Seth pulled off the afghan and sat up. It was cool in the house. Looking outside, the lawn was sparkled with drops of rain. He didn’t remember it raining the night before, and the storm had already passed.
He went through the kitchen, stepping out the back door and onto the porch. Seth looked across the yard and into the meadow. Low, gray clouds buried the tops of the mountains, but to the east, the sun shone bright and clear.
Seth stepped down the porch and across the lawn, the grass cold and wet between his toes.
To his right, a wooden shed held gardening tools and a lawnmower. Seth’s bike, a red and silver BMX, leaned against the wall of the shed. The back tire was flat. He’d been meaning to fix it over the summer, but hadn’t gotten around to it yet. Various articles of clothing hung sodden on the clothesline to his left. On the other side of the lawn, the garden was bursting with ready cantaloupes, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Thinking about wild animals, Seth felt a sudden urge to run back inside. He’d forgotten what happened yesterday until now. Jeanie Masterson had more power than what had been chasing him through the meadow, apparently. Still, he walked over and put his hand on the fence, which was slick with rain. The mountain brome spread in a vast, yellow-green sea beyond the yard. It was easier (and safer) telling himself what had happened the day before had been his imagination. Maybe Masie was right. Maybe he did spend too much time in the meadow.
Hello, Seth.
Sweat broke out on his palms despite the cold metal under his hand. His heart thudded in his chest. Seth let go of the fence and stepped backwards. Had he heard that or just imagined it? Whatever it was seemed inside and outside his head at the same time. Was he hearing things? He wasn’t even a teenager and already he was experiencing bouts of madness.
Something about the voice, though. It had a cajoling quality to it.
Don’t be scared.
Seth wanted to laugh. Things meaning harm never wanted you to be scared. That was evil’s first ploy.
He wasn’t, though, just curious. Why was that? The voice wanted him to trust it. It would betray him once it got what it wanted. Namely…his flesh.
The morning sun warmed his shoulders. How could anything evil be alive on such a beautiful day? Besides, he’d been thinking about Jeanie Masterson, and nothing could tarnish those thoughts.
“Hello?” Seth called over the fence.
A breeze rustled the top of the mountain brome. Faintly, Seth heard the sound of laughter—not mocking, but a kind of distinguished laugh.
Seth?
The intonation startled him. That it could speak—whatever it was—fascinated him.
I have warred. Light years though time and space. It’s here now.
It seemed just next to his ear: a whisper, yet buried deep in the cavity of his brain at the same time. Still, he couldn’t put a face, a shape to the voice.
For reasons he couldn’t explain—as if he’d stepped onto holy ground—Seth felt strangely at peace.
He scanned the meadow, trying to see through every blade of grass. Something was out there. He’d smelled it the day before, imagined something with sharp claws and teeth.
It was roughly ten yards in front of him on the other side of the fence. The grass separated, and the animal came into view. A million questions raced through his mind, yet he hadn’t a single answer.
Except one:
Magic.
Had the animal said that? Seth couldn’t tell. The word simply dropped into his brain.
He was still on the couch dreaming, he told himself. It was the only thing that made sense. But the sun was too bright and warm, the cold on the fence too vivid. His senses were alive in ways no dream could create: the dew wet and sparkling, the smell of rainy earth.
But why was it here?
An orange and black tail emerged, curling behind muscled flanks.
Despite the conviction he felt, he had to be imagining it. Opportunities, miracles, of this magnitude were impossible. A doorway had opened. Light from a distant realm pierced his world of make-believe. He was witnessing magic first-hand. From reason and logic, to wonder, Seth Auburn took a single step.
The animal, however, was elusive.
“But…” Seth said. “You can’t be real.”
The words sounded funny, ridiculous even.
“It’s impossible,” he said. “You can’t be here.”
What a silly thing to say, the animal said. How can it be impossible if you can see it? Now that you have proof, you deny my existence? I’m ashamed of you, Seth.
“But…”
How could he accept it? It defied every physical law, contradicted every belief.
Shall I come closer? Pull a rabbit out of my hat?
