๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป
There's something I need to tell you, I just don't know how. So to make you understand, maybe I should start from the end.
"Where the hell are we? What happened?"
"I don't know."
"But I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
On second thought, I'll just start from the beginning. Hope knew Landon needed her, and I knew Hope needed me and at the time that's all I needed to know.
I walked behind Hope into the main room when the snores from the children comforting my anxiety about sneaking out. We crept past the snoozing children over to the long hall that led to Dr. Saltzman's office. Hope checked her compass bracelet and turned to me. 'I'll keep watch' she nodded and hesitantly stepped into the small room to get the keys. I glanced around and she stepped out of the doorway standing next to me. She held the keys up with a jingle and a smirk. I smiled softly back and followed after her to the door.
"Going somewhere?"
Hope gasped and we turned to the voice of the infamous Dr. Saltzman. "Better questions, where the hell do you think your going with my keys? And without telling me?" I turned to Hope waiting for an answer that I couldn't give. "Um, you know, I just said some really harsh things to you yesterday, and so me and Laya just wanted to get you an oil change as a peace offering," I sighed not really liking the answer she decided to give but it's not like I had one so...
"At three a.m.?" Hope looked at me and I shrugged not knowing what to say yet again. "Hope, you don't have a drivers license, neither does Laya," he glanced at me causing me to roll my eyes annoyed. "You were gonna commit grand theft auto, which is a felony. You're both ditching school right before the midterm exams begin, and you've made it very clear to me that you see me as an authority figure and nothing more. So tell me, why shouldn't I suspend you this very second," she pulled down her probably cotton gray sleeve and showed off her bracelet.
"And What is that?"
"It's basically a supernatural compass," I replied with a smirk at finally being able to answer. "Well I Hope it's pointing you to your rooms, because that's where your going," I rolled my eyes "We're going after Landon," Hope replied through gritted teeth. "If this thing is glowing that means he's in trouble," she inhaled sharply. "Then we're going, and I'm driving," I sighed and Hope turned to me with an annoyed expression causing me to laugh.
We didn't know it yet, but Landon was in Kansas looking for his mom. He had no idea what he walking into. None of us
Landon's p.o.v.
I scribbled down more in my small leather bound notebook, the glossy glow of the black ink and the thought of my mom cleaning a table nearby bringing me internal peace. "You must have a serious caffeine addiction," I glanced up surprised. The woman talking was actually the one I was here for. She has a nice accent but don't ask me where she was from because I know I couldn't tell you that. "You've been here every day of this week," I glanced around nervously trying to think of an answer.
"I just like coffee."
She looked at me with a strange look "I should get the next one to go," I gathered my things together and placed them gently in my backpack. "Hey I'm not complaining. Just a little worried about you," I pulledย the fake leather covers of my notebook closed and shoved it in my backpack, being the last thing I stood up and sauntered over to the bar trying to look cool. I watched as she grabbed the coffee pot and a paper cup in front of me on the white counter with a smile. She stopped and laughed softly "This is embarrassing. You've been my best customer this week, and I-I don't even know your name ," I sighed softly hoping she wouldn't notice.
"Landon."
I kept my eyes on her face as she jotted down the name I gave her. "That's a beautiful one," I smiled knowing it was probably time for me to tell her. "Thanks. I'm uh... pretty sure you gave it to me," I pulled my notebook out and opened it revealing what looked to me and 8 by ten photo of me an my birth mom. The one that stood there watching in front of me.
I held it out for her too see and she stared at it surprised before looking back at me with disbelief dancing in her eyes.
Laya's p.o.v.
We flew by the green sign reading it we knew now that we were Indiana. "Indiaannaa," I sat in the back while Hope was staring out of her window. "Crossroads of America," he sang. "What's the capital?" I rolled my eyes "We learned that in like eighth grade," Hope stated obviously unimpressed by his question. "Oh, good, then you should know it," I laughed softly "She didn't say she absorbed the information," I leaned in between the two seats and Hope turned to me with a smirk tugging at her lips. "Either way your not saying much of anything. Look if you two can't handle grade school geography... your gonna flunk all your exams," I rolled my eyes trying to come up with a comeback.
"Are Lizzie and Josie studying? Maybe you should focus on them," I smirked " Yea well there still Europe with Caroline, thank god," I leaned back glancing out the window to find nothing but flat landed grass areas.ย "Religion has no place in the classroom Dr. Saltzman. The Supreme Court made sure of that with its ruling on Engel v. Vitale," Hope stated flatly. "And Indianapolis is the capitol of Indiana," I added. "We're both gettin A's in geography. Chill," my best friend told the older blonde man.
"Take the next left. He's on the move."
"All right... Indiana is surrounded by what four states," I rolled my eyes and slumped over the entirety of the situation starting to make me tired. "I thought we established that were dominating geography," Hope shot back.
"Fine."
"Then let's move on to science," I rolled my eyes angrily not wanting to have to deal with school right now.
Landon's p.o.v.
I looked glanced at my sandwich and turned back to the small brown dog guilt overwhelming my senses. I sighed peeling a piece of my sandwich off and holding it down for him to grab. He stood up on his back legs and bit the bread right out of my hand. I turned over to the woman's decor and stepped closer to the Egyptian looking erm. I picked it up feeling my mind going blank at the extreme attraction to the strange object. "Do not touch that," the woman who is apparently my mother's voice rang through my ears and I flinched putting the erm back down quickly. I glanced back and noticed her standing there so I turned around.
