by R. J. Ladon
Kragnor closed the magazine. Reading about humans was a waste of time. He had studied humans for centuries. Humans are confusing, plain, and simple. No book, not even one named People, would shed any light.
A knock rattled Kevin’s bedroom door. “Kevin? It’s late. You should be sleeping.” It was the Sorceress. She was checking on Kevin, that implied that Kevin was young. How young? What is the relationship between Sorceress and Kevin? Kragnor frowned. Too much was unknown.
Kragnor grunted noncommittally. He heard Sorceress’s footsteps on the stairs. She was probably going to bed. He hoped she wouldn’t return.
A stack of twelve yellow-edged books was under the desk. Kragnor reached under and looked at one. National Geographic. There were animals and cities that Kragnor had never seen. These were stories worth reading.
He set the stack of books beside him and looked at the other magazines on the floor. Most were about humans and the silly games they played. Some wore armor, and others wore almost nothing. But they all chased a ball or threw a ball or hit a ball. Kragnor chuckled.
He discovered a thin, more delicate book than People filled with drawings of humans that seemed to be fighting evil. The word evildoer was one of the words the man said. Usually followed by the word sock or pow. The man in the tight black suit looked like an akitu, but he called himself Batman. How odd. It seemed as if akitu disappeared from the knowledge of humans but were still in their collective memories. Only to be discovered when creating art or stories. Kragnor smiled. So, we are not dead to the human world. He liked Batman. He could relate to his belief in protecting the innocent.
There were other similar thin books that Kragnor looked at, but only “Batman” and the yellow-edged National Geographic caught his eye. The yellow magazines had fantastic maps and enchanting stories that seemed as if they were real. Some stories Kragnor wanted to be accurate, others were heartbreaking, and he hoped they were just stories.
After he looked at the third yellow magazine, he found an article and map of Paris. A city that he felt was his home. But the pictures showed images that were not familiar. The tall metal tower was not there when he was last awake. Understandably, humans would improve upon the city, but now it seemed foreign. Paris was not his home any more than this house.
Kragnor learned about the world’s politics, wars, art, music, animals, cities, and so much more. He was surprised at how much he could learn by reading. This was easier than trying to find information by talking to others. So much had happened since his last emergence on the planet. He didn’t find any information about his people, making him wonder if he was the last.
Eventually, Kragnor stopped reading and looked at the beautiful pictures in the magazines. The images were better than any painting from any master that he had ever seen. They allowed him to experience the location in ways he never could before. The artist was a genius. How did they capture the movement and the lifelike aspect of these people, places, and animals?
As dawn approached, Kragnor left more questions for Kevin:
Do you know how we came to share a body?
I need to find others like me. Can you help?
I would enjoy more books with yellow edges.
Are there any gardens nearby?
Kragnor climbed the attic stairs and curled into the pile of familiar objects.
Chapter 34
K evin opened his eyes to the familiar sights and uncomfortable lumps of Kragnor’s nest. He smiled, pleased that he wasn’t three counties away in a cornfield. Kevin poked at his chest, noticing the bruises seemed to have disappeared overnight, but the tenderness was still in the muscle. He ran to his bedroom and checked the notebook.
“What the hell is an akitu? Find more akitu? And gardens?” Kevin tapped his bottom lip. “This Kragnor can’t be much of a monster if he enjoys National Geographic and wants to visit gardens. Grandma was right. Kragnor is not evil.” He sighed, feeling happier.
Noticing the clock, Kevin realized he would be late to school, no matter what he did today. He grabbed his book bag and went to the kitchen for breakfast. Grandma had a plate with pancakes on the table, and they were still warm. “How did you know when I would be downstairs?”
“You seem to get up at the same time every morning.” Grandma shrugged. “Like your father.”
Kevin poured the syrup over the short stack. “Ruby,” he said between bites. “Do you know what an akitu is?
