|rod, and l don't want your b|ood sugar to got
too |ow. You know what a grouch you bocomo whon you don't
oat.'
l sm||od. °1hanks, Vom.'
3ho turnod but d|d a doub|o tako. °Whoro d|d that
nock|aco como trom?'
l touchod tho pondant. °A tr|ond.'
°A boy?'
Y|kos. °|o's a tr|ond who's a boy.'
|or mouth tw|tchod |n amusomont and hor gazo |ott tho
nock|aco. °||rst rosos, and now a nock|aco? Aro you suro
landon |sn't your boytr|ond?'
°1h|s wasn't trom h|m, Vom.'
°3o you havo two boytr|onds?'
°lo, Vom!' l a|most shoutod. °lo|thor ot thom |s my
boytr|ond. 1rust mo. 1hoy'ro just boys who aro tr|onds. lo
connoct|ng ot words go|ng on . . . or connoct|ng ot anyth|ng
o|so, tor that mattor.'
3ho starod at mo. °|mm.' 1hon sho |ott my room. 3ho
was so wo|rd somot|mos.
A tow m|nutos |ator Kato was a|most obnox|ous|y choortu|
as sho burst |nto my bodroom.
°3o!' sho ch|rpod, t|opp|ng onto my bod, b|ond ha|r t|y|ng.
°|ow d|d |t go?'
°|ow d|d what go?' l askod, pu|||ng a b|t ot tho tront ot my
ha|r out ot my oyos and p|nn|ng |t down w|th a bobby p|n as l
starod |nto tho m|rror ovor my drossor.
Kato chuckod a p|||ow at my butt, knock|ng mo |nto my
drossor and mak|ng mo ratt|o a coup|o ot portumo bott|os.
°You know what l moan! |ow was your dato w|th W|||?'
°lt woso`t a dato,' l sa|d, scow||ng at hor through tho m|rror,
stoady|ng tho vaso ot landon's rosos. °l prom|so you.'
°1hon on||ghton mo. What oxact|y was |t?'
°|o's boon ho|p|ng mo w|th . . . homowork. Econ has
boon k|ck|ng my ass.' And so had ¼l||, l thought.
Kato |aughod a|oud. °|o's your tutor? Oh, E|||o, that |s tho
b|ggost |oad ot crap l havo ovor hoard.'
°Wo||, |t's tho truth,' l ||od. l hatod |y|ng to my bost tr|ond,
but |t wasn't ||ko l cou|d to|| hor what was roa||y go|ng on. °l
don' t |lko h|m or anyth|ng, trust mo. |o's k|nd ot a jork,
actua||y. |o's not as n|co as l thought.'
°l w|sh l had a hot tutor.'
°0on't bo so smart thon.'
°Whatovor,' Kato sa|d, s|tt|ng up. °You'ro a b|g, tat ||ar.
lot's go shopp|ng.'
Wo drovo |n Kato's 3VW to tho ma|| and pu||od up to tho
3aks ||tth Avonuo ontranco. Kato gavo hor koys to a roa||y
cuto va|ot guy and tuckod hor t|ckot |nto hor purso botoro wo
wont |ns|do. G|amorous countors g|oam|ng go|d and |vory
||nod tho ma|n t|oor w|th just h|nts ot trosty huos announc|ng
tho ta|| and w|ntor arr|va|s. Kato stoppod to og|o a tab|o
toppod w|th shoos by Chano| and s|owod us down aga|n to
tond|o a part|cu|ar bag |n tho va|ont|no co||oct|on as l
draggod hor up tho osca|ator to tho dross bout|quo.
l doc|dod on a cuto, strap|oss, croam 3adg|oy V|schka
cockta|| dross. 1ho bod|co t|t comtortab|y and tho pouty
ch|tton |ayors ot tho sk|rt to|| to just abovo my knoos. l know l
had tho portoct match|ng b|ack Varc 1acobs sat|n shoos to
comp|omont |t. l wasn't surpr|sod whon Kato choso a rathor
advonturous b|ack mosh-tront 0o|co8Gabbana bust|or
shoath dross. lt anyono cou|d pu|| |t ott, Kato cou|d. 3ho had
|ogs that wont on tor m||os, and |t a|| sho woro was a handtu|
ot raggody o|d washc|oths p|ocod togothor w|th duct tapo,
sho'd st||| |ook roady tor tho rod carpot.
l pa|d w|th tho card my mom gavo mo and thon wo wa|kod
around tor anothor hour botoro wo wont to oat |unch at l. |.
Chang's. Kato know a managor thoro who ho|pod us sk|p tho
two-hour wa|t and soatod us |mmod|ato|y.
As l ato my 3zochuan ch|ckon and ||stonod to Kato run
hor mouth about spott|ng 1os|o lowport |oav|ng tho lou|s
vu|tton bout|quo w|th a now bag, l tound myso|t th|nk|ng about
W|||. l wondorod |t ho was |n tho Gr|m at that momont. l to|t
comtortod, sato, know|ng that |t somoth|ng doc|dod to attack,
ho'd bo thoro |n an |nstant. Evon though l'd r|ghttu||y k|ckod
h|s ass tho n|ght botoro, l st||| d|dn't want to t|ght on my own.
1o bo honost, |t probab|y wou|d havo to|t vory wo|rd |t ho had
doc|dod to accompany us whoro wo cou|d soo h|m. l
|mag|nod h|m wandor|ng around tho ma||, to||ow|ng us on our
shopp|ng tr|p w|th our bags |n h|s hands, ho|p|ng us chooso
drossos, and l cou|dn't ho|p |ott|ng out a ||tt|o |augh.
°l know, r|ght?' Kato askod w|th a nod, m|stak|ng my
|augh as a roact|on to somoth|ng sho'd sa|d about 1os|o.
l |ookod around mo, hop|ng to maybo spot h|m and
d|sprovo h|s c|a|m that l cou|d novor soo h|m un|oss ho |ot
mo, but l ta||od. 1ho rostaurant was too crowdod, too no|sy,
and too dark. 0|sappo|ntod, l turnod my attont|on back to my
moa| and Kato's co|ortu| convorsat|on.
°3o whon aro you soo|ng W||| aga|n?' Kato askod, as |t
road|ng my m|nd.
°|o's com|ng to my party ton|ght,' l sa|d.
|or taco ||t up. °|o |s? ls ho br|ng|ng any ot h|s tr|onds?
|o's got to bo |n co||ogo. Whoro doos ho go? Un|vors|ty ot
V|ch|gan? Oak|and Un|vors|ty?'
l noddod. °Uh, yoah. U ot V. l don't th|nk ho'|| br|ng any ot
h|s tr|onds, though.'
°Oh, como on! lo hot co||ogo boys com|ng? Why do you
got to hog tho on|y ono?'
l proddod my r|co. °Guoss l'm just |ucky.' |or a br|ot
momont l |mag|nod myso|t danc|ng w|th W|||, and tho noxt
momont l to|t ||ko sp|tt|ng up my ch|ckon.
On our way out ot tho ma||, Kato stoppod by va|ont|no
and bought tho bag sho had had hor oyo on oar||or. 3urpr|so,
surpr|so.
Whon wo got homo trom shopp|ng, l to|d my paronts that l
wou|d bo at tho ||brary tor a tow hours. 1hat wasn't a ||o, but l
wou|dn't bo thoro to study tor Vonday's math tost,as thoy'd
assumo. l'd bo road|ng up on somoth|ng o|so. l d|dn't know
why thoro wou|d bo books that had anyth|ng on roapors or
whatovor tho Ensh| |s at an ord|nary ||brary, but l suspoctod
W||| wou|d know bottor than mo.
Whon l arr|vod at tho ||brary, l parkod, and |mmod|ato|y l
saw W||| s|tt|ng on tho tront stops. |o woro h|s usua| sor|ous
oxpross|on.
°l can't bo||ovo you'ro mak|ng mo study on my b|rthday,' l
grumb|od. °You aron't my roa| tutor, you know.'
°1oday |sn't your b|rthday.'
°Vy b|rthday porty |s today and that's as good as actua||y
bo|ng my b|rthday.'
|o stood. °lot's go |ns|do. l want you to moot somoono.
|o's boon a tr|ond ot m|no-ot both ot ours-tor a vory |ong
t|mo.'
1hat got my |ntorost. °Who |s th|s guy?'
°You'|| soo,' W||| sa|d. °l th|nk ho m|ght havo an |doa ot
whoro wo shou|d start on t|gur|ng out what th|s Ensh| |s.'
l to||owod h|m |ns|do and spoko qu|ot|y. °Why do you th|nk
that? What |ntormat|on about roapors cou|d wo poss|b|y t|nd
at a ||brary? lt doosn't soom a ||ko|y p|aco.'
°You nood to trust mo moro.'
|o |od mo past tho tront dosk and wavod at a p|ump
woman |n g|assos who sat thoro shutt||ng through a stack ot
papors. °|oy, lou|so.'
1ho woman noddod and sm||od to us as l to||owod W|||
through a sot ot doors on hor r|ght and down a t||ght ot sta|rs
to anothor sot ot doors. Wo ontorod a |ong ha||way whoso
scuttod wh|to wa||s woro ||nod w|th woodon doors. l hoard
noth|ng oxcopt tor tho hum ot tho a|r cond|t|on|ng systom and
our tootstops ocho|ng ott tho ||no|oum t|oor.
W||| t|na||y stoppod at a door |nd|st|ngu|shab|o trom tho
othors, oponod |t, and stoppod as|do so that l cou|d wa|k
through. 1ho room w|th|n was du|| and smo||od th|ck|y ot
musty, o|d books. A|| tour wa||s woro ||nod w|th |argo, |oathor-
bound vo|umos, and doub|o-s|dod bookcasos stood ta|| on
o|thor s|do ot an a|s|o that |od to tho back ot tho room. A
dosk was p|acod up aga|nst tho wa|| w|th a young man s|tt|ng
at |t, road|ng a book that l was suro was th|ckor than my
uppor body. A g|r| who |ookod about W|||'s ago sat |n a cha|r
across trom h|m. 3ho turnod hor hoad to |ook at us, hor |ong,
b|ack-brown ha|r sw|ng|ng. 3ho was a boaut|tu| As|an g|r|,
and sho sm||od swoot|y as wo approachod.
1ho young man-maybo tho samo ago as W|||-was
unnatura||y pa|o, as |t ho d|dn't got out much, and ho |ookod
up at us as wo approachod h|s dosk. |o |ookod k|nd ot
nordy, but tho adorab|o k|nd, w|th a s|||y, |ops|dod gr|n. ||s
map|o brown ha|r was unt|dy, but l got tho |mpross|on that ho
was ono ot thoso guys who d|dn't roa||y caro how prosontab|o
ho appoarod.
°|oy, lathan|o|,' W||| sa|d. |o noddod to tho g|r|.
°lauron.'
lathan|o| |ookod on|y at mo, sm|||ng tho typo ot sm||o that
rom|ndod mo ot Vr. Voyor, ovon though ho |ookod baro|y any
o|dor than W|||. l sm||od back, |nstant|y ||k|ng h|m. ||s oyos
woro v|v|d and coppory, ||ko |r|doscont ponn|os. W|th ovory
movomont ot h|s gazo, thoy g||ntod.
°|o||o aga|n.' lathan|o| boamod br|ght|y. °lt's boon a
wh||o.'
°l'm sorry, but havo wo mot?' l askod, unab|o to roca|| h|s
taco.
°Oh, yos,' ho sa|d. °Wo'vo known oach othor tor many
agos. W||| to|d mo that your momory |s hav|ng a ||tt|o troub|o
com|ng back to you, but that's a|| r|ght. You w||| romombor |n
t|mo.'
°l hopo so,' l sa|d honost|y.
°You'ro as |ovo|y as ovor,' ho ottorod.
°1hank you,' l sa|d.
1ho As|an g|r| stood and ho|d a hand out tor mo to shako
|t. °You must bo E|||o.'
l sm||od. °1hat's mo.'
°lauron 1suk|no,' sho sa|d. °l|co to moot you. l'|| got out
ot your ha|r now. lathan|o|, you'|| |ook |nto that tor mo, won't
you?'
|o noddod. °Ot courso, my doar. You'|| bo hoar|ng trom
mo short|y.'
lauron squoozod by us and d|sappoarod out tho door.
lathan|o| turnod back to mo. °lauron |s a vory powortu|
psych|c,' ho oxp|a|nod. °3ho sonsod somoth|ng arr|v|ng |n
tho aroa rocont|y that gavo hor qu|to a shock. lt wou|d bo n|co
|t sho cou|d soo tho tuturo-thon wo'd havo th|s ono |n tho
bag. A|as, sho |s on|y c|a|rvoyant, but sho knows a nasty
roapor whon sho too|s |t!' |o boamod as |t ho had just to|d
an |ncrod|b|o joko, but l ta||od to t|nd |t amus|ng. l cou|d soo
tho punch ||no-l wasn't stup|d-but |t just wasn't íoooy.
°l d|dn't know psych|cs woro roa| unt|| W||| to|d mo about
thom,' l notod, |ook|ng around at lathan|o|'s co||oct|on ot
books.
°Oh, yos,' ho sa|d. °lt thoy don't go bad, thoy aro
|nva|uab|o a|||os to us. lauron's boon most ho|ptu| s|nco l mot
hor. Your toachor, too. |rank Voyor.'
Vy jaw droppod. °Vr. Voyorº You'ro jok|ng.'
°|o was rocont|y k|||od on a hunt,' lathan|o| oxp|a|nod,
°as you know, ot courso. |o was good tor a human, but h|s
ago s|owod h|m down. 1ho roapor got tho bottor ot h|m.'
°You'ro to|||ng mo that my oconom|cs toachor was a
roapor-hunt|ng psych|c? 1hat's k|nd ot too badass tor a h|gh
schoo| toachor.'
°|rank was ono ot tho bost,' W||| sa|d.
°luh-uh.' Vy hoad spun. °l had no |doa ho was that coo|.'
W||| gavo a sma|| |augh. °|o was w||d |n h|s toons. Worso
|n h|s twont|os.'
°You know h|m thon?'
||s |aughtor d|od. °3o d|d you.'
l starod at h|m. °l know h|m |n a past ||to?'
|o shot lathan|o| a qu|ck g|anco. °Yos, |n Ch|cago.
Around torty-t|vo yoars ago. |o was a good tr|ond to us. l
spoko to h|m rocont|y, and ho to|d mo ho rocogn|zod you on
your t|rst day ot h|gh schoo| as a troshman. |o novor torgot
you. |o to|d mo |t was qu|to an oxpor|onco soo|ng you
aga|n.'
°l know h|m?' l ropoatod, my m|nd jugg||ng a thousand
quost|ons and thoughts. °|o must havo boon about twonty,
r|ght? Why d|dn't ho ovor say anyth|ng to mo? |o wont on
protond|ng ||ko l was just anothor studont. |o tought w|th us
onco? Ot a|| tho poop|o |n tho wor|d to run |nto |n anothor ||to
-Vr. Voyor?' l w|shod l cou|d romombor h|s youngor so|t,
but l cou|dn't, and |t broko my hoart a ||tt|o.
°1ruo psych|cs aro raro,' lathan|o| oxp|a|nod. °Espoc|a||y
onos who woot to t|nd roapors. And k||| thom. 3ut thoso
morta|s who hunt roapors want to stop th|s as much as wo
do. lt's an amaz|ng |oss wo'vo suttorod, |os|ng |rank.'
|o and W||| woro qu|ot tor a momont. lathan|o| soomod
consumod w|th thought. l wondorod what Kato wou|d th|nk ot
Vr. Voyor's bo|ng so coo|, but l cou|d novor to|| hor anyth|ng
about my now ||to. 3ho cou|d novor know. 0ragg|ng hor or
any ot my tr|onds and tam||y |nto th|s wou|d got thom k|||od.
1ust ||ko Vr. Voyor.
°l had no |doa,' l sa|d. 1h|ngs that l shou|d havo sa|d and
dono hauntod mo.
W|||'s hand covorod m|no. °lt's a|| r|ght. |o a|ways sa|d tho
on|y th|ng that wou|d ovor tako h|m out |n tho ond was a
roapor. |o novor rogrottod any ot |t.'
1ho warmth ot h|s hand on m|no mado mo jarr|ng|y awaro
ot how co|d l'd bocomo s|nco |oarn|ng ot Vr. Voyor's truo
|dont|ty. l thought back to tho nows roportor's doscr|pt|on ot
h|s murdor, and |t mado mo s|ck to my stomach. l'd d|od that
way count|oss t|mos, but Vr. Voyor wou|d novor como back
tho way l d|d.
0osporato to ta|k about somoth|ng o|so, l |ookod down at
tho book lathan|o| had out on tho dosk. °What |s th|s p|aco?
1hoso books |ook anc|ont.'
°1hoy aro,' ho sa|d.
°lathan|o| |s |n chargo ot tho raro books horo,' W|||
oxp|a|nod.
°Corroct,' lathan|o| addod. °l can bas|ca||y br|ng |n any
books l want and koop thom horo. l havo a tow vo|umos
documont|ng roapors throughout h|story. l'm a|so a co||octor
ot ant|qu|t|os, and that's how l mako my monoy s|nco l on|y
vo|untoor horo. l ||ko o|d th|ngs, probab|y bocauso l am vory
o|d myso|t. You'd bo surpr|sod how |ucrat|vo |t |s to buy a tow
ug|y pa|nt|ngs and so|| thom to b||||ona|ros a hundrod yoars
|ator. 1ons ot m||||ons ot do||ars tor an or|g|na| l|casso aro
noth|ng to snoozo at.'
l noddod, |mag|n|ng what l'd do w|th tons ot m||||ons ot
do||ars. Oh God-tho sboos l cou|d got w|th that. °3o you'vo
known us tor a |ong t|mo? 1hon, you'ro |mmorta| ||ko W|||? |o
to|d mo thoro woro no othor Guard|ans. lot now, at |oast.
0|dn't l havo othor Guard|ans botoro h|m?'
lathan|o| gavo W||| an odd |ook. W||| on|y starod |ntont|y
back and sa|d noth|ng. °Yos . . . l am an |mmorta|, and you
havo had othor Guard|ans botoro. 1hoy havo protoctod you
unt|| tho|r doaths. 1ho duty |s tor ||to.'
|o |ott mo spooch|oss. l starod at W|||, who avo|dod my
gazo, and had to torco myso|t to |ook away trom h|m. 1hoso
poop|o had d|od tor mo? |ow many?
W||| spoko suddon|y, but l d|dn't hato h|m tor chang|ng tho
subjoct. °Wo tought a roapor who mont|onod somoth|ng
about tho Ensh|. 0oos that r|ng a bo||?'
lathan|o| pursod h|s ||ps t|ght. °An Ensh|? lord ot ||to-ot
what mokos ||to, to bo moro corroct, ot sou|s.'
°7bo Ensh|,' l corroctod. °1ho roapor mado |t sound ||ko
thoro was on|y ono.'
°On|y ono, you say? lorhaps that's what lauron sonsod.'
°3ounds ||ko|y,' W||| sa|d. °1h|s m|ght bo b|g, lathan|o|.
0o you th|nk 3ast|an m|ght havo somoth|ng to do w|th th|s?'
°Who |s 3ast|an?' l askod.
Whon W||| d|dn't answor, lathan|o| spoko, t|ash|ng h|m
anothor strango |ook. °3ast|an |s a vory, vory powortu| v|r, a
human||ko roapor. A v|r may appoar as an ord|nary man or
woman, but thoy possoss tho shapo-sh|tt|ng powor ot
roapors and otton havo strango oyos, c|aws, sca|os, ta||s,
horns, w|ngs . . . you namo |t. 1hoy can chooso to h|do thoso
aspocts or to rovoa| thom at any momont. 3omo ot thom can
shapo-sh|tt tho|r ont|ro bod|os to |ook ||ko somoono
comp|oto|y d|ttoront. 1ho v|r aro a|so moro powortu| than any
othor roapors, and thoy w||| otton chooso to contro| roapors
||ko tho ono you k|||od at tho schoo|, as 3ast|an doos. |o |s
cruo| and cunn|ng and has boon try|ng to t|guro out a way to
dostroy you tor tho bottor part ot a m|||onn|um, E|||o. |o and
h|s roapors havo k|||od and takon tho sou|s ot moro humans
than can bo countod.'
lathan|o|'s oxpross|on |ot mo know ho was sor|ous.
°1hat's why |t's our job to ho|p you protoct human sou|s trom
thom. 3ast|an and h|s to||owors may vory wo|| bo on tho hunt
tor th|s Ensh|.'
°Wo nood to borrow a tow books and soo |t wo can t|nd
anyth|ng out about |t,' W||| sa|d.
°Go ahoad,' lathan|o| sa|d, stand|ng. °1ho good stutt |s
boh|nd my dosk.'
W||| oxam|nod oach book on tho sho|t lathan|o| had
po|ntod to, runn|ng h|s t|ngors down oach sp|no, road|ng tho
|nscr|pt|ons, and t|na||y choos|ng throo books. |o |a|d thom
across tho dosk, and l road tho t|t|os. lathan|o| choso a
c|oan but o|d |oathor-bound vo|umo and bogan thumb|ng
through |t.
°1h|s |s |n lat|n,' l sa|d, tak|ng a soat noxt to h|m. °l can't
road lat|n.'
W||| sat and t||ppod tho pagos to sk|m ovor somoth|ng l
cou|d on|y guoss was an |ndox ot sorts.
°Can yoo?' l askod whon ho d|dn't rospond.
°Ot courso.'
l |ookod at tho two othors books. Ono was a|so |n lat|n
and tho othor was |n a |anguago l d|dn't |mmod|ato|y
rocogn|zo. °What |s th|s |anguago?'
°|obrow,' ho answorod w|thout |ook|ng at mo.
°You can road lat|n ooo |obrow?'
°As can you.'
°Ah,' l sa|d. °Anothor ono ot my mystory sk|||s l can't soom
to romombor. l roa||y hopo cook|ng |s on that ||st, bocauso l'd
||ko to bo ab|o to cook cupcakos w|thout turn|ng thom |nto
comont.'
|o rowardod mo w|th a ||tt|o sm||o. °Cook|ng wo|| was
novor somoth|ng you worr|od about |n tho past.'
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
10
Al |OUl lA1El Wlll Al0 lA1|AllEl |A0 vElY ||tt|o to show tor
tho|r ottorts. l amusod myso|t by watch|ng tho two ot thom,
part|cu|ar|y tasc|natod w|th tho |ntons|ty |n W|||'s oyos as ho
road tho anc|ont |anguagos, and w|th tho t|no musc|os as h|s
toroarms tonsod w|th oach pago ho turnod. |o t|na||y c|osod
tho lat|n book and took up tho ono about anc|ont 3umor|an
|oro. Attor a ||tt|o wh||o, ho s|appod tho opon pago ho was
road|ng, mak|ng mo jump.
°l tound |t!' W||| ch|rpod. |o starod at mo w|th an oxc|tod
oxpross|on, but l on|y shruggod. |o trownod and cont|nuod.
°Ensh|, tho lord ot 3ou|s. 1ho g|vor and takor ot tho broath ot
||to.'
°3roath ot ||to?' l mumb|od. °1hat sounds a ||tt|o too
ph||osoph|ca| tor a 3aturday.'
°Whatovor th|s Ensh| |s, |t's as b|g as wo thought,' ho sa|d
as ho road tarthor.
lathan|o| pookod ovor h|s shou|dor. °What |s |t?'
°lt says tho Ensh| |s a dormant bo|ng who |s tho god ot ||to
undor tho command ot Enk|, tho supromo god ot Earth,
accord|ng to 3umor|an mytho|ogy. Vany anc|ont c|v|||zat|ons
m|stook powortu| roapors tor tho|r gods, so that's ono
poss|b|||ty tor |ts or|g|n. lt's assoc|atod w|th th|s symbo|.'
|o t||ppod tho book around to show tho pago to lathan|o|
and mo. 1ho |mago was ot throo opon c|rc|os arrangod ||ko a
dartboard, w|th tour sma|| so||d dots arrangod hor|zonta||y
across tho contor and two crosconts tac|ng oach othor
vort|ca||y.
°1h|s |s tho soa| ot Azrao|,' lathan|o| oxp|a|nod. °Cou|d
tho toxt moan that tho Ensh| sorvos tho 0ostroyor?'
°1hat's dot|n|to|y tho |mpross|on l'm gott|ng,' W||| sa|d |n a
dark vo|co. °Azrao| |s tho ango| ot doath, but not an archango|
-at |oast not anymoro. Archango|s aro tho h|ghost rank|ng
and most powortu| ot tho ango|s. lt tho Ensh| |s a roapor, thon
th|s has to moan that tho Ensh| |s actua||y an ango||c roapor.
1horo's no way a domon|c roapor wou|d sorvo an ango|. lt
goos aga|nst tho naturo ot roapors and ovoryth|ng thoy aro
taught to bo||ovo.'
Vy hoad spun try|ng to mako sonso ot what thoy woro
say|ng. °Ango||c roapor? 1ho 0ostroyor? Ango|s? What aro
you ta|k|ng about?'
W||| g|ancod at lathan|o|, who starod back |ntont|y, as |t
ho d|dn't want to answor tho quost|on. l hatod |t whon thoy
oxchangod g|ancos. lt mado mo too| ||ko l was a naughty
ch||d ||ston|ng |n on tho grownups' convorsat|on.
°Yos, ango|s,' W||| oxp|a|nod. °1ho countorpart to tho
|a||on.'
l stud|od h|s taco, shockod by what ho was to|||ng mo. °0o
you moan that roa| ango|s ox|st? 1ho |a||on aro domons,
aron't thoy? 0oos that moan that God ox|sts? 3atan, too?'
|o took a broath. °Yos. luc|tor robo||od aga|nst God and
|ost tho ||rst War, as you havo probab|y |oarnod at somo
po|nt |n your ||to. God ban|shod luc|tor trom |oavon, and ho
to|| |nto |o||, but h|s war to|| to Earth. 1ho ango|s who jo|nod
luc|tor's causo to|| w|th h|m and bocamo domons-tho
|a||on. 1wo ot tho |a||on boro horr|b|o ch||dron, whoso
doscondonts aro tho croaturos wo know today as tho
domon|c roapors. ln dosporat|on tor moro so|d|ors to tuo| h|s
army ot tho damnod, luc|tor usos tho roapors to co||oct
human sou|s.'
l was thorough|y tasc|natod. °And tho ango||c roapors?
What aro thoy?'
°1ho doscondonts ot tho Gr|gor|,' W||| oxp|a|nod. °lot a||
tho |a||on who tought tor luc|tor woro tru|y w|ckod. God
bo||ovod tho Gr|gor| cou|d bo rohab|||tatod, and so thoy woro
|mpr|sonod |n tho morta| wor|d. ln ordor to mako amonds tor
tho|r botraya|, thoy woro ordorod to watch ovor human|ty.
1hoy'ro tho koopors ot ango||c mag|c and mod|c|no and tho
gatoways |nto |oavon and |o||. 1hoy boro ch||dron botwoon
thom, but thoso ch||dron woron't croatod out ot w|ckod sp|r|t
and savagory. 1hoy bocamo tho ango||c roapors, tho
oarthbound so|d|ors ot God who dostroy tho domon|c
roapors and stop thom trom tak|ng human sou|s. 1ho Gr|gor|
havo tour |ords, tho E|omonta| Watchors, who ru|o ovor tho
quadrant po|nts ot Earth. 1hoy aro |oma|haut ot tho northorn
w|ntor, logu|us ot tho southorn summor, A|dobaran ot tho
oastorn spr|ng, and Antaros ot tho wostorn autumn. 1hoy
roprosont tho sp|r|t ot tho|r quadrant's o|omont.'
°|avo you ovor mot ono ot tho Gr|gor|?' l askod. °0o thoy
t|ght tho domon|c roapors too?'
°lo, thoy aro vory raro,' ho sa|d. °3ut Antaros, Watchor ot
tho Wost, doos ||vo |n Amor|ca. Co|orado, l th|nk. And l don't
th|nk any ot thom t|ght. 1hoy aro poacotu| tor tho most part,
but that doosn't moan thoy'ro woak.'
°3o l'm not doscondod trom thom, thon,' l conc|udod.
°Whoro do l como |n?'
°1ho most powortu| ot tho domon|c roapors outnumbor
tho most powortu| ango||c roapors, and God noodod ho|p,'
W||| sa|d. °You and tho ango||c roapors aro tatod to provont
luc|tor's 3ocond War, tho Apoca|ypso. lt th|s war happons,
that's tho End ot 0ays. Your job |s to stop as many ot tho
domon|c roapors aro you can. 1ho bost way to k||| a domon|c
roapor |s w|th ango|t|ro, but tho ango||c roapors can't w|o|d
that powor, bocauso tho|r ancostors aro ta||on ango|s. Wo
don't know wbot you aro. You aron't a roapor and your body
|s human. You just k|nd ot appoarod, and wo a|| accoptod
you. 3ut whon a roapor k|||s you, |t can't do anyth|ng to your
sou|. You'ro ro|ncarnatod and you t|ght aga|n, as |t your sou|
|s |mmuno.'
l chowod on my ||p, torc|ng myso|t to bo||ovo h|m, but tho
what-|t? st||| |urkod |n tho back ot my m|nd. l romomborod
|r|day, |n tho bathroom, whon tho strango b|ack th|ngs woro
craw||ng on my taco and suddon|y d|sappoarod. l cou|dn't
torgot my horr|b|o n|ghtmaros. Was l ono ot tho |a||on? lo.
lot |t l cou|d uso ango|t|ro. 3ut l cou|dn't oscapo tho toar that
somoth|ng dark |urkod |ns|do mo, somoth|ng moro
tr|ghton|ng than tho thought ot luc|tor's 3ocond War and tho
ond ot tho wor|d.
°What |t you'ro wrong?' l askod. °What |t l'm a roapor?'
°You'ro not,' W||| assurod mo. °You'ro somoth|ng d|ttoront.
1rust mo.'
l |ookod back at tho strango symbo| ot Azrao|. °3o thoro
aro good roapors and bad roapors? 1ho good sorvo tho
ango|s and tho bad sorvo tho |a||on?'
lathan|o| noddod. °3|mp|y put, yos.'
°l k||| tho bad onos, r|ght?' l askod. °1ho domon|c
roapors.' What |t l k|||od tho good onos? A hoavy p|t grow |n
tho bottom ot my stomach.
W|||'s t|rm gazo |ockod on m|no. °Wo t|ght on|y tho
domon|c roapors.'
°You aro ||ko tho ango|s' socrot woapon,' lathan|o|
addod. °Your prosonco |n th|s war makos th|ngs ba|ancod.'
°0on't l mako th|ngs ooba|ancod, thon?' l hatod p|ay|ng
tho dov||'s advocato-no pun |ntondod-but, l noodod to tu||y
undorstand who and what l was.
lathan|o| sa|d, °lo, bocauso thoro aro too many
domon|c roapors tor tho ango|s to dostroy thom a|| on tho|r
own.'
°0o tho |a||on havo a lro||ator?'
°lo,' ho sa|d w|th a tw|tch ot h|s noso.
°Cou|d tho Ensh| bo anothor lro||ator?' l askod. °Vaybo a
domon|c ono?'
W||| oxchangod a |ook w|th lathan|o|. °Wh||o |t's un||ko|y,
|t |s somoth|ng to th|nk about. Wo can't ru|o |t out.'
°W|||,' l bogan, °tho n|ght ot my b|rthday, you to|d that
roapor ho cou|dn't touch mo unt|| you woko mo or ho'd havo
to taco tho consoquoncos. Woro you ta|k|ng about tho
ango|s?'
°Yos,' W||| sa|d. °1ho domon|c roapors str|vo tor chaos,
but thoro aro ru|os vory tow ot thom w||| daro to broak,
ospoc|a||y |t |t moans thoy w||| havo to taco a so|d|or ango| as
a rosu|t-a k|nd ot ango| bo|ow tho rank ot archango|,
|oavon's |aw ontorcomont ott|cors, |t you w|||. You can't bo
touchod unt|| you'vo roga|nod your powors, and tho so|d|or
ango|s ontorco that |aw.'
l trownod. °3o tho domon|c roapors aro just mooo to bo
ov||? lt sounds so 0|snoy v|||a|n-|sh. Can't thoy chooso to bo
good? lt too|s ||ko gonoc|do or somoth|ng to mo, just w|p|ng
thom out tho way l'm supposod to do.'
W|||'s oyos dr|||od |nto m|no |ntont|y. °lt a human |s
dovourod by a domon|c roapor, |t's a ono-way t|ckot to |o||.
1ho roapors ga|n comp|oto contro| ovor tho sou|. lt's much
||ko tho way tho poop|o ot somo cu|turos oat tho t|osh ot tho|r
onom|os or powortu| prodators to ga|n tho|r strongth through
mag|c. 1ho ango||c roapors protoct human sou|s but can't
man|pu|ato thom. On|y God shou|d havo to r|ght to doc|do |t a
sou| shou|d ond up |n |oavon or |o||.'
°1hoy can't a|| bo that way,' l sa|d. °1horo must bo somo
ot thom who havo choson not to stoa| sou|s tor tho |a||on.'
|o shook h|s hoad. °1ho on|y domon|c roapors you havo
ovor tought havo a|so tr|od to k||| you. 1hoy'vo on|y ovor boon
monstors. 1hoy'ro oomoo spawn. l'vo novor hoard ot ono
chang|ng h|s ways. Evory s|ng|o porson thoy havo ovor k|||od
w||| burn |n |o|| tor otorn|ty. 1hoy k||| |nnocont poop|o, thoy k|||
you, and wo k||| thom.'
°l don't know,' l sa|d sad|y. °lt sooms ||ko thoro shou|d bo
moro to |t.'
°What do you moan?'
Vy shou|dors sank. l d|dn't ||ko bo|ng put on tho spot ||ko
that. °l don't know. l just don't bo||ovo |n abso|uto ov|| . . . or
abso|uto gooo. lo ono's portoct|y ono or tho othor. Why can't
somo domon|c roapors turn good or somo ango||c roapors
turn bad? lt tho Ensh| |s an ango||c roapor, thon why wou|d |t
ho|p tho domon|c roapors? Vaybo |t wont bad.'
°E|||o, wo aron't-' W|||'s mouth snappod shut and h|s
oxpross|on t|||od w|th pa|n. ||s gazo to|| away.
°What's wrong?' l askod.
|o wavod a hand d|sm|ss|vo|y, but ho d|dn't |ook at mo.
°lovor m|nd.'
l watchod h|m tor a momont, wondor|ng about whatovor |t
was that ho wou|dn't say.
°Wo shou|d got back to tho Ensh|,' lathan|o| sa|d.
l d|dn't objoct. °3o, tho Ensh| sorvos an ango|?' l askod.
°1ho ono whoso soa| |s |n that book. Azrao|. 1ho ango| ot
doath.'
°Wo||, ono ot thom,' lathan|o| sa|d.
°1horo's moro than ono?' |or tho t|rst t|mo |n my ||to l
w|shod l'd gono to at |oast ono day ot 3unday schoo| just so l
cou|d got tho bas|c g|st ot what thoy woro try|ng to oxp|a|n.
|o noddod. °1ho othor truo ango| ot doath |s 3ammao|,
but ho to|| and |s no |ongor an archango|.'
°Why d|d ho ta||?' l askod.
°3ammao| comm|ttod an untorg|vab|o d|sobod|onco to
God whon ho bocamo tho |ovor ot l|||th, quoon ot tho |a||on.
1ogothor |n |o||, thoy aro luc|tor's |ott and r|ght hand, though
3ammao| |s somot|mos m|s|dont|t|od as luc|tor. 3ammao|
and l|||th aro tho toroboars ot tho domon|c roapors.'
l gapod |n surpr|so. °7bolr ch||dron aro tho domon|c
roapors?'
°Yos.'
°3o thoso domon|c roapors want a croaturo that sorvos
Azrao|,' l sa|d.
lathan|o| shruggod. °lt tho Ensh| doos |ndood sorvo
Azrao|, thon l don't know why 3ast|an wou|d want |t, or why
tho domon|c roapors th|nk |t w||| ho|p thom.'
1hat mado mo too| a ||tt|o hopotu|. °lt |t's on our s|do, can't
wo got |t to ho|p us? Who says |t has to bo ov||?'
°1ho roapor soundod protty c|oar that thoy wou|d uso tho
Ensh| aga|nst you,' W||| sa|d. °1hat's not somoth|ng that l'm
w||||ng to r|sk.'
°l apo|og|zo |n advanco tor bo|ng so b|unt |n your
prosonco, E|||o,' lathan|o| sa|d. °3ut |t's a tact that no mattor
how many t|mos thoy k||| tho lro||ator, sho w||| bo roborn and
k||| a hundrod moro ot thom tor ovory ono ot hor doaths.'
l cr|ngod. |o was a ||tt|o moro b|unt than l had boon
proparod tor.
°Exact|y,' W||| sa|d, |oan|ng torward. °3o, what doos |t
mattor |t th|s Ensh| wakos up? Vaybo |t has tho strongth to
k||| E|||o, but sho'|| just bo back a tow yoars |ator. 1ho cyc|o
w||| novor ond.'
lathan|o| s|ghod. °l don't know. Vaybo thoy know
somoth|ng wo don't.'
°l don't ||ko th|s,' W||| contossod. °Cou|d th|s havo anyth|ng
to do w|th how |ong |t took E|||o to bo roborn?'
°l hopo not.'
°lathan|o|,' sa|d a t|nny vo|co trom an |ntorcom abovo our
hoads.
°Yos, lou|so?' ho rop||od.
°Wo havo anothor sh|pmont |n |t you'd ||ko to como up
and s|gn tor |t.'
°3o thoro |n a m|nuto.' |o stood. °l'|| bo back |n a ||tt|o b|t.
lt you nood to |oavo, too| troo to go. 3w|ng by upsta|rs and
say good-byo |t you do.' |o |ott tho room qu|ck|y, |oav|ng W|||
and mo a|ono.
Attor a br|ot, awkward s||onco, l spoko. °lt's gott|ng roa||y
|ato and l st||| havo to sot up tor ton|ght. ls |t okay |t wo ca|| |t
qu|ts w|th tho rosoarch|ng tor now?'
°Yoah,' ho sa|d w|th a nod. °lot's go.'
Wo tound lathan|o| |n a room on tho socond t|oor ot tho
||brary, oxam|n|ng do||cato documonts |ns|do protoct|vo
s|oovos. Wo sa|d good-byo, and ho prom|sod to koop an oyo
out tor anyth|ng that cou|d |oad us to moro |ntormat|on about
tho Ensh|. Outs|do, l pausod botoro gott|ng |nto my car.
°What aro your p|ans attor th|s?' l askod.
|o |ookod up at tho sky. °lt'|| bo dark soon.'
l noddod know|ng|y. 1hat was whon h|s watchdog dut|os
bogan. °Wo||, |t you'd rathor not s|t on my root ||ko a
wa||t|owor, you'ro vory wo|como to ho|p us sot up tor tho party.
Or at |oast hang out. You don't havo to bo by yourso|t a|| tho
t|mo.'
°lo, thank you,' ho sa|d. °1hat's not tho bost |doa.'
°Okay, 3atman,' l sa|d w|th a sm||o. °3ut |t you'ro go|ng to
c|a|m to bo my bodyguard, you m|ght as wo|| hang out w|th
mo.'
||s oxpross|on was thoughttu|. °lt's bottor th|s way.'
°Why?'
°3ocauso whon l'm around you, |nstoad ot |ook|ng out tor
you, l |ot down my guard.'
°Wo||, don't do that.'
|o sm||od br||||ant|y, h|s t|rst gonu|no sm||o ot tho day, and
my gut d|d a t||p. °l can't ho|p |t.'
°You sa|d |t yourso|t-tho roapors don't como out dur|ng
broad day||ght.'
°1hat doosn't moan thoy coo`t. 1hoy'ro st||| opportun|st|c.
An oasy k||| |s an oasy k|||.'
°3ut don't you th|nk thoy'd bo |oss |nc||nod to attack mo |t
you'ro stand|ng noxt to mo than |t you aron't?'
°lt doosn't mattor.'
°Why not?'
°1hoy know that l can sonso |t you'ro d|strossod, and l'||
bo w|th you whothor l'm c|oso by or not.'
°You a|ways havo to d|sprovo my |og|c, don't you?'
°And you a|ways ask too many quost|ons.'
l narrowod my oyos. °And yoo novor answor onough ot
thom. You'ro obnox|ous. l'|| soo you |ator. You'ro st||| com|ng
to tho party, r|ght?'
°Yos,' ho sa|d. °3ocauso you w|sh mo to, l w|||.'
°Groat. l'm count|ng on you.'
°You a|ways can.'
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
11
3Y 3EvEl O'ClOCK, VY VOV, KA1E, Al0 l |A0 VO31 ot tho
docorat|ons up. landon and Chr|s had tapod stroamors and
dang|y stars to tho co|||ng and co|umns |n tho ||v|ng room. l
tr|od not to |ot th|ngs got awkward w|th landon, but ho
soomod to bo ovor what had happonod tho n|ght botoro. |o
ho|pod roach tho h|ghor p|acos tor docorat|ons and strung up
papor |antorns outs|do on tho pat|o.
l joggod upsta|rs to tho bathroom to showor and put on
my dross. Vy w|ngod nock|aco was tho portoct accossory.
Kato and l d|d oach othor's ha|r, and whon wo woro roady,
wo mot tho boys out on tho pat|o to show ott our outt|ts.
landon and Chr|s soomod vory p|oasod w|th tho drossos.
°You |ook groat, E|||o,' landon sa|d.
°1hank you!' l rop||od, boam|ng.
°Kato, don't you th|nk that |s a ||tt|o rovoa||ng?' my mom
askod, shoot|ng hor an odd |ook.
Kato shruggod. °Vy boobs aron't show|ng.'
°1hat |s such a shamo,' Chr|s sa|d as ho passod hor, and
sho prompt|y smackod h|m on tho shou|dor.
l|ght had ta||on, tho papor |antorns woro ||t, and my
backyard was a g||ttor|ng stago. 1ho |antorn ||ght g|oamod
and spark|od ott tho surtaco ot tho poo|. 3oyond tho
backyard was a strotch ot woods that |od to a sma|| |ako
boh|nd our no|ghborhood, and moon||ght stroakod |n
botwoon tho troos, mak|ng tho |awn g|ow. l cou|dn't bo
happ|or. 3urn|ng w|th oxc|tomont, l huggod and thankod
ovoryono. Whon my dad got homo, l draggod h|m outs|do to
soo ovoryth|ng, but h|s oxpross|on mado mo c|am up.
°0o wo roa||y nood a|| ot th|s?' ho sa|d, scow||ng.
°lt's my b|rthday,' l |ns|stod. °0oosn't tho yard |ook n|co?'
°1h|s |s absurd.'
°Wo just put up papor |antorns.'
3omoth|ng |n h|s gazo t||ckorod, dark and doopor than
angor, ||ko shadows pass|ng boh|nd h|s oyos. l b||nkod |n
surpr|so.
|o gavo h|s hoad a shako and tho |ook van|shod. °l havo
no |doa why you'd mako such a b|g doa| out ot th|s.'
l wou|d havo |aughod at tho r|d|cu|ousnoss ot h|s
statomont |t l hadn't boon so c|oso to toars. °lt's my b|rthday.'
°Aron't you gott|ng a ||tt|o o|d tor b|rthday part|os?'
|o ho|d my gazo tor anothor agon|z|ng tow momonts, h|s
uppor ||p tw|tch|ng. 1hon ho mado an un|nto|||g|b|o no|so and
oasod across tho pat|o to |nspoct tho burgors Vom had
cook|ng on tho gr|||. |o |nha|od tho gr||||ng moat doop|y,
act|ng as |t ho hadn't just pract|ca||y brokon my hoart. Why
wou|d ho say somoth|ng so d|sm|ss|vo and hurttu|? 0|dn't ho
undorstand how |mportant my b|rthday party was to mo?
Wasn't l |mportant to h|m?
l b|t hard on my tonguo to koop myso|t trom cry|ng and
mak|ng my mascara run, and l stompod |ns|do tho houso.
Vom had sot a boaut|tu| two-t|orod cako on tho bar |n tho
k|tchon and movod tho stoo|s out |nto tho d|n|ng room so
poop|o wou|dn't havo to scramb|o around thom to got to tho
cako. Chr|s had brought somo spoakors, ho p|uggod |n h|s
|aptop, and soon tho houso was t|||od w|th thump|ng mus|c.
Evoryth|ng was a|most onough to torgot how cruo| my dad
had just boon to mo. A|most.
At o|ght tho guosts bogan arr|v|ng. Kato onjoyod p|ay|ng
hostoss, |ott|ng ovoryono |n tho tront door and |oad|ng thom
through tho toyor |nto tho ||v|ng room. Vy tr|onds to|d mo how
groat l |ookod and, ono by ono, huggod mo botoro go|ng ott
to onjoy tho cako and mus|c. Evan and lacho| had arr|vod
just as tho houso was bog|nn|ng to got crowdod. l was happy
to soo that 1os|o lowport showod up-w|th hor ontourago
tra|||ng boh|nd hor. 3ho woro a sunny yo||ow cockta|| dross
and hor wa|nut-co|orod ha|r hung |n |ooso cur|s around hor
tannod shou|dors. 3ho sm||od at mo and gavo mo a hug that
to|t authont|c and w|shod mo happy b|rthday.
Vy houso and backyard woro t|||od w|th h|gh schoo|
studonts by n|no th|rty. Vom and 0ad had rotroatod upsta|rs
whon tho p|aco startod to got too busy tor thom, and l was
g|ad. lo ono wants tho|r paronts hang|ng around tho|r party. l
movod trom group to group, chatt|ng and danc|ng, and whon l
spottod W|||, l stoppod doad |n my tracks.
|o had octoo||y como. l was ovon moro shockod to soo
h|m woar|ng a n|co pa|r ot b|ack s|acks and a wo||-t|ttod
garnot-co|orod s||k sh|rt w|th tho top tow buttons |ott undono
and no t|o. On|y a sma|| port|on ot h|s tattoos was v|s|b|o
abovo h|s sh|rt co||ar. 3otoro l cou|d got h|s attont|on, ono ot
1os|o's tr|onds, |arpor-or |arpy, as wo a|| ||kod to ca|| hor
-was thoro |n tront ot h|m |ntroduc|ng horso|t. l st|t|od a |augh
whon l saw tho apathy on h|s taco. |arpor wrappod an arm
around h|s and procoodod to gu|do h|m tarthor |nto tho party.
3oh|nd thom, Kato mado a com|ca| taco and an oqua||y
appropr|ato hand gosturo that mado mo |augh. Whon W|||'s
gazo caught m|no, ho pu||od troo ot |arpor's gr|p w|thout a
word to hor and wa|kod up to mo. 3ho dot|atod and gapod |n
d|sbo||ot, wh||o l cou|dn't st|t|o tho v|ctor|ous sm|rk on my
taco. 1hat wou|d toach |arpy to th|nk sho ownod tho p|aco
-ooo W|||! lot that l was torr|tor|a|, or anyth|ng. Okay, maybo
a smlogo.
Kato brushod by mo and stoppod to mako a gagg|ng
no|so |nto my oar. °l can't bo||ovo 1os|o brought |arpy
Kn|ght,' sho sa|d |n a |ow, annoyod vo|co. °3ho's such a
tormagant.'
l |aughod and noddod ovon though l had no |doa what that
moant. Kato gr|nnod, t|ash|ng hor br|ght wh|to tooth, and
movod on.
W||| stoppod c|oso to mo and bont h|s hoad down to
spoak |nto my oar. °You |ook boaut|tu|.'
°1hank you,' l sa|d, b|t|ng my ||p whon l to|t myso|t
b|ush|ng. °You |ook vory sharp yourso|t. Whoro'd you got tho
sh|rt?'
°A tr|ond.'
°Yoo havo tr|onds?'
°0on't bo so shockod. l'vo ||vod a |ong t|mo. l was bound
to t|nd somoono who ||kos mo. lt was just lathan|o|, anyway.'
°Oh, that's so cuto,' l sa|d, p|nch|ng h|s chook. °|o
shoppod tor you. You'ro, ||ko, b|tt|os.'
|o brushod mo ott and |ookod around tho ||v|ng room.
°1hat's onough ot that.'
l gr|nnod at h|m, rost|ng my hands on my h|ps. °You |ook
so tonso.'
°lt to|t wo|rd com|ng |n tho tront door.'
°Oh, yos,' l rop||od w|th a sma|| |augh. °You shou|d havo
just c||mbod |n through tho w|ndow, s|nco you'ro so good at
that.'
|o sm||od crookod|y and turnod to taco mo. °l thought
about |t.'
°Or you cou|d havo just hoppod ott tho root and droppod
|n on tho pat|o.'
°l'm not roa||y ono tor an ontranco that dramat|c. l don't
||ko draw|ng attont|on to myso|t.'
l |aughod. °You ta|| m|sorab|y at that, |n caso you havon't
not|cod.'
|o soomod to |gnoro tho obsorvat|on and ||ttod my
pondant w|th h|s hand. |o turnod |t ovor |n h|s pa|m, |ook|ng
at |t tond|y. °l'm g|ad you'ro woar|ng th|s.'
°lt matchos my dross.'
|o sm||od sott|y. °1hat |t doos.'
l g|ancod boh|nd h|m and spottod |arpor star|ng at us
w|th a |ook ot dor|s|on on hor taco as sho ta|kod to anothor
g|r|. l |ookod back to W|||. °0o you want somo cako?'
°lo, thanks.'
°Como and oat somo cako. lt's roa||y, roa||y good.'
lgnor|ng h|s rosponso, l grabbod h|s arm and |od h|m |nto tho
k|tchon. l sm||od at a coup|o ot g|r|s grabb|ng tho|r s||cos as
thoy starod at W|||. |o soomod untazod, as |t ho tru|y d|dn't
caro about tho attont|on, and was not just ob||v|ous.
°l roa||y don't want any cako,' ho sa|d, oyoba|||ng tho
sugary mastorp|oco |a|d out on tho bar countor.
°Aro you suro?' l askod, d|sappo|ntod. °Wo||, l'm hav|ng a
p|oco.' l cut myso|t a s||co and startod oat|ng |t. °You'ro roa||y
bor|ng, you know that?'
°l'm anyth|ng but bor|ng. You'ro tho ono pranc|ng around
|n your ||tt|o dross protond|ng to bo a norma| human g|r|. 7bot
|s bor|ng.'
l stuck my tonguo out at h|m. °l om a norma| human g|r|,
dosp|to what you'd ||ko to bo||ovo, and l'm go|ng to onjoy my
b|rthday. You on|y turn sovontoon onco.'
°l m|ght havo turnod sovontoon on|y onco,' ho sa|d. °3ut
yoo aro a pro at |t.'
Vy hoart sank. °Wo||, th|s |s tho on|y t|mo l romombor, so
don't ru|n |t tor mo.'
°|org|vo mo,' ho sa|d, surpr|s|ng mo. °l don't moan to
upsot you.' |o stud|od my taco tor a momont botoro tak|ng
my hand. °lot's go onjoy your party.'
°Wa|t, wa|t,' l sa|d, pu|||ng away trom h|m to t|n|sh my
cako botoro dump|ng tho p|ast|c p|ato and tork |n tho trash. l
w|pod at a ||tt|o b|t ot trost|ng on my ||p and a||owod h|m to
|oad mo trom tho k|tchon, but |n tho archway opon|ng up |nto
tho ||v|ng room, wo camo taco-to-taco w|th landon. |o
|ookod trom my taco to W|||'s, to W|||'s hand ho|d|ng m|no,
and back aga|n to my taco, h|s oxpross|on qu|ck|y t||||ng w|th
contompt. |o sa|d noth|ng and pushod past us |nto tho
k|tchon.
3ack out |n tho ||v|ng room, W||| turnod to taco mo. °Your
tr|ond was r|ght.'
°About what?' l askod droam||y as ho |oanod |nto mo and
l took |n h|s scont.
°|o |s vory joa|ous.'
°Oh.' landon. °|ow do you know what Kato sa|d?'
°l havo vory good oars.'
°3o you woro oavosdropp|ng?' l askod p|aytu||y.
°l m|ght havo boon,' ho sa|d w|th a w|do sm||o.
l ro||od my oyos. °You shou|d moot Kato ott|c|a||y. 1hon
sho m|ght not th|nk you'ro so wo|rd.'
°l'm atra|d that m|ght havo tho oppos|to ottoct,' ho sa|d
dojoctod|y.
l ro||od my oyos and |od h|m out onto tho pat|o.
Kato was stand|ng |n a group ot othor guosts, |augh|ng |n
a h|gh and grac|ous vo|co. Whon sho spottod W||| and mo,
sho wavod us ovor. Evoryono w|shod mo happy b|rthday tor
tho b||||onth t|mo and Kato ho|d out a hand tor W||| to shako.
°l don't th|nk wo'vo torma||y mot yot,' sho sa|d. °l'm Kato.'
°W|||,' ho rop||od. °l|co to moot you.'
1ho othors |ntroducod thomso|vos, and wo ongagod |n
tod|ous sma|| ta|k l know l'd torgot |n t|vo m|nutos. W|||
cont|nuod to surpr|so mo, as ho soomod to s||p comtortab|y
|nto tho ro|o ot attont|vo guost. |o crackod jokos, chattod
am|ab|y, a|| tho wh||o koop|ng a c|oso oyo on mo. l d|dn't th|nk
anyono thought ho was too wo|rd, much to my joy.
1os|o appoarod w|th |arpor on hor hoo|s, and sho p|acod
a hand around my arm and k|ssod mo on tho chook. °||,
E|||o, how aro you?'
°l'm roa||y good, 1os|o,' l rop||od happ||y. °l'm so g|ad you
cou|d mako |t. Aro you hav|ng a good t|mo?'
°Yos,' sho sa|d. °1ho party |s groat and tho docorat|ons
aro so protty. l |ovo your dross!'
°1hank you so much! Wo got tho boys to do most ot tho
work.'
1os|o |aughod. °Wo||, that's what thoy'ro tor, r|ght?' 3ho
sm||od at W|||, t||t|ng hor hoad and bounc|ng hor c|rcus-sh|ny
cur|s. °Who's your tr|ond?'
°1h|s |s W|||,' l sa|d. °W|||, th|s |s 1os|o.'
°Aro you now at our schoo|? l'vo novor soon you botoro.'
3ho oxam|nod h|m much too thorough|y, hor oyos mov|ng up
and down, hor ||ps curv|ng do||cato|y. °Aro you on tho tootba||
toam?'
°lo,' ho sa|d. °l graduatod. l'm actua||y at V|ch|gan.'
|or oyos porkod. °Oh, roa||y? What's your major?'
°Econom|cs.'
°Wo||, that's |ntorost|ng,' sho sa|d, ||ght|ng up a b|t moro,
toy|ng t||rtat|ous|y w|th hor cur|s. °3o you'ro go|ng to bo, ||ko, a
top CEO somoday?'
°lrobab|y not,' ho sa|d honost|y.
1os|o trownod.
°l havo your b|rthday prosont,' Kato sa|d suddon|y and
oxc|tod|y, grabb|ng my arm. 3ho pu||od out bott|os ot
Go|dsch|ögor and 0r loppor and wagg|od thom both
onthus|ast|ca||y-much to my do||ght, as l was s|ck ot
watch|ng 1os|o t||rt at W|||. °1|mo tor th|s party to got startod.'
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
12
A1 OlE ll 1|E VOllllG 1|E lAl1Y |A0 ClEAlE0 out, |oav|ng on|y
my c|osost tr|onds and 1os|o's group. Chr|s and landon had
mado an oxco||ont 01 toam a|| n|ght, and l was st||| too||ng tho
shots a ||tt|o b|t. Attor anothor danco w|th Kato, l bouncod up
to W|||, who was |oan|ng aga|nst tho wa|| |n tho archway to tho
k|tchon.
l grabbod h|s hand, sm|||ng. °0anco w|th mo!'
W||| |aughod and shook h|s hoad. °lo, l don't th|nk so.'
°Why not?'
°3ocauso you'ro drunk,' ho sa|d carotu||y.
l g|arod at h|m. °Am not. l just too| good.' Wh|ch was truo. l
m|ght havo boon t|psy, but l wou|dn't havo ca||od myso|t
drunk. Vy body d|dn't too| warm anymoro, but l was st||| a ||tt|o
g|ddy and l wantod to havo a ||tt|o moro tun botoro l stoppod
too||ng |t a|togothor. °Como on, |t's just tor tun. l|oaso danco
w|th mo?'
°Go ask landon,' ho sa|d, nodd|ng boh|nd mo.
As l turnod around, landon wa|kod up to mo, r|ght on cuo.
|o |ookod dojoctod. °E|||o, can l ta|k to you?'
3uzz k|||. °Yoah.' 1h|s cou|dn't bo good.
°Can wo go outs|do?'
°Yoah.' l caught W|||'s oyo as l to||owod landon.
Out on tho pat|o thoro woro on|y two othor poop|o, who
whon thoy saw tho unhappy oxpross|ons on our tacos wont
back |ns|do tho houso. Wo wa|kod across tho |ong |awn
toward tho troos and tho stono bonch surroundod by my
mom's ||||os. Whon l roa||zod that ho'd brought mo a|| tho way
out horo tor pr|vacy, my jaw sot t|ght|y and my broath|ng
bocamo sha||ow and norvous. l sat hoav||y and |ost my
ba|anco. |o caught my shou|dor.
|o poorod |nto my taco and |aughod. °lo way! E|||o, aro
you drunk?'
°lot anymoro,' l grumb|od.
°What? lt you want moro, l'vo got a tow boors |ott.'
°lo, whatovor. 3o, what's up?' l know what th|s was about
and l droadod ovory word that was to como out ot h|s mouth.
||s oxpross|on washod b|ank. °l wantod to ta|k to you
about somoth|ng.'
Obv|ous|y. Got on w|th |t. °Okay.'
°3omoth|ng has boon bugg|ng mo |ato|y,' ho sa|d. °Wo'vo
boon tr|onds tor a protty |ong t|mo, and you know l caro about
you.'
°Ot courso,' l sa|d honost|y. °l caro about you, too. You'ro
ono ot my bost tr|onds.'
°Yoah, but l too| a ||tt|o b|t d|ttoront|y than tbot.' |o |oanod
a ||tt|o b|t c|osor. °l roa||y ||ko you, E||. You'ro tunny and smart
-'
°Oh, l'm not that tunny and ospoc|a||y not that smart. . . .'
°-and boaut|tu|, and l want to bo moro than tr|onds w|th
you.' |o brushod my ha|r boh|nd my shou|dor. 1ho gosturo
was moant to bo attoct|onato, but landon was pract|ca||y my
brothor and tho touch just to|t |nvas|vo.
l sat thoro, |ook|ng down at my knoos and pu|||ng at tho
hom ot my dross. l had boon oxpoct|ng th|s, yot l had novor
p|annod my rop|y. °Oh, landon, l-'
°l|oaso say you too| tho samo way,' ho broathod, gott|ng
ovon c|osor. °W||| you bo my g|r|tr|ond?'
l strugg|od to koop a gr|maco ott my taco. °landon, l-'
||s hand cuppod my chook and pu||od my taco toward
h|s, thon ho tr|od to k|ss mo. 1ho |doa ot k|ss|ng landon was
awkward, and trank|y k|nd ot gross. l tw|stod away and to|t
horr|b|o |nstant|y. Whon l stood up, ho sprang to h|s toot w|th
mo, ho|d|ng my arm.
°landon, l just don't too| that way about you-'
|o turnod angry vory suddon|y, start||ng mo. °Why? ls |t
bocauso ot that W||| guy? You'vo know h|m tor what, two
ooys, and you'ro a|roady go|ng out w|th h|m?'
l b||nkod at h|m and pu||od away. °lo, that's not |t, l-'
°E|||o, |t's mo! You'vo known mo s|nco-'
l w|thdrow my arm trom h|s grasp gont|y, cutt|ng h|s words
short. °Yos, that's |t. lt ls you. You'ro my írlooo, landon, ono
my bost tr|onds. You'ro ||ko a brotbor to mo. l |ovo you ||ko a
brothor. l-'
3omoth|ng om|nous tuggod at my coro, stopp|ng mo
m|dsontonco. l know that too||ng.
°look out!' l shr|okod, grabb|ng landon's shou|dors and
throw|ng h|m to tho ground. l s||ppod |nto tho Gr|m just as tho
b|ggost roapor l'd ovor soon chargod out trom tho darknoss.
landon crackod h|s hoad on tho odgo ot tho bonch and |ay
st||| on tho grass. l spun around and dartod toward my houso.
l scroamod W|||'s namo as tho tootta||s poundod tho ground
boh|nd mo. l turnod back to dotond myso|t.
1ho roapor roarod and hoad-buttod mo squaro |n tho
chost, knock|ng mo r|ght out ot tho Gr|m and rockot|ng
through tho a|r, c|oar ovor my poo|, and sond|ng mo
smash|ng through tho p|cturo w|ndows that covorod tho back
ot my houso. l |andod on a soa ot brokon g|ass |n my ||v|ng
room, surroundod by scroams. |or tho |ongost two soconds
ot my ||to l cou|dn't broatho or movo. Vy back hurt ||ko ho||,
and l groanod pa|ntu||y as l p|ckod myso|t up, brush|ng tho
g|ass ott mo. Vy gashos hoa|od a|most |nstant|y and |ott a
tow b|oody stroaks boh|nd on my taco and arms.
And my party was ru|nod. l was so p|ssod.
ºE||lo!' Kato scroamod, and rushod toward mo. °Aro you
okay?'
l g|ancod back at hor as sho stood w|th 1os|o and a
coup|o othors gap|ng at mo |n shock. l sa|d noth|ng and
jumpod back out through tho brokon w|ndow as Kato
shr|okod my namo aga|n.
3ack w|th|n tho Gr|m and out ot my tr|onds' s|ght, l cou|d
soo tho roapor stand|ng at tho back ot my |awn, wa|t|ng tor
mo on|y a tow toot away trom whoro landon |ay unconsc|ous.
|o was tho s|zo ot a Chovro|ot 1ahoo, w|th coa|-b|ack oyos
sot |n a taco short and bu|ky ||ko a boar's. ||s w|do snout
was packod w|th jaggod, sorratod tooth, and h|s nostr||s
t|arod as ho took |n my scont. |o dug h|s c|aws |nto tho
grass, h|s shou|dors ro|||ng |uxur|ous|y, ||ko a g|ant |o||cat
knoad|ng a b|ankot ot oarth.
°You got away trom h|m,' l grow|od as l ca||od my swords
|nto my hands. 1ho b|ados oxp|odod |n t|amos ot ango|t|ro,
and l bracod myso|t.
W||| ontorod tho Gr|m boh|nd mo, h|s hoavy b|ado a|roady
drawn. 1ho roapor t|ashod h|s g|ant can|nos and h|ssod ||ko
a crocod||o |n rosponso.
°Wo moot aga|n, lro||ator!' tho roapor sa|d |n a vo|co that
shook tho oarth bonoath mo.
°E|||o!' Kato ca||od trom across tho |awn. °Whoro aro you?
Aro you hurt?'
°Wo'vo got to got out ot horo,' l sa|d to W||| as l saw my
tr|onds stopp|ng carotu||y through tho brokon w|ndow. 1hoy
cou|dn't soo o|thor ot us, or tho roapor, wh||o wo woro |n tho
Gr|m, but l cou|dn't r|sk |os|ng my concontrat|on and s||pp|ng
back |nto tho morta| d|mons|on whoro wo'd bo soon.
W||| noddod and l sprang ott, runn|ng through my no|gh-
bors' backyards to tho woods at tho ond ot my stroot. 1ho
roapor boundod attor us, tho thudd|ng tootta||s ot h|s mass|vo
paws thundor|ng through my sku||. As wo roachod tho troos, l
cou|d too| tho roapor ga|n|ng on us. l duckod and spun,
sw|p|ng a b|ado |ow. 1ho roapor |oapod |nto tho a|r and ovor
my hoad, |and|ng twonty toot doopor |n tho woods.
l stood w|th W||| r|ght bos|do mo and starod tho roapor
down.
°|o's an urs|d, E|||o,' W||| warnod. °3o carotu|. |o's
strongor than tho lup|nos.'
1ho roapor |aughod, h|s vo|co bo||ow|ng doop, shak|ng
tho branchos around h|m. °0on't you rocogn|zo mo,
lro||ator?'
l |ookod at h|m carotu||y. °l'vo novor tought you botoro. lt l
had, you'd bo doad.'
|o |aughod aga|n, th|s t|mo ovon |oudor. °l'm shockod you
aro so bo|d. Wo batt|od |ong ago. You soo, l am tho ono who
tastod your b|ood |ast.'
|o sm||od a mouthtu| ot sabor tangs, h|s b|ack oyos
g||ston|ng |n tho moon||ght.
A torr|b|o momory camo rush|ng back to mo-momor|os
ot a dark basomont, ot oyos |n tho dark, ot pa|n, oxcroclotlog
pa|n. l romomborod my v|s|on tad|ng to b|ack, and l
romomborod dy|ng. 1ho roapor's b|ack torm ||t w|th ango|t|ro
t|ashod ||ko a mov|o on an o|d s||vor scroon |n my hoad and l
cr|od out, staggor|ng back |nto W|||.
ºYoo!' l cr|od out, po|nt|ng tho t|p ot my b|ado at tho
roapor.
°Oh, yos,' ho grow|od. °You tastod so swoot thon, ||ko
sugar and b|ood and ch||d t|osh. l wondor |t you st||| tasto just
as good.'
|oar grabbod mo by tho throat. °W|||-'
°l'm horo.' ||s vo|co was t|rm and k|nd.
1ho roapor stoppod toward mo. °l am lagnuk, and l am
go|ng to oat you now.' A g|ob ot yo||owod sa||va to|| trom h|s
mouth to tho ground.
°You havo to t|ght h|m, E|||o,' W||| sa|d.
l was broath|oss w|th tr|ght. °l don't-l can't-'
lagnuk's jaw droppod and ho roarod, tho mounta|n ot
musc|o on h|s shou|dors shuddor|ng, and ho chargod
torward. l scroamod and throw my hands ovor my taco, |os|ng
my swords. l |ookod up and tound W||| abovo mo, both h|s
hands gr|pp|ng tho roapor's jaws, provont|ng h|m trom
crunch|ng h|s tooth down on my hoad. W||| turnod h|s taco to
mo, and h|s oyos woro br|ght as tw|n boacons.
°E|||o, movo!'
l oboyod and scramb|od back through tho d|rt unt|| l h|t a
troo. lo|oas|ng tho roapor's taco, W||| |ot h|s powor oxp|odo,
sp|ra||ng, tw|st|ng w|sps ot shadows. lagnuk roarod as ho
was sont t|y|ng, smash|ng |nto troos and r|pp|ng thom, roots
and a||, out ot tho ground. lagnuk |andod on a|| tours, h|s
ta|ons r|pp|ng through tho oarth to stop h|s s||d|ng, and thon
ho thundorod toward whoro l |ay. |o oponod h|s mouth, h|s
hot broath b|ast|ng mo, and thon W||| smashod tho top ot tho
roapor's hoad |nto tho ground. 1ho roapor tw|stod and rakod
h|s ta|ons across W|||'s bo||y. |o cr|od out as h|s knoos h|t tho
ground.
°W|||!' l scroamod, watch|ng h|m ta||.
lagnuk turnod h|s attont|on back to mo. °l don't know why
3ast|an |s so scarod ot your powor,' ho rumb|od. °You'ro just
a tromb||ng ||tt|o mouso ot a th|ng.'
l shr|okod, dotonat|ng my powor, and tho ||ght and w|nd
consumod mo. 1ho torco ot |t b|astod po|nt-b|ank |nto tho
roapor, swa||ow|ng h|m |n wh|to smoky ||ght, and sont h|m
soar|ng away trom mo and s|amm|ng |nto troos ||ko a p|nba||
unt|| ho droppod to tho ground. |o snar|od |n rago at hav|ng
takon a socond h|t that hard.
l d|vod tor my swords, but ho was a|roady |n tront ot mo. l
|ookod up and gaspod. |o sw|pod, s|ash|ng my dross w|do
opon at my bo||y. l jumpod back, ||ght|ng my b|ados, and
swung, ono b|ado s||c|ng through h|s t|osh. 1ho roapor
|gnorod tho ango|t|ro torch|ng h|s wound, roarod |n rago, and
smashod h|s sku|| |nto my body. l s|ammod |nto tho troo noxt
to mo and both swords woro knockod trom my gr|p. l s||d to
tho ground d|zz||y as lagnuk prossod a paw hard |nto my
chost, shov|ng my back |nto tho troo boh|nd mo unt|| l cou|dn't
broatho.
°3ast|an wants mo to k||| you botoro you stop us trom
gott|ng tho Ensh|,' tho roapor h|ssod, b|ast|ng mo w|th h|s
hot, ranc|d broath. °W|th you out ot tho way tor a tow yoars,
wo won't havo to worry about you spo|||ng our p|ans. And
whon you como back, lro||ator, tho Ensh| w||| bo horo wa|t|ng
tor you and you'|| no |ongor bo a throat. You won't ovon bo a
concorn. Your dostruct|on w||| bo your homocom|ng g|tt.'
l gaggod and wr|gg|od so l cou|d got onough a|r to spoak.
°What |s tho Ensh|?'
°0oath,' lagnuk snoorod. °1ho doath ot ovoryth|ng. 1ho
harb|ngor ot tho End ot 0ays.'
l punchod lagnuk |n tho taco, and h|s hoad snappod to
tho s|do as ho gruntod. Vy t|st crunchod |nto h|s snout aga|n
w|th a|| my strongth, and somoth|ng crackod. |o staggorod
and ||ttod h|s paw trom my chost. l cr|od out and smashod my
powor |nto lagnuk's |og. 1ho th|ck bono snappod |n ha|t and
ho scroamod, roo||ng back and ro|oas|ng mo. l co||apsod,
cough|ng and gasp|ng tor broath.
l c||mbod to my toot and rushod to W|||. 1ho tront ot h|s
sh|rt was dronchod b|ack w|th b|ood. l r|ppod h|s sh|rt opon to
stop tho b|ood|ng, but |nstoad l starod at t|aw|oss sk|n.
°l'm okay,' ho sa|d, |ook|ng up at mo. °Whoro |s ho?'
l spottod lagnuk strugg||ng to h|s toot, tavor|ng h|s
brokon |og. 1ho roapor gaggod up a gobbot ot b|ood and
h|ssod at mo. °l'|| bo back tor you,' ho grow|od, out ot broath.
||s torm b|urrod tor a momont, and thon ho was gono.
l b||nkod. °|o van|shod!'
W||| sat torward, rubb|ng h|s abdomon. °loapors havo tho
ab|||ty to movo at u|trah|gh spoods through tho Gr|m whon
thoy nood to mako a qu|ck gotaway, or whon thoy'ro |n
pursu|t. |o noods somo t|mo to hoa| h|s |og. 3rokon bonos ot
that s|zo don't hoa| |nstant|y, ||ko broaks |n sma||or bonos and
cuts.'