"Cool."
She placed something down on the counter looking awkwardly. "Um it's just that I've told you my whole life story, but I don't know anything about you. And like all this stuff makes it seem like you've had a really interesting life, and... Is this actual samurai sword," Iย strolled toward the knife with my hand out reaching to grab it.ย "Don't you h that either,"I pulled my hand away quickly and the dog started barking. "I'm sorry," she chuckled softly "I'm just not used to having people around." "You don't have to apologize . This is, this is, weird for me too," she chuckled again.
"Well, in times of emotional distress, I find that dessert really helps don't you?" she pulled open her tealish looking oven. "Not exactly an expert on the subject," she pulled out a pie and placed it on the counter in front of her. "Yes you are," she paused to inhale sharply. "I'm sorry your life has been so hard Landon, I really am." "I was talking about dessert," she looked down at the pie and I could notice a small smile tugging at the edges of her lips. "And I thought I was putting a positive spin on all the rest," her eyes narrowed. "I shudder to think that's true," I looked down and sighed softly. "Um, well, then I'm sorry too. I know this is a lot to put on you, with me just showing up like this, but I'd really like to know more about..." the dog started panting heavily and he fell to the ground laying on his side.
"Is he okay?"
ย "She. Oh. You didn't feed her from the table did you?"
"Just a little but I've- I've never had a dog before, I had no idea this would happen."
"Relax. She'll be fine. The drugs will wear off soon."
"What drugs?"ย
I fell to the ground. Staring at the old rug with a pretty print, the last thing I knew to do was press the small button on my new bracelet. To get Hope.
Laya's p.o.v.
18 and a half hours is a long time to spend on the road, and even longer when you're being car-schooled.
"And that is how osmosis works."
I yawned wiping my mouth as we slowly parked next to house. "Mm," Hope stared out at the small home. "Is this the place?" I looked to my best friend waiting for an answer. "Yup and not a moment to soon. Pretty sure you were about to tell us how babies are made," I smirked and turned to the right reading the red button letting my seat belt jump to freedom. "Hey before we go in there, I just wanna make sure we're clear," I sighed and Hope turned to the middle aged man. "Don't worry we're crystal. Your professor X and I'm Wolverine," I leaned forward in between the two leather seats.
"Does that mean I'm Beast?"
"I was more of a dc kid," Dr. Saltzman retorted. "Then your Batman and I'm robin. Either way you calm the shots," I grinned goofily. "Does that mean I'm cat woman," Hope turned to me with a small not very obvious smirk and I chuckled softly. "So how do you wanna do this? Hmm?" Dr. Saltzman turned to Hope. "Fireball," I suggested "Wind torrent," Hope added.
"I was thinking we'd just knock."
I rolled my eyes at the boring suggestion. "They'll never see that coming," sarcasm dripping fromย every word that escaped Hope's somehow unchapped lips. I pushed myself closer to the door and pulled the handle pushing the light door away from me and jumped to the ground.
Landon's p.o.v.
I opened my eyes and closed them quickly again the light burning through my eyelids when I realized I was tied down. I peeled my eyes open and shook around trying to pull my hands from the iron grip of my holds. "Seylah, Seylah, please, I-I-I didn't want to burden you with this, but I don't... I don't do well in captivity," I admitted. I heard a noise and turned back where it sounded like the door opened. Seylah walked through the hallway to me hut this time she looked different, her hair was down bouncing around her hardened face in waves, but all I could think about was the shackles on my wrist and wanting to be free. "Seylah," I breathed out "Seylah I'm sorry. I-I-I," she strutted closet to me and pulled my head back against the chair by my hair.
"Who sent you?"
"I already told you my miserable life story. Nobody gives a crap about me ," I whispered not wanting the harsh words to be true, but they were. She glared at me for a few seconds before throwing my head back letting go of my hair. "Quit playing games. Who'd you call?" she walked over to her counter "I don't even have a phone," she set down an iron on the counter and played with some things. "I never said you did," I looked down at my wrist and it was bare. My bracelet was gone. I inhaled deeply trying to calm down "You wouldn't believe me," she turned to me letting her hair glide in the air flipping around her face. "What I don't believe is your my son. So I suggest you spill your guts before the iron heats up," she waved her hand in front of the smoking metal plate and I gulped.
ย ย
Laya's p.o.v.
"We should come in hot. There could be a jabbereocky on the other side of that door for all we know," I followed Hope as she followed Dr. Saltzman who creeped to the front door. "Nonsensical poem written?" I smirked "Charles Dodgson," I shook my head "Wrong Lewis Carroll the pen name of Charles Dodgson," Hope looked at me surprised and Dr. Saltzman sped by after sending me a shocked glance. "What Dorian tells me things," Hope shrugged and Dr. Saltzman almost looked impressed. He held his hand up ready to knock when a loud scream came from the inside of the house. "Hope no," I yelled "Patere," she pushed her hands out and she exclaimed the spell and the door flew in landing on the ground in front of us. Hope stormed in and turned to her left.