“Akitu?” She sipped at her coffee. “No, I don’t think so.” Grandma drummed her fingers on the mug. “What is it?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping you did.” He finished eating. “It doesn’t matter. I’m sure I’ll figure it out. I’ve got to hustle. I’m late for school again.”
“Well, you were up late last night. It’s no wonder you’re late in the morning.”
Kevin looked at her sideways.
“Don’t you remember me knocking on your door?”
“No, I don’t remember. I was probably half asleep.” He tossed the book bag over his shoulder and headed out the front door. His endurance improved so much he didn’t notice the run to school. Kevin walked into the office to get a truancy note for his first class.
“Really, Kevin?” Mrs. Renfro, one of the ladies in the office, scolded him. “Late two times in a month?”
Kevin shrugged. “Honestly, I have not been feeling like myself lately.” He chuckled, not expecting the secretaries to get his joke.
“Well, if you’re late again, it’ll be reported unless you can get a written excuse from a parent.”
“Can I write it for myself? I am eighteen.”
“I’ll take it up with the principal, but I bet he says no. Best, you be prepared.” Mrs. Renfro handed the note over the counter.
“I understand.” Kevin took the note and went directly to Psychology class. He opened the door, handed the letter to Mrs. Anderson, and walked to his seat. Tony’s chair was empty. If the day went the way he wanted, Tony would be absent all day.
After his first class, Annie caught Kevin in the hall. “Kevin baby, I miss you.” She batted her exaggerated eyelashes at him. “I don’t know why I gave you up for that awful Tony.” She pouted, looking pathetic.
“Why are you playing these games? It’s disgusting.” Kevin turned away from her. He was uncertain why he even liked her in the first place.
Annie bobbed next to him in the hall, following close, hanging on him. Kevin felt a chill roll up his spine. If anything in this world is evil, it’s her. He stopped and let her take a few steps without him, hoping she would continue. She turned and looked at him through her lashes, trying to be sweet.
“What do you want, Annie?” Kevin wanted her to go away.
“I want you, Kevin. I always have.” She caressed his cheek. “Wasn’t it me who asked you for a date?”
“That’s right. You did. I forgot.”
“I never forget.” Annie caressed the crystal charm on her necklace. “I always get what I want.” She grabbed Kevin’s shirt and pulled him toward the lockers out of the stream of students. “And right now, I want you.” She leaned against a locker, reached behind his neck, and pulled him into a kiss.
Kevin smelled strawberries, but it was an off smell like they had gone rotten. He pulled away from her. “I don’t want you. You’re poison.”
Her smile fell, and her eyes flashed over his shoulder.
Kevin noticed her distraction. He pivoted to the left to face whoever was behind him.
Tony smacked Annie with his offhand, bouncing her head off a locker. She grabbed her bloody lip and glared at Kevin.
Kevin looked from Annie to Tony. “What the hell?” Tony’s right arm was in a cast and sling. How did he break his arm?
“What’s wrong, Kevin?” Tony snarled. “Why can’t you love Annie like the rest of us? Do you need to learn by force?” He looked around the hall. Mr. O was only feet away. “You’re lucky.” He pulled a blade from the sling he wore. “Since you won’t take a punch, we’ll hav
e to try steel.”
Vin and Chad were behind Tony. They laughed and pointed at Kevin.
Annie placed her hand on Tony. “Not here,” she hissed.
Tony helped Annie wipe off the blood on her lip. He put his arm around Annie’s waist, and they disappeared around a corner.
Chapter 35
M egan turned down the hallway and saw Tony, Annie, Vin, and Chad by her locker. Her eyes narrowed. What are those idiots doing now? They moved away. Good. She made it through the crowd and saw Kevin. Of course, it seems that the idiots have found someone to play with. Or torture. She rolled her eyes.
“Kevin, can you move? I need to get into my locker.”
“Oh, yeah, sure.” Kevin moved, his eyes still on Tony and friends. “I still can’t find that stone.” He turned to look at her.
Megan rifled through her organized locker. “If your room is messy, you may never find it.” She adjusted the books in her arms and closed the door.
