“I’m sorry, Chi,” I said when I managed to form words. “I’m so, so sorry for Garner’s family.”
Poor Della. She must be devastated. I decided to go see her after school. Or better yet, forget school. Foster and I would go over as soon as he got here.
“I know you are, Sophie. Are you going in today? Mom says I can skip and go stay with Garner.”
“Yeah, I’ll come by too,” I said.
“Is he coming with you?” Her voice had a bite to it now. She obviously meant Foster.
“Is that a problem?”
She sighed heavily.
“Gotta get used to him, Chi. I think I like him.” I knew for a matter of fact that I did.
“I guess,” she said. “I want you to be careful, though.”
“He’s not as bad as you think.”
“Said every girl who’s ever fallen for someone she shouldn’t,” Chi snorted. “But I will go along and be there to pick up the pieces.”
“Thanks,” I said with a sad smile. “I gotta take a shower.”
I hung up. My bedroom door opened, and Mom stuck her head inside. I shrugged out of my coat, but she saw it. Great. Now I needed a reason to sleep in my coat, fully dressed, with my sneakers on.
“Good, you’re up.” She came in with Connor balanced on her hip. He was sucking on a bottle with his head resting on Mom’s shoulder.
“What’s up?” I jumped up and went to my closet.
“The police called this morning, honey,” she said.
I stopped digging through my clothes and looked at her.
“Why?” I asked.
“Another child has gone missing.” She patted Connor on the back and pulled him tighter to her.
“I heard. Chi’s boyfriend’s little brother,” I said. It had to be so hard on her. Gram told me we needed to grieve and move on. How could we, though, when children kept disappearing, keeping the wound open?
“I’m sorry for them.” Mom sat down on the bed rather mechanically as if she were a robot doing preprogrammed tasks. “That’s not all the chief wanted.”
“What else?”
“Someone saw you around midnight last night,” she said. My stomach hit the floor. “At the gas station on Prince. Talking to that reporter. The one who’s always trying to get an interview.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. That was bad but not as bad as if someone had seen me around Alex’s house, or running like a madwoman down Montague Street.
“Care to explain?” Mom asked.
“I couldn’t sleep and went for a walk.” I figured I might as well use the story I had put on my note.
Mom held up her hand and squeezed her eyes shut. “I don’t want to hear excuses.”
“I’m sorry, Mom,” I hung my head, truly remorseful.
“You’re eighteen in a few months. You’ll be an independent adult. All I ask is you don’t bring any more grief on this family by talking to that sorry reporter,” she said.
I had been expecting a lecture about a hundred different things, but I wasn’t ready for quiet acceptance and a request to keep her out of the media.
“I didn’t mean to sneak out,” I said, trying to get some reaction.
She shook her head and stood. “Stay away from the news.”
“Carly,” Dad snapped. He stood in my doorway with a tight frown.
“I don’t care, dear. I don’t want to be on the front page anymore.” She stood and walked past him.
Dad looked at me. His face was lined with worry. He’d aged a lot in the past few months. He ran a hand through his scruffy morning hair. “I should ground you for sneaking out.”
I nodded. At least one of them was upset with me for the right reason.
“But I’m not going to. I understand the need to get out of this house sometimes.” He approached in measured steps and wrapped me in a loving hug that I wasn’t sure I deserved. “Be careful, and stay close to home. For heaven’s sake, don’t ever be the source of the police calling here again.”
“I’m sorry, Dad.” I buried my face in his chest.
He kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry too, sweetheart. Mom’s just tired.”
I knew that wasn’t it. She was lost in her grief, and her will to be my parent anymore was gone. I was old enough to look out for myself. Just don’t bother or inconvenience her. I appreciated Dad trying to tell me a different story.
“That boy taking you to school?” he asked. My head bumped his chin when I nodded. “Be careful.”
“I’m not doing anything I shouldn’t, Dad.” I was, but not in the way that he meant.
“Sure. I know how hormones work.” He laughed, sounding lighter than he had in months.
“Dad,” I squealed and swatted his arm. “Listen, I was gonna skip school today. The little boy who disappeared last night was Garner’s younger brother. Chi is over there with them, and I was going to go too.”
He pulled back and looked at me, searching my face.
“That won’t be too tough for you?”
“I’m still going through it too. It helps to be together.”
He smiled.
“In spite of the cops calling this morning, I’m proud of you, sugar.”
He hadn’t called me that since I was a little girl.
“I’ll call the school and tell them you aren’t well,” he said.
Chapter 24
By the time I was dressed and ready, Foster’s car was in the driveway, and the boy himself was in the kitchen, talking with my dad.
“So, no school,” said Foster when I walked in.
I shook my head, afraid that other words would fail me. Foster knew what I’d gone through last night. I wanted to throw myself into his arms and bawl like a baby, but not in the kitchen. Not in front of Dad.
“I’ll drive you over to Garner’s.” He handed me a cup. I knew it was black coffee. He wouldn’t want to mess up my order again.
“Bye, Dad.” I kissed his cheek.
“Come home if it gets to be too much.”
“Thanks. I’ll call you if I need anything,” I said and followed Foster outside.
