The Watcher

by Heather Kindt

  “What do you want to do with your life?” She wasn’t sure how he lived that way.

  “I’m majoring in social work.” He motioned to the stage with his thumb. “This isn’t my only passion. In fact, I’m more passionate about helping kids stuck with abusive parents. You know, kids like me. They need someone to stand up for them. No one knows what happens behind closed doors.”

  Laney shivered then reached her hand out to touch his. “I’m sorry.”

  “That’s just it. I’m free now.” His face relaxed, but she still sensed his pain.

  “Nora and I take turns on the weekends watching over the younger one to check in on them.” He grinned, finally able to look Laney in the eyes. “The last time I was there, I dumped every one of my dad’s beers down the sink. I thought he’d have my head. The thing is, I’m stronger than him now.”

  “What happened?” She didn’t move her hand from Nick’s.

  “He had plenty of choice words to throw at me, but all I had to do was puff out my chest and stand over him.” He let out a forced laugh. “Dad stumbled out the front door, and we didn’t see him the remainder of the night. The rest of us had a killer game of Slap Jack.”

  Nick played another set while Laney mulled over his new revelations in her head. He needed her as much as she needed him. Their friendship might help him keep his head above water. Although he said he was free, this wasn’t true. He still carried around heavy chains.

  Chapter 5

  The Recluse meeting was in an old fishing shack in Rockport, about a twenty-minute ride along the North Shore from Madison. Riding down the back roads on William’s motorcycle brought back memories of Laney’s first date with him. He gave her a lift to a Recluse meeting and killed an Ender from one of the other Weaver’s books. It was a huge turning point in their relationship because she could finally open up to him about the stranger parts of her life.

  The dock creaked with the continuous roll of the waves and the moon lit the concrete walkways. Lobster traps and nets were stacked three high and the fishermen’s nets hung limply from the sides of buildings. The door opened and David ushered her into the shack.

  “We have a surprise.” His smile brimmed, almost too big for his face. The three Weavers lived together in the rundown fishing shack for protection. Enders were dangerous people, or creatures, that relentlessly sought after the Weavers that created them. Jonas Webb, Laney’s Ender, was sent back into her book at the same time as William. She didn’t fear for her life, but David, Mark and Natalie still had Enders that hunted them.

  They entered the living room. Laney was shocked to see a woman sitting at the table playing cards with Mark. Deep-set wrinkles covered her face, and her unkempt hair was swept up into a messy bun. Laney recognized her right away.

  “Rose Stevens.” She tried to mask her surprise in seeing a long-lost celebrity casually playing cards with another quasi-celebrity.

  “Delaney Holden.” Rose stood up and embraced the younger Weaver. “I’ve heard so much about you and your tragic love story. I’m half apt to write a romance novel about it, but who knows what would happen if we mixed the stories of two Weavers.” She smiled, revealing even more wrinkles.

  “But I thought you were…” Laney raised her eyebrows at everyone in the room.

  When no one else spoke up, Rose answered, “Damien kept me locked up for more than half a year in a tiny one-bedroom. I guess because he technically doesn’t exist as a person, the police weren’t able to find me. He forced me to kill…” She choked on her words, her hand gripping the arm of the couch.

  Natalie put her hand on her shoulder. “Rose’s Watcher, Thomas, was killed by his twin brother, Damien, in Torched by Tuesday. The Ender got his way.”

  Rose stared at the floor. “I will never let another Ender hurt someone I love.”

  Maybe it was too dangerous to use Jonas to stop William. He’d already tried to kill him, and Laney’s God-like notion of controlling his actions might be a little too ambitious.

  Mark tossed his cards into the center of the table. “Well, now that Laney’s here, let’s get this meeting started.”

  The other Weavers gave updates on Ender sightings in the area and another possible Weaver living in Maine, but the conversation eventually moved to Laney and William.

