CHAPTER 11: CROSSING THE LINE


"I don't know what happened." Panic rose in Daedalus's voice. "I saw her duck when that setagotha swung its tail, and she got up and ran. But . . . but then she got all wobbly and fell down."

O'Bannon froze, staring at Holly's still form in Daedalus' arms. Tears filled the young boy's eyes, eyes that bore in on him, pleading with him to do something.

He took Holly from Daedalus and laid her on the ground. "Holly? Holly! Can you hear me? Holly!"

No response.

Fear consumed O'Bannon. Was she dead? No! She couldn't be dead.

Get it together. Panicking won't help Holly.

He bent over, his ear hovering over Holly's mouth and nose. Please . . . . please.

He heard a raspy breath come from her mouth.

Thank you, God. Thank you.

His elation was short-lived. Holly still breathed, but her breathing sounded strained.

"What's wrong with her?" Artimus' voice cracked.

"I don't know." O'Bannon unzipped Holly's jacket as Rosa knelt across from him, the tip of her wand glowing. They both checked her from head to toe. Neither one could find any visible wounds.

"Turn her over," Rosa ordered.

Gently, he started to turn the little girl on her side.

"Oh God." His heart skipped a beat when he saw a jagged tear in the back of Holly's jacket, a tear stained with blood.

"It got her." O'Bannon trembled. "Oh my God, it got her."

Gasps sounded around him. He looked up to find several of the other children standing behind Daedalus. Kyon, Jillian and Deanna were all in tears. Willie visibly shook. Vance stared at Holly, mouth agape.

"Jared!" Rosa looked up at her cousin. "Get me a bezoar from the healing pack. Now!"

He nodded and took off running.

O'Bannon looked to Artimus. "Art! Get the kids outta here."

Artimus nodded, his gaze locked on Holly. He took a slow breath and moved in front of the children. "Um, c'mon, everyone. Let's give them some room."

"Is Holly gonna be okay?" asked Jillian.

"Is . . . is she dead?" asked Crea.

"Uh, she'll be fine." Artimus herded the kids to the other side of the encampment.

O'Bannon prayed his friend was right.

"Got it!" Jared hurried toward them, waving a dark, kidney-shaped stone. He dropped to his knees and handed it to Rosa, who put the bezoar in Holly's mouth and got her to swallow it.

O'Bannon wrapped his hand around Holly's, staring at her face. Waiting . . . waiting . . .

What's taking so long? Bezoars are supposed to work fast.

Holly flinched and took a long, wheezing breath. She coughed and took another long breath.

"Thank God." O'Bannon lowered his head. He sighed and looked up at Rosa and Jared. "Good work, guys. That was a close one."

Neither of the cousins appeared relieved.

"What? C'mon, you gave her a bezoar. She's fine now."

"Actually, she's not," Jared said in a sober tone.

"What'd you mean?"

"All we did was slow the poison from spreading. We didn't get rid of it."

"What the hell are you talking about?" O'Bannon snapped. "It's a bezoar. It cures poisoning."

"Jimmy," Rosa spoke up. "Remember what they taught us in Potions Class? A bezoar can take care of most poisons. Setagotha poison is one kind it can't cure."

Paralysis gripped him. He didn't want to believe what Rosa just said. Several moments passed before he tore his eyes from her and looked down at Holly. The girl moaned, her head lolling from side-to-side. He pictured all the times she smiled and laughed when he told her bedtime stories. And now she . . .

"No. No way. She is not dying. There's gotta be something we can do."

"Not out here," Rosa said. "Not with the stuff we have in our healing pack. Our only chance is to get her to a healer."

"Then that's what we'll do." O'Bannon reached into his jacket and pulled out his magical map.

"Lumos!" He held his lighted wand over the map, scanning for any wizarding communities within Apparation range.

He found one! A little place called Filfylum, near of the Muggle town of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

"Here!" He jabbed the map, showing it to Rosa and Jared. "Filfylum. It may be small, but it should have a healer or a nurse. All wizarding communities have at least one, right?"

