CHAPTER 6: There Is No Plan
As he neared the church, Will saw Merriman pacing up and down its walkway clearer and clearer with every jogging step he took. Merriman looked up as he sensed Will approaching, and ran to meet him.
"Will. This is serious. I don't know how to explain it to you, but..." Merriman paused.
"The Dark is back?" Will inquired, having a hunch that that's what Merriman wanted to explain to him.
Merriman looked up suspiciously. "Yes, but how...?"
Will's face grew dark. "I know because of a recent brush with some of its fledglings. Last night I heard something and got up to see what it was, and found two Dark, Bryan and Nicholas, I think I caught their names, and it seemed as though they had possessed Derrick and Jack and were trying to get into Anne's room. Something stopped them, though, and they left. And I thought it was even more evident that they were doing something bad, because this morning both Jack and Derrick claimed to feel sick, and they spent the day in their rooms. How do you know of the Dark's rising?"
"That's a different story for later. But, who are Derrick, Jack, and those others you mentioned? Should I know about them?"
"Oh, I forgot you didn't know. They're Anne's brothers, who came from Washington to visit up here because her parents are on a trip. Derrick, Shane, Colin, Jack, and then Anne's the youngest. So our America voyage shall have to be detained for a week or so. We need to have this Dark thing settled by then. Could you explain to me how the Dark has come back? I thought they were totally vanquished."
Merriman took a deep sigh. "Apparently not. My best guess is that one of them found a way to hide from us somehow, through time or some other method of skilled disguise, but even I don't know for sure. I've already contacted some other Old Ones, and they don't know, either. But the important thing is that we find out about what they're up to now. If they really did get into your house last night, they probably already have a plan to destroy you. Who knows about the rest of us? But we need to figure out all we can to prevent any injury. What do you propose we do?"
"You're asking me? You were always the head of the missions. You mean to tell me you don't have a plan?"
"Will. I'm as surprised as you are at the Dark's sudden appearance. And since they were in your house, last night, and I just found out about it this morning, I thought you would have some more time to think about it than I would have."
Will looked disheartened. He was trusting Merriman to know something he didn't, because that was how it always was. Now what, that the person he always counted on to have a plan, didn't? It was Will's job now. But was he ready to handle it? Will paused before speaking again. "I think that..."
But just then, Will heard Anne shriek his name mentally.
Will!
Will didn't have much time to think. His face transformed into an expression of horror, as he muttered, "Oh my God." He then spun around on his heels and raced back towards his house.
Will! What? Merriman communicated as he ran to catch up with Will.
I left Anne and her brothers at the house. I didn't think the Dark would try to penetrate my house again until tonight... But something's happening, and I have to save them! It's my fault they're in danger in the first place! Will sped up and reached his house in a hurry.
As he neared the church, Will saw Merriman pacing up and down its walkway clearer and clearer with every jogging step he took. Merriman looked up as he sensed Will approaching, and ran to meet him.
"Will. This is serious. I don't know how to explain it to you, but..." Merriman paused.
"The Dark is back?" Will inquired, having a hunch that that's what Merriman wanted to explain to him.
Merriman looked up suspiciously. "Yes, but how...?"
Will's face grew dark. "I know because of a recent brush with some of its fledglings. Last night I heard something and got up to see what it was, and found two Dark, Bryan and Nicholas, I think I caught their names, and it seemed as though they had possessed Derrick and Jack and were trying to get into Anne's room. Something stopped them, though, and they left. And I thought it was even more evident that they were doing something bad, because this morning both Jack and Derrick claimed to feel sick, and they spent the day in their rooms. How do you know of the Dark's rising?"
"That's a different story for later. But, who are Derrick, Jack, and those others you mentioned? Should I know about them?"
"Oh, I forgot you didn't know. They're Anne's brothers, who came from Washington to visit up here because her parents are on a trip. Derrick, Shane, Colin, Jack, and then Anne's the youngest. So our America voyage shall have to be detained for a week or so. We need to have this Dark thing settled by then. Could you explain to me how the Dark has come back? I thought they were totally vanquished."
Merriman took a deep sigh. "Apparently not. My best guess is that one of them found a way to hide from us somehow, through time or some other method of skilled disguise, but even I don't know for sure. I've already contacted some other Old Ones, and they don't know, either. But the important thing is that we find out about what they're up to now. If they really did get into your house last night, they probably already have a plan to destroy you. Who knows about the rest of us? But we need to figure out all we can to prevent any injury. What do you propose we do?"
"You're asking me? You were always the head of the missions. You mean to tell me you don't have a plan?"
"Will. I'm as surprised as you are at the Dark's sudden appearance. And since they were in your house, last night, and I just found out about it this morning, I thought you would have some more time to think about it than I would have."
Will looked disheartened. He was trusting Merriman to know something he didn't, because that was how it always was. Now what, that the person he always counted on to have a plan, didn't? It was Will's job now. But was he ready to handle it? Will paused before speaking again. "I think that..."
But just then, Will heard Anne shriek his name mentally.
Will!
Will didn't have much time to think. His face transformed into an expression of horror, as he muttered, "Oh my God." He then spun around on his heels and raced back towards his house.
Will! What? Merriman communicated as he ran to catch up with Will.
I left Anne and her brothers at the house. I didn't think the Dark would try to penetrate my house again until tonight... But something's happening, and I have to save them! It's my fault they're in danger in the first place! Will sped up and reached his house in a hurry.