by Ryan Hill
Mr. Lovell would’ve applauded Percy’s dedication, but it was misplaced. “Do you really think your van could keep up with Franklin’s Mustang?”
Percy hmmed. “Probably not without a whole lot of nitro.”
“Even then, I have my doubts.” Mr. Lovell took his gloves off and pretended not to notice the sickened look on Percy’s face. “Besides, I have a better idea.”
“What’s that?” Percy asked.
“You and I will pay the Southwick boy’s parents another visit. See if we can’t put some real fear into them. If everything goes the way I think it will, they’ll lead us to the children, or even take care of them for us.”
Percy nodded, liking what he heard. “Franklin and the girl?”
“We have the Shell.” Mr. Lovell picked up his cell phone. “And much to prepare for. Someone else will take care of them. He’s been in the area, just in case this exact situation came up.”
“No,” Percy sounded terrified. “Not him.”
One hollow threat and Percy’s afraid of the man for life. Oh, how nice it would be if everyone else was that easily swayed. Never mind. They will be.
“Of course him.” Mr. Lovell dialed the phone. It rang three times before someone with a thick, gravelly Irish accent answered.
“Yeah?”
“Hello, Deckland? It’s time.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The Consequences of Running Your Mouth to an Immortal
Bailey’s head was buried between his knees, so he didn’t see anyone else in the bathroom until two pairs of shoes entered his line of sight. Tim with his scuffed-up silver New Balances, and Marshall with his shiny new Nikes. Bailey didn’t have the strength to look his friends in the eyes. The shame would destroy Bailey, especially with Tim. How could Bailey tell his friend Alexis’s condition was all Bailey’s fault? That he was the reason Tim’s sister was dead?
“You okay?” Tim asked.
“That dude drives like a maniac.” Marshall kicked at Bailey’s foot. “What’s up with you? Can’t handle the little run-in we just had?”
That was it. Bailey’s anger took control of his body. He sprang at Marshall, slamming him against the wall. “Can’t you act like a decent person for once? Alexis is dead, you moron.”
“Hey, whoa, take it easy.” Tim laid a hand on Bailey’s arm, pulling it away from Marshall’s throat. “We’re all good here.”
Bailey glared at Tim, trying to get his anger under control. “How? Tell me how we’re all good.”
“For starters, Alexis isn’t dead, you nimrod.” Marshall shoved Bailey away from him. “That antidote they gave her is working.”
A bubble rose in Bailey’s throat. Was it possible? Hope drowned out everything, and his eyes teared up again. “You serious?”
“As a nunchuck to the nose.” A half-smile crept across Tim’s face. “Why would we joke about that?”
Bailey couldn’t believe it. He watched Alexis die. Moving past his friends, he dashed into the kitchen, looking for her. She wasn’t there. Walking into the den, he found her asleep on the couch. Her skin had almost returned to its normal, peach-like complexion. Each step closer felt like a weight being lifted from his spirit. He got down on his knees next to her. She seemed utterly at peace. No hint of horror or fear splashed across her face, just calm. Anyone would be hard-pressed to figure out she’d walked through the gates of Hell earlier tonight. A few tears fell down his face. Bailey wiped them away. He didn’t want his friends to see him like that. Good thing, too. Tim and Marshall each took a seat at the table, grinning.
“Thought she was a goner.” Franklin was in a chair across from them.
Bailey never noticed Franklin was even there. Tim could probably learn a thing or two about being stealthy from that guy.
“Not many can hang on as long as she did.” Franklin nodded toward Alexis. “That girl’s got more fight in her than Muhammad Ali.”
Bailey looked at Franklin funny. He was too worn out to think about obscure references.
“He was a boxer,” Julie said, walking in from the bedroom.
“I know.” Bailey didn’t know.
“We’re not idiots,” Marshall spat out.
Yes they were.
Who the crap cared about Muhammad Ali, anyway? Alexis stared at death, took its best shot, and kicked it in the teeth for a clean getaway. Bailey wondered if there was anything that could kill her. Leukemia couldn’t, and the same for Mr. Lovell. Not even George Washington had her kind of luck.