The cousins both nodded.

"At least I hope so," said Jared. "With the war going the way it is, who knows?"

O'Bannon wanted to rip Jared a new one for thinking so negatively. Unfortunately, his friend had a good point.

"Jimmy," Rosa said. "Are you sure there isn't another wizarding town we can take Holly to?"

"No. This is the only one within Apparation range. Why?"

"Because of this." Rosa pointed to the image of Filfylum.

O'Bannon furrowed his brow. He leaned closer to the map.

That's when he saw it fluttering around the town.

Dammit, no!

His eyes locked on the faint outline of a snake wrapped around Filfylum.

That meant Death Eaters in the town.

"Son-of-a-bitch!" Jared scowled at the map. "What the hell do we do now?"

O'Bannon held his breath, still staring at the snake. He noted how faint the illustrated serpent was. He'd seen towns on this map where the color of the constricting snake had been much darker. Maybe only one or two Death Eaters stayed in the town. Or maybe they just passed through from time to time.

"We don't have a choice. We gotta risk it, otherwise Holly's . . ." O'Bannon couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

"We're gonna have to move fast once we get there." Rosa's eyes flickered from O'Bannon to Holly. "I learned in auror training that Apparating someone who's injured or poisoned will worsen their condition."

"What do you mean we? I need you here to help Jared and Artimus Apparate everyone to Rally Point B. I want to be long gone in case any Death Eaters show up here."

"You're gonna be busy carrying Holly. You need someone to watch your back."

He opened his mouth to argue, then glanced down at Holly. She lay on the ground, moaning softly.

Every minute you waste arguing with Rosa . . .

"Okay, fine. Rosa, you're with me. Jared, you and Artimus Apparate these kids to Rally Point B."

"You got it." Jared nodded.

O'Bannon scooped up Holly. He closed his eyes as Rosa stepped next to him.

Filfylum.

A crack filled his ears. His body felt pulled in a thousand different directions.

The disorientation quickly faded. He opened his eyes.

The darkened forms of log cabins greeted him. Some had been built at odd angles, other had multiple stories precariously balanced on one another.

Holly gasped and shook in his arms.

"There!" Rosa said in a hushed voice, pointing at the middle of the dirt road, the only road in this little community. A wooden sign post stood there, a carving of a human arm atop it.

She sprinted toward the sign post. O'Bannon followed, glancing at Holly every few moments. Her mouth hung open, emitting raspy breaths. Fear lashed his insides. What if Holly died in his arms?

She's only seven years old. She can't die. Please, God, don't let her die.

Rosa stopped next to the sign post and looked up at its wooden arm. "Healer."

The arm turned a complete 180. O'Bannon had seen similar magical direction sign posts in the wizarding town of Ovenderburg near the Salem Witches Institute.

The arm stopped, angling to the right. He scanned the row of log cabins. It appeared the healer's home was the fourth one from where they stood.

Rosa placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go. We got lights coming from a few windows. Let's just hope no one's looking outside. Try to stick to the shadows."

He nodded and hurried toward the log cabins on their right. They stuck close to the walls, ducking under the one lighted window they came across.

O'Bannon's arms began to ache. He knew it would be easier to levitate Holly, but he was reluctant to do so. He felt it important she have some sort of physical contact, let her know someone was helping her, caring about her, hopefully giving her the will to hang on just a little longer.

He stopped in front of a door with a carved wooden plaque. MILO BRONSKI: TOWN HEALER.

Rosa banged on the door. She then looked from side-to-side, wand raised. O'Bannon also scanned the little community, teeth clenched, praying no Death Eaters appeared.

Agonizingly long seconds passed. No one came to the door. Rosa banged on it again.

"Wh-Who's there?" a male voice asked from behind the door.

"We need your help," O'Bannon replied. "We have a little girl who's dying."

"Who are you?"

He bit his lower lip. The last thing he wanted to do was tell the healer their names, not when they were on the Death Eaters most wanted list.

"Look. There's a seven year old girl here who is dying. She got attacked by a setagotha."

