The Dragon's Song

by Claire Fogel

My father said, “Of course. And we appreciate everything the police force is doing.”

  When Chief O’Donnell got up to leave, my father walked him to the door. I heard them speaking in low tones out on the front porch.

  Mom stood to put the empty coffee cups in the sink. “Cara, you should call your friends, just to let them know they’re safe, at least for tonight.”

  “Good idea. We can all get one good night’s sleep. I don’t know about the others, but I seem to wake up every hour, thinking I’m hearing a noise outside.”

  Mom smiled sadly. “Me too, dear.”

  I ran upstairs and curled up on my bed with Ralph in his usual spot at the foot of the bed. I called Amy first since she was the one who’d been the most recent target.

  “Hey, Cara, any news?”

  “The two men in the black van have been arrested. They couldn’t identify Gaynes, though. They never met him. The Chief is fairly certain that Gaynes will be sending more men, but at least for now, we can feel safer.”

  “Well, my folks will be a lot happier just knowing that those two guys are in jail. Is the police presence going to change now? I really hope they’ll continue to be visible everywhere in town until Gaynes is in jail. I don’t know about you, but I won’t feel completely safe until that happens.” She sighed. “This has sure put a damper on our senior year plans.” I felt the same way.

  “The Chief isn’t changing anything. The police will be fully present for the duration.” I chuckled. “Petty crime in Thornewood will probably be non-existent for a while. I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep. I’ve been awake a lot every night this week.”

  She snorted. “I’ve been doing push-ups and sit-ups every night until I was exhausted. If nothing else, I’ll be in superb physical shape when all of this is over.”

  “Sleep well tonight. See you tomorrow.”

  I called Kevin next and gave him the news.

  “I wonder how long this break will last, babe. I imagine more bad guys will be on their way. I thought we were going to enjoy senior year.”

  “Yeah, I was looking forward to that too. But since we have to be on guard for the time being, I was wondering about something. Do you have your knives on you?”

  He hesitated. “We haven’t talked about it, and to be honest, I wasn’t planning on it. But after the Molotov cocktail was thrown at Amy’s house on Monday, I decided to have a few knives on me, so I can reach one in a hurry.”

  “Are you going to turn yours in to Mr. Weiss every morning like I’m doing?”

  “Uh, no. Not until I have to. You have to remember, because of your kidnapping, you have a perfect reason to carry a weapon. I’m sure Mr. Weiss took that into account. I don’t have that excuse, so rather than risk being suspended, I’ll just carry my knives quietly. So please don’t even tell Amy, okay?”

  “It’ll be our secret. I just hope you won’t need them, Kev.”

  “You and me both, babe.”

  I figured Sean would call a little later, so I took a quick shower and blew my hair dry so I wouldn’t have to get up as early in the morning. I was in my pajamas and ready for bed when the phone rang.

  “Hi beautiful.” Hearing that greeting each time he called was making me nostalgic. No one but Sean had ever called me beautiful. When we were first dating, that greeting in Sean’s warm, deep voice had always given me chills. The good kind. I took a deep breath and reminded myself to rein it in. Sean was only a friend.

  I had learned recently, however, that there were different degrees of friendship, and blue-eyed Adam was a different kind of friend. If “friend” was the right word.

  “Hi, Sean. There’s finally some good news.” I told him about the arrest of the two men who had been plaguing us, but explained that the Chief thought there would probably be more on the way.

  “I wonder how long it will be before the next crew arrives.”

  “No idea. It could be days or weeks. Who knows how many felons Gaynes has on his rolodex.”

  “Well, we might have a few days to relax. That at least covers our first football game Friday night. You guys are all coming, aren’t you?”

  “You bet. We wouldn’t miss it.” I was too embarrassed to tell him I’d never been to one of Thornewood’s football games. “I’m sure our bodyguards will love it. Gabe’s not playing, is he?”

  He laughed. “No, as much as he’d like to. Coach will have Gabe on the bench, which is about as close to the action as he can get. It’s really too bad he can’t play. He’s big, fast, smart and totally fearless. I know Coach would love to put him on the team.”

