"I'll take that, Zombie." Rylie ushered at the artifact Colby held.
"No." he simply said.
"We may be powerless but I'm still taller than you boy. Hand it over or I kill the hybrid." Rylie threatened, looking at me with a faded frown.
"You won't." Colby continued simply.
"Really? I don't care about Crowley or Teivel, or that she's mommy'ing another hybrid." Rylie spat. That makes me feel very uncomfortable.
Colby growled. "Try it." He threatened back.
Rylie tilted his head while now grinning at me. "You're pretty. Just like this Zombie's Prophet. What was her name? Westfall? Y'know her father went crazy after I killed her." He pointed out. "He killed the maid and then blew his brains out." He informed.
"No…" Colby said, clearly stunned.
I covered my mouth, cringing as those horrifying images of Adrie's father and Beverly started to haunt me.
"I heard that Jackson can go on a really bad rage if pressed. I wonder what would happen if I killed you?" Rylie said amusingly. I flinched and gasped when all of a sudden he was hit from behind, and soared to the ground. I watch him fall, and look up to see Jackson lower Lyra's shotgun.
"I would be pretty pissed," he said with a smirk.
I dash over and hold onto him. He drops his gun and lifts me up bridal style again. "Is your back okay?" I asked.
"Yes. Are you hurt?" he replies. I shake my head.
"I'm fine too, by the way," Colby said from behind. When he passed Rylie, he gave him a hard kick in the head…three times, before running to catch up, the artifact safely in his hands.
Somehow Jackson leads us back outside, and we're right by the big Amazon River. I see a medium sized fishing boat and a grinning Balthazar at the wheel.
"He has a boat…? How did he…" I groaned as I felt dizzy.
"Something may have happened to her baby after the car or after we fell." I heard Colby say worriedly. "A hospital would be wise." He suggested heavily.
When we're on the boat, Jackson lays me down on what felt like a blanket, and tells me not to move. "She's panicking," I heard Megan speak next. "Her eyes are small!"
I struggle to go against Jackson's orders, trying to get up. I have to get out of here!
I hear the boat start accelerating quickly down the river. "You have to stop moving," Colby said strictly. "Think of Clifton or Renily. You have to relax."
I breathe in and out, finally laying still. "Where's the other half of the artifact?" Megan wondered.
"It's gotta be somewhere else," Colby answered. "Maybe they were separated on purpose."
"Lyra…" I started to sob. "They have her. They have her!" I went on hysterically.
"You can't knock her out or something?" Megan asked.
"NO." Jackson denied. She put her hands up quickly in defeat.
Colby says, "You can bitch at me all you want, but don't you do that to her."
Megan replies, "It's okay."
Colby argues, "No it's not. Maybe Jackson is the problem here. Maybe you should leave."
"You gonna make me jump off the boat?" Jackson scoffed.
"You can leave when we're back at the village," Balthazar chimed. "Oh sorry…I'm with my little brother on this one. I really just don't like you, Jackson." The angel apologized.
Jackson must have looked hell bent by now because I hear Emily finally say, "No fight Jackson. No fight Co'by."
There's that white marble mansion with the double doors again. Again? That wizard wannabe must really want to torture me for killing him. I groaned, already cringing from future pain.
I step inside and said, "Mister Lightning! Gonna shock me?"
"No…" I heard faintly. "Oooohhhooohhh…" I heard next. Uh…what?
Then the entire hallway went pitch black. Was it day or night outside? There's no windows in here, so I don't know. I can't even see an inch in front of me.
"Gonna make me blind before you kill me?" I guessed.
"Ooohhhooohhh…I am a ghost. I have come to take your soul…"
"I don't have a soul," I remarked.
"Sure you do…"
"I don't. If I did, I would have sold it ten times over to bring everyone I care about who died back again." I explained. "Angels don't have souls. We wear them. And sometimes sell them. Or we suck millions of them in and play God." I added.
"You're no fun," Murdock, the purple fanatic, whined as he made the lights come on and he stood a few feet away from me. "Smile once in a while." He rhymed. "So, whose dream is it this time?" he wondered.
"Mine. Again. Still." I answered. "You're just a part of my dreams. Or you're an angel I killed and wants to kill me."
"I am not an angel!" he made clear. "War. Lock. Got it?" he corrected.
"Sure Harry Potter," I shrugged.
"So, what brings you here, Miss Logan?" Murdock wondered. "Or…Miss Vercetti?"
I raise my head as his grey eyes narrow, as if expecting that reaction out of me. "How do you know my alias name?" I demanded.
"I looked you up," he admitted. "I've found that you're FBI, CDC, a runaway, and possibly a killer." He explained.
I clench my fists at my sides. "Runaway and killer?" I repeated.
"I found the obituary and reports of your parents' murders. The police believe you killed them and ran off, making you some kind of fugitive." Murdock clarified.
I felt like choking. "Do you think I did?" I asked.
"No. The video reports had interviews with your friends. Every single one of them said you didn't do it, that you would never do that." Murdock answered.
I sigh quietly. "My father killed them." I informed. "I was ta- I ran away to get away from him."
"You were adopted?" Murdock realized. I nodded. "And where is he now?" he said curiously.
"In Hell." I replied. "I tell ya, it's not what you expect it to be." I admitted.
Murdock just stood there awkwardly. "Are we going to just stand here all day?" he wondered. "If you're going to keep visiting me like this, I may as well let you get familiar with the mansion. A tour?" he offered excitedly.