"You're lying. There are no setagothas on the East Coast."

Holly wheezed.

"Damn you!" O'Bannon kicked the door. "Let us in now! She's gonna die!"

"Just go-go away. Please. I don't want any trouble."

"Stand back." Rosa demanded.

He stepped aside. Rosa slashed her wand in front of her a couple times. Swirls of colors and ghostly mists appeared around the door.

"Merlin's beard." She shook her head. "Talk about piss-poor security wards."

A flash of orange and a flash of gold leapt from Rosa's wand and struck the door. It flew open.

O'Bannon rushed inside. Rosa followed, shutting the door behind her. They stood in a foyer leading to a spacious living room with several couches and chairs, a fireplace and a couple curio cabinets featuring framed photos. A paunchy man with thinning black hair stood near one of the upholstered chairs, eyes wide with fear. This had to be Healer Bronski.

"Please don't hurt me." He held up his hands. "Please. Just take whatever you want."

"We don't want anything," O'Bannon snapped. "We just want you to help this girl here."

Bronski's mouth opened and closed wordlessly.

"Dammit, c'mon! She got scratched by a setagotha spike. She's dying."

"But-but setagothas aren't native to -"

"Well one of them did make to the East Coast! Now give her the antidote before it's -"

"Expelliarmus!"

O'Bannon whipped his head around. Rosa pointed her wand toward the hallway. A squat woman with short brown hair and a round face stood there, a wand lying several feet from her.

"Who . . . who are you people?" The woman stammered. "We haven't done anything."

"Please don't hurt my wife." Bronski took a staggered breath.

"Is there anyone else in this house?" Rosa asked, her gaze shifting from the woman to Bronski.

The healer stood still for a few seconds. "Um . . . uh, no. There's n-no one else."

"You're lying." Rosa narrowed her eyes at him.

"For God's sake!" O'Bannon yelled. "Will you just help her?" He held out Holly.

"I . . . I don't . . ."

O'Bannon drew a breath, ready to scream again.

"Mommy?" A tired, female voice reached his ears. "What's going on?"

He turned to the hallway. A little girl around Holly's age with dark curly hair and wearing a white nightdress appeared, rubbing her eyes with her little fists.

"Olivia!" The woman cried out. "Go back to your room now!"

"Everybody stay put!" O'Bannon hollered.

The woman reached out and pulled Olivia against her.

"M-Merlin." Bronski's face lit up in recognition. "I-I've seen you. Those wanted posters. You're Jimmy O'Bannon and Rosa Infante."

"Yes we are." He stepped closer to the healer. "Now help this girl."

Bronski eyed Holly for a few seconds, then looked up at O'Bannon. He trembled as he spoke. "I . . . I can't."

"What the hell do you mean you can't? You're a healer."

"The Death Eaters are looking for you. There's always at least one in town. Stays at Gordon Grescamp's tavern. If they find out we've had you in our house, they'll kill us. All of us."

"Look. Just heal her and we'll go, and you'll never see us again. Please."

Bronski took another look at Holly. Moisture welled up in his eyes. He then looked into the hallway at his wife and daughter.

"I can't," he sobbed. "I'm sorry. I can't. My family."

Rage boiled inside O'Bannon. He looked down at Holly. She barely moved. Her skin was pale, almost chalk white.

He stomped over to a nearby couch and laid Holly on it. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he yanked out his wand and advanced on Bronski. The healer gasped and leaned back.

"Help her now!" His wand hovered inches from Bronski's head.

Tears slid down the healer's face. His entire body shook.

Disgust slithered through O'Bannon. He couldn't believe he was threatening an innocent man like this, terrorizing his family. This is what Death Eaters did. But Holly was dying, and this man was the only one who could save her.

Why couldn't there be another way?

"Help her!" He bared his teeth. "Help her or . . . or I swear I'll do a Cruciatus Curse on you!"