Seth was still skeptical. How did he know it didn’t want to tear him to pieces? Just because it could talk, didn’t mean it was harmless.
But Seth felt no threat at all. No threat at all. His fear had been misplaced. Was it something he conjured, told himself he must feel despite the impossibility that this was really happening?
“Do you have a name?” Seth asked.
A pause filled the air. Then:
What do you want my name to be?
Speaking of silly things to say! He waited for the animal to laugh, but again, all he heard was silence.
He thought for a second…it deserved a bold name, a fanciful name, something enigmatic. Warlock, Thor, Merlin perhaps, yet the simplest of names came to Seth’s mind:
“Ben,” he said.
You listen well.
Had the animal told him its name? Or was he simply in tune with its enchantment?
You have nothing to fear. Take a step of faith, if you will, into the meadow…
Moving to his left, Seth lifted the latch of the gate, and pushed it open, doing as the animal instructed. His heart hammered with excitement, and perhaps, yes, a little fear. Suddenly, he realized what he’d done, the danger he’d put himself in.
He could smell the animal; it wasn’t as unclean as he’d thought. For a second, he thought he smelled something close to flowers.
A rustling parted the mountain brome. The colors changed from pale green to orange, black, and white. The animal’s eyes loomed large through the grass.
He wanted to see it in its entirety, and suddenly, it wasn’t fear he felt, but awe.
Don’t be frightened…
Ben emerged, a majestic, full-grown tiger.
Had it escaped from the Denver Zoo, someone’s pet, perhaps?
He’d never seen a tiger up close before, not even at the zoo. The sight mesmerized, delighted him. He couldn’t believe it! He wanted to laugh at the absurdity. Ben seemed ten-feet long, the biggest, most intimidating tiger he’d ever seen.
An Amur tiger, I believe you call it, Ben said, taking several steps toward him. Once he was close enough, he licked Seth’s hand with a thick, sandpaper tongue.
Seth laughed, his heart skipping a beat. No dream, he told himself. A door had opened, one made of gold. How else was a talking tiger virtually standing in his own backyard?
It wasn’t a dream because his hand was still wet from the tiger’s tongue.
Ben licked his hand again. Seth knelt, smiling, and scratched the animal behind its ears. The fur was slightly rough, thick, and rich. Ben appeared taller than Seth imagined a tiger to be, his eyes directly level with his chest.
The moment shattered his logic, proving wrong every sensible belief he’d ever had. He’d wondered and dreamed about the impossible before. His father had told him it was dangerous, but now, his original beliefs proved true. His dad had been wrong, and the thought made Seth smile.
Ben’s presence mystified him. He wished Masie were here, his mother, to witness the event. Seth wrapped his arms around Ben’s thick, furry neck. He wanted to ask the tiger a million questions: Where are you from? Why are you here? How come you can talk? How come you know my name? Why me? The grandeur, however, made him speechless. Seth couldn’t think of a single t
hing to say. He asked himself the simplest question: How was it possible?
Ben read his thoughts:
I told you yesterday. I’m not a stranger. Ben’s head moved forward, nudging Seth in the chest with his nose. Adding to Seth’s amazement, the animal began to purr, a deep, motor-like rumble under its fur. Proving harmless, Ben licked the side of Seth’s face, and the boy laughed in delight. I have a task for you. Favors to ask. But not just yet. I had to prove first that you could trust me. Call it a prelude. Look for me, listen, and know that I’m here. Ben shook his mane, licked Seth’s face with such force, the boy fell backwards onto the ground. Ben turned and trotted back, almost gallantly, into the grass the way he’d come.
“Wait!” Seth said, getting up. “Don’t go!”
Ben stopped and looked back at Seth through the mountain brome. Don’t worry. This is the first of many meetings between you and I. We have time yet. Don’t fear. Think of me and savor your youth. Ben turned and trotted through the high grass, disappearing as quickly as he’d come.
Just like that, Seth thought. Just like that, he’s come and gone.