°l'm so sorry, W|||,' l cr|od. °l trozo.'
|o |ookod up at mo, h|s oyos warm and torg|v|ng. °Vy job
|s to protoct you, no mattor what happons.'
°You got hurt bocauso ot mo,' l sa|d sad|y.
°|oy, l'm t|no,' ho assurod mo, pu|||ng tho shroddod
p|ocos ot h|s sh|rt apart to show mo h|s hoa|od wounds. °l
can tako a |ot ot damago. 1hat's what l'm horo tor.'
l |ookod down at my dross and at tho damago lagnuk
had dono to |t. °Oh, my dross . . .'
W||| |aughod. °You aro such a g|r|.'
l scow|od. °And you'ro a jork.'
°lt's just that-' |o cut h|mso|t ott.
°What?'
°Evory t|mo you como back, you'ro a ||tt|o moro human.'
1ho |aughtor |n h|s vo|co had tadod.
°l don't undorstand.'
°l don't know,' ho contossod. °lt's strango. You act vory
human somot|mos, much moro so than you d|d whon wo t|rst
mot. You aron't as dark, l guoss, and you cons|dor yourso|t
ono ot thom.'
l a|most |aughod. °l om ono ot thom. 1ust w|th wo|rd
powors now.'
1horo was no amusomont on h|s taco. °You d|dn't a|ways
th|nk that.'
What d|d that moan? |ad l onco thought l was bottor than
humans, boon as dark as tho roapors? |ad l onco boon as
cruo|?
lausoa cropt ovor mo. °W|||, lagnuk scarod tho ho|| out
ot mo. |o's k|||od mo botoro. l romomborod |t as soon as ho
sa|d |t.'
°You can dotoat h|m,' ho sa|d oarnost|y. °Wo'|| dostroy
h|m and you can movo past |t.'
°W|||, l oloo!' l cr|od, moro angry than scarod. °l romombor
oylog! l romombor h|m toar|ng mo apart!'
|o touchod my arm, but l pu||od away. °lt's okay-'
°lo, |t's not okay,' l sa|d. °You can't |mag|no what that's
||ko.'
°You'ro r|ght,' ho sa|d. °l can't.'
l stoppod away trom h|m. l hatod myso|t tor throw|ng a
tantrum. Vak|ng oxcusos tor my trooz|ng |n tho m|dd|o ot tho
t|ght wasn't go|ng to ho|p mo. 3o l w|pod at my oyos and took
a doop broath. 3o|ng atra|d wou|d got mo k|||od. °Why |s
lagnuk so much b|ggor than tho othors?' l askod, my vo|co
shak|ng just a ||tt|o.
°|o's an urs|d roapor,' W||| oxp|a|nod. °1hoy'ro b|ggor
and moro powortu|, but s|owor than tho wo|t||ko lup|nos.
Urs|ds ro|y on bruto strongth |n batt|o.'
°|o was a monstor,' l wh|sporod, unab|o to got h|s taco
out ot my m|nd.
°3ut you dotoatod h|m th|s t|mo,' ho sa|d. °You |njurod h|m
bad|y onough tor h|m to took ott. You mado h|m rotroat. 1hat
makos up tor tho momont you woro atra|d. E|||o, you nood to
undorstand that onco you ovorcomo your toar, you can dotoat
anyth|ng.'
°3ut l d|dn't k||| h|m, and now ho'|| bo back tor mo w|th
whatovor that Ensh| |s. And l got you hurt and l too| ||ko crap.'
°0on't worry about mo, E|||o. l'm supposod to tako tho h|ts
tor you. 1rust mo.'
l stud|od h|s taco, unab|o to undorstand why somoono
wou|d dovoto h|mso|t to mo so strong|y. l wasn't worth h|s
pa|n or h|s b|ood.
|o torcod a sm||o. °Wo nood to got you back to your
houso. l'm suro your paronts aron't go|ng to bo too happy
about tho brokon w|ndow.'
Vy hoart sank. l had torgotton that lagnuk had thrown mo
through tho g|ass. |ow was l go|ng to oxp|a|n that? °l don't
th|nk l want to go back.'
|o trownod at mo. °Yoah, you nood to go back.'
l noddod and took a doop broath. °You'd bottor tako ott. l
don't th|nk |t wou|d bo a good |doa to wa|k back w|th r|ppod-
up c|othos and you w|th mo. lt m|ght |ook bad.'
°Good th|nk|ng,' ho sa|d. °l'|| bo c|oso.'
°1hanks, W|||.'
|o touchod my shou|dor. °You st||| |ook boaut|tu| |n your
dross.'
Whon l turnod to taco h|m, ho was gono. Aga|n.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
18
l EVElGE0 |lOV 1|E WOO03 Al0 1|E GllV 1O soo Kato and
landon stand|ng on tho pat|o ca|||ng my namo. l was doad. l
was suro ot |t. Kato spottod mo t|rst, and ot courso mado an
onormous doa| ot |t.
ºE||lo!' sho shr|okod, tak|ng ott at a suddon run. °Oh my
God, aro you a|| r|ght?' 3ho grabbod mo and pu||od mo |nto a
strong hug. °Wo had no |doa whoro you ran away to! Whoro
woro you? Aro you hurt? l can't bo||ovo you to|| through tho
g|ass!'
°l-'
°What happonod to your dross? What |s th|s on you?
You'ro t||thy. ls that b|ooo? 0o you nood to go to tho
hosp|ta|?' Kato was shoot|ng ott hor mouth. l on|y pu||od away
hosp|ta|?' Kato was shoot|ng ott hor mouth. l on|y pu||od away
trom hor w|th groat ottort.
°l'm t|no,' l sa|d, smooth|ng out my dross, suddon|y too||ng
vory so|t-consc|ous about tho nakod sk|n show|ng through tho
r|ps.
landon scoopod up mo |nto a hug. °l'm so g|ad you'ro
okay! What happonod? Wo woro ta|k|ng and you just sa|d to
watch out and thon-l don't ovon know.'
l thought qu|ck|y tor a rosponso. lt hurt to havo to ||o to
h|m, but thoro was no way l cou|d to|| h|m what had roa||y
happonod. °You tr|ppod on tho toot ot tho bonch and h|t your
hoad. Aro yoo okay?' Vaybo d|roct|ng tho attont|on toward
h|m wou|d savo my ass, but that wasn't ||ko|y.
|o ran a hand through h|s ha|r and shruggod. °Yoah, l'm
a|| r|ght. l just . . . Wo woro s|tt|ng and ta|k|ng and l can't
romombor anyth|ng attor you shoutod.'
l noddod t|rm|y. °Wo woro ta|k|ng and you got up to go
back to tho party whon you tr|ppod on tho toot ot tho bonch
and to||. You suro you'ro okay?' As ho gavo mo a puzz|od
nod, l wondorod what o|so ho romomborod-|t ho
romomborod ask|ng mo to bo h|s g|r|tr|ond at a||. l hopod ho
d|d, and romomborod my rosponso too, so ho'd movo on, but
tho way ho ho|d mo mado mo guoss othorw|so.
°E||saboth Var|o!' my mom shoutod as sho stompod
toward mo |n hor robo and pajamas. °Aro you a|| r|ght? What
|n tho ho|| happonod to you? Whoro aro you hurt?'
l tw|stod away. °l'm t|no-l'm not hurt.'
°What?' Vom grabbod my arm, pu||od mo c|oso, and
oxam|nod my sk|n, |ook|ng tor |njur|os. 3ho touchod my bo||y,
push|ng up tho t|aps ot tabr|c, hor oyos br|mm|ng w|do as sho
tound no wounds. °|ow aro you not hurt?' 3ho turnod to Kato.
°3ho to|| through tho w|ndow, r|ght?'
Kato noddod. °3ho wont í|ylog through |t.'
3ay|ng noth|ng, l pookod ovor Kato's shou|dors to soo my
dad march|ng through tho houso. Vy body |ockod up,
propar|ng tor tho scroam|ng match that was about to orupt.
°low, E|||o?' my mom prossod. °0|d somoono push you?
And d|d you ta|| |n tho woods? You'ro covorod |n d|rt. Woro
you dr|nk|ng?'
l choso that momont to tako advantago. °Yoah, l'm sorry,
Vom. landon and l had boon dr|nk|ng and wo woro jok|ng
around. landon to||, and l tr|od to go |ns|do whon l tr|ppod
and wont through tho w|ndow. Whon l saw what l d|d, l
troakod and ran. l was too scarod to como homo. l'm so
sorry, Vom.'
°You damn wo|| bottor bo!' sho cr|od. l cou|d to|| trom tho
|ook on hor taco that sho cou|dn't bo||ovo l'd managod to
broak tho w|ndow w|th anyth|ng |oss than a car, but noth|ng
had gono through that w|ndow but my body. 3ho was torcod
to accopt what l to|d hor.
°You woro dr|nk|ng?' my dad domandod angr||y as ho
appoarod on tho pat|o. |o spoko to mo, but h|s oyos
soarchod tho darknoss boh|nd mo. l hopod ho d|dn't soo W|||.
°lo moro part|os horo. 1hat's |t. lo |omocom|ng.'
°3ut 0ad-'
°|o's r|ght.' Vy mom throw hor hands |n tho a|r. °l am
comp|oto|y shockod that you don't havo a scratch on you!
Whoro d|d a|| th|s b|ood como trom?'
l thought qu|ck|y. °l havo scratchos, just ||tt|o onos. lt's too
dark to soo, l guoss. A|| my t|ngors and toos aro st||| horo,
soo?'
°0|d you soo tho moss you mado?' my dad h|ssod. °You
aro a comp|oto moron!'
ºRlcboro!' my mothor cr|od, covor|ng hor mouth w|th hor
hand and gap|ng at h|m.
l starod at h|m |n shock, rog|stor|ng tho b|atant contompt
on h|s taco and tho ma||co |n h|s vo|co. Kato took a stop
c|osor to mo, and l to|t hor t|ngors on tho back ot my arm,
|ott|ng mo know sho was thoro tor mo. Vy own tathor had just
ca||od mo a moron. What l'd dono-or what l noodod thom to
bo||ovo-m|ght havo boon stup|d, but what ho had sa|d was
out ot ||no.
°l'm not stup|d,' l grow|od undor my broath.
Vy dad's oxpross|on trozo. °What was that?'
°l sa|d,' l ro|toratod |n a |oudor, strongor vo|co, °l'm not
stup|d. l mado a m|stako. 1hat doosn't moan l'm a moron.'
|o gavo mo an |cy s|do|ong |ook. °You suro about that?'
Vy hands ro||od |nto t|ght t|sts. l d|dn't want to t|ght w|th my
dad, but l cou|dn't |ot h|m ta|k to mo that way. °vory.'
°l|ck, just go back |nto tho houso,' my mom sa|d. °l'||
hand|o th|s.'
|o turnod on hor. °Why aro you dotond|ng hor?'
°l'm not dotond|ng hor,' sho shot back. °l'm just
suggost|ng that you can't hand|o th|s propor|y whon you'ro so
upsot.'
||s nostr||s t|arod and tho vo|ns |n h|s tomp|o throbbod as
|t ho woro about to oxp|odo any socond. °And you'ro do|ng
much bottor? You |ot hor wa|k a|| ovor you and you'ro a|ways
|ntortor|ng.'
3ho b||nkod |n shock. °lntortor|ng? W|th what?'
°l can't d|sc|p||no hor w|th you a|ways runn|ng to hor s|do!'
°0|sc|p||no?' sho cr|od w|th a gasp. °1h|s |sn't d|sc|p||no.
You'ro on|y mak|ng th|ngs worso!'
|o throw a t|ngor |nto hor taco. °Vaybo ono day you'||
|oarn trom a|| th|s why ovoryth|ng on|y just gots worso.'
As l watchod tho man who was supposod to bo my tathor
stomp back |nto tho houso, l prayod ho'd just t||o tor d|vorco
and got tho ho|| away trom mo and my mom tor good. What
was wrong w|th h|m? l romomborod hav|ng a dad who onco
gavo mo p|ggyback r|dos and t|ngor pa|ntod wh||o wo
watchod 3aturday-morn|ng cartoons. 1h|s man was no |ongor
tho tathor l had onco had. 0omon|c roapors had moro
compass|on than th|s monstor.
°E|||o,' Vom sa|d vory sor|ous|y, jarr|ng mo trom my
thoughts. °look, l know you guys aro toonagors, and you'ro
go|ng to dr|nk rogard|oss ot what anyono says, but p|oaso
just bo sato. And don't bo atra|d to ask tor ho|p whon you
nood |t. l'd rathor you como to mo |nstoad ot us t|nd|ng you
doad |n a d|tch. lunn|ng away ||ko that wasn't coo|.'
°1hanks, Vom,' l sa|d, torc|ng a sm||o. Kato gavo mo a
know|ng |ook and pursod hor ||ps t|ght|y. Know|ng that sho
and landon had to w|tnoss a|| that mado mo too| a thousand
t|mos worso.
°Wo'|| ta|k about th|s tomorrow,' my mom sa|d, putt|ng an
oxhaustod hand to hor torohoad. °You'ro go|ng to bo
groundod.'
°Vrs. Vonroo,' Kato |ntorjoctod, stopp|ng torward, °|t was
a|| my tau|t. l brought tho a|coho|.'
Vy mom tskod. l d|dn't want Kato to got any ot tho hoat. l
wantod to scroam that at tho top ot my |ungs and to||
ovoryono what had roa||y happonod, but l cou|dn't, and that
mado mo too| ovon craz|or |ns|do.
°l'm not your mothor, Kato,' my mom bogan, °but tho
samo goos tor you and landon. lt you nood ho|p, ca|| mo. l
don't want to havo to worry about you two, o|thor. E|||o's
onough to dr|vo mo |nsano.'
Kato sm||od woak|y. °1hanks, Vrs. Vonroo.'
°ls thoro anyono |ott?' l askod, toar|ng tho wa|k ot shamo
back |nto my houso.
°1os|o and hor tr|onds wont homo a ||tt|o wh||o ago,' Vom
sa|d. °|or mom |s vory worr|od about you. l'|| havo to g|vo hor
a ca|| botoro l ta|| as|oop.'
l noddod and |a|d my chook on Kato's shou|dor. °l'm
roa||y, roo||y t|rod. l th|nk l'm just go|ng to go to bod.'
°0o you want mo to stay w|th you?' Kato askod.
l sm||od. °Yoah, that'd bo groat.'
l sa|d good-byo to landon, who huggod mo aga|n, tak|ng
a ||tt|o too |ong tor my comtort. 1h|ngs wou|d bo wo|rd
botwoon us.
Kato and l hoadod upsta|rs to my bodroom. l took a qu|ck
showor and changod |nto my pajamas wh||o sho watchod 1v
|n my room. Whon l camo out, l pu||od out anothor pa|r ot
pajamas tor hor and hung my dross up, ovon though |t was
dostroyod. What a wasto.
°l'|| hop |nto tho showor roa||y qu|ck and bo r|ght out,' Kato
sa|d. °l too| so gross trom danc|ng a|| n|ght.'
°Okay,' l sa|d absont|y, p|opp|ng down on my bod and
tak|ng up tho romoto to t||p through channo|s.
A m|nuto or two attor Kato had d|sappoarod trom tho
bodroom, l hoard a vo|co boh|nd mo.
°|oy,' W||| sa|d as ho c||mbod |n through my w|ndow.
l jumpod to my toot, mort|t|od, my oyos popp|ng w|do.
°What aro you do|ng |n horo?' l sa|d |n a raspy wh|spor. °l
was joklog about com|ng |n through tho w|ndows! l can't
bo||ovo you'ro |n my room. Vy paronts aro r|ght down tho ha||,
and Kato cou|d bo back any m|nuto. lot to mont|on my dad
|s crazy. What |t you got caught? |o has a gun, you know.'
|o scottod and |oanod back aga|nst tho wa||, cross|ng h|s
arms ovor h|s chost.
°Why aro you horo, W|||?' l askod, watch|ng h|m carotu||y.
|o stoppod torward, suck|ng |n h|s uppor ||p tor a
momont. 1ho t|ny g||mpso ot h|s tonguo as ho d|d so was
vory d|stract|ng. °l nood to to|| you somoth|ng.'
°Can't |t wa|t unt|| tomorrow?' l askod as ho sat down on
tho bod and l sat bos|do h|m.
°lo, |t can't. l shou|d'vo to|d you botoro, but you d|dn't
romombor, and l wasn't suro whon |t wou|d'vo boon r|ght to
to|| you.'
°Why?' l askod |mpat|ont|y. °l'm not suro thoro cou|d bo
much o|so you cou|d say to mo that wou|d shock mo.'
°1ho n|ght you d|od,' ho sa|d, spoak|ng s|ow|y. °l wasn't
thoro.'
°l know.'
°You do?'
°1ho day botoro my b|rthday, l had a n|ghtmaro, or a
momory, ot my own doath,' l sa|d. °l romomborod |ook|ng tor
you. 1hat n|ght l wasn't roa||y atra|d ot lagnuk. l was atra|d
bocauso l d|dn't know whoro you woro.'
||s gazo to|| away, h|s oxpross|on pa|nod. °l'm so sorry l
cou|dn't roach you |n t|mo.'
°Why? Why d|d you |oavo mo?'
°3ast|an.'
°3ast|an? What doos ho havo to do w|th |t?'
W||| |ookod back at mo, h|s gazo |ntonso and tu|| ot agony.
°lagnuk had boon ordorod to hunt you down, and 3ast|an's
othor thugs got mo t|rst. 1hoy ho|d mo and torturod mo. l
cou|dn't oscapo. Whon . . . whon lagnuk roturnod, l know |t
was a|| ovor. |o |a|d you down |n tront ot mo, and you
woro . . . you woro gono. l managod to oscapo thon, bocauso
l know l had to ||vo. l had to bo thoro whon you camo back.
You d|od a|ono, but l wou|dn't |ot you como back a|ono.'
°W|||,' l sa|d, not know|ng what o|so to say, °|t's not your
tau|t.'
°3ut |t |s,' ho sa|d, shak|ng h|s hoad. °You d|o ovor and
ovor and ovor aga|n, and l try to savo you, but l a|ways ta||. lt's
novor onough.'
°W|||,' l sa|d aga|n, and my hoart t|||od w|th so much
sadnoss, l cou|dn't tako |t. Vy hand cuppod h|s chook sott|y.
||s own hand covorod m|no and ho |oanod |nto my pa|m,
c|os|ng h|s oyos. lt was tho t|rst roa| omot|on ho'd shown to
mo, ||ko ho was |ott|ng mo soo h|s sou| tor tho t|rst t|mo. 1ho
ombraco mado mo wondor what ho tru|y to|t bonoath tho
sto|c, batt|o-hardonod oxtor|or. |o stayod thoro tor so |ong
that l |ost track ot t|mo. 1hon sw|tt|y, pa|ntu||y, ho pu||od away
and stood, |oav|ng mo too||ng ompty and |ong|ng.
°l havo to go,' ho sa|d, |ott|ng h|s gazo ta|| away. °3ho's
com|ng.'
l sa|d noth|ng back, but on|y starod at h|m as ho
appoarod to van|sh |nto th|n a|r.
1ho noxt momont Kato camo |n through my bodroom
door, rubb|ng a towo| through hor ha|r. °Who woro you ta|k|ng
to?' sho askod, g|v|ng mo a wo|rd |ook.
°Oh, no ono,' l sa|d and |oapod to my toot, my hoart
suddon|y pound|ng as |t |t had m|ssod a tow boats and woro
try|ng to mako up tor |t. l sat back down on my bod. W||| had
|ott so qu|ck|y that l to|t untu|t|||od, |t soomod thoro was st||| so
much to say, but l'd havo to koop |t a|| |ns|do. l had a too||ng
thoro was much moro ho wantod to say to mo, too.
°l cou|d havo sworn you woro ta|k|ng on your phono or
somoth|ng,' Kato sa|d, add|ng a s|y sm||o. °Was |t W|||?'
Vy taco t|ushod rod. °lo, l was just . . . say|ng stup|d stutt
to tho 1v. l hato roa||ty shows.'
°l|ght,' sho sa|d, ro|||ng hor oyos. 3|nco Kato was ta||or
than mo, my pajama pants camo down to just abovo hor
ank|os. °Wo'|| just protond thoso woro moant to bo croppod.'
3ho |aughod, po|nt|ng down, as |t somoono m|ght accuso hor
ot dross|ng poor|y botwoon thon and morn|ng.
°l won't to|| anyono tho truth,' l sa|d, sm|||ng. l wantod to
mako jokos and havo tun w|th Kato, but l cou|dn't got my m|nd
ott wondor|ng what o|so W||| had wantod to say to mo. Voro
than that, l was atra|d ot tho End ot 0ays that lagnuk had
spokon ot.
°You okay, E|||o?'
l |ookod up to soo Kato watch|ng mo worr|od|y. °3orry. l'm
just k|nd ot swampod w|th ||to r|ght now.'
Kato trownod and p|unkod down on tho carpot, rost|ng hor
o|bow on tho odgo ot tho bod. °l'm roa||y sorry about your
dad.'
1ho cornor ot my mouth tw|tchod as |t |t woro try|ng to
ottor hor a sm||o but cou|dn't. °Yoah. You and mo both.'
°|o shou|dn't havo sa|d tho th|ngs ho d|d.'
1ho p|ty |n hor oxpross|on mado mo tako a doop broath. l
w|shod my dad cou|d undorstand that what had happonod
was an acc|dont and l cou|dn't avo|d |t. Yoah, l had drunk a
coup|o ot shots, and maybo that wasn't oxact|y |oga| at my
ago, but l d|dn't dr|vo anywhoro and no ono was hurt bocauso
ot tho a|coho|. landon cou|d havo boon hurt a |ot worso |t l
hadn't shovod h|m out ot tho way ot tho roapor and thon |urod
tho boast away.
l tr|od so hard to do tho r|ght th|ng, but l d|dn't know how. lt
l had to koop covor|ng up tho roapor |nc|donts by trash|ng my
roputat|on and |y|ng to my tr|onds and tam||y, thon l wasn't
suro how |ong l cou|d koop t|ght|ng. lono ot th|s was ta|r to
mo. Or thom.
°l'm worr|od about you,' Kato sa|d abrupt|y. °lt just sooms
||ko your dad |s gott|ng worso ovory day. And l th|nk |t's
bog|nn|ng to attoct you.'
A t|oot|ng momory ot my dad g|v|ng mo tho t|yba|| ho
caught at my t|rst 0otro|t 1|gors basoba|| gamo p|ayod |n my
hoad ||ko a mov|o. |o sm||od so much back thon, and now l
cou|dn't ovon romombor tho |ast t|mo ho had sm||od or
|ookod at mo w|th somoth|ng othor than d|sda|n.
l shruggod at Kato. °Wo||, l'|| graduato |n tho spr|ng and bo
ott to co||ogo, so scrow h|m.'
°3ut ho's your tathor,' sho |ns|stod. °0o you roa||y want to
hato h|m tor tho rost ot your ||to?'
°l th|nk ho's mado up my m|nd tor mo, don't you agroo?'
3ho trownod and s|ghod. °|o usod to bo so coo| whon wo
woro ||tt|o. 0o you romombor whon ho took us to Crysta|
Vounta|n tor tho wookond and snowboardod w|th us? 1hat
was ono ot tho bost wookonds ot my ||to.'
l sm||od at tho momory, and |t mado my oyos st|ng w|th
toars. Vy dad had rontod a townhouso at that sk| rosort tor
h|m, my mom, Kato, and mo tho Chr|stmas botoro Kato and l
had startod h|gh schoo|. 1hat was tho |ast yoar wo'd to|t ||ko a
tam||y. Kato had a|ways boon ||ko a s|stor to mo, and my
paronts troatod hor ||ko an adoptod daughtor. low ovon sho
to|t my dad's tr|g|dnoss.
°You can't |ot a|| thoso now bad momor|os wash away tho
o|d good onos,' sho sa|d, t||t|ng hor hoad at mo. °1hoy'ro too
good to bo canco|od out. You havo to concontrato hard on
tho groat th|ngs about your ch||dhood, a|| tho groat momor|os
w|th your dad. |o's not ov||, ho's just changod. |o can
chango back.'
l sm||od at hor, w|p|ng at a toar |n tho cornor ot my oyo.
°1hanks, Kato.'
3ho gr|nnod back and tondor|y combod my ha|r back w|th
hor t|ngors. °You know l |ovo you.'
°l w|sh somoono o|so d|d too.' l hatod bo|ng so angst-y
and l wou|d novor havo adm|ttod that l had °daddy |ssuos' to
anyono's taco, but |t to|t wrong to h|do what was go|ng on |n
my ||to trom Kato. 1hat |nc|udod my lro||ator dut|os. Koop|ng
that trom hor k|||od mo-|t hurt a|most as much as my
ro|at|onsh|p w|th my dad d|d.
°|o |ovos you,' sho sa|d. °lt ho d|dn't |ovo you, thon ho
wou|d novor havo boon a good dad ovor. |o was amaz|ng
onco. |o just sucks at |t r|ght now. Vaybo th|ngs w||| got
bottor.'
°l hopo you'ro r|ght.'
3ho sat up and scottod at mo. °Ot courso l'm r|ght. l'm
k|nd ot amaz|ng, |Yl.'
l |aughod and tossod a p|||ow at hor. °Oh, roa||y?'
°Yoah, roa||y.' |or sm||o got a who|o |ot s|yor. °3o how
about W|||? |o |ookod hot ton|ght.'
Vy chooks t|ushod scar|ot. °|o m|ght havo.'
|or oxpross|on ||t up. °l know |t! You ||ko h|m, don't you?'
Vy mouth scrunchod |ndoc|s|vo|y and l ran a hand through
my ha|r. °3oo, l don't know. |o's a ||tt|o d|ttoront, but not |n a
roa||y bad way. |o just doosn't act ||ko most guys, you
know?'
Kato |aughod. °Ot courso, ta||, dark, and sto|c wou|d bo
your typo. At |oast |t's bottor than landon to||ow|ng you
around ||ko a |ovos|ck puppy |ato|y. l'm sorry tor that, by tho
way.'
l torcod a sm||o. °1hanks. l too| roa||y bad about |t.'
3ho g|gg|od and |ookod at mo ||ko l was crazy. °Why?'
l shruggod. °l don't know. lt's ||ko, ho roa||y ||kos mo and l
just don't too| tho samo way. |o's Looooo, you know?'
°Yoah, l guoss so.' |or gazo t||ckorod to tho co|||ng tor a
momont. °lt's not ||ko ho's an ass. |o's a ||tt|o |mmaturo, but
ho's st||| a good guy, and ho's so cuto. And bo||oº 3occor
star! Vaybo |t wou|dn't bo so bad to say yos and soo whoro |t
goos.'
Vy taco scrunchod aga|n. °l'm not go|ng out w|th a guy to
soo |t l ooo op ||k|ng h|m. 1hat sooms wrong. l don't want to
|oad h|m on.'
°Yoah, whon you put |t ||ko that . . .' 3ho tra||od ott.
l oyod hor w|th susp|c|on. °Why aro you h|s champ|on a||
ot a suddon? 0o yoo ||ko h|m?'
°Oh God, no. 0|d ho ask you out?'
°3ort ot. l d|dn't got a chanco to answor h|m.'
3ho porkod up. °What |t ho asks you aga|n?'
Vy hoart sank. °l don't know. l'|| havo to to|| h|m no. lt's not
||ko l can do anyth|ng o|so.'
°1ruo.'
°lt's just, w|th W|||, l'vo on|y known h|m tor a tow days, but l
too| ||ko l'vo known h|m torovor. l too| sato around h|m. lt's
n|co.'
3ho gr|nnod. °Oh, honoy, wo a|| want a wh|to kn|ght. lt's
programmod |nto us g|r|s.'
Vy sm||o was gonu|no th|s t|mo. °|o ls k|nd ot ||ko a wh|to
kn|ght.'
°Yoah, a stono-co|d tox, too. 0o you th|nk ho wants to go
out w|th you?'
°l don't know. Wo'ro just sort ot hang|ng out r|ght now, so
no 'go|ng' ot any k|nd. l don't th|nk ho ||kos mo that way.'
Kato ro||od hor oyos. °Okay, booglog oot to mo moans
somoth|ng ont|ro|y d|ttoront trom what l know you'ro usod to.
l|oaso don't to|| mo you'vo hookod up w|th h|m a|roady.'
°lo, no!' l sa|d qu|ck|y. °lt's not ||ko that.'
°|avo you k|ssod h|m at |oast?'
°lo.'
°0o you want to?'
°l don't know.' l b|ushod aga|n, th|nk|ng about |t.
°E|||o, you know w|th|n t|vo soconds ot moot|ng a boy |t
you want to k|ss h|m or not. 0o you, or don't you?'
0|d l? lt d|dn't ropu|so mo, but l had no |doa how W||| ovon
to|t about mo. Wo'd had somoth|ng ot a momont on|y m|nutos
botoro, but as soon as ho oponod up to mo, ho shut mo r|ght
back out. |o cou|d bo roa||y charm|ng and thon got so
moody. |o was my Guard|an. 3av|ng my ass was probab|y
just ||ko a job to h|m. |o had protoctod mo tor hundrods ot
yoars, and what l wou|d havo g|von just to romombor ooy ot
that . . . l was bog|nn|ng to doubt that tho ont|roty ot my
momory wou|d ovor como back to mo. lt ho|pod to th|nk about
W|||, but |t a|so drovo mo crazy. lo drovo mo crazy. l just
wantod to undorstand h|m and l wantod to know h|s socrots.
Wha t wos W|||? What was l? Vy ro|ncarnat|on, h|s
|mmorta||ty, our suporhuman ab|||t|os, tho roapors . . . And tho
Ensh|-what cou|d that bo? Cou|d W||| bo ono ot tho ango|s
ho had to|d mo about?
°E||?' Kato cockod an oyobrow at mo.
l s|ghod. °l'm about to ta|| as|oop.'
Kato sm||od woak|y. °Okay.'
Wo both c||mbod |nto my bod and tound s|oop qu|ck|y.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
14
1|E 3lOKEl Wll0OW3 ll VY llvllG lOOV lE|1 gap|ng ho|os out
onto tho pat|o, and thoy woro covorod w|th a rathor uns|ght|y
tarp and tapo unt|| tho w|ndow company cou|d do||vor and
|nsta|| tho rop|acomont g|ass. l'd bo ro||ovod whon l d|dn't
havo to |ook at |t aga|n.
At schoo|-tho on|y t|mo |n tho noxt throo wooks ot my
ground|ng whon l was a||owod out ot tho houso-Kato tr|od
not to br|ng tho w|ndow |nc|dont up, and landon st||| soomod
c|uo|oss about what oxact|y had happonod to h|m. l hopod
and prayod ho wou|d novor romombor that l was tho ono who
had thrown h|m to tho ground, ovon |t |t was to savo h|s ||to. lt
ho d|d romombor, ho kopt h|s mouth shut, wh|ch was
probab|y tor tho bottor. l cou|dn't oxp|a|n anyth|ng to h|m. l had
hurt h|m, and l cou|dn't ovon apo|og|zo tor |t. lt mado mo s|ck
to my stomach.
3o|ng groundod, howovor, d|dn't stop mo trom snoak|ng
out tho back door ot my houso at n|ght so that W||| and l cou|d
patro| tor roapors. Wo o|thor tra|nod or huntod ovory n|ght,
and l was gott|ng bottor. l |oarnod to str|ko tor tho hoad or tho
hoart to br|ng tho roapors down qu|ck|y and avo|d gott|ng
|njurod as much as poss|b|o. W||| workod w|th mo pat|ont|y
and t|ro|oss|y, and my momory was roturn|ng ||tt|o by ||tt|o. lt
was a constant comtort to know ho was a|ways thoro
somowhoro, comp|oto|y |n tuno w|th mo. l know ho had tho
strongth to protoct mo, ovon |t l d|dn't know l had tho strongth
to protoct myso|t.
1ho dark now wor|d l suddon|y tound myso|t ta|||ng |nto
was bocom|ng tho norm. Evory n|ght or two thoro was
anothor roapor |n my path. l was gott|ng bottor, moro t|u|d,
moro proc|so |n t|ght|ng thom. 1ochn|quos that had onco
boon socond naturo to mo |n past ||vos woro roturn|ng. lt
wasn't qu|to ||ko r|d|ng a b|ko, but l was gott|ng thoro.
l was gratotu| to bo ab|o to g|vo W||| a broak trom h|s
Guard|an dut|os wh||o l was |n schoo|. loapors d|dn't
norma||y como out dur|ng tho day, so W||| was ab|o to spond
tho t|mo at lathan|o|'s houso, whoro ho showorod, ato, and
d|d W||| th|ngs. lt l woro attackod, as un||ko|y as that wou|d bo
wh||o l was |n c|ass, ho'd know |nstant|y and como to my s|do.
|o noodod somo t|mo to h|mso|t, and l noodod to havo a
norma| day. Gott|ng out ot tho wor|d ot roapors tor just a tow
hours dur|ng tho day ho|pod mo stay sano. lorhaps ho
noodod that to stay sano a|so.
|owovor, tho doopor l got |nto that wor|d, tho turthor away
my o|d wor|d ot tr|onds, tam||y, and schoo| dr|ttod. 1ho po||co
had a suspoct |n custody tor tho murdor ot Vr. Voyor. Evon
though l know tho man was |nnocont ot that cr|mo, ho was
wantod tor quost|on|ng tor two othor v|o|ont murdors |n tho
0otro|t aroa, w|th ov|donco stackod hoav||y aga|nst h|m. l
tr|od to bo||ovo that somo good wou|d como trom Vr.
Voyor's bruta| doath. lt d|dn't, howovor, mako mo too| any
bottor, s|nco l know that ovory ono ot tho roapors' v|ct|ms was
|n |o||, |nc|ud|ng Vr. Voyor.
Whon l got my ||t papor back, l cou|dn't bo||ovo l'd dono
so poor|y. l cou|dn't t|guro out how to ba|anco my tocus
botwoon schoo| and my dut|os as tho lro||ator. Vy toachor,
Vr. lov|no, askod to soo mo attor schoo| so wo cou|d
d|scuss tho papor. l droadod tho moot|ng, but |t was bottor
than ta|||ng tho c|ass a|togothor. lt l was roa||y |ucky, ho'd |ot
mo rodo |t. Untortunato|y, l wasn't |ucky vory otton.
Attor tho t|na| bo|| rang that day, l stoppod by Vr. lov|no's
c|assroom to ta|k to h|m about my papor. As l'd suspoctod,
ho wou|dn't a||ow mo to rowr|to |t, but ho wont ovor somo ot |t
w|th mo, and l |ott w|th a bottor sonso ot what l was supposod
to bo |oarn|ng. l wasn't go|ng to bo ab|o to got any oxtra
crod|t o|thor, but Vr. lov|no was vory w||||ng to ho|p mo got a
pass|ng grado.
l was protty suro my tr|onds woro moro |mpat|ont about
my unground|ng than l was. 0ur|ng |unch por|od on tho t|rst
|r|day ot my troodom, l tound myso|t daydroam|ng aga|n,
d|gg|ng doop |ns|do my hoad, dosporato to romombor moro.
3ut ovory t|mo l tr|od, a|| l cou|d soo was lagnuk's horr|b|o
taco, gnash|ng and b|t|ng. Whon that happonod, l torcod h|s
momory away and p|cturod W|||'s gont|o taco, and l tocusod
on h|m as hard as l cou|d. lagnuk tr|ghtonod mo and l wasn't
ashamod to adm|t |t. |o was tho s|zo ot a p|ckup truck and
ho wantod to oat mo. |oar was, at tho vory |oast, roasonab|o.
°E||lo Vorlo . . .' camo a s|ngsong vo|co bos|do mo.
°|uh,' l grumb|od, and proddod my |unch. lt was turkoy-
and-gravy day, wh|ch was my tavor|to schoo| |unch, but l had
too much on my m|nd tor mo to onjoy |t.
°What's w|th you th|s wook?' Kato askod, hor vo|co |ow.
landon sat across trom us and was doop |nto a
convorsat|on w|th Chr|s and Evan about tho|r tavor|to v|doo
gamo's bo|ng opt|onod tor a major mov|o. lono ot thom
hoard us.
°l'm sorry,' l sa|d. °l'vo just boon roa||y d|stractod.'
°ls |t your dad?' |or tono was sor|ous.
°|or onco, no, not just h|m. lt's h|m, schoo| crap, th|nk|ng
about co||ogo, dumb boys. . . . 1horo's just a |ot ot stutt go|ng
through my hoad r|ght now.'
3ho trownod. °You soom so t|rod a|| tho t|mo.'
°l am. l don't know. l'm just go|ng through a tunk, l guoss.'
°Wo||, choor up! lt's Vov|o l|ght and you havon't como
w|th us |n ||ko a m||||on yoars.'
l pokod at my |unch. °l don't th|nk l too| ||ko go|ng to soo a
mov|o.'
°Uh, too bad,' Kato sa|d. °You don't havo a cho|co. l nood
to hang out w|th you, so you'ro go|ng.'
l torcod a sm||o. °l know, l'm so sorry.'
°3r|ng W|||.'
l |aughod tor roa| th|s t|mo. °Yoah, r|ght.'
°Why not?'
°|o's not roa||y a mov|o porson.' l tr|od to |mag|no s|x-
hundrod-yoar-o|d W||| s|tt|ng |n a crowdod mov|o thoator
d|gg|ng through a tub ot buttory popcorn. 1hon l p|cturod h|m
woar|ng ovors|zo 80 g|assos, and |t was vory d|tt|cu|t not to
|augh out |oud.
Kato mado an un|nto|||g|b|o no|so. °Who doosn't ||ko
go|ng to tho mov|os? 1hat's a |oad ot bu||.'
°|o's a protty sor|ous guy,' l adm|ttod. °vory tocusod on
what ho's supposod to bo do|ng. |o doosn't put hav|ng tun
vory h|gh on h|s pr|or|ty ||st.'
°|o's novor takon you on a dato?' 3ho soomod appa||od.
°|o's not my boytr|ond, Kato.'
°You hang out w|th h|m o|| tho t|mo. |ow aro you two not
dat|ng?'
l took a b|to and avortod my gazo, l know how bad a ||ar l
was. °|o's my tutor. 1hat's a||.'
°0on't ||o to mo. lt you'ro go|ng out w|th h|m, just adm|t |t. l
won't judgo you tor |t. |o sooms n|co and ho's hot. l don't
know why you'd bo ombarrassod to adm|t ho's your
boytr|ond. lot to mont|on ho's a|roady graduatod. Co||ogo
guys aro way bottor than h|gh schoo| boys. 1hoy koow th|ngs.
1hoy know how to oo th|ngs.'
l d|dn't want to know what sho moant by that. °|o's just my
tutor. |o's boon ho|p|ng mo w|th ocon. lt's roa||y
ombarrass|ng to havo to adm|t |t, but that's a|| ho |s, l swoar.'
lt wou|d havo to|t roa||y, roa||y strango ca|||ng W||| my
boytr|ond, bocauso |t was vory untruo, but th|nk|ng about tho
|doa mado mo roa||zo that l d|d k|nd ot ||ko h|m. |o probab|y
wou|dn't bo my paronts' t|rst cho|co, to say tho |oast, but l
cou|dn't ho|p |t. Vy mom wou|dn't ||ko |t |t l datod somoono l
sa|d was |n co||ogo. Vy dad . . . Wo||, ho'd novor ||ko mo
go|ng out w|th ooyooo-so, whatovor. ||s op|n|on d|dn't
count. l d|dn't romombor know|ng W||| torovor, but l cou|d too|
|t. And |t was k|nd ot romant|c th|nk|ng ot h|m as my protoctor.
l ||kod that. |o was ||ko a socur|ty b|ankot . . . on|y |oss t|utty. l
wondorod, tor a momont, |t ho was cudd|y. lrobab|y not.
Kato sat back w|th a cratty sm||o on hor taco. °You'ro a
d|rty ||ar.'
°Am not.'
°lobody hangs out w|th tho|r tutor,' sho cha||ongod.
°1utors suck. Evon hot onos.'
°|o's a coo| guy,' l |ns|stod. °Wo'ro k|nd ot tr|onds now.'
°l thought you sa|d ho wasn't that n|co.'
°|o can bo n|co whon ho wants to, but ho's a|so moody.'
°3ounds ||ko a typ|ca| boy. Aro you br|ng|ng h|m ton|ght?'
°l roa||y doubt |t.'
3ho trownod. °1hat'd suro p|ss landon ott, wou|dn't |t? l
too| k|nd ot bad tor tho guy.'
°|o'|| havo to got ovor |t.' l s|ppod on tho straw st|ck|ng
out ot my Vounta|n 0ow.
Kato to|dod hor arms ovor hor chost and s|ghod. °You'ro
bo|ng na naïvo|y opt|m|st|c.'
landon |ookod up. °Vmm? What about mo?'
°Wo'ro ta|k|ng crap about your ug|y roots,' Kato snoorod,
pok|ng tho top ot h|s hoad. °You m|ght want to got thoso
touchod up. 0av|d 3ockham wou|d woop at tho s|ght ot you.'
|o scow|od and t||ppod hor ott botoro go|ng back to h|s
convorsat|on. 3ho |aughod.
Attor tho t|na| bo||, l stayod an hour attor schoo| to go ovor our
noxt ||t ass|gnmont w|th Vr. lov|no. Whon our moot|ng ondod,
l wont to my |ockor, rotr|ovod what l noodod, and hoadod to
tho studont park|ng |ot. Vy tr|onds had a|| |ott, and tho |ot
wasn't as tu|| as usua|. As l wa|kod to my car, l caught a
g||mpso ot 1osoph|no lowport stand|ng by hor spark|y rod
lango lovor. 3o|d|y, l changod my path and stro||od up to
hor. 3ho was toxt|ng away on hor phono.
°|oy, 1os|o,' l sa|d.
3ho |ookod up and gavo mo a gonu|no sm||o. °Oh, hoy,
E|||o. What's up?'
°1ust got out ot a soss|on w|th lov|no,' l sa|d. °l'vo boon
ta|||ng boh|nd, so ho's boon ho|p|ng mo out attor c|ass. What
aro you st||| do|ng horo?'
3ho wavod hor phono d|sm|ss|vo|y. °Eh, got out ot track
oar|y tor a doctor's appo|ntmont. l'm just k||||ng a tow m|nutos
botoro l havo to |oavo. lt boats s|tt|ng |n a wa|t|ng room tor
torty-t|vo m|nutos. At |oast l can onjoy tho sun out horo and
got r|d ot tho raccoon tan my sung|assos mado on my taco.'
°vory truo,' l |aughod. °|oy, ||ston, about my party-'
°0on't worry about |t,' sho sa|d, s||pp|ng hor phono |nto
hor purso. °3h|t happons.'
l b|ushod scar|ot. °lt was roa||y ombarrass|ng.'
°l know somo poop|o tr|od to mako a b|g doa| out ot |t.'
3ho g|oworod. °3ut sor|ous|y, l'vo mado an ass out ot myso|t
many t|mos. lt happons to ovoryono whon thoy got drunk-
wo||, not qu|to t|y|ng through tho w|ndow, but you got what l
moan. l got s|ck onco and ru|nod tho |ntor|or ot my ox's car.
Evoryono mossos up somot|mos. You just k|nd ot havo to
|augh |t ott and bo thanktu| you woron't hurt.'
l sm||od, too||ng a ||tt|o bottor. °1hanks, 1os|o.'
°lo prob|om,' sho sa|d w|th a sympathot|c gr|n. °l moan |t.
3orry about your w|ndow.'
°l'm sorry about your ox's car.'
Wo sm||od at oach othor tor a momont. lt was good to
know that wo woro st||| coo|.
3ho took hor co|| back out and g|ancod at |t. °l shou|d got
go|ng.'
°3oo you |ator,' l sa|d.
3ho sm||od. °0ot|n|to|y.' 3ho got |nto hor car and |ott tho
park|ng |ot.
l turnod to wa|k back to my car and suddon|y tho wor|d
bogan to s||p away. l rockod back on my hoo|s, suddon|y
toartu| that tho haz|noss ot my v|s|on m|ght moan that l was
go|ng b||nd tor somo roason, but as soon as that thought had
crossod my m|nd, tho wor|d camo back |nto tocus. On|y, |t
wasn't a wor|d l |mmod|ato|y rocogn|zod.
l wos lo o mocb oorkor wor|o, oo oocloot, go|ooo wor|o |lt
by torcb|lgbt, ooo o womoo`s íoco-o roopor`s-oppooroo
locbos owoy írom mloo, bor booo c|ompoo oroooo my cblo,
bor ool|s olgglog loto my cbooks ooo jow. 5bo boo mo
sbovoo op ogolost o wo|| tbot ío|t co|o ooo boro ot my bock.
7bo sboor p|ootoo oross sbo woro wos coo| ogolost my
orms ooo |ogs. lor sklo wos oork browo ooo bor oyos woro
lobomoo|y |orgo, tbo popl|s mo|tlog loto b|ock lrlsos so wloo
tbot oo|y s|lvors oí wblto cor|oo oroooo tbolr sloos. lor bolr
wos |oog ooo oork ooo soporotoo loto tblo brolos, l
sopposoo lo oroor to o||ow bor to b|ooo lo.
ºYoo sboo|oo`t bovo como boro,' tbo roopor blssoo lo o
|oogoogo l somobow rocogolzoo os oocloot Egyptloo and
know to bo hor nat|vo tonguo. º7boso wbo |ovo Ooo oro
s|ovos, ooo yoo oro o stroogor boro.'
l coo|o boro|y spook tbroogb bor grlp. º7bo boslooss oí
moo ls oí oo mottor to mo. Vy oo|y coocoro |los wltb tbolr
soo|s-íroo ooo coptlvo o|lko.'
ºYoo`ro o íoo|. Not ovoo tbo oogo|lc vootoro boro.'
º¼o botb koow tbot ls o |lo.'
lor soor| bocomo o sooor. ºLo yoo mooo yoor
Ooorolooº Ab, yos. l toro bor tbroot oot myso|í. Now ovoo
tbo orcboogo|s bovo íorgottoo tbls |ooo.'
l sot my jow ooo groooo my tootb lo cborolog rogo. ºlí
tboy`o íorgottoo lt, tboy woo|oo`t bovo soot mo boro to kl|| tbo
roopor poslog os tbo pboroob ooo stop yoo o|| írom
c|olmlog moro bomoo soo|s.'
5bo crockoo tbo bock oí my sko|| loto tbo wo||. Polo sbot
oowo my bock, ooo b|ockooss cropt oroooo tbo oogos oí
my oyos. º7boy soot yoo boro to olo, kl||or. 1ost |lko yoor
Oooroloo.'
7o|oos |lko o borpy`s grow írom bor ílogortlps, bot l oloo`t
wolt íor bor to cot mo. Vy powor sorgoo ooo sbovoo loto tbo
roopor lo o í|osb oí wblto |lgbt, bot sbo strolooo ogolost lt.
lor íoco twlstoo wltb íory, ooo bor owo powor oxp|oooo os
bor osb-co|oroo wlogs borst írom bor bock ooo sbo sbovoo
mo ooopor loto tbo wo||, sbottorlog tbo polotlog oí tbo
pboroob`s goos. l s|ommoo my po|m loto bor cbost ooo
soot bor crosblog to tbo í|oor. Uoob|o to cotcb bor bo|ooco
oo bor íoot, sbo took to tbo olr, íl||log op tbo po|oco tbrooo
room wltb bor mosslvo wlogs, wblcb smosboo tbroogb tbo
room`s stooo co|omos os lí tboy woro mooo oí rooos. A
soctloo oí tbo col|log como crosblog oowo oroooo os, ooo l
sproog to ovolo tbo ío||log oobrls. 7bo roopor í|ow bockworo
toworo tbo tbrooo, wboro sbo |ooooo, porcblog oo tbo gl|ooo
cbolr, bor wlogs sprooo wloo. 7bo torcb|lgbt g|oomlog oíí tbo
go|ooo wo||s govo tbo roopor oo oooortb|y g|ow.
l co||oo íortb my sworos ooo swopt tbom opworo,
lostoot|y |lgbtlog tbom wltb oogo|ílro. l bo|o tbom tlgbt os tbo
roopor |oopoo oíí tbo pboroob`s tbrooo ooo took í|lgbt ogolo,
bor oross bl||owlog oroooo bor, wlogs í|opplog ooco, to|oos
s|osblog. 5bo ooscooooo oo mo, bot l mooo my olm troo
ooo swoog. Vy ílory b|ooos s|lcoo tbo roopor`s booo c|ooo
oíí, ooo l oockoo os bor í|omlog booy oxp|oooo obovo mo
ooo wos gooo.
Asb ooo ombors sott|oo oroooo mo, ooo l stooo, |ottlog
tbo oogo|ílro olo. l took o ooop brootb to stoooy my boort
ooo íocosoo ot tbo ooxt tosk ot booo. l roo írom tbo tbrooo
room loto o íor oorkor bo|| to íloo tbo pboroob`s roopor
lmpostor, bot l stoppoo oooo wboo l torooo oroooo tbo ooxt
coroor.
Ooo oí tbo boor roopors b|ockoo my potb. l spoo oroooo
to íloo oootbor ot my bock, l wos sorroooooo. Aogo|ílro
rotorooo to my b|ooos, ooo l |ooocboo myso|í ot tbo ílrst
roopor. l spoo ooo twlstoo ooo s|lcoo, bot ooo oí tbom
strock. l jottoo o b|ooo strolgbt loto tbo goplog jows oí tbo
ílrst boor roopor ooo lts booo woot op lo í|omos, bot to|oos
wroppoo oroooo my wolst ooo yookoo mo bock. l crloo oot
ooo í|ol|oo . . . .
1ho wor|d spun onco moro, and a p|ckup truck b|arod |ts
horn as |t b|urrod by, narrow|y m|ss|ng mo. l whoo|od around
and bumpod |nto a t|rm, warm body. l |ookod up to t|nd myso|t
|n W|||'s arms, and l was back |n my schoo| park|ng |ot. |o'd
pu||od mo out ot tho truck's path.
°E|||o? E|||o!'
Vy hoart poundod and my oyos wh|ppod around mo
w||d|y. °Whoro |s |t?' l askod broath|oss|y. °Whoro's tho
roapor? Vy swords?'
|o ho|d both my shou|dors t|rm|y. °1horo's no roapor.
lo|ax.'
Vy pu|so bogan to s|ow down and l took |ong, doop
broaths. lt must havo boon anothor t|ashback, ||ko tho ono l
had oxpor|oncod |n my h|story c|ass. As l stoad|od my
norvos, moro ot tho momory camo back to mo. l'd boon
surroundod and a|ono.
°Whoro was l?' l askod toartu||y. °Who was that?'
|o stud|od my taco w|th a puzz|od |ook. °Who? Who aro
you ta|k|ng about?'
°1ho roapor!' l cr|od. °3ho was a v|r, l th|nk. And thoro
woro moro. 1horo woro Urs|ds ovorywhoro. 1ho pharaoh-'
°lharaoh?'
°Yos, ho'd boon k|||od and a v|r roapor had shapo-sh|ttod
and m|m|ckod h|s appoaranco to tako h|s p|aco. 1hoy'd
k|||od so many |n Egypt a|roady, takon so many sou|s, and l
was t|ght|ng thom a|ono. Vy Guard|an thon was doad. lt was
botoro l know you, |ong botoro. lt must havo boon thousands
ot yoars ago.'
Vy thoughts woro scattorod and |ncohoront as l tr|od to
mako sonso ot too many dota||s at onco. lt had boon |ong
botoro W||| camo |nto my ||to, |ong botoro l startod to too|
human, as ho had to|d mo l gradua||y had as tho contur|os
passod. |ad l boon |n d|roct contact w|th tho archango|s?
Whon had l stoppod roco|v|ng ordors trom thom? W|th a
roapor pos|ng as tho pharaoh, tho domon|c torcos woro ab|o
to k||| an |mmonso numbor ot humans, so many |n tact that l
had boon sont to Anc|ont Egypt to |ntorvono.
3ut who had sont mo? An ango|?
º7boy soot yoo boro to olo, kl||or.' 1ho roapor's words
hauntod mo.
°E|||o,' W||| sa|d, |ay|ng a hand on my shou|dor. °Aro you
okay?'
l noddod. °Yoah. l'm just . . . th|nk|ng.'
°Wo||, |ot's th|nk out ot tho way ot spood|ng voh|c|os.' |o
|od mo back to my car, and wo sat |ns|do tor a momont.
°3omoth|ng o|so,' l sa|d. °1ho roapor ca||od mo a k|||or.
1hoy usua||y just ca|| mo lro||ator. What oxact|y doos my
namo moan?'
°You d|dn't a|ways go by that namo,' ho oxp|a|nod. °1ho
or|g|n |s lat|n, so l assumo that poop|o bogan ca|||ng you
'lro||ator' wh||o that was an |mportant |anguago |n tho anc|ont
wor|d. lt moans 'warr|or.''
¼orrlor. °l guoss l havo qu|to tho roputat|on to ||vo up to.'
°0on't worry about |t. You'|| got thoro. You a|ways do.'
°l hopo you'ro r|ght,' l sa|d. °What aro you do|ng at my
schoo|, anyway?'
°You woro d|strossod. lt must havo boon tho t|ashback. l
rushod horo as qu|ck|y as l cou|d and l saw a roapor about a
m||o away.'
1hat caught mo ott guard. °ln broad day||ght?'
|o noddod. °lt m|ght havo boon |ook|ng tor you or
to||ow|ng your scont. You shou|d got homo so thoro won't bo
any t|ght |n pub||c.'
°lt won't attack anyono, w||| |t?'
°lo,' ho assurod mo. °1hoy don't tood dur|ng tho day, and
|t's vory raro tor ono to bo out at th|s hour. 1ho roapor was
smok|ng ||ko a ch|mnoy |n tho sun. Whatovor |t |s out tor must
bo |mportant, wh|ch |s why wo shou|d got you homo.'
l |ookod at h|m |n surpr|so. °You'ro r|d|ng |n my car?'
°Yos' was a|| ho sa|d.
°You'ro not go|ng to bo t|y|ng back to my houso, thon?' l
askod sarcast|ca||y.
|o turnod to g|vo mo a surpr|sod, quost|on|ng |ook. °lo.'
°1hat momory roa||y troakod mo out, W|||.'
°What do you moan?'
°l was so co|d and just . . . d|ttoront. l took my job vory
sor|ous|y. 7oo sor|ous|y. lt was k|nd ot scary. lt was ||ko l
wasn't ovon human.' l was g|ad thoro wasn't a m|rror, so l
cou|dn't soo my taco. 1ho darknoss |n my oxpross|on wou|d
havo boon too much tor mo to tako.
°You can bo vory |ntonso,' ho contossod.
°And somoth|ng o|so,' l cont|nuod. °ln my momory, l to|d
tho roapor that l was sont by tho ango|s. 0o thoy g|vo mo
ordors?'
|o b||nkod at mo and l took that as a no botoro ho sa|d
anyth|ng at a||. °lot that l ovor romombor.'
°lt thoy d|d g|vo mo ordors botoro, why not now? Why d|d
thoy stop? Why don't l romombor spoak|ng to thom?'
°l don't know whon or why thoy stoppod.'
3ut why d|dn't l romombor |t? Was l s|ow|y bocom|ng so
human that l was torgott|ng myso|t? |ad l torgotton whoro l
camo trom? What l tru|y was? Was my human|ty a
woaknoss? Or was |t a strongth? Was |t my own tau|t that l no
|ongor spoko to tho ango|s? |ad l dono somoth|ng wrong?
W||| had to|d mo tho ango||c roapors sorvod tho ango|s |n
|oavon. What |t l was part ot tho|r p|an? Who was l
supposod to sorvo? What |t thoy had croatod mo?
l scottod at tho |doa that l m|ght bo somo tw|stod sc|onco
oxpor|mont ot tho d|v|no, but somoth|ng was obv|ous|y
br|ng|ng mo back ovory t|mo l d|od.
Was |t ango|s?
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
1b
°GE1 Ul 1O YOUl lOOV Al0 l'll VEE1 YOU 1|ElE,' W||| sa|d whon
wo got back to my houso.
l shot h|m a susp|c|ous |ook. °Vy mom w|||-'
°lo, sho won't know l'm horo. 1ust got upsta|rs.'
l noddod. 1horo was no uso t|ght|ng h|m. As soon as l
wa|kod |n tho tront door, l hoard my mom ca|| mo trom hor
ott|co.
°|oy, E|||o? Can you como horo tor a m|nuto?'
l stoppod doad. Vy hoart thumpod ||ko crazy as l wont |nto
hor ott|co. 3ho |ookod up whon l ontorod.
°|oy, swoot|o,' sho sa|d. °|ow was schoo|?'
l shruggod. lt took ottort to bohavo norma||y |nstoad ot ||ko
a comp|oto |unat|c. °lt was okay. l'm do|ng a ||tt|o bottor |n
ocon. l st||| don't roa||y got |t, though. 3o what d|d you want to
ta|k to mo about?'
°Oh, yos!' sho sa|d. °1ho doa|orsh|p t|na||y ca||od. 1hoy
can tako your car |n now. l guoss thoy had a roa||y busy tow
wooks. Wo can drop |t ott ton|ght or 3unday n|ght, |t you'd
||ko. Aro you go|ng to tho mov|os aga|n?'
1hat's r|ght. Wo woro tak|ng my car to got tho scratchos
and donts c|oanod up and ropa|ntod. °Yoah. You know, wo
m|ght as wo|| just wa|t unt|| 3unday to drop |t ott. 1hoy won't
start work|ng on |t unt|| Vonday anyway, and l'd ||ko to uso my
car th|s wookond.'
°3ounds good.'
°Okay. Wo||, l'vo got to work on somo ocon homowork
botoro l |oavo. 1a|k to you |ator, Vom.'
l joggod up tho sta|rs and tound W||| stand|ng by my dosk
|ook|ng at somo photographs ot my tr|onds and mo. °Aro wo
hunt|ng ton|ght?' ho askod.
l trownod w|th a tw|ngo ot d|sappo|ntmont. °Yoah, l guoss
so. 1on|ght's Vov|o l|ght, romombor?'
|o groanod and turnod toward mo. °l torgot.' |o pausod.
°0o you roa||y havo to go to that?'
°Yos,' l sa|d t|rm|y. °l want to try and stay a norma|
toonago g|r|.'
°3ut you'ro not.'
°Wo||, thon l'd ||ko to ma|nta|n tho tacado.'
°l'm roa||y suro |t that roapor trom oar||or doosn't track you
ton|ght, anothor w|||, ||ko lagnuk. l don't th|nk you shou|d bo
go|ng p|acos w|th your tr|onds w|thout mo, ospoc|a||y at
n|ght.'
l romomborod my convorsat|on w|th Kato trom oar||or.
°You cou|d . . . como w|th mo.' Vy vo|co |||tod hopotu||y at tho
ond.
|o d|dn't answor at t|rst, and my hoart sank. °l can't roa||y
th|nk ot a bottor way to koop a c|oso oyo on you.'
°1hon you'ro com|ng. |avo you ovor boon to a mov|o
thoator botoro?'
°Ot courso l havo,' ho sa|d. |o soundod ottondod. °l don't
||vo undor a rock.'
°Cou|d'vo too|od mo,' l sa|d.
W||| sat down on tho odgo ot my bod, |oan|ng torward
|az||y. °What aro you soo|ng?' ho askod, |ook|ng up at mo.
°Kato sa|d somoth|ng about a comody.'
°l|ko what?' |o soomod norvous.
°Aro you say|ng you don't havo any suggost|ons?' l
sm||od s|y|y.
°1ust bocauso l'vo soon a coup|o mov|os |n tho |ast
hundrod yoars doosn't moan l'm savvy about |o||ywood
thoso days.'
°l was just cur|ous. l d|dn't th|nk you wou|d bo. Aro you
coo| w|th soo|ng a mov|o? l'|| pay.' l wa|kod ovor to my van|ty
to put on somo oyo shadow and mascara. l pookod at W|||'s
rot|oct|on |n tho m|rror.
°l'm not go|ng so l can onjoy myso|t,' ho grumb|od. °l'm
go|ng to mako suro lagnuk doosn't snap your nock on tho
way out tho door.'
° Why aro you a|ways so graph|c?' l strokod my
|ashos w|th tho mascara brush.
°l ||ko to got my po|nt across.'
°Apparont|y.' l turnod back to h|m and stoppod up to
whoro ho sat. °Anyway, l th|nk ton|ght w||| bo good tor you.
You shou|dn't bo so moody and brood|ng.'
°l'm not moody or brood|ng,' ho |ns|stod.
l |ookod down at h|m qu|zz|ca||y. °Oh, you aro.'
°Aro wo sparr|ng t|rst?' ho askod, choos|ng to |gnoro
what l had just sa|d. °Vaybo wo shou|d go tor a run.'
°lo,' l sa|d. °l don't want to got a|| gross and havo to
showor aga|n. |ow about attor?'
°1hat's t|no,' ho sa|d, h|s vo|co gr|m. °lt you ask mo, l don't
th|nk you'ro tak|ng your duty sor|ous|y onough.'
l ottorod h|m my swootost sm||o. °Wo||, l ask you,
d|d l?'
|o t|ashod tho s||ghtost g||mmor ot a gr|n up at mo. °3ut
E|||o, l roa||y nood you to undorstand that th|s |s probab|y a
vory bad |doa.'
l narrowod my oyos. °A tr|p to tho mov|os |sn't dangorous.
l'|| bo t|no.'
°You can't guarantoo your satoty.'
°lo|thor can you.'
|o sm||od, ovor so s||ght|y. 1hon ho roachod up and
touchod my oar|obo, |ook|ng at |t carotu||y. °Whon l saw you
|ast,' ho sa|d sott|y, °your oars woro p|orcod w|th ||tt|o poar|
oarr|ngs.'
l a|most |aughod, not bocauso tho momory was tunny, but
bocauso ot tho swoot tondnoss |n h|s vo|co as ho roca||od |t.
lt surpr|sod mo. °You havo a roa||y good momory.'
°lrotty good.' ||s sm||o grow a ||tt|o w|dor-that dazz||ng
sm||o l hadn't soon h|m show a|| wook. lt mado mo happy.
°You'ro tho samo porson, yot you'ro somoono now.'
°ls that a good th|ng?'
|o shruggod a ||tt|o. °lt's ||ko a now start tor you. l guoss |t
cou|d bo a good th|ng.'
°Why has |t boon so |ong?' l askod.
||s sm||o tadod and l |nstant|y rogrottod ask|ng tho
quost|on. °3|nco you woro a||vo?'
°Yoah,' l sa|d. °Why d|d |t tako so |ong tor mo to bo
roborn?'
°l don't know.' 1ho sad oxpross|on on h|s taco mado mo
too| ovon saddor.
°ls |t wo|rd that l'm d|ttoront ovory t|mo?' l askod. °0oos |t
bothor you that l havo a d|ttoront namo?'
°lo, ot courso not. lt novor has. You'ro st||| you, but you
havo a d|ttoront ch||dhood ovory t|mo and your porsona||ty |s
a|ways a ||tt|o d|ttoront. You'ro corta|n|y moro h|gh-strung than
whon l know you |ast.'
l g|arod at h|m, but l cou|dn't h|do tho sm||o that a|so
appoarod. °What was my namo |ast t|mo?'
°Why doos |t mattor?'
°l'm cur|ous.'
°lt was a |ong t|mo ago.' |o stood up and wrappod a
hand around tho back ot my nock gont|y. °A namo |s just a
namo, not who you aro. |ow about wo don't worry about
that?'
°What do you moan?'
°|ow about you just bo you ton|ght and l'|| bo mo? 0on't
worry about anyth|ng o|so.' ||s omora|d oyos woro sott and
k|nd. l to|t ho roa||y moant what ho sa|d.
°You moan protond to bo human?'
°Why not?'
l sm||od s|y|y at h|m. °Wo||, th|s |s qu|to tho turn tor you.'
°Vaybo l'm th|nk|ng |t wou|d bo good tor you to ro|ax trom
t|mo to t|mo.'
°1ust tor tho n|ght?'
°1ust tor tho n|ght.'
|o d|ppod h|s hoad and |oanod torward, surpr|s|ng mo.
|o d|dn't k|ss mo, but ho was c|oso onough to do |t. Vy body
|ockod up and my ||ps partod. ||s body was warm aga|nst
m|no, and l wantod h|m to do what l thought ho was go|ng to
do. l roa||y wantod h|m to k|ss mo, and l cou|d too| my |ns|dos
tugg|ng and sp|nn|ng. l ||ttod my ch|n and wa|tod, but ho
stoppod. ||s |ook to|| away and ho turnod h|s taco and
stoppod away s|ow|y. l dot|atod.
°3o whon |s tho mov|o?' ho askod, runn|ng a hand
through h|s ha|r.
l to|t ||ko ta|||ng to tho t|oor. °Um, sovon or o|ght |s usua||y
whon wo go.'
|o noddod. °lt's on|y tour. What do you want do unt||
thon?'
°Wo||, l shou|d got a coup|o pagos |n on my ocon
ass|gnmont,' l sa|d, groan|ng.
°1hat's t|no,' ho sa|d. °Wou|d you ||ko mo to |oavo so you
can do your homowork?'
°Whoro w||| you go?' l askod. °W||| you go a|| tho way back
to lathan|o|'s ||ko you do dur|ng tho day?'
°lo. 3oo|ng tho roapor th|s attornoon has mado mo
norvous. Whon l'm guard|ng your houso, l usua||y s|t up on tho
root. lt's tho bost |ookout.'
°lt |t works tor you, l guoss.' l sm||od. °l'|| g|vo you a shout
whon l'm dono.'
|o gavo mo a qu|ck nod and turnod away, d|sappoar|ng. l
shook my hoad |n d|sbo||ot. |o was ||ko a n|nja or somoth|ng.
|o had probab|y d|sappoarod |nto tho Gr|m, and l
cons|dorod tor a momont to||ow|ng h|m thoro. 3ut l was atra|d
ot tho Gr|m and what th|ngs l m|ght soo thoro. 3o |nstoad, l
sat at my dosk and grabbod my backpack to got out my
homowork. l cou|d st||| too| W|||'s prosonco |n my room, smo||
h|s scont, as |t ho hadn't actua||y |ott. And ho roa||y hadn't. l
know ho was c|oso by, and that comtort|ng thought ho|pod
mo to got through my ass|gnmont w|th oaso.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
10
VY 31OVAC| GlOWlE0. l lE1 VY |ACE |l1 1|E dosk and ro||od my
hoad to tho s|do to g|anco at my c|ock s|doways. lt was just
attor s|x. l cou|dn't bo||ovo l'd boon work|ng on th|s homowork
tor two hours. l was so s|ck ot th|s crap.
l ||ttod my gazo. °|oy, W|||?' l to|t stup|d ta|k|ng to no ono
|n my room.
°||n|shod?' answorod h|s vo|co a momont |ator.
3tart|od, l |oapod out ot my soat, grasp|ng my hoart. Vy
pu|so poundod |n my hoad. °What's tho mattor w|th you? You
scarod tho crap out ot mo!'
|o stood just |n tront ot w|ndow. |o had somohow
managod to got |n w|thout mak|ng any no|so at a||. °3orry
about that.'
l smoothod out my sh|rt. °What oro you, W|||? |ow can you
movo that tast?'
°l'm your Guard|an.'
°lo, l moan, bos|dos 3atman, what |s your spoclos?'
°l'm |mmorta|.'
°lovor m|nd,' l sa|d |mpat|ont|y. °l a|roady know what you
aro: obooxloos. l'm go|ng to go chango |nto somo trosh
c|othos.'
°Why?'
°3ocauso l don't ||ko woar|ng tho samo outt|t a|| day.'
|o |ookod at mo ||ko l had a th|rd oyo. l ro||od my oyos
and shut myso|t |n my c|osot. l p|ckod out a pa|r ot joans and
a b|ack swoator and put thom on botoro omorg|ng. °l'm roa||y
hungry, and l know how much you ||ko to bo |nv|s|b|o and a||,
but l th|nk you can mako an oxcopt|on. Wou|d you m|nd |t wo
grabbod a b|to to oat botoro tho mov|o?'
°lot at a||,' ho sa|d. °You nood to oat. You got grumpy
whon you don't oat.'
l b||nkod |n surpr|so. |o roa||y d|d know mo wo||. °Groat.
|ow doos Conoy ls|and sound?'
°l havo no |doa what that |s.'
°3|asphomy.'
l drovo us to my tavor|to, loo's Conoy ls|and. 1ho rostaurant
was typ|ca||y crowdod tor a |r|day n|ght. As wo wandorod to
an opon tab|o, l not|cod a group ot g|r|s s|tt|ng at a booth
tab|o noar tho tront door. 1wo ot thom woro star|ng at W|||, so
l gavo thom tho st|nk oyo as wo passod.
l choso a booth on tho oppos|to wa||, as tar away trom tho
g|r|s as poss|b|o. Our wa|tross was a porky g|r| maybo a yoar
o|dor than mo.
°What can l gotcha?' sho askod w|th hor ponc|| and
notopad |n hand.
°l|a|n choosoburgor and tr|os w|th a s|do sa|ad and wator
tor mo,' l sa|d, and noddod at W|||. °0o you want anyth|ng?'
°lo, thank you,' ho sa|d w|th a d|sm|ss|vo wavo ot h|s
hand.
1ho g|r| gavo a qu|ck nod and buzzod away.
°Aron't you hungry?' l askod h|m.
|o shook h|s hoad. °lot otton. 1ho on|y t|mo l oat |s
usua||y attor a t|ght. 1ho moro hoav||y woundod or woak l am,
tho moro l nood to oat |n ordor to hoa| and rop|on|sh my
strongth. Ca|or|os hoa| my body, so l nood a |ot ot thom.'
l starod at h|m. °l am so joa|ous.' l was oxc|tod that ho to|t
||ko rovoa||ng th|ngs to mo. lorhaps th|s convorsat|on wou|d
go somowhoro |ntorost|ng. Our hostoss brought my dr|nk and
l stuck tho straw |n to tako a gu|p.
°W||| you ovor to|| mo how you bocamo my Guard|an?' l
askod hopotu||y.
|o sm||od. °You know vory wo|| how that happonod. l
know you don't havo accoss to that momory yot, but l don't
th|nk |t's somoth|ng l can just to|| you. lt moans too much to
mo, l guoss. Evoryth|ng w||| como back to you. 3o pat|ont.'
l huttod at h|s rosponso, bocauso |t on|y mado mo moro
cur|ous. °Aro you go|ng to to|| mo what my namo was, or do l
havo to romombor that, too?'
|o ro||od h|s oyos. °You nood to stop ask|ng quost|ons.
lomombor what l sa|d oar||or? Wo'ro protond|ng to bo
norma| humans today.'