“I should be beating the shit out of you right now,” Franklin rose from the table. “All of you.”
Bailey raised an eyebrow. Unless Tim or Marshall told Franklin about the museum, there shouldn’t be any problem. “Why?”
“What did we do?” Marshall asked.
“We didn’t go to Mr. Lovell’s to save you and your friends,” he said. “And why would we? We were there to kill that raisin face.”
“What were you even doing there?” Julie asked.
“Long story,” Bailey said. “Basically, mine and Marshall’s parents are helping Mr. Lovell, and we were trying to find out why.”
“I guess it was a good thing we showed up. Only happened because I got busted at the museum earlier. Otherwise, your friend would probably be dead.”
“Yeah.” Bailey felt as awkward as a dancer with two left feet. With Alexis safe, he figured it’d be safe to fess up. He didn’t want that hanging over his head, the guilt spoiling the moment. It wasn’t like Franklin could reverse the healing, right? “About the museum.”
Marshall covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. Bailey narrowed his gaze, saying don’t you dare, asshole with his eyes. Tim shook his head no.
Franklin gave him a confused look. “What about it?”
“Sorry.” Bailey explained the run-in with Percy earlier in the day, and how they thought he was the one they called the cops on at the museum.
Franklin sighed, running a hand over his mouth. It wasn’t hard to see the anger bubbling under the surface. “Unbelievable. Do you know what you’ve done? Do you?”
Bailey didn’t expect a kind reaction from Franklin, but it still caught him off guard. At least he hadn’t punched Bailey. Yet. “I’m sorry, we messed up, but if we hadn’t, Alexis would be dead right now.”
“Yeah? Well, now we’re all probably dead. Your good Samaritan act gave them the Conch Shell of Doom.”
“So?” Bailey felt threatened by the accusation. It wasn’t like he’d done the wrong thing by calling the cops. He just fingered the wrong guy. “What’s the big deal about this shell anyway? It’s a shell, for Pete’s sake.”
Franklin rolled his eyes. “It is not just a shell.”
“What is it, then?”
Franklin put his hands in his back pockets and gazed up at the ceiling, thinking about how much to tell them. “It’s the ultimate weapon.”
Bailey bit the inside of his cheek, trying to hold back laughter. He knew one look at Tim and Marshall would result in a massive giggle fit. Yes, Mr. Lovell wasn’t of their world or whatever, but how could a shell be an ultimate weapon?
“I’m with Bailey.” Marshall spoke through laughter. “Why all the hubbub over a friggin’ shell?”
Franklin slammed his fist on the table, making everyone jump. “You think so? You think I’d be this mad over a damn sea shell? It can destroy everything you love, don’t you get that?”
“Yeah. Got it,” Marshall sheepishly said.
Franklin turned toward Bailey. “When your friend is well enough, take her home. And stay out of my way. You’ve all caused enough trouble already.”
“What do you mean?” Bailey didn’t go through everything just to be sent home.
“You’re a bunch of kids.” Franklin ran his hand around his mouth. “If Mr. Lovell doesn’t kill you, chances are I will. So when she’s awake, go home and leave me, Julie, everyone, alone. Forget this ever happened.”
Tim leaned against the kitchen counter. “We
can help you.”
Franklin sighed. “You haven’t so far.”
“I’ve been trained in the ways of the ninja.”
“No you haven’t.”
Julie perked up. “I agree with them.”
“I don’t care,” Franklin hissed.
“That’s not fair.” Bailey was surprised with himself. He really did want to help.
“Life isn’t fair.” Franklin walked past Tim, into the kitchen, and then pulled a bottle of whiskey out of a cabinet. “Get used to it.”
Julie rose from the table and joined Franklin in the kitchen. “They may be able to help.”
“She’s right,” Tim said. “And I’m pretty much honor bound at this point, what with you saving my sister and all.”
“Honor bound? What are you smoking?” Franklin took a swig straight from the bottle. “You’re not bound by honor to do anything. This isn’t up for discussion. I don’t like kids, you’re all way out of your depth, and if you say one more word, well, good luck carrying the girl out of here by yourselves.”