  “Remarkable!” Rose hung on Laney’s words as she explained how William was able to communicate with her through her journal. “I’m well versed in the Weaver world, and I’ve never witnessed anything like it.”

  “Do you think the Wanderer knows?” David glanced at Laney. “The Wanderer won’t let us into the book world. At least not for long before we’re…” He ran his finger across his neck.

  “Yeah, Natalie told me.” Laney didn’t want to bring up something that deeply hurt her friend.

  She had told Laney that she assumed her mother was killed by the Wanderer when she entered her own book, searching for Natalie’s father.

  “The Wanderer has spies everywhere but so far it seems that her physical reach is only in the fictional world. She hasn’t touched the Weavers in this world.” Mark gathered the deck of cards in a plastic bag and set them in a cabinet next to the window. “As long as we stay on this side of the page, we just have our Enders to look out for.”

  “Has anyone else had run-ins?” Laney shivered, thinking about the lion-man who attacked them last school year.

  “When we leave the safe house to run errands. Mark’s Enders are monsters, so they only come out at night. When we leave during the day, it’s David’s human monsters we have to look out for.”

  “And I’ve stopped writing my poems.” David removed a tattered notebook from a drawer in the end table. “I’ve even thought about burning this.”

  “I’m not sure if that would be such a good idea.” Laney touched her pendant under her shirt. “Killing your Ender with your words might have consequences.”

  “What do you mean?” Natalie took David’s book from him and placed it safely back on the shelf.

  “Some of you know that my grandfather is a Weaver. To save us, he wrote an ending that involved the death of his Ender, Richard.” Laney removed her necklace from beneath her shirt, pointing to the spider. “Grady’s spider is gone, and the stone is cracked. I’m not sure what it means.”

  “I’m not completely sure.” Rose stirred the contents in her mug with a spoon. “But perhaps he’s lost his powers.”

  After seeing Grady’s pendant, Laney wondered if his word-weaving abilities were gone. If she’d killed Jonas, she’d have no way to reach William.

  “How about you, Laney?” Rose placed her lilac glasses on her nose. “Have you had any Ender sightings?”

  “Didn’t Natalie tell you that Jonas went back through the gate at the end of last school year?” She swallowed. “Right before William.”

  “No, she didn’t.” Rose touched Laney’s knee. “But you need to be vigilant. Just as you hope your William can find the Gate Keeper in his world, you can be sure that Jonas is just as motivated to find him.”

  A dim light flickered in the tavern window as the last of the evening’s patrons were ushered out the front door. Jonas watched them from behind a small grove of trees hidden in the shadows. William’s trail had been easy to follow—a black mail of a fellow loyalist who had betrayed the crown, a bribe of knowledge from a drunken barmaid. Jonas had his ways. A Red Coat led him to this tavern. The lower-ranked lobster back described a man that fit William’s description talking to two men at a table with voices so low, nothing good could come of it. After handing the man three shillings, he divulged that William left on his own, with a limp slowing his travel. Jonas salivated at the thought of the Watcher’s injury.

  Two men who matched the Red Coat’s description staggered out of the tavern in his direction, taking the path to town behind him. When they were close enough, he reached out and grabbed the older man’s hair, yanking him into his chest and thrusting his knife against the man’s throat.

  �
��What are you doing, young man?” The man twisted in Jonas’s arms and held his hands up. “We have done you no harm.”

  “All I need is information, and I will gladly send you home to your wenches.” Jonas spit out the words, tightening his grip on the older man’s hair.

  He whimpered in pain.

  “Please loosen your grip, and we will tell you anything you want to know,” the younger man pleaded. He crouched down and picked up a thick branch.

  “You spoke with a man earlier tonight named William Clarke.”

  “Maybe, what is your business with him?” The younger man held the branch in front of him. His stance appeared defensive and off balanced.

  “He brought great harm and sorrow to my entire family and needs to be brought to justice.”

  The man eyed Jonas, probably not believing a word he was saying. “The man we spoke to did not present himself as untrustworthy. He came only seeking information on a man—a doctor with golden eyes.”