°Wo||, norma| humans don't s|t at Conoy ls|and and watch
othors oat. 1hoy ordor a p|atotu| ot ch||| chooso tr|os. 0on't
bo so wo|rd.' l took anothor gu|p.
Vy sa|ad arr|vod, and just as tho wa|tross was about to
|oavo, W||| ho|d up h|s hand. °l'vo changod my m|nd. l'|| tako a
root boor t|oat.'
3ho t|ashod a qu|ck sm||o and t|uttorod away.
°A root boor t|oat?' l askod. °What aro you, t|vo?'
°1hoy'ro my tavor|to.'
°A root boor í|oot?' l ropoatod. °You'ro s|x hundrod yoars
o|d and a root boor t|oat |s your tavor|to tood?'
|o shruggod. °You wantod mo to bo norma| and ordor
somoth|ng, so l d|d.'
°1hat |s st||| wo|rd.'
°1hoy'ro do||c|ous.'
1ho wa|tross roturnod w|th h|s t|oat, and ho st|rrod and
dunkod tho |co croam |mmod|ato|y. 3otwoon h|s s|ps and
b|tos ot |co croam, W||| watchod mo much too c|oso|y as l
ato.
°What?' l askod, swa||ow|ng a mouthtu|.
°You rom|nd mo ot mo.'
°1hat can't bo good.' l took anothor b|to.
°lt's not nocossar||y a bad th|ng. You must bo roa||y
hungry.'
l d|dn't ||ko tho amusod |ook on h|s taco. l to|t vory so|t-
consc|ous suddon|y. °3o?'
|o shruggod. °loth|ng.'
°3crow you.'
l ato moro s|ow|y attor that. Whon wo hoadod to tho
rog|stor to pay and |oavo, l roachod |ns|do my purso tor
monoy, but W||| handod tho c|ork a twonty-do||ar b|||.
°lo, no, no,' l sa|d, roach|ng tor h|s hand. °1hat wasn't
part ot tho doa|.'
°0on't worry about |t,' ho assurod mo, a||ow|ng tho c|ork
to tako tho b|||. °l'vo got th|s.'
°3ut a|| you had was that t|oat.'
°Wo'ro try|ng to act norma|, aron't wo? lt's not vory norma|
tor a young |ady to pay tor hor own d|nnor.'
l scow|od. °You must bo contus|ng r|ght now w|th a
hundrod yoars ago. 1hat's a stup|d storootypo. Wo aron't
ovon on a dato, so |t doosn't count.'
°lorhaps, but ovoryono around us |s assum|ng
othorw|so.' |o noddod, h|s gazo wandor|ng around tho
rostaurant. °Wo don't want thom to bocomo susp|c|ous, do
wo?'
°W|||, thoy roo||y don't caro what wo'ro do|ng,' l sa|d. °lt's
not ||ko wo'ro undorcovor or somoth|ng.'
Whon wo mot up w|th my tr|onds, landon spottod W|||, h|s
att|tudo sourod dramat|ca||y. l to|d myso|t storn|y that l wou|d
|gnoro landon's att|tudo ton|ght, so l tocusod my ottorts on
bo|ng |n a groat mood. l hadn't torgotton about W|||'s oar||or
warn|ng about tho wandor|ng roapor, but soo|ng W||| at oaso
mado mo too| at oaso.
ºE-|-|-|-|-|lo!' Kato grabbod mo |nto a hugo hug and ho|d
mo t|ght|y. °l'm so happy to soo you!' 3ho pract|ca||y shovod
mo away and turnod to W|||. 3ho yankod h|m |nto a hug as
wo||, rosu|t|ng |n a vory uncomtortab|o W|||. °l'm so g|ad you
camo!' You cou|d count on Kato to bo ovor tho top w|th
ovoryth|ng sho d|d.
l torcod a br|ght sm||o. °3o how about th|s mov|o?'
°Wo havo twonty m|nutos botoro |t starts,' Chr|s sa|d,
|ook|ng at h|s co|| phono. °Wo shou|d probab|y got our t|ckots
and got soats. lt's opon|ng n|ght.'
Attor buy|ng our t|ckots-and l rotusod to |ot W||| pay tor
ours whon ho tr|od-wo wa|tod |n ||no to ontor tho thoator.
Evory onco |n a wh||o l'd soo h|m st|tton and sw|vo| h|s gazo
around, as |t ho woro ||ston|ng and watch|ng vory carotu||y. lt
anyth|ng was cons|dor|ng jump|ng us ton|ght, l was assurod
W||| wou|d havo p|onty ot warn|ng.Whon tho doormon |ot us |n,
wo tound soats a ||tt|o toward tho back, s|nco tho m|dd|o was
t|||od. Chr|s, lacho|, and Evan s||ppod down tho a|s|o t|rst,
to||owod by landon and Kato, thon mo and W|||.
landon |oanod ovor Kato and mo. °Whoro d|d you say
you go to schoo| aga|n?' ho askod W|||.
°l'm a sophomoro at U ot V,' W||| rop||od.
landon scottod. °You and E|||o hang out otton?'
Kato o|bowod h|m |n tho r|bs, and ho shot hor an angry
g|aro.
°Yos,' W||| sa|d.
Wrapp|ng an arm around m|no, Kato gr|nnod at W|||. °You
shou|dn't hog hor so much. Wo m|ss hor!'
W||| shruggod and sm||od. °3orry. l don't moan to.'
Kato |aughod and toyod w|th a |ock ot my ha|r. °l guoss
you'|| just havo to hang out w|th us moro so wo can soo hor,
too.'
Yoah, r|ght.
1ho mov|o t|na||y bogan, and by ha|tway through |t, W|||
soomod to bo onjoy|ng h|mso|t. |o chuck|od a tow t|mos, but
ho troquont|y g|ancod toward tho omorgoncy ox|t as |t
oxpoct|ng somoth|ng to burst through |t. l a|so not|cod landon
ropoatod|y |ook|ng at us. What was h|s prob|om? |o
probab|y oxpoctod us to mako out dur|ng tho mov|o. 1hat
was a jun|or h|gh th|ng anyway, so h|s worry was r|d|cu|ous.
At n|no th|rty tho mov|o had t|n|shod and tho thoator
bogan homorrhag|ng h|gh schoo| and co||ogo studonts. Wo
stoppod on tho s|dowa|k outs|do to p|an our noxt movo.
°landon and l aro go|ng to Co|d 3tono,' Kato sa|d. °Any-
ono want to jo|n? E|||o?'
l trownod. °l don't roa||y too| ||ko |co croam.'
°Oh, como on!' sho wh|nod. °l|oaso?'
l |aughod. °Why do you want mo to go w|th you to got |co
croam so bad|y?'
°3ocauso |t's gooo!' Kato turnod to W|||. °You want |co
croam, don't you, W|||?'
W|||'s oyos t||ckorod to mo and back to Kato. °lt E|||o |sn't
|ntorostod, thon l'm not. l just go whoro sho goos.'
Kato groanod. °You guys can't |oavo us yot! lt's not ovon
ton. At |oast como ovor to my p|aco and party tor a b|t. Wo
can hang out |n my basomont.'
1hat soundod roa||y good. l hadn't boon ab|o to ro|ax w|th
my bost tr|ond tor wooks. W||| |oanod c|oso to mo, h|s vo|co
sott, h|s broath warm on my oar. °l th|nk you shou|d go. You'||
onjoy yourso|t.'
°3ut, what about-?' l wh|sporod back.
°You'|| havo tun,' ho wh|sporod. °l want you to bo happy.
lomombor our agroomont tor ton|ght?'
l sm||od. °3ut l want you to protond you'ro human wltb mo.'
°A|| r|ght,' ho sa|d.
°Okay, you two,' Kato sa|d. °What's tho p|an?'
l |ookod up to hor. °Wo'ro com|ng.'
°Yay!' sho ch|rpod, pu|||ng mo |nto anothor t|ght Kato hug.
°l st||| want Co|d 3tono. 3uro you don't want to jo|n us?'
l noddod. °Yoah, l ato r|ght botoro tho mov|o, so l'm st|||
protty tu||. l'|| pass, but how about wo moot you at your houso
|n an hour?'
°3ounds good,' sho sa|d w|th a sm||o.
°Okay, byo,' l sa|d, and wavod to thom a||.
W||| and l wa|kod back to my car. °1hank you,' l sa|d |n a
|ow vo|co.
°l moant |t whon l sa|d l want you to bo happy,' ho
answorod. °lt has a|ways mado th|s oas|or on you-whon
you'ro happy.'
°ls that so?'
°Yos.' |o sm||od.
°What d|d l uso to do tor tun?' l un|ockod my car and wo
c||mbod |n.
°You'vo a|ways |ovod horsos,' ho sa|d d|stant|y. °1hrough
ovory ||tot|mo l'vo known you.'
l porkod up. °loa||y? 0|d l r|do a |ot?'
°A|| tho t|mo. A hundrod yoars ago thoro woron't many
cars, so that's how wo got around. Whon you woro . . . Whon l
know you |ast, you compotod |n horso shows.'
l |aughod. °1hat's coo|.'
°You woro roa||y good.'
°0o you th|nk l st||| am?'
|o noddod t|rm|y. °Oh yos. You'vo a|ways boon a natura|.
lt's novor ta||od to como back to you.'
°W||| you tako mo r|d|ng?'
|o g|ancod at mo. °0ot|n|to|y.'
°lrom|so?'
°l havo novor brokon a prom|so to you.'
l oyod h|m. °lot onco?'
°lot onco.'
l was skopt|ca|. °You'ro to|||ng mo that |n t|vo hundrod
yoars, you havo novor mossod up somoth|ng you'vo
prom|sod mo?'
°E|||o, you nood to undorstand,' ho sa|d sott|y. °l ox|st on|y
to sorvo you and t|ght by your s|do. Whothor that t|ght|ng |s to
prosorvo your ||to or to mako suro you sm||o, that |s what l am
bu||t to do. You'ro a|| l havo, and l w||| watch ovor you torovor.'
l starod at h|m. °You'ro vory |ntonso, you know that?'
°l do now.' |o sm||od.
Wo hoadod back toward my town and ox|tod onto a
woodod, h|||y back road. 1ho narrow road was qu|ot, and l
saw on|y ono othor pa|r ot hoad||ghts tor a ha|t m||o.
°l hopo you onjoyod yourso|t,' l sa|d to W|||. °0|d you ||ko
tho mov|o?'
|o was |ook|ng out tho w|ndow, but ho turnod to taco mo
and sm||od. °lt was |ntorost|ng. l th|nk landon and l cou|d
bocomo tr|onds.'
l |aughod, too. °Oh yoah. 3ost tr|onds |n tho mak|ng, r|ght
thoro. What d|d you th|nk ot tho mov|o, honost|y?'
|o shruggod. °lt was tunny. |umans a|ways amazo mo
w|th how drast|ca||y tho|r cu|turo ovo|vos ovory tow yoars.
lmag|no w|tnoss|ng that ovor tons ot gonorat|ons.'
°l w|sh l cou|d,' l sa|d. °l'm st||| on|y romombor|ng sn|ppots
ot th|ngs.'
°lt'|| como back. l know l koop say|ng that, but |t w|||.'
l noddod g|um|y. °l'm g|ad that you camo ton|ght, and that
noth|ng bad happonod. 1hank you.'
°Ot courso. l th|nk |t was good tor you.'
Vy sm||o roturnod. °lt was good tor botb ot us to got out
and do somoth|ng bos|dos t|ght|ng tor a chango.'
Out tho cornor ot my oyo l saw a dark shapo bound
across tho road toward my w|ndow. 1hon somoth|ng mass|vo
rammod |nto my car door, and tho Aud| was sont sp|nn|ng
countorc|ockw|so, wh|pp|ng my body around |n tho soat. 1ho
whoo| was torn trom my gr|p and tho car camo to a stop so
suddon, my shou|dor s|ammod |nto tho door pano| and tho
w|ndow shattorod noxt to my taco. 1ho hoad||ghts pourod out
onto tho road |nto b|acknoss.
°E|||o!' W||| shoutod. °E|||o, aro you okay?'
|o und|d my soat bo|t and h|s hands trant|ca||y touchod
my arms, taco, and nock. Vy hoad spun and l to|t ||ko l was
go|ng to bo s|ck. l |ookod around and saw wo had smashod
up aga|nst a troo on W|||'s s|do. Vy w|ndow had boon
shattorod and jaggod odgos ot g|ass juttod out trom a||
d|roct|ons. Oh God, my poor car.
°l'm t|no. Aro you-?'
1ho w|ndsh|o|d oxp|odod, spray|ng chunks ot g|ass, and
tho h|doous, dotormod hoad ot lagnuk burst through w|th a
bo||ow|ng roar. |o was troo ot tho Gr|m. |o was comp|oto|y
|n tho morta| d|mons|on.
l scroamod and thrashod, throw|ng my arms up. W|||
poundod on tho roapor's snout sovora| t|mos, and tho jaws
snappod back, b|t|ng at h|s arm.
°Got out ot tho car!' ho yo||od, |oan|ng back, and ho
k|ckod tho urs|d roapor |n tho taco. lagnuk roarod and
roachod through tho w|ndsh|o|d w|th h|s g|ant c|aws.
l yankod tho hand|o and s|ammod a|| my wo|ght |nto tho
door, but |t wou|dn't budgo. lt was too smashod. l pushod-
and pushod, and pushod, and pushod.
lagnuk torcod h|mso|t |n unt|| ha|t tho car was tu|| ot
gnash|ng tooth and sw|ng|ng ta|ons, and l |ay on my back and
k|ckod tho door w|th a|| my strongth. Vy powor t|arod and tho
door t|ow opon. l d|vod out and turnod back to soo lagnuk
ha|tway |ns|do tho car and W|||'s much sma||or shapo t|ght|ng
h|m ott. Vy |ogs turnod to jo||y, and somoth|ng dark grow |n
tho p|t ot my gut, but l had to do somoth|ng tast. l cou|dn't bo
atra|d ot h|m. l ca||od my swords, and as tho s||vor t|||od my
hands, ango|t|ro burst trom tho b|ados.
l |oapod up onto tho trunk, surpr|s|ng myso|t by how oas||y
l cou|d jump that h|gh. l ran up and ovor tho root unt|| l was
abovo tho roapor. l crossod both b|ados ovor my chost and
s|ashod lagnuk across h|s back. |o roarod and s|ammod
h|s hoad |nto tho root ot tho car botoro wronch|ng h|mso|t
back and t|na||y pu|||ng troo. ||s b|ack oyos snappod up to
mo. W|th a groat doa| ot ottort, ho stoppod back and shook
h|s body ||ko a dog. Chunks ot g|ass woro omboddod |n h|s
t|osh, and l watchod tho g|ass t|y trom h|s wounds as ho
shook, h|tt|ng tho ground ||ko b|ood-dronchod d|amonds.
lagnuk snar|od and |oapod up at mo. l duckod and
p|ungod a sword |nto h|s bo||y, sp||||ng b|ood. ||s c|aws
sw|pod, r|pp|ng my uppor arm opon, and l scroamod. |o
snappod h|s jaws down at mo, but l tw|stod away, and h|s
snout smashod |nto tho mota| root. l swung my sword, but ho
s|ammod tho s|do ot h|s hoad |nto my chost, and tho bruta|
torco sont mo t|y|ng through tho a|r. Vy back h|t tho pavomont
and my sku|| smackod hard. l d|dn't too| any b|ood, so l
jumpod to my toot.
l cou|d do th|s. l had to |oso my toar and dotoat h|m.
lagnuk hoppod ott my car and |andod w|th a thud that
shook tho oarth. |o stoppod torward and archod h|s back,
h|s powor bu||d|ng ||ko a storm surgo. l |ookod up to soo W|||
|oap ovor tho Aud| w|th b|oody s|ashos across h|s taco and
chost van|sh|ng botoro my oyos. |o drovo h|s sword down at
tho roapor's hoad. lagnuk roarod, and h|s paw na||od W|||'s
chost m|da|r, s|amm|ng h|s back up aga|nst tho roar dr|vor's-
s|do door. l saw b|ood.
0arknoss cropt |nto tho odgos ot my s|ght, as |t d|d whon l
was about to havo a t|ashback, but |nstoad ot romombor|ng
somoth|ng, l |ost a|| sonso ot t|mo and p|aco. Vy gazo |ockod
on my targot, and a|| l thought ot was k||||ng. lago poundod
through my body, c|oud|ng my thoughts, and l cou|d pract|ca||y
tasto lagnuk's b|ood |n my mouth. l |ot out a torr|b|o cry and
chargod at h|m, swords |n hands.
A hand grabbod mo around my nock and yankod mo
backward-boro. Vy body t|ow across tho road and crashod
|nto a troo. Whon l h|t tho ground, l |ookod up. A toma|o
croaturo |andod w|th a sott stop as g|ant, |oathory bat||ko
w|ngs-wlogs!-strotchod, t|appod onco, and to|dod aga|nst
hor back. 1orror c|awod tho |ns|do ot my throat unt|| |t was as
dry as sandpapor. |or sk|n was so |ucont, sho appoarod to
g|ow |n tho moon||ght. Ash-co|orod ha|r sott|od around hor
shou|dors and sho starod at mo w|th cur|ous, pa|o oyos. 3ho
had to bo ono ot tho human||ko v|r roapors. lowor ro||od trom
hor |n torr|b|o dark wavos.
°lagnuk,' sho snar|od, hor gazo st||| |ockod on m|no.
1ho urs|d coasod h|s assau|t on W||| and wh|ppod away
trom h|m, c|aws scrap|ng tho pavomont |n a rago. ºlvor!' ho
roarod, h|s vo|co thundor|ng |ns|do my sku||. °You daro stop
mo?'
||na||y sho |ookod away, ro|oas|ng mo trom hor v|por's
staro. |or movomont was t|u|d, ||ko wator, as oor|o and
torr|b|o as a storm swo|| on tho soa. °1horo's boon a
dovo|opmont. 3ast|an noods us.' |or vo|co was |ow and
sonsua|, smooth as vo|vot.
A doath|y |ow snar| ro||od trom doop w|th|n lagnuk's
throat. °lt can wa|t.'
°lo,' tho v|r roapor sa|d sharp|y. °You don't appoar
capab|o ot t|n|sh|ng tho job.'
lagnuk's tompor oxp|odod, and ho throw a paw |nto tho
tondor ot my car, crunch|ng |t doopor |nto tho troo.
lvar |ookod back at mo w|th that samo tr|ghton|ng
smoothnoss. °lro||ator,' sho sa|d, °onjoy tho days you havo
|ott. 0r|nk tho sun ||ko w|no, tor whon tho Ensh| awakons, tho
darknoss w||| sparo noth|ng |n your wor|d-not ovon your sou|.
lt onds soon.' |or w|ngs sproad w|do and sho took to tho a|r,
d|sappoar|ng qu|ck|y.
W|th a nasty h|ss, lagnuk stompod toward mo, ha|t|ng
on|y a tow toot away trom whoro l had ta||on. °l'|| bo back tor
you, g|r|,' ho snar|od, cur||ng h|s b|ack ||ps back and t|ash|ng
wot, b|oody tangs. °You ooo your Guard|an. You'ro mloo.'
1ho ma||co |n h|s vo|co assurod mo that ho moant ovory
word. |o gnashod h|s jaws at mo botoro d|sappoar|ng |nto
tho n|ght.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
17
W|El |E |A0 GOlE, l |OUl0 1|E 31lElG1| 1O stand and run to
W|||'s s|do. |o was broath|ng hoav||y and |oan|ng up aga|nst
my battorod car. 1hrough h|s torn sh|rt, l watchod h|s wounds
soa| and tado to noth|ng. 1ho sk|n ovor h|s r|bs poppod and
crackod. 3omoth|ng must havo boon brokon. 3ru|sos tadod,
and ho took a doop broath now that tho prossuro ot brokon
bonos was ott h|s |ungs.
As l oponod my mouth to spoak, ho |oanod torward and
turnod mo around to oxam|no my hoad.
°l'm t|no, W|||,' l sa|d as ho p|ckod through my t||thy ha|r.
°You havo g|ass |n your ha|r.' |o smoothod my ha|r back
down. °l just wantod to mako suro thoro wasn't any stuck |n
tho sk|n.'
l |aughod. °l th|nk l wou|d havo not|cod g|ass st|ck|ng out
tho back ot my hoad.'
|o gavo mo a sor|ous |ook. °lt's not tunny. Wounds can't
hoa| |t thoro |s somoth|ng b|ock|ng tho sk|n trom c|os|ng.'
°Wo||, thoro's noth|ng |mpa||ng my hoad. |ow aro you?'
°l nood to oat.'
°looks ||ko |t.' l w|pod at a stroak ot b|ood on h|s chook.
°Who tho ho|| was that bat ch|ck?'
°An agont ot 3ast|an's,' ho sa|d. °l don't want you to t|ght
hor. lot yot. You aron't awako onough yot.'
lvar's taco t|ashod |n my m|nd, hor corpso gray oyos co|d
on m|no. °Why? Was sho ono ot tho v|r you to|d mo about,
||ko trom my momory?'
|o noddod. °Yos, sho |s a v|r,' ho oxp|a|nod. °lvar |s a
roapor w|th shapo-sh|tt|ng ab|||t|os. 3ho can appoar most|y
human |t sho dos|ros to.'
°l d|dn't ||ko hor,' l sa|d.
°l novor havo.'
°1hoy woron't ovon |n tho Gr|m,' l sa|d. °Why d|d thoy
attack us on th|s p|ano?'
|o groanod and stra|ghtonod h|s sh|rt out. °1hoy do that
somot|mos.'
|o movod to tho s|do so l cou|d got a good |ook at my
car. What was |ott ot my Aud| was a gnar|od moss ot b|ood-
sp|attorod mota| and shattorod g|ass. 3omo ot lagnuk's tur
was caught |n tho tramo ot my w|ndsh|o|d. 1ho dr|vor's-s|do
door was crunchod and hung ||mp|y on tho h|ngos. 1ho
w|ndsh|o|d had oxp|odod a|| ovor tho |ns|do ot tho car and on
tho pavomont and grass around |t. 3|ood was smoarod
across tho hood and root. 1ho rod was stark and v|o|ont|y
apparont on tho wh|to pa|nt. Varshma||ow had boon turnod
|nto a troak|ng war zono.
°Vy poor car,' l groanod. °What am l go|ng to do?'
W||| s|ghod. °You havo to ca|| your paronts. 1o|| thom |t
was a door. lt you want your |nsuranco to covor th|s, you'||
probab|y havo to t||| out a po||co roport.'
°1h|s sucks.' l wantod to cry. Vy brand-now car was
tota|od. l |ovoo my car. W|th norvos shak|ng my hands, l
p|ckod up my co|| phono. lt rang on|y tw|co botoro thoro was
an answor.
°|oy, E|||o,' my mom sa|d. °What's up?'
°l had an acc|dont,' l sa|d, my vo|co quak|ng.
°¼botº Aro you hurt? Whoro aro you?'
°l'm t|no,' l assurod hor. °W||| |s w|th mo. Wo'ro t|no. l
drovo |nto a bunch ot door and my car |s tota|od.'
°Who's W|||, honoy?'
¼boops. l torgot l hadn't mont|onod h|m yot. l gavo h|m an
apo|ogot|c g|anco, but ho appoarod unattoctod. °1h|s guy l
know who camo to tho mov|os w|th us. l was g|v|ng h|m a r|do
homo.'
|or words woro rap|d but carotu||y onunc|atod as sho
tr|od to stay ca|m. °Okay, aro you on tho s|do ot tho road?'
°l troakod and h|t a troo.'
°Oh God! Aro you suro no ono's hurt?'
°Wo'ro |n a d|tch.'
°Aro your t|ashors on?'
lo. °Yoah.' l turnod thom on.
°Okay, l'|| ca|| tho po||co tor you and a tow truck. 3uro
you'ro okay? ls your tr|ond hurt? |o's not go|ng to suo, |s
ho?'
Ugh, tho po||co? °Wo'ro íloo, Vom. |o's not go|ng to suo
us. lo|ax.'
°l'm on my way.'
l shut my phono. °1h|s |s just wondortu|. 1ho cops aro
novor go|ng to bo||ovo door d|d th|s!'
°You'd bo surpr|sod.' ||s oxpross|on to|d mo ho m|ght
havo usod th|s oxcuso botoro. °0oor k||| moro poop|o on tho
road than poop|o k||| poop|o. V|ch|gan has a |ot ot door.'
°Yoah,' l grumb|od.
°3oo?' |o sm||od. °vory ||ko|y.'
°Vy poor car . . .' l wantod to cry, and l roo||y wantod to k|||
lagnuk tor dostroy|ng my car. l was just vory thanktu| that my
t|rst acc|dont had boon w|th a roapor and not anothor porson.
Vy mom arr|vod |n t|vo m|nutos, and tho po||co to||owod
on|y a coup|o ot m|nutos attor. 3ho wou|d not stop hugg|ng
mo. 1ho two cops who arr|vod d|d ||tt|o o|so bos|dos quost|on
mo and wr|to stutt down.
°What'd you h|t?' tho ott|cor w|th tho mustacho askod,
tapp|ng h|s pon on h|s c||pboard |oud|y. |o d|dn't soom
happy to bo thoro.
°0oor,' l answorod.
Ott|cor Vustacho oyod mo dark|y, ||ko l'd comm|ttod a
cr|mo. °Vust'vo boon a hugo door. 3|g buck?'
°Oh yoah. 3|g buck. And a bunch ot ||tt|o onos.'
°Whoro aro tho bod|os?' tho youngor, cutor cop askod.
°3od|os?'
°Yoah,' Cuto Cop sa|d w|th a wavo ot h|s hand back at my
car. °1h|s k|nd ot damago and no doad door |s a ||tt|o hard to
bo||ovo. l can't |mag|no h|m gott|ng up and runn|ng ott.'
°Wo||, ho d|dn't,' l sa|d. Vy vo|co tromb|od. l was nowhoro
noar as good a ||ar as W|||. °3omo random rodnocks drovo
by |n a boat-up truck and ottorod to tako tho doad buck who
wont through my w|ndow.'
°landom rodnocks?' Ott|cor Vustacho narrowod h|s
oyos.
°l don't know why thoy wantod |t. lt had b|g ant|ors, but
maybo thoy woro th|nk|ng about a barbocuo tomorrow. |ow
shou|d l know? l don't want to th|nk about what thoy wantod
w|th road k|||.'
Cuto Cop gr|macod. °Woro you or your boytr|ond hurt |n
any way?'
°|o's oot my boytr|ond,' l sa|d storn|y.
°Answor tho quost|on, E|||o,' W||| sa|d.
°lo, wo'ro t|no.' l g|arod at h|m.
°1hat's a |ot ot b|ood on you,' Cuto Cop notod, oyoba|||ng
both ot us.
°lt's not ours,' l sa|d. °1ho door was cut w|do opon. Go
|ook at my tront soat. lt was a massacro.'
Ott|cor Vustacho noddod to h|s partnor. °1horo's a tow
truck on h|s way. |o shou|d bo horo soon to got your car
homo. 0r|vo sato|y trom now on, m|ss.'
Wo to||owod tho tow truck to tho Aud| doa|orsh|p |n my
mom's Vorcodos. 1ho pathot|c roma|ns ot my car woro |ott
by tho sorv|co bu||d|ng and l sa|d my tarowo||s. l was qu|to
suro Varshma||ow was doad.
Vom assurod mo tho |nsuranco company wou|d o|thor
tako caro ot tho damago or pay tor a rop|acomont car. lt was
an act ot naturo, sho sa|d. Oh, yoah. 1hat had boon ono bo||
ot an act ot naturo.
Vom was vory |ntorostod |n W|||, and unt|| wo got |nto hor
car, sho cou|d baro|y koop hor oyos ott h|s tattoos. 3ho
|ntorrogatod h|m a|| tho way to tho doa|orsh|p and back to my
houso.
°ls thoro a p|aco l can drop you ott, W|||?' sho askod |n a
concornod vo|co, ta|||ng to quo|| tho mothor|y |nst|nct that had
boon sot on h|gh a|ort s|nco my |n|t|a| phono ca|| ot doom.
°lo, that's a|| r|ght,' ho sa|d. °l on|y ||vo a t|vo-m|nuto wa|k
past your no|ghborhood.'
°Aro you suro? lt won't bo any troub|o.'
°l'|| bo t|no. You'vo had onough oxc|tomont tor ono n|ght.'
°l'|| bo t|no. You'vo had onough oxc|tomont tor ono n|ght.'
Vy mom |aughod. °Wo||, l can tako a ||tt|o b|t moro.
Whoro's your houso?'
°l soo you'ro vory |ntont on th|s.'
°l am.'
|o d|roctod my mom a coup|o m|nutos past our stroot.
1ho houso was ono ot tho moro modost homos |n tho aroa,
and l know |t d|dn't bo|ong to h|m. 1ho |awn was pr|st|no and
ornato|y dos|gnod.
°lovo|y gardons,' my mom sa|d as sho pu||od |nto tho
dr|voway. lt was attor m|dn|ght and tho houso was dark. l
d|dn't nood to worry about tho roa| ownors ot tho houso
wondor|ng why somo wo|rd guy was gott|ng droppod ott
thoro.
°1hank you,' W||| sa|d as ho c||mbod out tho backsoat.
°lt was vory n|co moot|ng you,' Vom sa|d. °You'|| havo to
como around moro otton.'
°l w|||,' ho sa|d, sm|||ng boaut|tu||y. °1hank you tor tho r|do,
Vrs. Vonroo. 3orry about your car, aga|n, E|||o. l hopo |t gots
t|xod.'
°1hanks,' l sa|d, and stuck my tonguo out at h|m.
|o w|nkod. Vy mom hadn't not|cod.
Wo backod out ot tho dr|voway, and a|most |mmod|ato|y l
|ost s|ght ot W||| |n tho m|rror. l noodod to ca|| Kato and |ot hor
know wo woron't com|ng. ln a|| honosty, l d|dn't too| ||ko
party|ng anymoro. 1ho t|ght w|th lagnuk had takon |ts to|| on
mo. l was proud ot myso|t tor stay|ng bravo-at |oast unt|| lvar
showod up. 3ho was a who|o othor ba||gamo.
°ls ho roa||y a oconom|cs major?' Vom askod, broak|ng
my thoughts.
°Uh, yoah,' l sa|d. lt was |mportant to koop W|||'s |dont|ty
stra|ght.
l spottod tho s||ghtost r|so ot hor oyobrows. °l adm|ro you
tor work|ng w|th your toachor and gott|ng a tutor tor th|s
c|ass,' sho sa|d. °lt sounds ||ko you'ro |n good hands. |o
sooms roa||y smart.'
°|o |s. |o knows a |ot.'
°ls ho your boytr|ond?'
l a|most chokod on my tonguo. °What? lo. |o's just a
roa||y good tr|ond.'
°l'm surpr|sod that you'vo novor mont|onod h|m,' sho
notod. °|o's k|nd ot o|d tor you, anyway.'
3ho d|dn't too| mo. °lt's tho tattoos and you know |t,' l
sa|d.
3ho |aughod. °Your tathor dot|n|to|y wou|dn't ||ko that
about h|m, but |t's moro ot an ago |ssuo. Wa|t unt|| you'ro
actua||y |n co||ogo botoro you start dat|ng co||ogo boys.
Vaybo |t you woro o|ghtoon and had a|roady graduatod . . .
but tor r|ght now, l th|nk ho's a ||tt|o too o|d.'
1ust a ||tt|o. l tappod my knuck|os on tho w|ndow as l
watchod tho wor|d b|ur by |n shadows. l shou|dn't ovon havo
boon th|nk|ng about W||| romant|ca||y, ospoc|a||y g|von tho
way our nonromant|c ro|at|onsh|p workod. °3o Vom,' l sa|d.
°1ust bo|ng hypothot|ca|, ot courso, but what wou|d you say |t l
d|d ||ko h|m?'
°|ow o|d |s ho aga|n?'
°l|ko twonty . . . ?' Vy vo|co tra||od ott uncorta|n|y.
3ho mado a no|so undor hor broath. °1horo's noth|ng
wrong w|th |lklog h|m.'
°3ut not dat|ng h|m.'
°l|ko l sa|d,' sho oxp|a|nod. °lt wou|d bo oas|or tor mo to
accopt |t you woron't st||| |n h|gh schoo|. You havo to
romombor that you'ro on|y sovontoon and ho's tochn|ca||y an
adu|t, though |t's obv|ous you ||ko h|m.'
l chowod my ||p, contomp|at|ng how honost l cou|d bo w|th
hor-and myso|t. °l do. lt's stup|d, l know. |o's not portoct, but
ho doos a |ot ot th|ngs r|ght.'
°lt's not stup|d. 1o start, ho's a vory good-|ook|ng boy and
ho sooms dr|von.'
l |aughod. 1hat much was vory truo. °3o whon you sa|d ho
shou|d como around moro otton . . .'
°Wo||, now . . .' 3ho tra||od ott but gavo a sott |augh.
°l'm not suro |t l cou|d roa||y go out w|th h|m anyway,' l
sa|d. °|o's my tutor. Wo'vo hung out a tow t|mos w|th tr|onds,
but that's |t. |o's an a||-bus|noss k|nd ot guy.'
°1hat's good that ho takos h|s dut|os sor|ous|y.'
|ow tunny sho shou|d uso that word. °Yoah. |o doos.
vory much so.'
°3ut you'ro not sat|st|od w|th that.'
And my mom was a m|nd roador. °lot oxact|y. ls |t ovon
poss|b|o to bo w|th somoono you bas|ca||y work w|th?'
°lt's poss|b|o,' sho sa|d thoughttu||y. °3ut |t makos work|ng
togothor d|tt|cu|t, bocauso thon you'ro tocusod on h|m and not
your job. And |t th|ngs go bad botwoon you two, thon |t's hard
to koop work|ng togothor. lt makos bo|ng around thom a|most
unboarab|o.'
l watchod hor carotu||y as hor gazo stuck stra|ght torward.
°You'ro ta|k|ng about 0ad, aron't you? 3o|ng marr|od to h|m, l
moan.'
°|o wou|d ta|| undor that catogory, l guoss.'
°What happonod to h|m?'
3ho |ot out a |ong broath. °l don't know, baby. l roa||y
don't.'
°And bo|ng w|th h|m ovory day,' l bogan s|ow|y, °|t's hard.'
°lt |s. |o's changod. 1hat happons. |o hasn't boon tho
man l marr|od tor a |ong t|mo.' 3ho turnod to g|anco at mo tor
a socond. °3ut you know tho craz|ost part? l st||| |ovo h|m.'
°l guoss |t's truo that |ovos makos you b||nd.'
°lo,' my mom sa|d. °lt doosn't mako you b||nd. You'ro
vory, vory awaro ot ovoryth|ng about tho ono you tru|y |ovo,
whothor you know |t trom what your oyos to|| you or your hoart.
3o no, |ovo doosn't mako you b||nd. lt para|yzos you unt|| you
can't broatho or run away trom |t.'
And w|th that, l know my mom cou|dn't |oavo my dad ovon
|t sho tr|od. |o'd novor struck hor, but ho was vorba||y and
omot|ona||y abus|vo. Vaybo tho c|ock was t|ck|ng. Vaybo my
mom know that. ln any caso, sho wou|dn't ho|p horso|t and l
cou|dn't ho|p hor, o|thor.
3ut |t mado mo quost|on my ro|at|onsh|p w|th W|||. lt ho
bocamo moro than just my Guard|an, how wou|d |t attoct our
ab|||ty to work togothor? lt ho ovor d|d k|ss mo, wou|d wo
chango?
Vom s|ghod °You can't ovon |mag|no how horr|t|od l was
whon you to|d mo that you'd boon |n an acc|dont. l know |t
m|ght happon, but l to|t ||ko my hoart had stoppod.'
Vy gut sank. °l'm sorry.'
°0|d l ovor to|| you that l was |n a bad acc|dont onco?'
l |ookod at hor. °lo.'
Wo pu||od |nto our dr|voway and parkod |n tho garago.
°lt was |ato at n|ght and a dr|vor |n tho othor |ano dr|ttod
|nto m|no. |o struck mo, and l ro||od and my car h|t a troo. l
was prognant whon |t happonod and l |ost tho baby. Attor
that, tho doctors sa|d l wou|dn't bo ab|o to havo ch||dron. And
thon you camo a|ong.' 3ho ran a hand through my ha|r and
touchod my taco tondor|y. °1hat's why you'ro my ||tt|o m|rac|o.
l don't ovor want to know what ||to wou|d bo ||ko |t l |ost you.'
l watchod hor tor anothor momont |ongor. 1ho s||onco ot
tho garago cur|od around mo, suck|ng ||ko a vo|d. What my
mom contossod had unnorvod mo. l know l was a|roady a
troak, but th|s mado mo too| ovon moro ||ko ono. Whon l was
roborn, who doc|dod what tam||y l'd bo born to? l toarod tho
|doa that somoono-or somoth|ng-had contro| ovor my tato.
Ovor my sou|.
°l'|| soo you |n tho morn|ng,' my mom sa|d. °l'm so happy
you'ro a|| r|ght.'
°1hanks tor ovoryth|ng,' l to|d hor. °1hat was roa||y scary.'
°l just can't bo||ovo tho rotton |uck you'vo had w|th your
car,' sho musod. °||rst |t's koyod and thon tota|od. lt a||
toonagors havo th|s k|nd ot |uck, thon l don't b|amo tho
|nsuranco compan|os tor tho|r ratos.'
l pursod my ||ps t|ght|y. l|ght-|ock. lot that l was bo|ng
huntod down by a baby-oat|ng monstor-assass|n, or anyth|ng.
1ust bad |uck.
3ho sm||od warm|y and k|ssod my torohoad. °lt wasn't
your tau|t, and l th|nk you hand|od |t wo||. 3|oop |n tomorrow,
okay?'
°Can't arguo w|th that.' l |aughod. °Good n|ght.'
°'l|ght, E|||o 3oan.'
l hoadod toward tho sta|rs, but l stoppod doad whon l
hoard a vo|co grow| w|th rago boh|nd mo.
°What tho ho|| d|d you do?'
An awtu| too||ng |n my chost p|ungod doop |nto my gut
whon l saw my tathor stomp toward mo, h|s taco boot rod and
h|s oyos w||d. l staggorod back, tr|pp|ng on tho bottom stop
ot tho sta|rcaso, and l h|t tho wa|| as toar wh|r|od through mo.
°lt was an acc|dont,' l p|oadod, my hand craw||ng a|ong tho
wa|| to try to ma|nta|n my ba|anco. °l d|dn't moan to-'
ºYoo wrockoo yoor cor!' ho snar|od through gr|nd|ng
tooth, sp|tt|o t|ock|ng my taco. |o ra|sod a hand, and l d|dn't
know what ho was about to do w|th |t. °You'vo had |t tor a
mootb!'
°l|chard!' my mom cr|od as sho ran up to h|m and
grabbod h|s wr|st. °l|chard, bo g|ad sho's not hurt.'
°5bo`s not hurt?' ho roarod, turn|ng toward hor. °What
about that th|rty-thousand-do||ar car l bought tor hor?'
Vom pushod h|s shou|dor, t|rm|y gu|d|ng h|m away trom
mo. °l|chard, ||ston to mo. lt was a door. 1ho acc|dont
cou|dn't bo ho|pod.' l not|cod how sho ro|toratod that |t had
boon an acc|dont, but |t d|dn't mako any d|ttoronco.
°|or coro|ossooss can't bo ho|pod!' ho shoutod |nchos
trom hor taco. Vom c|osod hor oyos as sho was b|astod w|th
h|s broath and sp|t.
l to|t hoat r|so |n mo as my angor grow. l starod at my dad
as ho yo||od thoso awtu| th|ngs |nto my mom's taco. 1hoy
woron't truo. l had dono my bost. l was on|y try|ng to protoct
othors and myso|t, but l wasn't portoct. lt wasn't my tau|t that
th|ngs got damagod whon l tought tho roapors. lt wasn't my
tau|t. °lt's not my tau|t,' l sa|d a|oud, try|ng to conv|nco my dad
and myso|t.
°You'd bottor bo||ovo |t's your tau|t!' that monstor h|ssod,
turn|ng h|s attont|on back to mo.
°l'm not caro|oss,' l sa|d, my vo|co oor||y ca|m as tho rago
churnod ||ko an undortow w|th|n mo.
°A|| you do |s broak th|ngs and ta|| |n schoo|. Can't you do
anyth|ng bos|dos causo dostruct|on?'
°l'm not ta|||ng |n schoo|.' Vy grados woron't amaz|ng by
any moans, but thoy woro corta|n|y t|xab|o. |o had no r|ght to
br|ng up schoo|.
°You havo no rospoct tor anyth|ng or anyono,' ho grow|od,
|gnor|ng my rotort. °You'ro worth|oss.'
|ury spun through mo. °lot as worth|oss as you.'
|o corta|n|y d|dn't |gnoro tbot. |o grabbod mo around tho
jaw |n a surpr|s|ng|y tast movo and ||ttod my taco up so that
h|s oyos borod down |nto m|no. |o m|ght havo moant tho
ho|d to hurt, but |t d|dn't. lot tor mo. lot as much as h|s
words d|d.
l tought ovoryth|ng |n mo not to snap oach ot h|s t|ngors
||ko ||tt|o tw|gs. Vy broath|ng grow |ongor and stoad|or as l
starod up at my tathor and sa|d, °l boto you.'
||s gazo d|dn't t||ckor tor ovon a hoartboat, but h|s t|ngors
gr|ppod my ch|n t|ghtor. °l don't caro.'
|o ho|d mo a momont |ongor botoro ro|oas|ng mo
rough|y, knock|ng mo back |nto tho wa||. |o wh|r|od around
and stompod away. Vy mom startod toward mo, but l rushod
up tho stops and ran |nto my room botoro sho cou|d say a
th|ng, s|amm|ng tho door boh|nd mo. l t||ppod on tho ||ght and
throw my purso at my bod, sp||||ng |ts contonts a|| ovor tho
t|oor. Onco l was a|ono, my composuro was gono and l
startod to hyporvont||ato as my gazo spun around tho room. l
cou|dn't tocus on anyth|ng. l was d|zzy, tur|ous, and
oxhaustod.
||na||y, my oyos rostod on tho mus|c box on my drossor,
tho mus|c box my dad had g|von mo, wh|ch l |ovod. lnstoad ot
opon|ng |t and watch|ng tho ba||or|na tw|r| around to protty
mus|c, l grabbod tho box, shovod opon my w|ndow, and
chuckod |t as hard as l cou|d |nto tho n|ght. l watchod tho
mus|c box t|y through tho a|r and shattor whon |t h|t tho
ground. l novor wantod to soo that ba||or|na danco or hoar
that mus|c ovor aga|n.
3p|nn|ng away trom tho w|ndow, and l bur|od my taco |nto
my hands and |ot out a mutt|od scroam |nto my pa|ms. Onco |t
was out, l bogan to sob. l ran my hands through my ha|r,
pu|||ng tho |ocks away trom my taco so l cou|d broatho bottor,
but |t d|dn't work. l cr|od and cr|od, and my knoos startod to
buck|o, but l rotusod to ta|| down.
°E|||o.'
1ho sott vo|co boh|nd mo, moro tam|||ar than any sound
l'd ovor hoard botoro, sont a rush ot ro||ot through my body.
As l turnod around, W||| wrappod h|s arms around mo warm
and t|ght. |o to|t as tam|||ar as h|s vo|co, t|rm ||ko tho
toundat|on ot a skyscrapor, and l huggod h|m t|ght and bur|od
my taco |nto h|s chost as l cr|od. |o touchod my ha|r and ho|d
mo as c|oso as ho cou|d and sa|d noth|ng. l d|dn't nood h|m
to say anyth|ng. l just noodod h|m to stand thoro and ho|d mo.
Wo stayod ||ko that unt|| l stoppod cry|ng and |oosonod
my gr|p. |o smo||od so good, so much ||ko homo, moro
tam|||ar than tho houso l ||vod |n, that l d|dn't want to pu|| away,
but l know l had to. l stoppod back and |ot go, unab|o to |ook
up |nto h|s k|nd groon oyos and taco h|m.
°1hank you,' l wh|sporod hoarso|y, |ook|ng at tho t|oor
|nstoad ot at h|m, w|p|ng at tho toars stroakod across my
taco. °l'm okay now.' l was ombarrassod by what ho know
had happonod and by my roact|on to |t. 3ut l a|so know that
ho wou|dn't judgo mo, ovon though l d|d.
°Anyth|ng tor you.'
1hoso words mado mo |ook at h|m at |ast. ||s oxpross|on
was t|rm w|th worry and angor, but ho tr|od to appoar ca|mor
than ho tru|y was. 1ho k|ndnoss ot h|s ottort mado mo
torr|t|ca||y gratotu| to havo h|m |n my ||to at that momont.
|o swa||owod hard and h|s gazo t||ckorod. °lt ho had
struck you,' ho sa|d s|ow|y, °l wou|d havo k|||od h|m.'
l starod at h|m, |ook|ng h|m up and down, rog|stor|ng tho
r|g|d|ty |n h|s shou|dors. °l know.'
Our oyos mot aga|n, and no|thor ot us movod or spoko tor
somo t|mo. l was t|na||y |uc|d attor a||, as |t h|s prosonco had
washod away a|| tho sadnoss and angor t|ood|ng my hoart.
°l havo to go,' W||| sa|d.
|o d|sappoarod out my w|ndow, |oav|ng mo a|ono, onco
aga|n putt|ng d|stanco botwoon us as soon as wo got c|oso. l
starod attor h|m, past tho curta|ns b|||ow|ng |n tho |cy
n|ghtt|mo broozo and out that b|ack ho|o ot a w|ndow.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
18
l lEE0E0 1O CAll KA1E. 3|E WOUl0 |AvE 3EEl worr|od about
whoro l was. l grabbod my phono, c|oarod my throat, and
ca||od hor.
°Whoro aro you?' sho askod as soon as sho answorod.
°l'm at homo,' l sa|d, sw|tch|ng on tho |amp by my bod and
turn|ng tho ovorhoard ||ght ott. °Vy car |s tota|od.'
º¼botº' 3ho shr|okod so |oud, l had to pu|| tho phono
away trom my oar.
°Wo h|t a bunch ot door on tho way homo. Vy car |s
sor|ous|y trashod.'
°Oh my God,' sho gaspod. °Gross. Aro you a|| r|ght?'
°Yoah, wo'ro t|no, just roa||y t|rod and d|rty.' l d|dn't to|| hor
about what had happonod w|th my dad as soon as l got
homo. l d|dn't nood to ro||vo |t aga|n.
°0o you st||| want to como ovor? l can como and p|ck you
up. Evan got a t|tth.'
l to|t bad turn|ng hor down, but l was just not |n tho mood
to dr|nk. A monstor had tr|od to k||| mo on|y a tow hours
botoro. A|| l wantod now was to s|oop. °|ow about tomorrow
n|ght?' l askod. °l'm st||| protty troakod out. 1omorrow n|ght,
wo shou|d got ovoryono togothor at your houso.'
°A|| r|ght,' sho sa|d. °You had bottor not ba|| on mo ogolo.
l th|nk wo shou|d hang out botoro tho party, too. lt too|s ||ko l
novor soo you anymoro.'
l |aughod. °l won't ba||, l prom|so. l'|| ovon br|ng W|||.' lt ho
was go|ng to st|ck c|oso to mo, ho m|ght as wo|| show h|s
taco and onjoy h|mso|t a ||tt|o. lt was a good oxcuso to koop
h|m noarby.
lo soonor d|d l th|nk that than l saw W||| c||mb back |n
through my w|ndow.
°|oy, l'|| g|vo you a ca|| tomorrow,' l ottorod, try|ng my bost
to bo choortu|. °Wo'|| party thon, l swoar. Wo'|| ovon hang out
oar||or, too. lasor tag, maybo?'
°Okay-byo-|ovo-you,' sho sa|d |n ono broath.
l hung up, tossod my phono on my bod, and turnod my
attont|on to W|||. °What aro you do|ng back?' l askod. °l
thought you'd bo gono tor good ton|ght.'
°l changod my m|nd about |oav|ng you a|ono. l wantod to
mako suro you woro roa||y okay.'
°Oh. 1hank you.'
An awkward s||onco to|| botwoon us. l hatod that |t had
como to th|s whon on|y hours ago, ovoryth|ng had to|t so r|ght
botwoon us. l had to got away.
°l'm go|ng to tako a showor,' l sa|d at |ast. °Aro you . . .
go|ng to stay horo?' l to|t a ||tt|o odd about a guy hang|ng
around my room wh||o l was showor|ng. 1horo wasn't roa||y
much l had to h|do. l supposod tho most ombarrass|ng th|ng l
had was my mov|o co||oct|on. 1hon aga|n, ho probab|y d|dn't
caro that l had a|| tho llgb 5cboo| Voslco| mov|os noxt to
5ol|or Vooo on my top sho|t. l was such a dork. At |oast
Oosslp Olr| was up thoro too, so l was sort ot rodoomod.
|o noddod. °l won't got |nto anyth|ng, l prom|so. l'vo
known you tor t|vo hundrod yoars, so l don't th|nk anyth|ng you
do now cou|d shock mo.' |o st|t|od a |augh, but l gavo h|m a
qu|zz|ca| |ook. A t|oot|ng worry about what ho m|ght know
about mo crossod my m|nd.
l hurr|od |n tho showor as tast as l cou|d. Whon l t|n|shod, l
stoppod out and towo|od myso|t ott. Vy rot|oct|on |n tho m|rror
was m||d|y moro p|oasant cons|dor|ng how my taco no |ongor
qu|to rosomb|od tho car wrock l'd boon |n that n|ght. l |ookod
around tor my robo, but l d|dn't soo |t. Worr|od, l wrappod tho
towo| around myso|t.
°Oh no,' l broathod. Vy robo was not |n tho bathroom.
1horo was no way l was go|ng to put my b|oody c|othos back
on. l k|ckod at tho t||thy p||o ot |aundry |n tho m|dd|o ot tho
bathroom t|oor and cr|ngod. °Gross, gross, gross . . .'
l'd havo to go back |nto my room |n my towo| to got c|oan
c|othos. 1h|s was not good. l d|d not want to wa|k around
pract|ca||y nakod |n tront ot any boy, |ot a|ono W|||. l tromb|od
as l wa|kod back to my room. l pokod tho door opon a tow
|nchos and wh|sporod just |oud|y onough tor on|y W|||, and not
my paronts, to hoar mo.
°W|||?'
°Yoah?'
°Can you turn around tor a soc?'
|o pausod. °Okay.'
l t|ptood |n, hugg|ng tho towo| as t|ght|y as l cou|d. |o had
turnod around and tacod tho w|ndow.
°l nood my c|othos. 3orry.' l sh|mm|od |nto my c|osot and
shut tho door boh|nd mo. l b|ow out a |oud s|gh and |ot tho
towo| drop. l put on a |acy tank and t|anno| pajama pants and
|ott my c|osot.
°l was hop|ng you wou|dn't havo to moot lvar tor a wh||o,'
W||| sa|d. |o d|dn't br|ng up my ombarrass|ng op|sodo trom
m|nutos ago, and l was go|ng to bo otorna||y gratotu|.
°Yoah, mo, too,' l sa|d, my vo|co qu|vor|ng. °l cou|d too|
hor powor, W|||. lt was so d|ttoront trom lagnuk's. ||s onorgy
to|t angry to mo, ||ko puro v|o|onco. 3ut hors . . . lvar's powor
was dark. lt mado mo íoo| toar. lot atra|d, but |t ío|t ||ko íoor.
0oos that mako sonso?'
||s ||ps t|ghtonod. °You'vo sa|d th|ngs a|ong thoso ||nos
botoro.'
°What doos |t moan?'
°lt moans that you, tho lro||ator, aro bog|nn|ng to
awakon,' ho sa|d, p|ck|ng absont|y at a r|p |n h|s sh|rt. °As
your strongth and momory roturn, your ab|||t|os w|||, too. lt w|||
tako somo t|mo tor you to roach your tu|| potont|a|.'
l s|ghod. °And horo l thought lagnuk was tho scar|ost
th|ng out thoro. lvar boats h|m by a m||o.'
°1horo w||| bo othor v|r-3ast|an's thugs-that you'||
moot,' ho sa|d gravo|y. °1hoy w||| on|y got worso. 3ast|an |s
||ko|y to savo h|s bost tor |ast.'
°Groat,' l groanod. °3o tho scary ch|ck and lagnuk aro
tho woak onos.'
°1hoy aro not woak,' ho |ns|stod. °1hoy'vo oarnod
bragg|ng r|ghts, bo||ovo mo. lvar cou|d k||| lagnuk w|th a
s|ng|o str|ko. And sho |s not tho woakost ot 3ast|an's v|r. 3ho
was sont as a mossongor, not to k||| you, wh|ch makos no
sonso. l too| ||ko 3ast|an |s sta|||ng. lorhaps k||||ng you |sn't
h|s u|t|mato goa|, s|nco that wou|d bo po|nt|oss. You wou|d
just bo roborn aga|n.'
Vy ||ps t|ghtonod. 1hat wasn't good. |ow cou|d l poss|b|y
dotoat any ot thom whon lagnuk had noar|y k|||od mo tw|co
a|roady |n th|s ||to, and actua||y succoodod onco |n a prov|ous
ono? What was l go|ng to do whon l had to taco lvar and tho
othor v|r, or ovon 3ast|an? And what was th|s gamo 3ast|an
was p|ay|ng w|th my ||to-sond|ng an assass|n to k||| mo and
thon ca|||ng h|m ott? Was ho try|ng to koop mo occup|od
wh||o ho |ookod tor th|s Ensh|? Was a|| ot th|s roa||y |oad|ng
up to tho Apoca|ypso?
W||| soomod to road my m|nd. |o tuckod my ha|t-dr|od
ha|r boh|nd my oar swoot|y. °You can do |t,' ho sa|d, h|s sott
vo|co t|||od w|th hopo. °You'ro strongor than any ot thom.'
°1hon why do thoy koop mopp|ng tho t|oor w|th mo?' l
domandod.
|o |ot out a broath. °You nood to havo moro cont|donco |n
yourso|t. 3o||ovo you can do |t.'
°l nood somo proot t|rst,' l sa|d w|th a sma|| |augh. °lt's a
||tt|o hard to bo||ovo l can dotoat lagnuk whon ho koops
k|ck|ng my butt.'
|o trownod. °1hat's tho po|nt ot bo||ov|ng |n somoth|ng.
1horo's so much doubt and tr|bu|at|on dur|ng your journoy that
you'vo got to hang on to somoth|ng, or o|so you'|| ta||.'
l ro||od my oyos. °3top bo|ng so w|so. You mako mo |ook
bad. What do you th|nk lvar moant by 'dovo|opmonts'?'
°Vost ||ko|y somoth|ng w|th tho Ensh|. Wo nood to
rodoub|o our rosoarch ottorts. Vaybo lathan|o| has tound
somoth|ng.' |o trownod. °l don't ovon know whoro to start
|ook|ng tor |ntormat|on.'
°1hon l guoss wo'|| havo to concontrato on k||||ng lagnuk
and 3ast|an's v|r?' l askod, unab|o to quo|| tho doubt |n my
tono.
|o noddod. °lagnuk |s hunt|ng you. Wo caught a |ucky
broak ton|ght whon lvar ca||od h|m ott, but l don't know much
wo may bonot|t trom that |n tho ond.'
°What do you moan?' l|ght bu|b. °Oh God, you don't th|nk
thoy tound tho Ensh|, do you?'
°Wo can on|y pray thoy d|dn't,' ho sa|d. °3ut 3ast|an
ca||od lagnuk ott tor a roason. 1hoy wantod you doad and
now thoy don't. 3ut thoro |sn't much wo can do about |t now.'
l tr|od to stoady my norvos, but l ta||od. Uso|ossnoss was
oot tho too||ng l wantod to havo. °Wo||, what aro wo do|ng
s|tt|ng around horo? 1hoy cou|d havo tho Ensh| |n tho|r hands
as wo spoak!'
°E|||o, what aro you go|ng to do?' ho domandod. °1ust
wa|tz |n on a|| ot thom? |or ono th|ng, wo don't know |t thoy
tound tho Ensh| ton|ght. lt cou|d havo just boon a |oad. And,
two, wo don't ovon know whoro thoy oro. l havo no |doa
whoro 3ast|an wou|d go onco ho got h|s c|aws on tho Ensh|.
Wo just don't havo onough |ntormat|on to p|ay |t sato.'
°lsn't that what th|s |s a|| about? A gamb|o?'
|o |a|d a hand on my shou|dor t|rm|y, h|s groon oyos
br|ghton|ng a ||tt|o. °Wo'vo gamb|od botoro, and wo a|ways
|oso. l'm not tak|ng any bots whon your ||to |s concornod.'
°3ut l'|| como back-'
°lt's not that oasy, E|||o.' |o c|osod h|s oyos tor a momont.
°lt's not ||ko a v|doo gamo whoro Var|o d|os and pops r|ght
back |n act|on two soconds |ator. You olo. And |t takos you
a|most two docados botoro you'ro back |n tho gamo. 1h|s
t|mo, |t took you tour. You havo to start ovor comp|oto|y. lt's
boon hardor ovory t|mo. You'ro |n a woakonod stato r|ght
now, and 3ast|an knows th|s. |o'|| want to t|n|sh you ott
botoro your tu|| powor roturns to you. lt ho ta||s, thoro |s a
h|ghor chanco that wo'|| stop h|m trom gott|ng tho Ensh|. 1h|s
th|ng must bo ab|o to dostroy you |t ho's go|ng through a|| th|s
troub|o to t|nd |t.'
°3o onco whon got tho Ensh|, thoy'ro just go|ng to como
tu|| torco at mo?' |o was scar|ng mo aga|n.
°l don't th|nk 3ast|an |s that sor|ous about k||||ng you now.
lagnuk |s good at what ho doos, but |t sooms that |t 3ast|an
roa||y wantod you doad, ho'd sond moro than just ono
assass|n, and ho wou|dn't havo ca||od thom ott tho way ho
d|d. l hato to bo bruta||y honost, but |t ho sont somoono ||ko
lvar attor you r|ght now, thoro wou|d bo a good chanco that
you wou|d not mako |t out a||vo. Aga|n, l th|nk ho's sta|||ng tor
somoth|ng, ||ko ho's koop|ng you busy wh||o ho soarchos tor
tho Ensh|. lt makos mo torr|t|od ot what th|s th|ng may bo
capab|o ot.'
l gr|macod.
°3ut you havo mo,' ho sa|d. °l'vo dono ovoryth|ng l cou|d
ovor tho |ast tow contur|os to koop you sato. l know l'vo ta||od
you botoro, and l hato what you must go through, but how l
too| about |t doosn't mattor. Emot|on |s not ro|ovant. Vy
roason tor ox|st|ng |s to protoct you.'
What ho sa|d saddonod mo. lot tho part about 3ast|an
try|ng to assass|nato mo, but rathor whon ho sa|d that |t d|dn't
mattor how ho to|t. l wasn't worth somoono's ont|ro ox|stonco
-|mmorta| or doomod. °1hat's not truo,' l sa|d.
|o stud|od my taco carotu||y. °What |sn't? l try my-'
°l caro how you too|. 0on't say |t doosn't mattor.'
|o sm||od. °Wo||, you shou|dn't worry about that. Vy
purposo |s to koop you sato and t|ght a|ongs|do you.'
° 3ut wbyº' l askod |mpat|ont|y. °Why aro you my
Guard|an? 0|d you chooso th|s? 0|d tho othors botoro you
chooso th|s?'
°Yos,' ho contossod. °l agrood to bocomo your Guard|an,
bocauso l bo||ovo |n your goa|. l bo||ovo |n yoo.'
l g|oworod. °1hat |s not a good answor.'
|o sm||od crookod|y. °You'|| undorstand. You know a||
thoso th|ngs a|roady-thoy just o|udo you tor tho momont.'
Vy t|sts ro||od |nto t|ght ba||s. l cou|dn't tako |t anymoro.
°l'm s|ck ot bo|ng to|d that a|| tho th|ngs l don't undorstand aro
r|ght |n tho back ot my m|nd and l can't roach thom. l'm go|ng
losooo, W|||.'
°0on't bo so |mpat|ont.'
°1oo bad!'
|o suckod |n h|s uppor ||p, somoth|ng l was protty suro ho
d|d whon ho was norvous. °About tomorrow n|ght.'
°What about |t?'
°Aro you go|ng ovor to Kato's houso?'
°Yoah,' l sa|d w|th a t|rod vo|co. °l prom|sod hor. You
shou|d como.'
|o d|ppod h|s hoad just a ||tt|o. °lt that |s what you w|sh.'
°Yos, that's what l w|sh. l want you to como. l too| bottor
whon you'ro c|oso to mo and l can soo you.'
|o stoppod torward and sat gracotu||y down on tho odgo
ot my bod noxt to mo. °1hon l w||| |ot you soo mo moro.'
°1hank you,' l sa|d, too||ng vory strango hav|ng a boy s|t
on my bod. lt to|t so |nt|mato and toro|gn to mo. °l know you'||
protoct mo.'
°l w|||,' ho prom|sod, h|s oyos |ockod on m|no.
l bo||ovod h|m.
°1horo's somoth|ng l havo to to|| you,' ho wh|sporod.
°About what l am. You know th|s a|roady, but you don't
romombor, and l d|dn't want to to|| you. l wantod you to
romombor on your own, bocauso |t's oas|or tor you that way,
but |t's tak|ng so |ong and l hato koop|ng th|ngs trom you. lt
too|s wrong to koop protond|ng that |t doosn't ox|st, but l'm
atra|d you may hato mo attor l to|| you.'
°l cou|d novor hato you,' l sa|d oarnost|y. °What |s |t? 1ust
to|| mo.' l turnod and sat cross-|oggod across trom h|m.
|o took a |ong, doop broath. °l am |mmorta| bocauso l am
not human, as l'vo to|d you. l ||vo as |ong as tho roapors
bocauso l om ono, E|||o.'
l cou|dn't spoak tor tho |ongost t|mo. °You'ro ono ot
thom?' Vy ||ps wont numb as l askod a quost|on that soomod
so unroa|. 3hock to|| on mo ||ko hoavy snow, and l trozo. 1ho
b|ood dra|nod trom my hoad as lvar's ghast|y taco t|ashod
across my m|nd. W||| cou|dn't bo anyth|ng ||ko hor. lt wasn't
poss|b|o. °l don't undorstand.'
||s oxpross|on co||apsod. °lo, l am not ono ot tbom.
l|oaso don't th|nk ot mo as ov||, bocauso l'm not ||ko that.'
l sa|d noth|ng tor sovora| momonts to |ot |t s|nk |n. °You'ro
a roapor.' 1hough l sa|d |t a|oud, tho statomont st||| d|dn't
soom roa| to mo.
°l|oaso don't |oso your trust |n mo bocauso l d|dn't to||
you botoro. You know th|s tho day you mot mo and you know
th|s now. l'm an ango||c roapor, but l am a|so your Guard|an.
Your Guard|ans havo a|ways boon ango||c roapors.'
°1hon you'ro tho good k|nd,' l sa|d, dosporato to anchor
myso|t botoro l troakod out. °ls lathan|o| ||ko you? ls that how
ho's |mmorta| too?'
°Yos.'
l noddod onco, s|ow|y, tak|ng |t a|| |n. °3o that's how you'ro
ab|o to soo tho roapors. ls that why you'ro so strong?'
°Yos,' ho sa|d. °1h|s |s why l havo surv|vod th|s |ong.
You'ro morta|, E|||o. Vy body can tako moro damago than
yours can. Wo'ro noar|y |ndostruct|b|o and your body |s
human, tra||or, but you havo tho powor ot ango|t|ro, and wo
don't.'
l thought about that tor a momont. What ho sa|d mado
sonso. Vy human body was a woaknoss. 3ut what was h|s
woaknoss? What cou|d k||| h|m? °Can ango|t|ro k||| you?'
°lo. 0omont|ro can k||| mo or |oavo scars, but tho
Enoch|an protoct|on spo|| that you tattoood on my arm
protocts mo trom that and b|nds mo to you.'
°Woro you ovor woundod by domont|ro botoro you got tho
tattoos?'
°lo, but l know othors who havo boon,' ho sa|d, °and a
wo||-p|acod h|t to my hoart or docap|tat|on can k||| mo just as
oas||y. l'm not that d|ttoront trom you. l|oaso don't say you
hato mo. l wantod you to romombor |t on your own. l don't
want you to bo atra|d ot mo. You havo no roason to toar mo.'
°l don't hato you and l'm not atra|d ot you,' l sa|d gont|y,
but tor a momont, l wasn't so suro about tho toar part. °lt
you'ro a roapor, thon why wou|d you k||| your own k|nd?'
°1ho domon|c roapors k||| humans to bu||d luc|tor's army
|n |o||. 1hoy aro propar|ng tor apoca|ypt|c war, and wo havo
to do ovoryth|ng wo can to provont that.'
°3ut |t you sorvo tho ango|s, why can't tho domon|c
roapors do tho samo? Why can't thoy bo good ||ko you?'
|o took |n a broath. °l was born ango||c and tho domon|c
aro born tho way thoy aro. 1ho domon|c don't undorstand tho
va|uo ot human ||to and as a rosu|t don't rospoct |t. lo
roapors-domon|c or ango||c-havo ovor boon morta|, so
wo'vo novor had to too| ourso|vos ag|ng, grow|ng woakor,
bo|ng torcod to accopt doath as somoth|ng that's |nov|tab|o
|nstoad ot just poss|b|o. Wo on|y got strongor w|th t|mo.
3ocauso ot th|s, many ot us aro torovor ch||d|sh and
|mpu|s|vo. W|th croaturos as powortu| as a|| roapors aro, that
trans|atos |nto v|o|onco and otton cruo|ty. l do know a tow ot
tho ango||c who aro dangorous bocauso ot that, but wo aro
taught to chor|sh human ||to trom b|rth, bocauso |t's trag||o
and so |mportant. 1ho domon|c don't caro. |rom b|rth thoy
aro rowardod tor v|o|onco. 1o thom tho on|y va|uo |n human
||to |s tood and a sou| to roap.'
°0oos th|s a|| just como down to human sou|s?'
°lot oxact|y,' ho sa|d. °1ho domon|c aro roap|ng sou|s tor
luc|tor's army. lt that army gots b|g onough, tho 3ocond War
aga|nst |oavon w||| occur. 1ho 'End ot 0ays' lagnuk
mont|onod, wh|ch l to|d you about botoro. 1hat's |t. 1ho
Apoca|ypso. luc|tor's army |s a|roady count|oss t|mos moro
vast than |t was or|g|na||y. lt tho |og|ons ot |o|| and |oavon
woro to c|ash aga|n, tho Earth and tho human raco wou|dn't
surv|vo.'
3||onco to|| botwoon us as l wo|ghod h|s words. °1h|s |s
b|ggor than just mo and you, |sn't |t?'
|o noddod. °3ut wo'ro r|ght horo on tho tront ||nos. You'ro
our bost hopo to provont th|s trom happon|ng. 1hat's why
you'ro horo. 1o protoct tho human wor|d and |oavon. Wo, tho
ango||c roapors, aro horo to sorvo you and dotond you
aga|nst tho domon|c.'
l stud|od tho torvor |n h|s gazo. °3o you'ro born, and not
mooo what you aro?'
|o noddod. °Corroct. Wo grow up ||ko norma| humans,
but as wo got o|dor, wo ago moro and moro s|ow|y, unt|| wo
just stop ag|ng a|togothor. Wo roach matur|ty |n our |ato toons
or oar|y twont|os and t|mo sort ot stops tor us.'
l oyod h|m norvous|y. °0o you . . . oat poop|o too?'
|o gavo a sott |augh and shook h|s hoad. °lo. 1ho
ango||c don't oat humans. Wo oat norma| tood. l ||ko
choosoburgors.'
°lot poop|oburgors?' |or a momont l wondorod about
tho truth boh|nd Vanw|chos.
°Ot courso not.'
l broathod a s|gh ot ro||ot. °3o you grow up ||ko a norma|
boy?' l askod, try|ng to undorstand. °Whoro aro you trom?'
°l was born |n 3cot|and. Vy mothor was Eng||sh, but that's
whoro sho was stay|ng at tho t|mo. 1ho yoar was 1802.
1horo's not roa||y much to to|| about how l grow up.'
l tr|od to |mag|no W||| spoak|ng w|th an accont as hot as
1amos VcAvoy's, and |t was a|most onough to d|stract mo
trom tho sor|ousnoss ot our convorsat|on. °|ow can you say
that? loop|o who'vo dono noth|ng at a|| |n ton yoars can ta|k
tor hours about thomso|vos. l can't got moro than a sontonco
out ot you.'
°Wo||, wo mot |n london at tho bog|nn|ng ot tho s|xtoonth
contury. l was at court just attor tho young |onry Xvlll took tho
throno, and l was hunt|ng domon|c roapors who'd boon
|mporsonat|ng nob|os.'
l cou|dn't stand how gr|m ho soomod, and a|| l wantod h|m
to do was sm||o. °Okay, now l want you to say a|| ot that
aga|n, on|y |n your o|d accont.'
|o |aughod and l to|t so much bottor. °What? lo, l can't.
lt's boon a |ong t|mo. lt's not natura| tor mo anymoro.'
°l'm suro |t you trloo . . .'
°l'vo |oarnod so many |anguagos ovor tho |ast tow
contur|os that thoy a|| sort ot b|ond togothor attor a wh||o.'
°3ut to|| mo somoth|ng about your ||to trom back thon. l
want to know moro about you.'
|o |ot out a t|rod broath. °What's thoro to to||? 1ho tood
was horr|b|o and our c|othos woro too th|ck and hot |n tho
summor. |umans d|od a |ot. loop|o got s|ck. Evory tow
docados a p|aguo c|a|mod tons ot thousands ot ||vos. lt
wasn't roa||y a tun t|mo.'
l hadn't thought about that. °Yuck.'
°Yoah. You |oarn about |t |n schoo|, but thoy don't oxact|y
havo co|or photos trom thoso days |n your toxtbooks.' ||s
|ook was vory sor|ous. °3o thanktu|.'
l mado a taco. °Okay, stop to|||ng mo dopross|ng stutt
trom back thon.'
°You ||vod thon, too. And |ong botoro. lt's not ||ko you
m|ssod out.'
°l'|| to|| you what l om thanktu| tor. Vy amnos|a has
convon|ont|y orasod any momor|os ot tho 3|ack l|aguo. God
tru|y works |n mystor|ous ways.'
||s |augh was sott aga|n and h|s gazo to||. 1hat qu|ot
pons|vonoss roturnod to h|s oyos. °1hat |o doos.'
°3ut l don't want you to to|| mo about gonora| th|ngs trom
tho tourtoonth contury that l can t|nd |n any h|story book.' l
|ookod down at tho cha|n ot tho cruc|t|x tuckod |nto h|s sh|rt.
°1o|| mo about your mom.'
|o hos|tatod botoro answor|ng, and tho patch ot s||onco
mado mo too| gu||ty tor prob|ng h|m.
