Devour

Chapter 20 - Dax

Miss Cora is inside talking with Patch. He was an absolute idiot on the ride home, attempting to escape the car, poking the driver, causing our dad to eventually restrain him. Then our dad let his guard down and was chatting with Nel and Patch bit him and tried to crawl out the window. 

And our dad did let them tase him then. Patch sobbed about that the whole way home and none of us would even comfort him because he was irritating everyone. Miss Cora told us he was going through an emotional time meeting his mum and to be nice to him and understanding. She said that after she tased him for the second time because he was biting our dad repeatedly and our dad said if she didn't do something he would and he didn't want to hurt him. She tased him on like the lowest possible thingy but Patch still spent the rest of the time sobbing into my coat and refusing to talk to anyone.

Now Miss Cora is inside having an emotional talk with him. Our dad is supervising everyone else doing their chores and homework for the day. It's Saturday so we just have reading. I'm sure Emma's already done it and is helping him.

My chore of the day is to go and check Doorstop's fencing, and brush her. I didn't get to pick but I'm sure my dad gave me that one because I was helping with Patch being a moron and he knows I like my quiet.

These days more than others.

I know I shouldn't keep thinking about Rose because she's gone. And there's nothing I can do. It's over we did all we could and they caught who did do it. And I know it's stupid but I feel like she's different from my parents. Maybe because she was so young or something I don't know but----with her it's different. With her---it feels like she didn't leave properly. Like somehow I know she's not at rest.

I close my eyes and focus on a memory of her. One of the times we talked in the comic shop.

"Do you ever get to go to London?" Rose asked, pretending to look at comics but instead looking through her thick dark lashes at me.

"No---no I don't, not now. When I get older I will," I said, awkwardly, glancing at Patch to make sure he wasn't stealing stuff. But he was being a good wingman and just loitering.

"When you do, you have to go to Hoodoo's Arcade, it's fantastic. They have pinball," she says.

"What's that?" I asked, smiling a little because even though I knew I'd never be able to go I'd like to hear her describe it.

"It's the best. You operate levers to direct a little silver ball through gates and obstacles, to complete a quest," she said, "The absolute best one, is the Black Knight."

"What do you do? Defeat him?" I ask, frowning.

"Yes, it was the first two level pinball machine---it's fantastic.-----let me tell you my secret---the only way to win. You have to let the Black Knight claim your balls---two of them, you get three---then you can complete all the other quests with your one, and then release the other two---and through immense skill, you operate all three at one, and with all three you can defeat him," Rose said, her voice low and mysterious.

"I'll try to go someday," I said.

"Tell me when you go to London, I'll meet you," she says, "I'll teach you how to play."

"It wouldn't be any fun, even I could move one of those light little balls and cheat," Patch said, "I'd win every time."

"You would think that would work, but it wouldn't, the ball has to roll over the traps to set them off. And like I said, it has to claim your balls, the only way to win, is through strategy," Rose said, and then she reached out and brushed my hand as we reached for the same comic.

I want so badly to reach out and hold that hand.

"What are you doing?" I am awoken by Miss Cora's voice.

"What---nothing," I say, looking at my hand. There's a spot of blood on it. My nose is bleeding. And I taste blood in my mouth.

"You sure you're okay?" she asks, leaning on the fence.

"Yeah---yeah I was just----trying to mind read, didn't work," I say, shrugging.

"Welcome to my world," