I sit up. “It’s not like you created the disease and unleashed it on us.”
“You know how helpless you felt when they forced you back?”
Kirk’s haunted expression gives me the chills.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Multiply that by about a hundred.” Shoving his hands in his pockets he gets a faraway expression. “I’ll leave you to your painting now.”
He drifts away like a spirit not bound to our plane. Fascinated by his complexity, I ponder his strange demeanor as he ambles away.
Getting to my feet, I finish my setup and move inside to fill a mason jar with water and drag one of the wooden food trays out to keep things within reach. Mixing my paints, I study the blank canvas.
I grab a large brush and go in with green. A large tree forms. Allowing my subconscious to take over, I glide the paint across the canvas. I pause to swap out brushes and colors, growing hyper-focused.
When my wrists begin to cramp, I pause and become aware of the sun setting. Stunned by the hours that have passed, I shake out my hands.
The rectangle has a drawing of Fenrir. The great wolf with His burning red on-black eyes seem to peer out from the canvas from the great wolf’s spot in the crater on the volcanic rock-laden island I’d seen before.
Chained down, he has bright yellow lines that extend to the five people I’d painted on the perimeter of the painting.
“It’s us,” I whisper. “How are we connected to you?” My arm burns.
I shove the arm of my dress up, revealing a glowing gold triangle.
“Did you just mark me?”
The pain recedes and I feel the rightness of the words. A breeze blows in and caresses my face.
I tilt my head up and hear whispers. Closing my eyes, I concentrate and the voices grow louder.
The answers are in the book. Find the passageway. I remember the hidden section beneath our old home from my dream. Excited, I rush into the house.
“What happened?” Cadoc jumps off the couch instantly ready to charge to the rescue.
“We’re going on a field trip as soon as the sun sets boys and girls. I received a message.”
“Where are we going?” Bo throws his controller onto the couch.
“We’re going to the site of my old home.”
“Why?” Fell’s brow wrinkles.
“To get something we need to make sense of what’s going on.”
“And you’re sure it’s at the old place?” Cadoc asks.
“Yes.” I nod seeing Papa in my mind’s eyes and hearing the voice on the wind.
“Sounds like we need to dig out our black gear.” Kirk marks his book before setting it on the table.
“Are you sure this a good idea? The place has to be dangerous,” Fell says.
I narrow my eyes. “Then you can stay.”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” Fell stutters.
“We’re all going to be with her. Princess will be fine.” Bo scowls.
“That’s not her name,” Fell snaps.
“It’s what I call her.” Bo withdraws his gold lighter, and repeatedly flips the cap, open and closed.
“What the hell is going on with you, Fell?” I ask.
“You’re not the only one who’s changed while you’ve been gone.”
“So you weren’t hiding away up on your mountain?” I ask.
His mouth clamps shut. I grind my teeth.
“Nothing to say now?” I taunt.
“Back off.” Fell snarls.
“When it’s you, it’s different. Why?” I push past Cadoc and get into his face. Fell’s eyes flash to Amber.
Cadoc shoves him back.