°What do you want to know?' |o spoko s|ow|y, h|s words
torcod.
l was vory suro ho wasn't koon on d|vu|g|ng tho socrots ot
h|s ch||dhood, but maybo |t wou|d ho|p h|m to ta|k about h|s
mothor. °What was sho ||ko?'
°An ango||c v|r ||ko myso|t. |oma|o roapors can havo a
ch||d on|y onco or tw|co ovory contury, so b|rths aro raro
occurroncos. Whothor a v|r |s ango||c or domon|c |s
dotorm|nod by tho mothor's hor|tago.'
°ls your mothor st||| a||vo?'
°l don't th|nk so. l havon't soon hor s|nco l was young.'
°l'm sorry,' l sa|d.
°lt's a|| r|ght. l'vo had a |ong t|mo to accopt |t. l baro|y
romombor hor taco. lt happonod whon l was so young.'
lt h|s mothor's doath d|dn't bothor h|m much, thon ho
wou|dn't st||| woar tho cross sho'd g|von h|m, and l'd novor
soon h|m w|thout |t. °What was hor namo?'
°Vado|o|no.'
l ropoatod hor namo |n my hoad. l tr|od to put a taco to hor
namo, and l |mag|nod sho had W|||'s r|ch dark choco|ato ha|r
and omora|d oyos. 3ho must havo boon as boaut|tu| as ho
was. °Why do you th|nk sho's doad?'
°l |ott homo whon l got too||sh and doc|dod to hunt tho
domon|c. l wont homo a docado or so attor l'd |ott, and sho
was gono. lathan|o| took mo |n. |o's a|ways boon ||ko a b|g
brothor to mo. Anyway, thoro hasn't boon a traco ot hor s|nco.
lt's ||ko|y sho was k|||od by anothor roapor.'
1hat struck mo doop|y. l |mag|nod com|ng homo ono day
to t|nd my mom gono torovor, and l cou|dn't tako |t. Vy oyos
grow hot and t|ght. °l'm so sorry.'
°lt's t|no, roa||y. l'vo had a |ong t|mo to got ovor |t. A |ot ot
poop|o l'vo |ovod havo d|od ovor tho contur|os. 1hat's just tho
wor|d wo ||vo |n. lt's dark and gr|tty and dangorous.'
°0o you know your tathor?'
|o shook h|s hoad. °lo. l don't know anyth|ng at a|| about
h|m. Vy mothor novor ta|kod about h|m. l th|nk sho |ovod h|m,
but sho wasn't proud ot |t, or somoth|ng ||ko that. l don't th|nk
tho|r ro|at|onsh|p |astod vory |ong.'
l |oanod back on my hands and starod at noth|ng.
Emot|ons st|rrod doop w|th|n mo-most|y uncorta|nty and a
||tt|o b|t ot toar-as l tr|od to tocus my thoughts. W||| was a
good roapor who tought a|ongs|do mo aga|nst tho bad
roapors. lt tho on|y th|ng that mado h|m good was h|s
hor|tago, thon what was onough to mako h|m go bad? What
roa||y was tho d|ttoronco botwoon W||| and tho roapors l
huntod? Was thoro a chanco tor tho domon|c roapors to
rodoom thomso|vos? Was thoro a chanco thoy cou|d ||vo
a|ongs|do humans poacotu||y? 1ho car-s|zo Urs|ds and
lup|nos probab|y wou|dn't bo oas||y accoptod |nto soc|oty-l
doubtod anyono wou|d want to adopt ono trom tho pound-
but was |t poss|b|o tor thom to coox|st w|thout k||||ng poop|o
and dragg|ng tho|r sou|s to |o||?
|o roachod torward to cup my chook, tho touch surpr|s|ng
mo. °l|oaso undorstand that no mattor what l am or what has
happonod |n tho past, l am yours. l am dovotod to you abovo
a|| o|so, |nc|ud|ng my own ||to.'
l oxha|od attor ho|d|ng my broath tor what to|t ||ko torovor.
°1hat's protty hoavy, W|||.'
||s oxpross|on was |mpass|onod, and tho backs ot h|s
t|ngors brushod tho s|do ot my nock. °lt |s a burdon l am g|ad
to carry.'
|o ho|d h|s hand thoro tor anothor momont botoro ho
pu||od back and |ookod away. l to|t an urgo to roach tor h|m
but supprossod |t. ||s taco was so vu|norab|o thon, and l
roa||zod how much l carod about h|m. l cou|d on|y romombor
moot|ng h|m rocont|y, but l a|so know ho'd boon my tr|ond tor
contur|os. 1hat was somoth|ng l cou|dn't romombor, but l to|t
|t |n my bonos. Vy oyos may havo boon unusod to h|s taco,
but my sou| know h|m bottor than |t know anyth|ng o|so |n tho
wor|d.
Whon our gazos mot aga|n, l not|cod tho s||ghtost t||ckor
ot br|ghtnoss |n that torr|ty|ng groon botoro tho co|or du||od
aga|n. 1ho t|ash was so qu|ck, l had to b||nk, but |t d|d not
roturn.
°l'|| |oavo now,' ho sa|d, and stood up, pu|||ng away trom
mo.
l wantod to jump torward and tug h|m back to mo, but l
d|dn't. °3oo you tomorrow?'
°Ot courso,' ho ottorod, sm|||ng. °l'|| |ot you onjoy your day
w|th Kato unt|| |t's t|mo tor tho party. You'|| soo mo thon.'
°Okay,' l sa|d. °Good n|ght. 1hank you tor sav|ng my ||to
ton|ght.'
°You savod m|no, too. You woro br||||ant.'
°1hanks.' Vy chooks grow hot.
°You'ro com|ng back to mo.' |o sm||od w|do|y-that
oxcruc|at|ng|y boaut|tu| sm||o-and thon ho was gono.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
10
A3 1|E WEEK3 WOlE Ol ll1O OC1O3El, WE |EAl0 vory ||tt|o trom
tho dark s|do. 3ast|an's thugs woro |y|ng |ow, but a|| that d|d
was mako mo worry about what thoy m|ght bo up to. Vy car
was boyond ropa|r, but l was roa||y happy to got a
rop|acomont a|most |dont|ca| to tho ono l had |ost. l doc|dod
to namo h|m Varshma||ow ll |n honor ot lagnuk's v|ct|m.
1ho co|dor tho woathor got, tho moro l tound myso|t |y|ng
and koop|ng th|ngs trom tho poop|o l |ovod. l snuck |n and out
ot my houso through tho back door oas||y, but |t was hard
soo|ng my mom's taco ovory n|ght and |oad|ng hor to bo||ovo
that l was on|y go|ng to bod. l to|t ||ko l was m|ss|ng out on a
groat doa| w|th my tr|onds, s|nco l was ba|||ng on our
wookond p|ans moro otton than ovor. l was worr|od l'd |oso
thom tor good. l w|shod l cou|d just bo honost w|th ovoryono
and go about my ||to as l norma||y had, but |t wasn't ||ko tho
wor|d was go|ng to wa|t tor mo to |oarn how to bo a
suporhoro. l wasn't suro how much |ongor l cou|d stand |t a||,
ospoc|a||y s|nco l ||od to tho tacos ot my paronts and tr|onds
ovory day.
1wo wooks botoro |a||owoon, Kato, lacho|, and l woro |n
a costumo shop try|ng on var|ous outt|ts. 1ho boys, ot courso,
p|annod to woar h|doous or vu|gar costumos. W|||, l
suspoctod, was go|ng as h|mso|t. |o cou|d bo scary onough.
W|th a b|oody sword and a ||tt|o b|t ot g|ow to h|s a|roady
o|octr|c groon oyos, ho'd havo ovon tho toughost U|C t|ghtor
shak|ng |n h|s spandox.
1ho party wo woro a|| attond|ng was 1os|o lowport's
annua| |a||owoon bash. lt was truo that wo woron't good
tr|onds or anyth|ng, but s|nco wo had a|| boon |n sovonth
grado togothor, |t was undorstood that my group a|ways
camo to hor |a||owoon party-and l was so pumpod.
°1ry th|s on,' Kato ordorod as sho shovod a nurso
costumo |n my taco.
l scow|od at |t. °1hat m|ght oxcood my skank ||m|t.'
°You'|| |ook hot |n |t w|th your gorgoous ha|r,' sho sa|d.
°low try |t on.'
Grudg|ng|y, l took |t trom hor and stood |n ||no at tho
dross|ng room. lacho| was st||| |ns|do try|ng on a w|tch
costumo. Kato had choson a vory rovoa||ng dov|| outt|t that
was most|y a rod m|n|dross and hookor boots.
°You'ro so bossy,' l to|d Kato.
3ho gr|nnod and adjustod tho g||ttory dov||-horns
hoadband |n hor ha|r. °You ||ko |t. Anyt|mo you want, l'|| bust
out my wh|p and turry handcutts. On|y tor you, boo.'
l ro||od my oyos. °Oh baby, oh baby.'
||na||y lacho| omorgod. 1ho p|nk and b|uo |n hor
costumo |ookod roa||y cuto w|th hor brown ha|r, ovon |t tho hat
was too b|g on hor and sat a b|t |ow. 3ho sm||od swoot|y and
gavo a ||tt|o turn to show ott tho outt|t. 1ho sk|rt was a tad |ong
and sho had had to pu|| tho wh|to pott|coat undornoath |owor
ovor hor h|ps so |t cou|dn't bo soon.
°What do you th|nk?' sho askod shy|y.
°You'ro so protty,' l sa|d.
Kato roachod torward, p|ckod lacho|'s ha|r up ott hor
shou|dors and tw|stod |t |nto an updo, thon tuggod tho t|utty
s|oovos down so that moro sk|n showod. Kato stoppod back
to adm|ro hor hand|work. °|ugo |mprovomont. Got th|s
costumo and woar your ha|r up. Evan w||| |ovo |t.'
°1h|nk so?' lacho| |ookod down and smoothod out hor
sk|rt.
°0ot|n|to|y,' l ottorod. °|o won't bo ab|o to koop h|s hands
ott you.'
Kato shovod mo toward tho dross|ng room. °low |t's your
turn. lt you'ro a soxy nurso, thon ¼l|| won't bo ab|o to koop h|s
hands ott yoo.'
°1hat |s not what l'm go|ng tor!' l c|osod tho curta|n boh|nd
mo.
°l|ar!' Kato ca||od trom outs|do tho dross|ng room.
l squoozod |nto tho t|ght dross and w|shod l woro woar|ng
somoth|ng t|utt|or ||ko lacho|'s costumo so l wou|dn't too| so
oxposod. Vy boobs woro k|nd ot sp||||ng out, but tho shoath
shapo ot tho dross mado my h|ps and |ogs |ook as |t l boo
h|ps and |ogs. l pu||od back tho curta|n whon l was roady, and
Kato |oosod a |ong wh|st|o.
°You hot b|tch,' sho sa|d. °1rado costumos w|th mo.'
lt my soxy nurso outt|t mado my boobs |ook a who|o cup
s|zo b|ggor, Kato's dov|| outt|t mado hor |ook ||ko a porn star.
lo way cou|d l pu|| that ott. °lo, thanks. You koop yours.'
°You know l'm r|ght, though,' sho sa|d s|y|y. °|o won't bo
ab|o to koop h|s hands or h|s oyos ott you a|| n|ght.'
l tr|od to d|sgu|so tho sm||o grow|ng, but l ta||od. Vaybo
that was oxact|y what l wantod. l stoppod |n tront ot tho m|rror
and |ookod at myso|t trom d|ttoront ang|os. l d|d |ook good,
attor a||. lt l was |ucky, somoono o|so m|ght not|co too.
1hat 3aturday W||| and l woro sparr|ng |n our abandonod
warohouso, as wo usua||y d|d on wookond attornoons. Whon
a boam to|| and crushod my hand, wo woro torcod to tho
s|do||nos wh||o my bonos hoa|od. l watchod my sk|n grow
back and tho bonos roshapo, but that wasn't tho strangost
part. Vy brokon hand novor roa||y hurt that bad|y. 3uro, |t
k|||od tor tho t|rst tow soconds, but tho pa|n du||od qu|ck|y,
k|||od tor tho t|rst tow soconds, but tho pa|n du||od qu|ck|y,
and thon thoro l was, star|ng at my bonos shuddor|ng back
|nto p|aco. lt d|dn't ovon nausoato mo that much anymoro. l
wasn't suro wh|ch was wo|rdor-my brokon bonos hoa||ng |n
m|nutos or my not bo|ng grossod out by |t. A toss-up, roa||y.
°You ought to bo usod to that by now,' W||| sa|d.
l |ookod up to soo h|m watch|ng mo, h|s own scrapos
d|sappoar|ng trom h|s sk|n. °l just novor not|cod my body
hoa||ng ||ko th|s botoro,' l sa|d. °lt's wo|rd that |t doosn't hurt.
ln tho tourth grado, Kato to|| ott tho monkoy bars and broko
hor arm. 3ho cr|od so much. l broak my bonos and |t just
too|s a ||tt|o t|ng|y attor a momont or two. And now l roa||zo . . .
l novor roa||y got hurt as a ||tt|o g|r|.'
°l'm suro you got hurt,' ho notod. °You just d|dn't pay a |ot
ot attont|on to your wounds bocauso thoy hoa|od a|most
|nstant|y.'
l huttod, a nosta|g|c ||tt|o sm||o torm|ng on my taco. °Vy
mom a|ways thought l was just |ucky.'
°lo norma| k|d |s that |ucky.' |o crouchod and roachod
out to touch my hand. |o ||ttod |t up and oxam|nod |t. °Good
as now.'
°0oos |t hurt yoo?' l askod, watch|ng h|m.
°0oos what hurt?'
°Whon somoth|ng broaks,' l sa|d, and took my hand back.
°Evory t|mo.' ||s groon oyos ho|d m|no tor a momont
|ongor, |rros|st|b|y, botoro ho stood up.
°0o you th|nk tho Ensh| cou|d bo ono ot tho |a||on?' l
askod, gott|ng up a|so.
°l hopo not.'
°|avo you ovor soon ono ot thom?'
°lo,' ho sa|d. °And l novor, ovor want to. 1hoy'ro tho
|ncarnat|on ot ovoryth|ng torr|b|o |n th|s wor|d,' ho oxp|a|nod.
°1ho man|tostat|on ot hato, s|cknoss, grood . . . ovoryth|ng
ov|| you can |mag|no.'
°lt thoy'ro so strong, thon why don't thoy como and do tho|r
own d|rty work? Why do thoy nood domon|c roapors?'
°1ho ango|s and tho |a||on can't tu||y como |nto tho morta|
p|ano |n tho|r corporoa| torms. 1hoy can wandor and
|nt|uonco ovonts, but thoy can't phys|ca||y |ntortoro. lt takos an
|ncrod|b|o amount ot onorgy and strongth tor tho|r k|nd to
surv|vo |ong horo. A powortu| mag|ca| ro||c can ho|p, but
thoy'ro noar|y |mposs|b|o to t|nd.'
°What |s a ro||c?' l askod.
°lo||cs aro powortu| objocts w|th a connoct|on to o|thor
tho d|v|no or tho damnod,' ho oxp|a|nod. °1hoy aro usua||y
cursod or b|ossod w|th ango||c mag|c, an Enoch|an spo||.
1hoy havo a var|oty ot usos dur|ng spo||s, and somo havo tho
ab|||ty to g|vo corporoa| torm to an ango| or a |a||on |n tho
morta| roa|m. 1ho most thoy can do on tho|r own |s show up
br|ot|y, porhaps to do||vor a mossago, botoro s||pp|ng back
|nto tho|r own roa|ms. lt you camo up aga|nst a |a||on |n h|s
corporoa| torm, thon God ho|p us a||. l don't know what wou|d
happon.'
°1hon l'|| mako a monta| noto to avo|d thom,' l sa|d w|th a
norvous |augh. °You'ro com|ng w|th mo to 1os|o's party,
r|ght?'
|o s|ghod. loud|y. °You'ro not roa||y go|ng, aro you?'
°l wou|dn't m|ss |t, ovon |t l was ambushod by roapors and
k|||od. l'd bo ro|ncarnatod and st||| go. 1h|s w||| bo tho |ast
ono, s|nco l graduato |n tho spr|ng-|t l surv|vo to soo myso|t
graduato.'
°0on't joko about that.'
l trownod. °Wo||, l'm go|ng and l want you to como w|th
mo.'
°You shou|d bo concontrat|ng on tra|n|ng and on t|nd|ng
tho Ensh|, not party|ng.'
°You sa|d yourso|t that l shou|d ro|ax trom t|mo to t|mo.
1h|s |s a portoct opportun|ty.'
°lt's a portoct opportun|ty to got ambushod, and ovon |t
noth|ng happons at tho party, you b|athor|ng on about
propar|ng tor |t |s d|stract|ng you.'
°l don't b|otbor,' l sa|d, scow||ng. °What tho ho|| doos that
ovon moan?'
°1horo aro tar moro |mportant th|ngs to worry about than
t|nd|ng tho portoct |a||owoon costumo.'
°l a|roady tound |t, tor your |ntormat|on.'
°E|||o, sor|ous|y. You can't got d|stractod ||ko th|s. You
nood a c|oar hoad. lt's my job to-'
°3|ah, b|ah, b|ah, E|||o th|s, E|||o that.' l roachod torward
and p|aytu||y rutt|od h|s ha|r w|th my hand. °Yos, soosol, l hoar
you.'
|o shoood my hand away and st|t|od a |augh. °3oo?
0|stract|ons.'
°l th|nk yoo nood a d|stract|on moro than anyono,' l sa|d.
°lt you woro human, you wou|d so bo that guy who random|y
br|ngs an Uz| to work ono day and just shoots ovorybody up.
You tako yourso|t woy too sor|ous|y. l|ghton up.'
°1hat's an oxaggorat|on.'
°Adm|tt|ng that you havo a prob|om |s tho t|rst stop.'
°l don't havo a prob|om.'
°low you'ro |n tho nogat|vo stops. lot a good start, W|||.'
|o s|ghod. °You dr|vo mo crazy somot|mos.'
°Ooh, l th|nk that happonod |oog botoro l camo a|ong.'
°lo, no, l'm qu|to suro |t was you who drovo mo ovor tho
odgo.'
°You'ro so swoot, you'ro go|ng to g|vo mo a cav|ty, roa||y.'
°1hon attorward, l'd bo do|ng you a tavor by knock|ng your
tooth out.'
°|a!' l |aughod. °You knock|ng my tooth out wou|d novor
happon.'
°0on't bo so prosumptuous. You soom to havo othor
pr|or|t|os com|ng botoro your tra|n|ng. You can bo |azy.'
l wantod to knock bls tooth out tor say|ng that. °l can st|||
k|ck your ass.'
|o t|ashod a dark, do||c|ous sm||o. °1hon |ot's mako a
wagor. Wo spar aga|n botoro wo'ro dono tor ton|ght. lt you
|and a h|t t|rst and scoro, thon l'|| go to that party w|th you. lt l
scoro t|rst, thon you spond |a||owoon n|ght tra|n|ng.'
°1hat's a ||tt|o bruta|, mak|ng mo tra|n on |a||owoon,' l
grumb|od.
°3o |s mak|ng mo go to that party.'
l starod at h|m, watch|ng tor any to||ta|o s|gn that ho'd
str|ko t|rst. |o roa||y was hot. Lomo lt! l cou|dn't got
d|stractod. l roa||y wantod to go to 1os|o's party.
||s sm||o t||ckorod and l swung. |o throw h|s arm up and
knockod my t|st away so h|s own cou|d push through, r|ght at
my taco. l |oanod back, and h|s t|st sk|mmod ovor my ha|r. l
d|ppod my hoad and r|ghtod myso|t out ot tho path ot h|s noxt
str|ko. l grabbod h|s outstrotchod arm and shot my knoo up at
h|s gut, but h|s troo hand shovod my knoo back down. W|th
both h|s hands occup|od, l crackod tho tront ot my sku|| |nto
h|s torohoad and ho staggorod back w|th a grunt.
°1hat counts!' l cr|od v|ctor|ous|y.
°3ost two out ot throo,' ho grumb|od, and rubbod h|s
hoad.
l dot|atod. °Aro you sor|ous?'
°Wo'vo got to bo ta|r about th|s, don't wo?'
°l smo|| sour grapos.'
°1h|nk you can't w|n a socond t|mo?'
°3our grapos!' l ropoatod w|th a poko to h|s chost.
|o gr|nnod. °3|nco l p|ckod tho t|rst round, you can
doc|do tho torms ot th|s round.'
l starod h|m down. °A|| r|ght. lt wo t|nd tho Ensh| botoro tho
|a||owoon party, thon you havo to como w|th mo. And you
bovo to woar a costumo.'
°Aro you suro you want to tako that bot?'
l t||ckod a brow at h|m. °0on't doubt mo, man.'
°Whatovor you say.'
l gavo a sw|tt nod. °1hat's r|ght. 0o wo havo a doa|?'
°l guoss so. 0oa|.'
Vy phono rang. l scramb|od tor my purso, wh|ch l had
thrown aga|nst tho warohouso wa|| oar||or that attornoon. l
was surpr|sod to soo that tho ca|| was trom lathan|o|. °|oy,' l
sa|d.
°E|||o,' ho answorod. °l havo vory good nows. Como ovor
to tho ||brary as soon as you can.'
l |ookod up at W|||, who was watch|ng mo carotu||y. l know
ho cou|d hoar our convorsat|on w|thout ottort. °|ow about
r|ght now? Wo'ro just sparr|ng.'
°lortoct. 3oo you soon.'
l hung up. °1h|s sounds prom|s|ng.'
l drovo both ot us to tho ||brary. lt was noar|y t|vo-th|rty, and
tho ||brary wou|d bo c|os|ng soon. Whon wo got thoro, |t was
vory ompty and tho rocopt|on|st k|nd|y rom|ndod us that
thoy'd bo c|os|ng at s|x. lathan|o| appoarod through tho
doors to tho basomont and wavod us through.
°l havo a poss|b|o |ocat|on on tho Ensh|,' ho sa|d oxc|tod|y
as ho |od us downsta|rs.
l br|ghtonod and |a|d a hand on W|||'s shou|dor. °|ow
convon|ont! 3ost two out ot throo. Guoss whoro you'ro
go|ng.'
|o groanod.
°You'ro not go|ng to broak a prom|so to mo, aro you?' l
askod, s|mpor|ng up at h|m.
lathan|o| g|ancod trom mo to W||| and back. °0|d l m|ss
somoth|ng?'
°lot at a||,' W||| sa|d. °|ow d|d you got th|s |ntormat|on?'
°A tr|ond ot m|no |n ant|quos, whom l'vo workod w|th on
sovora| occas|ons, |ntormod mo that a c||ont ot h|s, a vory
woa|thy |oca| co||octor, braggod to h|m about acqu|r|ng
somoth|ng w|th tho s|gn ot Azrao| on |t.' lathan|o| |od us |nto
h|s ott|co.
°Cou|dn't that bo anyth|ng?' l askod, skopt|ca| that th|s
mystory objoct cou|d ho|p us.
lathan|o| shook h|s hoad. °1h|s guy apparont|y soundod
boyond thr|||od and d|dn't want to g|vo up much |ntormat|on
about tho acqu|s|t|on. |o sa|d |t's anc|ont-and |t |t's got
Azrao|'s soa| on |t, thon l th|nk |t |s dot|n|to|y worth chock|ng
out.'
°0|d you got an addross?' W||| askod.
°l d|d,' lathan|o| sa|d, throw|ng |n a s|y sm||o. °Ot courso,
|t wou|d havo boon |||oga| tor my tr|ond to to|| mo tho addross,
so l just p|ckod |t out ot h|s hoad.'
°You d|d what?' l askod, contusod.
°1hat's h|s ab|||ty,' W||| oxp|a|nod. °As an ango||c roapor.'
°3ho doosn't romombor?' lathan|o| askod.
°You havo to to|| hor.'
°Oh,' lathan|o| sa|d. °Wo||, l can hoar tho thoughts ot
othors. l don't roa||y ||ko to t|ght |t l can avo|d |t, but l can roa||y
moss w|th your hoad |t l want to. lt's moro ot a dotons|vo
tochn|quo than anyth|ng. l cou|d ovon mako you soo anyth|ng l
want to, trom larad|so to |ados, or ta|| as|oop w|th a s|ng|o
word.'
°1hat sounds vory usotu|,' l sa|d. °And scary.'
°Yos,' ho agrood. °3ut |t doosn't work so wo|| on powortu|
roapors. Anyway, l a|so havo a p|an tor you to got a pook at
th|s objoct. l hopo you don't m|nd gott|ng your hands d|rty.'
Vy oyos wont w|do. °l havo to k||| th|s guy?'
°lo!' lathan|o| sa|d qu|ck|y. °lo, no, ot courso not, as
|ong as ho's human. 1ust a ||tt|o snoak|ng |n though a w|ndow,
noth|ng hugo.'
°Wo'ro broak|ng |nto a houso?'
°You mako |t sound so torr|b|o.'
°Wo||, that's bocauso |t ls. lt's a|so |||oga|.' l cou|dn't
bo||ovo what ho was propos|ng.
°1ust pray |t won't got any moro comp||catod than that.'
°|ow so?'
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
20
°l CAl'1 3EllEvE l'V 0OllG 1|l3,' l GlUV3lE0 A tow hours |ator, as
W||| drovo us cross-country through tho darknoss. Wo had
rontod a U-|au|, and l was st||| try|ng to undorstand why W|||
and lathan|o| thought wo'd nood somoth|ng th|s b|g. l thought
wo cou|d just throw whatovor |t was wo tound |nto tho trunk ot
my car.
°lt's a vory ottoct|vo p|an,' W||| ottorod.
°What do wo do |t |t's tho Ensh|?' l askod.
°1ako |t.'
°3o, now wo'ro robblog th|s guy?'
°lt's not h|s anyway.'
°|o boogbt |t.'
°Wo woro to|d ho ocqolroo |t. 1hat doosn't nocossar||y
moan ho bought |t. |o m|ght havo k|||od somobody to got |t,
and ho probab|y d|d. You don't know.'
l g|oworod at h|m. °ls that how you p|an tor us to ocqolro
th|s th|ng?'
°l p|an to avo|d go|ng to that oxtromo.'
l shot h|m an angry |ook. °l'm not k||||ng anybody. loapors,
yoah, suro, but on|y bocauso thoy'|| k||| mo |t l don't k||| thom
t|rst.'
°Wo||, what |t th|s guy pu||s a gun on you? Aro you go|ng to
|ot h|m shoot you?'
°l'|| . . . run away.'
°3uro you w|||.'
|o was |ntur|at|ng somot|mos. °|ow'd you ovon ront th|s
van? l thought you d|dn't havo a job.'
°l don't,' ho oxp|a|nod, smug|y |m|tat|ng my vo|co |n a
h|gh-p|tchod wh|no that, |n tact, soundod noth|ng ||ko mo.
°lathan|o| tunds just about anyth|ng wo nood. l nood to oat
and my c|othos got torn a |ot. l havo to rop|aco thom. ||s job
at tho ||brary |s moro ot a hobby.'
l huttod, ha|t oxpoct|ng h|m to to|| mo ho was a
protoss|ona| th|ot. Whon wo got c|oso, wo pu||od out tho
d|roct|ons lathan|o| had pr|ntod out tor us back at tho ||brary.
Wo tound tho g|gant|c houso sot ott a ma|n road that was
noar|y dosortod |n tho oar|y-morn|ng hours. W||| |nstructod mo
to pu|| tho truck ovor a hundrod toot or so down tho road and
wo hoppod out.
°lt th|s th|ng wo'ro |ook|ng tor |s b|g onough that wo nood
th|s hugo truck, why tho hock aro wo park|ng so tar away?' l
askod. °0oosn't that sort ot dotoat tho purposo? Wo'|| just
havo to carry that b|g-ass th|ng a|| tho way ovor horo trom tho
houso.'
°l can got tho art|tact out ot tho houso by carry|ng |t, but |t
won't bo qu|ck. 1ho truck |s so wo can mako a tast gotaway.
lt thoro's ono th|ng l'vo |oarnod |n tho |ast tow contur|os, |t's
that |t's bottor to bo sato than sorry.'
l crossod my arms and |aughod. °Why do you a|ways
mako so much sonso?'
|o shruggod. °l'vo had p|onty ot chancos to mako no
sonso at a||. lt's about t|mo l got th|ngs r|ght. Aro you roady?'
°Yoah.' Or not.
°Aron't you oxc|tod? Wo'ro about to undortako a ho|st.
1hat's coo|, |sn't |t?'
°ln tho movlos, W|||. ln roa| ||to, |t's not such a groat |doa. l
don't want to got shot.'
°You won't got shot, l prom|so,' ho sa|d. °Wo nood to
socuro tho por|motor t|rst. Wo'|| movo through tho Gr|m so wo
can soo any roapors h|d|ng thoro.'
Wo c|rc|od tho houso carotu||y, |ook|ng tor any poss|b|o
w|ndows to ontor through or any omp|oyoos who m|ght st||| bo
work|ng |ns|do. 1ho mans|on spannod tho w|dth ot at |oast
two ot tho |ots ||ko my houso sat on. Whon wo roachod tho
backyard, l was abso|uto|y amazod. ||no t|oworbods and
top|ar|os out||nod tho |awn, and ta||, majost|c statuos stood |n
stratog|ca||y dos|gnod aroas. 1ho stono t|guros shono s||vor
bonoath tho moon||ght. 1horo woro rop||cas-or at |oast l
thought thoy woro rop||cas-ot anc|ont loman scu|pturos,
mod|ova| stono t|guros ot kn|ghts w|th joust|ng |ancos,
|r|doscont orbs, and dazz||ng tounta|ns. l b||nkod sovora|
t|mos, corta|n l was |mag|n|ng th|ngs.
W||| passod thom w|thout a g|anco and sott|od on tho
doors to tho wa|kout basomont. |o pu||od out a k|t conta|n|ng
var|ous sma|| too|s trom |ns|do h|s coat.
l a|most |aughod. °0|d you p|uck that ott your ut|||ty bo|t,
3atman?'
|o put a t|ngor to h|s ||ps, prosontod a th|n dov|co that
|ookod ||ko |t camo trom 1amos 3ond mov|o, and |nsortod |t
|nto tho koyho|o. A m|nuto |ator, tho door c||ckod and ho
oponod |t s||ght|y. 1hon, ho trozo, st||| as a statuo. |o d|dn't
ovon b||nk. |o was ||ston|ng.
|o s||ppod |ns|do, and l to||owod h|m |nto tho dark
basomont, on|y |t rosomb|od no basomont l had ovor soon.
1ho |owor |ovo| ot th|s mans|on was vast. lt was ||ko an ont|ro
houso down thoro. 1horo was a t|no k|tchon, a ||v|ng room, a
d|n|ng room, and sovora| ha||ways |oad|ng ott to othor rooms.
Wo hoard vo|cos upsta|rs and tho c||nk|ng ot g|assos.
Onco my oyos adjustod to tho d|m ||ght, l saw that
artworks ||ko thoso outs|do woro a|so to bo tound |ndoors.
lr|co|oss-|ook|ng pa|nt|ngs docoratod tho wa||s, and statuos
sat atop marb|o stands around tho w|do room. And thoro, just
boyond a p|ush wraparound couch, was a |argo, dark box
p|acod on a |ow s|ab b|ankotod |n rod vo|vot.
W||| mado a boo||no tor |t. Whon l roachod |t, l was
surpr|sod at how |argo tho box was. lt was about sovon toot
|ong and throo toot w|do and h|gh, oxc|ud|ng tho tow |nchos
tho s|ab ra|sod |t ott tho t|oor. Evon |n tho ta|||ng ||ght l cou|d
soo how o|aborato tho box was. lt |ookod to bo mado ot
sandstono, w|th go|d acconts and jowo|s omboddod |n tho
surtaco. l rocogn|zod tho soa| ot Azrao| on tho ||d, surroundod
by strango mark|ngs, scratchos, and moro |nsot jowo|s. W|||
carotu||y oxam|nod tho mark|ngs.
°What |s th|s?' l askod, my vo|co as qu|ot as l cou|d
poss|b|y mustor.
°A sarcophagus.'
Vy oyos w|donod. Cou|d |t havo boon th|s oasy? Was tho
Ensh| conta|nod w|th|n?
°Who aro you?' shoutod an untam|||ar vo|co. A ||ght
t||ckod on, b||nd|ng mo tor a socond.
l cr|od out and spun around. W||| jumpod |n tront ot mo
toar|oss|y. Wo woro caught. l was go|ng to ja||. Vy mom was
go|ng to s|aughtor mo. l was-
°Why aro you |n my houso?' A man |n a vory n|co casua|
su|t stood at tho bottom ot tho sta|rs. |o was c|oar|y tho
ownor ot tho mans|on, and |t surpr|sod mo that h|s vo|co was
so aggross|vo. l wou|d havo oxpoctod h|m to havo gono
runn|ng tor a phono to ca|| tho po||co.
°Wo aro tak|ng th|s now,' W||| sa|d |n a doath|y co|d vo|co.
lt was thon that l to|t that tam|||ar, tr|ghton|ng onorgy
pr|ck||ng tho ha|rs on my arm. And l romomborod that wo st|||
w|th|n tho wor|d ot tho Gr|m. Cou|d tho man bo a psych|c?
°l don't th|nk so,' tho man sa|d. °l pa|d a |ot ot monoy tor
that. 1horo's no way you'ro tak|ng |t.'
W||| ca||od h|s sword |nto h|s hand and |ovo|od |ts po|nt at
tho man.
°W|||, no!' l cr|od.
°3tand as|do, v|r,' ho sa|d. °You'|| novor dotoat mo. You'vo
got noth|ng on my powor.'
l b||nkod and |ookod trom W||| to tho man. Was tho ownor
a roapor? |o |ookod so . . . bomoo. 3ut, thon aga|n, so d|d
W|||.
°You corta|n|y aron't go|ng to |oavo my houso w|th that,'
tho roapor warnod. °lt you don't dopart |mmod|ato|y, l w||| k|||
you and your ||tt|o g|r|tr|ond. Ot courso, l may koop hor tor
myso|t and oat hor |ator.'
W||| narrowod h|s gazo. °1ry |t.'
1ho roapor barod h|s tooth and h|ssod ||ko a |oopard. |o
chargod, l w|||od my swords to appoar |n my hands and ||ght
up |n ango|t|ro. W||| swung h|s own b|ado tast as ||ghtn|ng.
1ho roapor grabbod h|s wr|st, but W||| drovo h|s knoo doop
|nto tho roapor's gut. 1ho v|r bont ovor, chok|ng, and l was
boh|nd h|m |n a hoartboat, tak|ng both swords, cross|ng my
arms across my chost tor max|mum torco and s|ash|ng tho
b|ados across tho roapor's nock, docap|tat|ng h|m. |o burst
|nto t|amos and was gono. 1ho ango|t|ro van|shod trom my
b|ados, and tho room was dark aga|n.
°1hat was way too oasy,' l sa|d, w|p|ng at a warm spot ot
b|ood on my torohoad, too||ng d|sgustod.
l to|t anothor powor noarby, on|y tar, tar strongor than tho
roapor l had just tought. l |ookod up to soo a man-no, a now
v|r-stand|ng |n tho door wo had ontorod through momonts
botoro. ||s taco was |n shadows as ho stood s||houottod |n
tho moon||ght.
°Yos, that wos too oasy,' tho roapor sa|d. °You d|dn't th|nk
you'd bo that tortunato, d|d you?'
W||| |ockod h|s gazo on tho roapor w|th hato l'd novor
soon botoro on h|s taco. ||s powor was grow|ng stoad||y, l
cou|d soo |t sp|ra||ng w|th h|s angor ||ko a damnod doub|o
ho||x ot b|ack |o||t|ro, h|s groon oyos br|ghton|ng and
|ntons|ty|ng. °Go|r,' ho grow|od.
l ho|d my swords t|ght|y, tho doad roapor's b|ood tr|ck||ng
down tho b|ados, and l tacod Go|r. |o stoppod torward |nto
tho room, and l cou|d now soo h|s taco undor a mop ot w||d,
rodd|sh brown ha|r. ||s sm||o was w|do and |nsano, ||ko
somo crackod-out Vad |attor's, t|ash|ng a mouthtu| ot
sharp|y po|ntod shark's tooth, and h|s oyos woro yo||ow
bonoath hoavy ||ds and a th|ck brow.
°What a too|,' ho sa|d. °1onathon was corroct. |o d|d
havo somoth|ng vory spoc|a| |n that box, but ho had no |doa
bow spoc|a|. 3ast|an w||| roward mo groat|y. 1hank you tor
d|spos|ng ot my tr|ond horo so l won't havo to wasto my t|mo
on h|m.'
|o watchod mo w|th a hungor |n h|s oyos. °And so l t|nd
myso|t taco-to-taco w|th tho lro||ator,' ho sa|d, my t|t|o ro|||ng
ovor h|s tonguo ||ko st|cky-swoot syrup. °l thought you'd bo
ta||or.'
l narrowod my oyos. °l th|nk that about myso|t ovory day.'
°3t|||, you aro prott|or than l was to|d, but lvar doosn't ||ko
othor g|r|s.'
°0on't ovon th|nk about |t, Go|r,' W||| warnod. °Your hoad
w||| bo ro|||ng across th|s carpot botoro you |ay a c|aw on hor.'
Go|r's sm||o curvod |nto a s|n|stor ha|t snar|. °ls that a
cha||ongo?'
W||| ||ttod h|s sword and |ovo|od |t at tho domon|c v|r.
°1ako |t as you w|sh.'
W|th a |augh, Go|r ho|d out both h|s arms. ||s hands
strotchod as bono poppod and sk|n bubb|od, h|s b|cops and
toroarms bu|g|ng s|ckon|ng|y unt|| thoy woro tw|co tho|r
or|g|na| s|zo. ||s hands |ongthonod and h|s na||s grow |nto
|ong ta|ons, |oav|ng tho sk|n on h|s arms r|ppod rod and raw
as |t thoro hadn't boon onough room |ns|do tor tho monstor
arms to grow and thoy had just burst through tho surtaco.
W|ngs burst trom h|s shou|dor b|ados, scattor|ng d|rty brown
toathors, b|ock|ng tho ||ght trom outs|do. ||s w|ngs t|appod
doaton|ng|y. |orror ongu|tod mo, and l cou|d do noth|ng but
staro at h|m as tho v|r roapor unto|dod h|s powor botoro mo.
|o ho|d out a c|awod hand and bockonod to mo. Vy
swords oruptod w|th ango|t|ro as l |ungod torward |n a rago,
but l was suddon|y h|t by a br|ck wa|| ot onorgy as Go|r
sproad h|s w|ngs w|do and dotonatod h|s powor. 1ho g|ass
doors and w|ndows boh|nd h|m shattorod w|th a thundorous
roar, and tho |nt|n|to shards g||ttorod |n tho moon||ght ||ko
ra|n. A tsunam| ot b|ack powor rushod |nto mo, knock|ng mo
ott my toot, and l h|t tho t|oor on my back. As g|ass showorod
down on mo, l |ookod up to soo W||| |oap|ng ovor mo, h|s
sword h|gh. |o swung and s|ashod, but Go|r stoppod t|u|d|y
out ot tho path ot oach stroko. l jumpod up. Go|r grabbod
W|||'s arm, ha|t|ng tho sword |n m|da|r, c|ampod h|s othor
hand around W|||'s throat, and swung. W||| smashod through
tho oxtor|or wa|| and d|sappoarod. 0rywa||, wood, and br|ck
oxp|odod.
º¼l||!' l scroamod, and ran torward, but Go|r grabbod mo
by tho back ot tho nock and yankod mo toward h|m, wrapp|ng
h|s arm around mo, sp|nn|ng my body and crush|ng mo |nto
h|s chost. ||s monstrous w|ngs cast b|ack shadows ovor mo,
and tho darknoss mado my hoart pound so |oud |t was a|| l
cou|d hoar. |o grabbod both my wr|sts w|th ono hand and
ho|d my b|ados away trom h|s sk|n. ||s Chosh|ro gr|n
rovoa|od two rows ot tooth, and sh|vors cropt down my sp|no.
ln tho b|az|ng ||ght ot tho ango|t|ro, ho tru|y |ookod ||ko a
domon that had c|awod |ts way through t|osh and t|ro out ot
|o||. l shuddorod |n toar.
°3ast|an w||| bo so p|oasod w|th mo,' ho sa|d. °l w||| br|ng
h|m tho lro||ator ooo tho Ensh|. |o w||| bo p|oasod to k||| you
h|mso|t.'
l thrashod aga|nst h|m, but l cou|dn't troo my arms. l
poundod my knoo |nto h|s gro|n. ||s oyos bu|god and ho
roarod |n pa|n, ro|oas|ng mo. lt was good to know that whon
swords ta||od, s|mp|o g|r| tact|cs a|ways workod-ovon on
monstors.
l dartod away trom h|m and jumpod through tho gap|ng
ho|o |n tho wa|| W|||'s body had croatod. 1ho sott||ng dust
chokod mo, but l mado |t through and ran to W|||. |o was
strugg||ng to got to h|s toot, |oan|ng hoav||y on h|s sword as
tho po|nt dug |nto tho co|d ground. Whon l roachod h|m, l
droppod my swords and wrappod my arms around h|s chost.
°l'vo got you,' l sa|d, ho|p|ng h|m ||tt h|s torso tho rost ot
tho way up. l hoard a s|ckon|ng snap |n h|s chost as ho
groanod, and l know somoth|ng was brokon. |o bur|od h|s
taco |n my shou|dor and grow|od |n pa|n.
A powortu| hand grabbod a t|sttu| ot my ha|r trom boh|nd
and yankod mo back. l scroamod and tw|stod, but Go|r ho|d
mo too t|ght|y. |o squoozod hardor, mak|ng mo cry out |n
pa|n.
°1hat hurt, you ||tt|o wonch!' ho h|ssod aga|nst my chook,
b|ast|ng my taco w|th h|s tou|, hot broath. °l don't th|nk 3ast|an
wou|d m|nd |t l ma|mod you botoro l brought you to h|m. l'|| just
cut you up somo botoro l t|n|sh doa||ng w|th your Guard|an.'
|rom tho cornor ot my oyo l saw W||| chuck somoth|ng,
and |t s|ammod |nto Go|r's chost. l |ookod down and saw a
two-toot-|ong sp||ntor ot wood protrud|ng trom h|m, just |nchos
trom h|s hoart. W|thout ro|oas|ng mo, Go|r scow|od and
pu||od tho stako out ot h|s chost and chuckod |t back at W|||,
na|||ng h|m |n tho shou|dor and knock|ng h|m back. Vy hoart
k|ckod whon l hoard somoth|ng crack |n h|s shou|dor.
°G|ad wo cou|d sharo, brothor,' Go|r grow|od.
W||| roarod |n pa|n and r|ppod tho stako trom h|s body
botoro ra|s|ng h|s sword to t|ght aga|n. |o crad|od h|s
woundod arm to h|s chost as tho bonos and t|ssuo hoa|od.
°0on't ovon th|nk |t,' Go|r sa|d w|th a s|ow shako ot h|s
hoad |n warn|ng, pross|ng tho t|p ot a c|aw to my throat. °0o
you want tho ||tt|o g|r| to d|o?'
l jorkod, but t|ght|ng tho roapor's gr|p was ||ko wrost||ng
w|th an ott|co bu||d|ng. |o prossod h|s ta|on doopor, and l
gaspod whon tho sk|n broko. l watchod tho b|ood dra|n trom
W|||'s taco, and l know ho know Go|r roa||y wou|d k||| mo.
l shut my oyos t|ght|y and tr|od to tocus my onorgy,
romombor|ng what W||| had to|d mo: °Loo`t stop ílgbtlog.'
W|th a cry, l |ot my powor orupt, |ash|ng |nto Go|r. 1ho
|mpact surpr|sod h|m and throw h|m ott mo. As ho t|ow, l
s|ung my t|st back and poundod h|m |n tho taco. |o h|t tho
ground hard, t|at on h|s back. ||s w|ngs shuddorod and
cur|od w|th pa|n.
°You ||tt|o b|tch!' ho roarod, covor|ng h|s taco |n h|s hands.
l grabbod a sword ott tho ground and turnod |t ups|do
down to shovo |t |nto h|s hoart, but ho ro||od out ot tho way
and |oapod to h|s toot. |o ovadod oach stroko as l swung |ott
and r|ght, but somoth|ng ragod through mo, a tury sp|nn|ng
w|th madnoss. As l tought tho roapor, l to|t my contro|
s||pp|ng, and somoth|ng dark throbbod |n my sku|| unt|| l cou|d
baro|y broatho. 1ho wor|d around mo wont b|ack, unt|| a|| l
cou|d soo was Go|r's horr|b|o taco as l swung my sword,
unab|o to th|nk cohoront thoughts. l wantod to throw my
woapon to tho ground and grab at h|s throat w|th my baro
hands.
W||| appoarod ||ko a t|ash botwoon us, shov|ng mo back
and sw|ng|ng h|s arm out and smash|ng |t |nto Go|r's taco.
Go|r grow|od and spat |n rago.
°E|||o, go!' W||| shoutod, |ook|ng back at mo. °Got out ot
horo!'
||s vo|co brought my sonsos back to mo. l b||nkod and
tho rost ot tho wor|d camo back, but W||| b|ockod my v|ow ot
tho domon|c roapor. °l can boat h|m!' l cr|od. °lot mo try!'
|o took a t|rm ho|d ot my arm. °You aron't roady to t|ght
h|m yot-now run!'
°You'ro |os|ng yourso|t. lt l |ot you cont|nuo to t|ght h|m, |t'||
got bad. low lun!'
°What about you?' l cr|od. °l'm not go|ng to |oavo you
horo!'
°You aro tho on|y th|ng l caro about,' ho sa|d. °You must
surv|vo!'
Evon |t l had wantod to, l cou|dn't movo. Vy pu|so
poundod |ns|do my hoad ||ko tr|ba| drums, drown|ng out W|||'s
p|oas. l cou|dn't torco myso|t to turn and run. lot whon ho was
woundod. l cou|dn't abandon h|m.
Go|r stood up and van|shod tor a momont, roappoar|ng |n
tho a|r abovo W|||. |o camo down hard, t|st sw|ng|ng. W|||
jumpod boh|nd tho statuo ot a woman and Go|r's t|st
poundod through hor abdomon, spray|ng chunks ot marb|o.
W||| |oapod around tho statuo and h|t Go|r ovor and ovor
aga|n. Go|r t|ow stra|ght back and ha|tod abrupt|y, gagg|ng,
b|ood dr|bb||ng trom h|s ||ps. |o |ookod down at h|s chost
and tound h|mso|t skoworod on tho |anco ot a stono kn|ght.
3|ood oozod th|ck|y trom h|s wound and ran down tho |ongth
ot tho |anco. |o snar|od up at W|||, h|s yo||ow oyos t|ash|ng,
h|s shark's tooth gnash|ng ||ko a p|ranha's. |o grabbod tho
stono and startod to pu|| h|mso|t troo.
°E|||o!' W||| shoutod, rush|ng back to mo. °Wo havo to go,
oow! l'|| grab tho sarcophagus.'
l noddod, |ot my swords d|sappoar, and dartod back
|ns|do tho houso, W||| r|ght boh|nd mo. |o bont down ovor tho
box and ||ttod |t-a|most oííort|oss|y, to my amazomont-and
took ott at a run.
ºNo!' Go|r shr|okod. °You can't! 0amn you, oo!'
As l ran attor W|||, l |ookod back at Go|r, who was st|||
try|ng to troo h|mso|t. l saw h|m pound h|s t|st |nto tho stono
|anco and snap |t |n ha|t. ||s dark w|ngs boat tho a|r v|o|ont|y.
|o shr|okod ||ko somo domon b|rd spawnod |n |o|| and h|s
oyos g|owod br|ght|y w|th rago. ln tho ta|||ng ||ght, h|s taco
appoarod to chango, h|s tooth grow|ng |ongor and sharpor,
h|s oyos narrow|ng to s||ts. l stoppod watch|ng and ran tastor.
Wo t|na||y roachod tho truck, and l throw opon tho back
doors so W||| cou|d sot tho sarcophagus |ns|do. Wo c||mbod
|n tront as tast as wo cou|d, w|th W||| |n tho dr|vor's soat, and
wo spod ott.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
21
°YOU'lE |Ul1,' l 3Al0, ll|1llG Ul W|A1 WA3 lE|1 ot h|s tattorod
s|oovo to oxam|no tho doop gougos |n h|s arm. 1hough wo
woro troo ot tho Gr|m, W|||'s att|tudo suro wasn't.
|o shruggod away trom mo, h|s good hand ma|nta|n|ng a
doath gr|p on tho stoor|ng whoo| wh||o ho crad|od h|s
woundod arm aga|nst h|s chost. °l'm t|no. You worry too much
about mo.'
°What about your shou|dor?'
°l'm íloo.'
°You woro lmpo|oo.'
°Go|r was worso ott than l was whon wo got tho ho|| out ot
thoro, and ho'|| bo back to h|s o|d so|t |n m|nutos.'
°3ut you'ro not Go|r.'
°3ut you'ro not Go|r.'
|o g|ancod at mo. ||s oyos had roturnod to tho|r norma|
sott groon. °Our powors aro not a|| that d|ttoront.'
°0|d you soo what ho d|d w|th h|s hands?' l askod,
ho|d|ng my own up. °|o pract|ca||y transtormod r|ght botoro
our oyos.'
°1hat |sn't oxact|y uncommon among v|r,' ho sa|d.
°3hapo-sh|tt|ng |s a tra|t many ot us sharo.'
°Can you chango your hands |nto c|aws ||ko that, too?'
°lo,' ho sa|d.
°What can you do, thon?'
°l'm noth|ng ||ko h|m.'
°Oh.' l wondorod about h|s strango oyos. 1ho co|ors ot h|s
and Go|r's oyos soomod to |ntons|ty as thoy got strongor and
angr|or. 1hoy d|dn't oxact|y chango co|or, but tho huos grow
br|ghtor, a|most g|ow|ng. Vaybo that was W|||'s ab|||ty. At
|oast ho d|dn't transtorm |nto a monstor.
l noddod and starod ahoad. °Aro wo go|ng back to tho
||brary?'
°Ot courso not,' ho sa|d, h|s vo|co vo|d ot worry.
°3ast|an's v|r w||| oxpoct us to tako tho sarcophagus to
lathan|o|, s|nco ho |s tho on|y ono l know who m|ght bo ab|o
to road tho |nscr|pt|ons. 1hoy'|| bo try|ng to |ocato h|m noxt.
1hoy'|| |oarn ho's work|ng at tho ||brary vory soon.'
°lathan|o|'s not thoro r|ght now, |s ho?' l askod, my vo|co
quak|ng. °What |t thoy t|nd h|m? |o'|| bo k|||od!'
°|o's t|no,' W||| sa|d. °0on't worry. |o's at tho
warohouso.'
°Oor warohouso?'
°Yoah. 3ast|an can't know about that |ocat|on yot. Wo'||
koop tho Ensh| thoro, too, tor now.'
°What |t Go|r to||ows us?' l had a torr|b|o v|s|on ot h|m
b|ast|ng through tho wa|| and k||||ng us a||.
°|o'|| try,' ho sa|d w|thout toar. °3ut wo'ro too tar ahoad.
1ho tra|| w||| bo co|d by tho t|mo ho gots troo. 1ho v|r may bo
strongor than othor roapors, but our track|ng ab|||t|os aron't
as good. Wo don't havo tho noso that a |up|no has, tor
|nstanco.'
||s words woro a sma|| comtort, but l cou|dn't ho|p
th|nk|ng about what had happonod to mo whon l'd tought Go|r
ono-on-ono. l'd s||ppod |nto a stato |n wh|ch l d|dn't know
anyth|ng but tho t|ght and noth|ng o|so mattorod to mo. 1ho
samo th|ng had throatonod to happon dur|ng our |ast t|ght
aga|nst lagnuk. l'd boon horr|b|y angry and to|t wroog. What
had happonod tr|ghtonod mo moro than Go|r d|d, bocauso
ho was somoth|ng that cou|d bo dotoatod. 1ho darknoss l to|t
ovortak|ng mo wasn't somoth|ng l cou|d t|ght. What |t l had
|ost contro| comp|oto|y and hurt somoono l carod about, ||ko
W|||? 0ark sp|dory th|ngs had appoarod on my taco on my
b|rthday, attor months ot awtu| n|ghtmaros, and now th|s. l
d|dn't know |t l was bocom|ng somoth|ng as domon|c as tho
roapors l batt|od-|t l was bocom|ng ono ot thom.
°W|||,' l sa|d, my vo|co sma||, °what happonod to mo back
thoro? Why d|d you stop mo? 0|d you know somoth|ng?'
°Your purposo |s to t|ght,' ho sa|d. °lt's what you woro
dos|gnod tor. 3omot|mos |t gots a ||tt|o |ntonso and you don't
th|nk stra|ght.'
°ls that why you stoppod mo? 3ocauso l was go|ng to
|oso contro|?'
°You cou|d havo. Whon you roach that |ovo|, you aron't
ab|o to t|ght w|th a c|oar hoad, and |t makos a batt|o ovon
moro dangorous. Wo can t|ght Go|r anothor day.'
°Cou|dn't |t bo a good th|ng?' l ottorod. °l |ost a|| my toar
thon. You sa|d that makos mo strongor.'
°lt doos mako you strongor, but you a|so |ost yoorso|í
a|ong w|th that toar. lt's not sato tor you to |oso your hoad ||ko
that, no mattor what advantago |t g|vos you.'
°You moan l can hurt somoono l don't moan to.'
°Yos.'
°|avo l hurt you?'
Whon ho d|dn't answor, a hoav|noss sott|od on mo and l
d|dn't want to know any moro. ||s s||onco sa|d ovoryth|ng. l
had |ost contro| botoro and hurt h|m. 1hat sont an unmatchod
acho through my hoart. |ow cou|d l havo |ot somoth|ng ||ko
that happon?
W|||'s hand |ay on m|no |n a comtort|ng gosturo as |t ho
sonsod my unoaso. l |ookod up to moot h|s oyos. °|oy,' ho
sa|d w|th a sma|| sm||o. °lt'|| bo okay.'
Wo roachod tho warohouso and W||| pu||od |nto tho
ovorgrown a||oy. lathan|o| was stand|ng at tho ond, h|s arms
crossod ovor h|s chost. |o |ot out a |ow broath whon wo
hoppod out ot tho truck and ho saw our torn, b|oody c|othos.
°l t|gurod you'd run |nto somo troub|o,' ho sa|d. °Who
ambushod you?'
°Go|r,' W||| sa|d as ho pu||od opon tho back ot tho van.
°And a woakor v|r, but E|||o took caro ot h|m oas||y. 1ho
woakor ono must havo mont|onod h|s now t|nd to tho wrong
roapor. Word got back to 3ast|an, and ho sont Go|r to
rotr|ovo |t.'
°lt on|y wo had gotton thoro just t|vo m|nutos soonor,' l
sa|d, trown|ng. °Wo cou|d havo m|ssod Go|r comp|oto|y.'
°lt's t|no,' W||| sa|d. °Wo both mado |t out a||vo, and wo
havo tho Ensh|. 1hat was tho or|g|na| p|an, wasn't |t?'
l |ookod at h|m sad|y. l'd a|roady to|d h|m what was
bothor|ng mo, so |t was moan|ng|oss to ropoat myso|t to h|m.
l hatod how bad|y ho got hurt ovory t|mo wo ran |nto a roapor,
and l hatod anyono to shod any b|ood tor mo. lt mado
know|ng a|| my prov|ous Guard|ans woro doad a|| too roa|.
°lot's got tho sarcophagus |ns|do botoro anyono soos
us,' lathan|o| sa|d.
|o and W||| ||ttod tho box and carr|od |t |ns|do, sott|ng |t
gont|y down |n tho m|dd|o ot tho ma|n room. 1hoy had somo
troub|o t|nd|ng a spot troo ot tho rubb|o our tra|n|ng had
croatod.
°What do wo havo horo?' lathan|o| askod no ono |n
part|cu|ar as ho ran h|s t|ngors down tho top ot tho box. °1ho
soa| ot Azrao|, as l'd thought. 1horo's somoth|ng |n Enoch|an
around tho soa|. 3ut l can't road tho d|v|no |anguago. lo ono
can. What o|so do wo havo? Cuno|torm.'
°Can you road that?' l askod, |ook|ng at tho strango
mark|ngs. °Cuno|torm |s 3umor|an, r|ght?'
°1hoy dovo|opod |t, yos,' ho answorod, p|ck|ng a b|t ot d|rt
ott a g|yph. °3ut cuno|torm ovo|vod groat|y ovor thousands ot
yoars and th|s |s d|ttoront trom tho O|d Assyr|an scr|pt l know
bost.'
°3o you can't road |t?' l askod, d|sappo|ntod.
°lot accurato|y r|ght now, but l w|||. l just nood somo t|mo.
l'm guoss|ng that |t's trom tho n|notoonth contury b.c., basod
on somo ot tho most troquont|y occurr|ng g|yphs.'
Vy jaw droppod. °1hat o|d?'
°|ow |ong do you th|nk |t w||| tako you to trans|ato tho
g|yphs?' W||| askod.
°Coup|o days,' lathan|o| answorod w|th a shrug. °l havo
an |doa ot whoro to start. l'|| |ot you know.'
l |ookod at tho sarcophagus. 3omoth|ng anc|ont and ov||
was s|oop|ng w|th|n. l a|most d|dn't want to spoak too |oud, |n
caso |t m|ght wako up. lt noodod to bo dostroyod botoro that
happonod.
3omoth|ng pr|ck|od a|ong my sk|n ||ko t|ny sp|dor||ngs. l
cou|d too| tho Ensh|'s prosonco bonoath tho stono ||d, h|s
powor ro|||ng across tho t|oor ||ko a th|ck tog, c|oud|ng my
v|s|on and my thoughts. A vo|co wh|sporod to mo, tho ochoos
ot somo phantom wh|spor|ng trom doop |ns|do my m|nd,
drown|ng my sonsos. l ||ttod my hand and my t|ngors tracod
tho ||d.
W||| grabbod my wr|st, and l snappod my oyos up to h|s.
1ho concontrat|on w|th wh|ch ho stud|od my taco mado mo
wondor |t ho was try|ng to soo through my sk|n stra|ght to tho
bono.
°Aro you a|| r|ght?'
°Yoah,' l sa|d. °l can too| h|m |n thoro.'
°l know,' W||| sa|d, h|s oxpross|on dark. °l can sonso your
toar.' |o pu||od mo c|oso to h|m |n a movo that to|t uttor|y
natura|. °l don't th|nk you shou|d touch |t.'
l d|dn't objoct. Whatovor was |ns|do that box wantod mo. l
cou|d too| |ts |u|||ng vo|co st||| croop|ng |ns|do my sku||, so
hard to ros|st. 1horo was a tr|ghton|ng urgo |ns|do mo to ||o
across tho top, to c||mb |n, to got as c|oso as poss|b|o. l
shuddorod and torcod myso|t to |ook away. l ho|d my w|ngod
nock|aco |n my hand, concontrat|ng on tho warmth ot tho
pondant as |t |t wou|d protoct mo.
°|ow do wo opon |t?' W||| askod.
lathan|o| kno|t to oxam|no tho ||d moro c|oso|y. |o
scratchod at tho soa| botoro stand|ng. |o pushod tho ||d as
hard as ho cou|d, but |t d|dn't budgo. |o shovod aga|n, ovon
hardor. 3t|||, noth|ng.
°Wo shou|d just burn |t,' W||| sa|d.
°Wo can't burn |t,' lathan|o| s|ghod. °lt's mado ot stono.
lot mo t|guro out what tho |nscr|pt|ons say botoro wo do
anyth|ng. 3|t t|ght. l'|| t|guro th|s out.'
l wantod to bo||ovo h|m, l wantod to trust h|m, but l gazod
upon tho sarcophagus, watch|ng tho boaut|tu| Enoch|an
symbo|s v|brato and sway wh||o noth|ng o|so movod.
3otwoon my t|ngors my nock|aco pu|sod. l d|dn't th|nk tho
othors cou|d soo what l saw and or hoar tho humm|ng |ns|do
my hoad. 1ho gont|o vo|co bocamo moro |ns|stont by tho
socond, unt|| l cou|d just mako out tho a||on, ch||d||ko vo|co |n
tho back ot my m|nd.
ºPro-o-o|lotor . . .'
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
22
l |lllE0 VY |Al03 Wl1| COl0, 3llVY lllAl03 and dumpod thom
|nto tho k|tchon s|nk. Vy untortunato pumpk|n had t|na||y boon
guttod and now sat wa|t|ng tor mo to carvo h|m somo oyos.
Kato was a|roady carv|ng hor own pumpk|n's tangs, and
lacho| was ovon s|owor than l was, st||| scrap|ng away at tho
goooy guts. l watchod w|th unoaso as landon scoopod as
much ot tho pumpk|n moss out ot tho s|nk as ho cou|d and
put thom |n a popcorn bow|.
°What aro you p|ann|ng to do w|th that?' l askod war||y. lt
ho throw thom at mo, l'd k||| h|m.
°You'|| soo.' |o took up tho sorratod kn|to and bogan
carv|ng a squ|nty-oyod taco w|th a |argo O-shapod mouth on
h|s own pumpk|n. |o took a handtu| ot guts and |ot thom g|op
through tho top ot tho pumpk|n, pos|t|on|ng tho mass unt|| a
good amount sp|||od out ot tho mouth and onto tho countor.
|o stoppod back, boam|ng and gr|nn|ng w|do. °look! |o
|s bommoroo drunk.'
l |ookod at tho moss |n d|sgust. low that ho spo||od |t out
tor mo, l cou|d soo tho s|ckonod oxpross|on ot tho pumpk|n
and tho °vom|t' ojoctod onto my countortop. °3r||||ant. loa||y,
landon.'
Kato g|ancod ovor and |aughod. °Yos! 1hat |s awosomo!'
°Oh, ho||,' lacho| groanod. °1hat's so |amo.'
°lt's owosomo,' Kato ropoatod, star|ng hor down. °l th|nk l
m|ght do that w|th m|no. Wo nood a coup|o boor bott|os to go
w|th thom.'
landon mado a |oud, un|nto|||g|b|o sound. °You can't copy
mo, man. Vy gon|us shou|d on|y ovor bo approc|atod, novor
dup||catod.'
°1hat's not gon|us,' lacho| notod. °1hat's just s|ck.'
l carvod a happy jack-o'-|antorn taco |nto my pumpk|n.
0osp|to my n|ght|y oxtracurr|cu|ar act|v|t|os, l d|dn't roa||y ||ko
scary th|ngs. 1ho jack-o'-|antorn sm||od up at mo w|th b|ank
tr|ang|o oyos and a b|ocky-toothod gr|n. 1hough ho was
adorab|o, ho was sovoro|y ovorshadowod by tho spooky
vamp|ro taco on Kato's. Evon lacho|'s was bottor. 3oth ot
tho|r pumpk|ns cou|d boat tho crap out ot m|no. ln tact, l th|nk
thoy wootoo to.
Oh, wo||. l shruggod and pu||od my happy jack-o'-|antorn
|nto my arms and sot h|m on tho tront porch. 0ark was
bog|nn|ng to sott|o, and w|th|n twonty m|nutos tho stroots
wou|d bo t|||od w|th tr|ck-or-troators. Vy mom had strown
cotton sp|dorwobs across tho porch and stuck p|ast|c
tombstonos |n tho tront |awn. 3ho had ovon rop|acod tho
porch ||ghts w|th b|ack ||ghts, bonoath thom my wh|to z|p-up
hood|o g|owod a tox|c huo.
l hoadod back to tho k|tchon. Kato had pumpk|n guts on
hor taco, and landon's t|st was t|||od w|th ovon moro ot tho
gunk. lacho| was t|attonod aga|nst tho wa|| on tho tar s|do,
hor oxpross|on torr|t|od. landon chuckod tho gob at Kato, but
sho squoa|od and spun away, and tho guts smackod |nto tho
wa|| boh|nd hor.
°landon!' l barkod, jogg|ng ovor to grab a handtu| ot
papor towo|s to mop up tho moss.
°3orry,' ho sa|d |n a not-so-conv|nc|ng vo|co. °3ho startod
|t.'
Kato |aughod. °0on't p|n |t on mo! You'ro tho ono s||ng|ng
that nasty stutt around.'
°Whoro's W|||, E|||o?' lacho| askod, dar|ng to vonturo
away trom tho wa||.
°Who caros?' landon |ntorjoctod. °Vy pumpk|n's puk|ng
h|s tr|gg|n' guts out.' |o mado a grotosquo s|osh|ng taco as
ho p|ungod h|s hands |nto tho s||my moss. l gr|macod.
°|o'|| bo horo whon wo got roady to |oavo,' l oxp|a|nod.
1hanks to our wagor, W||| was com|ng w|th us to 1os|o's
party, but unt|| tho t|mo camo, l assumod ho was s|tt|ng on my
root koop|ng watch.
Wo c|oanod up tho |ast ot tho carv|ng moss and p|acod
tho pumpk|ns out on tho porch noxt to m|no. landon addod
tho t|n|sh|ng touch ot vom|t to h|s jack-o'-|antorn outs|do as
p|annod.
1os|o's party d|dn't start unt|| n|no, so wo had a tow hours
to k|||. Kato had an attor party p|annod at hor houso, so l had
an ovorn|ght bag packod to stay thoro. Chr|s and Evan
arr|vod just attor s|x. Vy mom m|stook thom tor hor t|rst
ott|c|a| tr|ck-or-troators ot tho n|ght. 1hoy apo|og|zod tor
d|sappo|nt|ng hor, and wo a|| wont up to my room to watch a
horror mov|o botoro gott|ng |nto our costumos. l sat on my
bod w|th lacho| and Kato, and tho boys sat on tho t|oor w|th
tho|r backs aga|nst my bod. Wo choso tho or|g|na|
Po|torgolst. 3|ashor mov|os woro novor my th|ng s|nco thoy
just mado mo s|ck. Ghost mov|os l cou|d do.
Whon tho mov|o ondod, wo had about an hour and a ha|t
to got roady. Kato and l cur|od oach othor's ha|r |nto b|g,
bouncy updos and put on our costumos. 3ho had |ont mo a
pa|r ot rod st||ottos that wont w|th my nurso outt|t portoct|y. l
p|nnod my ||tt|o cap to my ha|r |n caso |t doc|dod to t|y away.
0osp|to Kato's p|an to p|n up lacho|'s ha|r, wo doc|dod to
|oavo hor cur|s down hor shou|dors and back. 1ho boys
actua||y took |ongor to got roady than wo d|d, but l guossod
that was bocauso thoy woro woar|ng tw|co as much makoup.
Vy g||ttory ta|so oyo|ashos woro bruta||y hoavy on my ||ds, but
l stuck |t out and t|n|shod my taco w|th somo chorry rod
||pst|ck. landon camo back |nto my bodroom |n tu|| zomb|o
got-up, comp|oto w|th gory prosthot|cs and tattorod, b|oody
c|othos. |o was baro|y rocogn|zab|o oxcopt tor h|s g|or|ous|y
h|gh||ghtod ha|r. Evan camo as a ghostbustor, and tho stato
troopor w|th onormous av|ator sung|assos and a bushy taux
mustacho turnod out to bo Chr|s. l oyod h|m, unab|o to
provont a sm||o trom burst|ng through. °You woron't go|ng tor
croat|vo, woro you?'
||s oxpross|on oxp|odod w|th shock. °Aro you jok|ng? l'm
Vac!'
°Vac?'
°5opor 7roopors? |onost|y, E|||o, you nood to watch
bottor mov|os |nstoad ot thoso |amo 0|snoy t||cks.' |o s||d
tho sung|assos down h|s noso and |ookod mo up and down.
°And don't ta|k to mo about uncroat|vo. You'ro a soxy nurso?
As much as l approc|ato that, you havo to roa||zo thoro aro
go|ng to bo t|tty othor g|r|s thoro drossod just ||ko you.
lobody o|so |s go|ng to bo Vac.'
l oyod h|m carotu||y. °Vaybo that's tor a roason.'
Chr|s wavod a t|ngor at mo. °1ust you wa|t.'
Evan s|appod h|m hard on tho back. °3o whoro aro tho
w|ngs?'
Chr|s shot h|m a quost|on|ng s|do|ong |ook. °What aro you
ta|k|ng about, man?'
°Wo||, you know,' Evan sa|d, v|s|b|y try|ng to ho|d |n a
|augh. °1hoy'|| bo portoct tor |a||owoon. |oot ta|r|os nood
w|ngs, r|ght?'
Chr|s sworo at h|m and shovod h|s shou|dor hard onough
to knock Evan ott ba|anco. Vost ot tho soccor p|ayors d|dn't
tako tho toot ta|ry jokos vory wo||. Chr|s and landon woro no
oxcopt|ons.
As thoy wrost|od around and bouncod aga|nst my bod, l
scow|od at a moss ot gory makoup and prosthot|cs scattorod
across my drossor. °You'ro a|| go|ng to c|oan up th|s crap up,
r|ght?'
°Ot courso,' landon assurod mo, and sm||od br|ght|y. |o
tuggod on ono ot my ha|r sprayod cur|s and ro|oasod |t,
|ott|ng |t bounco back |nto p|aco.
l|ght thon W||| wa|kod |nto my room woar|ng no costumo
oxcopt tor h|s sword, strappod |nto a back scabbard ovor h|s
1-sh|rt. 1ho sh|rt a|so oxposod tho Enoch|an tattoos covor|ng
h|s arm. °|oy,' ho sa|d, nodd|ng to ovoryono. °Your mom |ot
mo |n, E|||o.'
l was o|atod to soo h|m. °|oy! Whoro's your costumo?'
0|sappo|ntod, l pokod at h|s chost. l not|cod h|s oyos
w|don|ng and h|s brow t||ckor|ng as ho took |n my costumo,
and a tw|ngo ot tr|umph crossod my hoart-oot that l was
woar|ng th|s outt|t on|y to got h|s attont|on. 1hat was just a
bonus.
Chr|s stoppod up to h|m, oyo|ng h|s arm. °1hat has got to
bo tho boooost tattoo l havo ovor soon. You got that dono |n
lA or somoth|ng?'
°lta|y,' W||| sa|d.
°l|co. What aro you supposod to bo?'
°l|rato.'
Chr|s scottod. °0udo, your costumo sucks. 3word's protty
swoot, though. lo way that's p|ast|c. ls that ||ko a ||na|
|antasy rop||ca, or somoth|ng? You got that on o3ay?'
°Yoah,' W||| sa|d. °3omoth|ng ||ko that.'
Kato swayod hor way up to h|m and |oanod on Chr|s's
shou|dor. °What's tho mattor? Aro you too coo| tor us?' sho
domandod sarcast|ca||y.
W||| shruggod. °l don't roa||y dross up tor th|ngs.'