Bronski choked on his breath. "Please, I can't! Do you know what the Death Eaters are like? They torture people in the middle of the street just for fun. They took a woman here into the woods and . . . and no one ever saw her again. I can't help you. I'm sorry. I wish I could, but I'm sorry."

O'Bannon clenched his teeth. How long did he have to make threats before this guy finally agreed to help Holly? How much longer did Holly have left?

He didn't have time to break this guy. He had to go with another tactic.

Crap, can I really do it?

He imagined journeying through the Appalachians without Holly, no longer hearing her laughter when he told her bedtime stories. He imagined her parents, wondering what they would say if he did not do everything in his power to bring their daughter back alive.

God forgive me.

O'Bannon marched away from Bronski and toward the hallway. The healer's wife clutched little Olivia tightly against her.

He paused, studying the two. His heart went out to the mother. How scared must this woman be? And we're scaring her.

And Holly is gonna die.

He flicked his wand. The woman's arms suddenly rose over her head, releasing Olivia. O'Bannon reached out and pulled the girl away from her.

"Olivia! No!" The mother rushed at him. O'Bannon cast Jelly Leg Jinx on her. Her legs quivered and she dropped to the floor.

"No, please!" Bronski begged. "Not my daughter!"

"Jimmy?" Rosa hissed. "What the hell?"

He gripped the back of Olivia's nightdress and held his wand over the girl's shoulder. "I'm through playing games! Either help Holly, or I'll do the Cruciatus on your daughter!"

"Leave her alone!" the mother screamed.

"For Merlin's sake!" Bronski cried. "She's just a little girl!"

"Jimmy." Rosa whispered out the corner of her mouth. "Don't -"

He turned to her and gave her a quick wink, hoping she understood.

Olivia started crying. Each sob stabbed at O'Bannon's heart.

How the hell can you do this?

Holly. Holly is all that matters.

"You think I'm joking?" He yelled at Bronski. "You've got to the count of five! One!"

"Please, I'm begging you!" Bronski appeared ready to fall on his knees.

"Two!"

"Please don't hurt her! The Death Eaters will kill us if we help you."

"Three!" For God's sake, say yes!

Olivia cried louder.

"Don't hurt my baby!" the mother shrieked.

"Four!" A lump formed in O'Bannon's throat. Could he actually say, "Five?" And if he did, what then?

He glared at Bronski, now a trembling, weeping mass.

C'mon. Dammit, c'mon!

Bronski said nothing. The man's teary eyes pleaded with him.

O'Bannon drew a breath through his nose. His mouth started to open.

"No, please!" Bronski held up a hand. "I'll do it! I'll do it!"

O'Bannon almost sagged in relief, but managed to keep composure. He immediately released Olivia, who ran to her mother. The two threw their arms around one another.

"Where do you want me to take her?" He picked up Holly from the couch.

"Th-This way." Bronski walked toward the rear of the living room.

O'Bannon turned to Rosa. "Watch them." He nodded toward the mother and Olivia, who still hugged one another.

Rosa didn't say a word. She just glared at him.

He followed Bronski through his house until they got to a rather spacious room with two beds and several glass cabinets containing jars, bottles, boxes and cauldrons. He put Holly in one of the beds and stood off to the side as Bronski stood in front of a bookshelf and pulled out a book. He put it on the counter next to the sink and opened it.

"I'm sorry. The antidote for setagotha poison isn't something I make often. I-I haven't made it since healer training."

"Just . . . just hurry." O'Bannon's voice was softer than when he had threatened the healer and his family. I can't believe I did that.

Bronski raced from one cabinet to another, grabbing various ingredients and putting them in a cauldron. O'Bannon kept glancing from the healer to Holly. His heart beat fast with fear. Holly barely moved. Bronski took forever to make the damn antidote. He refrained from yelling at the healer. The guy had to know what he was doing.

I hope.

"There! It's done!" Bronski poured the concoction into a glass and hurried over to Holly. He lifted her head, put the glass to her lips and poured the dark liquid down her throat.

O'Bannon strode over to the bed. He stared at Holly, holding his breath.

She lay still.

