Chapter 14. Reed #3
I nod, and we all drift into a long silence.
I hadn’t considered that I’d need to say goodbye.
I thought this was a forever state. Now, suddenly, I only have twenty-two days to learn who killed us.
Twenty-two days to feel ready to leave my mom behind.
Leave Santiago and Kira. And if I’m not careful, I could lose some of the already brief time I have.
It doesn’t feel right. How can I possibly accomplish anything in the amount of time I have remaining here?
Eventually I clear my throat and look at Tessa. “We should probably get going. But … uh … Hal … do you think we could see your door before we go? We haven’t found one at our place, and maybe it would help to know what it looks like.”
Hal lets out a booming laugh. “It’s pretty hard to miss.
But I’ll show you on the way out. The kids are watching cartoons, so it’s a good moment to make your escape.
” Sure enough, I can hear the theme song from Paw Patrol playing faintly below.
“I bet my daughter’s making dinner while they’re glued to the screen.
It’s unlikely anyone will blow through you. Follow me.”
We pass through the attic door one by one, making our way downstairs. Instead of heading to the front entrance, Hal walks us past the kitchen, where his daughter is humming as she chops veggies for dinner. He finally stops outside a closed door.
“It’s the home office. I died inside from cardiac arrest.” His eyes are distant, lost to the memory. “My daughter doesn’t like to come down to this end of the house anymore.” Hal sighs, then, resolved at last, steps through.
Tessa follows nervously, with me close behind.
There, unmistakably, on the other side of the room, outlined in light, is a large door with a golden knob.
Above it, also etched in light, is a digital clock, the numbers ticking backward one by one.
Tessa and I stare, mouths agape. This is not the sort of thing you can miss.
This is huge. And glowing. Hal pulls out his own phone and flips it open it to reveal a countdown in perfect sync with the timer above the door.
“Why don’t we have one?” Tessa worries. “Did we not die in the correct way?” The perfectionist in her afraid we’re somehow doing it wrong. Like our grade is going to get docked.
“It’s in there somewhere,” Hal reassures us. “It’s a big house.”
“Whoa,” I gasp. “Look.” I hold up my hand, which has become translucent. “Uh … Hal … what’s happening here?”
“Don’t panic,” he says.
“Too late.” It’s creeping up my arm now. “You said we should worry when our solid form starts going.” I scan the room for somewhere to run, not knowing where or why, just that I need to do something.
“Hang on, son. It’s okay. I only meant that’s an early indication that it’s time to get back to your place for a recharge,” Hal advises. “You still have time.”
I can’t tear my eyes away from my fingers, which are coming in and out of focus.
“It’s a long walk back to the mansion. We need to get going.” Tessa tries to shake me out of this spell.
Shit. “Right.” I snap to attention.
“Slow down, you two. Let me leave you with one of the best things Jebediah ever taught me. You’re ghosts, remember?
You don’t have to abide by the laws of physics in this realm.
If you want to go somewhere, as long as you’ve seen it before and can call it up in your mind’s eye, you can vanish and reappear there.
Just hold tight to the image of where you want to go.
This little trick is going to get you out of a lot of tight pickles.
Think of a destination, focus your energy on that image, and …
poof. You may be spending your days in this netherworld, but no one said it couldn’t be fun. ” He winks at us.
“Should we try it?” Tessa asks.
“Let’s aim for the front gate.” I’m eager to return and get recharged. I still can’t see my fingers.
“Okay. The front gate it is.” She reaches out to grasp Hal’s hands. “It feels so good to know we’re not alone.”
“No. You’re not alone. You kids come back anytime. Happy to help.”
I close my eyes and imagine the wrought iron gate in front of the van der Born mansion.
Even with Paw Patrol blasting in the background, vegetables sizzling in the kitchen, and a firm pat from Hal on my shoulder.
I concentrate on the filigreed metal details, the vines winding their way through the iron bars, and the moss-covered path behind.
I expect to feel a breeze against my skin, or some sense of movement, but I don’t.
When I open my eyes to ask Hal how to do it again, I find the dark gate before me and our turreted mansion home up ahead.
The only sounds now are wind in the trees and the occasional frog croaking in the pond.
After checking to see all ten fingers have come back, thank God, I whip my head around to find standing beside me, grinning at the magic, the girl who steals my heart a little more each day.
Too bad I only have twenty-two of those left with her.