Lottie's funeral was held three days later. It was small. Her death had been too sudden for a lot of her family to come. Her mother was crying on her father's shoulder. Her little sister had silent tears trickling down her face, and her grandparents stood staring broken heartedly at the closed casket.

The Elders had come of course. Celina had demanded it. She still wasn't talking to Noah. He expected it would be a while before she did. The conditions for the funeral were far off movie perfect. The sun was shining exceptionally bright, and the heat was sweltering.

The priest came and said a few words, but he was hard to hear over the sobs. He finished his sermon, and told them he would give them time to say goodbye.

One by one the members of Lottie's family went to the casket. Her mother hugged the casket, bawling her eyes out. Lottie's father put his hand on the casket as one singular tear ran down his face. Her grandparents took turns placing a kiss on the casket, and Lottie's little sister placed a white rose on the casket. Celina went up to Lottie's grave last.

"I'm sorry Lottie," she said through tears. "I-I should've been there with you."

She walked back over and cried into her father's shoulder. Noah watched as they lowered the casket into the earth. Celina whispered something to their father, then she started to head towards the church.He felt so guilty, but it wasn't his fault. It was Lear's.

As if on cue, his phone buzzed. One new email. Oh, fuck.

From: fhskxksdjrdlxa>
To: Noah Elder
Subject: Baseball

August 22, 2055, at 11:37 am

Hello Noah,
You know what baseball is right? When players hit a ball with a bat and try to get around the bases. Do you know what it's called when they swing and miss? A strike. They get three before they strike out. So, let me put this bluntly. Lottie was a warm up pitch. The game is beginning now.

Are you ready to play?
-Lear

Noah felt his throat tighten. The only person he thought he could turn to wasn't talking to him. He was completely and utterly alone, and what was Lear doing? Lear was playing baseball. Noah didn't want this. What did he do to deserve this?

"Come on Noah," his dad said, he wrapped his arm around Noah's shoulders and lead him towards the church.

When the got inside, Celina was coming out of confession. Her eyes were puffy, but she want crying anymore. She blew her nose then joined her family as they walked out of the church.

********************

Noah waited anxiously for some sign from Lear the next few days. Nothing came. Four days passed uneventfully, and Noah began to wonder if Lear just wanted to watch him squirm.

He sat at the breakfast table munching on a piece of toast.

"Hm," his father murmured, his eyes gliding over the newspaper.

"What is it?" Wilkes asked, leaning over the toaster waiting for a pop tart.

"You know that pastor down at the church..." he paused looking around for Celina. When he saw she wasn't there he continued. "The church where Lottie was buried?"

"Yeah?"

"They found his body in an unused janitor closet yesterday. The body seemed to be a day or two old," his father finished.

"Really?" his mother said, taking the pop tart out of toaster and setting it down to cool.

"Yeah, strange right?"

She nodded taking a bite out of her pop tart. Could that've been Lear? Noah wondered. Thinking harder about it that wasn't really Lear's style, and he never knew that priest. If it was Lear they would've done something that applied to him.

Celina came down. Her dark curly hair was in a ponytail, and she seemed to in a better mood then she'd been in lately.

"Hi," she said.

"Hey," Noah said.

Celina purposely ignored him, and sat as far from him as possible.

"Um, when are we getting school supplies?" she asked.

"I was thinking this weekend," Noah's mom said. "You guys should actually write up your lists."

Noah nodded like he was listening, but he longed to get out of there. He needed to talk to Celina. She was the only one who could help him.

"I'll go do that now," Celina said.

"Me too," said Noah, trying to sound nonchalant.

He jumped up and followed his sister.

"Celina, Celina, I need to talk to you,"

"There's nothing to talk about," she growled.

"Celina, I got another email. I need your help!" he urged.

"Did it tell you our parents are going to die? Oh wait, you wouldn't tell me if it did!" Celina's eyes flared with anger.

She stormed into her room and slammed the door. Leaving Noah standing alone in the hallway wondering if he'd ever get his sister back.