ย ย "Hi," she greeted "Uh, uh, what- what are you watching?" she glanced back at me and I shrugged strutting in to stand next to my best friend with Dr. Saltzman following. "Oh ... I'm so sorry, that we've ruined your lunch. I... I-I promise we're gonna replaceย your door ," Dr. Saltzman yelled at the old shocked looking couple, before turning to Hope angrily. "That's some compass. We're in the wrong place," Hope looked down at her bracelet and knelt down next to the fallen door. Dr. Saltzman sent an awkward chuckle to the old couple and I jumped when I heard a noise I looked back and Hope had found another bracelet that looked very similar to hers. Landon's.
She held it up in Dr. Saltzman "Someone knew we were coming," Dr. Saltzman looked at the bracelet and Hope stormed back to the Jeep angrily. Dr. Saltzman turned to me and I stuck up my hands defensively.
"Don't look at me your the one who helped raise her."
Landon's p.o.v.
Steam hissed off of the burning iron and I gulped trying to stay quiet. "Why so quiet? You wouldn't shut up when we were having lunch," I bit into the inside of my cheek angrily. "I thought you believed me. Now I'm not giving you anything," she stepped closer with the iron in hand the closer she got the farther I leaned back in my chair nervously. She held the iron right above my shackled hand and I could feel the heat as I stared into her cold eyes. "Everyone talks... eventually," I squeezed my hand in a fist trying to stop it from shaking. "Please don't do this," I breathed out "I swear to you I am telling you the truth. I am your son," she leaned closer to my face "Stop saying that, or I'll burn your lips shut," she warned and I backed away turning my head and closing my eyes.
"The Salvatore school. That's who I called, that boarding school I was telling you about. It's a school for vampires and witches and werewolves and... because they're real," she slowly backed away "And so are dragons and gargoyles and freaking talking trees and I don't know what else," I tried to calm my shaky breathing, mostly because I was shocked and a little angry about what she was believing. "You gotta be kidding me. You believe that, but not that I'm your son?" she set the iron down on the counter and the lights when out. I scanned the room nervously and when my eyes landed back on the woman who was supposed to be my mother I noticed she had her pointy finger laying in front of her lips signaling for me to be quiet.ย
"They're here," she whispered "They must've followed you ," she strutted away leaving me a bit confused.ย "Wait you got... you have to cut me loose ," I yelled after the woman.
Spoiler alert: Are story's about to take one hell of a turn. A monstrous turn.
A loud creek came from upstairs and I jumped "Seylah is that you?" I questioned nervously. More creaks came from upstairs down to the actual stair case and I could finally see "Holy Smokes," it's hands gripped the handle of the stairs and it looked down at me. Well I couldn't really tell you if it saw anything because it didn't have eyes which added to the level of scary in my book. "We can talk about this," it crept down the stair and made its way to the chair that I was tied to.
"If you had a mouth," I gulped, the area where a mouth was supposed to be slowly ripped apart revealing almost hundreds of sharp teeth. Suddenly it's head got sliced in half and the top part fell to the ground while the bottom part waited a while before falling to the ground after it. Behind the monstrous body stood my mother holding the samurai sword I tried to grab earlier.
Laya's p.o.v.
ย Hope and I used Landon's bracelet for a locator spell, but all it located was more trouble.
Hope pointed to the next right and Dr. Saltzman followed her instructions, and we pulled up to what looked to be a construction site. I pushed the handle and jumped down to the ground following after Dr. Saltzman and Hope. A man walked up to us "Hey can I help you?" I stood in the back studying the situation the man looked scrawny with brunette hair and soft brown eyes if it came down to it I think we could take him. "Yeah I hope so. Uh... Say what's going on here?" The man looked at me and his eyes changed to almost amusement before he looked back at Dr. Saltzman "Gas peak. Don't worry though we have it under control," Dr. Saltzman nodded and the man glanced at me one last time before turning back to the house and then us. "You wouldn't happen to know who lives here, would you? We tried knocking but no ones home," I sighed wanting to say something but Hope beat me to it.
"Um, we're looking for..." "The highway," I finished nervously and Hope looked at me and Dr. Saltzman confused. "See, we're lost, and and we... well, we saw you guysย and we thought we'd ask for directions," I nodded after Dr. Saltzmans statement and glared the man down who looked hesitant like he didn't believe us. "Yeah, at the end of the road, you make a right. Can't miss it," he pointed down the street. "Cool thanks,"ย the brunette man looked at me again and scanned me up again. I was beginning to wonder if he was doing what I did to him, studyย the situation. "Alright Jessica, Alex, lets go," I looked up at Dr. Saltzman disgusted by the fake name and followed after Hope to the passenger side of the car.
I pulled open the door and pushed myself in the middle of the seat before buckling myself in. "Jessica? Really," I scoffed "At least it wasn't Alex," I complained. "I've been apart of enough cover-ups to smell one a mile away," I sighed slumping back in my chair. "Do you think they're after Landon?" Hope and I questioned in unison. She looked at me with disbelief plaguing her sea blue eyes which was honestly shocking because you cant do anything to surprise that girl. "Well, all I know, is they would have asked about him if they had him, so... we gotta find him before they do," we sped off and I watched as the brunette man stood staring down our grey car as we passed by him. "Oh and did you see the way he looked at Laya?" Hope questioned and Dr. Saltzman replied with a simple shrug.
It seemed like the whole world was chasing Landon, but only one one person was actually with him.
Landon's p.o.v.