Foster reached back for my hand.
“You okay?” I shook my head, hurried past him, and jumped in the car. I was close to breaking, and the last thing I wanted was for Dad to see me cry.
Foster followed and pulled out of the driveway a little too quickly. When he’d rounded the corner, and my snooping father couldn’t spy through the windows anymore, he pulled over.
He’d barely turned to me when I launched into his arms. I buried my face in his neck and let the tears win.
“Hey,” he whispered.
My whole body shook with sobs . . . an ugly cry.
“You saved Alex,” he said.
“But lost Garner’s little brother.” My chest heaved for a breath. “All my effort was for nothing. I didn’t stop anything. I only added hurt to one of my friends.”
I felt awful that I’d brought this down on Garner.
“It’s not your fault.” Foster rubbed my back.
I sat back and pushed the hair out of my face. Foster reached across and opened the glove compartment to hand me a small pack of tissues.
“Do you still want to go over there?” he asked.
“I need to,” I said though I wanted to drive out to the pond and throw rocks at Greenteeth.
Foster shifted the car into drive, and in the few minutes it took me to wipe my face and blow my nose, he was pulling up outside Garner’s house.
Mr. Hurst, his eyes red, waved us through. Garner and Chi were on the back porch. Leigh Kate was there as well, giving me a sad smile as I sat in the chair next to Chi’s.
“Hey.” I patted Chi on the back. Her head was resting on Garner’s shoulder, and he was staring out into the yard.
“I guess we need to start a left-behind club,” said Garner with a hard edge to his voice. “For those of us who are lost and wondering where our little brothers and sisters went.”
> His pain brought fresh tears to my eyes. Foster pulled up a chair next to me and took my hand.
“There’s still hope,” said Leigh Kate. “Cassie and Chase haven’t been gone long.”
Garner jabbed a finger in my direction. “I think her case says differently.”
Sam had been gone for months. When the others glanced at me, the situation must have seemed hopeless. My heart was heavy as if a thousand-pound weight was sitting on my chest. Despair. Or . . .
Titan.
I sat up straight. His presence had been absent since he’d sent Greenteeth back to her pond last night.
“What did my grandma say to you the other day?” Garner asked. His eyes widened a bit when he finally noticed Foster, but he kept negative comments to himself.
I hesitated. Could I tell them all the truth? That a ghost witch was stealing kids. Stealing our siblings.
No. They’d think I was beyond nuts.
“She knew Gram and wanted to send her condolences. For Sam,” I said.
“After so long?” he asked. I shrugged.
“Where is she?” I asked.
“They had to sedate my mom, and Grandma is in with her.” Garner’s voice broke, and Chi put her arms around him.
I couldn’t sit there much longer. The three of us who’d lost so much were a pitiful group. The situation was the saddest thing I could have ever dreamed of, made worse because nothing could be done to help. I’d yet to figure out how to save my own brother. Now my actions last night were directly responsible for Garner’s loss.
A bank of gray clouds rolled in, plunging everything outside into a murky darkness. A thick fog rolled into the far back corner of the yard.
I squeezed Foster’s hand, but he didn’t notice. He was staring at Garner, frozen. In fact, none of the others in the room moved. Leigh Kate, Chi, Garner . . . all sat there motionless, their breathing not even visible.
The fog parted, revealing Little Sophie. She frowned.
“I hoped she’d skip us,” she said.
“I’m sorry.” I slowly rose from the chair and walked out into the grass. I knew I shouldn’t get too close because it could be a trick. Greenteeth could pop out and snatch me at any moment. But Little Sophie was so sad. “You have no idea how sorry I am for Garner’s family.”
“Sorry?” she screamed. “You get in Greenteeth’s way and make a friend out of that monster. He stinks of the sea.”
She waved a wistful hand behind me. I checked over my shoulder.
A single ray of sunshine shone down upon a large golden beast about four feet behind me, a dragon-like scaly monster with spikes coming out of his head and trailing down his neck. Seaweed hung from his snout. His feet were webbed and ended in huge claws. The mammoth being was tall, his head stretched far above the rooftop.
Titan?
He dipped his head.
Yes. His words became part of my consciousness the same as they’d been before.
“It’s filthy and disgusting. Don’t you smell the stink of salt on him?” Little Sophie covered the dark holes where her eyes should have been.
I stink? Titan snorted. The stench of that rotten pond rolls off her. She has a lot of nerve.
Can you help me save her? I asked him.
Save her, Sophie? No, she’s been gone far too long.
Little Sophie began to scream. I covered my ears while her screeching grew louder. Titan ambled closer, the ground shaking with each step. When he walked out of the sunlight, his body disappeared.
Her soul is in torment. I would help if I could. It saddens me.
Little Sophie stopped screaming and merely whimpered into her hands.
What can you do?
Titan’s answer surprised me. I miss my own brother. I would save them all if I could. But him especially. Greenteeth will never let any of them go.
The clouds rolled away, and I was left standing alone in the grass. No ghost girl. No Titan.
Foster jumped up when he noticed me in the yard.
A scream came from inside the house, and the back door banged open. Della ran out, moving much quicker than I thought possible for her frail frame.