  We said good night, and I went to my bedroom window. The woods were full of lights. My father’s camp must be fully occupied tonight. I thought of Rowenna, alone on her mountain, and began humming her song. When I felt magic stirring in the air, I sang the words softly, knowing she’d hear them. When I’d finished, I heard her rough voice in my mind. Thank you, child. I’ll be watching your house. Sleep well.

  Feeling reassured for several reasons, I said good night to Mom and Dad and got into bed. I was almost ready to close my eyes when I heard another voice in my mind, a soft voice I hadn’t heard in a week.

  Cara, I’ve been thinking of you all week. Your father has kept me informed so I know you’re unharmed, but I’ve been worried about how you’re handling the stress. How are you feeling?

  I whispered, “Adam. I’m holding it together, just trying to take it one day at a time. As long as we don’t have another bad storm, I should be okay.”

  Will you be needing me this weekend? Is there anything you want to do outside school?

  “Yes! Thornewood’s first football game is Friday night. We’re all going. Will you be joining us?”

  Absolutely. I’m looking forward to it. When you’re not around, Cara, my life is much too quiet. He chuckled.

  “See you Friday, Adam.”

  Good night, love.

  For the first time that week, I relaxed. I closed my eyes and drifted off, knowing that my father was in the next room, Adam was thinking of me, and a protective dragon was flying overhead. It was a good night.

  The rest of the week was actually what we used to call “normal.” No more Molotov cocktails, no new threats on Facebook, and no men pointing guns at us. I was afraid we were being lulled into a false sense of security, but I tried to enjoy it while it lasted.

  The atmosphere in and out of class on Friday was positively electric. With our first football game of the season scheduled that night, Sean and the other football players were high-fiving and fist bumping all day. It was hard not to share Sean’s good mood.

  But then I remembered that it was Adam who would be taking me to the game tonight, and my fickle heart started beating a little faster.

  Since Kevin hadn’t had a chance to drive his new Jeep all week, he would be our designated driver tonight. The game would start at six thirty, so we had sandwiches for dinner. I wrapped up a few for Kevin and our bodyguards, and when I walked out the front door, I found Adam waiting for us on the porch. He greeted me with that devastating smile, and it was all I could do not to throw myself at him and force one of those forbidden hugs on him.

  We stood on the porch grinning at each other until Kevin’s Jeep pulled up at the curb. I got the feeling Adam had really missed me this week, and my stomach was full of butterflies. I told them sternly to quiet down.

  He took my hand and we ran out to Kevin’s car and climbed into the back seat. Patrick was in the front with Kevin. I was quite pleased with the seating arrangement. When I looked over at Adam, he looked pleased too. For this brief moment in time, all was right with my world, even though I knew it couldn’t last.

  The parking lot behind the football field was already packed. As Kevin drove around the lot slowly, he finally said, “I’ll have to get creative.” He created a parking spot right behind the refreshment stand, muttering, “Hope I don’t get towed.”

  When we walked around the refreshment area, we
found one of the plainclothes cops keeping an eye on the crowd. Kevin walked up to him to let him know where he’d parked his Jeep, and the cop said he’d keep an eye on it.

  Amy would be riding to the game with Sean’s father. We’d arranged to meet at a certain spot in the stands where we wouldn’t stand out, just in case we were being watched.

  No sense making it easy for our enemies, wherever they were.

  Amy’s red hair made her easy to find, despite the fact she was dressed completely in black: black jeans and tennis shoes, black sweatshirt, and, of course, black nail polish. No one would ever accuse Amy Strauss of being less than perfectly coordinated.

  She and Mr. McKay waved to us from the middle row of stands, and we climbed the stairs until we reached their row. There wasn’t much room on either side of them so we were really pressed close together, something no one seemed to mind. Kevin and Patrick maneuvered around Mr. McKay, and sat down close to Amy and Neal, while Adam and I sat on their other side.