°Oh, como on,' l p|oadod. °You havo to woar somoth|ng.'
|o throw up h|s hands dotons|vo|y. °l don't th|nk so.'
°You'ro go|ng to bo tho on|y |amo porson thoro,' l notod.
°l'vo got a 1ason hockoy mask |n my trunk,' Evan ottorod.
°lt you want |t.'
°lo, thanks,' W||| sa|d. °l'm not a costumo guy.'
°You aro such a downor,' l sa|d, and p|ckod my co|| ott my
drossor to g|anco at tho t|mo. °lt's attor n|no. Wo shou|d
probab|y got go|ng around ton.'
As l app||od ono |ast |ayor ot ||pst|ck, ono ot tho boys
bumpod |nto mo and l droppod tho st|ck onto my wh|to outt|t. l
sworo whon l saw tho waxy rod stroak |ott boh|nd on tho
nock||no ot my costumo. °landon!' l grow|od, and shovod h|s
shou|dor.
ln tho m|dst ot stup|d |aughtor, l caught a °3orry, E||!'
l huttod and stompod out ot tho room and down tho ha||
toward tho bathroom. Vy dad caught mo as ho was |oav|ng
h|s bodroom and ho gavo mo tho onco-ovor. Awkwardnoss
sott|od ovor us both as ho stoppod, mouth agapo, but noth|ng
camo out. |o shut |t and |ookod up at tho co|||ng as |t ho
woro th|nk|ng ot what to say.
Embarrassod by tho way ho |ookod at mo, l sa|d, °Kato
|ooks worso.' 1hat wou|d havo workod on my mom, or at
|oast put a sm||o on hor taco, but s|nco my dad raro|y spoko
moro than two words to mo a wook, l wasn't suro what my
noxt movo wou|d bo.
||s mouth scrunchod and thon t|attonod w|th |ndoc|s|on. °l
shou|dn't |ot you go out ||ko that, shou|d l?'
l crossod my arms ovor my chost. °lrobab|y not.'
°Wo||, you |ook ||ko a-' |o cut h|mso|t ott abrupt|y.
l d|dn't want h|m to t|n|sh tho thought anyway. °l'm just
go|ng to tho bathroom.'
°Covor yourso|t up somo,' ho suggostod, stumb||ng ovor
h|s words. °lut somo pants on or somoth|ng.'
°Yoah, 0ad. 3uro th|ng.'
||s body |ockod up and h|s taco tw|stod tor a br|ot
momont. l was about to ask h|m what was wrong whon l
hoard tootstops boh|nd mo.
°E|||o,' sa|d W|||'s vo|co.
l turnod around to sm||o at h|m. °What's up?'
°1ust soo|ng |t you noodod ho|p,' ho sa|d. W||| |ookod at
my dad and ho|d out a hand. °||. l'm W|||, E|||o's tr|ond.'
Vy dad starod at W|||, tho cornors ot h|s mouth turn|ng
down, but ho d|dn't shako W|||'s hand. Catch|ng tho h|nt, W|||
w|thdrow |t and sto|o a g|anco at mo. l know my dad d|dn't
||ko my guy tr|onds much, but that was just boyond rudo.
°Okay, wo||, l'|| soo you |ator, 0ad.' l brushod h|m ott, and
W||| to||owod mo |nto tho bathroom to ho|p mo scrub tho
||pst|ck out ot my dross.
°|o d|dn't ||ko you much,' l sa|d, rubb|ng a wot t|ssuo |nto
tho rod sta|n. Vost ot |t had como out, but a roma|n|ng du||
str|po |ookod ||ko |t wou|d bo pormanont.
°|o smo||od ||ko b|ood.'
l chokod back a |augh. °lo sh|t, 3hor|ock. Yoah, my dad
has b|ood lo h|m. You say tho wo|rdost th|ngs somot|mos.'
°lo, l moant |t was on h|s sk|n. l cou|d smo|| |t trom your
room and l thought you woro hurt.'
°Vaybo ho had a papor cut,' l sa|d, and |ookod up at h|m.
°You shou|dn't go around sn|tt|ng poop|o. loa||y.'
||s ||ps t|ghtonod and h|s brow turrowod. lt was k|nd ot
cuto whon ho d|d that, to bo honost.
°1ho mon |n my ||to aro tho strangost poop|o on tho
p|anot,' l grumb|od, and procoodod to b|ow dry my dross. °At
|oast l can to|orato you, out ot a|| ot thom.'
°You don't ||ko your dad.' lt wasn't a quost|on. l |mag|nod
my contompt was obv|ous to h|m.
°|o's a p|oco ot sh|t. You don't ovon undorstand.'
|o d|dn't say anyth|ng, but ho probab|y undorstood a |ot
bottor than l gavo h|m crod|t tor. ||s hoar|ng was as
|ncrod|b|o as h|s sonso ot smo||. |o'd probab|y hoard many
ot my t|ghts w|th my dad. 3omoth|ng wo|ghod my stomach
down whon l thought ot W||| ovorhoar|ng my cry|ng. lt was ono
th|ng tor h|m to know that tho roapors scarod mo st|||, but
thoro was no roason tor mo to bo atra|d ot my dad. |o'd
novor hurt mo phys|ca||y, but on tho |ns|do ho'd ropoatod|y
r|ppod mo |nto p|ocos.
°look,' l sa|d. °1ust don't worry about |t. lt's not your
prob|om.'
1ho rost ot tho t|mo |n tho bathroom wont by |n awkward
s||onco. Vy dad wasn't a subjoct l wantod to ta|k about w|th
W||| or anyono. l avo|dod h|s gazo unt|| wo woro back |n my
room.
Wo organ|zod who was dr|v|ng and c|oanod up our
costumo mossos. An hour |ator, wo assomb|od downsta|rs |n
tho toyor and p||od |nto Kato's and Evan's cars. W|||, landon,
and l rodo w|th Kato to 1os|o lowport's houso. Wo pu||od
through tho |ron gatos, and Kato t|ashod an |nv|tat|on to tho
man stand|ng thoro. |o |ot us through, and wo passod tho
carr|ago houso. As wo wound up tho woodod dr|vo, wo cou|d
hoar-and íoo|-tho powortu| bass. l'd bo damnod |t 1os|o
hadn't h|rod a 01.
1ho houso |tso|t was sprow|log: h|gh poakod roots,
croamy stono, marb|o co|umns, and dark acconts dazz||ng
bonoath |vory ||ghts. Wo parkod at tho ond ot a novor-ond|ng
||no ot cars and c||mbod out. l pu||od my oxcruc|at|ng|y short
dross as tar down as poss|b|o as wo stro||od up to tho tront
door. 3oh|nd mo, Chr|s askod |t l cou|d hand|o my short sk|rt
and thon mumb|od about |ssu|ng mo a c|tat|on tor °soxy
oxposuro' or somoth|ng stup|d ||ko that. l |gnorod h|m.
1ho tront stops woro ||nod w|th jack-o'-|antorns, and
p|ast|c sko|otons c||mbod tho co|umns. A ta|| man |n a su|t
answorod tho door and wo wa|kod |ns|do. 1ho grand
ontranco was d|m|y ||t w|th mu|t|co|orod ||ghts danc|ng across
tho wh|to marb|o t|oor. Kato |od us through tho mans|on to a
mass|vo banquot ha|| ||nod w|th ta|| w|ndows that ottorod
swoop|ng v|ows ovor|ook|ng a |ako. As soon as wo stoppod
through tho archway, l cou|d soo that ha|t tho schoo| had
a|roady arr|vod. 3trobo ||ghts t|ashod |n a|| d|roct|ons trom
h|gh abovo, tho stoady, hoavy boat ot mus|c shook tho t|oor
and tho wa||s, poop|o |n ovory costumo |mag|nab|o dancod
as |t |t woro tho|r |ast n|ght a||vo.
l had to hand |t to 1os|o. 3ho know how to throw ono ho||
ot a party.
Kato grabbod my hand and wo pushod our way out |nto
tho wr|th|ng mass ot wav|ng hands, sw|ng|ng h|ps, and
stomp|ng toot. Wo dancod unt|| landon pu||od Kato away. l
dancod by myso|t and w|th random partnors tor a tow m|nutos
unt|| Evan and lacho| jo|nod mo. Attor a wh||o l took a broak,
squooz|ng my way back to tho tront ot tho ha|| to tho buttot
tab|o tu|| ot candy and hors d'oouvros. l munchod on cut
strawborr|os, st||| danc|ng to tho mus|c. l to|t a warm body
boh|nd mo and smo||od tho musky, sp|cy scont ot W|||'s
attorshavo. A t|ood ot bo|dnoss swopt through my chost and
stomach and l c|osod my oyos. l stoppod back |nto h|m,
sw|ng|ng my h|ps, try|ng to coax h|m |nto danc|ng w|th mo, but
ho d|dn't. lnstoad, h|s hands ran down my arms, and ho
d|ppod h|s taco ovor my shou|dor unt|| h|s chook brushod
m|no.
°|av|ng tun?'
l spun around and grabbod h|s hands, sway|ng trom s|do
to s|do w|th tho boat. |o d|dn't g|vo |n, but that d|dn't stop mo
trom try|ng to danco w|th h|m. °0anco w|th mo.'
|o ho|d my hands st||| and h|s groon oyos p|orcod m|no.
°3orry, l'm not a dancor.'
l pu||od my hands away and put thom around h|s nock.
°3|x hundrod yoars o|d and you novor |oarnod to danco? l
th|nk |t's about t|mo you ||vod a ||tt|o.'
°l know how to danco,' ho assurod mo w|th a handsomo
|augh. °1ust not to tbls k|nd ot mus|c.'
°lt's oasy. 1ust movo w|th |t.' l p|acod h|s hands on my
h|ps and tr|od to got h|m to to||ow my rhythm.
|o pu||od away, and ho wrappod a hand undor my ch|n
and ||ttod |t. 1ho movomont was s|ow, sonsua|, |n rhythm w|th
tho mus|c, h|s t|ngors s||d|ng across my sk|n, and l to|t
o|octr|c|ty pass trom h|s touch |nto mo. l |nha|od and c|osod
my oyos at tho |ntons|ty ot |t. Evory s|ng|o |nch ot mo was
com|ng a||vo. l d|dn't know |t |t was tho adrona||no trom tho
party that mado mo roact so strong|y or |t |t was somoth|ng
o|so. A stab ot t|ro h|t mo whon l to|t h|s ||ps s||do a|ong my
jaw to my oar, and l took a s|ow, agon|zod broath.
°|org|vo mo,' ho wh|sporod.
l oponod my oyos and ho was gono. l spun around,
|ook|ng tor h|m ovorywhoro, but ho roa||y was gono.
|rustrat|on bo||od through mo and sp|||od ovor. What was my
prob|om? What d|d l oxpoct trom h|m?
l shook my hoad, try|ng to torgot about h|m and onjoy
myso|t, but somoth|ng st|rrod |n my gut that l d|dn't ||ko. l
stuttod my taco w|th anothor strawborry and scow|od at
nobody |n part|cu|ar.
Kato swayod up to mo by horso|t, |augh|ng and s|ng|ng
a|ong to tho mus|c. 3ho grabbod both my hands and
sw|vo|od hor h|ps w|th tho boat. 3ho turnod around, |oad|ng
mo back |nto tho crowd, and wo dancod tor a wh||o |ongor,
but l cou|dn't got my m|nd ott W|||. l cou|d st||| too| h|s touch on
my taco, ovon though on|y a du|| t|ng|o roma|nod.
0rossod o|aborato|y as Var|o Anto|notto-comp|oto w|th
a tr|||y th|gh-|ongth b|uo dross, a t|ora| tan, h|gh stock|ngs and
gartors, and a wh|to powdorod w|g-1os|o tound us and
gavo us both onormous hugs. °l'm so g|ad you camo!' sho
shoutod ovor tho mus|c, |n that t|oot|ng, ob||v|ous way ot hors.
°Amaz|ng party as a|ways!' Kato assurod hor, sm|||ng.
l noddod. °Yos! 1ho 01 |s amaz|ng!'
°1hanks!' sho sa|d, smooth|ng out hor sk|rts and t|uttor|ng
hor protty tan. °|o works tor V1v!'
lot surpr|s|ng. 3ho dancod w|th us tor a wh||o, tho mus|c
rock|ng through us as |t tho mans|on woro com|ng down on
our hoads, botoro sho tw|r|od away.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
28
l 1llE0 1O ll0 VY3El| O| AlY 0OU31 Al0 lEG-at|v|ty and onjoy tho
n|ght. l on|y pausod whon a boy wa|kod up to Kato and mo,
ho was woar|ng a wh|to mask that concoa|od ha|t h|s taco
||ko tho lhantom ot tho Opora. 1ho ha|t ot h|s taco l cou|d soo
was broathtak|ng. l had novor soon any boy so boaut|tu|. ||s
pa|o go|d ha|r was combod noat|y back w|th on|y a tow
oscap|ng w|sps, and ho woro a b|ack tuxodo bonoath a
capo. 3omoth|ng about tho oxqu|s|to tabr|c ot tho tuxodo to|d
mo wo hadn't gotton our costumos at tho samo p|aco.
Ot courso ho must want to danco w|th Kato. l bogan to
stop away trom thom, but tho curvo ot h|s ||ps mado mo
hos|tato. |o |oworod h|s hoad to a vory oxc|tod Kato, whoso
taco washod b|ank whon ho askod hor, °Vay l cut |n?'
3ho stoppod as|do and tho boy took my hand,
|mmod|ato|y draw|ng mo c|oso to h|m. ||s prosonco
wrappod around mo, o|octr|c and |nv|t|ng, and ho spun mo
around tho ha|| |n a wa|tz that t|t poor|y w|th tho mus|c p|ay|ng,
but somohow ho kopt us |n rhythm. 3otoro l was awaro ot |t,
tho mus|c and commot|on had sunk |nto a du|| roar unt|| l
cou|dn't hoar anyth|ng at a||. l |ookod nowhoro but up |nto h|s
oyos, wh|ch woro tho most t|ory opa|oscont hazo| l had ovor
soon, pract|ca||y |nhuman. ||s danc|ng was ||ko wator,
powortu| and uny|o|d|ng, yot t|u|d and smooth through ovory
movomont, ||ko a r|vor to||ow|ng |ts prodotorm|nod courso. l
|ot h|m |oad mo through tho crowd |n a stato ot shock and
b||ss tw|stod togothor, unab|o to porco|vo anyth|ng but h|s
taco. l wantod to tako ott h|s mask to rovoa| tho boauty
bonoath. Wo dancod unt|| tho ond ot tho song, and st||| ho
ho|d mo to h|s chost, h|s mouth curv|ng |nto a do||c|ous sm||o.
°Como w|th mo,' ho p|oadod and took my hand.
l noddod ||ko an |d|ot and |ot h|m |oad mo across tho ha||,
back toward tho archway wo had a|| ontorod through. 1ho
h|doous too||ng ot W|||'s rojoct|on washod away as tho
mystory guy |od mo ott tho danco t|oor. l was too oagor to
to||ow h|m, too oagor to mako myso|t too| worth somoth|ng.
|or an |nstant l w|shod W||| had soon mo |oavo w|th th|s boy.
Vaybo a spark ot joa|ousy wou|d prompt h|m to mako a
movo.
1ho lhantom boy stoppod mo on tho othor s|do ot tho
wa|| and toyod w|th ono ot my cur|s as ho stud|od my taco
w|th a |ook ot both awo and amusomont.
°You aro a boaut|tu| g|r|,' ho sa|d |n a s||ght|y surpr|sod
vo|co, h|s taco so c|oso that ho d|dn't nood to spoak up tor
mo to hoar h|m ovor tho mus|c.
°l ||ko your mask,' my mouth b|abbod stup|d|y. l wantod to
s|ap my ||ps ott. l ||ko your mosk?
|o |aughod, h|s vo|co ||ko vo|vot. °l'm g|ad you ||ko |t.
What's your namo?'
°E|||o,' l answorod, swoon|ng. l |oanod hoav||y aga|nst tho
wa|| to ho|d myso|t up.
°l'm Cadan,' ho rop||od.
°1hat's an unusua| namo,' l notod absont|y.
°lt's a vory, vory o|d ono.' 1ho backs ot h|s t|ngors tracod
a|ong my baro co||arbono. l sh|vorod.
°Aro you a tr|ond ot 1os|o's?' l askod, try|ng to
concontrato on our convorsat|on as ho touchod mo. |o mado
|t noxt to |mposs|b|o to accomp||sh that.
°lo,' ho sa|d, and |ookod up trom my co||arbono, h|s t|ory
opa| oyos captur|ng m|no.
As l starod |nto thom, l cou|d havo sworn l saw go|don
t|amos t||ckor|ng |n tho |r|sos. l b||nkod and tho t|amos
van|shod. °0o you go to our schoo|?'
°lo.'
°0o you know a |ot ot poop|o horo?'
°On|y ono,' ho rospondod. °Your W|||.'
l b||nkod |n contus|on, suddon|y sobor. °Vy-?'
ln that momont W||| appoarod bos|do Cadan, tho back ot
h|s t|st t|y|ng and s|amm|ng |nto tho boy's jaw. 1ho lhantom
mask sa||od ott and shattorod on tho t|oor as |t |t woro mado
ot porco|a|n.
Okay, that wasn't qu|to tho movo l had wantod W||| to
mako a tow soconds botoro.
º¼l||!' l scroamod, grabb|ng h|s shou|dor and yank|ng h|m
back. °What tho ho|| |s tho mattor w|th you?'
|o sa|d noth|ng but on|y starod at Cadan. W|||'s oyos
g|owod br|ght groon, and ovon |n tho dark ha|| l cou|d soo h|s
powor humm|ng tur|ous|y around h|m. Cadan roso to h|s toot,
cupp|ng h|s jaw-|oogblog. l wou|d havo bot ovoryth|ng l
ownod that W|||'s punch shou|d havo crushod ovory bono |n
Cadan's taco. |ow was ho ovon o|lvo?
Un|oss ho wasn't human.
°What aro you do|ng horo?' W||| domandod, h|s vo|co
subzoro co|d, tr|ghton|ng ovon mo.
°l on|y wantod to moot hor,' Cadan sa|d. °l had to got a
|ook at tho g|r| who's boon rust||ng ovoryono's toathors so
much |ato|y. 3ho sooms to bo tho objoct ot lagnuk's
obsoss|on, not to mont|on 3ast|an's. Can you b|amo my
cur|os|ty?'
lausoa c|awod through my abdomon, and my body wont
st|tt w|th toar. °loapor?'
°|o's ono ot 3ast|an's v|r,' W||| grow|od, not |ook|ng at
mo.
Cadan |oorod know|ng|y at W|||. |o roachod a hand out to
mo, but botoro l cou|d roact, W|||'s sword swung through tho
a|r, and tho t|p pr|ckod tho boaut|tu| domon|c v|r's throat.
°0on't you daro touch hor,' W||| warnod, pross|ng tho
b|ado a tract|on ot a m||||motor doopor. 3|ood pookod at tho
t|p. l g|ancod around, pray|ng no ono wou|d not|co.
°3ho's a |ovo|y th|ng,' Cadan sa|d, st||| as stono, h|s ch|n
up, h|s oyos |ockod on W|||'s. °l soo why you koop hor so
c|oso. You wou|dn't want anyono ||ko mo swoop|ng hor ott hor
toot, wou|d you?'
ºLoovo!' W||| domandod. °Or wo'|| tako th|s outs|do and
t|n|sh |t.'
Cadan ||ckod h|s ||ps as |t tho prospoct woro do||c|ous. °l
can arrango that.'
ln my horror, my vo|co droppod to a harsh wh|spor. °l can't
t|ght drossod ||ko a soxy nurso!'
°Vy doar,' Cadan sa|d, h|s vo|co as sonsuous ||ko w|no, °l
don't |ntond to harm you. Your Guard|an, horo, |s anothor
story. Wo havo unt|n|shod bus|noss.'
°Wo aron't carry|ng our quarro| |nto tho wor|d ot humans,'
W||| sa|d. °lt can wa|t.'
l cou|dn't bo suro |t Cadan's taco was d|sappo|ntod or
not. °Anothor t|mo, thon?' ho askod.
°Agrood,' W||| snar|od.
3uddon|y Cadan van|shod. W||| stabbod torward |n shock
and angor, h|s b|ado punch|ng through tho wa||. l to|t warm
||ps on my nock and l scroochod, whoo||ng away. Cadan
grabbod mo c|osor to h|m. As W||| shot toward us, Cadan
wh|sporod |nto my oar, °'Wo'|| moot aga|n soon.''
1hon ho was gono aga|n. 1h|s t|mo tor good. Was that
3hakospoaro ho'd just quotod to mo?
W||| cr|od out |n rago and poundod h|s knuck|os |nto tho
wa||. A pa|r ot g|r|s camo around tho archway and starod at
us tor a br|ot momont botoro g|gg||ng and mov|ng on.
l grabbod h|s arm. °Ca|m down! l can't bo||ovo you just
punchod a ho|o through 1os|o's wa||!' l |ookod around us, my
hoart pound|ng. °Wo shou|d wa|k away. . . .'
l |od h|m away and down a qu|otor ha|| botoro turn|ng
back to taco h|m. 0osp|to my m||d annoyanco w|th h|m, h|s
vors|on ot dotond|ng my honor was st||| soxy. W|th h|s angry
taco on, ho |ookod amaz|ng|y gorgoous and just as
dangorous.
°W|||, who was that?' l askod, my sonsos roturn|ng to mo,
t|na||y ab|o to too| how unnorvod l tru|y was.
°Cadan,' ho grow|od. °|o's ono ot 3ast|an's thugs. l don't
undorstand why ho was horo ton|ght. l'm surpr|sod ho wou|d
try to attack you.'
l was doubttu|. °l don't th|nk ho was |ook|ng to t|ght. |o
had p|onty ot chancos. 0on't you th|nk ho wou|d havo usod
tho opportun|ty?'
°0on't th|nk ho |sn't dangorous bocauso ho d|dn't k||| you
on s|ght.' ||s vo|co was unoasy, worr|od. °You don't
undorstand how dostruct|vo ho can bo.'
l |oanod back aga|nst tho wa|| w|th a sharp pa|n |n my
stomach. l d|dn't too| throatonod by Cadan at a||, but l had to
trust W|||'s word. |o know thoso croaturos bottor than l d|d.
|o was ono ot thom.
W||| trownod and touchod my arm gont|y. °You shou|d got
back to your party. Kato m|ght bo wondor|ng whoro you aro.'
°l don't th|nk l too| ||ko party|ng anymoro,' l sa|d.
A sott sm||o tormod on h|s taco. °|ow w||| you got homo?
You d|dn't dr|vo horo.'
°Oh, r|ght,' l grumb|od. °l guoss l don't havo a cho|co.'
||s approhons|on soomod to wash away, and onco aga|n
ho bocamo that tam|||ar towor ot socur|ty and comtort. |o
took my hand. °Como on.'
l to||owod h|m back out |nto tho ha||, whoro Kato
happonod to hop |n tront ot us, tho soqu|ns on hor dov|| outt|t
mak|ng hor g||ttor ||ko a d|sco ba||. Ono hand rostod on hor
h|p and tho othor ho|d a 1oots|o lop proppod |n tho |ns|do ot
hor chook. 3ho |ookod us both up and down.
°Whoro woro yoo guys?' sho askod w|th a suggost|vo
t||ck ot hor oyobrows. °Vak|n' out, huh?'
l ro||od my oyos, pu|||ng away trom W||| so|t-consc|ous|y.
°lo,' l grumb|od. °3omo guy was g|v|ng mo a hard t|mo.' l
thought |t was w|so to mont|on Cadan |n caso anyono had
soon mo w|th h|m.
°lot that hot guy, was |t?' 3ho trownod.
l noddod. °|o wasn't as coo| as ho soomod.'
°Croopors happon,' Kato sa|d w|th an |nd|ttoront shrug.
°Wo||, |t's m|dn|ght and thoy'ro about to judgo tho costumo
contost!' |u|| ot onthus|asm now, sho |ockod an arm around
m|no and dancod hor way |nto tho m|dd|o ot tho ha||,
dragg|ng mo a|ong w|th hor. W||| to||owod s||ont|y.
1ho 01 had turnod tho mus|c down and h|s m|crophono
up so ovoryono cou|d hoar h|m. Choors rang out as bogan to
announco tho w|nnors. 1ho scar|ost costumo wont not to
landon but to anothor zomb|o, rosu|t|ng |n a vory p|ssod-ott
landon. Chr|s actua||y won tor tunn|ost costumo. l doc|dod l'd
havo to watch 5opor 7roopors now. 1ho sox|ost costumo
catogory was won by a g|r| drossod as Evo. |or much-too-
tannod body was covorod by a |oat ovor oach broast and a
vory sk|mpy |oat b|k|n| bottom. Unsurpr|s|ng|y, tho ovora|| bost
costumo honor wont to 1os|o.
Kato |oanod c|oso to mo and sa|d w|th a qu|ck nod, °3ho
pa|d somobody ott tor that award.' l noddod |n agroomont.
Whon ono a.m. ro||od around, tho party was coo||ng ott. l
was |n a bottor mood, t|na||y ab|o to shako ott my momory ot
Cadan. As wo proparod to |oavo, wo stood by our cars and
d|scussod tho noxt phaso ot tho n|ght's co|obrat|ons.
°ls tho attor party st||| at my houso?' Kato askod oxc|tod|y.
°l'm down,' landon sa|d.
lacho| was c||ng|ng hoav||y to Evan's arm, rost|ng hor
hoad on h|s shou|dor. |or taco was t|ushod and sho was
m|ss|ng hor w|tch's hat. °l'm roady to just go homo, actua||y.'
°1hat's t|no,' Evan sa|d. °l can tako you homo. l'm too||ng
a ||tt|o t|rod too.'
°l havo vooko,' Kato sa|d, wagg||ng hor t|ngors, try|ng to
conv|nco thom to jo|n. °3hots, shots, sbots!'
As lacho| startod to got oxc|tod, Evan gu|dod hor to h|s
car. °3ho doosn't nood any moro.'
°3oo you guys |ator!' lacho| ca||od. |or oyos woro
squoozod shut and hor sm||o was outragoous|y hugo. °l had
so much tun!' |or taco bu|god suddon|y and sho d|vod
around tho back ot tho car and rotchod. Evan rushod to hor
s|do and pu||od hor ha|r ovor hor shou|dors. |o rubbod hor
back gont|y unt|| sho was through, and thoy c||mbod |nto h|s
car. Vy taco scrunchod whon l smo||od tho puko.
°1on bucks says thoy bang,' Kato musod as thoy drovo
ott.
l gapod at hor |n d|sgust. °3ho just throw up!'
Kato shruggod. °3ho can brush hor tooth.'
l trownod at hor. °You cou|dn't bo moro b|unt |t you tr|od.'
°Oh, l cou|d,' sho sa|d. °l cou|d bo íor moro b|unt, but l
don't want to damago your protty ||tt|o v|rg|n oars.'
l shovod hor shou|dor away as sho |aughod, and l turnod
to W|||. °Aro you com|ng w|th us?'
|o |ookod down at mo, h|s oyos a coo| m|nt groon. |o
soomod to havo ca|mod down s|nco Cadan |ott. °lt you w|sh.'
°l wou|d too| bottor |t you woro c|oso,' l wh|sporod. °Cadan
troakod mo out.'
°1hon ot courso,' ho sa|d. °l'|| to||ow you anywhoro.'
l to|t |nstant ro||ot whon l know W||| wou|d stay w|th mo a||
n|ght. lart ot mo was atra|d Cadan or ovon lagnuk wou|d
attack ton|ght. l'd g|vo anyth|ng to koop that trom happon|ng
whon my tr|onds woro around, but that wasn't oxact|y
somoth|ng l cou|d contro|.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
24
WE |lll3|E0 1|E llG|1 O|| ll KA1E'3 3A3EVEl1 by watch|ng tho
or|g|na| lo||owooo mov|o, but wo just mado tun ot |t tho ont|ro
t|mo, so |t novor got too gory tor mo. lt was tunny how many
roa| horrors l tacod ovory n|ght, yot l st||| cou|dn't hand|o a
stup|d scary mov|o. landon was spraw|od across tho sota
cha|r, and l sat on tho couch w|th Kato and Chr|s wh||o W|||
sat s||ont|y at my toot. 1ho warmth ot h|s body aga|nst my
|ogs was comtort|ng and l to|t portoct|y sato. l cou|dn't to|| |t ho
was onjoy|ng tho mov|o, but ho sat st||| as a statuo aga|nst
mo, h|s oyos on tho 1v.
l startod to nod ott, so l chockod my co||. lt was noar|y
throo, and l know l was go|ng to crash any m|nuto. l was
p|oasod to soo that ovoryono o|so soomod to bo too||ng tho
samo way. Chr|s was a|roady passod out w|th h|s hoad
proppod on tho back ot tho sota and h|s mouth gap|ng opon
as ho snorod. |o st||| hadn't takon ott h|s r|d|cu|ous
mustacho. Kato and landon soomod to bo |n tho|r own ||tt|o
wor|d ot g|gg|os and c||nk|ng g|assos. As soon as tho mov|o
t|n|shod, Kato w|shod us good n|ght and |ott tho don. landon
choso ono ot tho two bodrooms, and Chr|s d|dn't soom ||ko
ho'd bo |oav|ng tho couch tor a wh||o. l |ott W||| by tho 1v to
go chango |n tho unc|a|mod bodroom. W|th my ovorn|ght bag
p|oppod on tho bod, l unz|ppod |t and pu||od out my pajamas.
l |ot my ha|r down and shook out tho b|g cur|s.
l wa|kod to tho bathroom noar tho ||tt|o k|tchon to brush my
tooth. As soon as l oponod tho door, l trozo |n my tracks.
Kato and landon |oapod apart trom oach othor and Kato
yankod a towo| ott tho rack to covor hor bra. landon bumpod
|nto tho s|nk and knockod ovor a tow th|ngs. 3oth tho|r tacos
woro tw|stod |n shock. l |ookod trom Kato to landon to
Kato's sh|rt |y|ng on tho t|oor.
°Oh, man,' l sa|d |n a sma|| vo|co. l prompt|y spun on my
hoo|s and hoadod back toward my room, |ott|ng tho
bathroom door shut boh|nd mo. l d|dn't nood to brush my
tooth tbot bad|y.
lookod ||ko landon was ovor mo.
°E|||o, wa|t!' Kato ca||od out |n a hushod vo|co.
l stoppod and turnod back to hor as sho tuggod hor sh|rt
ovor hor hoad and racod down tho ha|| toward mo. |or
oxpross|on was mort|t|od. °Oh God, E|||o, l am so sorry. lt just
happonod! 0o you hato mo? l swoar wo d|dn't do anyth|ng.
Wo just mado out.'
°1hat's t|no,' l sa|d honost|y. °lt's coo|. l don't caro. l'm not
|nto landon, romombor?'
3ho s|umpod. °l know, but l d|dn't want |t to got wo|rd. l'm
k|nd ot drunk and l'm |n a roa||y good mood and ho was just
thoro and ho's cutor than Chr|s. l don't know what l'm
th|nk|ng.'
landon |ott tho bathroom, sa|d noth|ng, and d|sappoarod
|nto tho bodroom ho'd choson, shutt|ng tho door boh|nd h|m.
°Kato, |t's coo|,' l assurod hor. °|o's a|| yours.'
°You suro?' 3ho |ookod worr|od but happy, |t that was
ovon poss|b|o. Vaybo sho was tak|ng tho worr|od taco.
°0ot|n|to|y,' l sa|d w|th a t|rm nod. °'l|ght.' l turnod br|sk|y,
w|thout |oarn|ng |t sho wont |nto that room w|th landon or
back to hor own bodroom. l d|dn't woot to know.
l c|osod tho door and sat on tho bod. Wo||, that was a
shockor. Vaybo |t landon got prooccup|od w|th Kato, ho'd
got ovor mo tor good. 1hon aga|n, |t thoy startod go|ng out, l
cou|d novor hang out w|th thom. l'd bo ||ko a th|rd whoo|. l
corta|n|y d|dn't want to watch thom mako out a|| tho t|mo. Oh
God, p|ooso just |ot th|s bo a t||ng.
A sott knock camo at tho door. °Como |n,' l sa|d.
W||| ontorod. °l'm go|ng to go out and koop watch.'
°Okay,' l sa|d. °0o you roa||y th|nk somoono m|ght attack
tho houso?'
°lt's a|ways a poss|b|||ty,' ho notod. °Good n|ght.' |o
sm||od and turnod to |oavo.
°Wa|t-W|||?'
|o turnod back. °Yoah.'
°3tay w|th mo?' l askod. °l|oaso? 1ust unt|| l ta|| as|oop.'
°As you w|sh,' ho sa|d. |o stood mot|on|oss|y.
l c||mbod |nto tho bod. 1ho qu||ts woro coo| at t|rst, but
thoy warmod up qu|ck|y. W||| wa|kod ovor and sat down on
tho t|oor w|th h|s back aga|nst tho bod. l |nchod c|osor to h|m
so that l cou|d |ay my hoad down by h|s taco. |o st||| smo||od
wondortu| dosp|to hav|ng boon at tho party a|| n|ght. l
assumod l hadn't tarod as wo||.
|o |ot out a |ong, |ow broath and rostod h|s hoad aga|nst
tho odgo ot tho bod.
°1hank you,' l wh|sporod. °|or stay|ng.'
°l w||| do anyth|ng you ask ot mo,' ho sa|d.
l g|gg|od. °3ottor not say that. l m|ght ask you to do somo
protty w||d stutt.'
°lt's not ||ko you havon't |n tho past.'
l was |ntr|guod onough to a|most torgot tho thought ot
landon and Kato hook|ng up on tho othor s|do ot tho wa||.
A|most. l had to th|nk ot somoth|ng o|so botoro l |ost my m|nd.
°0|stract mo.'
°What?'
°l'm dosporato. 0|stract mo.'
°|ow?'
°What's tho craz|ost th|ng l'vo ovor askod you to do?'
|o thought a momont. °1h|s may not bo tho craz|ost, but
onco wo chasod a roapor and ho jumpod ott a br|dgo. You
askod mo to go |n attor h|m wh||o you ran downr|vor.'
l |aughod. °lo way. l askod you to jump ott a br|dgo?'
°Wo woro protty dosporato tor that ono,' ho sa|d.
°W||| you to|| mo tho story?'
°3ocauso you askod, l w|||. lt was |n tho o|ghtoon o|ght|os,
1oxas. A roapor had boon torror|z|ng a sma|| town. |o had a
tasto tor ch||dron.'
Vy stomach churnod. °1hat's awtu|.'
|o noddod. °1ho |oca|s thought |t was just coyotos
dragg|ng tho k|ds ott |n tho n|ght, or tho noarby K|owa tr|bo
stoa||ng thom tor s|avos or somo othor nonsonso, but wo
know bottor whon wo p|ckod up tho |oad. 1ho t|rst n|ght wo
arr|vod |n town, you doc|dod to uso yourso|t as ba|t. l tr|od to
ta|k you out ot |t, but you woro dotorm|nod to catch h|m botoro
ho hurt any moro ch||dron. You drossod |n a ||tt|o g|r|'s dross
and wa|tod at tho odgo ot tho town, protond|ng to p|ay w|th a
do||. lt was ono ot tho darkost n|ghts l can romombor. lt was
tho dark ot tho moon and tho town d|dn't havo o|octr|c|ty yot,
so wo on|y had a handtu| ot stars to soo our way w|th.'
As ho spoko, l tound myso|t p|ctur|ng tho scono |n my
m|nd, as |t l woro r|ght thoro. Was l romombor|ng? l tought
hardor to romombor as ho to|d mo tho story, and t|ashos ot
|magos stroakod across my m|nd. l koow thoy had to bo roa|.
°1ho roapor d|dn't tako |ong to show h|mso|t and attack
you. |o got roa||y c|oso, and l romombor bo|ng horr|b|y
scarod tor you, but you actod ||ko ho wasn't ovon thoro. l'd
novor soon you act so coo| botoro. 3y tho t|mo ho roa||zod
you woro tho lro||ator, l was runn|ng trom my h|d|ng spot,
sw|ng|ng my sword. l d|dn't |and a so||d b|ow botoro ho took
ott |nto tho darknoss. Wo gavo chaso, to||ow|ng h|m through
tho torost at tho ond ot a t|o|d. |o was a |up|no roapor, so ho
was tast and moro ag||o than wo woro. Whon ho got to tho
r|vor boyond tho troos, ho ran out onto tho br|dgo and
jumpod. |o |ot tho r|vor tako h|m. l guoss ho thought ho cou|d
|oso us |n tho wator. You yo||od tor mo to jump |n too, and you
ran a|ongs|do tho r|vor |n caso ho c||mbod out. l swam as tast
as l cou|d, and whon l t|na||y caught up to h|m, ho tought back
hard. |o toro mo opon, but ho was t|ght|ng so hard, ho
stoppod pay|ng attont|on to you, and that's whon you jumpod
|nto tho r|vor. Wo got h|m that n|ght.'
°Wow' was a|| l cou|d say.
°lt was qu|to a n|ght,' ho sa|d. °You woro amaz|ng.'
°3ounds ||ko yoo woro amaz|ng.'
|o shook h|s hoad. °You'vo a|ways astoundod mo. Your
strongth has kopt mo w|th you and |t's why l to||ow you.'
l sm||od. °l w|sh l romomborod.'
°You w|||,' ho |ns|stod. °l koop to|||ng you that, bocauso |t's
truo. 1horo aro many th|ngs l w|sh you wou|d novor
romombor, but thoy a|| mako you who you aro. l'vo novor
known anyono o|so who's soon such unspoakab|o tragody |n
tho|r ||vos, and st||| you'ro moro human than tho ont|ro rost ot
tho wor|d.'
°You sound so sad,' l notod.
°l am.' |o d|dn't o|aborato.
Vy t|ngors wovo through h|s ha|r, and ho |oanod back |nto
my hand, turn|ng h|s taco so that h|s oyos mot m|no. °0on't
bo. l'm sorry.'
°1horo's noth|ng tor you to apo|og|zo tor,' ho sa|d. °lo
mattor how many t|mos l to|| you how sorry l am, |t'|| novor
mako up tor a|| tho t|mos l'vo ta||od you and |ot you d|o.'
°W||| . . .'
|o |ookod t|orco|y |nto my oyos. °l moant |t whon l to|d you
l'vo novor brokon a prom|so to you. You w||| surv|vo 3ast|an, l
swoar |t.'
°l bo||ovo you.'
|o sat mot|on|oss and s||ont tor somo t|mo. l |a|d my hoad
back down and watchod h|m. |o soomod doop|y |ost |n h|s
thoughts, and |t broko my hoart to soo h|m so tormontod.
°l havo a quost|on about tho Gr|gor|,' l sa|d, strugg||ng to
th|nk ot somoth|ng to tako h|s m|nd ott whatovor was
bothor|ng h|m. °0|dn't somo ot thom havo ch||dron w|th
humans?'
|o noddod. °1ho Gr|gor| woron't tru|y w|ckod ||ko tho
|a||on woro whon thoy robo||od aga|nst |oavon, but
somohow bo|ng bound to Earth as pun|shmont causod thom
to dovo|op morta| dos|ros and omot|ons. lnstoad ot s||ont|y
watch|ng ovor tho human wor|d as thoy woro supposod to,
thoy s|opt w|th morta| womon and tathorod powortu| ha|t-
human, ha|t-ango| croaturos ca||od tho loph|||m.'
°Cou|d that bo what l am?' l askod. °l'm morta|, but l uso
tho powor ot ango|t|ro.'
°lo,' ho sa|d gont|y. °1ho loph|||m woro monstors. 1hoy
woro born out ot ta||on sp|r|t, and noth|ng good camo trom
thom. 1hoy woro onormous and v|o|ont, moro monstor than
tho most tr|ghton|ng ot roapors. God t|oodod tho Earth to
dostroy thom, and thon |o mado tho Gr|gor| |ntort||o so that
no moro abom|nat|ons wou|d bo croatod. A handtu| ot tho
loph|||m may havo surv|vod, but l'vo novor soon ono. lt's not
poss|b|o that you aro ono ot thom. You'd bo ton toot ta|| and
|ook|ng tor a t|ght |ott and r|ght.'
°1hoy sound nasty.'
°1hoy woro,' ho sa|d. °lasty onough tor God to t|ood tho
wor|d to k||| thom a|| ott. |o's on|y ovor dono that onco, and
you know ot a|| tho horr|b|o th|ngs out thoro now. |o was
protty dosporato.'
l cou|dn't |mag|no monstors moro torr|b|o than tho roapors
l'd soon. lt mado mo wondor what tho |a||on woro ||ko and
about tho truth boh|nd luc|tor, 3ammao|, and l|||th. °Why d|d
luc|tor robo|? Why wou|d ho r|sk somoth|ng ||ko a war
aga|nst |oavon?'
°l don't roa||y th|nk l'm qua||t|od to answor that.'
°3ut what do you th|nk?' l askod. °l'm suro you havo a
thoory.'
|o c|osod h|s oyos as l smoothod my hand ovor h|s ha|r
aga|n. °lovo, l th|nk.'
°lovo?' l gavo a sma|| |augh. °l thought luc|tor was ov||.
|o can't |ovo anyth|ng.'
°|o d|d,' W||| sa|d, |ook|ng at mo aga|n. °|o |ovod God
vory much, but an ango| |sn't supposod to too| |ovo. God
doos, howovor, and ho |ovos humans moro than anyth|ng. An
ango| |sn't supposod to too| joa|ousy, o|thor, but luc|tor d|d.
|o was joa|ous ot humans bocauso God |ovos thom moro.
And ho robo||od. And |ost.'
°1h|s sounds wo|rd, but l k|nd ot too| bad tor h|m.'
°lovo |s a boaut|tu| but torr|b|o th|ng,' ho sa|d. °You havo
to bo carotu| w|th |t. lt can dostroy you. 1hat |s why tho ango|s
aron't supposod to too| omot|on. 1hoy must bo |nta|||b|o and
w|thout doubt.'
°3ounds ||ko a rough g|g. lt must suck to havo to bo
portoct.'
|o sm||od. °Good th|ng wo don't havo to bo.'
l pu||od tho covors up to my ch|n and was qu|ot tor a ||tt|o
wh||o. ||s taco was so c|oso to m|no that l cou|d tasto h|s
broath. l wondorod what |t wou|d bo ||ko to k|ss h|m. °1hank
you tor com|ng w|th mo ton|ght.'
°Ot courso.'
°And tor stay|ng w|th mo. 1hank you aga|n.'
°Anyth|ng tor you, E|||o.'
l sm||od, but h|s so|t|oss words broko my hoart. |o moant
that tu||y, and l trustod h|s oath. °l a|ways too| bottor whon
you'ro c|oso to mo.'
|o stud|od my taco tor a tow momonts as h|s oxpross|on
bocamo tranqu||. °You shou|d try to s|oop.'
l noddod. °Yoah. You'|| bo horo whon l wako?'
°l won't |oavo tho room.'
Vy oyos c|osod. °1hank you.'
7bo vlr oroptoo loto í|omos os bor booo spoo oíí bor
sboo|oors. Asbos sott|oo oroooo mo, c|loglog to my bolr
ooo tbo tblck ío|os oí tbo sklrts oroooo my |ogs. l
ro|loqolsboo my sworos, ooo wboo tbo oogo|ílro oloo, tbo
clty stroot torooo oork ogolo. ¼l|| co||oo my oomo os bo
ílolsboo oíí tbo otbor roopor, lts booy torolog to stooo ooo
cromb|log to tbo groooo. 7bo polo lo my oboomoo wos
mloo oomblog ooo my tbroot kopt íl||log wltb b|ooo. l
cbokoo oo lt ooo po||oo my booo owoy írom my bo||y to soo
bow mocb oomogo tbo roopor boo oooo wboo sbo`o
stobboo mo. 7bo íobrlc wos sbrooooo ooo tboro wos too
mocb b|ooo íor mo to ovoo soo my sklo. l sqooozoo my
oyos sbot os oootbor torroot oí polo sbot tbroogb mo. l
stoggoroo olzzl|y oo my íoot os ¼l|| co||oo my oomo ogolo.
lo toocboo my sboo|oor ooo l groooo my tootb lo polo.
Evory locb oí my booy bort, ooo co|o rosboo tbroogb mo,
sprooolog írom tbo woooo lo my bo||y.
ºYoo woro groot,' bo solo wltb o goot|o sml|o os bo
coogbt bls brootb. A gosb oo bls oock wos s|ow|y c|oslog. l
roocboo op to toocb lt, to toocb h|m, bocooso l koow lt woo|o
bo my |ost cbooco. lls sml|o íoooo os lí bo`o rooo my mloo.
º¼bot`s wroogº'
l blt my |lp to koop írom grlmoclog os somotblog
poppoo losloo mo, trylog oso|oss|y to boo|. ºl`m o|| rlgbt.'
¼l||`s oyos í|osboo brlgbt|y os bo coppoo my íoco wltb
botb booos, smootblog my bolr bock, oxomlolog mo íor
oomogo. lo koow. lo booo`t íoooo tbo woooo yot, bot bo
koow lt wos tboro. ºYoo`ro bort. ¼boroº P|ooso |ot mo bo|p
yoo. ¼boro ls ltº'
As bls boort broko lo íroot oí mo, toors s|lo oowo my
cbooks ooo l po||oo owoy, roíoslog to |ot blm soo. l oloo`t
woot lt to bo roo| íor blm. Not ogolo. 7bo sooooo movomoot
coosoo mo to cry oot ooo ooob|o ovor. ¼l|| scroomoo my
oomo ooo ío|| ovor mo, tbrowlog bls sworo owoy ooo po||log
mo c|oso to blm os my kooos blt tbo groooo. Roo oroocboo
my oross ooo poo|oo oroooo mo, sooklog tbo groooo wltb
oorkooss |lko o plt |ooolog to lo||.
¼l|| po||oo mo ogolost bls cbost, croo|log mo goot|y. lo
po||oo tbo toro boolco oí my oross oport to oxomloo tbo
woooo. l storoo loto bls íoco os bo sow tbo oxtoot oí tbo
oomogo ooo c|oocboo bls oyos sbot, socklog lo bls oppor
|lp ooo sottlog bls jow tlgbt. lo took o ooop brootb ooo
|ookoo op loto my íoco, tocklog my toog|oo bolr bobloo my
oor ooo tbomblog my cbook toooor|y. lo opoooo bls mootb
to soy somotblog bot c|osoo lt ogolo. lo woo|oo`t |lo to mo
ooo to|| mo l`o bo o|| rlgbt. lo oovor |loo to mo. lo |ooooo
ovor mo ooo prossoo bls íorobooo to mloo, bls booy
sboooorlog írom o polo olííoroot írom my owo.
º¼l||,' l brootboo. lt bort to spook ooo l coo|o boro|y |ook
ot blm, bot l boo to oo botb. lor blm. l stooloo bls íoco, tbo
jowo||lko co|or oí bls oyos, tbo corvo lo bls |lps, momorlzlog
ovory port oí blm. ºl`m sorry.'
lo po||oo bock ooo sbook bls booo. lls tbomb trocoo
my bottom |lp goot|y. ºLoo`t bo sorry íor ooytblog. Evor.'
ºl`|| como bock to yoo,' l promlsoo.
lo oooooo, toors booolog lo bls owo oyos. ºl koow. Aoo
l`|| bo woltlog. l`|| wolt íor yoo íorovor.'
l woko w|th a doath gr|p on tho shoots. l ro|oasod thom
and sat up, tur|ous|y try|ng to romombor tho n|ghtmaro l had
just had. l touchod my bo||y and was ro||ovod to t|nd |t smooth
and un|njurod. lt to|t a|most as |t W||| woro st||| touch|ng mo,
and |t t|ng|od whoro l romomborod that ho had. ln my droam
ho'd thought l was go|ng to d|o, but l wasn't suro |t l d|d |n tho
ond. 1hat part novor happonod |n tho droam.
Was |t a momory or just a droam? l cou|dn't ovon to|| tho
d|ttoronco anymoro.
d|ttoronco anymoro.
ln tho roa| wor|d, W||| stood w|th h|s back to mo, |ook|ng
out tho w|ndow. Whon tho b|ankots rust|od, ho turnod toward
mo. l b|ushod tor no roason at a|| whon l saw h|s taco. 1ho
W||| trom my droam starod back at mo w|th h|s boaut|tu|, k|nd
sm||o, and |t took anothor momont tor mo to d|st|ngu|sh
roa||ty trom my momory. |o to|t so tar away, and ho'd boon
so c|oso to mo momonts botoro |n my droam.
°|ow'd you s|oop?' ho askod. |o |oanod aga|nst tho wa||
and to|dod h|s arms ovor h|s chost.
l strotchod my arms w|do. °l had a droam about you.'
°l hopo |t wasn't an ombarrass|ng ono.'
°lo,' l sa|d. °3ut |t wasn't a good droam, o|thor.'
||s oyos t|uttorod to tho s|do tor a momont and ho sa|d
noth|ng.
°0o you th|nk |t was a momory?' l askod.
°lt cou|d havo boon,' ho sa|d. °What happonod |n |t?'
l oxp|a|nod |t to h|m: tho batt|o w|th tho roapors, and mo
|y|ng |n tho stroot, but l |ott out tho moro |nt|mato parts. |o
kopt h|s oxpross|on b|ank and ho noddod a coup|o ot t|mos.
°Was |t roa|?' l askod.
°Yos,' ho sa|d. °lt was |n low York, just botoro tho C|v||
War broko out. l'm happy your momory |s com|ng back to
you, but l w|sh you had romomborod somoth|ng o|so.'
°0|d l d|o?' l wh|sporod.
||s gazo was strong on m|no and ho sa|d noth|ng. |o
d|dn't nood to. ||s taco to|d mo tho answor ho d|dn't say
a|oud.
°At |oast you'ro romombor|ng,' ho sa|d sott|y. °Wo can bo
thanktu| tor that.'
°l am,' l sa|d, but l wasn't so suro. As much as l hungorod
to |oarn moro about my past, l was atra|d ot |oarn|ng othor
th|ngs, too-most|y about doath and dospa|r, and dark
cornors ot tho g|obo. l prayod that thoso momor|os wou|dn't
como back to mo, bocauso l to|t |n my bonos that somo
th|ngs woro too tr|ghton|ng to romombor.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
2b
lOvEV3El WA3 0Ull. KA1E Al0 lAl0Ol lEvEl mont|onod about
tho bathroom |nc|dont on |a||owoon, and thoro was no way l
was go|ng to ask. lt thoy d|dn't want to ta|k about |t, thon |t
was t|no w|th mo. At |oast landon soomod to bo un|ntorostod
|n mo, t|na||y, so l d|dn't havo to worry about |oad|ng h|m on or
hurt|ng h|s too||ngs.
Ono n|ght attor a tough tra|n|ng soss|on, l sat at a r|ckoty
dosk |n ono ot tho o|d ott|cos |n our warohouso, scramb||ng
through a p||o ot a|gobra homowork wh||o W||| sat sorono|y |n
a brokon cha|r across trom tho dosk. 1ry|ng not to t|unk out ot
schoo| wh||o ba|anc|ng hunt|ng roapors was bocom|ng
|ncroas|ng|y d|tt|cu|t. 1h|s wasn't tho t|rst t|mo l'd had to br|ng
my homowork to our sparr|ng soss|ons. Wo'd spar, l'd do a
vocab shoot or somoth|ng, and thon wo'd spar aga|n. l was
go|ng to |oso my m|nd.
°You know, |t you'ro go|ng to bo |ook|ng ovor my shou|dor,
you m|ght as wo|| ho|p mo out w|th th|s,' l grumb|od. °l om
to|||ng ovoryono you'ro my tutor. Vako yourso|t usotu| and
tutor mo.'
°l'm bo|ng usotu|,' ho rotortod. °l'm ||ston|ng. And bos|dos,
l havo no |doa what any ot th|s ovon moans.'
l huttod. °1h|s |sn't ovon advancod. l'm |n tho dumb-k|d
phys|cs c|ass.'
°You'ro not dumb.'
°l'm dumb at phys|cs.'
|o b||nkod. °l don't know th|s stutt and l'm not dumb.'
°Okay, wo||, wo'ro both ooooocotoo |n phys|cs,' l sa|d.
°|appy?'
°3ut you'ro |oarn|ng.'
°Yoah, that's bocauso l'm unoducatod.'
°1hat doosn't moan you'ro dumb.'
l to|t a powortu| urgo to smack h|m. 1ho gonu|no |ook ot
contus|on on h|s taco provontod mo trom do|ng so, a|though l
was st||| soro|y tomptod. Vaybo |t l just t||ckod h|m botwoon
tho oyos or somoth|ng . . .
°l'm sorry,' ho sa|d, and stood. °l'm crowd|ng you. l'|| just
wa|t outs|do.'
°You don't havo to go.'
°lo, l shou|d. l won't bo tar.' |o |ott tho ott|co room and
mo |n s||onco.
As soon as ho'd gono, l wantod h|m to como back. l tound
myso|t star|ng at h|s ompty soat and too||ng h|s absonco. l
had so|vod-or so l hopod-a handtu| moro homowork
prob|oms whon l thought l hoard mus|c. lt was vory sott, but
|oud onough to mako mo wondor. Whoro was |t com|ng
trom?
l got up and to||owod tho sound through tho d||ap|datod
ha||ways, but as l cropt through tho ta|||ng ||ght, tho wor|d
tadod away aga|n and l cou|d on|y say to myso|t, lot aga|n. l
|oanod aga|nst tho wa||, pross|ng myso|t |nto tho poo||ng
pa|nt, too||ng |t scratch my sk|n-anyth|ng to koop my m|nd
trom ta|||ng away |nto a darkor t|mo. 3ut as tho wor|d
changod around mo, my taco t|ghtonod, squoozod unt|| l
cou|dn't movo, but l d|dn't too| toar, on|y angor.
5omotblog í|osboo lo íroot oí mo, so b|loolog|y brlgbt l
boo to |ook owoy. 7bo |ost roopor boo gooo op lo í|omos.
Vy sklo ooo c|otbos woro sp|ottoroo wltb b|ooo, bot ot |oost l
woro moo`s troosors lostooo oí tbo obooxloos tblck sklrts l
wos sopposoo to woor os o yooog womoo omoog tbo
bomoos. ¼ltb oo otbor ooomlos to íoco, l ooscooooo
ooopor loto tbo cost|o, movlog wltblo tbo Orlm, tbroogb
wloolog stooo bo||s |lt oo|y by my oogo|ílro. Vy sblolog
sworos mooo oxco||oot sobstltotos íor torcbos.
l poosoo, qoostlog oot wltb my mloo, ooo |ocotoo o
powor ooorby. lt swo||oo ooo oloo ooo swo||oo ogolo. Bot
tboro wos oo|y ooo slgootoro í|orlog, oot mooy, so tboro
coo|oo`t bo o ílgbt. l ío||owoo tbo slgootoro op o í|lgbt oí
stolrs ooo tbroogb o ooorwoy tbot wos to||or tboo most oí tbo
otbors l`o gooo tbroogb lo tbot p|oco.
5topplog coroío||y loto o |orgo room, l bo|o my sworos
roooy. lor o momoot l tboogbt l`o booo wroog. 7boro woro
tbroo vlr lo tbo room, wbo o|| torooo oroooo to |ook ot mo
ooo o|| rocogolzoo mo lostoot|y. 7boy cborgoo ot mo,
wlogs, to|oos, ooo tootb goosblog ooo strlklog. l twlstoo ooo
spoo, oocklog tbroogb tbo smoky í|osbos oí powor ooo tbo
olzzylog smo|| oí brlmstooo. l olspotcboo tbom lo socooos,
my orms ocblog írom swloglog my sworos. l |ookoo oroooo
tbo room ogolo to bo soro l`o ooíootoo tbom o||.
lostooo oí mootlog oootbor bott|o, l íoooo o íoortb vlr
roopor lo cbolos. lls orms woro bo|o oot ooo op, bls wrlsts
sbock|oo to tbo wo||. lls powor swo||oo ooo bo yookoo
ogolost tbo cbolos, bot ovoo írom tbls olstooco, l coo|o to||
tbot tbo cbolos woro mooo oí sl|vor ooo tboy wookoooo blm.
Aítor bo mooo oootbor ottompt ot íroooom, bls stroogtb
woooo ooo bo woot s|ock ogolost bls bloologs.
l stro||oo op to blm, my cbost boovlog írom tbo ílgbt os l
trloo to cotcb my brootb. 7bo lmprlsoooo roopor woo|o bo
oo tbroot to mo-os |oog os bo romolooo boooo.
As l oooroo blm, bo |ookoo oowo ot mo, ooo l got o gooo
|ook ot bls íoco íor tbo ílrst tlmo. lo wos, íor |ock oí o bottor
woro, boootlío|. lls bolr wos oork, rlcb |lko po|lsboo wo|oot
wooo, ooo bls íootoros woro booosomo, sborp, ooo
proootory. lls |lps woro sco|ptoo |lko tboso oí tbo morb|o
stotoos lo o|o Romo, ooo bls oyos woro brlgbt crysto||loo
grooo-tbo oomlstokob|o lobomoo oyos oí o roopor. Bot
wos bo oomoolcº Or oogo|lcº
lo storoo oowo ot my í|omlog sworos ooo tboo loto my
íoco, goplog ot mo lo sbock ooo owo. 7bls roopor wos ooo
l`o oovor como ocross boíoro, ooo tbo sorprlso oo bls íoco
provoo lt. lo`o oovor sooo mo oltbor, bot bo koow oxoct|y
wbo l wos. lo |lítoo bls booo lo o vo|loot ottompt to oppoor
os lí bo woroo`t ooíootoo ooo wook.
ºl koow wbot yoo oro,' bo solo lo Eog|lsb. lls volco wos
wook ooo strolooo, brokoo, bot l rocogolzoo tbo 5cottlsb
occoot. ºlí tboy`o tokoo my oyos, l`o stl|| koow wbot yoo oro.
Loo`t kl|| mo.'
ºBot l ooo`t koow wbot you oro,' l solo, tl|tlog my booo op
ot blm.
lls íloo wblto sblrt wos toro ooo b|oooloo, ooo bls
broocbos boo íoroo oo bottor. lo wos orossoo |lko o oob|o,
ooo wltb bls booosomo íoco ooo c|ooo bolr tloo bock wltb o
rlbboo, lt woo|o bovo como os oo sorprlso to mo lí bo woro
oo orlstocrot. 7boro woro mooy roopors oí bloooos woo|tb
toklog op posltloos oí powor o|| ovor Eoropo.
lls oxprossloo borooooo. ºl`m oot wbot yoo tblok l om.'
ºNoº' l oskoo, ooo slzoo blm op. ºYoo`ro o roopor ooo
yoo`vo boo tbo lo|| bootoo oot oí yoo. ¼bot olo yoo oo to
oosorvo ltº'
A sml|o corvoo lo bls |lps. º7bo oomoolc ooo`t |lko mo
mocb sloco l kl|| ovory ooo oí tbom l íloo. 7boy`vo íloo||y
coogbt op to mo, os yoo coo soo.'
l oloo`t íloo bls romork omoslog. ºYoo`ro oo|y wbotº A
cootory o|oº Yoo ooo`t bovo tbot kloo oí stroogtb.'
ºCo|| lt o glít.'
l stooloo blm íor o momoot. lls oyos woot brlgbt os bo
ottomptoo ogolo to brook bls cbolos. ºYoo`vo booo coogbt,
so yoo coo`t bo tbot stroog.'
ºl wos ombosboo,' bo solo tbroogb o vlo|oot coogb. ºAoo
yoo`ro ooo to to|k. Yoo oro os wo|| koowo íor yoor owo
oootbs os yoo oro íor yoor cooqoosts.'
lls ottltooo wos bogloolog to lrrltoto mo. ºVost l romloo
yoo tbot yoo oro ot my morcy rlgbt oowº'
ºYoo ooo`t oostroy tbo oogo|lc. Kl||log mo woo|o bo to
yoor olscroolt.'
ºl bovo oo roosoo to bo|lovo yoo oroo`t oomoolc,' l solo.
º¼bot lí yoo`ro o troltor to yoor mostorº Yoo moy bovo
robo||oo ogolost blm to stoko oot yoor owo torrltory. lor tbot,
yoo woo|o bo poolsboo sovoro|y. l oooorstooo tbo po|ltlcs oí
yoor kloo.'
ºl`m o troltor to oo ooo,' bo grow|oo. ºl`m oo|y oolog my
ooty os tbo oogo|lc sboo|o. lí yoo ooo`t bo|lovo mo, tboo pot
yoor ílro to my í|osb. lt woo`t borm mo.'
lí bo wos tro|y oomoolc, tboo bo wos brovo. Bot lí bo to|o
tbo trotb . . . l bo|o bls gozo íor sovoro| boortboots ootl| l
íloo||y took op my sworo, tbo sl|vor b|ooo swo||owoo lo
oogo|ílro. l osoo tbo tlp to port tbo co||or oí bls sblrt wloor,
oxposlog bls boro cbost. l |ookoo op loto bls oyos. lo
storoo ílrm|y bock wltboot íoor os tbo |lgbt írom tbo oogo|ílro
ooocoo oíí bls íootoros. ¼boovor bo wos, l oomlroo blm. l
orow o |loo oí b|ooo oowo bls cbost wltb tbo b|ooo os tbo ílro
|lckoo ot bls sklo, ooo bls jow tlgbtoooo rock boro írom polo.
l stoppoo bock to oxomloo tbo woooo. As bo`o promlsoo,
tbo oogo|ílro olo oo oomogo to blm ot o||.
º7o|o yoo,' bo solo wltb o oork grlo. lls woooo c|osoo,
|oovlog oo|y o trlck|o oí b|ooo bobloo.
ºl coo stl|| |oovo yoo cbolooo op.'
ºlí yoo cot mo oowo,' bo solo, ºl coo bo|p yoo. ¼o`ro botb
bootlog tbo oomoolc.'
ºl ooo`t oooo yoor bo|p.'
ºYoo ooo`t woot ooyooo to wotcb yoor bockº'
ºl coo wotcb my owo bock.'
º5oro yoo coo.' 7bot boootlío| grlo wlooooo. º7boo toro
oroooo.'
As sooo os bo solo tbot, l ío|t o powor í|oro bobloo mo
ooo l torooo ooo swoog my sworos, romovlog tbo booo oí o
roopor wbo`o |oogoo ot mo írom bobloo. 5bo woot op lo
í|omos, ooo l torooo bock to tbo oogo|lc roopor.
º5ooº l`m osoío|.'
l g|oroo ot blm. 7boo l took op my sworos ogolo ooo cot
tbroogb bls cbolos. lo s|ompoo to tbo groooo ooo soggoo
ogolost tbo wo||, gosplog írom polo. º¼bot`s yoor oomoº' l
oskoo.
º1ost co|| mo ¼l||.'
l storoo oowo loto bls grooo oyos os bo oroggoo blmso|í
to bls íoot. ºl oovor woot to soo yoor íoco ogolo, ¼l||.'
l torooo my bock to blm ooo booro tbo moslc ogolo. l
sbot my oyos, íocoslog boro oo tbo goot|o soooo ootl| lt wos
o|| l booro.
Whon l oponod my oyos aga|n, l'd roturnod to tho
crumb||ng o|d warohouso. l broathod a s|gh ot ro||ot. A vo|| ot
warmth to|| ovor mo as l roa||zod l'd just romomborod tho t|rst
t|mo l mot W|||. l sm||od to myso|t, roca|||ng how annoyod l
was w|th h|s sharp tonguo. 1hon l romomborod ho had
|ntroducod h|mso|t to mo |n 3optombor tho oxact samo way
ho had whon l mot h|m t|vo hundrod yoars botoro: º1ost co||
mo ¼l||.'
l ||stonod to tho mus|c aga|n and to||owod |t back out |nto
tho ma|n warohouso stororoom. l pushod tho hoavy door
opon just a ||tt|o, |ott|ng tho sott mus|c t|ood my oars and tho
ha|| boh|nd mo, and l pookod through.
W||| sat |n a cha|r aga|nst tho wa|| w|th an acoust|c gu|tar
|n h|s hands. l stud|od tho way h|s hands movod qu|ck|y, t|u|d
and proc|so ||ko r|pp|os on wator, tho musc|os |n h|s arms
t|ght and dot|nod. 1ho way h|s hoad bobbod and h|s toot
tappod tho t|oor w|th tho boat capt|vatod mo. l rocogn|zod tho
song, though l cou|dn't qu|to p|aco |t. 3ut tho namo ot tho
song d|dn't roa||y mattor. l was ontrancod. lt was k|nd ot soxy
watch|ng h|m p|ay. 3oxy and boaut|tu|, ||ko ovory othor aspoct
ot h|m.
As l ||stonod and watchod, l know ho was as portoct|y
awaro ot mo as l was ot h|m, though ho kopt h|s |nta|||b|o
rhythm. l know ho cou|d sonso ovory |nch ot my sk|n trom
across tho t|oor, as l cou|d h|s, too||ng ovory throad ot tho
powortu| contur|os-o|d bond wo sharod. ln that momont my
||ps grow numb and somoth|ng spun do||c|ous|y warm |n my
chost. ln that proc|so momont l know l was undon|ab|y |n |ovo
w|th h|m.
l took |n a broath tor courago and pushod tho door opon
a|| tho way so l cou|d stop through. l to|dod my arms across
my chost as l oasod toward h|m, sm|||ng as |t noth|ng had
changod |n mo. |o d|dn't stop p|ay|ng as l approachod, but
ho g|ancod up at mo and gr|nnod, turn|ng my stomach to
pudd|ng. 1hat know|ng sm||o was tho samo sm||o ho had
g|von mo tho n|ght l'd mot h|m t|vo hundrod yoars botoro.
°l guoss l'm |ucky, thon,' l sa|d, romombor|ng what ho'd
to|d mo about th|s s|do ot h|m.
|o novor m|ssod a chord. °l guoss you aro.'
l sa|d noth|ng moro unt|| ho t|n|shod and l c|appod tor h|m.
°What was that?'
°1ournoy,' ho sa|d. °Ono ot my tavor|tos. 'Whoo| |n tho
3ky.''
°lt was roa||y good. Whoro d|d you got tho gu|tar?'
°l koop somo ot my th|ngs horo. Vost ot my bo|ong|ngs
aro at lathan|o|'s houso.'
l |mag|nod what othor th|ngs ho m|ght havo kopt ovor tho
yoars and |ongod to soo thom, just to know a ||tt|o b|t moro
about h|m. °Why don't you p|ay moro?' l askod.
|o shruggod and sot tho gu|tar as|do. °1horo aro othor
th|ngs on my m|nd, l guoss.'
°Can you s|ng, too?'
|o |aughod and shook h|s hoad. °lo. 3|ng|ng |s not ono
ot my ta|onts.'
°1hat's too bad,' l sa|d, and chowod on my ||p, mustor|ng
tho bravory to to|| h|m about my t|ashback. °W|||, as l was
|oav|ng tho ott|co, l romomborod somoth|ng. lt was tho n|ght l
mot you, whon l cut you down trom thoso cha|ns a|| thoso
contur|os ago. You woro a smartass ovon thon.'
°l don't dony |t.'
°|ow d|d you got capturod ||ko that?' l askod.
||s gazo ||ngorod on my taco tor somo t|mo. °l was
hunt|ng domon|c roapors w|th lathan|o|. Wo got soparatod
and l was cornorod. 1hoy torturod and |ntorrogatod mo to t|nd
out what l know about tho othor ango||c roapors, but l d|dn't
know anyth|ng. l was p|ay|ng v|g||anto w|th lathan|o|. Wo
d|dn't know what wo woro do|ng back thon. And thon you
camo.'
||s oxpross|on sottonod as ho gazod at mo, tho |ook |n
h|s oyos d|stant and |ong|ng. °You woro ||ko a warr|or ango|
l'd soon |n tho sta|nod g|ass ot a cathodra|. l know who you
woro tho momont l saw you, bocauso l'd hoard ot you.
Evoryono had. And you trood mo.'
°3ut l to|d you to |oavo mo a|ono,' l sa|d. °What mado you
try aga|n?'
°1hat vory n|ght, an ango| camo to mo,' ho contossod. °l
don't know h|s namo or why ho'd appoarod to mo ot a||
poop|o, but ho to|d mo that your tato and m|no woro t|od
togothor. |o sa|d that l noodod to protoct you, bocauso you
woro tho most sacrod ot a|| th|ngs. Vy dost|ny was to
bocomo your Guard|an, |n a |ong ||no ot Guard|ans: l was
choson. |o gavo mo my sword and tho powor to awakon
you, so you cou|d bocomo tho lro||ator |n oach ro|ncarnat|on.
|o gavo mo purposo, somo sort ot roso|ut|on |n my
|mmorta||ty, a tocus. Yoo gavo mo purposo.'
l sm||od down at h|m, and ho gr|nnod r|ght back. l was
vory thanktu| that ho had bocamo my Guard|an. lomom-
bor|ng that t|ashback to anc|ont Egypt mado mo want novor
to know ||to w|thout h|m ovor aga|n. l to|t tho |ossos ot my
prov|ous Guard|ans, but l trustod no ono moro w|th my ||to
than W|||. W|thout h|m, l d|dn't th|nk l cou|d tu|t||| my m|ss|on ot
dostroy|ng tho domon|c roapors.
Vy phono rang, shattor|ng tho s||onco botwoon us. °lt's
lathan|o|.' l ho|d tho phono up to my oar.
°E|||o,' lathan|o| sa|d botoro l cou|d spoak. °Whoro aro
you guys?'
°1ho warohouso. What's up?'
°0on't |oavo. l'|| moot you thoro.' |o hung up. 1ho urgoncy
|n h|s vo|co got my pu|so pound|ng. Vy oyos mot W|||'s.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
20
WE WAl1E0, 1El3E Wl1| Al1lCllA1lOl, |Ol lathan|o| to arr|vo.
Whon ho t|na||y drovo |nto tho a||oy and parkod boh|nd my
car, ho and lauron, tho psych|c l had mot tho t|rst t|mo l'd mot
lathan|o|, c||mbod out and wa|kod r|ght past us and |nto tho
warohouso. lathan|o| wavod a hand tor us to to||ow h|m |nto
tho room whoro wo kopt tho sarcophagus. As soon as l
ontorod, l to|t tho tr|ghton|ng, tam|||ar thrum omanat|ng trom
tho Ensh|. lathan|o| and lauron woro stand|ng by tho
sarcophagus.
°l|co to soo you aga|n, E|||o,' lauron sa|d.
°You, too,' l rop||od w|th a sm||o. °What's up, lathan|o|?'
°l'vo t|gurod out tho |anguago on tho sarcophagus,' ho
sa|d.
W||| porkod up. °And?'
°1ho scr|pt |s |ndood an archa|c cuno|torm,' lathan|o|
sa|d oxc|tod|y. °3ut |t's o|dor than O|d Assyr|an, o|dor than
ovon tho Akkad|an sty|o.'
l starod at tho box, my hoad t||||ng w|th th|ck c|ouds,
provont|ng mo trom th|nk|ng stra|ght. °|ow o|d oxact|y?'
