Chapter 4

Ethan's POV

The Beater pulled up into Ravenwood in silence. Nobody spoke a word throughout the journey back after Lena had finished her story. Even Link knew what to do, and he isn't exactly the brightest of people.

I had mixed feelings about Lena's story. On the one hand, I had seen Lena kill before-Larkin and Twyla on her Seventeenth Moon, so this wasn't so shocking. But I had never seen her kill someone in cold blood before.

Not in cold blood, Ethan! I had no idea what I was doing!

Sorry, L.

Thing was, no matter how even Kelly was, I don't think anyone deserved to die by spontaneous combustion, even if it was unintentional.

I know nobody deserves it, but I didn't know what to do then!

L...

IT WASN'T ON PURPOSE!

I felt the thought push into my head like a bulldozer, and I flew from one side of the Beater to another. I landed with a thud.

Oh my god, I'm sorry, Ethan. I didn't mean...

It's ok, L. You didn't mean it. I get it.

"Hey, dudes, take it easy. This thing ain't as stable as it looks." Link called from the front.

"Sorry, dude." I apologised.

"And, uh, Lena? Are these gates like, magic or something? Do you have to say anything to open 'em? Because I'm been staring at this thing for 5 minutes, and they ain't opening."

Lena rolled her eyes. "They're manual. Someone has to push it open." And with that, she left the car and opened the gate. The Beater drove slowly in.

Standing at the door, waiting for us, was Macon Ravenwood. Beside him was Boo Radley. Instantly, I knew something was wrong.

"Mr Wate, how nice to see you. I see you brought some company. And that you're early. For, if my memory is correct, you four are supposed to be in school." He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Yes, sir, we were, but we ran into some problems." I explained.

Don't tell him, Ethan.

He deserves to know, L. He knows more about this than we do.

"I see. And may I enquire what problem was this that forced you to come back? I'm not saying I defend Ridley and Lena going to school, but seeing as you four are trying to blend in... Well, this had better be some problem."

"We ran into Kelly Johnson." I blurted out.

It was as if those two words broke some sort of calm spell, because Macon's expression changed instantly, and Boo Radley started growling.

"That's a lie. Kelly Johnson is dead."

"It's true, Uncle. I saw her with my own eyes. If you don't believe Ethan, then believe me."

Macon's expression softened.

Oh, so now, you get preferential treatment?

Lena winked

I guess so.

"Well, I don't know whether to trust you, but you four should come in. Ridley and Lena, go wash up. Mr Lincoln and Mr Wate, please follow me."

"Yes sir." And we followed him up.

It was another 15 minutes or so before Lena and Ridley met us in the dining hall. By then, I had explained almost everything.

Macon's expression had changed at different parts of the story. But he seemed most agitated by the fact that my death had created a rift in the New Order, asking me to repeat that almost 3 times.

And while he listened on, I could tell he was only interested in that fact.

"This is bad. If what you are saying is true, then we have a major crisis on our hands." Macon said, after hearing the story from Lena.

"Why? What's so bad?" I asked. Almost immediately, I thought it ridiculous. The fact that some of the evilest Casters were coming back to life was very bad.

Surprisingly, Macon shook his head. "I don't know, but it could be disastrous. Some of these Casters are not to be messed with. Kelly is just a foot soldier. There are even worse ones, like Adolf Hitler..."

"Wait, Hitler was a Caster?" I interrupted. The evilest man in history was a Caster? It was too hard to believe.

"Yes, he was. In fact, he was the Darkest Siren in history. No one had so much persuasive power as he did. And besides, most human world leaders are Casters. Churchill was one, Chiang Kai-Shek was another, Barack Obama is too, but a rather weak one." Macon replied.

"Anyway, that is not important. If the Dark Casters are coming, then the world could be in..."

Suddenly, Macon stopped. Everything seemed to hang in place. Nothing moved at all.

I knew what it was.

A Time Bind.

But who put it here?

Lena?

I tried to Kelt, but her mind was cut off. So she hadn't started it.

So who had?

My question was answered when a Sheer appeared in front of me, and I instantly recognised it.

"Amma? Is that you?" I asked the apparition.

"Why, of course it's me, Ethan Wate! You telling me after 6 weeks you've already forgotten me!"

Some things never changed.

"Listen boy, I don't have lots of time left. I came to tell you something very important. You can't tell anyone. Clear?"

"Amma, slow down. What's going on?"

"Remember how I said that one day you'll pick a hole in the sky and the universe will come crashing on you? Well, it is now, and what I'm gonna tell you may help you hold it up and fix everything."

And she told me something that changed my life.

I was so shocked I fainted.

I didn't even remember hitting the floor.

Yeah, the secret will be revealed soon. Hold your horses! And chap 5 shld be in tommorow or next week.