Already, it seemed the moment had never happened. The fear he felt, worry, proof of what called to him…and now Ben was gone.
But he’ll be back, he thought.
Seth stood, gazing over the meadow, watching the grass part where Ben made his way back from wherever he’d come from. Stunned disbelief washed over him. He laughed again, and it sounded funny, as if it were someone else, something else. Seth laughed for a long time.
How he wanted to tell Masie! How he wanted to tell everyone!
Just as quickly, though, his joy vanished. Who would believe him? Daydreaming? The secret, he knew, was more vital than a shared kiss. Seth felt a pang of disappointment when he realized he couldn’t tell a single soul because no one would believe him.
“No dream,” Seth whispered. “No dream at all.”
He shook his head. He shouldn’t believe it, but how could he not?
He looked toward the mountains, obscured by broken clouds, and wondered what lay beyond the hills. Not Utah, Nevada, or California. What secrets did the mountains have, he wondered?
“Good-bye!” he called. He waved, but Ben had disappeared.
An umber of warm light made his chest swell. The mystery of his young life began to unravel. Looking toward the horizon, the crags did not seem as intimidating today.
“Bye,” Seth whispered, again.
Feel my pain…know my horror…
An unwelcome feeling replaced his delight, as if he were suddenly suffocating under a thick mantle of oppression.
The sun was gone. Something evil and vile, corrupted by senseless murder, moved over his arms and shoulders.
Feel my pain…had not been Ben’s voice.
Cold sweat broke out on Seth’s nape, making him shiver. A deep, ominous threat replaced the magic Ben had left behind.
ii
“Dad?”
Austin McCall sat sipping his coffee, reading the morning paper before heading off to work at Outfitters Inc, a company stationed in Boulder that catered to the outdoorsman and the agricultural. Austin was the sales manager.
“Is your brother up yet?” he said, looking over the paper. He was wearing black-framed reading glasses, a yellow tie over a light blue shirt. A banana peel was off to the side next to an empty cereal bowl.
“Dad,” Rudy said. “I don’t know where Sadie is.”
Austin raised his eyebrows, peering over the top of the paper. “What do you mean you don’t know where Sadie is?”
Rudy hadn’t yet showered. His hair was in corkscrews, the same baggy pants and shirt on from the day before. “That’s what I’m telling you, Dad. I went to get him for breakfast. He’s not in his room. I thought he was already up. I’ve checked the house, the bathroom, downstairs. I thought he was watching cartoons or playing video games.” Rudy paused. “I can’t find him, Dad. I can’t find Sadie anywhere.”
Austin looked at his oldest boy and frowned, trying to comprehend this phraseology. “Are you sure you checked the whole house?” he asked.
“Yes, Dad,” Rudy said.
Austin dropped the paper to the table, took off his reading glasses, and set them next to the banana peel. An image flashed through his mind of Sadie looking out the living room window the day before, his bout of illness…something strange about that entire episode…
“Mattie!” Austin called.
Don’t panic, he thought. This is not cause for panic, not yet. He just went outside to play is all. It’s still summer vacation.
But the truth was, he suddenly felt sick to his stomach, because a cold dread began to blossom in his gut. It was the look in Rudy’s eyes, the panic, and yes…the fear. His little boy was gone? Weren’t they just playing baseball yesterday? It was like something in his brain wouldn’t quite click. He had to see it for himself.
Mattie came downstairs and into the dining room. “Honey?”
“Mattie, did Sadie go off with some friend this morning that you know of?” he asked.
Mattie shook her head. “No,” she said. Blood drained from her face, as if reading his mind. Her eyes widened. “Austin, what’s wrong?”
He took a deep breath. Already, things felt out of control, but there was no cause for panic, even if his heart told him otherwise.
“Will you check downstairs while Rudy and I check outside?” Austin asked.
“Austin, what’s the matter? Is Sadie missing?”
Austin moved to Mattie and squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sure he’s fine,” he said, but he didn’t feel fine at all. He felt anything but fine.
