by Holly Hook
"No," she said, fighting the urge let her lids fly back up and take in the writing that might doom the world.
Open your eyes, Sophia.
She kept them pressed shut. Hryokkin wasn't controlling her as well as she had back at the campsite. The demon might be getting tired after freezing the showers and the lake and then making her run through the woods for about ten minutes.
I am not. Now do as I say. It's for the good of both of us.
But it was a lie, because Sophia pressed her hand over her eyes, keeping them shut. A faint urge to remove it swept over her along with the familiar chill, but it was gone with the passage of another rolling piece of luggage. For the first time, she was winning this battle of will.
She could almost feel the Other sighing. Fine. Go call your grandmother. The power company has to have the phones back up by now.
I will.
She stood, bemoaning the fact that her cell phone had turned into a melted blob on the trip through the underground tunnel. She was still amazed that she'd made it through alive, and it was one thing she had Hyrokkin to thank for. Even though she was weak to fire, it seemed like it couldn't kill her, just like water couldn't kill Kenna.
There was a pay phone way over on the other wall, ignored in this world of cell phones. But it was there, with an actual phone inside for people like her grandmother that refused to make the switch. Sophia weaved through the crowd, almost making some guy spill his coffee and apologizing as she raced past him.
Wait.
The notebook. Before Hyrokkin regained control, she needed to dispose of it in a way that she could never get it back.
Trash cans dotted the corners of the room, barely visible with the lines forming near the ticket booths. It was a busy day in the airport, a Sunday, and hopefully the trash cans would be full and changed soon by the custodians. Leslie's notebook would go with them, never to be seen again by anyone except roaches and seagulls. But there weren't any janitors in sight. If the demon took control again before they got changed, it would only be a matter of Hyrokkin making her go back and dig through the trash.
No. That wasn't good enough.
Sophia thought about sneaking the notebook into someone else's luggage. She wouldn't know where it was going then, would she? But that might not fly, either. Planting information about Andrina might endanger whoever was unlucky enough to read it, the same way Shane's video had endangered Callie and her family.
Or she could just flush the page down a toilet.
No, Hyrokkin begged. I can just freeze the pipes, like I did the lake.
It was a good idea if the demon sounded that desperate. Sophia spun in a circle, searching for the bathrooms. She spotted them near a row of drink machines and started for them, unable to keep a smile from forming on her face. At last, she had the upper hand. It might only be for a few minutes, but it was something.
Provided Hryokkin couldn't actually freeze the pipes right now. Her desperation told Sophia that she probably couldn’t.
Thankfully, the bathroom was deserted at the moment, but that would quickly change. Sophia flipped the notebook open, careful not to let her gaze fall on anything besides Dear Journal as she ducked into a stall and closed the door behind her. She tore the page out, letting the notebook fall to the floor. Another wave of January swept through her, but it was nothing like it was before, and not enough to threaten anything like what had happened back at the campsite earlier.
The time was now.
Sophia dangled the page over the bowl, staring down into the water that offered to take away the key to Andrina--and Hyrokkin's release--forever.
And yet, she couldn't let go.
A grumble of victory came from the demon.
You can't.
If she let go, she would be flushing away her life. Her grandmother. Her entire future. Her career, whatever that was going to be when you harbored a monster like this. Her children, even, if she was lucky enough to marry and have any.
And if she held on, she would be destroying the lives of millions. How far would the demon's ice age expand? If it even came this far south, the results would be the most devastating disaster the world had ever seen.
Sophia's vision blurred. She had to do the right thing, and it wasn't the thing that was best for her. At least she would go through life knowing that her sacrifice had saved the lives of millions, the way that the other destroyers, the ones she'd left back at the campsite, had.
Perhaps she belonged there after all.
Sophia loosened her grip on the paper.
If you do it, I will take you back to South Carolina and you will watch as I kill your grandmother.
The words froze her by themselves. The growling anger in Hyrokkin's thoughts was enough to tell her that she meant every word.
No, you won’t. Sophia sounded weak again, like an ant trying to shout at a dinosaur.
She's dispensable to me now. You're the only one I need.
She tightened her grip on the paper. I hate you.
I know. I don't blame you. The faster we're separated, the better.
Sophia let the note crumple in her hand as she shoved it back in her pocket. She wanted to collapse in the stall and have the crying jag she'd wanted to have the moment she'd discovered Shane's betrayal. It was all way overdue. But it couldn't come now. The demon wanted her to surrender and break down.
And then I'll be dispensable to you.
Hyrokkin had no answer to that, which was answer enough for Sophia.
Now, read the paper. I will keep to my threat if you don't.
With a crushing wall of despair, Sophia realized she had no choice in the matter. The demon was back in control, even without taking over her limbs and her tongue. If Sophia didn't do as she said, it would soon be strong enough to take over that way again and send her marching right back into her grandmother's house.
She took the paper back out of her pocket and read.
Though she only caught snippets in the folds of the sheet, she knew that Hryokkin wasn't missing a thing, judging from the icy excitement coming from her. Andrina knows that we're in the area…showed up at the hospital…news story showed what Hyrokkin did at the library…that's how Andrina knew we were here.