"If you won't tell me who they are , will you at least tell me why they are following you?" We just got to a motel and I walked next to Seylah who was more strutting should I say. "They weren't until you showed up. So, maybe they're following you," she retorted causing me to roll my eyes. "She held open the door to our room for me "I'm not stupid , I would've noticed if I was being followed," I stepped and looked at the two beds the sheets on them so old they turned from white to yellow and the covers just and ugly mix of browns and yellows and reds. "Close your eyes," I followed her instructions but not before catching a glance of her walking away.
"How many windows are in this room?"
"What? We just got here."
"The parking lot, How many cars?"
"I don't know, like ten?"
"The man who gave us the keys, was he right- or left- handed?"
"Nobody notices stuff like that."
"Three, seven ambidextrous."
Anger swelled in my chest as I ripped my hoodie off and walked over to my bed. I threw my back pack down on the bed and pulled it open. "Tell me more about you," I pulled out my small notebook "Why? Because you care or because your want intel?" I shifted trying to get comfortable on the hard mattress. "Why does it matter? Either way I genuinely want to know," I rolled my eyes "Too bad. I've already told you my entire tragic life story," I deadpanned. "Do you have a girlfriend?" I held her stare "Her name is Hope. And she'd probably kill us both with the help of Laya is she heard you calling her my girlfriend," "I doubt that very much," I chuckled softly. "Right. Ninja. Hope and I are complicated. I-I hurt her once, and I don't think she's ever going to forgive me for it," I whispered the last words not wanting to admit it to myself.
ย "What'd you do?" I sighed "I lied to her. And other stuff. Deep down I think it's the lying part she'll never understand ," a soft smirk played at Seylah's lips.
"She sounds tough."
ย "Look who's talking. You two would probably hate each other."
"I guess it's true then. Boys like girls who remind them of their mothers."
I nodded slowly and looked down "Your stubborn... and surrounded by danger. You're my son, all right," I looked up at her surprised and happy by the words that just came out of her mouth. The doorknob rattled and Seylah's eyes traveled over to it. She sat up and grabbed my shoulder gently slowly creeping to the door while I sat and watched. "Go hide," she whispered and I ran out of the room.
Dr. Saltzman's p.o.v.
I stepped in the empty room searching for any hints of Landon when I felt a heavy object pressed against the back of my head. A gun. "Uh, I'm looking for Landon Kirby ," the woman held the gun up and inched in from of me. "And who the hell are you?" she questioned "Uh..." before I could come up with an answer the gun flew out of the woman's hand to behind me and when I looked back Hope was now holding the gun with Laya standing next to her glaring at the brunette lady.
"People who care about him," they both strutted in "So you better tell us where he is," Laya started "Or I'll blow your head off," I placed my hand on the top and bottom of the weapon and slowly pulled it out of her hands while she stayed still glaring at the older woman.
"You must be Hope."
Laya's p.o.v.
Landon walked out standing behind the woman and Hope gasped staring at the boy shocked. "So your the headmaster of a private school for supernaturals and your the teachers' pets?" I sat on the mildly comfortable bed while Hope stood staring at the woman and Dr. Saltzman looked out the window. He turned to the woman named Seylah "Actually, they're kind of a pain in my ass," I rolled my eye and Hope did too "A little judgey for an absentee mother," I smirked and glanced at Landon.
He smiled at me and sent me a small wave I nodded in return and diverted my attention back to the conversation. "You were wrong, I like her," she smirked and I could feel my small smile turn into a cold glare quickly. "Well now you know about us. All we know about you is that you gave birth to Landon, he says a monster attacked you and now there's some sort of fake gas company coming for you too," I sat up straight "So I think it's time you start filling in some blanks," I finished. "What she said," Dr. Saltzman added.
She walked over to the bed where me and Landon sat next to each other and sat on the one next to it sitting across from me and him. "When I finished my service in the army, I was recruited by an intelligence organization. The states sounded like a better life . I didn't know what I was signing up for, but as soon as I learned things like you," her gaze fixed on me. "Exist in this world. My job was very much like yours," she turned to Dr. Saltzman "To keep the supernatural world a secret. Whenever a monster went bump in the night and risked exposing the truth, I tracked it down and brought I back to head quarters," I sighed "We're not monsters," Hope stepped closer "You are to me," Seylah responded.
"This headquarters, where is it?"her eyes flickered to me before turning to Dr. Saltzman "Sorry. You just seem morally inclined enough to do something stupid, and there's too much blood on my hands as it is. A few years in, I saw something I shouldn't," Hope sat down behind Landon. "I became the hunted instead of the hunter," Dr. Saltzman day down in a rolly chair and placed his entwined hands on his knees. "What exactly did you see?" I leaned forward mimicking Dr. Saltzman and wrapping my hands in each other, leaning forwards and sitting them on my knees. "I wanted to know what was happening to the monsters. Because even though I spent all that time studying they're every move, I couldn't remember them at all. So I started taking notes. I realized my memory was being erased. The question was: how?" I glanced at Hope and she nodded already knowing what I was thinking.
"Malivore."