  “Golden eyes.” Jonas should have known that William was trying to get back to Delaney. If he got back, they might find a way to close the gate and keep Jonas from ending the book.

  Despite the blade upon his throat, Isaiah spoke up. “Do not tell him anymore. The red cloth on his hat tells you where his loyalties lie.”

  Jonas swiftly kneed him in the back, and the older man fell limp. The younger man used this moment to grab Jonas’s wrist, wrestling the knife out of his hand. The blade fell as he shoved the man to the ground, and then ran along the road to Menotomy.

  Laney turned Rose’s words over and over in her mind. It was disturbing not knowing where Jonas was or what he was up to. Of course, he’d be trying to get back to Madison, but the thought of that was a hundred times better than him recklessly pursuing William. Jonas knew what was most important to Laney, but she also knew what was most important to him. If he killed William, there was no way she would supply Jonas with his happily ever after.

  Missy had a date that evening with the new lacrosse captain, so Laney had the room to herself. She opened her journal.

  The moon illuminated the entire meadow. A family of deer grazed at the edge of the forest. William could not sleep, but his ankle needed rest. The road to Menotomy had not been an easy one. He had to duck in and out of the forest as Red Coats dotted the road. The flatter surface would have allowed for much easier travel with his injury.

  William thought about Laney and her ability to help him through any situation. She watched over him and brought Anne back. She was the one who tried to prevent him from leaving with that nasty fall. She was the one who was watching him at this very moment.

  Laney’s palms sweat, and her hand shook as she picked up her pen to write.

  A faint glimmer came from a small tree a stone’s throw from where William sat. He stood up to investigate. Hanging on the branch was a silver necklace with a clockcase pendant—the very one he gave Laney not even a year ago, to ask her to Manor Hill.

  He unlatched the necklace from the branch and lifted it to his lips, giving it a feather-like kiss. This motivated him to keep moving, to find the Gate Keeper, Silas. William slung his pack onto his back and lifted himself with the aid of the tree.

  She let out a long, slow breath. With her words on the page, the necklace was now with William. He’d know that she was with him always. She reached for her neck and entwined her fingers in one chain—her Weaver necklace. Anne was her way into the book, and William didn’t approve of her trekking across war-torn Massachusetts. At the very least, Jonas was still nowhere to be found.

  Jonas watched William, resting his leg then getting up to gather something from a tree. What could it be? He strained to focus from his vantage point but struggled with his vision. Although his heart was blackened with the foul stench of revenge, he had to bide his time. William would lead him directly to Silas, the Gate Keeper, and Jonas would make sure that he was the only one to make it through the gate.

  The next morning, Laney woke with a newfound optimism. It was Saturday and she had the whole day to do whatever she pleased. Her time with William the night before gave her the motivation she needed to find Brian and make it through the gate before he could stop her. Today was the day to put Operation Spider into motion.

  Missy snored away in her bed, so Laney went down to the lobby to use her phone.

  “Hello?” Nick sounded slightly groggy like he needed at least two cups of coffee.

  “It’s Laney. Meet me in fifteen minutes at The Last Drop.” The Last Drop was the coffee shop on campus that wasn’t usually too busy at eight o’clock on a Saturday morning.

  She stuck her phone in her back pocket and sighed. Would today be the day she’d enter her book? She almost skipped on her way over to the coffee shop, her heart accelerated with the possibility.

  Nick arrived a few minutes early wearing a black stocking cap, black jacket, and black jeans. His black glasses and dark hair completed the ridiculous ensemble.

  Laney almost spit out her coffee, covering her mouth with her hand.

  “You said this was a covert operation.” He ripped off the cap, revealing his head of black hair sticking out in twenty different directions.

  “It’s the middle of the morning,” She smirked and covered her smile with a napkin. “There’s nothing covert with wearing all black during the day.”