Would he really kick us out? Now? No way, Bailey thought. “But—”
Three minutes later, Marshall and Tim were on each side of Alexis, groaning as they struggled to hold on to her legs. Bailey followed, his back aching from bending over and holding her by the arms.
“You just had to say one more word, didn’t you?” Marshall scowled.
“Shut up.” Bailey noticed Alexis’s hair was gliding along the floor. That’s not very sanitary.
The elevator provided a nice break from carrying Alexis. Marshall let the leg he held thump on the floor.
“Dude,” Tim complained. “That’s my sister.”
Marshall wiped his brow. “And she’s heavy.”
Bailey grinned. “Says the guy with the muscles.”
The elevator doors opened at the ground level. The three of them were forced to take short steps, so they wouldn’t lose balance. Marshall struggled to hold her up with one arm as he reached into his pocket to get his keys. He opened a car door, and they shoved Alexis into the back seat.
“Is Sleeping Beauty ever waking up?” Marshall snapped his fingers in front of her. Nothing.
“She better.” Bailey shrugged. “She’s got to at some point. Right?”
They left Franklin’s place and headed back to Seaside Adventureland to get Alexis’s car. Bailey struggled to fight off sleep during the ride. Alexis lay asleep next to him, beautiful like an angel. She looked so good, he could have convinced himself tonight never happened, if he hadn’t witnessed the whole thing. Bailey wondered if she really was in some kind of Sleeping Beauty state, and all she needed was a kiss from Prince Charming to wake her. Normally, he’d have never dreamed of doing something so bold, but the mixture of adrenaline and fatigue gave him a drunken, courageous feeling. He’d always found her attractive, but her brush with death seemed to make him appreciate it more, sort of like he didn’t know what he had until it was almost gone. If they survived, he promised himself he’d ask her out on a date.
Marshall and Tim didn’t say much of anything in the front. They too were probably worn out from everything. An idea crept into Bailey’s mind.
He leaned closer to Alexis, making sure Marshall and Tim didn’t notice the movement. With them off in their own little worlds, Bailey knew it was then or never. Maybe Alexis really would wake up with a kiss. His chest tingling, he leaned closer to Alexis. Wait.
Bailey glanced at the floorboard. Would that count as stealing a kiss? If it worked, would she throw her arms around him and return the kiss or slap him across the face? What if the kiss was considered some kind of rape? Bailey didn’t want to be a rapist, forced to spend his life ringing neighbors' doorbells and telling them he was a sexual deviant. That settled it. The entire scene was all wrong. Mission aborted.
“What are you doing?” Alexis asked.
Bailey jerked back, surprised she was awake. “Nothing. I must’ve dozed off. How are you feeling? Happy to still be in the land of the living?”
Alexis sat up and rubbed her eyes. “I feel like one of those buildings that’s been demolished with dynamite.”
“Hey, look who’s up,” Marshall said.
Tim whipped his head around to see her. “There she is. How was death’s door? Did it look any different from last time?”
“What? I don’t really remember what happened. Did we hang out with Bailey’s parents?” Alexis yawned and wiped sleep from her eyes. She might have been alive and well, but she sounded like someone who’d been through a building demolition. Marshall even turned the radio down so they could hear her.
“Har, har, har,” Bailey said. “You are a barrel of laughs.”
“You were also dead for a minute or two,” Tim said.
Alexis let out a slight gasp. “I was?”
Tim nodded. “You were. So quit doing that, okay? Freaks me out.”
“What was it like?” Marshall asked, turning the car onto the road leading to Seaside Adventureland. “Did you see a white light? Old family members? Or did you end up downstairs with fire and brimstone?”
“I don’t think anything happened. If it did, I don’t remember.”
“That’s disappointing.” Marshall’s voice trailed off. “I was hoping they’d at least have all the free Internet porn you could get your hands on.”
“Gross.” Alexis recoiled like she’d seen a dead bug. “Didn’t need that image in my head.”
“Seriously.” Bailey tried to stand up for Alexis.