“I think maybe Annie stole the stone.” Kevin wrung his hands. “Or maybe she had Tony steal it for her.”
“What? Those ding-bats?” Megan studied Kevin, pleased to see that his Annie-delusions seemed to have passed. “They’d only use it to break a window.”
Kevin laughed nervously. “Yea, you’re probably right. Still, I think it might be gone forever.” He moved away from her locker, walking to his next class.
Megan followed. Her class was in the same direction. “When was the last time you saw it?”
“Here at school.” Kevin furrowed his forehead as if he were trying to remember.
“Well, yea, that’s when you showed me. But you took it home, right?”
He nodded. “I kept it in my pocket for the day. I walked Annie home.” He shook his head. “Seems like the memory is muddy.” He frowned. “Annie wanted me to stay at her house, but I needed to check on Grandma Ruby. So, I went home.” He paused. “I don’t remember taking it out of my pocket.”
“So, is it in your pants pocket?” Megan asked. “Maybe in the laundry hamper?”
“No, I used it to help Ruby cast a sp...” Kevin stopped in the middle of the hallway. “Oh, shit. Oh shit.” He looked at his hand in horror. He continued to stare, unmoving.
“Kevin?” He didn’t respond. She snapped her fingers in front of his face. “What is wrong with you?”
Kevin blinked, surprised. He grabbed Megan’s hand. “I think I know what happened to the stone.”
Megan tilted her head. “What?”
“I can’t tell you.” Kevin seemed to realize he was still holding Megan’s hand. He let go and seemed to deflate before her eyes. “No one would believe me.”
The bell rang.
“Shit,” Kevin said, then ran off to class.
Megan entered the Chemistry classroom a few feet away. What the hell was that all about. He can’t tell anyone. No one would believe him. What could be so embarrassing that he couldn’t say or admit to? Megan took her seat and opened the Chemistry textbook on her laptop. Boys were so confusing. Her feelings were equally perplexing. Why was she even thinking about him? Megan squeaked out of frustration. Her classmates turned to look at her.
She dropped her head to her desk. But still, Kevin would not leave her thoughts.
Chapter 36
T he day flew by like a whirlwind. Kevin couldn’t remember what class he went to or even if he ate lunch. Occasionally, he would poke his hand, expecting, hoping the stone would reemerge from his flesh, like some grotesque pimple.
Kevin walked home, lost in thought. He didn’t notice the cars pass or even which direction he took. He stopped on the wooden bridge that went over Miller’s Pond and overlooked the children’s play area.
Koi glided through the water, their white and orange markings vibrant against the pond's deep brownish-green. Kevin squatted and looked at his reflection. The fish moved and traded spaces. Their quick movements blurred their edges, looking more like a mass of wriggling tentacles than many individual fish. He felt that way. Where did he end? Where did Kragnor begin? Was there a difference?
“Hello, Kevin” Annie leaned over him.
Startled, Kevin teetered in his squatted position, looking up. “What are you doing?” he asked.
“Making a statement. No one leaves me. Ever.” Annie’s eyes narrowed then moved to the parents and children in the park. “It’s too bad they’re so far away.”
Something hard and heavy hit the back of Kevin’s head. He wobbled and fell. The water stuck his body with an electric cold. He flailed his arms and legs then sucked in a deep breath before going underwater.
He felt heavy and cold. His arms and legs didn’t move with enough speed or coordination to swim. The bottom of the pond enveloped his feet with sand, silt, and seaweed. Koi swam in circles above him. The shadow of the bridge lay behind. Kevin clamped his mouth shut, hoping he had enough air.
He used his arms to stabilize, then took a step forward. He took another and another, eventually breaking to the surface. He gasped for air then realized he was alright. He didn’t need it. He continued climbing out of the pond.
“Oh, my. We thought you drowned.” A woman came into the pond, hip deep, to help Kevin. She took his arm over her shoulder. “You sure are heavy.”