His stomach collapsed. Did they not give her the antidote in time? No! They couldn't have. They couldn't have gone through all that just to . . .

Holly coughed. She opened her eyes and took a ragged breath. Her next few breaths sounded stronger. She slowly sat up, her eyes finding him.

"Coach Jimmy." Her face scrunched as she looked around. "Where are we?"

He said nothing. Just smiled, and clenched his teeth to keep from crying. He leaned down and hugged Holly tight. "You're all right now. Thank God, you're all right."

He continued hugging her as he looked up at Bronski. "Thank you."

The healer stared back at him, unsmiling. "She'll be fine. Now please leave."

O'Bannon nodded and turned back to Holly. "Are you okay to walk?"

"Yeah. Sure I am."

He smiled and helped her off the bed. They both walked to the front of the house and met up with Rosa, whose eyes lit up when she saw Holly.

"I was so worried about you." She wrapped her up in a big hug.

"Leave. Please." Bronski begged them. "Out the back door."

O'Bannon nodded for Rosa to follow him.

"How could you?"

He turned to the mother, who held Olivia against her.

"She's just a child. How could you?" She bent down and kissed the top of Olivia's head. "It's all right. Everything's fine now."

A dark mass of self-loathing boiled inside him. He continued to stare at the mother and Olivia, wanting to explain, wanting to apologize, knowing any such attempt would be futile.

Head down, he led Rosa and Holly out the back door.

When they Disapparated at Rally Point B, the other children mobbed Holly. A beaming Jared even lifted her off the ground and hugged her. For a moment, all the cheering made O'Bannon smile.

"I need to talk to you."

Rosa stormed past him, heading toward a clump of trees.

He sighed and followed her.

They went behind the trees, Rosa waving her wand to cast a Muffling Charm so no one else could hear them.

"What the hell was that about!" she yelled.

"What?"

"You threatened to use an Unforgivable Curse back there! How could you?"

"I didn't know what else to do. Holly was gonna die and that healer wouldn't help her."

"You threatened his daughter!" Rosa practically shrieked. "That girl couldn't have been older than Holly! You held your wand to her head and threatened to Crucio her! A little girl, Jimmy!"

"Do you really think I woulda done that?"

Rosa continued to glare at him as he continued. "My God, Rosa. You've known me for almost nine years. Do you really think I'd cast a Cruciatus Curse on a little girl? On anyone? It was a bluff."

"You looked pretty damn serious to me."

"I had to. You think he would have thought I was serious if I said, 'pretty please help us or I'll cast a not-so-nice curse on your daughter?' I knew this guy wouldn't let his daughter get Crucioed. You think I wanted to do that? Pretend to threaten that healer, or point my wand at his daughter? Holly was dying, and I had to do something fast. If I could have gotten him to cooperate some other way, I would have done it. But there is no way I would have used a Cruciatus Curse on that healer or his daughter. No way! Like I said, I was bluffing."

"What if he didn't agree to help Holly? What then?"

"But he did."

"What if he didn't? What if you counted to five and he still didn't cooperate?"

O'Bannon looked down to the ground, unable to answer.

Rosa stepped closer to him. "Aunt Liana told me one time, when you make a threat, you better be prepared to carry it out."

She brushed past him and stalked off toward the others.

He continued staring at the ground, drawing slow breaths. Rosa's words echoed through his mind. What if Bronski hadn't cooperated? Well, he wouldn't have cast the Cruciatus Curse on Olivia. No way, no how.

Then Holly probably would have died.

But that didn't happen. Bronski gave in. Holly was alive. With any luck, he wouldn't be in that kind of situation again.

And what if I am?

He thought about Holly, how scared he felt as she was dying in his arms. He pictured the other children. Kyon, Deanna, Jillian, Brendan, Willie, all of them. What if they were in a similar situation as Holly? How far would he go to save them? Would he have to threaten another innocent with the Cruciatus to force them to help? Would he actually have to cast an Unforgivable?

If he did, how would that make him any different from a Death Eater?

TO BE CONTINUED