"How do you know about Malivore?" Seylah questioned Dr. Saltzman. "Landon took a knife that belonged to our schools collection. Now monsters that shouldn't exists right been coming after it ever since," Dr. Saltzman inhaled sharply and I furrowed my eyebrows wondering what was wrong with him, if anything. "He means I stole it. And then I, like, um, woke it up or something. Um What's Malivore?" I sighed remembering he wasn't there for the Necromancer or for Cassie coming back. "It's a hell dimension," Landon turned back to Hope quickly obviously surprised. "That consumes creatures and wipes their existence from the collective conscious. Sound about right?" I chuckled softly "That's one way to put it," I whispered mostly to myself. "More or less," the woman who was supposed to Landon's mother replied.
"Awesome." "The last monster that came for the knife, was a Necromancer who screwed us over and returned it back to Malivore. Long story. But he said that the knife is one of three keys that kept Malivore contained, so why are monsters still coming for you?" I chuckled again and everyone looked at me weirdly "I have no idea. Didn't really get a chance to ask the last one. Who tried to eat me," Landon turned back to his mother and I stayed still studying the room.
"As you can see, it's been a rough semester."
I laughed again and everyone looked at me like I was insane, then again maybe I was. "Is there something you would like to share with us," I kept laughing and closed my eyes but when I opened them again I could feel they changed. I squeezed them shut concentrating on not changing. "Maybe there's another key guys, or maybe Landon's the key," I suggested. Dr. Saltzman looked surprised and Hope looked worried while the Seylah woman looked amused.
"It will only get worse," the woman interjected causing me to sigh. I leaned back again at the headboard and she turned to Landon. "If you don't go home, and forget you heard the name. Just like we forget everyone who's ever been there," she stood up getting ready to walk away. "Wait, wait, wait, wait. You have to tell us more. I mean..." she towered over us staring at the boy blankly. "I don't know who your father is. My job was stressful, so I had flings to blow off steam. Got pregnant, and just like your not- girlfriend said, I'm not equipped to be a mother. Sorry. I thought I was giving you a better life," she walked to the door and stepped through before slamming it shut. 'She's lying' Hope looked at me like she didn't believe but I didn't care anymore I was pretty tired to be honest. Landon looked depressed and I felt bad.
You want to know the worst part? That wasn't the worst part.
Dr. Saltzman's p.o.v.
I sighed walking over to the woman with my foam cup in hand. I strolledย around her to sit down next to her. She held out her square can that I assumed was filled with some sort of alcoholic beverage, but I shook my head no. "Oh, believe me, I would but I'm... trying to cut back," I chuckled softly as she placed the can to her lips. "Look, I get how hard this is, but we need some answers," she took a big gulp and held her can in between her thighs. "You already know everything I know," I internally rolled my eyes. "I think we both know that's a lie. And one of those girls in there is smart enough to know it. Just like you lied to Landon about not knowing who his father is,"ย we heard the door open and both turned quickly to see what the noise is.
A tired looking Laya stepped through the door and waved at us "I think I'm gonna take a nap in the car," I nodded and she trudged to the Jeep slowly pulling the door open. She yawned and pulled herself in. Seylah turned back to me "What makes you think I was lying," I stared forward "Bad liars look away when they lie to their kids. Good liars look 'em straight in the eye," I turned to her watching a small smirk play at her lips. "We have something in common, then. You have children," I looked down images of Josie and Lizzie slowly playing through my mind like a movie. "Two girls. So take my hard- earned advice. Tell Landon the truth," she glanced at the pool and then back at me.
ย "How about I tell you instead? Just to see if you believe me," I nodded and she sniffled slowly turning back to the pool. "Because I'm still not sure that Iย believe what I'm about to say, and I lived it," she took another gulp out of her can and closed placing it gently on the bench next to where she was sitting. "The organization I used to work for guards theย portal to Malivore . When I realized I was having memory lapses, I started writing everything down. Drawing maps,I wrote about the creatures I captured and where I took them. Each entry ended there," she held my stare for most of the time she spoke.
"So where'd you take them?"
She laughed softly "Nah, that's not important," I internally groaned. "Eh, That seems pretty important to me," I placed the small cup to my lips and let the warm coffee slide down my throat soothing me. "Well, then I'm not gonna tell you," I looked at her in disbelief. Really? "For your own good, believe me. One day, I snuck in by myself. And what I found was a... a black pit, locked away," I pondered over her words for a minute. "Is that supposed to be a metaphor," I questioned.
"Oh, no. It's an actual pit, filled with tar, uh, or something."
"A literal pit of doom. The story has it that if, uh Malivore consumes you, you experience endless darkness."
"Yeah. It's not just a story though."
"And I should know, I've been there."
Laya's p.o.v.
Dr. Saltzman walked out after Seylah and I sat in the stale room with Hope and Landon in awkward silence. "All right I'm gonna go take a nap," I whispered before standing up and making my way to the door. I stepped outside, Seylah's and Dr. Saltzman's heads snapped towards me. I sent a small wave their way, "I think I'm gonna take a nap," I stated lazily. He nodded and I trudged over to the grey car i pulled the door open and paused to yawn. I wiped my mouth and and pulled myself in the car slowly pulling the door closed.
I scammed the car looking for something to sleep on, when eventually I just gave up and grabbed my back pack. I pushed it into the corner between the seat and the door and leaned against it. I shifted around trying to get comfortable before I finally pulled my pack out from behind me and unzipped. I grabbed my Salvatore school hoodie and zipped the yellow bag back up before pushing it in the same corner where it was earlier. I placed the jacket over my legs and leaned back again. Finding some comfort in the warmth I slowly drifted off.