  “So, what’s the plan?” He grumbled, brushing off her comments. He brought the coffee he ordered to his lips and relaxed back into the booth’s seat; eyes set on Laney.

  “First, I need you to move over here.” She slid toward the window on her side of the booth and tapped the bench next to her. “Pretend you like me, or something. You never know if Brian has anyone watching us.”

  “Have I ever told you you’re crazy?” He dragged himself over to her side of the booth. “Why in the world would Brian have someone watching you at eight-fifteen on a Saturday morning? He barely knows you exist. The crowd he hangs with sleeps until at least noon.”

  “Better safe than sorry.” She scooted closer to him. “By the way, you look good in black.”

  “Oh, I see how it is. You make fun of me, and now you’re trying to cozy up to get me to help you.” Nick put a disgusted look on his face, but the smile tugged on the edges of his lips.

  “No, I’m serious. You do look good. I don’t need to cozy up to you. I already have you wrapped around my finger.” She couldn’t believe how courageous she was around him. He made her feel comfortable. Like Jason, but without the drama.

  “Really? What makes you think that?”

  “You showed up dressed for our operation. You’re a serious operative. And you have experience in these areas. We’ve already been through the interview process. Remember?”

  “Yeah,” He stretched his black beanie between his hands. “Thanks, by the way.”

  “For what?”

  “The compliment.” He flipped the hat around in his hands. “It means more than you know. I’m not used to them. I’m not like Jason… or Brian.”

  “I know exactly where you’re coming from.” She slapped her hand on the table. “Wallflowers need to stick together, or the flashy people will take over the world.”

  “I think they already have.” He nudged her with his elbow. “Remember Operation Spider? We’re trying to catch you a bright-colored one in your web.”

  “Right,” she said. “Back to work.”

  “I’ve actually seen him around campus, but he’s different. No varsity jacket, just a trench coat. His head is always down, so he doesn’t have to look anyone in the face, but his eyes are usually darting from left to right. It’s almost like he’s trying to avoid someone.”

  “Must be Missy.” The words jumped out of her mouth. “I’m glad you’ve seen him around because I haven’t seen him at all. We know he’s on campus, so that should help.”

  “What’s your goal? Just to talk to him? If that’s the case, we should be able to find him today.”

  “How do you kn
ow?” How could he be so confident when she hadn’t seen Brian for weeks?

  “He must have a class in Taylor Hall because I see him leaving there every Saturday afternoon.”

  Laney put her hand over her mouth. Brian wasn’t living off-campus like he told her. “I know exactly where to find him, and I think your covert clothing is perfect.”

  Chapter 6

  The woman at the front desk gave a thin smile as Laney and Nick passed through the entryway.

  “I didn’t know this was down here.” Nick placed his hand on the stone walls that surrounded the staircase. “I always assumed the basement contained janitor supplies.”

  “It gets better.” Laney kept her voice low. She hadn’t been down in the Wentworth chapel at all this year. The painful memories the cavern evoked made frequent visits impossible. This was the spot that Brian sent William back into the book. She hadn’t been able to set foot in that room since it happened. Maybe Brian knew this.

  They crept towards the chapel but continued past it and down the corridor to another pair of stairs that led farther down into the earth.

  “What the…?” Nick’s took in the tunnel of stone, his voice a whisper. “This is really blowing my mind.” He held onto her arm. “Why don’t they let more students know about this place?”

  “No idea,” she whispered back. A lot of history students came down to the chapel but continuing on wasn’t for the faint of heart.

  At the bottom of the stairs, they reached the door that opened to the large room where she last saw William. She gripped the rough stones on the wall and her legs grew limp. The emotion of the ordeal overtook her, and tears welled in her eyes.

  Nick took hold of her arms. “Are you okay?”

  She tried to regain her composure, but tears streaked down her face. Laney couldn’t trust another person with her secret. Jason had been the only one who knew about the double life she led, and he took that secret to the grave. Nick seemed like a nice enough guy, but she wasn’t ready yet.