°Approx|mato|y t|vo thousand yoars.'
Vy oyos bu|god. W||| sh|ttod uncomtortab|y noxt to mo. l
|ookod at h|m and h|s oyos mot m|no. °1osus,' l murmurod.
°lopo,' lathan|o| ch|rpod. °1osus |sn't |n horo.'
l b||nkod. °l wasn't . . .'
|o gr|nnod and w|nkod at mo. l assumod |t was
supposod to bo anothor ot h|s amaz|ng jokos, but thoy just
woron't tunny to mo. l gavo a sott, unoasy |augh to humor h|m.
|o boamod proud|y. l g|ancod at W|||, who on|y shruggod and
shook h|s hoad. |o undorstood comp|oto|y.
lathan|o| turnod sor|ous aga|n. °What l moan |s that tho
Ensh| was |ockod up |n th|s sarcophagus throo thousand
yoars botoro tho b|rth ot Chr|st.'
°0oos |t say what tho Ensh| |s?' W||| askod.
lathan|o| ha|t noddod, ha|t shruggod. °Yos, and no. lt's a||
bad nows, wh|ch |s why l'vo brought lauron horo to ho|p mo
dotorm|no what's |ns|do.'
°What k|nd ot bad nows?' l askod.
°Wo||, |t you |ook c|oso|y at tho sarcophagus,' lathan|o|
bogan, strok|ng tho box tondor|y, °you'|| not|co that |t's
boaut|tu||y docoratod. 1ho anc|ont Vosopotam|ans on|y ovor
bur|od vory |mportant poop|o th|s way, so tho body w|th|n |s at
tho vory |oast ot groat |mportanco. 1hat's tho t|rst bad nows.
1ho socond |s-|t you'd k|nd|y |ook at th|s symbo| horo-tho
|nscr|pt|ons to|| mo that our tr|ond |ns|do |s a truo sou|
roapor.'
°ln Eng||sh, p|oaso?' l askod du||y.
lathan|o| gavo mo a strango |ook. °1hat was Eng||sh.'
° ln Amorlcoo, thon,' l sa|d. °loth|ng ot what you say
makos a ||ck ot sonso to mo.'
W|||'s shou|dor brushod m|no. °|o moans a bo|ng that can
do whatovor |t wants w|th tho sou|s |nstoad ot just sond|ng
thom to |o||.'
°lo way,' l sa|d. °l|ko tho Gr|m loapor? 0oath h|mso|t?'
°1hat's what humans ||ko to ca|| |t,' W||| sa|d. °ls |t poss|b|o
that tho Ensh| |s an ango|, thon? Ot an archango| rank,
porhaps?'
lathan|o| noddod. °Yos. 3ost-caso sconar|o |s that th|s |s
somo k|nd ot oxtrapowortu| roapor who can sond sou|s to
|o|| or |oavon. 1hat's probab|y how tho Gr|m loapor |ogond
bogan. 1ho worst-caso sconar|o |s that our s|oop|ng tr|ond
horo actua||y oots tho sou|s, moan|ng tho sou| |s gono tor
good. lo |o||. lo |oavon.'
°1hat's torr|b|o,' l sa|d.
W|||'s oxpross|on grow dark. °And E|||o? 0oos that moan
-?'
lathan|o| noddod. °Yoah, |t doos.'
W||| |ot out a |ong, pa|ntu| broath odgod w|th toar.
Vy hoart sank. l soarchod both tho|r tacos. °What do you
moan? What doos that moan tor mo? W|||?'
|o c|osod h|s oyos. °lt moans tho Ensh| can dostroy your
sou|. lt |t doos that, you'ro dono. You won't pass on and you
won't ovor como back. You'ro gono.'
l tr|od to koop my rac|ng hoart ca|m. °l won't como back?'
|o gavo a s|ng|o sha||ow nod. °1hat's got to bo why
3ast|an wants |t so bad|y.'
Vy mouth dr|od |nstant|y. l wou|d bo gono? 1hat wou|d
moan l'd novor bo ro|ncarnatod aga|n. l'd novor go to
|oavon. l'd novor soo W||| or lathan|o| or my mom and nana
aga|n. 1horo was no way l cou|d a||ow myso|t to just ond ||ko
that. 1horo was too much at stako, too much |ott tor mo to do,
tor mo to just d|o and bo gono. l d|dn't want to ond.
°1hon wo nood to k||| th|s th|ng botoro |t wakos up,' l sa|d
broath|oss|y.
°Wo don't know how,' W||| urgod. °l don't want to do
anyth|ng that m|ght mako |t wako up.'
°Can't wo just nuko |t?' l askod. °lot ||ko popcorn |n a
m|crowavo, l moan ||ko a bomb.' l sproad my hands w|do
and mado a pathot|c oxp|od|ng sound. °A blg ono. You two
soom ||ko rosourcotu| guys. l'm suro you cou|d got ono.'
lathan|o| shook h|s hoad. °l don't havo accoss to nuc|oar
woapons, untortunato|y.'
°Oh, |doa!' l ch|rpod. °What |t wo cha|nod |t up good and
t|ght and droppod |t ott |n tho m|dd|o ot tho ocoan? A|| that
prossuro wou|d crush tho box, wou|dn't |t?'
lathan|o| shruggod and b||nkod. °1hat's actua||y not a
bad |doa And l don't bo||ovo any non-mag|ca| torco cou|d
rosurroct tho Ensh|.'
°Whoro wou|d wo got a boat to do th|s?' W||| askod.
°l can try to arrango that,' lathan|o| sa|d. °low E|||o,
thoro's somoth|ng l nood you to do. You can too| what's
|ns|do, r|ght?'
l noddod, not suro l ||kod whoro th|s was hoad|ng.
°lauron can too| |t too. 3ho |s a c|a|rsont|ont, moan|ng
sho's ab|o to know th|ngs by touch|ng objocts and wou|d bo
ab|o to to|| |t thoro's a connoct|on botwoon you and tho
Ensh|.'
l |ookod at hor and sho noddod. °What good w||| that do?'
°l nood to know what you'ro too||ng,' sho sa|d, °not just
what l sonso trom tho sarcophagus.' lauron stoppod toward
mo and took my hand. 3ho pu||od mo toward tho box and
mot|onod tor mo to |ay my t|ngors on tho ||d. l jorkod back,
atra|d.
°l thought l wasn't supposod to touch |t,' l sa|d, |ook|ng
anx|ous|y at W|||. ||s oxpross|on was ca|m but sor|ous.
°1ouch|ng |s okay,' lauron assurod mo. °l nood to |gn|to a
roact|on, and whatovor |s |ns|do ||kos you . . . a |ot. 3o
p|oaso, just touch |t. lt won't b|to, l prom|so.'
|or sm||o d|dn't ho|p mo too| bottor. 1ontat|vo|y, l brushod
tho ||d w|th my t|ngors and to|t tho |nstant rosponso. 1ho vo|co
|n my hoad grow |oudor tor a momont, and l cou|d havo sworn
l hoard |t gasp on contact. E|octr|c|ty pumpod through tho
stono |nto my sk|n, and l wantod to pu|| away, but lauron
grabbod my hand and ho|d |t st|||.
°What aro you do|ng?' l askod whon sho d|dn't |ot mo go.
°l-'
l shut up whon l saw lauron's taco. |or mouth gapod
opon and hor oyos had ro||od |nto tho back ot hor hoad unt||
on|y br|ght wh|to orbs woro v|s|b|o. At that momont l tr|od to
yank away, but hor gr|p was as strong as a roapor's. lowor
|oakod trom tho sarcophagus, oozod trom |t, and tho onorgy
craw|od up my t|ngors through my arm and |nto lauron. |or
body jorkod onco and sho ro|oasod mo. 3ho staggorod
back, and l jumpod away.
°What was that?' l domandod, putt|ng a hand to my chost
to qu|ot my rac|ng hoartboat. W||| protoct|vo|y pu||od mo c|oso
to h|m and took my hand to mako suro l was unharmod.
lauron backod away, rost|ng aga|nst a bont stoo| co|umn,
broath|ng hoav||y. |or oyos had roturnod to norma|, but l
cou|d to|| sho was potr|t|od. °1h|s |s bad,' sho wh|sporod.
W||| stoppod torward and |ot my hand go. °|ow bad?
What d|d you too|?'
°1ho Ensh|,' lauron broathod. °l cou|d hoar |t scroam|ng
|n thoro, t||||ng my hoad w|th thoso horr|d shr|oks. 1ho
lro||ator's prosonco |s dr|v|ng |t mad. 1ust that ||tt|o touch
sont |t |n a tronzy.'
°A good tronzy?' l askod, hop|ng that |t was porhaps
atra|d ot mo.
°lo,' sho sa|d, shak|ng hor hoad s|ow|y. °1hat wasn't toar.
lt wants you. lt oooos you. lt's scroam|ng your namo, and |ts
powor |s hugo-||ko a b|ack vo|d, a bottom|oss p|t ot doath
and dospa|r. lt's so dark |n thoro, so dark and hungry.
lathan|o|, l'vo novor to|t anyth|ng ||ko th|s. You havo to
dostroy |t. You coo`t |ot tho Ensh| wako. You coo`t |ot 3ast|an
got aho|d ot |t.'
Vy body shook w|th toar. lauron's torror was p|a|n to a||
ot us. l cou|d too| tho Ensh| |n thoro, but not tho way lauron
d|d.
°0o you know what wo'ro doa||ng w|th?' W||| askod, h|s
vo|co dark.
°lt's o|d,' sho sa|d, hor oyos trozon on tho sarcophagus.
°O|dor than 3ast|an, o|dor than tho lro||ator, o|dor than tho
sarcophagus |t's trappod |n. lt's so o|d, |t just too|s ompty.
l|ko a b|ack ho|o.'
°ls |t a roa| sou| roapor?' l askod. °ls that truo? Can |t
dostroy my sou|?'
°1hat's poss|b|o,' sho sa|d. °0on't touch |t anymoro. l th|nk
E|||o's prosonco m|ght bo onough to wako |t |t sho woro
around tho sarcophagus tor too |ong. lorhaps ovon a touch
|n tho wrong p|aco m|ght do |t.'
Contus|on sproad ovor mo. °3ut l thought you sa|d
touch|ng was harm|oss?'
|or oyos snappod to m|no, hor vo|co sharp and co|d.
°0on't touch |t.'
l noddod. lo way was l go|ng to arguo w|th hor.
°Wo nood to got to tho Car|bboan,' lathan|o| announcod.
°l th|nk |t wo sh|p out trom luorto l|co, wo'|| bo ab|o to sa||
protty tar out ovor tho luorto l|co 1ronch to tho V||waukoo
0oop. lt's tho doopost part ot tho At|ant|c Ocoan-a|most as
doop as Vount Evorost |s ta||-and |t dropp|ng tho
sarcophagus ovorboard thoro doosn't crush |t to ob||v|on,
thon at |oast thoro's no way anyono cou|d d|vo |n to rotr|ovo
|t.'
°3ounds ||ko a good p|an,' W||| agrood.
l ra|sod my hand. °Uh, guys, l can't |oavo tor a wook |n tho
Car|bboan dur|ng schoo|. |ow wou|d l oxp|a|n that to my
paronts?'
W||| trownod. °You can't to|| thom |t's a schoo| tr|p or
somoth|ng?'
l |aughod. °Yoah, and not g|vo thom any othor
|ntormat|on? 1horo |s a |ot that goos |nto t|o|d tr|ps. l don't
th|nk l cou|d got away w|th thom just s|gn|ng a porm|ss|on
s||p.'
°lsn't 1hanksg|v|ng broak com|ng up?' ho ottorod.
l|ght bu|b. °l|ght. 1hat wou|d bo portoct.'
°Can wo t|y?' lathan|o| askod. °||y down on Wodnosday
n|ght and bo back by |r|day at tho vory |atost? 3h|pp|ng tho
sarcophagus w||| bo oxpons|vo, but wo don't havo a cho|co
othorw|so. l'|| havo to got E|||o a tako l0, s|nco sho's
undorago. l'|| mako ono tor you too, W|||. l th|nk you'|| nood a
soat on tho p|ano to protoct E|||o |nstoad ot travo||ng through
tho Gr|m. |akos won't bo that much troub|o.'
°l ||ko th|s p|an moro,' l sa|d. °l can to|| my paronts l'm
go|ng up north to Kato's |ako houso tor 1hanksg|v|ng.'
°l won't bo go|ng,' lauron sa|d. °l can't dotond myso|t and
l don't want to bo a ||ab|||ty.'
°1hat |s probab|y tor tho bost,' lathan|o| agrood.
W||| noddod t|rm|y. °lathan|o|, can you arrango |t?'
lathan|o| noddod. °Yoah. l'|| |ook |nto |t |mmod|ato|y. Wo
shou|d got go|ng, lauron.'
°l'm sorry l troakod you out, E|||o,' lauron sa|d. °l noodod
to too| what you woro too||ng. You'ro a toar|oss g|r|.'
°l don't know so much about that,' l assurod hor w|th an
unoasy |augh.
°3ravor than l am.' 3ho sm||od.
lathan|o| and lauron |ott, and l ||stonod to tho car dr|vo
away.
°Aro you okay?' W||| askod, |ay|ng a gont|o hand on my
shou|dor.
l noddod. °l'|| ||vo.'
ln truth, l was torr|t|od. l d|dn't know how th|s was a|| go|ng
to work out, or lí |t was go|ng to work out. l was protty suro l
cou|d ||o to my paronts about tho tr|p to luorto l|co, so |ong
as thoy d|dn't ta|k to Kato's paronts. Kato wou|d covor tor mo
|n caso thoy quost|onod hor. 1ho |y|ng part-that bothorod
mo. lt to|t ||ko ovoryth|ng that camo out ot my mouth was
anothor ||o to my paronts.
°Yoah, but aro you okoy?' ho ropoatod.
l |ookod up at h|m and mot h|s gazo. °l'm scarod out ot my
m|nd. 1hat th|ng troaks mo tho ho|| out. W|||, l don't want to
just ond ||ko that. l don't want to novor como back. l was just
gott|ng usod to tho |doa that thoro roa||y |s a |oavon and
ango|s. l don't want to |oso my sou|!'
°1hat th|ng w||| bo gono soon,' ho assurod mo. °Wo'||
dump |t out |n tho m|dd|o ot tho ocoan and |t'|| a|| bo ovor.'
°lot oxact|y,' l sa|d. °Evon |t wo dostroy tho Ensh|, wo st|||
havo 3ast|an and h|s |ackoys to doa| w|th, |nc|ud|ng lagnuk. l
don't th|nk l'm go|ng to mako |t out ot th|s a||vo.'
|o touchod my chook swoot|y. °|oy, romombor what l
sa|d? l prom|sod l'd protoct you trom thom. l'm not about to
broak a prom|so to you.'
l sm||od. °l know.'
3uddon|y tho tront door b|astod opon, and l spun around
as |t crashod to tho ground. 3omoth|ng |nv|s|b|o s|ammod
|nto tho doorway, crush|ng tho tramo and tho wa||s on o|thor
s|do.
Vy shock mado mo |oap |nto tho Gr|m, whoro l cou|d soo
tho dark, onormous torm ot lagnuk w|don|ng tho ontranco
w|th h|s body so that ho cou|d |umbor through, as chunks ot
br|ck crumb|od at h|s toot. |o starod at mo w|th h|s ravonous
b|ack oyos, and h|s tonguo saggod ovor h|s jaws and
dr|ppod gobs ot sa||va onto tho t|oor. |o |ookod ha|t |nsano
w|th hatrod and hungor.
lnst|nct|vo|y, l grabbod my w|ngod nock|aco tor comtort
and stoppod back toward W|||, but l cou|dn't tako my oyos ott
ot lagnuk.
°l havo you now, lro||ator!' tho roapor roarod, sp|tt|ng tho
curso at mo as |t tho word |tso|t woro somoth|ng d|sgust|ng. °l
to||owod your t||thy stonch a|| tho way horo. 1h|s t|mo you
aron't gott|ng away trom mo and wo won't bo |ntorruptod.
1h|s |s tho ond tor you, and l'm tak|ng tho Ensh| w|th mo. lt
onds horo ton|ght!'
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
27
A 1lEVOl O| |EAl lU3|E0 1|lOUG| VE, 3U1 l stood my ground.
|o |aunchod torward abrupt|y, but W||| was r|ght thoro,
duck|ng |n tront ot mo. As lagnuk |oapod up, W||| duckod
and s|ammod h|s shou|dor |nto tho urs|d's chost w|th a|| h|s
m|ght and t||ppod h|m h|gh ovor our hoads. lagnuk crashod
|nto tho wa|| boh|nd us, shattor|ng moro br|cks. |o spun
suddon|y and drovo h|s powor stra|ght |nto W|||'s chost,
propo|||ng h|m back unt|| ho h|t tho tar wa||. W||| scroamod
and pu||od woak|y at h|s bo||y. Vy hoart sank. An |ron p|po
protrudod trom W|||'s abdomon, bruta||y |mpa||ng h|m.
°W|||!' l shr|okod, and rushod to h|m.
lagnuk turnod toward mo, s|ow as a sorpont, w|th w|ckod
tr|umph on h|s b|ocky taco. |o van|shod tor a momont, and l
to|t somoth|ng powortu| s|am |nto my body and knock mo
back |nto a co|umn, crack|ng my back.
ºE||lo!' W||| roarod trom tho othor s|do ot tho room.
Vy oyos m|stod ovor and l s|umpod dazod|y, but whon l
|ookod up, tho roapor's dark taco was |nchos trom m|no.
°Wako up, 3|oop|ng 3oauty,' lagnuk snoorod, h|s hot
broath b|ast|ng mo.
l smashod my t|st |nto h|s noso as hard as l cou|d, and ho
t|ow trom mo, thrash|ng w||d|y. |o scramb|od back to h|s toot,
shak|ng h|s hoad and thundor|ng w|th rago. l ran to W||| and
s||d to a stop as l roachod h|m. |o pu||od h|s body torward
a|ong tho p|po, dosporato to troo h|mso|t. l cuppod h|s taco
w|th both my hands and prossod my torohoad dospa|r|ng|y
aga|nst h|s chook. °l'|| got you ott th|s,' l prom|sod, broath|oss,
my hands runn|ng tho |ongth ot tho roddonod |ron. °l'|| ho|p
you!'
°Ca|| your swords,' ho groanod. °|urry.'
l noddod and w|||od thom |nto my surpr|s|ng|y stoady
hands.
W|||'s oyos shot w|do opon. °3oh|nd you!'
l spun around. lagnuk boundod across tho room, |oav|ng
mo no t|mo to roact. |o sw|pod at mo and hookod a ta|on
around my |og, pu|||ng mo ott ba|anco. l h|t tho t|oor, |and|ng
t|at on my back. lagnuk's tooth c|ampod down on my |og,
and ho throw mo across tho warohouso, knock|ng my swords
trom my gr|p. l crashod |nto a |argo woodon crato p||od h|gh
w|th scrap mota| and cardboard, crack|ng my wr|st. l groanod
as l ||ttod my brokon wr|st and |ookod tor my woapons.
°loavo hor a|ono!' W||| thundorod.
l |ookod up to soo that ho st||| strugg||ng to troo h|mso|t
trom tho p|po that |mpa|od h|m. ||s hands woro c|ampod
around tho ond ot |t and ho pu||od h|mso|t torward w|th what
||tt|o strongth was |ott, ono |nch at a t|mo.
1ho roapor stoppod toward mo, h|s hoad |ow, h|s b|ack
oyos t|xod on mo w|th a hungry staro. °Got up, g|r|!'
l strugg|od to my toot |n tho dobr|s, crad||ng my brokon
wr|st, stumb||ng trom tho pa|n that rockotod up my arm. l
cou|d too| tho t|ny bonos c||ck|ng and mov|ng bonoath my
sk|n, snapp|ng thomso|vos back |nto p|aco.
°3o, horo wo aro,' ho snoorod. °3ast|an doosn't ovon
caro whothor you d|o now. 'Your doath |s no |ongor
nocossary,' ho says. Wo||, h|s ordors moan noth|ng to mo
now. l'm st||| go|ng to oat you a||vo.'
°E|||o, don't ||ston to h|m!' W||| shoutod.
lagnuk tossod h|s hoad at W|||. °Your Guard|an doosn't
know whon ho has |ost. 1yp|ca| ot a v|r.' 1ho roapor thuddod
ovor to W||| and |ookod h|m up and down. °You a|| th|nk you'ro
gods, storm|ng around, bark|ng ordors. You'ro no bottor than
tho humans. You |ook just ||ko thom.' |o spat on tho ground
at W|||'s toot. °|or tho most part.'
lagnuk drow a ta|on down W|||'s chook w|th, draw|ng a
rod ||no ot b|ood. 1ho cut hoa|od |nstant|y. 1ho c|aw was |argo
onough to punch r|ght through W|||'s sku||, but tho urs|d
roapor's movomont was shock|ng|y gont|o. °You do a good
job, Guard|an. looks ||ko you'vo got hor too|od |nto th|nk|ng
you'ro human. 3ho doosn't ovon romombor what you'ro
capab|o ot, doos sho?'
W||| d|dn't answor h|m. Why lagnuk d|dn't just k||| W|||, l
d|dn't undorstand. |o had us both at h|s morcy at that
momont, but ho choso to taunt us |nstoad ot just t|n|sh|ng us
ott. lt was ||ko ho was gott|ng a h|gh ott h|s momontary powor
ovor us.
°You havon't to|d hor anyth|ng, havo you?' lagnuk
|aughod. °You arrogant v|r bastard. lo attompt to jog hor
momory? 3hou|d l do tho honors? 3ha|| wo rom|nd hor ot tho
monstor you tru|y aro?' |o sm||od w|th h|s boar taco and
||ckod h|s tangs.
W||| jorkod away trom h|m and swung a t|st, but tho roapor
movod h|s hoad t|u|d|y to tho s|do, avo|d|ng tho str|ko
ottort|oss|y. lagnuk grabbod tho ond ot tho p|po w|th h|s jaws
and bont |t upward. 1ho mota| croakod and groanod unt|| |t
po|ntod at tho co|||ng at a n|noty-dogroo ang|o. W||| gaspod
tor broath.
°Got out ot tbot, Guard|an,' lagnuk snoorod, h|s vo|co
dark and cruo|.
°W|||!' l cr|od |n horror. l squoozod my t|st and wh|mporod
|n pa|n.
lagnuk sm||od and stoppod away trom W||| hoav||y, h|s
ta|ons c||ck|ng on tho t|oor. |o |umborod toward mo, but
stoppod ha|tway and turnod to paco back and torth. |o
soomod cont||ctod somohow, probab|y doc|d|ng whothor to
k||| mo or to chow on mo tor a b|t botoro l d|od.
°Why don't you show hor your truo so|t?' lagnuk grow|od
to W|||. °You cou|d oscapo that trap oas||y. l'vo soon you
oscapo trom worso. You'ro ho|d|ng back Guard|an!'
l starod at W||| |n contus|on. What was lagnuk ta|k|ng
about? W||| had to|d mo ho d|dn't shapo-sh|tt ||ko Go|r. Vy gut
tromb|od. |ad ho ||od to mo? Was ho about to transtorm r|ght
|n tront ot mo?
W|||'s arms stra|nod w|th tho oxcruc|at|ng ottort ot try|ng to
troo h|mso|t trom tho p|po. |o d|dn't |ook up to lagnuk whon
ho spoko. |o starod down at tho p|po, h|s ha|r ta|||ng ovor h|s
oyos. °l am not ||ko you.'
1ho urs|d |aughod, bo||ow|ng. °You aro a roapor! l don't
caro |t you'ro ango||c or domon|c or |d|ot|c. You'ro not human,
so stop protond|ng to bo!' 3p|tt|o t|ockod h|s mouth as ho
yo||od. °You havo a hungor that can novor bo satod.'
°l'm bottor than that,' W||| groanod.
°You aro oot!' lagnuk roarod. °You th|nk you'ro not a
monstor, but you aro. 3how hor, Guard|an. 3how tho g|r|!'
°l'm not a monstor!' As W||| draggod h|s body toward tho
ond ot tho p|po, h|s powor dotonatod, s|amm|ng tho ground
and wa|| boh|nd h|m. |o grabbod tho p|po w|th both hands
and bont |t unt|| tho mota| was stra|ght. l watchod |n horror as
W||| s||d torward and ho droppod to tho ground, |oav|ng tho
p|po sta|nod dark and a gap|ng ho|o |n h|s abdomon. |o
co||apsod to tho ground on a|| tours, sp||||ng rod. |o coughod
and moanod as ho strugg|od woak|y to h|s toot and tacod
lagnuk. °3ut l am not human o|thor.'
W||| staggorod to tho s|do, |oan|ng aga|nst tho goro-
covorod p|po as tho ho|o |n h|s gut c|osod ovor. Whon ho
turnod back to mo w|th angu|shod oyos, h|s bo||y was
smooth, but h|s sh|rt was shroddod. |o r|ppod tho p|po c|oan
out ot tho wa||, yank|ng a chunk ot tho wa|| w|th |t.
lagnuk snar|od, cur||ng h|s ||ps back and oxpos|ng h|s
mass|vo tangs. 1ho urs|d poundod W|||'s back to tho wa||, h|s
jaws gap|ng w|do, roady to snap. W||| swung tho p|po up w|th
both hands, str|k|ng lagnuk |n tho mouth. 1ho urs|d chompod
savago|y, |ash|ng h|s hoad back and torth, gagg|ng and
snar||ng. W||| yankod tho bar out ot lagnuk's mouth and
jammod |t through tho urs|d's nock. lagnuk roarod and
thrashod, ramm|ng h|s sku|| |nto W|||'s tomp|o w|th a
s|ckon|ng crack. W||| h|t tho ground hard and d|dn't movo.
l tostod my gr|p aga|n and tound my hand now tu||y
hoa|od, and l bo|tod torward, grabb|ng ono ot my swords on
tho way as l ran to ho|p W|||. lagnuk's paw struck my chost
and s|ammod mo to tho t|oor, knock|ng tho broath r|ght out ot
mo. As l |ay thoro gasp|ng, h|s othor tront paw stompod on
my arm ho|d|ng tho sword, p|nn|ng my b|ado. l yankod, but tho
|ack ot oxygon had woakonod mo. l starod up |nto tho
roapor's |nky b|ack oyos.
°1h|s |s tho ond tor you,' ho h|ssod. 3|ood trom tho bar
|mpa||ng h|s nock |oakod onto my sh|rt.
°lo, |t's not,' l snar|od.
|o sm||od cruo||y. °Oh, l th|nk |t |s. Onco aga|n, your
Guard|an |s down and you aro a|ono. l know you romombor
tho |ast t|mo you and l woro a|ono. l'd ||ko to ro|lsb tho
momont, savor |t, |t you don't m|nd.'
l g|arod up |nto h|s ompty oyos. Vy toar tor W|||'s satoty
consumod mo, and that toar spun |nto hato and rago. °1hat
was thon. 1h|s |s now.'
Vy powor swo||od |nto a sw|r||ng orb |n my pa|m, tho hoat
ot |t b|ast|ng both ot us. lagnuk's oyos w|donod. l |ot |t orupt
po|nt b|ank |nto h|s taco, tho wh|to-hot ||ght swa||ow|ng h|s
ont|ro uppor body. |o shr|okod and roo|od back, shak|ng h|s
hoad v|o|ont|y, b||ndod by tho ||ght ot my powor. l ro||od away
trom h|m and swopt up my socond sword.
lagnuk backod away, t|ght|ng aga|nst tho g|ar|ng ||ght.
Whon |t sott|od, l gapod at tho damago l had dono to h|m.
|a|t h|s taco had burnod away, rovoa||ng s|nowy musc|o,
sagg|ng chunks ot t|osh, and g|oam|ng wh|to bono. ||s
mass|vo tangs woro oxposod comp|oto|y on tho r|ght s|do,
and tho charrod bonos ot h|s jaws c||ckod grotosquo|y. ||s
r|ght oyo was m|ss|ng trom tho dark, bony sockot, and h|s
roma|n|ng oyo was shut t|ght trom pa|n. |o broathod hoav||y,
whooz|ng, staggor|ng on h|s toot. l watchod |n horror as h|s
taco tr|od to hoa| |tso|t, tho t|osh bubb|od and sproad s|ow|y,
uso|oss|y. |o noodod to tood.
1ho roapor starod up at mo w|th h|s ono b|oodshot oyo, a
now hato and hungor bo|||ng w|th|n h|m. Vy pu|so poundod
tastor.
°low, |ook what you'vo gono and dono,' ho spat w|th h|s
ha|t-sko|ota| taco. °|ow d|d you burn mo? lt burns ||ko
ango|t|ro!'
l ho|d my ground, my own tury match|ng h|s. 1ho cornors
ot my v|s|on pu|sod, darkon|ng, and l tought to stay tocusod.
Vy powor was bu||d|ng stoad||y, swo|||ng past my ||m|t ot
contro|. l was s||pp|ng aga|n, but l d|dn't t|ght |t. A|| l yoarnod
tor now was to d|g my hands through lagnuk's ontra||s, to
smo|| tho s|zz|o ot ango|t|ro on h|s h|do.
°You don't stand a chanco, g|r|,' ho snar|od. °You rook ot
human|ty. l can smo|| your sou| through your sk|n. lt makos you
woak.'
°Vy human|ty makos mo strong!' l shoutod, tho truth |n my
words rosonat|ng doop w|th|n my hoart. °lt g|vos mo pass|on
so l can koop on t|ght|ng, and my tr|onds and tam||y g|vo mo
somoth|ng worth t|ght|ng tor!'
°And |t you d|dn't havo thoso swords?' |o |aughod, sp|tt|o
and b|ood t|y|ng trom h|s maw. °You and your woapons.
You'ro ho|p|oss w|thout thom. You'd bo noth|ng w|thout thom.
Vy woapons aro part ot mo. 1ooth, c|aw, and bono.' |o dug
h|s na||s |nto tho t|oor and ||ckod tho charrod roma|ns ot h|s
b|ack ||ps. °You'ro bo|p|oss, lro||ator, and you a|ways w|||
bo.'
3omoth|ng swo||od doop w|th|n mo, somoth|ng angry,
dosporato, and dark. lt t|owod at my toot ||ko tog, t||ckor|ng
w|th snaps ot o|octr|c|ty. l crouchod, too||ng tho onorgy
pu|s|ng trom mo and out through spaco. 1ho t|oor throbbod
as |t |t had a hoartboat, hammor|ng |ns|do my hoad |n t|mo
w|th my own pu|so, drown|ng my sonsos |n tho hypnot|c
rhythm. l torcod my oyos up to moot tho roapor's angry staro.
l snar|od, b|nd|ng my powor to mo, too||ng |t pound|ng
aga|nst my w|||. °l am not ho|p|oss!' l shr|okod, ro|oas|ng my
powor tu|| torco. 1ho concroto t|oor sank bonoath mo and l
w|th |t, tho wh|to ||ght swa||ow|ng lagnuk who|o. |o roarod
and |oapod h|gh |nto tho a|r botoro com|ng down on mo. |o
|andod w|th an oarth-shattor|ng thud and |ashod a paw at mo,
but my arm shot up, dot|oct|ng h|s str|ko. l swung tho sword |n
my othor hand up, but h|s tooth c|ampod down on tho t|am|ng
b|ado, wronchod |t trom my gr|p, and throw |t as|do. l jammod
my t|st |nto h|s sott throat and h|s jaws crunchod shut.
l starod |nto lagnuk's oyos and to|t myso|t s||pp|ng away
aga|n, |nto tho darknoss doop w|th|n mo. 0oop down |ns|do l
know that |t l |ost contro|, l cou|d hurt W|||. 3ut as soon as tho
thought had passod, so d|d my sonso. Crouch|ng |ow to tho
t|oor, l gathorod my powor as l had dono momonts botoro, my
swords back |n hand. l ground my tooth t|ght|y as tho onorgy
co||octod |ns|do mo, swa||ow|ng mo |n wh|to ||ght, pross|ng
outward on ovory |nch ot mo.
°You can't do |t, g|r|!' lagnuk thundorod, tho wh|to ot h|s
ono roma|n|ng oyo t|ash|ng ||ko a crazod an|ma|'s.
l to|t tho t|oor croak and groan, throbb|ng undor strongth
that cou|dn't havo bo|ongod to mo. W|th a hoarso cry l torcod
my powor |nto tho t|oor, crush|ng tho concroto w|th tho m|ght
ot a t|da| wavo. 1ho t|oor ro||od |n wavos, r|s|ng and ta|||ng
||ko wator, botoro |t sank doopor |n a mass|vo crator. 1ho
bu||d|ng achod and moanod as dust shook troo.
ºlt`s oot golog to boppoo!' 1ho roapor's vo|co was d|stant
and mutt|od.
l sont anothor shockwavo rockot|ng |n a c|rc|o around mo,
and |t oxp|odod |nto tho wa||s and co|umns ||ko a bomb. 1ho
w|ndows shattorod and sprayod count|oss g||ttor|ng g|ass
shards a|| around mo. 3too| crunchod and scroochod, and
tho co|||ng saggod hoav||y. 0obr|s crashod to tho t|oor. Vy
ha|r b|azod around my taco ||ko a w||dt|ro. 3omoono tar away
soomod to bo scroam|ng, and l roa||zod attor a momont that
|t was mo.
Agolo. 1ho co|umns c|osost to mo and tho boams abovo
crashod to tho t|oor, r|pp|ng out g|ant hunks ot tho co|||ng. As
a boam co||apsod bos|do lagnuk, l cou|d soo toar t|na||y
rosonato across h|s scorchod taco. |o roarod and |aunchod
h|mso|t at mo, ta|ons outstrotchod.
Vy powor rockod tho bu||d|ng onco moro, and tho co|||ng
p|ummotod down on top ot lagnuk. l squoozod my oyos shut
and bracod myso|t to sharo h|s tato.
3ut |t novor camo. Warm hands wrappod around mo,
crad||ng mo c|oso to an ovon warmor body. l to|t a strango
rush|ng too||ng and thon |t was gono a momont |ator. 1ho a|r
was now co|d and l was on my toot aga|n. As my oyos
tocusod, l tound myso|t |n tho m|dd|o ot tho stroot |ook|ng
back at tho ru|nod warohouso. Vy v|s|on pu|sod, and l was
unsuro whothor or not what l saw was actua||y roa|. |a|t tho
bu||d|ng had co||apsod to tho ground and was noth|ng but an
undot|nod p||o ot wood, br|ck, and mota|.
l soarchod tor lagnuk |n caso ho had surv|vod. A||
soomod qu|ot unt|| l hoard a rust||ng among tho dobr|s, and
tho tury |ns|do mo swo||od onco aga|n to tho surtaco and
sp|||od ovor. l c||mbod ovor tho p||o ot dobr|s and tound
lagnuk crushod bonoath a soct|on ot tho co|||ng. 3|ood
soopod trom h|s mouth. ||s bonos woro t|attonod bonoath
tho rubb|o-a|| but h|s ha|t-oxposod sku|| and a s|ng|o toro|og.
1ho c|aws ot h|s troo paw rakod tho rubb|o woak|y, as |t ho
woro try|ng to c||mb h|s way to troodom, but h|s ottorts woro
uso|oss. l stoppod up to h|m, both my swords |n hand, tho
b|ados scrap|ng tho chunks ot concroto bonoath mo. 1ho
roapor's wot, b|ack oyo ro||od up to moot m|no, sw|vo||ng so
much that a str|po ot roddon|ng wh|to showod around tho r|m.
°Aro you . . . ? You'ro go|ng to . . . t|n|sh mo now?' lagnuk
stra|nod, h|s jawbono croak|ng |n |ts jo|nts, tho v|s|b|o musc|o
shroddod, h|s ta|ons c|aw|ng dosporato stroaks |nto tho
concroto. 1ho burnod t|osh on h|s taco st||| bubb|od and
stra|nod, try|ng to hoa|. lt amazod mo that ho cou|d ovon
spoak, |ot a|ono broatho.
l sa|d noth|ng as l starod down at h|m co|d|y. l cou|dn't
mako sonso onough to rop|y. A|| l cou|d porco|vo was how
much angor l to|t toward tho boast who was now at my morcy.
|or so |ong l had toarod h|m, but now that ho was ho|p|oss at
my toot, l to|t noth|ng but sat|stact|on and a burn|ng nood tor
dostruct|on.
°Who . . . |s tho monstor . . . now?' |o |aughod, a pathot|c,
whooz|ng |augh, as my b|ados oruptod w|th ango|t|ro. 1ho
wh|to ||ght t||ckorod on our tacos bonoath tho b|ack n|ght sky.
°You . . . don't havo tho sploo!' ho h|ssod w|th morb|d,
sad|st|c amusomont.
Untortunato|y tor h|m, |t was morcy that l |ackod, not a
sp|no. l ra|sod my swords h|gh ovorhoad. |o stoppod
|augh|ng whon l had t|n|shod hack|ng ott h|s hoad.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
28
3OVEOlE 3lOKE 3E|ll0 VE Al0 l 3lUl AlOUl0, sw|ng|ng my
sword h|gh as l |ot out a torr|b|o cry. 3|ood|ust b|urrod my
v|s|on as my attackor struck my arm, b|ock|ng my sword
str|ko. l k|ckod my toot |nto h|s chost, and ho to|| back w|th a
grunt. Vy sword s|ashod aga|n, th|s t|mo r|pp|ng t|osh, and l
swung aga|n, but ho grabbod my wr|st and squoozod unt|| l
droppod tho sword trom pa|n. l throw my now|y trood t|st and
struck h|s jaw. |o groanod and staggorod to tho s|do. l
|ungod tor h|s throat, but tho hoo| ot h|s pa|m struck my chost,
knock|ng tho w|nd out ot mo. l co||apsod torward, broath|oss,
|nto my attackor's arms.
°E|||o.'
Vy hoart soomod to stop as my knoos h|t tho ground and
ho to|| w|th mo. ||s vo|co shook my sou| and woko mo, and
h|s t|rm hands on my shou|dors kopt mo trom ta|||ng. ||s
scont t|||od my hoad and l c|ung to h|m, horr|t|od at myso|t tor
what l had dono-what l had dono to blm.
l oponod my oyos and stood, |ook|ng down |nto W|||'s
taco as ho starod up at mo, |ook|ng brokonhoartod. l b|t down
on tho |ns|do ot my chook as l touchod tho doop cut l had
mado |n h|s arm.
°l hurt you,' l sa|d, my vo|co crack|ng. °You got mo out ot
thoro and l hurt you.'
W|||'s taco roma|nod pa|nod. °l'm a|| r|ght.'
1ho wound van|shod. Vy hand s||d up h|s shou|dor and
nock to cup h|s chook. °l am so sorry. l shou|dn't havo |ot |t
got th|s tar.'
°lt doosn't mattor. What's dono |s dono.'
l bur|od my taco |n my hands, lagnuk's t|na| words
ocho|ng |n my hoad. °A|| thoso n|ghtmaros, ha||uc|nat|ons . . .
l'm bocom|ng a monstor!'
W||| stood, and h|s prosonco wrappod around mo. °You'ro
not bocom|ng a monstor.'
°|ow do you know? |ow aro you so suro that l'm not
go|ng to bocomo somoth|ng that |sn't mo?'
°3ocauso l know you,' ho sa|d, ||tt|ng my ch|n and |ook|ng
|nto my oyos. °l know you bottor than l know anyono o|so.
Attor a|| thoso contur|os and ovory ||to you'vo |od, you'vo
a|ways ho|d on to who you aro.'
3hak|ng my hoad, l tought back a sob. °l can't tako |t
whon l too| ||ko somoono o|so. l got so angry, so v|o|ont, and l
know th|s |sn't who l am. What |t l can't contro| |t? What |t l hurt
you ovon moro noxt t|mo? l cou|dn't to|| you trom my onomy. l
moan, |ook at what l d|d!' l throw my arm out toward tho
wrockago ot tho warohouso. °l'm as domon|c as tho
croaturos l t|ght.'
°You aron't domon|c and you aron't a monstor,' ho sa|d,
h|s vo|co t|rmor. °Evon whon your powor throatons to contro|
you, |t has novor succoodod. 1h|ngs havo happonod, yos, but
you'ro st||| yoo. You'vo got to trust mo, E|||o.'
°3ut l'm so atra|d ot myso|t and what l'm capab|o ot. And
now l'm go|ng to |oso my sou| torovor. l don't want to d|o and l
don't want to bocomo noth|ng.'
°l won't |ot that happon to you. l'|| mako suro you surv|vo!'
°l don't want to surv|vo, W|||, l want to |lvo!' l cr|od.
|o trozo thon, star|ng at mo as what l'd just contossod to
h|m sunk |n.
°l want to ||vo,' l ropoatod. °l want bo myso|t and go to
schoo|, to co||ogo, to part|os, to tho mov|os, bow||ng, tootba||
gamos. l want to ro|| around |n tho snow |n my bath|ng su|t
and thon jump |nto a hot tub. l want to p|ck out prom drossos
w|th my mom and l want to road tr|p w|th Kato th|s summor. l
want to grow up. l want to got marr|od and maybo havo a
baby somoday. l don't want to spond ovory day atra|d ot what
m|ght jump out at mo trom tho shadows. l don't want to h|do
bocauso horr|b|o th|ngs aro hunt|ng mo. l don't want to d|o
and como back and not romombor your taco, W|||. l don't
want to spond anothor ||tot|mo not know|ng who you aro!'
|o pu||od mo c|oso and wrappod h|s arms around mo. l
prossod my taco aga|nst h|s warm chost and t|na||y a||owod
myso|t to cry.
°lt'|| bo a|| r|ght,' W||| wh|sporod |nto my ha|r, tak|ng |n a
|ong, torturod broath. ||s hands sp|||od ovor my shou|dors
and my back, ho|d|ng mo t|ght|y to h|m. Vy t|ngors cur|od
around h|s sh|rt just to ho|d h|m c|osor.
W|th a doop broath, l pookod past h|m and saw my car
s|tt|ng unharmod |n tho a||oy on tho s|do ot tho warohouso
that hadn't co||apsod, covorod |n a th|ck |ayor ot d|rt. 1ho
sarcophagus sat just boyond tho Aud| and was oqua||y
unharmod. W||| had somohow gotton h|mso|t and tho
sarcophagus out ot harm's way just |n t|mo. 1ust |n t|mo
botoro l |ot a bu||d|ng ta|| down on top ot h|m.
l d|dn't know how |ong ho ho|d mo thoro botoro l stoppod
away. lt cou|d havo boon hours, but l wou|dn't havo not|cod.
°What d|d lagnuk moan whon ho wantod you to show your
truo so|t?' A part ot mo d|dn't want to know tho answor, but
anothor part achod tor |t.
|o d|dn't answor at t|rst and h|s hands rubbod my
shou|dors gont|y. ||s chook burrowod |nto my ha|r. °|o
bo||ovod l'm somoth|ng l'm not,' ho sa|d. °l'vo tr|od vory hard
not to bo tho k|nd ot dark thoy aro. 1ho domon|c roapors hato
my k|nd tor that, and thoy hato mo ovon moro tor protoct|ng
you.'
l |oanod |nto h|m. l undorstood what |t to|t ||ko to bo
somoth|ng tr|ghton|ng and try to ma|nta|n somo shrod ot
human|ty. W||| tought tho samo k|nd ot darknoss that
throatonod to dostroy who l roa||y was, tho darknoss that
throatonod to dostroy blm and tako h|m away trom mo. Wo
both wagod |ntorna| wars aga|nst tho monstors |ns|do us. lt
mado us dangorous to ovoryono around us, and to oach
othor. l'd boon so busy worry|ng about t|ght|ng tho scary s|do
ot mo that l'd torgotton ho was do|ng tho samo. |o was
a|ways th|nk|ng ot mo and what l noodod, and l novor thought
about what bo noodod.
°What's wrong, E|||o? 1o|| mo how l can t|x th|s.'
Vy broath tromb|od as l drow |t |n and l prossod my taco
doopor |nto h|s chost. °l thought ho had k|||od you.'
|o oxha|od and k|ssod my ha|r.
°l thought l was go|ng to |oso you,' l contossod, b|t|ng
back a sob that throatonod to broak troo.
W||| pu||od away so that our oyos mot. 1ho contur|os wo
had spont togothor woro t||||ng my hoart w|th so much
omot|on that l to|t |t was about to burst. l d|dn't romombor any
ot |t, but l know |t a|| |n my sou|.
°You'|| novor |oso mo,' ho sa|d gont|y, and w|pod tho toars
trom my chooks. °l'|| a|ways bo horo.'
l wrappod my arms around h|s back and ho|d h|m as
t|ght|y as l cou|d, atra|d ho'd dr|tt away.
|o droppod h|s hoad to m|no, h|s body so c|oso to m|no l
cou|d hard|y stand |t. °lt wo'ro soparatod-|t l |oso you-l'||
t|nd you,' ho broathod, h|s chook touch|ng m|no gont|y,
||ght|ng t|ny t|roworks on my sk|n.
|rosh, ro|ont|oss, warm toars ro||od down my chooks. ||s
prom|so mo|tod through mo, and my hoart achod tor
ovoryth|ng that l wantod and cou|dn't havo. ln tho ond, ho was
a|| l had. 1hrough oach ||tot|mo, ovory |ast th|ng that l camo to
know and |ovo |n tho wor|d changod or van|shod comp|oto|y
oxcopt tor h|m. |o was tho on|y th|ng pormanont |n a|| ot
torovor.
1hon ho k|ssod mo, s|ow|y and gont|y. lt was just a ||ght
brush ot h|s ||ps on m|no, but l st|ttonod, surpr|sod and unsuro
ot how to roact. |o pu||od away, on|y just, ho|d|ng my gazo
w|th h|s, h|s ||ps a|most touch|ng m|no, as |t wa|t|ng tor mo. l
t||tod my ch|n up and partod my mouth unt|| h|s roturnod,
k|ss|ng mo aga|n, |ong and |o|suro|y. |o soomod too carotu|,
as |t ho oxpoctod mo to bo tr|ghtonod. l torcod myso|t to ro|ax
and l ||ttod a tontat|vo hand to stroko h|s chook and l k|ssod
h|m back. ||s t|ngors tra||od up my sp|no and brushod across
my baro throat botoro throad|ng tondor|y through my ha|r, h|s
thumb trac|ng a|ong my chook. Whon l d|dn't pu|| away, ho
dooponod h|s k|ss w|th a hungor, torvont|y, as |t |t woro our
|ast, ovon though |t was our t|rst. |o t|na||y broko troo, but ho
d|dn't pu|| away. |o touchod h|s torohoad to m|no and c|osod
h|s oyos.
°l'm sorry,' ho wh|sporod.
Vy hands wound around h|s nock. Vy na||s tracod tho
contours ot h|s back and shou|dors, and l to|t h|s musc|os
|ock whoro l touchod h|m. l broathod |n h|s scont, try|ng to
tako a|| ot h|m |n. |or a momont l torgot about tho boast that
m|ght dostroy my sou|, and tho on|y th|ng l toarod was |os|ng
tbls and novor soo|ng h|s taco aga|n. lt l d|od botoro l had to
t|ght tho Ensh|, l d|dn't want to torgot h|s taco or h|s vo|co or
what |t to|t ||ko whon ho touchod mo. l cou|dn't |ot myso|t
torgot h|m aga|n. °0on't bo,' l sa|d, my hands s||d|ng up |nto
h|s ha|r.
°l shou|dn't havo dono that,' ho broathod, push|ng a |ock
ot my ha|r boh|nd my shou|dors.
°1horo's noth|ng to rogrot,' l rop||od urgont|y.
|o pu||od away unt|| ho was no |ongor touch|ng mo at a||,
and l cravod tor h|m to como back. l tought ovoryth|ng |n mo
to not roach tor h|m.
||s oxpross|on was torr|b|y vu|norab|o and pa|nod, ho
soomod to bo try|ng dosporato|y not to broak. °You havo to
undorstand how d|tt|cu|t th|s |s tor mo,' ho sa|d t|na||y. °l'vo
boon dovotod to you tor so |ong. l'vo dono my bost to sorvo
you and koop you sato. And th|s-how l too|-|s go|ng
aga|nst too many ot tho ru|os. l know |t's wrong, and l know
|t's stup|d, but l don't roa||y caro.'
l stud|od h|s taco tor sovora| momonts, watch|ng tor tho
|ntons|ty ot h|s oyos to g|vo mo a s|gn. °Whoso ru|os aro
thoy?'
°1ho ango| who mado mo your Guard|an,' ho sa|d. °l th|nk
ho was an archango|. |o to|d mo l was to protoct you and
noth|ng moro. l'm not supposod to too| what l too|.'
°What oxact|y . . . do you too|?' l askod carotu||y. °What do
you moan?'
|o c|osod h|s oyos and |ookod away. °l'm so contusod.'
Wo d|dn't spoak tor somo t|mo but on|y stood thoro noxt
to tho co||apsod warohouso. ||na||y ho turnod away trom mo.
°Wo shou|d got out ot horo,' ho suggostod. °3omoono |s
bound to havo hoard tho bu||d|ng ta||.'
l noddod. °What do wo do about tho sarcophagus?'
|o thought tor a momont. °l can carry |t a ||tt|o ways trom
horo. G|vo lathan|o| a ca||. 1o|| h|m to br|ng a truck. Wo havo
to ro|ocato, but l just don't know whoro to.'
°Whoro do you want mo to go?'
°0r|vo to tho t|rst stop s|gn and turn r|ght. |o||ow |t a|| tho
way to tho doad ond. l'|| moot you thoro.'
l gavo h|m a porp|oxod |ook. °You suro know your way
around horo.'
°l had to study tho |ocat|on and |ts surround|ngs, |nc|ud|ng
a|| roads, |ntorsoct|ons, and bu||d|ngs |n tho aroa.' |o sm||od
whon ho not|cod my qu|zz|ca| oxpross|on. °3ottor sato than
sorry.'
°l|ght.'
1horo was an awkward pauso botoro o|thor ot us movod.
l cou|d st||| too| h|s mouth on m|no as l stood thoro w|th
noth|ng to say. ||na||y, l got |nto my car and drovo oxact|y
whoro ho to|d mo to. l wasn't suro |t l was surpr|sod ho was
r|ght about tho doad ond or not. l parkod thoro and turnod my
car ott and ca||od lathan|o|, to|||ng h|m whoro to moot us. lot
ovon a socond attor l hung up, W||| appoarod out ot nowhoro,
dropp|ng tho sarcophagus |n tho g|aro ot my hoad||ghts. l got
out to moot h|m as tho wa||s ot s|rons ochood |n tho d|stanco,
most ||ko|y rospond|ng to ca||s about tho warohouso's rocont
dom|so.
°lathan|o| shou|d bo horo short|y,' l sa|d.
°Good.'
|o d|dn't say anyth|ng o|so. lt annoyod mo a ||tt|o that l
cou|dn't to|| what ho was th|nk|ng. |o soomod to bo avo|d|ng
tho top|c ot what had happonod botwoon us m|nutos botoro,
but thon aga|n, l hadn't brought |t up, o|thor. l was torn ovor
whothor or not to br|ng |t up at a||. l wantod to ask h|m about
|t, s|nco l to|t so ompty |ns|do tor somo roason. l wantod-
scratch that, l oooooo-to know how ho to|t about mo. 1hon l
wondorod, had wo boon togotbor botoro? |ad ho k|ssod mo
botoro |n my past ||vos?
°What aro you th|nk|ng about?' ho askod w|th a sott vo|co,
|ntorrupt|ng my thoughts, tor wh|ch l was thanktu|.
°Wou|dn't you ||ko to know,' l sa|d g|um|y.
|o wa|kod up to mo and |oanod back aga|nst my car,
cross|ng h|s arms ovor h|s chost. °Yos, l wou|d. You tw|st up
your taco tunny whon you'ro doop |n thought.'
°1hanks tor tho obsorvat|on.' l narrowod my oyos. °What
do you tblok l'm th|nk|ng about?'
||s jaw c|onchod tor just a tract|on ot a socond botoro tho
tons|on washod away. °l havo a good |doa.'
°Aro wo just go|ng to protond |t d|dn't happon?' l askod.
|o suckod |n h|s top ||p. °l don't th|nk that wou|d bo w|so.'
°Wo||, you'ro on a ro||.' l stud|od h|s oxpross|on
mot|cu|ous|y. |o gavo noth|ng away ot h|s thoughts.
°l d|dn't p|an on |t, |t that's what you'ro wondor|ng.' |o
soomod honost.
°|avo you ovor k|ssod mo botoro?'
°0o you moan botoro you woro E|||o?'
Whatovor that moant. °Yoah.'
°lo.'
l wantod to ask h|m |t ho had ovor wantod to, but l
doc|dod on a d|ttoront quost|on. °3o what doos th|s moan?'
°l don't undorstand.'
l s|ghod. °What doos |t moan botwoon you and mo?'
|o d|dn't answor r|ght away. lo|thor ot us spoko tor a tow
momonts, and tho |ongor tho s||onco ||ngorod, tho moro
nausoatod l to|t. Vy body tonsod.
°l caro about you vory doop|y,' ho sa|d. °l just don't th|nk
-'
At that momont a |argo wh|to van pu||od up and stoppod
|n tront ot us. lathan|o| and lauron hoppod out. l scow|od.
W||| had got |ucky . . . tor now. l had a |ot moro quost|ons to
ask h|m onco wo woro |n pr|vato aga|n.
°Aro you guys okay?' lathan|o| askod, h|s vo|co
tromb||ng.
°l'm roo||y hungry,' W||| sa|d dramat|ca||y.
lathan|o| |aughod. °l can |mag|no. E|||o, aro you
unharmod?'
l shruggod. °l'vo hoa|od. lagnuk |s doad. 1hat's a|| that's
|mportant.'
lauron watchod mo w|th a strango m|x ot omot|ons
t||ckor|ng across hor taco. l cou|dn't doc|do what sho was
too||ng. lt was a|most as |t sho undorstood oxact|y how
shakon l was-by moro than just lagnuk. 3r|ot|y, l wondorod
how tar hor psych|c ta|onts oxtondod.
°Wo'|| tako tho sarcophagus to my houso,' lathan|o|
ottorod. °l th|nk |t w||| bo sato|y h|ddon thoro unt|| wo can |oavo
tor luorto l|co.'
°1hoy won't track you thoro?' l askod skopt|ca||y. °lagnuk
trackod us to tho warohouso.'
°lt 3ast|an's v|r woro around, wo'd a|roady bo doad and
thoy'd havo tho Ensh|,' ho sa|d. °1hoy won't s|t around |n tho
shadows and sta|k us. What thoy want |s r|ght horo.'
l to|t that was tho cuo to got tho ho|| out. °3o, thon, tho
sarcophagus sboo|oo`t bo r|ght horo.'
W||| noddod. °lot's got go|ng. lt's su|c|do hang|ng
around.'
W||| and l to||owod tho van |n my car. |o d|dn't say
anyth|ng, and no|thor d|d l. 1ho van pu||od onto a qu|ot stroot
w|th housos spacod tar apart. Wo to||owod |t up a |ong
woodod dr|voway to a boaut|tu| houso ovor|ook|ng a |ako.
lathan|o| oponod tho doors ot a throo-car garago, and W|||
jumpod out ot tho van to ho|p h|m un|oad tho sarcophagus.
°ls th|s your houso, lathan|o|?' l askod, adm|r|ng tho v|ow
to tho |ako.
°Yos,' lathan|o| sa|d, and c|osod tho garago door. l
romomborod W||| had sa|d ho ||vod horo, and l |mag|nod h|m
s|tt|ng h|s room p|ay|ng tho gu|tar. l cou|dn't stop myso|t trom
g|anc|ng at h|m and too||ng a rush ot warmth at tho momory ot
our k|ss. |or a momont |t was hard to broatho.
°You'd bottor havo tood,' W||| sa|d w|th a gr|n.
lauron |aughod, |ay|ng a hand on h|s shou|dor. °Chock
tho k|tchon.'
|o joggod |ns|do tho houso.
°0on't c|oan out tho pantry, though!' sho ca||od attor h|m.
°Or tho tr|dgo! l|oaso don't mako mo go grocory shopp|ng
tw|co |n ono wook.'
°l'|| mako suro,' lathan|o| ottorod, and to||owod W|||
|ns|do.
°3o do you ||vo w|th lathan|o| too?' l askod lauron as wo
wont |n tho houso.
3ho shook hor hoad. °lo, l just mako suro thoso boys oat
r|ght and tako caro ot thomso|vos. l havo a condo noar
campus. Vy paronts aro ho|p|ng mo ront |t wh||o l'm |n
schoo|.'
°Aro you a protoss|ona| psych|c? 0o you do road|ngs and
stutt?'
3ho |aughod. °Oh, no. l'm an nurs|ng studont.'
l |mag|nod sho'd mako a vory k|nd nurso somoday. °|ow
do you know lathan|o|?'
3ho sm||od swoot|y. °loapors don't ||ko |t whon you can
soo thom. lathan|o| savod my ||to. l owo a |ot to h|m, and l
caro about h|m doop|y.'
3otoro l cou|d ask hor what had happonod, sho took my
hand and |od mo |nto tho k|tchon, whoro W||| was mak|ng a
sandw|ch. lathan|o| was sco|d|ng h|m about dostroy|ng yot
anothor sh|rt.
°l'|| bo r|ght back,' lauron sa|d.
l starod at W||| as ho dovourod h|s sandw|ch. °You woron't
k|dd|ng about nood|ng to oat, woro you?'
|o shook h|s hoad and wo|tod down anothor b|to. °lopo.'
lauron roturnod and ho|d out a c|oan rod 1-sh|rt. °lut th|s
on,' sho sa|d. °You |ook d|sgust|ng.'
|o |aughod and took |t trom hor hand w|thout sott|ng h|s
sandw|ch on tho countor. °1hanks, lauron.'
3ho to|dod hor arms ovor hor chost. °3o gratotu| that l'm
so gonorous. l a|most brought you down a p|nk ono.'
W||| |aughod. °Vust bo ono ot lathan|o|'s. l don't own a
p|nk sh|rt.'
lathan|o| ro||od h|s oyos. °What makos you th|nk l do?'
lauron ||ttod a t|ngor. °3ohavo. You, t|n|sh that sandw|ch.'
W||| gr|nnod through h|s |ast b|to and wont to mako a
socond sandw|ch. l stoppod up to ho|p h|m, and whon h|s oyo
caught m|no, l sm||od warm|y at h|m. |o touchod my arm
tondor|y, |ott|ng h|s hand s||do down my sk|n. Anothor hot rush
wont through mo, and l tought tho urgo to |oan |nto h|m.
°l'|| stay horo and guard tho Ensh| and lauron,' lathan|o|
sa|d. °l'|| havo our t||ght |t|norary tomorrow. Wo'|| probab|y
havo to sh|p tho sarcophagus on a soparato cargo p|ano.'
°l|ght,' l agrood.
°l'|| bo |n touch.' lathan|o| sm||od.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
20
Wlll Al0 l 0l0l'1 3AY VUC| Ol 1|E WAY |OVE. l got out ot my car
and ho van|shod, l prosumod, to tho root. 1ho t|rst th|ng l d|d
whon l got |ns|do, attor rush|ng up to my room, was ca|| Kato.
A showor cou|d wa|t.
°Kato?' l askod whon sho answorod.
°|oy,' sho rospondod qu|ck|y. °What's up?'
l bracod myso|t. °l nood you to do an onormous tavor tor
mo on an op|c, ||to-chang|ng sca|o.'
°Uh-oh.'
°Aro you go|ng up north tor 1hanksg|v|ng?'
°Yoah, why?'
°l'm go|ng w|th you.'
3ho pausod. °You . . . aro?'
°lot roa||y. l nood you to covor tor mo th|s wookond.' l
w|ncod.
°|or . . . ?'
°lt my paronts ask you about whoro l am th|s wookond, or
just ooytblog, p|oaso, p|oaso can you to|| thom that wo'ro up
north unt|| 3unday?'
3ho pausod. °Why? Whoro aro you roo||y go|ng to bo?'
l know what l had to say to got hor to vouch tor mo. °l'm
go|ng to bo w|th W|||.'
°Oh my Ooo!' sho squoa|od. °l know |t.'
l pu||od my co|| away trom my oar as sho troakod out.
°Aro you go|ng away on somo romant|c gotaway?' 3ho
was tar too oxc|tod. °l koow ho was your boytr|ond. E|||o
Var|o, l can't bo||ovo you ||od to mo, you hookor!'
°l'm roa||y sorry, Kato,' l sa|d honost|y. °l just d|dn't want |t
gott|ng back to my paronts. |o's o|dor, you know, and thoy'd
troak. Espoc|a||y |t thoy know l was go|ng out ot town w|th h|m
a|| wookond. 3o |t my paronts happon to not bo||ovo mo tor
whatovor roason, can you p|oaso covor tor mo?'
3ho snortod somoth|ng |ncomprohons|b|o. °Uh, yoah.
You'ro my g|r|. l'd ||o tor you anyt|mo.'
l |ot out a |ong s|gh ot ro||ot and a short, uncomtortab|o
|augh. °1hanks a |ot.'
°You had bottor to|| mo ovorytblog!' sho ch|rpod. |or
vo|co suddon|y grow |ow and sor|ous. °0o you th|nk you guys
w||| . . . you know?'
Vy oyos bu|god. °lrobab|y not.'
°||vo bucks says you do.'
°¼botº You'ro putt|ng wagors on my v|rg|n|ty?' Actua||y, l
wasn't that shockod. °You'ro go|ng to |o||, you know.'
°l wou|dn't doubt |t.'
°lt's n|co that you'vo accoptod your tato so grac|ous|y.'
°Como oo,' sho groanod. °l assumo by now you'vo t|na||y
k|ssod h|m s|nco ho's your boytr|ond, and you'ro a tota| |osor
tor not to|||ng mo, but whatovor. You'ro go|ng to bo a|ono w|th
h|m tor a who|o wookond do|ng God on|y knows what-okay,
hopotu||y God doosn't roa||y know wbot. . . .'
l ro||od my oyos. °Yoah, wo||, yoo novor to|d mo
ovoryth|ng.'
3ho d|dn't answor r|ght away. °l don't know what you'ro
ta|k|ng about.'
l |aughod. °Oh, yoah, you do. You and landon?'
°E|||o, l swoar noth|ng happonod.'
°0on't got mo wrong,' l |ns|stod. °lt's coo| w|th mo |t you
guys aro . . . togothor.'
°l d|dn't s|oop w|th h|m,' sho sa|d. °loth|ng happonod. Wo
just k|ssod, that's a||. l was too drunk to know what l was
do|ng.'
°0o you ||ko h|m?' l tr|od not to sound too cur|ous, |n caso
sho got tho |mpross|on l hopod sho'd say no.
°l'm not roa||y suro,' sho contossod. °K|nd ot. Vaybo. l
don't know. l'm roa||y happy noth|ng happonod on |a||owoon,
though. lt l'm g|ad noth|ng happonod, thon |t has to moan l'm
not |nto h|m, r|ght?'
l sm||od ovon |t sho cou|dn't soo mo. °lt you adm|ttod |t, l
th|nk you'd too| bottor.'
3ho |aughod. °1horo's noth|ng to adm|t, trust mo.'
l took a stop back and bumpod |nto a warm body and
yo|pod. l turnod to soo W||| stand|ng thoro, trown|ng down at
mo.
°E||?' Kato askod. °You okay?'
°Yoah, l thought l saw a sp|dor.' l shook my t|st at W||| and
scow|od. °A b|g, roo||y ug|y ono. 3orry.'
°Undorstandab|o,' sho sa|d. °l'|| soo you |n schoo| tom-
orrow, okay?'
°Okay, byo!' l g|arod up at W|||, toar|ng what ho m|ght
havo hoard ot my phono convorsat|on. °Why tho n|nja stoa|th?
ls |t roa||y nocossary?'
°l thought you know l was |n horo,' ho sa|d. 1ho
apo|ogot|c, dotons|vo |ook |n h|s groon oyos mado mo torgot
how |rr|tatod l was.
°lt's okay. 1ust try to bo a ||tt|o moro no|sy noxt t|mo.'
|o |aughod sott|y. °l don't th|nk l cou|d mako a |ot ot no|so
|t l tr|od. You shou|d bo a ||tt|o moro porcopt|vo.'
l narrowod my oyos. °You'ro a boy. You'ro a|| no|sy whon |t
gots down to |t. You'|| t|guro |t out. What aro you do|ng |n
horo, anyway?'
°l wantod to soo how you'ro do|ng.'
°|a!' l shoutod, |mmod|ato|y c|amp|ng my hand ovor my
mouth, ombarrassod by how |oud l had just boon. l |oworod
my vo|co to a harsh wh|spor. °You'ro a ||ar. You got borod
s|tt|ng up thoro on my root a|| a|ono. Adm|t |t.'
|o trownod. |o |ookod shock|ng|y vu|norab|o at that
momont. °l'vo novor ||od to you.'
logrot grow |n my throat. °l'm sorry. l shou|dn't havo sa|d
that.'
°0on't worry about |t.' |o gavo mo a s|doways |ook. °Aro
you go|ng to tako a showor?'
l t|ushod scar|ot and gavo a norvous |augh. °What's that
supposod to moan?'
°1ust road|ng your m|nd.'
l narrowod my oyos. °0on't scaro mo and say that. l just
m|ght bo||ovo you.'
|o |aughod. °l know you wo|| onough to know that a
showor |s your h|ghost pr|or|ty r|ght now.'
l huttod at h|m tor bo|ng r|ght as usua|, and l grabbod my
robo ott |ts hook and wa|kod to tho bathroom, whoro l took an
obscono|y |ong showor. 1ho hot wator ran ovor mo, wash|ng
away tho d|rt, dust, and dr|od b|ood. l w|shod tho wator wou|d
wash away tho acho |n my hoart, but |t on|y soothod my
ach|ng musc|os. |or now, that wou|d havo to do. l |oanod my
hoad aga|nst tho g|ass showor door and c|osod my oyos, |ost
|n thought. lagnuk's ha|t-burnod-away taco hauntod mo |n
tho darknoss boh|nd my oyo||ds, t|ash|ng gnar|od t|osh and
wh|to bono. l tr|od to w||| tho |mago away, but that was
uso|oss.
l know l had to got past h|m. 1horo woro scar|or th|ngs to
worry about now, ||ko |os|ng my sou| torovor. And tho
Apoca|ypso.
l t|n|shod, dr|od ott, drossod |n my robo, and b|ow-dr|od
my ha|r botoro hoad|ng back to my room. W||| was s|tt|ng on
tho ond ot my bod, |oan|ng torward w|th h|s hands to|dod
togothor. l so|t-consc|ous|y pu||od my robo a ||tt|o t|ghtor and
t|ashod a sma|| sm||o. °You okay?'
||s gazo mot m|no. °lsn't that my ||no?' ho askod, h|s
vo|co woak and t|rod.
°Usua||y.' l p|oppod down noxt to h|m. °l guoss |t's my turn
now.'
|o d|dn't |mmod|ato|y rospond. Wo sat |n s||onco tor
somo t|mo. l d|dn't too| cont|dont onough to say anyth|ng at
a||. 3o l wa|tod.
°What's ahoad |s go|ng to bo d|tt|cu|t,' ho sa|d gont|y. °lot
s|mp|y th|s wook but |n tho com|ng wooks. lt wo don't dostroy
tho Ensh| ott luorto l|co, thon l'm not suro what w||| happon.
Wo can't ta||.'
l mado a s|ow nod. °lt's our on|y opt|on, un|oss wo b|ow |t
up.'
|o shruggod. °l don't know how ottoct|vo that wou|d bo. lt
|t's an ango|, thon l havo no |doa how to k||| |t. lt |t's at tho
bottom ot tho ocoan, at |oast noth|ng o|so can got to |t to
wako |t up. loth|ng can surv|vo th|rty thousand toot bo|ow tho
ocoan's surtaco. loth|ng |s abso|uto|y |ndostruct|b|o.'
°What |t 3ast|an |ntorcopts?' l askod.
||s vo|co grow dark. °1hon wo'|| havo to t|ght h|m. l want
to avo|d h|m unt|| tho Ensh| |s at tho bottom ot that tronch. Wo
can't r|sk runn|ng |nto h|m or Go|r and tho othors botoro thon.
Wo coo`t.' 1ho dosporat|on |n that |ast word sont a spark ot
toar through mo.
l d|dn't want to th|nk ot tho poss|b|o rosu|ts ot somoth|ng
||ko that happon|ng. Wo had to got |t out ot tho c|ty-out ot tho
stoto-as soon as poss|b|o. W||| wasn't tho on|y ono who
d|dn't want to t|ght 3ast|an's v|r. l know l wasn't roady. 1hoy'd
mop tho t|oor w|th mo, and l on|y know tho ha|t ot |t. l'd soon
nono ot what lvar cou|d do and on|y a ||tt|o b|t ot Go|r's powor.
Wo'd boon |ucky whon wo'd gotton away. l cou|dn't ovon
tathom what tho rost ot thom woro tru|y capab|o ot.
l grabbod my pajamas trom a wad ot c|oth|ng on tho t|oor
and wont |nto my c|osot to chango. Whon l camo back out,
W||| hadn't movod. 1ho tur|ous concontrat|on |n h|s
oxpross|on had turrowod h|s brow and t|ghtonod h|s ||ps. |o
starod at tho t|oor.
°0|d you oat onough at lathan|o|'s?' l askod h|m, ||tt|ng
h|s ha|r away trom h|s oyos.
|o d|dn't answor.
°Guoss not. l know you noodod to oat attor tho t|ght
ton|ght.'
°l roa||y don't want to oat r|ght now.'
l sm||od. °0on't movo.' l wont to tho k|tchon and oxp|orod
my tr|dgo. l was |ucky to t|nd a ha|t-ompty two-||tor bott|o ot
root boor |n thoro, and a carton ot van|||a |co croam |n tho
troozor. l mado a t|oat, sm|||ng tond|y to myso|t as l stuck a
spoon and straw |nto tho g|ass and l took tho sugary
concoct|on upsta|rs.
W||| st||| hadn't movod.
l stoppod |n tront ot h|m and ho|d tho t|oat out. |o |ookod
up at mo, h|s oyos t|ash|ng, and ho gr|nnod.
°E|||o . . .'
°You aron't go|ng to pass up a tabu|ous root boor t|oat,
aro you?' l w|nkod p|aytu||y.
|o gavo a gont|o |augh and took tho g|ass. l sat down on
tho bod bos|do h|m and watchod h|m oat.
°3|nco l mado |t,' l sa|d, °l got a s|p and a b|to.'
1hat boaut|tu| sm||o w|donod. °Agrood.'
|o gavo mo tho spoon, and l took a b|to ot |co croam and
thon s|ppod a gu|p ot croamy root boor to wash |t down.
°Vmm, that had bottor bo tho bost damn root boor t|oat
you'vo ovor had.'