With a sinking feeling of dread, Sophia realized what this meant.
Hyrokkin beat her to it. Oh, this is so helpful, Sophia. It's good to know that the scene I created yesterday worked.
So that was why she had attacked those people in the library: to gain Andrina's attention. The frigid storm began to spread through her veins again, riding along on the demon's victory and chasing away its exhaustion.
Outside the bathroom, people chatted and milled around the airport, which seemed to be getting busier with every passing minute.
It was Sophia's turn to beg. No. Don't even think about it. She tried to sound tough, but it did no good. Hyrokkin was taking control back more every second, energized by the hope of finally meeting Andrina. But she knows I'm here, somewhere. I need to send another signal.
No!
Before Sophia could find something to hold onto to keep from moving, the demon took command of her legs again and propelled her out into the main area of the airport, right out into the oblivious crowd.
Chapter Fourteen
Leslie was both horrified when she got to the hospital and relieved.
Paul still lay in his hospital bed when she, Janelle, and Gary got up to his room. He looked super bored in the moment before he realized she was coming in the doorway, clicking the buttons on the remote and scrolling through channels to find nothing on. That was the good part. Andrina hadn't returned since she'd left. The new goddess still didn't know which one of them would be able to give Janelle their breath first. Neither one of them were expendable right now.
"Paul!" Leslie couldn't resist wrapping her arms around him. There was so much she had to tell him, and his wide eyes told her that he knew that already.
They exchanged a quick kiss, and it wa
s enough to make her calm down a bit enough to ask him the next question. She was all too aware that Janelle and Gary were standing at the foot of his bed, waiting to see if Paul could help them out with their situation. "Paul…I couldn't tell them anything. I still can't. I tried to write it down, but that demon took my notebook." It felt so good, being able to speak. As long as she was careful that she didn't give anything away, she could say whatever she wanted.
"Huh?" Paul dropped the remote, which clattered to the floor. The television stayed locked on the local morning news. Leslie glanced at it, but they were busy talking about some fire that had happened overnight at an abandoned house. Typical Flint news. The story ended, and the anchors went on to talk about more job loss at a factory. She wished, more than anything, that the library story would come on again. She hadn't even been able to tell Janelle that it had gotten onto the national news. If she could just find that out, she'd realize just how much danger they all might be in.
And there was the risk that Hyrokkin would do it again, with Sophia running around out there without Kenna to keep her in check. Not that she wanted that to happen, of course.
"Paul," she said. "Can you tell them anything? Because I can't." The choke returned as she was about to say, "She did something to me that keeps me from telling. It's like I'm under her command or something."
"Why don't you sit up here with me?" Paul asked, patting the bed next to him. He scooted over. "It's not like I'm that bad off. The nurse told me I probably get to leave today, since my temperature's so good. They just have to make sure I'm here so long for observation."
Leslie did, settling into the uncomfortable mattress next to him. If the nurse came in and yelled at her, she didn't care. Paul deserved to have her here after what he'd been through. She was his only lifeline. It wasn't like he had anyone else. His father and uncle probably didn't even realize he was in the hospital, and neither one of them were in a position to visit. It was an awful thought.
"Okay," Paul started. He couldn't mask the worry in his voice, and Leslie hated to have to lay all this on him. "Since Leslie's having trouble, I'll tell--"
He coughed, and Leslie realized she was staring down at her hands in despair before he even finished.
Her boyfriend couldn't say, either. Andrina had done something to them both. But how, when she had only touched her shoulder? The goddess hadn't had any physical contact with Paul. None whatsoever. He'd never even mentioned any weird tingling sensations like she had when they'd talked about their experience last night.
Or maybe her command alone had doomed them both to silence.
So what, then, had the tingling done to her? Maybe nothing, but Leslie had the feeling that wasn't the case. There was something behind that, and she had to find out what. But she could tell no one besides Paul, and he hadn't known, either. Outbreakers only felt tingling when they were about to have Outbreaks, from what he said to her. It had to be something else.
At last, Paul sighed. "I can't say anything, either. I'm not sure why I can't."
He knew, and the drumming of his fingers on her arm told her so.
Leslie picked up a small sigh from Janelle. Even she was letting her usual mask slip and letting the frustration burn through. "I know that Andrina has something to do with this. That's all I know. Whenever I try to ask Leslie anything more specific, she can't say a word."
Paul sat perfectly still, neither nodding nor shaking his head. Leslie could tell by the way his eyes darted back and forth that he was starting to panic, checking every corner to make sure Andrina wasn't back to claim them or anything. She snuggled closer to him, and she felt him relax just a little. The pillowcase ruffled as he did.
"We need to think of something," Leslie said. "Paul and I can talk about it with each other. But that's it. I can write it down, but only if I trick myself into thinking I won't show it to anyone else. And even if I do manage to write it down, I do something to destroy it before anyone can see. This isn't working, what we're doing now."
Paul rested his head on her shoulder. "Leslie, I've never been so glad to hear you talk so much."
Janelle paced around the room, much the same way Andrina had the night before. Leslie made herself look away as she peered out the window. If Janelle asked why she was staring, she didn’t want to have to tell her why.
