Matt watched in horror as the shadow man twisted himself around Brady like a tree root.
“That’s it, Brady,” the voice whispered. “Come in from the doghouse.”
Brady lifted the gun as Mike dislodged the last 2x4.
“Get that boy out of our kitchen.”
Mike handed his little brother the hammer.
“You never have to be cold again.”
Brady Collins shot.
*
tHe nIce Man smiled as the clearing began their little fight to the death for the tree house. hE watched the bullet hit mike’s shoulder. hE watched mike fall. and mrs. henderson stalk over with her needle and thread. hE whispered to Matt that his brother could still be saved. hE watched Matt lower the secret rope ladder and climb down into the fog. hE watched matt’s expression when he saw his brother had turned into a mailbox person, running at him with the needle and thread. a minute later, hE watched as special ed heard screams in the distance.
eddie.
“Matt? Is that you?”
yes. send down the ladder.
“What’s the password?”
chocolate milk.
hE watched special ed lower the ladder. the ropes tighten. the hands climbing out of the darkness. the expression on special ed’s face when he saw it wasn’t matt.
it was brady collins.
tHe nIce Man smiled at the two dogs growling at an invisible whistle. soon, hE would have them chasing each other through the woods. guns drawn. just two little boys playing war. it was so easy to make men kill each other over territory that only time could truly own. so easy to make them all think they were the good guys.
with that, the tree house was left empty and unguarded. just as hE needed it to be. hE could not go to earth. noT with the hissing lady still alive. but the portal was opeN.
all hE needed now was christopher.
and that key he kept in his pocket.
hE just needed to take care of some other people first.
Chapter 109
Jesus, help me.”
Mary Katherine was on her knees looking up at the only window in her padded cell. The white cotton nightgown left her feet cold. She was in the hospital.
No, you’re in the mental hospital.
Mary Katherine shook off the voice, which had been there like a virus ever since her parents let the doctors drag her to the psychiatric ward. The doctors gave her a sedative, and when she woke up, she was inside this padded room. Ten by ten. With a single window. And white walls. She was starving.
Because you’re pregnant. Your parents didn’t believe you.
They left you here, Mary Katherine.
Mary Katherine called out for someone to give her food and water. The baby was famished inside her. Kicking the walls of her stomach. But no one called back. No nurse came. No doctor. No parents. She was alone.
“Jesus, please help me.”
Mary Katherine stared at the blue moon shining through the window. Then, she stood on her tiptoes and looked out across the town. There were fires on the horizon. Buildings burned.
Something terrible was happening.
Yes, your parents put you in an asylum, and you’re never getting out.
Mary Katherine tried to breathe through the panic. She reminded herself that “asylum” meant something else. It meant safety. She had much better conditions than the Virgin Mary had in a barn two thousand years ago, right? She could be grateful for that, right? Jesus helped her there, right? He loved her, right? Just calm down, Mary Katherine. Calm down. You’re in a safe room.
Do you feel safe?
Mary Katherine heard footsteps down the hallway.
“Hello?” she said.
She waited for a response. None came. The footsteps got louder.
“Hello? Who is that?” she yelled out.
The person stopped right outside the thick padded door. Mary Katherine looked at the doorknob. Turning. She thought it must be the doctor. The nurse with another shot for her arm. She wanted to scream. The door opened.
It was her mother.
Mary Katherine burst into tears. She ran to her mother, hugging her. In her mind, she said everything perfectly.
“I need to eat, Mom. The baby is so hungry. But I swear I never had sex. I don’t know how I got pregnant. Thank you for coming for me. Thank you for helping me. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for still loving me.”
But the words came out completely unintelligible in between sobs and snot. To her mother, she must have sounded crazy because she held her like the cold side of the pillow.
“We have to go now, Mary Katherine,” she said sadly.