Mattie didn’t look convinced, either, but she agreed to check the house again. Maybe he was playing a prank, hiding in a closet. Kids did that sometimes.
Austin and Rudy walked outside, each moving in opposite directions down Chestnut Street.
“Sadie! Sadie!” he called. “Come on, you little bugger! Jokes over!”
Joe Newsome, Austin’s neighbor, emerged from his front door. “Something the matter, Austin?” Joe said, still wearing his bathrobe.
“Misplaced our youngest, it seems,” Austin said, trying to make light of the situation.
Joe Newsome stood still for a moment, frowned, not quite comprehending, then ran back inside, calling to his wife.
They searched for fifteen minutes. Joe Newsome, along with several other neighbors were soon checking nearby yards and sheds. But like some slow poison, the dread began to move deeper into Austin McCall. He was going to have to go back home. He was going to have to go back home, tell Mattie their boy was nowhere to be found, and call the police. Closing his eyes, and resigning himself to this particular fate, he did exactly that.
“When was the last time you saw him?” the sheriff asked him on the phone.
“Last night before bed.”
“Did you get up in the night at all to check on him?”
“No, Sheriff. We were sound asleep.”
“Was he upset over anything? Did you have an argument? Did he go to a friend’s house?”
The ceaseless barrage of these questions only irritated Austin. “No,” he snapped. “He was sick as a dog. He threw up Mattie’s meatloaf. That isn’t a reason to run away from home, is it?”
Sheriff Bimsley said he’d be right over.
Austin dialed every number he could find. It was a futile endeavor, he understood, but he didn’t know what else to do. Things were now moving ahead of him at a rapid pace, like his life and his little boy were just out of reach.
He got the same response from everyone he called. No one had heard or seen anything. His little boy, his little starting ace, had gotten up during the night and disappeared. Or had someone come into the house and kidnapped him?
He called Outfitters Inc. and told them the situation.
Sheriff Bimsley pulled up in his patrol car five minutes later and knocked on the door. He was a burly man. Clean-cut brown hair, brown eyes, and
a large, clean-shaven jaw, he wore a khaki-colored shirt with a gold star pinned to his left breast. A leather holster with the handle of .357 was firm against his waist.
“He could be out playing in the meadow,” Bimsley told Austin. “It’s a damn big meadow. Maybe he wanted to go out and play and lost track of time. We’ll find him.”
“He’s not that kind of boy,” Austin said, with more anger than he intended. “He doesn’t go running off without telling anybody.”
Frank called his deputies and had them comb the neighborhood streets, checking yards and sheds as the neighbors were doing. The entire neighborhood was involved. Austin and Rudy continued to search with Bimsley and his deputies.
He felt like he was moving through a bad production of a terrible film, and he was afraid of getting to the end of it.
Is this reality? Austin thought. Is this the thing about reality that makes you wish you were always dreaming? The part of reality that is cruel and heartless, cold and unforgiving? This is real, what’s happening now, isn’t it? It really is happening, even though it doesn’t seem like it’s happening at all, like it’s all a part of a bad dream. Sadie is missing? Is that happening now in real life? Sadie is really gone? How on earth can that be?
His head swam: images of his boy the day before striking out Rudy…going to the window…his bout of illness afterwards.
The events of the day began to move around Austin. His brain swirled through so many scenarios, he was starting to feel vertigo.
He was dreaming. He’d wake up any minute he told himself.
They were moving from yard to yard now, but that dream-state wouldn’t leave him. It was as if Austin couldn’t remember how he’d gotten here. The boy was playing hide-and-seek somewhere, no big deal. He just wanted the whole town involved, the ultimate prank.
Pretty clever, if you ask me, Austin thought.
The boy would have everyone laughing. It would be on the front page of the Ellishome Gazette. Hell, he’d buy the kid all the Sammy Sosa cards he wanted if he would just come out of hiding.
Things like this don’t happen, Austin thought, opening the door to a neighbor’s shed. We live here because things like this don’t happen. I picked this place to raise my family because Ellishome seemed like the perfect town.
Snapdragon Book I: My Enemy Page 6