Evan stepped in the door first, letting the broken screen fall back on Tamara.

It was a very rundown place. There were lonely paintings of oceans covering the peeling wooden walls, and the room was crowded with merchandise. Tamara picked up a fisherman figurine holding a sign that read "GONE FISHING" and frowned.

"You really think this is a good idea?"

Evan shrugged. The checkout counter was covered with maps. He picked one up.

"So there are two loops left, right?" he said, beginning to examine it. "Let's see… what do we know about peculiar history, Tamara?"

Tamara looked up from the merchandise. "Um, nothing?"

Evan rolled his eyes. "Some stuff, believe it or not," he said. "Like some European loops. If, once we get to Europe, we can find some of the ones we know about, then we can see if they've been raided or not. Most likely they will have been, but we might be able to find some stragglers." He paused, looking down at the map solemnly. "And then we can find out from them where the other loops are."

The gravity of the situation sunk upon them. They stood in silence for a few moments.

The sound of loud, sudden footsteps made them whirl around. A rail-thin man with a scraggly beard to match his cap was making his way to the front of the room, coming from behind the maze of merchandise. He was whistling a tune, but he stopped when he found the two children standing in his shop.

"Ar'ye here ta buy?" he asked. He was wearing brown suspenders and smelled of mold. Tamara wrinkled her nose.

"Um, yeah," said Evan.

The old man broke into a toothless grin. "Maps're free," he supplied, gesturing to his counter.

Evan and Tamara nodded, still staring at his appearance.

"Do – do you rent boats?" Tamara said tentatively.

The man smiled still wider. "Yes'm. Best in da business. Nowhere else like Ol' Mack's."

Tamara and Evan looked at each other. "I thought you said this was a dinghy rental?" Tamara whispered behind her hand.

The man (Old Mack?) beckoned them down the zigzagging hall of merchandise, leading them to the end of the store. "Tis out back," he said. "Boats go from da lagoon."

He led them out to a dock over the cove. It creaked ominously under their feet.

There were five wooden dinghies tied up to a post in the water. They turned Tamara's stomach.

"One fine craft for on'y twen'y big ones," he said proudly. "In cash, o' course."

"What?" Evan exclaimed. "Twenty dollars?"

The old man nodded. "Plus tax."

Tamara shook her head in disbelief. This was a rip-off. "We only have fifteen," she said.

"Well, tis a shame," said the man, "but I can't jus' let ya have one cheap, ya know."

"Look," sighed Evan, "we've got something important to do in Europe. There's a place we need to get to. And if we don't hurry, it's going to be gone. There are these… monsters. They're chasing us. You have to help."

Tamara's eyes widened. What was he doing? What if the guy was a Wight in disguise?

The old man was quiet for a moment. Finally, he said, "Are ye speakin' of a loop?"

Tamara and Evan were equally shocked.

"How do you –" started Evan.

"What are you –" said Tamara at the same time.

The old man chuckled. It sounded like a dying horse. "Me mother was one o' your folk," he said. "I knows all the stories."

Tamara was the first to realize what this meant. "Does that mean you know what loops are left?" she asked eagerly.

Evan smacked her arm. "Tamara!"

She ignored him. "You're the one who spilled to this guy," she said under her breath.

Evan had actually had a good reason for doing that. He had a whole sob story prepared to build up over the truth, but apparently it wasn't necessary.

"O, ye can bet your gills I know what loops're left," the scraggly man said. His face grew somber. "Two, last I've heard. Peregrine's and Wren's. Me fisher bud came in an hour ago sayin' Canary's just got raided."

"We know," Evan risked, gauging the man's reaction. "We were there."

"Ho!" the man said, stroking his beard. "That is a tale! How may I reward such lucky ta be alive 'culiars?"

It took Evan a moment to decipher the old man's accent, but when he did, he was back on track. "We need to borrow a boat," he said. "And we need to get to Europe."

His POV

I fell asleep again. It wasn't that hard with all the cold.

When I did wake up again, the ice encasing me had melted down to my neck. I could wiggle a few tongues free, but it did me little good.

My mind kept turning back to that syndrigast.

He was named Jacob, I was sure. And he could see me.

That wasn't all. He had a sort of… bond with me. Like we were telepathically connected.

It had to be his power. Every syndrigast had one, I had heard.

I struggled in the ice a bit, out of habit. No change.

I wondered what would happen when I got free. Would the leaders make me try again to capture and kill the syndrigasti? I was certain, however, that there was a way to break free.

And that way lay with Jacob.

So I had to find him. And I had to get him to help me.

Looks like we're nearing the end! I probably will continue after the end of this once Library of Souls comes out. That way I can wrap up even more than I'm planning to do soon. Next chapter, coming soon!