“Please. Like that’s not your idea of Heaven,” Marshall quipped.
Bailey bit his tongue. It kind of was.
The car turned into Seaside Adventureland and pulled up next to Alexis’s SUV, which was the only car left in the parking lot. She was a little woozy getting out of the car. Bailey worried she’d pass out.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Just got a little light-headed.” She held on to the open car door for balance. “Tim, can you drive me home, just to be safe?”
“I would, but my ride is at Marshall’s.”
“I can do it,” Bailey volunteered.
She handed him the keys. “Sold.”
Marshall and Tim left. Bailey held out his arm for her to take, which she begrudgingly accepted.
“I hate this.”
Bailey certainly didn’t. The physical contact part, at least. Not the whole Alexis was almost deathly tired bit. “Why? You don’t want my help?”
“It’s not that. I just hate feeling so worn out. Reminds me of when I was sick.”
Bailey had no idea what to say, so he responded with, “Yeah.” He opened the passenger door and held Alexis’s hand as she got in. She hmmed as he buckled himself into the driver’s seat.
“Nobody’s ever driven me in my car before. It’s kind of weird.”
Bailey started the SUV. “Of all the things that happened today, you think that’s the weird one?”
“Hush, you,” Alexis said with a smile. She curled up and closed her eyes. Within seconds, she was snoring. Bailey normally hated the sound, but not then. He was just happy she was alive. She could’ve burped, farted, talked about some guy she liked that wasn’t named Bailey, and he’d have been fine with it. He turned the radio off to keep the noise down. She deserved a good rest.
Bailey tapped the brakes a little too hard as they approached a stoplight. He checked to see if it woke her up. It didn’t. The red traffic light’s glow gave Alexis a beautiful shine, and he couldn’t help but feel drawn in by her beauty. The girl was no ordinary Muggle. She had some magic to her. How else to explain surviving all she’d been through? Even with her asleep in the car next to him, Bailey felt himself falling under her spell. The traffic light turned green. Bailey shook himself out of his trance.
A few minutes later, the car came to a stop around the corner from his house. Bailey took one last, full gaze at Alexis before he gently nudged her. He loved how vulnerable she looked. If Bailey had any upper bod
y strength, it would’ve been nothing to scoop her up in his arms.
He nudged her again. “Hey. We’re here.”
“Hm?” Alexis slowly stirred, opening her eyes and sitting up. “How long was I out?”
“Do you mean total time today, or just the ride?”
She yawned and bopped him on the arm. “The ride, silly.”
“The whole time.” Bailey unbuckled his seat belt. He started to get out of the SUV but hesitated, not quite ready to end their alone time. “You know you snore?”
Her face lit up, surprised at the accusation. “I do not.”
“Afraid so.”
She shook her head, the hair falling in front of her face. “And here I thought I was the perfect lady.”
“Perfect imitation, maybe.” Bailey couldn’t help but smile. It felt great to joke around with her again, to see her happy. The whole thing was icing on the cake.
She bopped him on the arm again. It was a little harder than last time, but still playful. “You’re supposed to say ‘Yes Alexis, you are the very portrait of a classy, sophisticated lady,’ or something extremely flattering to that extent.”
“Sorry, I meant to say all that stuff.” Bailey rubbed his arm, acting like the hit hurt, though it didn’t. “You didn’t have to assault me. My arms probably going to be bla—” His face hardened, the joke reminding him of the blackness that nearly took her life.
Alexis leaned in a little closer and placed a hand on his forearm. “What?”
“Sorry.” Bailey forced himself to grin and keep the light mood going. She probably knew why he stopped himself, but saying it out loud, confirming those fears, would ruin everything. “It’s just really good to see you doing better.”
“Really good to be doing better.” She rubbed his forearm.
Bailey looked down at her hand, his body going haywire. She was so close to him! Her hair smelled like strawberries. Was it one of those tender moments he’d seen in movies, where it was not only acceptable to kiss the girl, but expected? Did she even want him to kiss her? What should he do? Look her in the eyes and then go for it? Too many thoughts ran through Bailey’s head at once. Damn you, brain! Make up your mind!