“I saw her. I saw my sister,” she screeched while rushing toward me.
“Grandma.” Garner tried to grab her but missed.
“Mom?” Mr. Hurst stumbled out of the house. Foster was jostled to the side. Confusion etched on his face.
“It wasn’t her, Della,” I said and enclosed my arms around her, but she was surprisingly strong and wrestled free.
“No, I saw her. She was crying. She wore her favorite pink and yellow dress. She went missing in that dress.” Della searched the immediate area. I sensed the ground rumble but was apparently the only one. Titan was still there trying to avoid the old woman. She dropped to her knees in the grass near where Little Sophie had been standing.
“What did she say to you? Is she with Chase? Is he okay?”
Foster reached me. He took my elbow, keeping me on my feet as my knees went weak. I let him hold me up.
“What happened?” he demanded.
Garner and his dad were pulling Della up from her own knees.
“Tell me what she said,” Della screamed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I cried into Foster’s shoulder. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Della.
She tugged at my arm, trying to pull me from Foster, but he wouldn’t let go.
“Mom,” Mr. Hurst wrestled her away.
“That girl, Callie’s girl, was talking to my sister. Greenteeth took my sister.” Della’s eyes were clear, a lucid expression on her face when she pointed at me. Gone was the fog of confusion that had plagued her the last time we’d talked.
“Grandma, you don’t have a sister.” Garner stepped in front, shielding me.
Della caved.
“I did.” She sobbed into her hands. “I did, and she was taken.”
“I think all you kids should leave.” Mr. Hurst swept up Della like a rag doll.
“Greenteeth?” Garner turned to me. I closed my eyes and tried to block the whole morning out of my head.
“Can we go to your place?” I whispered to Foster.
“Of course,” he said.
“No, wait.” Garner snatched my arm and ripped me out of Foster’s embrace.
“Hey,” Foster warned. “Don’t be rough.
“Whatever. I want her to tell me what she knows.” Garner’s face was red with anger and grief. I understood how he felt.
“Do you have any information about this, Sophie?” Leigh Kate asked. The hope in her voice gutted me even more than the pain on Garner’s face.
“I . . . I don’t,” I said. How could I explain?
“Please, if you know anything,” Leigh Kate begged.
“Sophie?” Chi got up from her chair.
“I can’t . . . it’s not.” I backed away from them all.
“She doesn’t know anything,” Foster said for me.
“Seems like she does,” said Garner in an accusing tone.
“I really don’t like you.” Chi spat in Foster’s direction.
“Head around the house to my car.” Foster pushed me to the backyard gate.
“Wait, just tell us.” Leigh Kate stepped out onto the grass and stopped. It was as if she’d run into an invisible wall. She tried to move around whatever was standing in her way but couldn’t.
“What the hell?” Chi was also stuck in place.
Titan was giving us an escape. For a sea dragon – because that sure was what he’d looked like – he was awfully handy to have around. Foster snatched my hand, and we ran through the open gate. The voices of my friends reached me, angry and upset.
Foster started the car and slammed it into drive before my door was completely shut.
“Now, tell me what happened,” he said as he eased off the gas pedal at the end of the street.
Chapter 25
Foster slowed when we drove past Greenteeth’s pond. There w
as a distinct absence of fog. Chase Hurst must have satisfied her for the time being. To me, it was a slap in the face. Tangible proof that I had failed a child.
Foster’s house appeared deserted when he pulled in the driveway and turned off the engine.
“Is your aunt home?” I asked.
“Why?” He grinned at me.
I shrugged. Being alone with him made me nervous. But, so did his aunt Hannah. The first time I’d met her, she’d given me the impression that I wasn’t her favorite person. Of course, I’d been a frozen popsicle, so maybe I read the whole situation wrong.
Foster got out of the car and strolled around to my side, opening the door for me with a flourish of his hand. Awkward. He’d never done that before. I got out, shivering inside my coat.
“I doubt my aunt’s home.” He intertwined his fingers with mine and tugged me toward the front door.
“We’re alone?” I dug the heels of my boots into the gravel, regretting the decision to come here.
He laughed and pulled me forward. “I’m not going to jump on you.”
I gave in and followed him inside. The house was as cozy as I remembered.
Foster dropped the keys on the table beside the door and guided me straight into the large, rustic kitchen.
Double ovens and a huge stainless steel refrigerator took up the entire back wall. Metal racks filled with pots hung from the ceiling over the center island above the stove. A fully stocked bar took up another wall.
“Want a soda?”
I nodded and hopped up onto a barstool. This place was a chef’s dream. Too bad burned toast was my only specialty.
“Here.” He handed me a can of Coke and took a root beer for himself. Root beer. How adorable.
He slid onto the stool next to me. We were facing each other, our knees touching.
I popped open my soda and took a long swig. “So, your aunt?” I asked, incredibly nervous. His knee knocked against mine, and he grinned.
“Aunt Hannah’s at the store, I guess. She probably didn’t expect me to be home today, so who knows where she’s off to. I have those old Inquisitor articles if you’d like to see?”
“I would love that.” I’d totally forgotten he had them. With any luck, they wouldn’t be the same as Gram’s.
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