Chapter 27
They ate heartily before heading out as the dawn burned a light fog from the air. Dylan’s mamaw had come down carrying one of the books from the study and pointed out information about the gate.
“You know, I think Homer wanted you to seal it forever. Why else would he not put any of this in the smaller journal?”
Dylan had shrugged at the question, but as they ventured into the forest between Homer’s house and hers, it nagged at the back of his mind. Why hadn’t Homer told him more about the gate? He sighed, realizing that while he had every right to be frustrated with the old bastard, it did no good. Just like his mother’s misplaced rage.
Gabriel came up beside him. “Do you have any idea where this thing is? Or what it looks like?”
Dylan shook his head as they kept walking. “No Gabe. I just know it’s somewhere on the property. If I had to guess, it’s pretty close to the property line, but not too close.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “Why do you say that?”
Dylan chuckled. “Assuming we’ve gotten any truth to this point, from what mamaw told me, it was always our ancestor’s intent for the two properties to be joined. The lots are similar in size and shape, with this one being just a bit larger. I’m betting it would be right in the middle of the joined properties.”
Gabriel smiled and shrugged. “Makes sense to me. With the property being as narrow…”
Dylan interrupted him. “The property’s wider than it looks. From the maps mamaw showed me, the two properties make a big squarish plot together. Where Homer’s house and her house are at opposing corners. The rest is forest. The map didn’t show the gate for whatever reason.”
“So, you’re saying we could get to where you’re guessing and maybe still be as far away from it as we are now?”
Dylan blushed. “I think it’s a little more than an educated guess.”
“Is that why you didn’t want them to come too?”
Dylan smiled and gave a brief nod and stopped. He glanced behind them to make sure his mother wasn’t too close. He kept his voice low. “When I was a kid, she used to go to the spot where the accident was supposedly at all the time. One thing I am sure of now is that Homer may not have been responsible for Dad’s death, but he did cover up what happened.”
Gabriel’s eyes widened. “You mean he moved the bodies?”
Dylan nodded and took a step forward. “And she’s following us to the spot where he really died. I’m not sure if she realizes that yet. But I’m sure she will.” He felt Gabriel place a hand on his shoulder.
“Dylan? Is that a clearing over there?”
Dylan nodded and headed to where the trees thinned out. Beyond the trees, he could make out low grass and a small steep hill in the morning sun. He couldn’t see the top of the hill, but he was certain they were close. “Come on, Gabe.” He looked back to make sure his mother saw the change in direction.
Gabriel followed close behind. “You’re worried she’s going to have a breakdown when she realizes it.”
Dylan froze as they emerged from the tree line. He wasn’t just worried about his mother having an emotional reaction now. He knew she would. Staring at the large barren area at the foot of the hill, he knew that Homer had done something , trying to figure out who had killed his son. He didn’t know what it was, but it was visible to anyone who saw it, and Dylan prayed that no one else could feel the magic wafting off of it, carrying the pain and anguish Homer felt when he discovered the bodies. The rage had marked the earth where they stood. Dylan could almost see what Homer saw. He knew he was feeling what Homer felt. His legs threatened to collapse beneath him. His mother’s wail pulled him from Homer’s pain. Now he felt hers, too. His concern for her pulled on strength he didn’t know he had as he walked over to her to comfort her. He placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn’t move.
“Dylan, you need to get up there. This has to be the spot.” His Mamaw’s voice seemed a thousand miles away. “We’ll stay down here with her. Take Gabriel with you.”
He nodded and turned. Gabriel was closer and put an arm around him. He was whispering words that Dylan couldn’t hear. A maddening buzz filled his ears, and it was coming from the top of the hill.
As they crested it, a stone circle came into view. At the center was an archway, covered in symbols that reminded him of the papers his grandmother had shown him.
“Dylan, is that it?”
He nodded, unsure how he’d heard the words over the maddening buzz. They approached slowly. As they neared the circle, little slits appeared, growing wider like eyeballs floating in front of them. Dylan threw his hand up to stop Gabriel. Someone else was there, or was trying to get there. These reminded him of smaller versions of the rift he’d seen in his vision. They were the source of the buzzing sound.
“Gabe. Do you hear that noise?”
“No. I don’t hear anything. Do you see that shit in front of us?”
Dylan nodded and understood he wasn’t hallucinating. Gabriel could see it. He also knew someone was watching them from the other side. He couldn’t see the other side through them, but he could feel eyes on him, sense their anger. Their fear. He leaned in to whisper to Gabriel, not wanting anyone on the other side to hear him.
“Gabe, don’t act like you’re doing anything, but concentrate on those. Picture them closing in your mind. Reach out and seal them if you can.”
Dylan watched Gabriel close his eyes. The sound faded, followed by a scream as the last of the rifts closed, only to be replaced by his mother’s weeping in the distance.