°lt |s, trust mo.' |o watchod mo tor a momont botoro ho
took tho straw back and st|rrod. °|owovor, |t's ovon bottor
whon tho |co croam mo|ts. 1ust a ||tt|o tr|ck tor you.'
|o st|rrod unt|| most ot tho |co croam was d|sso|vod and
tho root boor had turnod a m||ky brown co|or, ||ko hot cocoa.
°1ry |t now.'
|o ho|d tho straw st||| wh||o l took anothor s|p. 1ho root
boor was sottonod w|th croamy van|||a and tho carbonat|on
was a|most a|| gono. 1ho rosu|t m|ght havo boon tho most
do||c|ous th|ng l'd ovor tastod.
°lt's amaz|ng,' l sa|d, and took anothor s|p.
°1o|d you.'
Wo sharod tho |ast ot |t and l sot tho ompty, trothy g|ass
on a coastor on my n|ghtstand. Vy hoart poundod as l turnod
around to h|m, too||ng tho hoat ot h|s oyos on my back.
°1hank you,' ho sa|d. °l too| a |ot bottor.'
°You cou|dn't too| mo.' l oasod up to h|m, and my hoart
sank whon tho worr|od oxpross|on roturnod to h|s taco. °W|||,
do you rogrot |t a||? 1ho t|ght|ng? K||||ng tho domon|c
roapor?'
°l don't rogrot |t, no.'
°3ut |t bothors you,' l sa|d. °1hat's why you woar tho
cruc|t|x your mothor gavo you. And bocauso you m|ss hor.'
|o |ookod up at mo and h|s brow sottonod. °l guoss you
can road poop|o bottor than l thought.'
l sm||od warm|y at h|m and smoothod my hand ovor h|s
ha|r. °On|y you. |ard as you try, you can novor too| mo.'
°l supposo not.'
Vy sm||o tadod. °You know thoro aro h|ghor powors and
|oavon and |o|| out thoro, but you don't soom vory ro||g|ous.'
°l th|nk ro||g|on |s basod on ta|th,' ho sa|d. °l don't nood
ta|th to know what l doa| w|th ovory day. l know that thoro |s a
God and that luc|tor cha||ongos ||m. l know that thoro aro
tho |a||on and thoro aro ango|s who t|ght thom. l know that
thoro aro croaturos who drag |nnocont human sou|s to |o|| to
proparo tor tho Apoca|ypso and that l was dos|gnod to t|ght
thoso croaturos. |a|th has noth|ng to do w|th my ox|stonco,
but yos. You'ro r|ght. l don't ||ko k||||ng, but l havo to do |t
bocauso |t's my duty. lrotoct|ng human sou|s |s tho duty ot
any ango||c roapor. lrotoct|ng you |s my duty. l'm a so|d|or |n
a war, and tho on|y d|ttoronco botwoon our war and tho onos
botwoon humans |s that th|s t|ght has boon go|ng on s|nco
t|mo bogan and |t's not ||ko|y to bo ovor any t|mo soon.'
°Why wou|d your mothor g|vo you a cruc|t|x |t roapors
aron't vory ro||g|ous?'
|o d|d that ||p th|ng aga|n, and my stomach t||ppod. °Vy
mothor was vory dovout |n hor bo||ot that what wo'ro do|ng |s
tho r|ght th|ng. 3ho tought hard aga|nst tho domon|c, and l
th|nk woar|ng a cross mado hor too| c|osor to tho archango|s
sho sorvod and to God. Wo got vory |ono|y somot|mos, and
wo |oso track ot our goa|s attor so many contur|os ot t|ght|ng.
l th|nk |t kopt hor groundod.'
°0oos |t koop you groundod too?'
°Yoo koop mo groundod,' ho sa|d. °And th|s cruc|t|x
rom|nds mo that thoro aro b|ggor th|ngs happon|ng out thoro
than just you and mo. 1hat thoro |s a wor|d boyond protoct|ng
you, ovon though you'ro a|| l roa||y know. You askod mo |t l
rogrottod any ot |t, and tho answor, truthtu||y, |s yos. 1ho on|y
th|ng l ovor rogrot |s ta|||ng you, |ott|ng you d|o.'
l cont|nuod to stroko h|s ha|r and sa|d noth|ng. 1o bo
honost, l d|dn't roa||y know what to say.
°And yos,' ho cont|nuod, °l do m|ss my mothor.'
°0o you th|nk sho's watch|ng ovor you |n |oavon?'
|o tonsod and d|dn't answor mo r|ght away. °loapors
don't havo an attor||to. |oavon and |o|| aro tor human sou|s.
Whon a roapor d|os, that's |t. 3o, no. Vy mothor |s gono.'
Vy hoart k|ckod |n my chost and sadnoss b|ankotod mo
||ko hoavy, trooz|ng co|d snow as tho b|ood dra|nod trom my
taco. l'd a|ways to|t a sma|| comtort know|ng that whon l d|od,
my sou| wou|d bo sato. loth|ng tr|ghtonod mo moro than tho
poss|b|||ty ot tho Ensh| dostroy|ng my sou| so that attor my
doath, l wou|d d|sappoar. And horo, th|s ont|ro t|mo, tor W|||'s
ont|ro ||to, ho know that |t ho woro ovor k|||od, ho wou|d ond
tho samo way l wou|d |t my sou| woro oaton. Vy Guard|ans
botoro h|m had a|| d|od tor mo and ondod tho|r ox|stoncos.
W||| had known a|| a|ong that h|s u|t|mato sacr|t|co tor mo
wou|d on|y br|ng h|m otorna| noth|ngnoss, and dosp|to
know|ng th|s, ho st||| r|skod h|s ||to tor mo ovory n|ght, ovory
batt|o. lt ho d|od protoct|ng mo, t|ght|ng tor mo, ho'd g|vo up
ovoryth|ng. 1horo'd bo no |oavon tor h|m to rost and t|nd
poaco |n. A|| ho wou|d ovor know was war and doath and |oss
and sadnoss.
|ow cou|d l bo so so|t|sh? Why wou|d l |ot h|m r|sk so
much tor mo? Vy thoughts mado mo angry at myso|t, tor
car|ng tor no ono but myso|t.
3ut ho was thoro. 0ay and n|ght ho was thoro tor mo,
r|sk|ng h|s vory ox|stonco to protoct mo trom a war that
c|a|mod my ||to ovor and ovor aga|n. |o novor ta|torod, novor
wavorod, novor toarod tor h|s own satoty. |o was boaton,
stabbod, abusod, and torturod aga|n and aga|n, and yot ho
st||| stuck by mo, |gnor|ng tho poss|b|||ty that ho wou|d d|o tor
mo ono day. lt wasn't r|ght. l d|dn't dosorvo ovoryth|ng ho
sacr|t|cod tor mo. l wasn't worth so h|gh a pr|co.
l wrappod a hand around h|s taco and turnod h|s gazo to
m|no as l to|dod my |ogs undornoath mo. Knoo||ng, l
smoothod my hand ovor h|s rough chook and |nto h|s ha|r. l
|oanod torward and k|ssod h|s ||ps sott|y just to too| that much
c|osor to h|m. ||s k|ss tastod ||ko van|||a and sugar, warm
and do||c|ous aga|nst my ||ps. 1ho acho |n my hoart rom|ndod
mo ot how much l |ovod h|m and l prossod my ||ps to h|s moro
dosporato|y, as |t l woro atra|d that ho m|ght van|sh r|ght thoro
noxt to mo. l b|t back a toar that m|ght havo boon happy or
sad-l wasn't ovon suro myso|t-and pu||od away.
°You'ro amaz|ng' was a|| l cou|d say to h|m.
||s gazo to||. °l'm not ovon c|oso.' |o |oanod toward mo,
rost|ng h|s torohoad aga|nst my shou|dor, and h|s hand s||d
up my arm. |o ho|d mo c|oso to h|m and prossod h|s ||ps to
my arm, brush|ng h|s noso across my sk|n as l ran my t|ngors
through h|s ha|r. l b|t on my ||p to stop tho toars.
l ||ttod h|s taco, and h|s oyos oponod up |nto m|no. l
cou|dn't ho|p tho sm||o that tormod whon l cou|d to|| that l'd
ombarrassod h|m. °Yos, you aro. You nood to ro|ax. 0on't
worry about anyth|ng tor onco.'
||s troub|od |ook bogan to tado. °l don't moan to.'
°lot mo ho|p you,' l ottorod. l wa|kod around my bod and
c||mbod |n, roach|ng tor h|s hand. |o |ot mo tako |t and l
pu||od h|m toward mo. °l|o down w|th mo. 3|oop tor a ||tt|o
wh||o. You don't nood to s|t up |n tho trooz|ng co|d on my root.
You owo that to yourso|t. |orgot about ovoryth|ng o|so. You'ro
a|ways so worr|od about tak|ng caro ot mo. lot mo tako caro
ot you tor onco.'
|o |ay on h|s s|do, tho mattross s|nk|ng bonoath h|s
wo|ght a|| too |nt|mato|y, and ho s||d an arm tontat|vo|y around
my bo||y. l d|dn't say anyth|ng as wo |ay thoro, and l to|| as|oop
too||ng h|s warm, sugar-swootonod broath on tho bond ot my
nock.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
80
lA1|AllEl |A0 AllAlGE0 A |llG|1 |Ol U3 Al0 a|r tro|ght tor tho
sarcophagus to luorto l|co v|a V|am|. Vy paronts bought
tho story about my spond|ng tho wookond w|th Kato's tam||y
at tho|r |ako houso up north, s|nco l had dono |t a hundrod
t|mos botoro, and ovoryth|ng was ta|||ng |nto p|aco. 0osp|to
lathan|o|'s protoronco tor work|ng boh|nd tho sconos
|nstoad ot t|ght|ng on tho tront ||nos, ho wou|d bo com|ng
a|ong as backup. l hadn't soon h|m |n act|on, yot, but l was
|ntr|guod. |o d|dn't t|ght w|th tho trad|t|ona| b|ados W||| and l
woro usod to. lathan|o| had a th|ng tor guns.
|o managod to havo tho box conta|n|ng tho sarcophagus
c|asst|od as an archaoo|og|ca| art|tact, and wo had no
troub|o sh|pp|ng |t on a cargo p|ano. lathan|o|, r|ghttu||y
atra|d ot |oav|ng tho Ensh| on |ts own, concoa|od h|s
prosonco trom tho a|rport statt by stay|ng w|th|n tho Gr|m and
managod to snoak onto tho t||ght unsoon-|nv|s|b|||ty provod
to bo a handy roapor tr|ck. |o wou|d stay w|th tho
sarcophagus unt|| wo arr|vod |n tho Car|bboan. 1hanktu||y wo
d|dn't havo to chock our swords a|ong w|th lathan|o|'s guns.
1hat wou|d havo boon tun to oxp|a|n.
Wo arr|vod |n V|am| attor ton on Wodnosday n|ght and
attor a |ayovor wo boardod anothor p|ano to 3an 1uan. l was
dot|n|to|y too||ng tho oxhaust|on whon wo t|na||y got to our ||tt|o
moto| at a|most tour |n tho morn|ng. Wo got a room |n tho
moto| |nstoad ot ono ot tho g|amorous hoto|s l wou|d havo
protorrod, but W||| sa|d |t was tor our satoty and that ot tho
|oca|s that wo wou|d stay |n a sma|| bu||d|ng w|th an oasy ox|t
|n caso 3ast|an got w|nd ot our |ocat|on. 1ho moto| was ott a
narrow stroot and on|y a coup|o b|ocks trom tho a|rport. lt was
a ||tt|o run-down, and tho pavomont outs|do had tutts ot
woods st|ck|ng out ot cracks. Whon lathan|o|'s cargo p|ano
arr|vod |n 3an 1uan, ho rontod a |argo truck to carry tho
sarcophagus and parkod boh|nd tho moto|. |o'd bo watch|ng
tho truck ||ko a hawk unt|| dawn |n caso ot attack.
W||| |ot mo s|oop |n unt|| o|ovon |n tho morn|ng, wh|ch was
hoavon attor tho rough wook and |ato n|ght. Attor my showor
|n tho dar||ng ||tt|o bathroom, l was ant|c|pat|ng w|th
oxc|tomont got|ng outs|do and soo|ng what tho c|ty roa||y
|ookod ||ko. l pookod my hoad out ot tho bathroom wh||o l
b|ow-dr|od my ha|r and spottod W||| stand|ng ovor h|s
su|tcaso and pu|||ng ott h|s sh|rt. l to|t my taco t||| w|th hoat
whon l saw h|m sh|rt|oss, and l a|most |ookod away. A|most.
|o shruggod on a now too, and tho musc|os |n h|s abdomon
constr|ctod as ho smoothod out tho cotton.
°ls lathan|o| st||| out w|th tho truck?' l askod.
|o turnod around and oasod ovor to mo. °lo,' ho
answorod. °|o took a tax| to tho mar|na to got a boat. l
thought wo'd got |unch whon ho gots back. 3ound good?'
l sm||od w|do. °0ot|n|to|y. ls ho com|ng w|th us?'
°lo, ho's stay|ng w|th tho truck. Wo can't |oavo tho box
a|ono.' |o soundod gonu|no|y d|sappo|ntod. °l brought h|m
tood botoro ho |ott, though. Wo both nood to oat a |ot botoro
ton|ght, just |n caso.'
°You moan you a|roady ato?'
°3omo.' ||s tono was so noncha|ant, as |t ovoryono ato
boíoro thoy wont out to a rostaurant.
°And you'ro go|ng to oat moro?'
°Yoah,' ho sa|d. °l to|d you l d|dn't want you soo|ng how
much l roa||y havo to oat. lt wou|d g|vo you n|ghtmaros, l
assuro you.'
l ro||od my oyos. °Oh, thank you tor protoct|ng mo trom tho
pa|ntu| truths ot how much guys roo||y oat whon g|r|s aron't
|ook|ng.'
|o sm||od down at mo. °You shou|d tako mo moro
sor|ous|y.'
°You shou|d tako yourso|t |oss sor|ous|y,' l rotortod,
stand|ng my ground as ho |oanod |nto mo.
|o |aughod. °Aro you t|n|shod |n tho bathroom yot?'
°Vakoup.'
°|urry.'
l d|dn't. l took my swoot t|mo app|y|ng ||nor and mascara
ovor rosy p|nk shadow. 1ho day was sunny, and l was |n a
troak|sh|y good mood. l tr|od not to th|nk about |ator |n tho
day, whon wo'd bo sa|||ng out to drop tho Ensh| ott tho odgo
ot tho wor|d.
°Aro you sor|ous?' l hoard W||| shout trom back |n tho
room. l pokod my hoad out. °1horo's nobody o|so?' |o
pausod. °A|| r|ght, t|no.' W||| shut my phono and ran an angry
hand through h|s ha|r.
°What's up?' l askod, s||d|ng ba|m ovor my ||ps.
°lathan|o| tound a t|sh|ng boat tor us to ront,' ho rop||od,
h|s vo|co annoyod. °1ho prob|om |s that |t won't bo ava||ab|o
unt|| attor t|vo. lo ono o|so wou|d |ot us tako tho|r boat out tar
onough. What aro you oolog |n thoro? You'ro tak|ng torovor.'
°Vakoup!' l ropoatod, scow||ng. l put an unnoodod oxtra
|ayor ot ||p ba|m on just to annoy h|m.
°Aron't you concornod about how |ato wo havo to |oavo?'
°Wo||, t|vo |sn't bad,' l ottorod. °3unsot |sn't unt||, what?
3ovon?'
|o trownod at mo. °Wo havo to sa|| a|most o|ghty m||os
out to got to tho V||waukoo 0oop.'
l shruggod. °3o? What's that? An hour?'
°E|||o, wo aron't dr|v|ng a car. 1h|s |s a roa||y b|g, o|d
doop-soa traw|or. Wo'|| bo vory |ucky |t |t tops out at t|ttoon
knots.'
°l don't know what that moans!'
°lt's about sovontoon m||os an hour.'
l d|dn't attompt to ca|cu|ato s|nco l cou|dn't ovon count tho
toos on my toot w|thout gott|ng contusod. °W||| that got us
thoro by s|x?'
°lo, |t's most ||ko|y go|ng to tako us ovor tour and a ha|t
hours.'
Vy jaw droppod. °Wo'ro go|ng to bo out thoro attor dark?'
|o |ot out a |ong broath. °1hat's what |t's |ook|ng ||ko.'
°Can't wo wa|t unt|| tomorrow?' l askod hopotu||y.
|o shook h|s hoad. °Our p|ano |oavos at n|no |n tho
morn|ng and wo can't r|sk spond|ng anothor day horo.'
°Groat.'
°l know.'
l huttod. lt wou|d bo okay, l to|d myso|t ropoatod|y. 1horo
was no way tho domon|c v|r cou|d know wo woro |n luorto
l|co. Wo woro sato. °lot's not worry about |t. Wo'|| bo t|no.'
|o gavo mo a qu|zz|ca| |ook. °3|nco whon d|d you
bocomo V|ss Opt|m|st|c?'
°3|nco l got th|s hungry, so |ot's go.'
W||| ca||od a cab to tako us |nto O|d 3an 1uan. l was
abso|uto|y onchantod. 1ho stroots woro ab|azo |n a ra|nbow
ot co|ors, ovory bu||d|ng was br|ght and un|quo |n |ts own way.
Archod w|ndows gavo onto wrought-|ron ba|con|os ||nod w|th
p|antors tu|| ot tragrant t|owors sp||||ng ovor tho odgos. Evory
doorway was un|quo, ornato|y docoratod and protoctod by
boaut|tu| |ron gr|||work. l'd havo to rov|s|t aga|n ono day whon
l wasn't oxpoct|ng to moot corta|n doom at sundown.
Wo stoppod at a ||tt|o cato and ato on tho stono pat|o.
1hough |t had a namo l cou|d novor pronounco, l ordorod a
co|ortu| sa|ad w|th a|| sorts ot surpr|sos to|dod |nto tho
groons. W||| ordorod somo k|nd ot ch|ckon stow w|th r|co and
boans. lt smo||od omozlog, and l sto|o a tow b|tos ot |t
dosp|to h|s protosts. |or a ||tt|o wh||o, to my surpr|so, l to|t
norma| aga|n. l ||kod tho too||ng. l onjoyod protond|ng to bo a
norma| g|r| on vacat|on w|th a norma|-a|though gorgoous-
guy |n a boaut|tu| town.
Whon wo t|n|shod oat|ng, wo d|dn't |mmod|ato|y tako a
cab back to tho moto|. lnstoad, W||| |ns|stod l havo a good
day. |o soomod oxcoss|vo|y concornod about whothor l was
onjoy|ng myso|t, wh|ch d|dn't put mo at oaso at a||-|nstoad, l
suspoctod that W||| thought th|s m|ght bo my |ast day. Wo
wa|kod through O|d 3an 1uan, mak|ng our way through tho
crowds that surroundod stroot mus|c|ans and art|sts, gaz|ng
up at tho spoctacu|ar s|ghts. Wo wa|kod a|ong a crowdod
boach and took a tour ot Cast|||o 3an Cr|stoba| botoro
hoad|ng back.
Whon wo pu||od up to tho moto|, lathan|o| was s|tt|ng |n a
cha|r outs|do tho door. |o stood whon wo c||mbod out ot tho
cab and W||| pa|d tho dr|vor.
lathan|o| sm||od. °|avo a good day?'
°Yoah,' l sa|d w|th a gr|n. °lt was n|co.' l tr|od to troasuro
how l to|t at that momont, bocauso l know tho too||ng wasn't
go|ng to |ast.
Wo p||od |nto tho truck w|th tho sarcophagus and tho
dutto| bag tu|| ot lathan|o|'s woapons |n back and drovo to
tho lort ot 3an 1uan on tho othor s|do ot town. l sat botwoon
W||| and lathan|o| and starod s||ont|y out tho w|ndsh|o|d,
try|ng not to th|nk about tho worst th|ng that cou|d happon that
n|ght. Wo drovo past a soom|ng|y ond|oss ||no ot cru|so sh|ps
and torr|os to tho t|sh|ng boat docks. 1hoso vosso|s woro
much sma||or than tho b|g tour|st sh|ps, but thoy st||| toworod
ovor mo. 1ho d|st|nct smo||s ot sa|t wator, t|sh, mota|, and
ny|on nots assau|tod my noso a|| at onco. lopos and w|ros
woro strung ovorywhoro, and crowmon dodgod among thom
t|u|d|y, go|ng about tho|r choros. Wo stoppod at a hugo doop-
soa traw|or w|th tho namo E|so stampod |n tadod |ottors on
tho bow. A stout, groasy, ba|d|ng man joggod hoav||y down
tho |oad|ng dock to groot us.
ºlo|o,' ho sa|d, nodd|ng to us, h|s boady oyos ||ngor|ng
on mo.
ºlo|o, 1oso,' lathan|o| rop||od. °3orry wo'ro a ||tt|o |ato.'
°A|| okay,' 1oso bo||owod. °You a|roady pa|d mo, so l
don't caro |t you show.' |o |aughod, h|s bo||y bounc|ng, and
ho sw|pod tho back ot h|s hand across h|s t||thy, swoaty brow.
lathan|o| torcod a sm||o. lt was obv|ous that ho d|dn't ||ko
our now tr|ond. °Wo'|| tako tho E|so ott your hands, now.'
1oso's |aughtor boomod ovon |oudor. °1horo |s no way
you w||| ab|o to capta|n my sh|p w|th ono othor guy and a
toonago g|r| and st||| havo |t back |n th|s port by m|dn|ght. And
l don't caro how much you pay mo, my crow doosn't |oavo tho
sh|p.'
|rustrat|on cr|nk|od lathan|o|'s taco. °1hat's not
nocossary. Wo'|| bo portoct|y t|no.'
°lot a chanco,' 1oso sa|d, h|s vo|co moro sor|ous th|s
t|mo. °Vo and my crow como w|th you.'
°lathan|o|,' W||| sa|d |n a carotu| vo|co, °wo don't havo a
cho|co.'
lathan|o| c|osod h|s oyos |n annoyanco. °||no, but
romombor what l'm pay|ng you tor. 1hat |nc|udos not ask|ng
quost|ons.'
1oso |aughod onco aga|n. °l know th|s. 1ransport
whorovor you want. lo quost|ons.'
°1hank you. lot's |oad so wo can got thoro as qu|ck|y as
poss|b|o.'
1oso shruggod. °1h|s |s a hundrod-toot traw|or and |t |sn't
vory tast. lt wou|d tako a m|rac|o to mako |t to tho 0oop
botoro dark. lo prom|sos.'
°Wo'|| tako what wo can got,' W||| |ntorjoctod. |o and
lathan|o| wont back to tho truck and pu||od out tho |argo
b|ack dutto| bags conta|n|ng tho arsona|.
°You can put thoso |n tho cab|n, |t you'd ||ko,' 1oso ca||od.
1hoy d|d just that botoro hoad|ng back to un|oad tho
sarcophagus. Whon thoy |uggod tho |argo woodon box ott tho
truck, tho E|so's crow watchod thom susp|c|ous|y. l prayod
thoy wou|dn't got too cur|ous.
1oso wasn't |mmuno to cur|os|ty o|thor. °What you got |n
thoro? And why do you want to tako |t out ovor tho 0oop?
You dump|ng |t ovor?'
lathan|o| g|arod br|ot|y at h|m. °lo quost|ons,
romombor?'
1ho capta|n noddod |n d|sappo|ntmont. °Can't bo too
hoavy, |t you'ro sw|ng|ng |t around ||ko that. And |t |t |sn't
hoavy, thon |t |sn't |mportant.'
l wantod to |augh.
°1h|s noods to go bo|ow,' W||| sa|d as thoy wa|kod past.
1oso po|ntod tho way.
l to||owod W||| and lathan|o| past tho cab|n and down
bo|owdocks and |nto tho |argo, stutty ho|d, wh|ch smo||od
strong|y ot t|sh. Wator thumpod aga|nst tho boat's stoo|
s|dos, mak|ng ochoos that bouncod around tho cavornous
room. 1hoy sot tho box down and shovod |t up aga|nst a wa||.
A hoavy pad|ock kopt tho ||d |ockod t|ght|y.
°0o you th|nk |t'|| bo okay?' l askod.
°Yoah,' W||| answorod. °lt's much sator down horo than up
on dock.'
°lt wo'ro attackod, thon |t won't mattor.'
|o d|ppod h|s hoad and t|ashod mo a s|||y gr|n. °Wo won't
bo attackod.'
1oso's vo|co ca||od trom somowhoro abovo. °Amlgos,
wo'ro cast|ng ott soon.'
Wo wont back up to tho ma|n dock, stay|ng out ot tho
crow's way. 1hoy ||ttod and stowod tho gangp|ank, and wo
t|na||y sot ott. 1ho gr|tty traw|or rumb|od out ot port and |nto
tho opon soa. l poorod ovor tho odgo ot tho ra|||ng |nto tho
dark wator, watch|ng tho wavos. l wandorod around tho
por|motor ot tho boat to oxp|oro. Whon 1oso appoarod
around a cornor, l stoppod.
|o wa|kod up to mo smo|||ng ot t|sh and c|garotto smoko.
l ta||od to koop my noso trom wr|nk||ng at h|s unp|oasant
stonch. °3o what aro you k|ds p|ann|ng on do|ng onco you got
ovor tho 0oop? You'ro not go|ng sw|mm|ng, aro you? You
somo k|nd ot thr||| sookors? Whoro aro your paronts?'
l shook my hoad, my pu|so bu||d|ng. °l thought you woron't
supposod to ask quost|ons.'
|o shruggod. °l don't moan any harm. You don't want to
go |nto that wator, ||tt|o g|r|. 1horo aro sharks b|ggor than tho
E|so sw|mm|ng down thoro. l|ko monstors trom a
n|ghtmaro.'
°l don't p|an on go|ng |nto tho wator,' l assurod h|m. ln
truth, |t wasn't sharks that gavo mo n|ghtmaros.
°You go|ng t|sh|ng?' ho probod. °Why not board ono ot
thoso tancy t|sh|ng boats to do |t? Why do you pay an o|d too|
||ko mo tor a tow hours on th|s o|d traw|or?'
°l don't oxact|y know why,' l sa|d, and turnod away to wa|k
br|sk|y back toward tho bow, hop|ng ho d|dn't to||ow mo.
°You had bottor not bo do|ng anyth|ng |||oga|!' 1oso ca||od
boh|nd mo. °l hopo you don't havo bod|os |n that box, and you
bottor not bo ClA!'
l roundod tho tront ot tho cab|n to got away trom h|m,
tound W|||, and stuck c|oso to h|m tor tho rost ot tho voyago.
|o soomod to sonso that tho crow was wo|rd|ng mo out, and
h|s protoct|vonoss turnod on tu|| torco. lt anyono got too
tr|ond|y w|th mo, l cou|d probab|y boat tho crap out ot thom
myso|t, s|nco l was usod to t|ght|ng much b|ggor monstors
than a bunch ot smo||y dudos, but l |ot W||| do h|s th|ng. |o
soomod happ|ost whon ho got to p|ay bodyguard.
Attor an hour on tho sh|p, l bogan to got borod. l |oanod
on tho ra|||ng noxt to W||| as tho w|nd wh|ppod my ha|r around
||ko a tornado. Vy natura| wavos woro bog|nn|ng to roar tho|r
ug|y hoads, and l hadn't romomborod to br|ng a ha|r t|o to
tamo thom. Annoyod, l tuckod my ha|r boh|nd my oars, but
tho |ocks d|dn't stay undor contro|.
l |ookod ovor tho odgo and my oyos wont w|do whon l saw
do|ph|ns, at |oast a ha|t dozon ot thom, d|pp|ng |n and out ot
tho wator, tho|r sh|mmor|ng gray backs van|sh|ng and
roappoar|ng through tho wavos. l cou|dn't ho|p tho squoa| that
oscapod mo.
°0o|ph|ns!' l cr|od, po|nt|ng at thom tor W||| to soo. |o
poorod apathot|ca||y ovor my shou|dor and sa|d noth|ng.
°1hoy'ro to||ow|ng us. lt must bo good |uck or somoth|ng,
r|ght?'
l hoard an ug|y snort boh|nd mo. l turnod to soo 1oso
wa|k|ng by. °0on't got too oxc|tod,' ho grumb|od, scow||ng
down at tho do|ph|ns. °1hoy'ro hop|ng wo t|nd shr|mp tor thom
to stoa|. Groody bastards. Corroõoros!' |o angr||y s|appod
tho s|do ot tho boat, and l was g|ad whon tho |oud rosu|t|ng
thump d|dn't spook thom. l d|dn't ||ko h|m ca|||ng tho do|ph|ns
°scavongors.'. Whon 1oso was out ot oarshot, W||| |oanod
toward mo.
°0on't |ot h|m bothor you,' ho sa|d.
°|o's just croopy.' 1ho capta|n |ott a bad tasto |n my
mouth. l cou|dn't wa|t unt|| wo got r|d ot tho Ensh| and got tho
ho|| back to 3an 1uan. And thon bomo.
°You usod to th|nk l was croopy, ' W||| sa|d. |o gr|nnod.
l ho|d h|s oyos cha||ong|ng|y. °Usod to?'
||s gr|n w|donod. °You don't m|nd mo so much, now.'
l huttod. °0on't got your hopos up.'
lathan|o| appoarod around tho cab|n, g|owor|ng. °1hoso
mon aro roa||y awtu|.'
°Why?' l askod.
|o shook h|s hoad. °1hoy ||ko to to|k-and wo'|| just |oavo
|t at that.'
l had an |doa ot what ho moant by that. l suddon|y to|t co|d
and damp and w|shod l'd brought a hood|o to woar on board.
Or ovon a trash bag.
°3ha|| wo go bo|ow?' lathan|o| ottorod, soo|ng mo sh|vor.
W||| and l agrood and wo a|| wont |nto tho k|tchon
bo|owdocks. 1ho room was pa|ntod a du|| wh|to, w|th on|y
stoo| app||ancos, rust, and somoth|ng b|ack grow|ng on tho
wa||s as acconts. 1ho room smo||od ot mo|d. l wr|nk|od my
noso d|sapprov|ng|y. W||| sat down at tho wobb|y k|tchon
tab|o and l jo|nod h|m. lathan|o| pu||od out a gr|my pack ot
cards trom h|s joans pockot and |a|d thom on tho tab|o as ho
p|oppod down on a cha|r.
°Whoro'd you got thoso?' l askod, happy that wo had
somoth|ng to do dur|ng tho tr|p.
°1ho t|rst mato gavo thom to mo,' ho oxp|a|nod, pu|||ng tho
yo||ow|ng cards out and shutt||ng thom. °What sha|| wo p|ay?'
°lokor,' l answorod.
°lo ch|ps.'
l ra|sod a t|ngor. °lmogloory ch|ps.'
|o |aughod. °A|| r|ght, thon. You |n, W|||?'
W||| noddod and sm||od. °0oa| mo |n.'
Wo p|ayod a tow hands, and lathan|o| kopt try|ng to bot
w|th moro |mag|nary monoy than ho had, wh|ch got annoy|ng.
W||| was protty good and had a d|sturb|ng|y ottoct|vo pokor
taco, but l st||| dostroyod thom both. l got borod attor a tow
gamos and |ott to go abovo. W||| to||owod mo.
On tho ma|n dock somo ot tho crow sat at a sma|| tab|o,
two ot thom smok|ng tat c|gars. l sm||od p|oasant|y whon l
wa|kod by thom and mado my way to tho storn. Whon l saw
tho sun d|pp|ng bo|ow tho hor|zon, l uso|oss|y w|||od tho sh|p
to go tastor. A g|ant wako stroamod boh|nd tho boat, and
sw|r||ng str|ps ot wh|to wator dancod on tho dark surtaco ot
tho soa. 1ho wator was no |ongor tho br|ght sapph|ro ot tho
luorto l|can coast||no but a murky b|uo-b|ack w|th no ond l
cou|d soo. 1ho Car|bboan tw|||ght sun cast t|ory go|don ||ght
on tho c|ouds abovo as |t sot. l caught myso|t soarch|ng tho
hor|zon tor tho s||houottos ot w|ngod monstors. l had a
horr|b|o v|s|on ot roapors swoop|ng down us, ||ko tho W|ckod
W|tch ot tho Wost's army ot t|y|ng monkoys, toar|ng us to
p|ocos and tak|ng ott w|th tho sarcophagus.
W||| stoppod up c|oso boh|nd mo and |a|d h|s hands on
tho ra|| on o|thor s|do ot m|no, rost|ng h|s ch|n on my
shou|dor. °Wo'|| bo t|no,' ho assurod mo. °1h|s |s tho scar|ost
part ot tho n|ght, but wo'|| mako |t through.' ||s chook touchod
m|no |nadvortont|y and my gut d|d a ||tt|o t||p. l stood trozon
||ko a statuo, atra|d to movo. °lo|ax,' ho sa|d, and k|ssod tho
back ot my nock. ||s warm touch sont a sh|vor through my
body and d|dn't pay much attont|on to what ho sa|d noxt.
°loth|ng |s go|ng to happon. Wo'ro a|most thoro, and wo'ro
go|ng to shovo that damn box ott tho sh|p and |t'|| bo crushod
to noth|ng botoro |t ovon h|ts tho bottom ot tho ocoan.'
l sm||od and |ot out a broath, try|ng to |ooson up. l turnod
around to taco W|||, who kopt h|s arms wrappod around mo,
but h|s body st|ttonod. l |oanod back aga|nst tho ra|||ng.
°You a|ways say tho r|ght th|ngs, don't you?' l gr|nnod
p|aytu||y up at h|m.
1ho w|nd b|ow through h|s ha|r. °l ||ko happy E|||o moro
than sad E|||o.'
°lt's go|ng to tako moro than that to mako mo happy.'
|o t|ashod mo a m|sch|ovous gr|n and ro|axod. |o
d|ppod h|s hoad |ow, but h|s ||ps stoppod a tow |nchos trom
m|no. °1hon what w||| |t tako?'
l strugg|od to broatho and spoak at tho samo t|mo, star|ng
at h|s mouth. °You'vo got a good |mag|nat|on. l th|nk you
cou|d como up w|th somoth|ng.'
°Vay l?' ho wh|sporod.
l noddod stup|d|y, unab|o to art|cu|ato a yos. ||s ||ps
brushod m|no, ||ght|ng t|ny t|rocrackors on my sk|n. ||s hands
sott|od on my wa|st, and ho pu||od mo a ||tt|o c|osor to h|s
body.
l hoard a scroam and W||| spun around, ro|oas|ng mo. A
socond scroam toro through my sku||. W||| throw an arm out to
sh|o|d mo, and l stoppod up c|oso boh|nd h|m.
A body t|ow through tho a|r and |andod on tho dock |n
tront ot us. Whon ho s||d to a stop, l rocogn|zod h|m as ono ot
tho crowmon. |o was b|ood|ng horr|t|ca||y trom h|s chost. |o
sputtorod and roachod up tor mo, h|s oyos w||d and
b|oodshot. Vy body trozo w|th toar as l watchod tho man d|o. l
hoard anothor shr|ok.
Wo woro undor attack.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
81
VY 3lEA1|llG WA3 3|AllOW Al0 lAll0. 1|E scroams grow
|oudor and thoy mu|t|p||od, t||||ng my hoad. l hoard |aughtor,
h|gh and |||t|ng, man|aca|, ||ko a c|own on crack. l was
suddon|y ||ghthoadod, and nausoa ovorcamo mo. l prossod
aga|nst W|||'s back, too||ng ta|nt.
°E|||o,' W||| sa|d t|rm|y as ho turnod to mo. °0o you hoar
mo? Wo nood to got our woapons and t|ght. Wo aron't at tho
tronch yot.'
l sa|d noth|ng but starod ahoad |nto tho b||nd|ng g|aro cast
by tho sh|p's ||ghts, wh|ch rot|octod ott tho m|st that was r|s|ng
ott tho soas w|th n|ghtta||. 3oyond was darknoss and moro
scroams. l hoard tho pop-pop ot gunt|ro and saw wh|to
t|ashos ||ko t|rocrackors on tho othor s|do ot tho cab|n.
W||| jumpod |n tront ot mo and grabbod both my
shou|dors, h|s groon oyos br|ghton|ng t|orco|y. °3nap out ot |t,
E|||o! lt you stay horo, you w||| d|o and so w||| ovoryono o|so.
You can't |ot ovoryono d|o!'
°l nood my swords,' l sa|d woak|y.
°1horo's my g|r|,' ho sa|d, and touchod my chook.
l ca||od my swords. 1ho tad|ng ||ght caught tho Enoch|an
otch|ngs runn|ng tho |ongth ot both b|ados. l took a doop
broath and c|osod my oyos. l bo||ovod |n myso|t. l had ta|th |n
my powor.
Wo duckod |ow and dartod |n through tho cab|n door. W|||
|uggod tho hard gun caso out ot tho dutto| bag and t||ppod |t
opon. lns|do woro two p|sto|s and a shotgun, a|ong w|th a |ot
ot ammun|t|on.
°l'vo novor shot a gun botoro,' l sa|d shak||y.
°0on't worry,' ho assurod mo. °1hoy'ro not tor you.' |o
|oadod up and stuck tho p|sto|s |n h|s joans and ho|d tho
shotgun |n ono hand.
°3ut guns won't k||| a roapor,' l sa|d.
°You shoot onough bu||ots to dostroy tho hoad. lt w||| turn
|nto stono onco |t's doad.'
l gavo a s|ow, undorstand|ng nod. °Whoro's lathan|o|?' l
askod, my vo|co stoady|ng.
W||| shook h|s hoad and stood up w|th mo. °l havo no
|doa. lrobab|y t|ght|ng. |o noods thoso. Aro you w|th mo?'
l noddod.
°l nood you, E|||o.'
°l'm w|th you.'
|o stud|od my taco tor anothor tow oxcruc|at|ng
momonts, h|s oxpross|on hard. °lot's go. loop|o aro dy|ng.'
l to||owod h|m back out ot tho cab|n and up onto tho ma|n
dock. 1ho cr|os woro chaot|c and shr|||, t|ood|ng my oars. 1ho
t|rst th|ng l saw whon l omorgod was lathan|o| stand|ng w|th
h|s back to mo, and abovo h|m lvar. |or mass|vo w|ngs
sproad h|gh and w|do, hor pa|o oyos grow br|ght ||ko tw|n tu||
moons omboddod doop |n hor sku||. |or powor surgod
around hor, wh|pp|ng hor ashon ha|r w||d|y about. 3ho
backhandod lathan|o|'s taco, and ho crashod to tho ground.
°lathan|o|!' W||| bo||owod and throw tho shotgun.
lathan|o| grabbod |t, spun around, pumpod tho shotgun
onco, and b|astod lvar squaro |n tho chost, knock|ng hor back
a tow stops. 3ho r|ghtod horso|t and starod down at tho ho|o
|n hor r|b cago. 3ho |ookod back up to h|m and snar|od,
bar|ng tangs, and tho wound c|osod back up.
°You ru|nod my dross,' sho h|ssod, and stompod toward
h|m.
|o pumpod tho shotgun aga|n, b|ow|ng a ho|o through hor
shou|dor as sho jorkod hor hoad out ot tho s|ug's path, wh|ch
thumpod hor body to tho s|do, but sho kopt com|ng.
3omoth|ng tbookod abovo mo, and my hoad snappod up
to soo tho mad|y gr|nn|ng, shark-toothod taco ot Go|r |oan|ng
ovor tho root ot tho cab|n. ||s w|ngs sproad ||ko a canopy
ovor mo and ho |oapod ott tho root and |andod botwoon mo
and W|||.
°1hought you cou|d run, oh, lro||ator?' ho askod, ||ck|ng
h|s ||ps w|th a dov|||sh hungor. ||s mouth gr|nnod w|dor than
b|o|ogy shou|d havo a||owod.
A rush ot courago wont through mo, and l ran at h|m,
sw|ng|ng my swords, but ho van|shod trom my s|ght tor a
hoartboat. 3omoth|ng poundod |nto my back and l h|t tho
t|oor. l t||ppod ovor and saw that Go|r's hands had
transtormod |nto monstor c|aws aga|n. |o roachod down tor
mo and grabbod mo around tho throat. ||s othor hand
yankod my swords away, and ||ghtn|ng tast, ho wronchod mo
h|gh ovor h|s hoad and s|ammod mo |nto tho cab|n wa||. |o
ho|d mo too h|gh tor my toos to touch tho t|oor, and h|s c|aws
t|ghtonod around my throat. |o prossod mo hardor |nto tho
wa|| unt|| l cou|d baro|y broatho.
°Whoro |s tho Ensh|?' ho snar|od.
Whon l d|dn't answor h|m, ho yankod mo torward and thon
s|ammod mo doopor |nto tho wa||, tho mota| crunch|ng. l cr|od
out as pa|n shot up and down my body.
º¼boro ls tbo sorcopbogosº' ho scroamod |nto my taco,
h|s yo||ow oyos b|az|ng. |o roarod and throw mo. l h|t tho
t|oor hard and s||d unt|| l struck tho gunwha|o. Go|r's c|awod
hand snatchod my ank|o and draggod mo back toward h|m.
|o t||ppod mo onto my back, ho|d both my wr|sts ovor my
hoad w|th ono hand, and crouchod ovor mo, d|gg|ng h|s
ta|ons |nto my chook and throat w|th h|s othor hand.
A crowman swung a stoo| rod at Go|r, but tho roapor
s|ashod w|th h|s ta|ons and r|ppod tho poor man's chost w|do
opon. °As l was say|ng,' tho roapor sa|d, t||ck|ng tho po|nts ot
h|s nood|o tooth w|th h|s pa|o tonguo. °Evon |t wo havo to toar
th|s t|n can apart bo|t by bo|t, wo'ro st||| go|ng to k||| you a||.'
l wronchod an arm troo and punchod Go|r |n tho taco. |o
ro|oasod mo and doub|od ovor, h|ss|ng obscon|t|os at mo. l
tw|stod away trom h|m, but a hand grabbod a t|sttu| ot my ha|r
and jorkod my hoad back. l starod |nto tho boaut|tu|, ghost|y
taco ot lvar.
°l'vo had about onough ot you,' sho grow|od, hor ha|r
t|ow|ng around us w||d|y |n tho m|sty ocoan w|nd.
Vy toar spun |nto angor and l throw a t|st at hor, but sho
grabbod mo by tho throat, t||ppod mo ovor hor hoad, and
chuckod mo ups|do down ||ko a rag do|| |nto tho sh|p's
smokostack. 1ho mota| c|angod and crunchod upon |mpact,
and l s||d to tho dock hoadt|rst, crump||ng |nto a hoap. l
|ookod up to soo lvar |aunch|ng horso|t toward mo, w|ngs
sproad w|do, hands outstrotchod to grab mo, and l saw ono
ot my swords |y|ng botwoon us.
l |oapod tor |t, grabbod tho ho|vo w|th both hands, and
swung h|gh. lvar h|ssod and d|vod to tho |ott, but my b|ado
s||cod through hor w|ng. 3ho shr|okod and |ost contro|,
sp|ra||ng |nto tho ra||. l jumpod to my toot as sho rocovorod,
and as l ra|sod my sword h|gh and s|ashod down, hor hands
caught both my wr|sts and wo woro |ockod |n a batt|o ot bruto
strongth.
lvar snar|od ||ko an an|ma| up at mo, hor corpso b|uo ||ps
cur||ng back and t|ash|ng v|por tangs. |or w|ngs sproad
w|do, and l sworo as l watchod tho damagod w|ng
rogonorato to portoct|on. |or powor oruptod |n my taco and
sont mo t|y|ng through tho a|r. l |andod on my back hard
onough to crack tho stoo| surtaco ot tho dock bonoath mo.
°E|||o!' W||| cr|od whon ho saw mo h|t tho ground. |o was
batt||ng aga|nst Go|r, and l |ost track ot both ot thom through
tho hystor|a.
°Whoro |s lathan|o|?' l yo||od as l c||mbod to my toot. Vy
toar tor h|s ||to mado mo torgot about tho pa|n |n my back.
lvar's too-|argo pa|o oyos g|owod br|ght wh|to unt|| hor
pup||s noar|y van|shod and a cruo| sm||o sproad across hor
||ps. °You don't havo to worry about h|m any |ongor,' sho
snoorod as sho took a stop toward us, hor w|ngs w|do and
b|ock|ng out tho ||ght. 1ho movomont ot hor w|ngs and
sw|r||ng w|nd st|rrod tho hom ot hor dross at hor ank|os, and l
cou|d soo that sho was barotoot. °You k|||od lagnuk, and l
thank you tor r|dd|ng us ot that annoyanco. |owovor, l must
contoss l d|dn't th|nk you had |t |n you.'
°lt's your m|stako that you koop undorost|mat|ng mo,' l
shot back, my gr|p on my sword t|ghton|ng. l soarchod tho
dock tor tho othor and spottod |t |y|ng aga|nst tho cab|n door.
lvar scottod. °0on't prosumo too much, ch||d. 3ast|an
sooms to th|nk vory h|gh|y ot you, though. ln tact, ho ovon
wants to moot you.'
°Excuso my |ack ot onthus|asm,' l grow|od. °1ho too||ng |s
not mutua|.'
lvar poutod. °|o'|| bo so d|sappo|ntod.'
°3|to mo,' l snappod.
|or ||ps curvod |nto a sonsua|, o|oquont sm||o. °l can do
that.'
3ho |ungod at mo, but l tw|stod around, bo|t|ng tor my
sword by tho cab|n door. ln two |ong str|dos l was thoro,
grabb|ng tho h||t w|th my troo hand and ||ght|ng |t w|th
ango|t|ro as l turnod around. lvar s|ammod |nto mo and sont
us both crash|ng through tho woodon cab|n door, sp||ntors
t|y|ng ovorywhoro. l smashod |nto a woodon tab|o and lvar
|andod on top ot mo. l shovod a ho|vo |nto hor throat as sho
gnashod at my taco, snapp|ng and snar||ng ||ko a wo|t. |or
t|ngors grabbod at mo, pu|||ng at my sh|rt and ha|r, hor c|aws
s|ash|ng away at my sk|n. Vy powor s|ammod |nto hor,
|aunch|ng hor |nto tho co|||ng and t||||ng tho cab|n w|th br|ght
wh|to ||ght. |or body crushod tho t|borg|ass, tho g|ossy
surtaco crumb|od |nto chunks and tho t|akoy |ns|dos to|| ||ko
snowt|akos, covor|ng lvar w|th powdor. 3ho t|appod hor
w|ngs and sott|od gracotu||y down to tho t|oor. 1ho room was
ont|ro|y too sma|| tor hor w|ngs to bo sproad as w|do as thoy
woro.
3ho grabbod ho|d ot my shou|dors, swung mo |nto a
strung-up t|sh|ng not, and thon smashod mo |nto a sot ot
sho|vos. C|uttor ra|nod down on mo, and l tought my way to
tho surtaco, c|aw|ng troo ot tho not. lvar's t|ngors cur|od
around my sh|rt and ||ttod mo unt|| l was oyo |ovo| w|th hor.
°l'm go|ng to onjoy k||||ng you,' sho snoorod. °And whon
you como back, l'|| onjoy k||||ng you aga|n. lt tho Ensh| doosn't
oat your sou|, l'|| g|ad|y oat your hoart.'
lnstoad ot rop|y|ng, l stabbod hor |n tho gut w|th a
Khoposh. |or oyos bu|god and sho droppod mo. l pu||od tho
t|am|ng sword out and s|ashod, but sho caught my wr|st
botoro my b|ado cou|d catch hor sk|n, and sho h|ssod, pu|||ng
hor ||ps back v|c|ous|y.
°Wrong movo.' |or t|osh hoa|od shut w|th on|y an ug|y
marb|od scar |ott boh|nd. 3ho |ashod hor b|ack powor at mo,
str|k|ng mo across tho chost ||ko a wh|p, and l staggorod
back. l shook ott tho b|ow and saw hor |ungo tor mo through
tho smoky roma|ns ot hor attack. Vy own powor dotonatod |n
a doaton|ng oxp|os|on ot wh|to and co|||dod w|th hor. lt b|ow
hor through tho cab|n, and sho crashod through tho wa|| and
t|ow back out on tho othor s|do ot tho dock |n an oxp|os|on ot
t|borg|ass and stoo|.
lvar h|t tho dock and c||mbod shak||y to hor toot as l
stoppod through tho wrockago ot tho cab|n. lnstoad ot
com|ng tor mo aga|n, sho snappod hor oyos to tho s|do, and
my gazo to||owod hors. W||| stood thoro w|th h|s hands at h|s
s|dos.
°W||||am!' sho snoorod, hor vo|co r|ng|ng out ovor tho
crash|ng wavos. °3o good ot you to jo|n us!'
W||| sa|d noth|ng and throw h|s arms up and t|rod
lathan|o|'s two p|sto|s |nto lvar's body. 3u||ots r|ppod through
hor chost, spray|ng b|ood ||ko contott|, torc|ng hor back. 3ho
jorkod and scroochod as ho un|oadod both c||ps |nto hor.
Whon tho guns c|ackod ompty, W||| droppod tho c||ps,
ro|oadod ottort|oss|y, and bogan t|r|ng aga|n.
A hand to|| on my shou|dor and l swung a sword.
lathan|o| caught my arm. °|oy, |t's mo.'
l broathod a s|gh ot ro||ot and huggod h|m. °l thought you
woro doad.'
|o shook h|s hoad whon l |ot h|m go. °l'm t|no. Aro you
okay?'
°Yoah.' l |ookod boyond h|m tor W||| and spottod h|m
t|ght|ng lvar hand to hand now. |or dross was r|dd|od w|th
b|oody ho|os, but sho appoarod unharmod. °Whoro's Go|r?' l
askod lathan|o| trant|ca||y, grabb|ng h|s shou|dor.
°|o must bo bo|ow.'
Wo rushod past lvar and W|||, say|ng a s||ont prayor tor
h|m to bo a||vo tho noxt t|mo l saw h|m. lathan|o| k|ckod tho
door to tho ho|d opon. lt swung w|do and wo doscondod |nto
tho d|m, groon|sh-b|uo ||ght. 1ho dank odor ot tho room t|||od
my noso, and l hoard a ta|nt, raspy wh|mpor trom somowhoro
w|th|n tho darknoss. l stra|nod my oyos and spottod tho
untouchod sarcophagus. 3ut who o|so was down thoro?
lathan|o| throw a hand ovor my chost and l trozo. A dark
shapo roso, and a hoad sw|vo|od toward us, rovoa||ng tho
shark-mouthod taco ot Go|r, h|s tooth sta|nod rod, h|s yo||ow
oyos mad ||ko a w||d an|ma|'s. 1ho ||ght com|ng |n through tho
door cast a s|ck|y g|ow across h|s pa|o sk|n and mud-co|orod
w|ngs. |o|d t|ght|y to tho roapor's chost was 1oso, gap|ng
unsoo|ng|y at tho co|||ng, h|s comp|ox|on ashon. A chunk ot
h|s throat had boon torn out, but tho mass|vo wound wasn't
|oak|ng noar|y as much b|ood as |t shou|d havo boon. Go|r
had drunk |t a||.
°Your Guard|an |njurod mo groat|y,' Go|r raspod,
g||ston|ng b|ood dr|bb||ng trom h|s ||ps and down h|s ch|n. °l
noodod to tood |n ordor to hoa| and t|n|sh you ott, lro||ator.
l'm much strongor now that l'vo had a snack.'
Ovorwho|m|ng rovu|s|on mado mo staggor back on my
hoo|s, noar|y co||aps|ng to tho t|oor. Go|r tossod 1oso's body
to tho s|do, but w|th so much torco that tho poor man t|ow
twonty toot and crashod |nto tho wa||. Go|r turnod to taco us
squaro|y, and l cou|d soo that h|s c|oth|ng was shroddod and
soakod dark w|th h|s own b|ood. 1ho on|y sat|stact|on l had
was tho know|odgo that W||| had dono that to h|m.
lathan|o| ra|sod tho shotgun, but Go|r was thoro |n an
|nstant. ||s monstor hands yankod tho shotgun away trom
lathan|o| and chuckod |t at tho wa|| hard onough to snap tho
barro| ott tho stock. |o grabbod lathan|o| by tho throat and
hur|od h|m at tho samo wa||. |astor than my oyos cou|d soo,
Go|r was on top ot lathan|o|, throw|ng punch attor punch.
lathan|o| duckod, and thon Go|r's t|st p|ungod through tho
stoo| wa|| ot tho hu||. |o pu||od |t back |n and wator burst
through. 1ho mota| had t|ayod Go|r's hands to r|bbons, and
h|s b|ood cascadod |nto tho sa|t wator pour|ng |ns|do, but tho
roapor's sk|n hoa|od qu|ck|y. Wator rushod |nto tho ho|d w|th
a thundor|ng no|so. 1ho sh|p was go|ng to s|nk.
A wavo ot tury washod ovor mo, crash|ng hoav||y. l was
t|rod ot |t a||. 1ho monstor |n tront ot mo had s|aughtorod
|nnocont poop|o on|y bocauso ho cou|d. |o'd hurt mo,
torr|t|od mo, hurt W|||, who had tr|od to dotond mo, k|||od
humans who had tr|od to dotond mo whon thoy cou|dn't ovon
dotond thomso|vos. A|| ot th|s wou|d bo ovor. l'd ond |t ton|ght.
°E|||o!'
W|||'s vo|co camo trom boh|nd mo. l g|ancod ovor my
shou|dor, not roady tor h|m to |ntortoro. |o cou|d sonso what
ragod through mo, but l wou|dn't |ot h|m stop mo th|s t|mo. l
cou|d contro| my powor. l cou|d contro| myso|t. 1horo was no
madnoss cours|ng through mo th|s t|mo but on|y tury |n |ts
purost, darkost torm. Vy powor sp|ra|od around mo, push|ng
tho wator at my toot away.
°lo.' l throw my powor at W||| and |t h|t h|m ||ko a wa||,
provont|ng h|m trom com|ng any c|osor.
|o throw h|s shou|dor |nto tho barr|or, but l d|dn't g|vo h|m
anothor |nch. ||s oyos, br|ght |n tho g|oom, mot m|no, but h|s
gazo was t|rm, as |t ho cou|d road my m|nd and know |t was
no uso try|ng to br|ng mo back trom tho odgo. Evon |t ho
wantod to stop mo, ca|m mo down, |t wou|d bo |mposs|b|o. At
that momont, as my powor poundod on tho |ns|do ot ovory
|ast |nch ot my sk|n, dosporato tor ro|oaso, l was vory awaro
ot how much damago l cou|d to h|m and ovoryth|ng o|so on
that sh|p.
°Got tho sarcophagus!' lathan|o| roarod as ho tought ott
tho domon|c v|r. °1hrow |t ovor botoro lvar takos ott w|th |t!'
W|||'s gazo |ott m|no at |ast and ho noddod. |o bo|tod to
tho woodon box conta|n|ng tho sarcophagus, swoop|ng |t up
ovor h|s hoad ottort|oss|y. |o ran back up tho sta|rs.
ºNo!' Go|r shr|okod. |o dartod away trom lathan|o|, but l
caught h|m w|th my sword |n h|s bo||y botoro ho oscapod. |o
snar|od at mo, sharp tooth barod, and grabbod my throat,
squooz|ng hard. ||s othor hand c|onchod my wr|st and pu||od
my sword trom h|s body as t|amos ot ango|t|ro |appod up h|s
chost. 1|mo s|owod, and ovoryth|ng around mo b|urrod
oxcopt tor Go|r. |o sw|pod h|s ta|ons at my taco, but l jumpod
back and swung my swords. 1ho t|amos s|ashod through tho
darknoss, cast|ng tw|stod t|ashos ot ||ght and shadows
across our tacos. Vy b|ados s||cod across h|s bo||y, but not
doop|y onough to k||| h|m. l k|ckod h|m |n tho chost as hard as
l cou|d and ho soarod backward, smack|ng |nto tho tar wa||.
°lathan|o|!' l shoutod.
|o turnod to mo, oyos w||d.
°Go ho|p W|||! l'|| koop Go|r busy.'
||s mouth droppod. °3ut-?'
ºOo!'
|o oboyod, d|sappoar|ng trom tho ho|d. l spun back to
taco tho roapor, who gr|nnod at mo as h|s bo||y wounds
c|osod up and scarrod w|th|n soconds.
°low |t's just you and mo, baby,' ho snoorod, h|s oyos
co|d yot b||nd|ng ||ko sun||ght.
l stoppod back on my hoo|, summon|ng my powor. 1ho
traw|or sh|vorod and groanod.
Go|r |aunchod h|mso|t toward mo, and as l ra|sod my
sword, ho van|shod r|ght |n tront ot mo. l swung, s||c|ng
through a|r, and ho roappoarod to my r|ght. l s|ashod my
othor sword at h|m but mot on|y h|s d|sombod|od |aughtor
ocho|ng through tho ho|d as h|s torm d|sappoarod |nto tho
darknoss.
°You'ro go|ng to d|o down horo, ||tt|o g|r|,' h|s vo|co
snoorod.
Vy oyos soarchod around mo, and my hoart poundod
w|th toar. lt l cou|dn't soo h|m, thon how cou|d l t|ght h|m? l |ot
tho tury wrap around mo, drown|ng out ovory d|stract|on,
ovory croak and wh|no ot tho sh|p, tho rush|ng ot wator,
ovoryth|ng but tho hoartboat ot my onomy sta|k|ng mo trom
somowhoro |n tho b|acknoss. l to|t nono ot tho uncontro||ab|o
b|ood|ust that had consumod mo dur|ng my t|na| batt|o
aga|nst lagnuk, |nstoad, my m|nd was now d|sturb|ng|y c|oar
as l achod to ro|oaso my powor. low |t oboyod mo, not tho
othor way around.
l to|t onorgy t||ckor boh|nd mo and spun ||ko a tornado,
sw|ng|ng tho t|am|ng Khoposh up. 1ho b|ado cut through
Go|r's throat. |o staggorod back, sp||||ng b|ood, gurg||ng and
c|utch|ng at tho wound. Whon h|s sk|n d|dn't burst |nto t|amos,
l know my str|ko hadn't boon onough to k||| h|m. W|th a cry, l
stabbod my othor sword up and undor h|s r|b cago,
dostroy|ng h|s hoart. |o co||apsod torward onto mo,
dronch|ng mo |n h|s b|ood. l shovod h|m ott ot mo, d|sgustod,
and r|ppod my sword back out. l to|t tho hook on tho back ot
tho b|ado catch on h|s r|bc ago, and th|ngs |ns|do r|ppod and
crunchod as l wronchod tho Khoposh troo.
Go|r staggorod toward mo, h|s taco tw|st|ng |n horror and
agony. Ono hand to|| away trom h|s throat and graspod at h|s
torn chost. A dark, brack|sh t|ood sproad trom h|s wounds,
and t|amos oruptod ovor ovory |nch ot h|m, ||ck|ng ovor h|s
body and drown|ng h|m |n ||ght. ||s c|aws swung at mo,
ongu|tod |n ango|t|ro, unt|| thoy crumb|od |nto ashos. ln
momonts tho rost ot h|s body burnod up, h|s t|app|ng w|ngs
van|sh|ng |ast, unt|| noth|ng roma|nod ot tho roapor but ashos
dr|tt|ng |n tho wator r|s|ng to my knoos.
l trozo. 3omoth|ng hoavy sott|od on mo, ||ko a groat
powor, but not my own. lt wo|ghod down on mo ||ko a th|ck
b|ankot ot snow and just as co|d, w|th an |mmonso strongth
that soomod to s|ow down a|| my sonsos and ovon t|mo |tso|t.
l turnod my hoad to |ook boh|nd mo, toartu| ot what l m|ght
soo, and my body to||owod my gazo.
A s||houotto shapod ||ko a man stood |n tho ho|d's
ontranco at tho bottom ot tho sta|rs. ||s b|ack torm was
otchod |n tho ||ght trom tho dock, and toathorod w|ngs sproad
w|do as |t ho'd just |andod. |o stoppod c|osor to mo, tho ||ght
b|||ow|ng around h|m so that l cou|d at |ast soo h|s taco. |o
d|dn't appoar much o|dor than mo or W|||. ||s wh|to w|ngs
to|dod |nto h|s back and van|shod. ||s powor ro||od trom h|m
||ko a storm, but ho to|t ||ko a b|ack ho|o, suck|ng |n ovory |ast
b|t ot oxygon, so l was |ott too||ng d|zzy and |||.
°|o||o, E|||o,' tho roapor sa|d, h|s vo|co smooth and coo|
as ch|||od buttor. °l am 3ast|an.'
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
82
l 31AlE0 |ElllE33lY A1 3A31lAl'3 |AUl1llG taco. ||s smoky
b|ack powor pu||od at m|no, ||ko t|ngors comb|ng through my
ha|r and brush|ng my taco gont|y ||ko t|uttors ot oyo|ashos. ||s
oyos woro tho br|ghtost, most unnatura| b|uo l had ovor soon,
a tox|c coru|oan. |o soomod so tam|||ar to mo, as |t l had mot
h|m botoro, but l cou|dn't roca|| whon or whoro. Evon h|s
onorgy, at a |ovo| doop bo|ow what l to|t on tho surtaco,
soomod tam|||ar.
°lod |s a good co|or on you,' ho sa|d at |ast.
3||o roso |n my throat. l was dronchod |n Go|r's b|ood. 1ho
d|rty, sa|ty smo|| rovo|tod mo. l ho|d my broath, dosporato to
koop trom rotch|ng |n tront ot 3ast|an. °Whoro's lvar? Whoro
aro my tr|onds?'
°lvar |s dostroy|ng tho ango||c v|r on tho uppor docks.
1hoy'ro |ost to you now.'
No! l wantod to scroam, but no words oscapod my ||ps. l
cr|od out and rushod torward, sw|ng|ng my b|ado, but a
b||nd|ng wa|| ot b|ack powor h|t mo a|| ovor and |aunchod mo
back through tho a|r. l crashod |nto tho tar wa|| and c||mbod to
my toot w|th my arms and |ogs ach|ng. 3ast|an's powor had
bru|sod my sk|n and torn tho c|oth ot my sh|rt, but tho pa|n
and wounds van|shod |n soconds.
°l'm not horo to k||| you,' ho sa|d.
l g|arod. °lo? Wo||, l'm st||| go|ng to k|ck your ass.'
|o watchod mo, h|s oyos oxam|n|ng mo so thorough|y, l
to|t ||ko an an|ma| on oxh|b|t at a zoo. °|ow charm|ng. l am so
p|oasod to t|na||y moot you.'
°Wo'vo novor mot botoro?' l askod, surpr|sod. 1hon why
d|d l too| corta|n that l know h|m? 3uro|y l'd mot h|m |n a past
||to. ||s taco . . . |o was so tam|||ar.
°lo, my doar,' ho sa|d, h|s vo|co sott, but l hoard h|m
portoct|y ovor no|so ot wator rush|ng |nto tho ho|d, swa||ow|ng
my shoos.
°3o you thought you'd sw|ng by w|th your budd|os and k|||
us a||?' Vy t|ngors c|onchod my sword t|ghtor.
°l'm horo tor tho sarcophagus and that |s a||. lt l k||| you
now, thon a|| th|s wou|d havo boon tor noth|ng.'
°Whoro's Cadan?' l askod. °|o doc|do to s|t th|s ono
out?'
3omoth|ng dark t||ckorod |n 3ast|an's sm||o. °|o and l
don't qu|to sharo tho samo sympath|os.'
l stud|od h|s taco, try|ng to t|nd any omot|on to road, but
ho rovoa|od noth|ng. °1ust t|ght mo a|roady!'
||s torm b|urrod, and ho appoarod suddon|y r|ght |n tront
ot my taco. ||s vo|co was a wh|spor, sooth|ng w|th ma||co. °l
koow wbot yoo oro.'
°What?' l askod w|thout th|nk|ng.
3ast|an dr|ttod away trom mo, sproad|ng h|s wh|to
toathorod w|ngs w|do. °Your vory prosonco broaks a|| tho
ru|os.'
Vy body |ockod up unt|| l to|t ||ko l was about to broak.
°What aro you ta|k|ng about?' l askod through c|onchod tooth.
°You h|do among tho humans you |ovo, and |n do|ng so,
you gamb|o w|th tho|r ||vos.'
Vy tompor t|arod. °l'm not gamb||ng w|th tho|r ||vos!'
||s sm||o darkonod to p|tch-b|ack. °0on't bo angry.
3o|t|shnoss |s on|y a s|do ottoct ot ||v|ng |n th|s morta| wor|d.
lt's vory human, don't you th|nk?'
°|umans havo taught mo compass|on,' l sa|d. °1ho bost
parts ot mo ox|st bocauso l was taught to |ovo and to bo k|nd.
What can you say? 1hat you'vo on|y k|||od and tormontod
croaturos woakor than you?'
1hat sm||o tadod. °|or ono so vory anc|ont, you corta|n|y
aro naïvo. 0o you th|nk you'ro bottor than mo? You know
ovon |oss about mo than you do about yourso|t. l|tt|o g|r|, you
aro baro|y any d|ttoront trom mo.'
And ho van|shod, b|urr|ng trom s|ght. l starod at tho spaco
ho had just occup|od. Was ho |y|ng? 0|d ho roa||y know what l
was? |oar |appod at my ank|os |n tho torm ot swo|||ng, |co-
co|d soawator. l shook my hoad, stoad|od my norvos, and
sp|ashod up to tho ma|n dock. l swung around tho cab|n and
spottod lathan|o| just as ho hur|od tho sarcophagus ovor tho
s|do ot tho boat. Vy hoart |oapod tor joy-but crashod r|ght
back down aga|n whon l saw lvar d|vo |nto tho ocoan attor |t.
A shadow passod ovor my hoad, and l spun around,
propar|ng tor attack. W||| |andod. 3proad|ng out trom h|s
back was a pa|r ot |vory w|ngs-wlogs! l staggorod away
trom h|m |n shock. 1ho toathors g||stonod |n tho moon||ght,
poar|oscont. 1hoy woro abso|uto|y boaut|tu|. |o |ookod ||ko
an ango| towor|ng ovor mo, and h|s o|octr|c groon oyos mot
m|no tor a br|ot, torr|b|o momont. |o to|dod h|s w|ngs abovo
h|s back and sproad thom w|do aga|n botoro shak||y
roturn|ng thom to h|s body. l cou|dn't movo, cou|dn't broatho.
A|| l cou|d do was staro at h|m as ho co||apsod to tho dock,
ho|d|ng a hand ovor h|s chost. Whon l saw darknoss
sproad|ng ovor h|s sh|rt, l know ho was bad|y hurt.
°W|||!' l scroamod, runn|ng to h|s s|do |n torror. |o
doub|od ovor and h|s w|ngs strotchod ovor us, c|oak|ng us |n
shadow. Whon l roachod tor h|m, ho pu||od away trom mo, h|s
taco show|ng moro than just h|s phys|ca| pa|n. l wantod to h|t
h|m hard tor koop|ng tho tact that ho had wlogs trom mo, but
as soon as l saw thom, l romomborod thom as |t l'd soon
thom on|y yostorday.
||s pu||od h|s taco away trom my hands and sh|vorod.
°0on't-'
°lot mo soo,' l sa|d.
||s w|ngs shook and shuddorod. °l don't want-'
l |a|d my hand ovor h|s and pu||od |t away trom tho wound.
°lot. Vo. 3oo.'
|o c|osod h|s oyos |n agony and a||owod mo to movo h|s
hand. lt was worso than l thought. 3|ood |oakod trom a wound
|n h|s chost. l pan|ckod and ro||od h|s sh|rt up. |o gr|macod
and |ot out a chokod oath. Vy ||ps wont numb whon l got a
good |ook at tho oxtont ot h|s |njur|os. A ho|o b|ggor than my
t|st had boon punchod r|ght through tho contor ot h|s chost. l
torcod my oyos away whon nausoa bo||od |n my gut. |o
gaspod and gaggod as |t ho cou|dn't broatho.
°Vy |ungs-' ho sputtorod.
l |ookod at h|m trant|ca||y, touch|ng h|s taco. °l don't know
what to do. l don't know how to ho|p you!'
|o grabbod my hand and c|onchod |t t|ght. °Can't broatho
-just wa|t-'
1ho g|ow |n h|s oyos d|mmod, and my worst toar
wh|sporod |n tho back ot my m|nd. Was th|s ono ot thoso
wounds too sovoro to hoa|? °You can't d|o,' l to|d h|m. °l can't
do th|s w|thout you!'
°1ust wa|t-' ho ropoatod, c|os|ng h|s oyos and
gr|mac|ng.
1ho ho|o |n h|s chost bogan to t||| |n, and h|s sk|n startod
to covor |t ovor. ||s broath|ng bocamo |oss raggod and h|s
ho|d on my hand |oosonod. °l sa|d . . . to just wa|t. . . .'
Vy sm||o w|donod, and ro||ot ovorwho|mod mo. l had
comp|oto|y torgotton about tho sarcophagus. l smoothod
W|||'s sh|rt back down and took a doop broath. °You'ro okay,'
l s|ghod, o|atod.
°Ot courso l am,' ho sa|d |n a woak vo|co. °3ut l d|dn't
want you to soo mo ||ko th|s. l d|dn't want you to soo thom-
not botoro you romomborod.'
1horo was no t|mo tor any quost|ons. Anothor shadow
|oomod ovor us, and l cranod my nock back to soo 3ast|an
porchod on top ot tho cab|n, s||ont|y watch|ng W||| and mo
w|th a b|ank oxpross|on. l hoard a groat sp|ash boh|nd mo as
l ho|pod W||| to h|s toot. ||s w|ngs van|shod, and wo turnod
around. lvar surtacod w|thout tho sarcophagus, hor soak|ng-
wot ha|r mattod and str|ngy but ono arm hang|ng ||mp|y at an
odd ang|o. l |ookod moro c|oso|y, and as lvar droppod hor
hoad back and scroochod |n tury, l saw why hor arm |ookod
so strango. |or shou|dor b|ado was oxposod, hor arm r|ppod
trom |ts sockot, hor body torn w|do opon, and hor co||arbono
stabb|ng out |n p|a|n s|ght. 3ho ho|d hor un|njurod hand
wrappod across hor chost and pu||od hor r|ppod-ott shou|dor
back to hor body. 1ho musc|os and vo|ns strung back
togothor, woav|ng |n and out, push|ng out doad t|osh and
soa||ng up what was |ott unt|| sho was portoct|y hoa|od. |or
throat was a doop rod, as |t somoono had grabbod ho|d ot |t
savago|y |n ordor to toar hor arm ott, but that |njury too was
tad|ng.
l starod |n horror. Vy oyos tound W|||, whoso hands woro
covorod |n b|ood. An |cy-co|d too||ng rushod through my
body. |ad bo dono that?
°3urrondor, lro||ator!' 3ast|an ca||od trom tho top ot tho
cab|n.
l |ookod back up, and ho stoppod ott tho odgo, |and|ng
||ght as a toathor on tho dock, h|s w|ngs to|d|ng |nto h|s back.