"So you can lure me into a dark corner and kill me quickly?" I assumed, taking a step towards him.
"If I lured you into a dark corner, it wouldn't be to kill you," he said with a slight smirk.
"Ohh, wizards are kinky. I like it." I grinned. "Okay Murdock, let's see this mansion."
"Follow me," he said happily. He turned around and I follow him down the hall, and leads me into the infamous room of any mansion; the room with the fireplace and bookshelves and the one or two red chairs by the fireplace, and a rug to complete the set.
"Nice," I commented. "I feel like I'm in a movie."
"You get used to it," Murdock shrugged. "This is the…what's this room called?"
"Living room?"
"Something like that." He muttered. "The library is near here, but you have to figure out how to get to it. Wanna try?" he suggested.
"Yes," I said, stepping forward. "Is it like a riddle?" I wondered.
"No…it's just a secret panel you have to move." He corrected.
"Hmmm…" OH! The books! There's always the one book you pull out and a secret door opens. That has to be it! I jog over to the books on the left of the fireplace, and look for any false books. BOOYA! I pull down the purple (of course) book, and step back as the bookshelf pushes itself open like a door.
"Cool!" I gushed. "Just like a movie." I grinned, stepping into the library. The room was huge, the bookshelves like fifty some feet high. There was even one of those ladders with wheels you use at libraries and stuff.
"I LOVE IT," I exclaimed. I ran over to the ladder and started to climb up.
"Thanks," Murdock said as he came in too.
"Hey…" I said, holding onto the ladder as I looked down at him.
"Yeah?" he looked up at me, adjusting his glasses.
"What were you going to say last time before I left, or woke up? I asked if you ever went out, and you started to say something but I don't remember." I reminded.
"Oh, that." He frowned. "I can't leave." He announced.
"Strict parents?" I guessed.
He shook his head. "They were murdered as well." He informed.
I narrow my eyes slowly. "Did you run away?"
"No, I had my grandfather. Now it's just me." He answered.
"How old are you?" I wondered.
"Sixteen," he said. "I can't leave the mansion until I'm eighteen. It's part of who I am."
"Who are you?" I asked, making my eyes less narrow.
"Murdock Leroy. The Heir of Merlin." He introduced with a hint of sarcasm.
"Merlin was real?" I gaped. "Next you'll tell me that Abraham Lincoln hunted vampires." I joked, climbing down to the ground and facing him. "Is your grandfather still here?"
"No, he left me when he knew I could take care of myself. I've been here alone my whole life." Murdock announced, only slightly saddened.
"All by yourself?" I said. "That…I couldn't do that."
"You could, if you weren't used to being around anyone, and used to being alone, you could do it." Murdock stated. "That doesn't mean you should like it…"
I put my hand on his arm. "I would go crazy," I admitted. "More than I already am." I smiled vaguely.
"You don't seem crazy to me," Murdock said sincerely.
"You don't seem socially awkward to me," I countered. "You'd be surprised."
"So would you."
I return my arm to my side. "I think I like you, wizard. You're…different. Sure you're not an angel?"
"I'm not a freaking an-"
"Okay, okay!" I held my hands up in defeat.
December 21, 2010
Elsmere, Delaware
I recognize the cute, dark haired Dr. Ryan's voice when I wake up again. For the moment I forget about my again weird dream when Dr. Ryan says, "Morning Miss Logan. I've been told you had a little adventure yesterday."
I press my right hand over the right side of my face. "Is Sam okay?" I asked. Sam is what I refer The Little Guy as to the doctor, since I don't want him to tell me if it is a boy or a girl.
"Sam had a little adventure too, but…Sam is fine. Sam could probably use a vacation. I want no strenuous activities from you for two weeks, or at least until after New Years." He explained.
"Yes sir," I sighed. "Am I free to go?" I asked.
"Yes," he answers. "I expect to be seeing you soon. I want to check on Sam after New Years, so I want you to make an appointment." He added.
"January 12," I dated. "Day before my grandma's birthday. It'll give me another excuse to go out, besides shopping."
"Sounds good," Dr. Ryan said. He raises an eye, adjusting his glasses. "No strenuous activities." He reminded.
"Got it," I promised, climbing off the bed and giving him a big hug. When I leave the little room, I glance around, recognizing no one but the receptionist. Now I find a bathroom and go in, so I can fly myself home.
Providence, Rhode Island
It's quiet here, too. No Adena. No Megan on the couch. No Juliet...
I silently reappear in my room to see not even Jackson. I grab a clean pair of clothes and slip out into the hallway, locking the bathroom door behind me. My shower takes longer than usual since I'm still muddied and dirty from yesterday and "no strenuous activities", and my wounds from the jeep explosion hurt a little from the hot water.
When I finally come out and pitch my dirty clothes in the hamper, I zap the hamper down to the basement so I can do laundry later. I leave my room, and I quietly open the door to what I believe is Colby's room; I peek in to see him laying on his stomach on his folded out futon.
"Hey," I said quietly. I wanted to ask if he was okay after what Rylie said about Adrie's father, but I didn't want to make him upset.
"Hey," he draws his eyes from the TV. "You okay?"
I shut his door and approach him. "Scoot over." I said.
"Huh?" he raised his eyes. "…why?"
"I want to be with you right now, so. Just scoot." I ordered. He obeys, scooting forward toward the edge of his bed so I can climb on and lay on the other side of him.
"Thanks," I said, lying on the shared pillow, breathing deeply.
"You're welcome," he replied, and then he said, "Anything for you."