by Aaron Slade
“Take care of him for me,” Mom said.
Evee nodded. “Thank you.” She walked over to me and placed her hand in mine.
I checked the list of times and directions, finding that Evee and I had about a hundred miles to cover in the next four hours. I had no clue where I was going, but Evee took the initiative and picked up her bag. She grabbed my heavy backpack and took out my car keys.
“Don’t worry,” Evee said, “I know where we’re going.”
“What about the rest of you?” I asked.
“We’ll leave shortly after you,” Matthew said. “We’re waiting on a door.” He walked over to where Evee and I were standing. “There’s a lot I’m not allowed to say, but I don’t see the harm in telling you that we will see each other again, Casper Vance.” He smiled and Donnie and Cricket nodded at me.
I didn’t know why, but his words comforted me. It was nice to know that there was familiarity somewhere in my future.
“Go,” Matthew said. “Avoid soldiers at all cost, and don’t fly!”
“Thank you,” I said. “For everything.” I shook his hand, and then turned around and found Evee’s.
Evee and I exited the house. Mrs. Grindle hurried behind us with a sack of food, but everyone else remained inside and Matthew shut the door behind us. I heard Mom’s cries from inside the house. The open desert in front of us made me feel isolated. I tried not to think of everyone I was leaving.
Evee tossed me the keys. “You’re driving.” She placed her bag in the back seat and I did the same. I started the car and drove into the vast desert.
“Where do you think the directions lead?” I asked.
“San Diego!” Evee replied. “Shannon wants us to come find her, and I know exactly where she is.”
“I’ve never been that far from Fallon.”
“For now,” Evee said, “just drive west.” She smiled and then made a gasping noise, reaching for her neck.
The silver locket fell into Evee’s lap. It was open. I’d forgotten all about it. Evee’s blue eyes found mine and she smiled. With an arched eyebrow, she turned the locket over in her hands, examining the contents. She handed it to me without speaking.
I looked inside the shiny trinket. Inside was a familiar picture. I didn’t realize at first glance that the picture was of me. I stared at my four-year-old self, on my tricycle– the same picture that had once hung in my house.
“It’s you,” Evee said. “That was my favorite picture of you in the hallway outside your room.”
The locket had belonged to Shannon. How did she get this picture? I remembered that Matthew and Donnie confessed that Shannon used to wear the locket before she gave it to Evee.
“Why does she have a picture of me?” I asked.
“Read the inscription,” Evee said, smiling.
I flipped the picture out of the way. Engraved in the other side of the locket was one more message that Shannon wanted me to find:
Grandmother Loves You
Acknowledgements
Without the fictional world’s magical spark, this story would not have been possible, so I give a big thanks to all writers and directors everywhere, especially M. Night Shyamalan – my biggest inspiration. To everyone at DC and Marvel comics, you taught me that anyone can be a hero. My deepest gratitude goes to the late J. M. Barrie for encouraging so many of my “happy thoughts.”
I’d like to thank my family for always encouraging my imagination and dreams, and I’d like to thank my chosen, or extended, family for their support, time, and friendship, including the Bryant, Burnett, and Huggins families, my Delta Delta brothers, and my Berryville fellas.
I give credit to all the amazing educators I’ve had the honor of learning under since the first time I walked through school doors: My father – Jimmie Don, Roselyn Lowe, Amy Wynne, Beverly Reep, Dianne Gleason, Marnette George, Johnny McBee, Jennifer White, Daniel Williams, Melanie Raines, Liz St. John, Randy Henley, Jan Jenkins, Nelson Ramirez, Sandra Gatling, and Rhonda Williams. You all have, quite possibly, the hardest job in the world.
A special thanks to a great friend, writer, and educator, Kerri Bennet, for encouraging me to explore my imagination and listening to my stories.
To my publishing team, I would have been lost without you. Katie Kubler, you always have a special place in my heart.
The music of Iceland’s Sigur Rós saw me through this entire project. Their music served as magic and inspiration.
Last, but certainly not least, I’d like to thank the one who pushed me off a cliff. I never would have learned to fly without that shove.
A Human Child
Predictions
NORMAL
Firsts
Struck
Vegas
Blue Eyes
Dinner
Amanda
Target
Date
Trials
Forgiveness
Float or Sink
Trust
Starry Night
Headlines
Dark Eyes
Lust and Loss
Whispers
Safe?
Seth
FROST
Truth
REMAIN
PRISON
Life and Death
Destinations
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
The Weekly Telepath
PREDICTIONS
NORMAL
FIRSTS
STRUCK
VEGAS
BLUE EYES
DINNER
AMANDA
TARGET
DATE
TRIALS
FORGIVNESS
FLOAT OR SINK
TRUST
STARRY NIGHT
HEADLINES
DARK EYES
LUST AND LOSS
WHISPERS
SAFE?
SETH
FROST
TRUTH
REMAIN
PRISON
LIFE AND DEATH
DESTINATIONS
Acknowledgements