“Wow, you were under the water for an hour,” said a young boy.
“That’s impossible,” Kevin said.
“It sure seemed like a long time,” the woman said, helping him settle on the ground. “I saw the woman who hit and pushed you.” She patted Kevin on the shoulder. “When the police arrive, I’ll let them know.”
“Annie.”
“Is that her name?” The woman grumbled, “bitch” under her breath.
“I need to go.” Kevin stood.
“The police will be here any minute. They’ll want a statement.”
“I need to go.” Kevin ran, blindly following instinct. He rushed into the house, smacking the door against the wall. Johnny sat on the couch next to Ruby.
“What the hell happened to you?” Johnny asked, getting to his feet.
“Are you alright?” Grandma Ruby moved toward Kevin, but Johnny reached his side first.
“Annie tried to kill me.” Kevin choked, surprised that tears rolled down his face. He fell to his knees, realizing for the first time that mud covered his clothes, and his shoes were missing.
Kevin blubbered a recount. Johnny helped him out of his muddy jeans, then guided him into the bathroom for a shower.
He was clean, in fresh clothes, and a mug of hot cocoa warmed his hands. He felt somewhat normal. Johnny sat across from him at the small kitchen table. “Did she really say, no one ever leaves me?”
Kevin nodded, staring into the brown drink.
“Did she have a lucky charm or piece of jewelry she wore all the time?”
Kevin nodded.
Grandma Ruby rubbed Kevin’s shoulders. “Please stop bothering him. He’s been through hell.”
Johnny threw up his hands, stood, and paced the kitchen. “If I can’t get a statement from him, I have to take him to the police. They know he was thrown into that pond. They know he came home. And they know it was Annie. What they don’t have is a statement and charges against her.”
“How would they know all that?” Grandma crossed her arms.
“It’s a small town, Ruby.”
Kevin sighed. “There were a lot of kids and parents at the pond. Plenty of people to give a statement.” He looked at Johnny. “Why would the police care if Annie had a charm?”
Johnny stopped pacing. “They wouldn’t. The company I work for, the AKG, is interested.” He sighed and knelt next to Kevin. “I was placed in this town to find that charm. But when the church was attacked and a demon was spotted, I got distracted. I should have stayed on target. Then you wouldn’t have gotten hurt. It’s my fault.”
“It’s not a charm, is it?” Grandma stood with her hands on her hips.
“To the casual observer, it is.” Johnny shrugged.
“To the AKG, it’s a danger to society.”
“What does it do?” Grandma Ruby’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” Johnny looked from Kevin to Ruby. “Fine, it has limited mind control.”
“Really?” Grandma blinked furiously then folded her arms.
“Johnny’s right,” Kevin said, swirling the cocoa. “The day after I saw Benny, I knew what the charm was, or at least I suspected she had control over me like she controlled Tony. But it was broken. Because it didn’t work anymore.”
“Damn it, Kevin, I asked you to let me know if you knew of anything strange.” Johnny threw up his hands. “From the day I met you, I had a feeling you were under some enchantment. Even now, there is something…”
“I was too busy trying to figure out if I was going crazy. Besides, I thought you had your strange with the church attack.” Kevin frowned. “Wait a minute? Is that why you got involved with Ruby? Were you checking to see if she was controlling me?”
Grandma ruffled Kevin’s hair. “You’re partially right. He knows I’m a witch. We talked, and he decided that I’m harmless. Me? Harmless?” She laughed, placing her hand on her chest, looking fondly at Johnny.
Johnny didn’t appear amused. “I still need a statement from Kevin, or I need to bring him in to give one.” He turned the video on his phone and pointed it at Kevin.
“All right. I want to press charges. Annie tried to kill me. She knew exactly what she was doing. It was no accident.”
“I see you’re not influenced by her anymore.” Johnny turned off his phone.
“No, like I said, after Benny, I noticed something wrong with her. She looks wrong; she smells wrong. I can’t explain it.”