I opened my eyes and I was standing up, actually I was walking, pacing. Nerves started setting, I was worried for Hope, but why? I felt a presence in front of my door and I rushed over. My hand slid over the oily knob with ease which was strange. If this is a dream why does it feel so real? I pulled the door open and sighed when I noticed M.G.'s fist was held in the air like he was about to knock. "Sorry I was just checking," I nodded slowly, still confused I opened the door wider, as a gesture to let him know he could come in. He skipped in and sat on my bed. "Have you heard or see anything yet," before I could get a chance to answer another knock came from the door. I glanced at the door but when I looked back at M.G. he looked angry. "Are you going to get that," I looked at the door and then back at him one last time and suddenly out of nowhere Jed was sitting next to M.G.
"Don't get it Laya," I walked closer to the door scared but curious. "Laya please don't open it," Jed's beg made me turn to him. "Don't listen to him Laya he betrayed you. He hurt Landon. He hurt you," I nodded at M.G. and pulled the door open "Laya please," I stepped through and blinked. I must've blinked for too long cause when I opened my eyes I was sitting on the dock behind the school and letting my feet dangle above the glistening waters. "What the hell?" I ran into the woods and suddenly I got rammed into a tree. A sharp pain shot up my spine 'Hope' I screamed in pain. "Wake up," I whispered to myself and the scene changed like whatever was holding me dropped me. I was falling and I slammed my eyes shut. I let out a scream but when I opened my eyes I was back in my dorm.
Rafael and Jed stood in front of me. "Choose," they exclaimed in unison. "What?" I questioned "Choose," they repeated. "I love you," Jed stated "You love me," this time it was Rafael. I shook my head "You left," I whispered to Jed. "Choose," they both inched closer and they're eyes started to glow gold while they took another step closer I took another step back. "Wake up," I whispered. They kept stepping closer to me and I shook my head "Wake up," I got louder but they kept getting closer. "Wake up," I screamed I turned around trying to get the door open when the fake gold knob transformed into a hand that seems to be made of liquid gold. It grabbed my hand and pulled me and I sunk into the door letting it pull me through the last thing I remember doing was screaming.
I jumped up and when I opened my eyes I sighed at the sight in front of me.
"Are you okay?"
Dr. Saltzman's p.o.v
"When my former employers discovered that I was trying to remember the things they made me forget, they threw me in the pit," I could feel my eyebrows furrow "So how are we having this conversation?" I questioned "I don't know. Only that I felt the things you described, the isolation, the loneliness. And then one day I found myself back here. I woke up in the middle of nowhere, covered in mud, absolutely no idea how I got there. Turns out two years had gone by but there was a bright side. No I one worked for remembered me," I nodded slowly "So you were free?" "I wouldn't go that far, because there was also a catch. I was pregnant," I heard a loud scream come from the car and I looked up. Laya was sleeping, so where'd the scream come from?
โขโขโขโขโข
"So Landon is basically a, uh, supernatural immaculate conception," she chuckled softly "I'll be damned... you believe me," her statement came out as question. "My twins were magically implanted into their mothers womb by a coven of witches, so my belief tolerance is pretty high," I laughed softly at the thought of what I just said actually being true. It was. "I can't imagine how you explained that to your kids," I stared out at the pool. "Yeah." "It was easier for me to leave Landon in a small basket on the steps of a local church," I shook my head at her. "You were young, scared," I looked down "I was selfish. And now I'm tired. I've spent 18 years trying to stay off the grid. To remain erased. I can't be his mother . Not in the way he need me to be. Sorry," she stood up and turned around slowly walking away.
"You can't just leave him Seylah."
"He'll be better off. You all will."
As if that wasn't weird enough, I should warn you, our story's about to get even fishier.
ย Another scream came from my Jeep and I stood up quickly running over to my car. I pulled the door open and Laya was shaking sweat pooled at her forehead. "Wake up. Wake up," she whispered. I grabbed her hand she screamed.She opened her eyes still screaming. "Are you okay," she stayed shaking and I pulled her into a hug "It was just a dream," I whispered to her trying to sooth her. She gripped harshly on my arm as I noticed her eyes glow bright blue "Dr. Saltzman," she whispered as her breathing started to slow down and she closed her eyes and opened them again. They were back to brown. "I know. I know," she slowly pulled away still shivering. She pulled on her jacket and rubbed her hands over her arms.ย
"I'm sorry."
Laya's p.o.v.
"I'm sorry," I whispered and he shook his head at me "Hey it's okay," I nodded slowly and slid out of the car following after him. He pulled the door open and we were greeted by the sight of Landon and Hope in the middle of a make out sesh. "Oh! Hey, uh..." he turned around and quickly and I could barely see Hope jump off of Landon before I hid behind Dr. Saltzman. Hope uh-uh get another room. Now," I sighed stepping out from behind Dr. Saltzman. "Your the one always saying , I need to connect more with people," I chuckled softly.
"Yeah. Not literally. Get out," he whispered the last two words. I smirked as Hope walked by me and followed her out of the door. 'You wanna talk about it?' She glared at causing me to laugh "I'm gonna take that as a no," she rolled her eyes and stormed to the car and pulled the door open. She grabbed her bag out of the car and pulled it on her back. She pulled her out of the back pack's grasp as she turned around. She noticed something and I turned around following her stare I rolled my eyes at the sight.