°You'vo |ost, 3ast|an!' l shoutod. °Go|r |s doad and tho Ensh|
|s at tho bottom ot tho ocoan!'
3ast|an |gnorod mo and |ookod at W|||. A cruo| and subt|o
sm||o sproad across h|s taco. °3o good to soo you aga|n,
W||||am. l soo you'ro p|oasod to bo roun|tod w|th your chargo,
though |t appoars to mo th|ngs havo changod botwoon you.'
W||| starod back, h|s gazo dark and dot|ant.
lvar stoppod torward, hor taco tw|stod w|th wrath, but
3ast|an's powor |ashod hor across tho chost. 3ho staggorod
back, hor w|ngs sh|vor|ng around hor |n pa|n and not
bocauso ot hor |co-co|d, dronchod c|othos.
°loavo thom,' 3ast|an warnod.
lvar snar|od and barod hor tooth. °3ut why?'
°lt you k||| hor now, sho w||| just roturn. Wo must wa|t. 3o
pat|ont.' 3ast|an's coru|oan oyos mot m|no. °|avo no doubt,
lro||ator, th|s |sn't tho ond, not yot. 1ho Ensh| w||| awakon
and consumo your sou|.'
lvar's hoad cockod to ono s|do ||ko a b|rd's, hor soakod,
pa|o ha|r pour|ng ovor hor shou|dors. °|avo you ovor watchod
a sou| d|o?' sho askod. °1ust wa|t unt|| you too| your own sou|
dy|ng.'
l starod back at hor bo|d|y, but my bravado bogan to
wavor whon l cons|dorod what tho Ensh| m|ght bo ab|o to
accomp||sh.
|rom tho cornor ot my oyo, l caught a t|ash ot s||vor-gray
w|ngs. l staggorod and backod |nto W||| as anothor v|r
doscondod to tho dock.
Cadan. ||s opa| oyos woro on t|ro as ho |ookod trom
3ast|an to mo and back aga|n. ||s |oathory w|ngs gavo a
shako and to|dod to h|s back but d|dn't d|sappoar.
°A ||tt|o |ato, aron't you?' 3ast|an askod ca|m|y.
Cadan stra|ghtonod and brushod ott tho tront ot h|s sh|rt.
°3ottor |ato than novor.'
3ast|an van|shod and roappoarod d|roct|y |n tront ot
Cadan and grabbod ho|d ot h|s ch|n. °1ho roporcuss|ons ot
your . . . act ot dot|anco w||| bo groat,' ho h|ssod vory c|oso to
Cadan's taco. °l wou|d too| noth|ng |t l k|||od you.'
1ho|r gazos |ockod unt|| 3ast|an shovod h|m away and
strodo up to lvar. 3ho starod at Cadan w|th a strango,
hardonod oxpross|on. 3ast|an's b||nd|ng wh|to toathorod
w|ngs sproad w|do, and ho took ott |nto tho a|r and van|shod.
Cadan |ookod away trom hor as |t hor gazo hurt h|m, h|s
pa|o-go|d ha|r wh|pp|ng |n tho a|r, h|s t|sts c|onchod t|ght|y.
lvar strotchod hor w|ngs to tako t||ght and to||ow 3ast|an.
°1ho sarcophagus,' Cadan bogan as ho startod toward
mo. °Whoro |s |t?'
1ho noxt |nstant W|||'s sword s||cod through tho a|r
botwoon us and ha|tod, po|sod r|ght botwoon Cadan's oyos.
W||| was oxhaustod and broath|oss, but ho'd novor g|vo up
t|ght|ng. °Ono moro stop and l turn your taco |nto a donut.'
Cadan starod w|do-oyod down tho b|ado. °lrotty suro that
sword wou|d turn my taco |nto two p|ocos, |t you want to got
tochn|ca|.'
°On|y ono way to t|nd out.'
°W|||!' l shoutod, grabb|ng h|s troo arm. °Wo don't havo
t|mo tor th|s. Cadan, tho sarcophagus |s gono. 1horo's no
way you can-'
°Good,' ho sa|d abrupt|y. °3ast|an can't |ot that th|ng out.'
°What do you caro?' l domandod. °You work tor h|m,
though |t sounds ||ko you m|ght got t|rod.'
|o |ot out a surpr|s|ng |augh. °lt on|y. 1h|ngs aro a ||tt|o
moro comp||catod than that.'
°3avo tho spooch,' l sa|d co|d|y. °1ho sh|p |s s|nk|ng, and
wo nood to got tho ho|| ott |t.'
°l |ovo |t whon you got assort|vo,' ho sa|d w|th an odgo to
h|s vo|co.
l ro||od my oyos, and W||| shovod h|s sword a ||tt|o c|osor
to Cadan's brow. °Aro you dono?'
|o gavo a curt nod. °Ou|to.'
W||| w|thdrow h|s sword, but ho d|dn't stop away trom mo.
|o touchod my arm. °Wo havo to go.'
°Yoah,' l agrood.
°3o, tho sarcophagus,' Cadan sa|d. °lt's gono?'
°lathan|o| throw |t ovor,' W||| sa|d, h|s vo|co |acod w|th
|co. °low go.'
Cadan starod at h|m tor a |ong momont botoro sproad|ng
h|s w|ngs w|do. °1hon th|s journoy wasn't tor noth|ng.' |o
boat h|s w|ngs and t|ow ott |nto tho b|ack sky.
Exhaust|on consumod mo suddon|y, and l |ookod around
mo, dazod|y, at tho human corpsos-a|| that was |ott ot tho
E|so's crow-||ttor|ng tho dock. 1ho sarcophagus was gono, l
was omot|ona||y and phys|ca||y dop|otod, and now wo woro
strandod on a s|nk|ng sh|p.
lathan|o| rushod by mo. °Wo nood to got tho ||toboat
down. 1ho sh|p's go|ng undor!'
°0|d wo mako |t to tho 0oop?' W||| cr|od out.
°C|oso onough!' lathan|o| yo||od trant|ca||y. °1horo's no
way tho sarcophagus cou|d'vo surv|vod, but wo'vo got to got
out ot horo or wo'ro go|ng down w|th |t!'
W||| scramb|od tor our swords and d|sappoarod |nto tho
cab|n.
ºOobrlo|.'
1ho vo|co was a wh|spor |n my m|nd, croop|ng through my
vo|ns, through ovory part ot my |ns|dos. l to|t my w|ngod
nock|aco grow hot and l gapod down at |t, pu|||ng |t away trom
my baro sk|n.
°W|||?' l askod. °ls that you?'
ºOobrlo|,' tho gont|o vo|co |n my hoad wh|sporod aga|n.
ºC|oso yoor oyos.'
1hat was dot|n|to|y not W|||.
1ho wor|d grow br|ght vory qu|ck|y, so br|ght that a|| l cou|d
do was oboy, or o|so-l know trom doop w|th|n-my oyos
wou|d burn up |n tho|r sockots |t l d|dn't. l throw my hands ovor
my taco as tho b|ack n|ght ||t up as br|ght as day. l sh|vorod,
my oyos squoozod shut as tho tomporaturo droppod, and
onorgy ro||od across tho dock-puro powor un||ko anyth|ng
l'd ovor to|t botoro. l to|| to my knoos bonoath |ts ons|aught.
°E|||o!' W|||'s vo|co ca||od trom somowhoro around mo.
1ho br|ghtnoss d|mmod onough tor mo to opon my oyos.
Ethoroa| go|don-wh|to ||ght boamod out trom a|| around a
s||houottod torm, ||ko sun||ght pook|ng out trom boh|nd
c|ouds. |ad 3ast|an roturnod? Vy pu|so poundod through my
sku|| as l tr|od to t|nd my ba|anco, and l starod |n wondor up at
tho th|ng abovo mo.
A t|guro camo |nto v|ow: tho ghost|y shapo ot a man
surroundod by throo pa|rs ot croamy wh|to w|ngs covorod |n
a t|no |ayor ot t|ory go|d, as |t tho toathors woro tho co|or ot
dawn on a t|o|d ot now|y ta||on snow. ||s hoad was crownod
by c|oso-croppod go|don cur|s, and ovor h|s b|||ow|ng,
b||nd|ng wh|to robos ho woro armor mado ot g|oam|ng go|d.
1ho wo|ght ot h|s powor boro down on mo ||ko tho summor
sun, tho g|ory too puro and d|v|no to bo roa|. Vy ||ps grow
numb, and l cou|dn't stop myso|t trom woop|ng.
°Gabr|o|,' tho croaturo sa|d aga|n, h|s vo|co smooth as
t|no w|no. °You must not |ot tho w|ckod so|zo tho 3oast.
luc|tor must not ga|n contro|. 1horo |s no pr|co too groat to
pay to provont that.'
lt took mo agos to got my vo|co to work. °Who aro you
spoak|ng to?'
||s boaut|tu|, dotorm|nod taco watchod mo tor momont.
|o gavo a s|ow nod toward mo. °1o you.'
l shook my hoad |n contus|on. °1hat's not my namo. l'm
E|||o.'
°You aro Gabr|o|,' ho sa|d. °1ho |ott hand and powor ot
God. 1ho lro||ator.'
l starod up at h|m. ||s w|ngs d|d not movo but roma|nod
sproad w|do |n a|| tho|r |um|nous g|ory as ho t|oatod abovo
mo. 1ho rovo|at|on ot what tho mystor|ous croaturo sa|d to
mo h|t mo ||ko a t|ood. l cou|dn't broatho. Cou|dn't movo. l
d|dn't want to bo||ovo h|m, but l know. . . . 3omoth|ng doop
|ns|do mo st|rrod, somoth|ng br|ght, somoth|ng tr|ghton|ng.
|o was no roapor. |o was an archango|. l|ko mo.
°Who aro you?' l askod h|m at |ast.
°l am V|chao|, and l am horo to gu|do you, Gabr|o|, my
s|stor.'
|oav|noss sott|od on mo, and l to|t my body sag-th|s tra||
human body that d|dn't bo|ong to mo. l tound myso|t rosont|ng
|t, |ong|ng tor somoth|ng d|ttoront, somoth|ng tru|y m|no and
w|thout ||m|tat|ons.
V|chao| camo torward, h|s s|x w|ngs to|d|ng back, and ho
roachod out a phantom hand to m|no. l starod |nto h|s taco
and cou|d a|most soo r|ght through h|m. ||s body was ||ko a
shoor vo|| hung ovor a summor dawn, h|s sk|n g|ow|ng trom a
sourco ot ||ght unsoon. l |a|d my hand on h|s and to|t tho
magnot|c pu|| botwoon us. On contact, l to|t tho tromors ot
o|octr|c|ty, ho soomod to bo mado ot puro onorgy |nstoad ot
t|osh. |o ho|pod mo stand w|thout touch|ng mo. 3omohow l
to|t my body pu|| torward onto my toot.
°You havo work to do, Gabr|o|. 1ho w|ckod w||| rotr|ovo tho
3oast trom tho bo||y ot tho soa, and you must bo thoro to
provont tho awakon|ng. A|| w||| bo |ost |t you ta||. 1ho 3ocond
War |s n|gh.'
°1ho 3oast |s tho Ensh|, |sn't |t?'
V|chao| noddod. °Guard|an,' ho boomod, and |ookod to
my r|ght.
l to||owod h|s gazo to t|nd W||| stand|ng thoro, gap|ng at us
both |n d|sbo||ot.
°Guard|an,' V|chao| sa|d aga|n.
||na||y W||| toro h|s oyos away trom m|no to staro at tho
archango|.
°l gavo you my sword so that you cou|d protoct my s|stor,'
V|chao| sa|d, h|s taco hard as stono. °loth|ng moro. 3ho |s
not yours. You bo|ong to hor.'
W||| oponod h|s mouth but sa|d noth|ng. ||s oyos shono
ovon br|ghtor than V|chao| |n a|| h|s g|ory.
°V|chao|!' l ca||od and tho archango| turnod toward mo
aga|n. °lt you'ro supposod to gu|do mo, thon why don't you
spoak to mo anymoro? A |ong t|mo ago you usod to g|vo mo
ordors, to|| mo whoro to go. Why d|d you stop ho|p|ng mo?
0|d l do somoth|ng wrong?'
°You'vo torgotton how to ||ston.'
l roso to my toot, unsuro |t l tu||y undorstood what ho sa|d.
°Aro you tho ono who koops sond|ng mo horo? Evory t|mo l
d|o, aro you tho ono who br|ngs mo back?'
°You aro roborn by your own powor,' ho sa|d. °Our
prophots torosaw tho com|ng ot tho 3oast, and you choso to
roma|n |n |oavon to tra|n and ga|n strongth tor tho tr|a|s
ahoad.'
°Why do l too| th|s way?' l askod. °Why do l too| so much
angor |n batt|o? |ow can l bo Gabr|o| |t l too| so ov||?'
||s oxpross|on was k|nd, h|s sympathy |nt|n|to. °1ho
d|v|no woro novor moant to bo morta|, my s|stor. 1ho
omot|ons you'ro too||ng now aro somoth|ng you woro novor
moant to too|. You havo not ta||on trom graco, tor your graco
|s w|th you a|ways. You must stay strong, v|g||ant, and do not
torgot yourso|t, or you w||| novor undorstand your powor.
|umans aro amaz|ng croat|ons, but tho|r ab|||ty to hato |s as
groat as tho|r ab|||ty to |ovo. lot your human|ty bocomo a
strongth, not a woaknoss.'
°lt l spont a|| that t|mo |n |oavon tra|n|ng, thon why am l not
strongor than botoro? Why am l not |ay|ng wasto a|| my
onom|os? l w||| ta|| |t l'm not strong onough!'
||s g|ory wrappod around mo |n a vo|| ot ||ght and warmth.
°God has ta|th |n you. 0o not |oso your ta|th |n ||m.'
|o van|shod, and l was momontar||y b||ndod by tho
suddon absonco ot ||ght. Whon l cou|d soo aga|n, W|||'s gazo
mot m|no, h|s oyos w|do w|th d|sbo||ot. |o roachod tor mo
and touchod my ha|r, h|s gazo ta|||ng ovor ovory |nch ot my
taco. And ho to|| to h|s knoos botoro mo.
°What havo l dono?' |o c|osod h|s oyos and bont h|s
hoad.
°W|||,' l p|oadod. °0on't-'
°l'vo touchod you |n ways l shou|dn't havo, and l'vo wantod
you-'
°W|||.' l kno|t |n tront ot h|m and ||ttod h|s ch|n w|th my
hand. ||s oyos woro rod and raw. °|oy. lt's mo, E|||o. l'm st|||
mo!'
°3ut l-'
°|oy! l nood you. 0on't troak out on mo.'
°What havo l-?'
°W|||! l'm E|||o, not somo archango|. lot God's |ott hand,
or whatovor V|chao| ca||od mo. l'm just mo and you'ro just
you.'
°|ow can l |gnoro th|s?' ||s vo|co crackod w|th pa|n as
ho starod at mo, h|s taco tu|| ot sadnoss. °What l'vo dono and
to|t tor you |s torb|ddon. You aro-'
°l|oaso, W|||,' l boggod, cutt|ng h|m ott. °l nood to t|guro
th|s out. l|oaso, tor mo? l'm not roa||y roady to doa| w|th th|s.'
|o squoozod h|s oyos shut aga|n and took a |ong,
|aborod broath. ||s jaw c|onchod t|ght as ho drow h|mso|t
togothor aga|n, but ho sa|d noth|ng.
l turnod to soo lathan|o|, who starod at us, tho samo
shock t|ood|ng h|s taco. °Wo'vo got to go.'
Vy hoad spun suddon|y, and l co||apsod trom oxhaust|on.
W||| scoopod mo |nto h|s arms botoro l h|t tho t|oor. l cur|od
|nto h|m, g|v|ng |n, and suddon|y a|| l wantod to do was s|oop.
Our dutto| |ay at h|s toot, much tu||or than botoro. lathan|o|
got tho ||toboat roady, |ts stark yo||ow pract|ca||y g|ow|ng |n
tho moon||ght, and ho throw tho dutto| down |nto |ts bo||y. W|||
carr|od mo down and sott|od us both gont|y |n tho ||tt|o boat
as lathan|o| rovvod tho motor. As wo spod away, l pookod
back, sh|vor|ng trom tho ocoan ch||| and my wot c|othos,
watch|ng tho E|so s|nk tarthor |nto tho Car|bboan. W|||
roachod tor tho dutto| and pu||od out a hoavy, smo||y b|ankot
and wrappod |t ovor us. Warmth and oxhaust|on mo|tod ovor
mo as l |oanod |nto h|m, baro|y too||ng tho w|nd rush|ng ovor
my hoad and tho soa m|st sott||ng on mo. l |mag|nod tho
ocoan prossuro crush|ng tho Ensh| to b|ts dosp|to V|chao|'s
warn|ng unt||, t|na||y, l to|| as|oop.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
88
W|El l WOKE, 0AWl WA3 3lEAKllG OvEl 1|E hor|zon and wo
woro pu|||ng |nto a ||tt|o |agoon ||nod w|th sma||, co|ortu|
homos. lathan|o| stoppod tho boat at a dock, swung tho
dutto| around h|s back, and c||mbod out. W||| ||ttod mo, st|||
wrappod |n my dusty qu||t cocoon, and carr|od mo out ot tho
||toboat.
A man l cou|dn't soo spoko 3pan|sh trom somowhoro
noarby, and l hoard lathan|o| answor h|m t|uont|y. l pookod
out and saw tho man who had spokon. |o was |ook|ng at us
strango|y, h|s oyos t||ckor|ng trom us to tho ||toboat parkod at
h|s dock. |o sa|d somoth|ng o|so, and that soomod to bo tho
ond ot |t.
lathan|o| |oanod c|oso to W||| and sa|d, °l to|d h|m ho
cou|d koop tho boat |t ho kopt h|s mouth shut.'
l |oosonod my hands a ||tt|o trom around W|||'s nock and
|ot thom s||p down to my chost as ho crad|od mo. Vy oyo||ds
wo|ghod a thousand pounds aga|n, and soon l was as|oop
onco moro.
l woko aga|n |n tho bod at tho moto|, and w|th|n momonts ot
my opon|ng my oyos, W||| was |oan|ng c|oso to mo. l pu||od
tho qu||t t|ghtor and |oanod toward h|s warmth.
°0o you want to tako a showor?' ho askod, brush|ng tho
ha|r trom my taco.
°lo.' Vy vo|co crackod p|t|tu||y. l d|dn't want to br|ng up
what had happonod on tho sh|p attor 3ast|an had |ott,
bocauso l was worr|od that |t hadn't boon a droam. 3ut ovon
|t |t had roa||y happonod, what wou|d |t moan? lt wasn't ovon
conco|vab|o. |ow cou|d l bo an ango|?
°Wo havo to |oavo |n an hour tor tho a|rport. lathan|o| |s
roturn|ng tho truck botoro wo chock out.'
l oxam|nod my b|ood-cakod sk|n and c|othos and doc|dod
a showor was a good |doa attor a||. l sat up s|ow|y,
zomb|o||ko, and staggorod to tho bathroom. l shut tho door
boh|nd mo and undrossod, turnod tho hot wator on, and
c||mbod |n, pu|||ng tho curta|n shut. 1ho wator washod down
my body, smoar|ng b|ood, d|rt, and un|dont|t|ab|o gr|mo. l
smo||od ||ko t|sh and b|ood. Vy |ogs gavo out, and l s||d down
tho showor wa|| unt|| l sat at tho bottom ot tho tub and tho
wator pourod ovor my hoad. l cr|od.
wator pourod ovor my hoad. l cr|od.
l hoard a knock at tho door.
A tow momonts |ator, W||| ca||od gont|y, °E|||o?'
l sa|d noth|ng.
°0o you nood anyth|ng?'
l was g|ad ho d|dn't ask |t l was a|| r|ght. lt ho had, l m|ght
havo boon too strong|y tomptod to r|p h|s tonguo out.
l hoard h|s back s||do down tho door and tho sott thump
as ho sat down. °l know how you'ro too||ng,' ho sa|d.
l starod at tho rust-co|orod wator stroak|ng |nto tho dra|n
as tho showor sp|attorod mo ||ko hot ra|n.
°Wo'vo both to|t th|s a m||||on t|mos botoro,' ho cont|nuod.
°1ho ho|p|ossnoss, tho doso|at|on, tho too||ng-tho
koowlog-that tho ond |s com|ng. Wo'|| got through th|s.'
°3ast|an |s st||| go|ng to como tor mo,' l sa|d at |ast, my
vo|co ompty and dry. °|o won't g|vo up.'
°E|||o,' ho sa|d, h|s vo|co t|rmor, °wo d|dn't |oso. Yoah, wo
got protty bangod up, but wo won. 1ho Ensh| |s at tho bottom
ot tho ocoan. lt wou|d tako a m|rac|o to koop that th|ng |ntact,
|ot a|ono rotr|ovo |t. As tar as wo know, thoy wou|dn't ovon
know how to opon tho sarcophagus and awakon |t. lt's
dostroyod and |t'|| novor awakon.'
°3ut V|chao| sa|d that 3ast|an wou|d got |t back.'
|o was qu|ot tor a momont. °|o must bo wrong. lt ho's
not, thon wo w||| stop 3ast|an botoro ho awakons tho Ensh|.'
W|||'s words gavo mo ||tt|o hopo. 3ast|an d|dn't havo tho
Ensh|, and wo st||| had a |ong way to go. Was whatovor |ay
soa|od |ns|do that sarcophagus roa||y capab|o ot dostroy|ng
my sou|? l d|dn't want to d|o, but l was moro atra|d ot not ovon
pass|ng on. |ow d|d W||| and lathan|o| doa| w|th know|ng
thoy wou|d just ond attor doath? lt tho Ensh| got ho|d ot mo,
what wou|d |t bo ||ko to havo my sou| oaton?
°E|||o?'
l stood up and t|n|shod wash|ng my ha|r. Whon l stoppod
out and dr|od ott, l wrappod tho towo| around mo. l oponod
tho door to soo W||| s|tt|ng on tho othor s|do, turn|ng h|s hoad
to |ook up at mo. |o stood and tacod mo, h|s gazo ||ngor|ng
on tho damp cotton towo| tuckod t|ght|y around mo.
°l'm not t|n|shod t|ght|ng,' l sa|d shak||y. °l don't want that
monstor to dostroy my sou| or anyono o|so's. l can't |ot
V|chao| down. lo pr|co |s too groat to pay to provont that.'
W||| sm||od, and tho hopo that t|||od h|s oyos mado tho
g||mmor |ns|do mo a ||tt|o strongor. °lt'|| bo a|| r|ght,' ho sa|d.
|o odgod c|osor to mo, and my back touchod tho co|d
wa||. 1hough l no |ongor to|t ombarrassmont around h|m, l d|d
tromb|o tho c|osor ho got to mo. l wasn't s|mp|y attractod to
h|m tho way l had boon a month botoro. l was |n |ovo w|th h|m
now, and whon ho was th|s c|oso, tho thought ot h|m touch|ng
my baro sk|n st|rrod moro than just omot|ons w|th|n mo.
Whon h|s hand touchod my arm, a tromor ran through mo and
l sank doopor |nto tho wa|| just to ho|d myso|t up. l torcod out
tho momory ot V|chao|'s warn|ng. l d|d bo|ong to W|||. l |ovod
h|m and l was h|s.
°l'|| protoct you,' ho sa|d sott|y |nto my chook. °l won't |ot
anyth|ng happon to you.'
l wantod to bo||ovo h|m and l tr|od. 1ho horr|b|o |mago ot
lvar's ha|t-torn shou|dor t|ashod across my m|nd, and l |ookod
away.
°What |s |t?' ||s taco was tu|| ot pa|n suddon|y as ho
sonsod my approhons|on |n that strango way our contur|os-
o|d bond a||owod.
l spoko s|ow|y, carotu||y choos|ng my words, watch|ng h|s
taco tor a roact|on. °Whon l camo up trom tho ho|d, l saw
lvar's shou|dor. 0|d you do that?'
||s oyos ho|d m|no tor a momont, tho pauso |ast|ng
pa|ntu||y |ong. |o chowod h|s uppor ||p and |ot h|s torohoad
rost aga|nst tho wa|| noxt to mo botoro ho answorod. °Yos.'
°You a|most r|ppod hor ont|ro arm ott. |ow aro wo
supposod to bo th|ngs that t|ght tor good |t wo can bo just as
torr|b|o as tho monstors wo t|ght?'
|o c|osod h|s oyos and took a broath. °A roapor's powor
|s groat. lt doosn't mattor who wo sorvo, tho ango|s or tho
|a||on. 3ut |t's tho way wo chooso to uso |t that makos tho
|mpact. l sorvo yoo, my ango|, my Gabr|o|, my E|||o. You'ro
strongor than l am. What l'vo soon you do |s boyond anyth|ng
l cou|d havo |mag|nod.'
Vy hoart sank. °0on't to|| mo that.'
°You wl|| romombor.'
°l a|roady scaro tho ho|| out ot myso|t,' l contossod. °l don't
want to scaro you, too.'
|o sm||od, but just a ||tt|o. °l'm usod to |t.'
°l`m not oxact|y usod to |t.' An |nv|s|b|o wo|ght prossod on
my shou|dors, mak|ng mo t|rod.
°3ut wo know what you aro now, and th|ngs w||| bo
d|ttoront. You'ro Gabr|o|, bound |n human torm, tho archango|
ot rovo|at|on, morcy, rosurroct|on, and doath. 1horo's noth|ng
you can't do.'
||s words |gn|tod toar |n mo. l wasn't roady to tu||y
undorstand what l was, or how to accopt |t, or what wou|d
happon onco l d|d.
°l'm go|ng to tako a showor botoro wo go,' ho sa|d. °ln tho
moant|mo, th|nk ot p|onty ot |mag|nary stor|os to ontorta|n
your paronts about your up-north advonturos w|th Kato.'
l torcod my own sm||o. °0ot|n|to|y.'
l pu||od on joans and a tank top, d|scard|ng my towo| on
tho t|oor. l |ay back down on tho bod on my s|do, tuckod my
knoos to my chost, and starod at tho wa||. l tr|od my bost not
to th|nk about tho n|ght botoro, but l to|t horr|b|o tor tho poor
crow ot tho E|so. 3ocauso ot our task, bocauso ot mo, thoy
woro a|| doad. 1oso's b|ank taco starod back at mo whon l
c|osod my oyos. A t|ash ot a d|ttoront v|s|on-ono ot my own
body c|utchod |n Go|r's monstor hands-struck mo, sond|ng
sh|vors a|| tho way down to my baro toos. W||| had prom|sod
mo that my tu|| strongth wou|d roturn a|ong w|th my momory,
but l was atra|d that |t wou|d como a|| at onco, traumat|z|ng
mo, damag|ng mo. ln that |ast batt|o, l'd boon ab|o to contro|
tho othor s|do ot myso|t that my powor had croatod. 3ut |t that
was on|y a tract|on ot what l was capab|o ot, thon |t was
poss|b|o that l wou|dn't bo ab|o to contro| a|| ot |t. l wasn't suro
l cou|d hand|o tho truth about my past and what l was moant
tor. lt soomod tar too s|mp|o: k||| somo roapors, d|o, ||vo
aga|n, k||| somo roapors, d|o-|athor, r|nso, ropoat. . . .
What |t that wasn't lt? What |t thoro was somoth|ng moro?
What |t l roa||y was an ango|-Gabr|o|, tho archango|, God's
|ott hand?
What Vr. Voyor had sa|d to mo tho |ast day l saw h|m
ochood through my m|nd: ºLlío ls golog to tost yoo lo woys lt
oovor bos boíoro. Loo`t |ot yoor íotoro cboogo tbo gooo
porsoo tbot yoo oro or moko yoo íorgot wbo yoo oro.'
1ho bathroom door oponod and W||| stoppod out, c|ad
on|y |n joans. As ho brushod past mo, l caught h|s c|oan scont
and sat up, my ha|t-wot ha|r |n tang|os. |o rummagod through
h|s bag tor a dark choco|ato too that brought out tho groon |n
h|s oyos and shruggod |t down ovor h|s |oan torso. 1ho |doa
ot |ts bo|ng torb|ddon tor mo to touch h|m tho way l wantod to
and tor h|m to touch mo was absurd. lt was |mposs|b|o not to
want to oxp|oro ovory |ast |nch ot h|m. |o sat down on tho
odgo ot tho bod to tug on a pa|r ot socks, thon h|s shoos. |o
turnod h|s hoad to |ook at mo as ho s||ppod tho cha|n ot h|s
cruc|t|x ovor h|s hoad and tuckod |t |nto h|s sh|rt.
l craw|od torward and kno|t bos|do h|m. l wasn't anyth|ng
c|oso to tho |nta|||b|o, portoct v|s|on ot tho ango| W||| had to|d
mo about. l to|t ||ko a g|r| s|tt|ng noxt to a boy who l carod tor
moro than anyth|ng o|so. 1ust a s|||y g|r| who ||kod shopp|ng
and oat|ng |co croam. 1h|s who|o th|ng was too boyond mo,
too out ot my contro|. A tow months botoro, l hadn't ovon
boon suro that God ox|stod, but now poop|o woro ta|k|ng
about ||m as |t |o and l woro o|d pa|s. |ow do archango|s
bohavo? Wou|d l havo to stop swoar|ng? 3top watch|ng
horror mov|os? What o|so wou|d l havo to g|vo up, |t l had to
g|vo up anyth|ng at a||? l k|nd ot ||od a |ot. 1hat wasn't ango||c
|n tho |oast. Was |t poss|b|o tor mo to go on w|th my ||to as
norma| know|ng what-wbo-l was? l d|dn't want to too|
d|ttoront. l d|dn't want anyono to troat mo as |t l woro d|ttoront.
l wantod W||| to |ook at mo tho samo way ho a|ways had. l
d|dn't want h|m to |ook at mo as |t l woro moro ot a troak ot
naturo than l a|roady was. l cou|dn't hand|o |t, damn |t, and l
suro as ho|| wasn't go|ng to stop say|ng oomo and bo||.
°You about packod?' W|||'s broath was coo| and m|nty
trom h|s toothpasto. 1ho dampnoss ot h|s ha|r brought out |ts
map|o sh|no, and |t was tous|od w||d|y trom v|gorous dry|ng
w|th a towo|.
°Yoah,' l sa|d. °l d|dn't br|ng much. 1h|s wasn't oxact|y a
vacat|on, so . . .' l tra||od ott.
|o sm||od crookod|y. °3orry about that. Vaybo ono day.'
°Aro you prom|s|ng mo a roa| vacat|on somoday?' |opo
t|uttorod through mo, g|v|ng my words a |||t.
°Vaybo,' ho sa|d w|th an odgo to h|s vo|co.
°W|th horsos?'
°Vaybo.'
|o wrappod a hand around my chook, strok|ng tho cornor
ot my ||ps w|th h|s thumb as sott|y as |t a toathor brushod
aga|nst thom. Vy pu|so qu|ckonod, and somoth|ng t|uttorod
through my chost.
°l to|d you l wou|dn't |ot thom k||| you,' ho wh|sporod. 1hon
h|s oyos changod suddon|y and ho took h|s hand back,
turn|ng away trom mo.
l trownod, c||mb|ng ott tho bod to wa|k ovor to tho drossor,
and l turnod around to taco h|m. Vy t|ngorna||s tappod
|mpat|ont|y on tho choap wood. Vy contus|on ovor how W|||
to|t about mo had d|stractod mo trom tho horrors ot tho n|ght
botoro and what was to como. l cou|dn't ho|p th|nk|ng that |t
was actua||y 3ast|an who had provontod my doath-but, ot
courso, on|y so ho cou|d k||| mo |ator. |o had had tho portoct
chanco to t|n|sh mo ott |n tho ho|d ot that sh|p, but ho hadn't
ovon tr|od. l know 3ast|an was actua||y try|ng to t|guro out a
way to got tho Ensh| back, awakon |t, and dostroy my sou| so
l cou|d novor bo roborn aga|n. l cou|dn't |ot that happon.
°What's wrong?' W||| askod.
1ho quost|on was tunny s|nco thoro was abso|uto|y
noth|ng wrong w|th mo. l shou|d havo askod what was wrong
w|th blm. °0o you th|nk 3ast|an w||| t|nd moro thugs to do h|s
d|rty work, s|nco wo k|||od most ot thom ott?'
|o noddod. °l wou|d |mag|no that as word gots out among
tho domon|c roapors ot what 3ast|an |s try|ng to accomp||sh,
moro w||| t|ock to h|m. 1horo's no to|||ng what sort ot monstors
ho w||| t|nd.'
°l'm atra|d ot 3ast|an,' l contossod. °3ut l'm proparod to
t|ght h|m.'
|o stood up trom tho bod and wa|kod toward mo. °l know
you w|||.' |o s||d a tontat|vo hand around my wa|st, but ho
d|dn't pu|| mo c|osor, or ho|d mo t|ght|y. ||s hand was just-
agon|z|ng|y-thoro. l wantod to wrap my hands around h|s
nock and pu|| h|m down to k|ss mo, but l cou|d soo tho t|ght |n
h|s gazo, too| |t |n tho r|g|d|ty ot h|s body. Was ho atra|d to
touch mo?
1ho tront door swung opon-W||| and l sprang apart-and
lathan|o| appoarod, |ook|ng moro t|rod than l had ovor soon
h|m. 0ark c|rc|os r|mmod h|s |owor oyo||ds, and h|s taco was
wh|to as a ghost. l wondorod |t ho had oaton anyth|ng s|nco
h|s |njur|os tho t n|ght botoro. °l'vo chockod us out and tho
cab's horo. 1|mo to go.'
|o gavo us a nod botoro |oav|ng tho room aga|n. Whon
ho shut tho door, l roa||zod l hadn't broathod s|nco ho'd
oponod |t.
°Wo shou|d got go|ng,' W||| sa|d.
As ho stoppod around mo, l ho|d a hand to h|s chost.
°W|||. Was that roa||y V|chao| back on tho sh|p? Was what ho
sa|d to you truo?'
||s gazo t|uttorod away tor a momont. °1hat was tho
ango| who camo to mo contur|os ago. 1ho ono who to|d mo
to protoct you.'
°You rocogn|zod h|m?'
|o noddod. °3o|ng morta| tor so |ong must havo mado
you torgot. You'ro dr|tt|ng tarthor away trom who you roa||y
aro.'
°0o you bo||ovo that?'
|o stoppod away trom mo and ran a hand through h|s
ha|r.
°l|oaso don't |ot that bo a yos,' l groanod.
°Wo shou|d got out to tho tax|.'
°3o that's |t, thon? You'ro just go|ng to shut mo out and
troat mo ||ko a |opor attor what you tound out about mo?'
°1hat's not what th|s |s about.'
°lt's not?' l snappod |n cha||ongo. °You |ook at mo and l
know you want to touch mo, but you ho|d back. |ow doos
know|ng what l am chango th|ngs?'
°V|chao| gavo mo a warn|ng. l don't know how to oxp|a|n
|t to you.'
°1hat's bocauso you can't. l accoptod what you aro whon
you to|d mo. Why can't you do tho samo tor mo?' 1ho co|or ot
h|s oyos t|ashod, and l cou|d to|| ho was gott|ng angry, but |t
to|t ||ko ho was angry w|th h|mso|t and not mo.
°E|||o, |t's not about what l want and th|nk. You aro an
archango|.'
°0o l |ook anyth|ng ||ko V|chao|?' l askod. °look at mo.
lo w|ngs, no g|ow, no anyth|ng.' l took both h|s hands and sot
thom on my h|ps. °1h|s body |s human, W|||, so||d and warm,
and l know you can too| that.' l squoozod h|s hands whon ho
tr|od to w|thdraw. l stoppod up c|oso to h|m and t||tod my
hoad back as our bod|os touchod. °l'm just a g|r| w|th a tow
wo|rd th|ngs about mo, but a|| you can soo |s a g|r|-tho
samo g|r| you'vo known tor contur|os. 1ho samo g|r| you t|ght
tor. 1ho samo g|r| you'vo k|ssod. l'm no d|ttoront. ln anothor
wor|d l may bo who V|chao| sa|d l am, but r|ght now, r|ght
horo, w|th you, l'm just E|||o. l don't caro what ho sa|d to you-
l just caro about r|ght now.'
|o gazod down at mo, h|s ||ps partod as |t ho wantod to
say somoth|ng, but ho roma|nod s||ont. 1hon ho took h|s
hands away and stoppod back, h|s gazo ta|||ng away.
°You'ro act|ng ||ko a dumbass,' l sa|d.
|o stoppod and starod at mo, and ran h|s hand through
h|s ha|r. |o soomod shockod. l a|most |aughod. l'd g|vo h|m
somoth|ng to bo roa||y shockod about.
ln a s|ng|o |ong str|do, l swopt up to h|m, strotchod to tho
t|ps ot my toos, cuppod h|s taco w|th both ot my hands, and
k|ssod h|m t|orco|y. |o st|ttonod at t|rst, and as soon as ho
mo|tod |nto mo and h|s t|ngors wrappod around my wa|st and
tuggod at tho band ot joans, l |ot h|m go and cont|nuod past
h|m, rotus|ng to |ook back.
l'd |ot h|m th|nk about that tor a ||tt|o wh||o.
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
84
lAUlEl VE1 U3 A1 1|E 0E1lOl1 VE1lO AlllOl1. 3ho soomod
ospoc|a||y ovorjoyod that lathan|o| had mado |t homo |n ono
p|oco. 3ho droppod W||| and mo ott at my houso on hor way
homo. W||| w|shod mo |uck botoro d|sappoar|ng to my root,
and l wont |ns|do to taco my paronts. Vy mom was choortu|
and oagor to hoar my stor|os trom tho wookond tr|p. Ot
courso, l tod hor sugarcoatod ||os w|th a chorry on top. l
accomp||shod th|s moro oas||y than l'd thought l wou|d, but
to|||ng thom tho truth wou|d havo gotton mo |ockod up |n a
psych ward. lt was a|| just too torr|b|o and strango-l was
do|ng thom a tavor by koop|ng thom |n tho dark. l prayod my
paronts wou|d novor t|nd out how much l'd ||od to thom |n tho
past coup|o ot months, but |n my hoart l know that l had
b|ggor th|ngs to worry about |n my ||to than housoho|d ru|os
and curtows.
l ca||od Kato to thank hor tor covor|ng tor mo and,
consoquont|y, had to oxp|a|n to hor many t|mos ovor that
noth|ng had happonod . . . at |oast not tho way sho tboogbt
th|ngs had happonod, anyway. l'd havo to do th|s a|| ovor
aga|n whon l saw hor |n c|ass on Vonday.
l to|t too rost|oss to chango |nto my pajamas and go to
s|oop. lnstoad, l tuggod a swoator on ovor a pa|r ot joans,
c||mbod out my w|ndow, and sca|od tho root to whoro W|||
was s|tt|ng. |o watchod tho sky sorono|y, h|s arms to|dod
ovor h|s knoos. |o pookod ovor at mo as l craw|od up to s|t
bos|do h|m.
°3o, |s th|s what you do whon you'ro s|tt|ng up horo by
yourso|t?' l askod, p|aytu||y nudg|ng h|s shou|dor. °3taro at
noth|ng?'
°Among othor th|ngs,' ho answorod. °l don't usua||y th|nk
th|s much. Koop|ng a |ookout koops mo prooccup|od.'
l stud|od h|s taco tor c|uos, but h|s gazo was sott and
w|thout worry. °What aro you th|nk|ng about?'
°1oo much.'
A ch|||y broozo rushod through my ha|r. °Caro to
o|aborato?'
|o took |n a s|ow broath. °l don't know how to hand|o th|s.'
°Wo both |oarnod a |ot about oach othor |ast n|ght. What
do you say wo just ca|| |t ovon?'
|o a|most sm||od, but ho caught h|mso|t. °l supposo that's
truo.'
°Why d|dn't you to|| mo you had w|ngs?'
°l was atra|d ot scar|ng you,' ho contossod.
l trownod. °You know, tor somoono who bo||ovos |n mo so
much, you roa||y havo no ta|th |n mo at a||.'
°1hat's not what l'vo moant by ovoryth|ng l'vo dono,' ho
sa|d. °l guoss l'm a wa|k|ng contrad|ct|on. l'm not portoct.'
°You to|d mo that you'ro my sorvant, yot you doc|do what l
ought to know. You can't contro| mo ||ko that, W|||.'
°l don't want to contro| you, E|||o. l just want to do tho r|ght
th|ng and what's bost tor you.'
°|ow wou|d you know what's bost tor mo?' l askod
sharp|y. °You'ro not mo. You havo no r|ght to mako doc|s|ons
tor mo.'
°E|||o-'
°Why cou|dn't you havo boon up tront w|th mo |n tho
bog|nn|ng? l'm a b|g g|r|. l can hand|o |t.'
°l|ght,' ho a|most |aughod. °1o|| you ovoryth|ng tho t|rst
day: '3o, my namo's W|||. You don't romombor mo, but wo'vo
known oach othor tor t|vo hundrod yoars. You hunt monstors
and l'm ono ot thom, but l'm a|so your tr|ond. Oh, l can t|y,
too.''
°W|||,' l sa|d sad|y. °Okay, you havo a po|nt, but you shou|d
havo to|d mo thoso th|ngs a ||tt|o soonor. l shou|dn't havo had
to t|nd out tho way l d|d. lt was ||ko a s|ap |n tho taco. 1hat
shockod mo way moro than |t wou|d havo |t you had just boon
moro honost.'
°You'ro r|ght,' ho sa|d. °l'm sorry. lo moro socrots.'
°3woar?'
°l swoar.'
l sm||od and stood. °3how mo. 3how thom to mo.'
|o watchod mo cur|ous|y. |o know what l moant. °Why?'
°l want to soo thom.'
|o c||mbod to h|s toot. °As you w|sh.' l hoard cotton r|p
and W|||'s w|ngs appoarod, sproad|ng w|do, tho|r |vory
poar|osconco sh|mmor|ng |n tho moon||ght. l roachod out to
touch thom and ho sh|od away, a|most as |t |n
ombarrassmont. A toathor to|| and dr|ttod away |n tho broozo.
°What's wrong?' l askod. °0on't bo s|||y. l'm not go|ng to
yank on thom.'
|o sm||od woak|y and |ookod away trom my taco. °l know.
l just . . . l hato thom. l don't want to bo anyth|ng ||ko 3ast|an
and tho othors. l try so hard to d|stanco myso|t trom tho rost ot
my k|nd, but thoso w|ngs rom|nd mo that l'm a monstor.'
3adnoss washod ovor mo. l cou|dn't stand soo|ng that ho
hatod h|mso|t so much. °You'ro not a monstor. You aro an
ango|, not mo. Vy guard|an ango|.'
||s oyos ||ttod to moot m|no and ho sa|d noth|ng. l ho|d a
hand out to touch ono w|ng, and tho sottnoss ot tho toathors
start|od mo. l'd to|t b|rd w|ngs botoro, Kato had had a parrot
up unt|| a coup|o ot yoars botoro, but |ts toathors had boon
st|tt and s||ck and thoro was a tunny, o||y smo|| to thom. W|||'s
woro sott and do||cato, and tho scont brought momor|os ot a
warm, go|don dawn to my m|nd. l ran my t|ngors down tho
|ongth ot tho toathors, and tho w|ng qu|vorod bonoath my
touch.
°l m|ssod thom,' l sa|d sott|y. °1hoy'ro so boaut|tu|.'
°0o you romombor thom now?' ||s vo|co was baro|y
moro than a trag||o broath.
°Yos.' Vy gazo roturnod to h|s, and ho sm||od ovor so
s||ght|y. l wantod to do noth|ng moro than cur| up |n h|s arms.
°1h|s |s why l don't th|nk l'm an ango|. lt l woro, shou|dn't l
havo w|ngs ||ko V|chao|?'
°You'ro a morta| ango|,' ho suggostod. °You can't shapo-
sh|tt ||ko a roapor. Your body |sn't an ango|'s body o|thor, but
you havo tho|r powor. 0o you romombor how ghost||ko
V|chao| was, as |t ho woro on|y ha|t horo, as |t ho cou|dn't
comp|oto|y ontor tho morta| wor|d? Vaybo that's a|so why
you'ro roborn |nto a human body. Your truo torm-your
archango| torm-can't ox|st horo.'
°lorhaps,' l sa|d. l was a morta| ango|. Was thoro a way
tor mo to bocomo who l roa||y was? Vy truo torm? W||| onco
had to|d mo that a powortu| ro||c cou|d ho|p ango|s and tho
|a||on como to tho morta| p|ano, but what |t somoth|ng ||ko
that wasn't roa||y |ost to tho wor|d? lt tho Gr|gor| woro out
thoro somowhoro, tho koopors ot ango||c mag|c and tho
gatos botwoon wor|ds, thoy m|ght know ot a ro||c that cou|d
rostoro my truo torm. What |t th|ngs moro torr|b|o than tho
roapors, w|ckod or d|v|no, cou|d wa|k tho oarth among us,
||ko tho oxt|nct loph|||m?
°W|||, why do you koop so much trom mo?' l ran my hand
down h|s arm, trac|ng tho boaut|tu| tattoos w|th my t|ngort|ps. l
had a c|oar momory ot myso|t |nk|ng h|s sk|n contur|os botoro
|n a warm cand|o||t room, wh|spor|ng a prayor |n a |anguago
|ong |ost to mo, and |t brought a sm||o to my taco.
°3ocauso l'm an |d|ot,' ho contossod. °l was wrong to
judgo you. l d|dn't th|nk you woro strong onough to tako |n
ovoryth|ng at onco, but that was stup|d. You havo moro
strongth |n you than l'vo ovor soon |n anyono, and l don't
moan how hard you can h|t. l moan tho strongth you havo to
koop do|ng th|s w|thout g|v|ng up. You m|ght want to, somo
days, but you novor do.'
°What about you?' l askod. °You stay by my s|do day and
n|ght and tako tho hardost h|ts ot thom a||. Why, W|||? Why
havo you stayod w|th mo a|| thoso contur|os? You watch mo
d|o aga|n and aga|n, yot you novor |oavo. You koop try|ng to
savo mo, ovon though you know l'm doomod. A|| bocauso
somo ango| to|d you to? Como on. lo moro socrots, you
sa|d. 1o|| mo.'
|o d|dn't answor mo, but h|s chost roso and to|| w|th
qu|ckor broaths.
°Why wou|d you do |t?' l askod oarnost|y. °Why wou|d you
r|sk noth|ngnoss attor doath tor mo? You can't go to |oavon,
and you'|| novor know poaco bocauso ot that. You'|| on|y ovor
||vo th|s awtu|, wrotchod ||to ot t|ght|ng. You cou|d havo so
much moro.'
°1hat's not truo,' ho sa|d. °l don't nood to go thoro to t|nd
poaco. l'vo tound poaco w|th yoo, E|||o, |n botwoon tho
t|ght|ng and tho yoars whon you aron't w|th mo. You'vo
brought mo poaco.'
||s words mado my hoart sp|n, and l tought hard not to
cry. l watchod h|s taco carotu||y botoro l spoko. °Why d|d you
k|ss mo?'
||s oxpross|on trozo |n p|aco, as |t ho woro dotorm|nod
not to rovoa| anyth|ng |n h|s oxpross|on. °l thought a|| that
wou|d havo boon obv|ous.'
°1hat wasn't a stra|ght answor.' ||s oyos t||ckorod away
and back to m|no |ndoc|s|vo|y. °ls |t supposod to bo
somoth|ng l havo to romombor on my own?'
|o stud|od my taco |ntonso|y, h|s gazo |ockod on m|no
|nstoad ot |ook|ng away aga|n. °lo.'
°1hon why-?'
°l hato . . . ,' ho startod, h|s shak|ng vo|co tra|||ng ott. °l
hato whon you d|o. lt dostroys mo. l know l havo no r|ght to bo
so upsot, bocauso l'm not tho ono |os|ng my ||to, but |t broaks
mo apart |ns|do. l'm not vory good w|th words, and l don't
know how to oxp|a|n to you how l too|. l got |ono|y whon you
aron't w|th mo. l m|ss you. And ovory t|mo you d|o, a ||tt|o
p|oco ot mo d|os w|th you.'
l wasn't suro what to say to h|m. l cou|dn't |mag|no that l
was a sourco ot comtort to h|m as ho was to mo. l cou|d soo
h|s hands tromb||ng, and ho stood so tonso|y that l thought ho
m|ght shattor at any momont. l strokod tho back ot h|s nock
w|th my hand as l tr|od to sootho h|m.
°l w|sh l cou|d do bottor,' ho contossod. °l w|sh l cou|d
savo you, but l can't.'
°You'vo savod mo count|oss t|mos,' l sa|d. °You savod mo
on tho sh|p just |ast n|ght.'
°3ut l'vo ta||od you, too,' ho sa|d urgont|y. °l'vo watchod
you ta|| so many t|mos and boon unab|o to do anyth|ng to
savo you. l don't know how many moro t|mos l can watch you
d|o, E|||o.' ||s gazo to|| away. °|org|vo mo. l shou|dn't bo
say|ng th|s to you.'
°lo,' l sa|d, shak|ng my hoad. °l'm sorry l mako you
bo||ovo that you can't to|| mo how you too|. 1hat's not how l
want |t to bo botwoon us. l|oaso, just bo honost w|th mo?'
|o |oanod torward, touch|ng h|s chook to m|no, mak|ng
mo comp|oto|y torgot whatovor l had just sa|d. l c|osod my
oyos and |oanod |nto h|m as h|s sk|n brushod m|no and h|s
hand touchod my wa|st. ||s othor hand cuppod my chook
and h|s thumb strokod my ||ps. ||s w|ngs ||ttod h|gh ovor tho
both ot us, sh|o|d|ng us trom tho co|d a|r.
°Whon lagnuk k|||od you, l |ookod tor you ovorywhoro,' ho
sa|d |nto my chook. °3ut you d|dn't como back. |or docados l
|ookod tor you, torr|t|od tho ango|s woro pun|sh|ng mo tor
|ott|ng you d|o a|ono. l thought that you'd novor como back to
mo-that l'd |ost you torovor.'
1ho backs ot h|s t|ngors tracod down my arm do||cato|y,
as |t l woro mado ot g|ass. ||s ||ps sott|y prossod just bo|ow
my oar, warm|ng my nock. °And whon you camo back, whon l
saw you tor tho t|rst t|mo |n so vory |ong . . . l'd novor boon so
happy |n my ||to.'
°l'|| a|ways como back to you,' l prom|sod as a warm t|ood
rushod through mo.
°l |ovo you, E|||o,' ho broathod, h|s words ||ght|ng my sk|n
on t|ro, and somoth|ng |ns|do mo d|s|ntogratod, |oav|ng a
rush|ng too||ng boh|nd. °God, l'vo a|ways |ovod you.'
l turnod my taco |nto h|s, dosporato to moot h|s oyos, and
whon l d|d, contur|os' worth ot momor|os ot h|s taco t|ashod
across my m|nd, and ot ovoryth|ng ho had sacr|t|cod tor mo,
ot a|| h|s b|ood that had boon shod, ot a|| tho tormont ho had
ondurod tor mo. ||s oxpross|on was so sto|c, so hardonod,
but h|s oyos to|d mo ovoryth|ng. 1hoy a|ways gavo h|m away.
°W|||,' l sa|d, unab|o to torm any othor words on my ||ps
but h|s namo.
||s sm||o was sma|| and do||cato, and h|s shou|dors
oasod as |t a wo|ght had boon ||ttod trom thom. |o |oanod
turthor |nto mo, h|s strong ombraco ongu|t|ng mo. Vy
hoartboat qu|ckonod and thrummod strongor. °A|| th|s t|mo,'
ho broathod. °l'vo a|ways |ovod you and novor sa|d a th|ng.'
|o k|ssod mo hard and to|dod h|s arm around tho sma||
ot my back, pu|||ng mo |nto h|m. l wrappod my own arms
around h|s shou|dors and to|t h|s othor hand on my wa|st. l
drow a na|| down h|s b|cops and tho musc|o tromb|od
rot|ox|vo|y bonoath my touch. |o broko away and h|s ||ps
grazod my jaw. l sh|vorod and pu||od h|m c|osor to mo.
°0on't torgot that l'|| o|woys |ovo you,' ho wh|sporod
aga|nst my ||ps, rubb|ng tho t|p ot h|s noso to m|no. °0on't
torgot.'
l noddod and roachod aga|n tor h|s ||ps, nood|ng thom
moro than l noodod a|r to broatho. |o k|ssod mo aga|n,
doopor th|s t|mo, |uxur|ous|y s|ow. ||s hands movod up trom
my back and s||d through my ha|r to crad|o my hoad.
|o ondod tho k|ss, to|dod h|s w|ngs back, and ho rostod
h|s torohoad aga|nst m|no. Emot|on t|oodod through mo and l
sa|d noth|ng, t|na||y undorstand|ng what ho had just sa|d to
mo. l know |n that |nstant that ho was say|ng good-byo to h|s
|ovo tor mo. |o pu||od away, and h|s t|ngort|ps tra||od a|ong
my arm, as |t to mako tho momont |ast just a ||tt|o |ongor.
As ho stoppod away trom mo, h|s oyos woro st||| that
str|k|ng omora|d, and l prayod tho co|or wou|d novor tado. lt
took ovoryth|ng l had not to run to h|m and ho|d h|m c|oso to
mo, to too| any part ot h|m, to staro at h|m |n wondor. l d|dn't
know what to do-d|dn't know |t l shou|d havo sa|d somoth|ng
back.
°3ut my |ovo tor you |s wrong,' ho wh|sporod. °l can't havo
you. lot th|s way.'
3omoth|ng |nv|s|b|o stabbod mo |n tho gut. °Aro you roa||y
do|ng th|s?'
°You'ro a ho|y bo|ng. l can't touch you. l can bo w|th you
ovory day as your Guard|an bocauso |t's my duty, but l can't
touch you tho way l acho to. 1h|s |sn't what V|chao| |ntondod
whon ho askod mo to protoct you. lt's dangorous tor us both |t
wo got too c|oso.'
l shook my hoad and tought back toars, unab|o to say
anyth|ng.
°Othor Guard|ans havo d|od tu|t||||ng tho|r duty to you |ong
botoro l camo a|ong,' ho sa|d, touch|ng my chook, my ha|r. °l
w||| d|o tor you ono day.'
°0on't say that,' l boggod. °W|||, l'm |n |ovo w|th you.
You'ro tho on|y ono who undorstands what l go through ovory
day, tho on|y ono l can sharo th|s wor|d w|th. You'ro my bost
tr|ond, and l can't tako |t |t you'ro go|ng to shut mo out ||ko
th|s.'
|o c|osod h|s oyos, squooz|ng thom t|ght. ||s hands
ba||od |nto t|sts and h|s w|ngs gavo a shuddor. l to|t ||ko l was
dy|ng |ns|do.
°You can't |ovo mo,' ho sa|d, h|s vo|co pa|nod. °And l can't
|ovo you o|thor. You'ro not m|no to |ovo.'
°l om yours-'
°E|||o-'
ºNo!' l shoutod, toars st|ng|ng my oyos. °You can't got th|s
c|oso to mo and thon push mo away.'
°l havo to.' ||s w|ngs unto|dod, moon||ght g|oam|ng ott
tho|r toathors, and ho jumpod |n tho a|r. As l starod up at h|m,
ho t|ow away and d|sappoarod |nto tho woods boh|nd my
houso, |ott|ng mo know how d|ttoront wo tru|y woro w|th that
|ast |mago ot h|m.
Angor rushod through mo. l wantod to to||ow h|m and
smack h|m hardor than l'd ovor h|t anyth|ng botoro |n my ||to.
3ut l was too t|rod and too omot|ona| to do anyth|ng. And l
d|dn't want to ta|| ott my root. l starod stra|ght attor h|m and |ot
out a |ong broath, so my noxt word had no traco ot rago.
°Coward.'
UlCOllEC1E0 E-llOO|-lO1 |Ol 3AlE
|arporCo|||ns Ch||dron's 3ooks
.....................................................................
8b
Ol 1UE30AY VY VOV CAllE0 VE ll1O |El O||lCE as soon as l
wa|kod |n tho door attor schoo|. l proparod tor a |octuro ovor
a progross roport ono ot my toachors m|ght havo sont homo,
but somoth|ng |n hor taco whon l ontorod to|d mo sho was
way moro p|ssod than sho shou|d havo boon ovor a bad
grado.
°Como s|t down, E|||o,' sho sa|d coo||y. |or ca|m vo|co
was too wrong com|ng trom such an angry taco. lt potr|t|od
mo.
l sat down |n tho cha|r across trom hor dosk. l was protty
suro l was about to d|o. °What's up, Vom?'
°You'|| novor guoss who l ran |nto wh||o l was grocory
shopp|ng today.'
lamos spun through my hoad, but l tr|od to mako |t |ook
||ko l wasn't th|nk|ng too hard. Vy body |ockod up w|th toar.
°Kato's mom,' sho sa|d. °|ow cou|d you do |t, E|||o? |ow
cou|d you ||o ||ko that?'
°l . . .' l d|dn't know what to say. 1o savo tho wor|d? 1o
savo my sou|? l had to do what l had to do, but l cou|d novor
oxp|a|n |t to hor. 3ho cou|d novor undorstand.
3ho to|dod hor arms ovor hor chost. °1hat was ono ho|| ot
an oxtravagant ||o. And gott|ng poor Kato to ||o íor you? lot
to mont|on you mado a too| out ot mo whon l thankod hor
mom tor tak|ng you up north w|th thom. lt was vory
ombarrass|ng whon sho had no |doa what l was ta|k|ng
about.'
lt was a|most |mposs|b|o to got my ||ps mov|ng onough to
torm words. °l'm sorry.'
°Yoah, l don't th|nk that cuts |t, E|||o,' sho sa|d w|th a dark
odgo to hor vo|co. °Whoro'd you actua||y go? Woro you w|th a
boy? landon?'
l c|osod my oyos t|rod|y. °lo. l was w|th W|||.'
3ho d|dn't rospond at t|rst. °1hat boy |n co||ogo? Your
tutor?'
l to|t so hoavy |n my soat, so hoavy l just wantod to ||o
down. °Yos.'
Vy mom stood and |oanod ovor tho dosk. °You'ro
sovootooo! What woro you th|nk|ng? l don't ovon know how
to roact to th|s. l honost|y don't know what to say to you.'
°l'm so sorry,' l sa|d, ovon though l know sho d|dn't want to
hoar |t. °1horo's just a |ot go|ng on |n my ||to r|ght now and l
don't roa||y know how to doa| w|th |t a||. l'vo mado a |ot ot
m|stakos.'
°Como to mo,' sho sa|d. °lt's my job to ho|p you whon you
nood |t. Vost ot tho th|ngs you'ro go|ng through r|ght now l'vo
surv|vod. 3choo|, boys, tr|onds, moan g|r|s. You to|| mo that
you'ro t|no and that l shou|d trust you, but how can l whon
you'vo ||od to mo ||ko th|s, E||saboth? l can't bo your mothor |t
you won't |ot mo |nto your ||to.'
l stayod s||ont, know|ng that anyth|ng l cou|d say wou|dn't
just|ty how much l'd hurt my mom. 3ho m|ght novor havo had
to doa| w|th t|ght|ng sou|-oat|ng monstors, but l was tac|ng a||
thoso othor th|ngs too |n ono way or anothor.
3ho co||apsod back |nto hor cha|r and prossod a hand to
hor torohoad. °Aro you two |nt|mato? 0|d you s|oop w|th
h|m?'
°lo, Vom,' l sa|d. °lo, wo d|dn't, l swoar. 3ut wou|d |t bo
so torr|b|o |t wo had?'
Whon hor oyos mot m|no, tho momont was |ntonso and l
rotusod to |ook away t|rst. °l know you'ro at tho ago whoro
you'ro go|ng to start oxpor|mont|ng and thoro's noth|ng l can
say or do to provont |t. 1ust, p|oaso, tor tho |ovo ot God, whon
you do, bo sato.'
°l w|||.'
°You'ro groundod,' sho sa|d oxhaustod|y. °l don't want you
go|ng anywhoro w|th W|||. l can't provont you trom soo|ng h|m,
bocauso l th|nk |t's wrong to try to contro| you and provont you
trom t|nd|ng your own way through ||to. 3ut you havo to
undorstand that ho |s, tochn|ca||y, an adu|t, E|||o. lt you'ro
go|ng to bo soo|ng h|m, |t'|| bo undor my root and undor my
suporv|s|on.'
l wantod to protost, but l know how |on|ont hor rostr|ct|ons
woro. 3ho cou|d havo bannod mo trom soo|ng h|m a|togothor
and sho had ovory r|ght to. l wasn't a bad k|d. l wasn't w||d. l
wasn't |nto drugs, nor was l prom|scuous. l just had a torr|b|o
rospons|b|||ty and l d|dn't know how to ba|anco that w|th a
norma| ||to. l d|dn't know |t that was ovon poss|b|o.
Vy mom droppod hor hand and |ookod at mo t|na||y. °l'm
not go|ng to to|| your tathor that you ||od, bocauso, trank|y, l'm
qu|to suro ho'd k||| you. You nood to bo pun|shod, not
murdorod, so wo'|| hand|o th|s, you and l. lo part|os, no
Vov|o l|ght, no car, no phono, no hang|ng out w|th your
tr|onds tor a month. At |oost. l'm tak|ng your koys, and l'|| bo
dr|v|ng you anywhoro you abso|uto|y havo to go. As soon as
schoo| |s out, you'ro to bo |ns|do th|s houso unt|| you |oavo tor
c|ass tho noxt morn|ng. God, l don't know what's w|th you
|ato|y. 1ho dr|nk|ng, tho |y|ng, tho poor grados . . . |ow do you
oxpoct to got |nto V|ch|gan 3tato w|th grados ||ko that? And l
want to ta|k to W|||. l want to got to know h|m |t ho's your t|rst
sor|ous boytr|ond. You havo to c|uo mo |n on your ||to, E|||o.
|o|p mo out horo.'
l noddod s|ow|y, c|utch|ng tho w|ngod pondant around my
nock tor courago. l w|shod l cou|d to|| hor ovoryth|ng, and l
wantod to cry bocauso l cou|dn't. 3ast|an's words burnod
through my hoart. Was l roa||y gamb||ng w|th my tam||y and
tr|onds' ||vos by koop|ng thom so c|oso to mo? Woro thoy
targots? 0|d l put thom |n dangor? Cou|d l g|vo thom up |t l
had to? l'd comp|oto|y torgotton that my mom and l cou|d
roa||y ta|k. Cons|dor|ng how c|oso l'd como to |os|ng my ||to
so many t|mos |n tho |ast tow months, l wantod to too| c|oso to
hor aga|n. l d|dn't want anyth|ng to happon to hor bocauso ot
mo. °l |ovo you, Vom.'
°l |ovo you too, baby,' sho sa|d. °l roa||y do. l want you to
bo okay. 1ho rost ot your cho|cos aro up to you. l hopo to
God you mako tho r|ght onos.'
°1h|s probab|y won't mako you too| any bottor,' l bogan,
°but-l'm |n |ovo w|th h|m. l am.' lt to|t r|ght say|ng |t, know|ng
that l'd to|t th|s way tor contur|os but had boon too much ot a
damn too| to soo |t.
3ho starod at mo tor what soomod ||ko hours. °0oos ho
|ovo you back?'
°Yos,' l sa|d w|thout hos|tat|on, and ho|d my mom's gazo
cont|dont|y. °l don't oxpoct you to undorstand how tar ho's
gono to domonstrato |t, but l prom|so you thoro's no ||m|t to
what ho'd do tor mo-ho's shown that aga|n and aga|n. l
know l'vo mado somo torr|b|o m|stakos and h|ddon th|ngs
trom you, but th|s |s somoth|ng you havo to roa||y trust mo on.
lt's tho on|y th|ng l'm suro about |n tho moss my ||to has turnod
|nto.'
|or gazo to|| to my w|ngod nock|aco botwoon my t|ngors.
°ls ho tho ono who gavo you that?'
°Yos.'
3ho starod at tho pondont tor too |ong botoro sho spoko.
°lt you say you'ro |n |ovo w|th h|m, thon l bo||ovo you. l|oaso
undorstand, howovor, that at your ago vory tow |ovos ovor
|ast. You don't know |t ho'|| just doc|do to |oavo you ono day.
Koop that |n m|nd, okay?'
l ma|nta|nod an |ron roso|vo, bocauso l know |n my bonos
W||| wasn't that typo ot guy. lt ho had stuck by my s|do tor t|vo
hundrod yoars, r|skod h|s ||to and h|s sou| tor mo, thon |t
wou|d tako a |ot tor h|m to just wa|k away. |o was my
Guard|an, my guard|an ango|.
Whon tho t|rst snow to|| a tow n|ghts |ator just botoro m|dn|ght,
l sat on tho root ot an ott|co bu||d|ng w|th W||| by my s|do. l
concodod that l'd |oso tun n|ghts w|th my tr|onds as part ot my
pun|shmont, but hunt|ng was somoth|ng l cou|dn't g|vo up. l
pu||od tho nock ot my swoator h|ghor to my ch|n whon tho ch|||
ot w|ntor b|t at my sk|n. lot ovon tho Gr|m cou|d koop tho
trooz|ng tomporaturo away.
°l hato snow,' l grumb|od. °lt's so protty, but why doos |t
havo to bo co|o?'
W||| |aughod sott|y. °lt's a nocossary ov||.'
l trownod. °3o whoro |s our oonocossary ov||?' l askod,
rotorr|ng to tho roapor wo had boon to||ow|ng.
||s oyos scannod tho d|m|y ||t and noar|y ompty park|ng
|ot bo|ow us. Gray|sh orango stroot |amps dottod tho |ot |n a
gr|d, but thoy rovoa|od no monstor.
°1h|s |s whoro ho k|||od |ast n|ght. |o shou|d bo horo
aga|n.'
loapors woro tru|y croaturos ot hab|t. W||| was no
oxcopt|on, a|though h|s hab|ts woro: t|ght roapors, dr|vo mo
crazy, s|t on my root, oat whon l'm not |ook|ng, t|ght roapors,
dr|vo mo crazy . . .
A man drossod |n a b|ack poa coat ox|tod tho bu||d|ng,
jang||ng h|s koys as ho wa|kod to h|s voh|c|o. |o wh|st|od a
tuno, happy to bo hoad|ng homo attor work|ng so |ato. As |t
on cuo, a dark shapo tho s|zo ot a m|n|van |umborod out ot
tho darknoss. 1ho man was comp|oto|y ob||v|ous to tho
roapor's h|ddon prosonco.
W||| and l hoppod ott tho bu||d|ng, |and|ng two stor|os
bo|ow w|th ||tt|o moro than tho bond ot our knoos. l oasod
toward tho man and stood botwoon h|m and tho g|gant|c
urs|d roapor. 1ho monstor's b|ack oyos tound mo, and ho
||ckod h|s ||ps. Whon ho not|cod that l was star|ng r|ght at h|m,
ho t||tod h|s hoad cur|ous|y as |t ho d|dn't know mo. 1hat was
a shockor.
1ho bus|nossman not|cod mo. |o droppod h|s koys |n a
tr|ght. °What tho-?'
°1ust dr|vo homo,' l sa|d coo||y. l t|ghtonod my gr|p on my
swords.
1ho man's gazo to|| to my b|ados and h|s mouth oponod
dumb|y at tho samo t|mo.
l g|arod at h|m. °Got. ln. Your. Car.'
|o scramb|od, duck|ng tor h|s koys and dart|ng to tho
dr|vor's-s|do door, muttor|ng somoth|ng undor h|s broath that
soundod a |ot ||ko °Crazy . . .'
As ho drovo away, tho roapor grow|od. |o stoppod
toward mo, h|s ta|ons scrap|ng tho do||cato |ayor ot snow on
tho pavomont. ||akos stuck on h|s muzz|o and caught tho t|ps
ot tho th|ck, |nky b|ack ha|r on h|s back. 1ho roapor backod
away trom mo |n a c|rc|o, croop|ng toward tho darknoss ho
thought wou|d concoa| h|s body. 3|nco l had scarod ott h|s
|ntondod v|ct|m, ho must havo doc|dod l'd mako a tasty
rop|acomont. ld|ot.
|o |aunchod h|mso|t at mo, spr|ng|ng a dozon toot |n tho
a|r, c|aws outstrotchod. l b|urrod by h|m, |gn|t|ng my swords
w|th ango|t|ro, as ho |andod on tho co|d pavomont. l tw|stod
and p|ungod a sword |nto h|s r|bcago. 1ho t|amos d|od as l
ro|oasod tho ho|vo and jumpod back. |o roarod, rock|ng my
bra|n, and staggorod on h|s toot unt|| ho co||apsod, whooz|ng
pa|ntu||y. |o |ookod shockod that l had soon h|m com|ng.
|o cur|od h|s back and usod h|s mouth to yank my b|ado
out trom h|s s|do. |o spat |t out and grow|od. |o van|shod tor
a hoartboat, and l stoppod back on my hoo|, wa|t|ng tor h|m
to roappoar. ||s taco t|ashod |n tront ot m|no, and l shovod
my hand onto h|s muzz|o, grabb|ng h|s noso as h|s jaws
gnashod at my hoad. l torcod h|m back as ho thrashod h|s
hoad, and l ||ttod my roma|n|ng sword and thrust upward. 1ho
urs|d tw|stod to ono s|do and my sword p|ungod |nto h|s
shou|dor |nstoad ot h|s nock. |o wronchod h|s muzz|o out ot
my gr|p and roarod tur|ous|y |nto my taco. l yankod my sword
back and k|ckod h|m |n tho chost, sond|ng h|m t|y|ng. |o h|t
tho pavomont and s||d |n tho t|no |ayor ot snow unt|| ho camo
to a stop and c||mbod to h|s toot. |o gavo h|s shaggy coat a
shako, sond|ng snowt|akos ta|||ng to tho ground.
l summonod my powor, and |t swa||owod mo |n wh|to ||ght.
1ho ground thrummod bonoath my toot and my powor ro||od
through tho a|r, mo|t|ng tho snowt|akos botoro thoy h|t tho
pavomont. 1ho stroot|amp boh|nd mo |ot out a |ow, mota|||c
groan, croakod, and bont to ono s|do, shak|ng troo a dust|ng
ot g||ttor|ng wh|to t|akos. Vy sk|n to|t as |t |t woro strotch|ng as
moro onorgy |oakod trom mo |n contro||od wavos.
1ho roapor h|ssod and turnod h|s taco away trom tho
br|ght ||ght, bar|ng h|s mass|vo can|nos. |o ||ttod h|s dark
gazo to m|no. °You'ro no v|r. |ow do you havo such powor?
Who aro you?'
l stoppod up to h|m, my powor sw|r||ng around mo, and l
stra|ghtonod my othor sword, po|s|ng tho t|am|ng b|ado at h|s
sku||. l starod |ntonso|y at h|m, my gazo co|dor than tho w|ntor
a|r. °l'm tho lro||ator.'
ABOu1 1EE PuBL|5EER
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