  I’d always disliked crowds, but being in the midst of enthusiastic teens and their families was kind of fun, especially with Adam close at my side. The excitement surrounding Thornewood’s first football game felt amazing. The cheerleaders were down at the edge of the field jumping, doing cartwheels, and chanting some version of “Go Team Go.” They looked fantastic in their red skirts and white sweaters, tossing red pompoms in the air as they yelled the name of each player. We couldn’t miss the applause when Sean’s name was heard. He seemed to be everyone’s favorite quarterback. I only knew which position he played because Mr. McKay explained it to me. He’d have to explain a lot more to me once the game started. I knew almost nothing about the game of football. Maybe it was time for me to learn.

  Adam was about as close to me as he’d ever been, thanks to the crowd, and he leaned down and said, “I hope you’re going to explain this game to me. It’s not one I’m familiar with.”

  Mr. McKay was going to have his work cut out for him tonight. He’d already told us about the opposing team, wearing black and gold, called the Cougars. They were from another small town named Miller’s Creek, about thirty miles away. He said the two teams were well matched, both from small schools. We’d be playing Greenville in a few weeks, a much larger school, and a much greater challenge for little Thornewood.

  The teams took their places on the field and the game began. Mr. McKay was tossing out terms like “first down, second down, fumble, field goal,” and so on. I was trying to understand the action on the field, but it was a struggle. Adam, on the other hand, seemed to follow it more easily. At the end of the first half, the score was 0 to 6, in favor of the visiting team. Mr. McKay explained that Sean had made three good passes but the player receiving the ball had immediately been buried under the other team’s defense. He muttered, “They’ve got to try another tactic. Maybe Sean should just run the ball. He’s fast enough.”

  During half time, the cheerleaders were doing their rah-rah thing out on the field, trying to stir up the Thornewood crowd. It seemed to be working. People around us in the stands were cheering. Many were clapping.

  When the second half began, the players were running back on the field, taking their positions when one of Thornewood’s players suddenly dropped to the ground. I couldn’t tell who it was, but Mr. McKay was already pushing his way over to the stairs and was running out of the stands to the field. I was right behind him, and Adam was close at my back. Had it been Sean? My heart was in my throat.

  When we got to the edge of the field, we couldn’t see the player who had fallen. He was surrounded by coaches, referees, and the rest of the team. Gabriel ran over to us. “It’s not Sean. It’s another player Sean’s size. I thought I heard a sharp crack just as he fell. It sounded like a shot, maybe a rifle.”

  Adam turned around looking at the hills surrounding the field. He pointed to the closest hill. “I can see someone running down that hill, heading for the street.” It was too far away for any of us to reach in time.

  I pulled out my cell phone and called the Chief. When I told him a player might have been shot and where we’d seen a possible shooter, he said, “I’ve got a patrol car in that area. I’m on my way.”

  Mr. McKay was still with the crowd surrounding the injured player when the ambulance pulled on the field. The downed player was loaded on the vehicle, and it pulled away immediately, sirens blaring.

  When the crowd cleared away from where the boy had collapsed, I saw Sean. He was looking right at me. I mouthed, “Are you okay?”

  He nodded, then mouthed, “It should have been me,” as he hit himself in the chest. I was afraid he was right. I nodded. With his hands on his hips, he turned his head away and I could almost hear a certain four-letter word that I’d never heard him use before. He looked at me again and I mouthed, “I’m sorry.” He nodded, pulled his helmet back on and walked away to rejoin the team clustered at the side of the field with their coaches.

  Mr. McKay walked back to us. “The game is being stopped. The police are already evacuating the stadium. We have to leave now.”

  Police were now in the stands, directing people to the exit, doing their best to keep everyone calm.

  Something was making me jumpy. I realized I was picking up Sean’s emotions and he was angry. Really, seriously angry.

  My hand was wrapped up in Adam’s as we pushed our way through the crowds leaving the field. I wondered if the police had caught the man we’d seen running from the hill beyond the football field. I began to shiver and Adam’s hand tightened around mine.