"It looks like I'll have to think of something," Janelle said. "You know what? I'll leave you two alone for a while. I need to go out and get myself some lunch. That, and I need to call around to see if there's been any luck on Kenna's search party. Want me to bring either of you anything?"
Leslie shook her head. There was too much going on for food to sound good right now. "No," she said, shooting Janelle a look. I hope you have something awesome planned, she thought to her. But she didn't dare say that out loud. Andrina's control might kick in if they knew what she was thinking, and she didn't want to risk that. "See you in a while."
Janelle locked hands with Gary and left the room.
"What are you thinking?" Gary asked, growing fainter down the hall. "It's not a good idea to leave them with that monster on the loose…"
Unfortunately, Leslie didn't know which one he was talking about.
* * * * *
Janelle did have a plan, and it was called a tape recorder.
A tape recorder that she'd leave under Paul's bed before going out on another "search" for Sophia. Leslie and Paul could talk about whatever this was with each other. If both of them were oblivious that a machine was listening in, they might give away what she and the rest of them really needed to know. It might even be about Hyrokkin, for all she knew.
Thankfully, they made small ones now that she could fit in one of her jeans pockets. Gary helped her pick one out at the local K-Mart, and they were heading back into the hospital in time to make it look just like they'd been gone just long enough to do lunch and a few phone calls. She had neglected to call Kenna, but that would just give her another excuse to leave once the device was planted.
"Hey. We're back," she said, striding back into the hospital room where a nurse was busy taking Paul's blood pressure. Leslie stood up against the window to let her do so.
"Where did you guys eat?" Paul asked.
"Arby's," Gary supplied quickly. His stomach rumbled just then. Thankfully, neither Paul nor Leslie had heard it over the beeping of the IV machine.
Janelle waited for the nurse to leave before speaking again. "We're just back for a minute to check up on you guys. I still have to go out and see how the search is going. I'm taking it Leslie told you about what happened?" She waited for a response from Paul.
He nodded. "She did. All of it."
Janelle could only hope they decided to discuss it a lot more while she was gone. She couldn't see them talking about dances or school instead.
Gary turned the television back on. It was a distraction for Paul and Leslie, and both of their gazes went towards it. Paul's face clouded over with dread.
She saw why. It was on the national news now, and an overhead view of a town with dozens of destroyed buildings flashed onto the screen. Tornado Outbreak Claims 12 Lives in Alabama, Death Toll Expected to Climb.
Janelle winced for Leslie's sake. She started to yell at her boyfriend, but Paul beat her to it. "Gary!"
Janelle had never seen Paul angry before. He was sitting up faster than she thought anyone could, let alone someone recovering from hypothermia. Blood rushed to his face. The brown and black in his eyes swirled. Behind him, Leslie was averting her eyes, trying to stare down at Paul's nightstand instead of the television. "I turned that off for a reason!"
Gary swore as he took in what was on the screen. "Whoa. Sorry, man. I didn't know what was going to be on."
Janelle coughed, leaning over and fishing out the tape recorder. It was an ugly distraction. But it was their only one. She hit the record button and let it drop to the linoleum as Paul and Gary argued for a few more seconds, and with a gentle kick, let it slide under the hospital bed.
So long as no one decided to roll Paul down for more tests, it would be safe there for a while.
At last, the TV clicked off and Gary muttered another apology. Janelle gave hers to Leslie--it was her fault that Gary had turned the television on to distract her--and stepped back towards the door. Paul seemed satisfied and settled back onto his pillow. The colors in his eyes solidified. The storm had passed for now.
"Come on," she told Gary, loading her words with meaning. "We need to go check on the search."
He nodded and linked his hand with hers. Normally, it would have given her happy tingles, but not now. Janelle spied Leslie in the edge of her vision, staring at the floor next to Paul as if she wanted to sink into a void under the universe.
* * * * *
Janelle refused to leave the hospital parking ramp. She paced up and down the concrete, watching cars go past and get lost in the concrete pillars. If she stayed away from Paul's room for too long, the risk was too great of a custodian coming in and sweeping under the bed. If Leslie or Paul spotted the tape recorder, they both might try to destroy it.
And the last she'd heard from Kenna, twenty minutes ago, they still hadn't spotted Sophia in the woods behind the campsite. Her search party had come up on a No Trespassing barrier not too long ago. They hadn't crossed it in case someone tried to shoot at them. That Janelle could forgive them for.
"Why don't we sit in the car?" Gary asked, pointing to where Mel had parked the rental on the other side of the ramp. "It's been an hour. I don't think standing out here and pacing is going to help much. You're going to end up being one of those young heart attacks."
He was right. And her feet hurt from all the pacing. "But look who's talking? Mr. Always-Blunt-And-Serious."
Gary smiled. "I guess we make a great couple, then, don't we? Come on."
Mel had disappeared, off to pretend to pay attention to the television in the main lounge and watch out for trouble. Every door in the car was locked except the back passenger one, which he must have overlooked. They climbed in, Janelle's heart beginning to race with anticipation.