"Let me guess, pizza run?"
I smirked " I don't know Hope she looks more like McDonalds person," she rolled her eyes and the woman kept her eyes focused on trying to Hotwire the car. "Alaric was right you two are pains." "I'm not the one stealing a car at the moment," I chuckled nodding. "It's my car. So I'm not stealing," Hope glared at the woman "Oh, then you're just afraid to go upstairs and get the keys,because then you have to tell Landon that you're abandoning him again," she turned to us"Even worse," I stayed.
"He likes you Hope. He thinks your pretty cool too Laya. Be good to him," Hope held the woman's stare "You first. Now see you coming with or do I need to drag your ass upstairs," her lips curled into a small smile. "I never thought I'd see him again. And I was okay with that. Being a mother was never on my list of things to do before I die. Every now and then, over the years, I... I wondered how he was. What kind of person he turned out to be. If he had a nice life," she paused and breathed out. She looked like she was about to cry "Turns out he's a good person with a crappy life. He deserves better," I rolled my eyes. "Then help make it better," I spoke and she looked at me surprised. "That's exactly what I'm doing," the engine started and she pulled the door shut.
"What you think your doing for him doesn't matter . All that he's gonna remember of you is that you abandoned him when he needed you the most," I knew Hope's words held some pain behind them but I wouldn't say anything. "No, he won't remember me period," I furrowed my eyebrows.
"And neither will you."
โขโขโขโขโข
"Big fish. Huge fish," I heard Landon yell as my eyes opened. I sat up quickly and turned to Hope who was still unconscious on the cement. I got up and ran over to her shaking her awake. Another bang came from inside the motel room and I grabbed her hand pulling her up. I twisted the knob and ripped the door open still holding the hand of my best friend "Ictus," we yelled in unison sticking out both of our hands that haven't already be used. The fish man thing flew bag and the door slammed shut locking him. "Also: ick," I laughed "See, Danger magnet," Landon yelled pointing at the bathroom door.
"What the hell was that?" Hope questioned "Um I'm guessing a merman," A loud bag came from being the door "A very pissed merman," Hope stared at the door "Why are the monster still coming for them? We don't even have what they want," I shrugged "I don't know but w shave to get Landon out of here," Landon walked over to his bag and grabbed it. He looked into "Oh, no," I furrowed my eyebrows. "What?" I practically yelled. Landon stared down at his bag "You said a necromancer told you the knife was one of three keys, right?" I internally groaned knowing something bad was about to happen.
ย "The Necromancer. Like I said it's a long story, but why does it matter," Hope glanced at the door nervously while Landon pulled out an ancient Egyptian looking erm. "Son of a bitch," I laughed a side effect of being nervous. "This is Seylah's. I picked it up, but I didn't steal it. I-I... not on purpose anyway. I don't know it got in there, just like how I don't know what happened with the knife. I swear I wouldn't do that again," he waved the erm in the air terrified. "Landon. Landon. It's okay. I believe you," Landon breathed out relieved. A loud bang came from the door and water splashed. "Oh, we gotta move," I nodded "Fast," Landon ran over to his bag "No, no, no, wait. Leave it, leave it," Hope held her out.
"What? Are you out of your mind?" Dr. Saltzman questioned "No, I'm just sick of playing the same again. So let the monster have it," she paused to look at Landon then me. "He'll take it to Malivore . We follow him, we know where it is,"ย I nodded actually agreeing with her plan. "No way, I'm not taking three teenagers to a convert military hiding place for a demon hiding place," I rolled my eyes "You kind of have to," Hope yelled at the older man. "Why?" "Because Seylah's going there," I yelled in my response. "What? Did she tell you that?" I sighed turning to Landon "In her own way," Hope pulled out the other bracelet and pressed the button making it glow.
"Hold that," she pulled the top off and shoved the bracelet inside the erm. She closed and placed it on the table. "We'll explain in the car. Let's go," I followed after Hope and Landon but I could hear Dr. Saltzman "H-He's a fish man on land. How fast can he be, right?"the thing punches through the wooden door and stepped through. "Oh my, god!" He rushed out of the door and slammed it shut.
โขโขโขโขโข
I don't know how long we had been driving but it felt like forever. We passed by a side that welcomed us to Fort Valley, with a sad population of just 8,643. "Turns out he's pretty fast," Landon was leaning forward in between the two and I felt kinda left out seeing as he took my job as the middle child. "Listen this was your idea, So is it within my bounds as the headmaster to tell you too shut it?" I laughed softly but I don't think anybody heard me, if they did they didn't act like it. "What if we don't get there in time?" Landon questioned in a grim voice. "Seylah doesn't have that much of a lead on us," Hope replied exasperated.
"I can't believe she wants to erase herself, just to get out of being a parent."
I rolled my eyes. At least she thinks she's protecting you and not just sacrificing herself out of misery. "What the hell is that?" Landon yelled pointing at a gate in front of us. The tires screeched loudly as Dr. Saltzman pulled the Jeep into park and we all hopped out. I walked up next to Hope to see the sign that she was staring at.
"Triad."