  Mr. McKay was going to wait for Sean, so Amy and Neal would ride home with the rest of us. Kevin’s Jeep would be packed. It was still parked behind the refreshment stand, but when we walked up to it, I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest.

  “Don’t touch the Jeep,” I shouted.

  Kevin looked up at me just as his hand was about to open the door.

  “Something’s wrong, Kev. We have to find one of the police and have your car checked.”

  He backed off, still staring at me. Everyone backed away from the Jeep, looking at me like I’d just sprouted a second head. Adam tucked me under his arm securely.

  Kevin moved closer to me and said softly, “Are you sure, Cara?” I nodded and he walked back to the field to find a cop.

  Amy leaned down and whispered, “What’s happening with you, sweetie?”

  I shook my head. “I’m not cracking up. I think something’s been done to the Jeep. They could kill a bunch of us at the same time, right? The air around the Jeep doesn’t feel right. I don’t know if it’s possible to feel evil, but I could feel it more strongly the closer I got to the Jeep.”

  Adam leaned down to ask, “A premonition?”

  “No, not exactly. I just know the Jeep isn’t safe.”

  I saw Neal and Patrick exchanging glances, eyebrows raised. They probably thought my brain had sprung a leak, but I didn’t care.

  Kevin and a uniformed officer jogged around the refreshment stand a few minutes later. The officer came up to me and asked quietly, “Are you sensing something, Cara?” The Chief must have told his men about my premonitions.

  “Officer, please check the Jeep for something explosive. Or maybe cut brakes or something. I’m sure it’s been tampered with.” He nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll radio for our bomb expert. But I want you kids to back off now. Go stand on the field until we’re done.”

  The field was a good distance away from the refreshment stand, so we trooped over there, Adam holding my hand, Kevin holding Amy’s, Patrick and Neal right behind us.

  Two police cars arrived, lights blinking, headed for the area we’d just left. Adam said, “There are benches on the other side of the field. Let’s go wait over there.” I was sure he was trying to get us even farther away from Kevin’s Jeep. We saw another police car pull up and a man wearing a helmet and wrapped in a quilted suit of some kind emerged, heading for the refreshment stand.

  Kevin said, “He
must be the bomb expert.”

  Turning to me, Amy asked, “Cara, what exactly did you feel?”

  I shrugged. Now that I was this far away from the Jeep, I wasn’t feeling the evil vibes I’d felt before. “It’s hard to describe. My heart suddenly started pounding and the air around the Jeep felt sick, like someone had died there.”

  Kevin chuckled. “Of course, if they don’t find anything, you’re going to feel like an idiot, babe.” He was sitting next to me so I kicked him. Hard. Kevin needed to learn when teasing me was not acceptable.

  While we waited for the police to do their job, we started talking about the boy who’d been shot. Even Amy didn’t know him. Kevin said, “His name is David Somers. He only moved to Thornewood last year, so this is his first year playing football. He’s a quiet kid, never says much. I don’t think he’s made many friends yet. He’s Sean’s size and moves well, which is why Coach grabbed him for the team. Now that I think about it, he and Sean are even built alike. In their uniforms, from a distance, you really wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.”

  Amy gasped. “Do you think Sean was the target, and the wrong kid got shot?”

  I nodded. “Sean thinks so too. He was upset and really angry. We had a little non-verbal communication while David was being taken away in the ambulance.

  “We still don’t know how badly David’s been hurt. Sean must feel awful. He thinks David got shot because of him.”

  There was no more conversation after that.

  It must have been a half hour later before we saw the police cars pulling away from the refreshment stand. One car drove around the field and stopped right behind us. The first officer we’d talked to got out and walked over to me.

  “Your ESP was right on the money. There was a bomb mounted under the rear bumper. It would have been set off remotely, probably by a cell phone. The Chief will tell you more later. You kids can drive home safely now. I’ll give you a lift back to your car. Hop in.”

  We squeezed into the police car and Officer Browning drove us back to Kevin’s Jeep.