"Explosives?" Landon questioned from behind us "On the bright side, maybe this fence stopped our fishy friend," Hope's eyes fixed on something else other than the sign and I followed her gaze noticing the big hole. "I don't think so," Hope grabbed each side of he hole and stepped through with all of us following after. I didn't really know where or what I was running too I just knew I was following Hope, Landon, and Dr. Saltzman. Hope slowed down to a complete stop and held her hand out in front of Landon signaling for us to stop too. Landon stormed forward and Hope grabbed his arm pulling him back "Hey, stay back he's dangerous," Landon turned to Hope quickly with a glare.
"I have to get in there," he bolted Hope ran after him with a quick cry "LANDON!" Dr. Saltzman followed after the two with me in pursuit. "Wait, guys, be careful," we all ran toward the for some reason stopped merman when the monster exploded. We all flew backward and I landed on the ground with a loud thud, the last thing I could hear was the ringing in my ears.
We can only speculate about what happened after that, but in hindsight I thinks it's pretty obvious. Seylah went to triad. And then she went to Malivore. I'm sure triad tried to stope her, but she had a reason to fight. And in the end I'm guessing she won. She sacrificed herself for Landon... and then she was erased.
I opened my eyes and slowly sat up I looked around and slowly turned to my right where Landon, Hope, and Dr. Saltzman were slowly starting to wake up too.
"Where the hell are we? What happened?"
"I don't know."
"But I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
Hope slowly turned to the boys with a confused face and then glanced at me. I nodded the gleam in her eye only meaning one thing. She remembered. Like me.
โขโขโขโขโข
We were driving home, or to school technically, but it was my phone. Hope stared out her window as did I with my earbuds in that played no music I just didn't want to be bothered. 'You remember?' I blinked my eyes and when I opened them again Hope's memories of the day before flashed through my mind like a slideshow. 'Your gonna have to teach me how to do that' I could feel her smile even though I couldn't see her I almost knew it had to be small, Hope never grinned.
After a few more hours Landon leaned in between Hope's and Dr. Saltzman's seat. "Thank you again for coming to help me," I sighed and pulled my earbuds out of my ears one by one. "Sorry you didn't find your mother," Dr. Saltzman replied (thankfully) keeping his eyes on the road. "What I don't understand is why I can't remember how we found you. Hope? Any theories?" I waited for her answer wanting to know if she was gonna tell them. "Work in progress," she replied nonchalantly. "Laya?" I looked up and shook my head " Nah sorry sir," I didn't know why Hope didn't want to tell them but I knew she had good reason so I was just gonna follow her lead.
Hope looked out my window "Uh, I think the bus stop is actually that way," he pointed at me and Dr. Saltzman glanced at him through the rear mirror. "Oh, that's okay. We'll drive you," a smirk set in when I realized what was happening.
"Where?"
"Home."
Hope looked at Landon also smiling "Why the change of heart?" I knew Landon couldn't believe what he was hearing which made me feel happier for him. "Call it a gut feeling. Or you could just add it to the list of things I don't know," Landon glanced at me with a giddy grin and I held my hand out for a high five. He slapped my hand the smile never leaving his face.
By night time we made it to school. I trudged into the school tiredly Rafael walked up to me and suddenly flashes of the nightmare from the last time I actually slept flooded my vision. "Hey you okay?" his voice pulled me out of my thoughts I looked up at him and nodded quickly. "Hey guess who's here," his lips curled into a grin "Landon," my eyebrows furrowed, surprised by how he already knew. "I already told him hi," I nodded the surprise wearing off quickly.
"So I actually have a surprise," I could feel my eyebrows fly up my forehead happily. It was a common fact at this school that I loved surprises. He pulled a movie from behind us back, except for it wasn't a movie it was dvd with 1st and second season of teenage mutant ninja turtles "No way!" I yelled surprised gaining a few glances looking at me like I was insane. "I heard you had two beds in your room for sleepovers so.."
"Sleepover?"
"Sleepover!"
"Oh actually I have to talk to Dr. Saltzman. So you," I placed my hands on his chest "Go pack a bag of clothes and be ready I'll meet you at your dorm and then we'll head to mine," he nodded happily like he understood and slowly turned around before walking away.
โขโขโขโขโข
And that's about it, Which brings us to our next question.
"What do we do next?" me and Hope asked at the same time. "Jeez it's like you practiced," I rolled my eyes. "How am I supposed to know. I don't remembered doing anything you two just said ,"I sighed "You'll know because you always know," Hope reassured "Because your a good headmaster," I added "Inspite of all of the things that we've said," Hope finished and Dr. Saltzman chuckled. "Well, in that case I think the only thing we should be asking ourselves is: Why do you two remember?"
"I don't know," Hope turned to me "If Hope don't know then I definitely don't know, but I can't imagine that it's good," Dr. Saltzman chuckled softly. "I can lie to Landon about all this, but I'm sorry I can't lie to you," I nodded "Cause we really need your help," I just kept nodding when I remembered "Speaking of, there's one more thing," Hope looked at me and nodded remembering. She stood up and turned around walking over to her bag, she pulled out the urn and set it on Dr. Saltzman's desk.
"I take it that's the urn I don't remember," I nodded "Yup," I replied popping the p. "Yeah, we figured it was better to have it here than leave it laying around," I watched Dr. Saltzman waiting for an answer. "So what happens now?" I noticed a glow and looked down at the urn that was starting to glow red.
"I think we're about to find out."
Bแบกn ฤang ฤแปc truyแปn trรชn: AzTruyen.Top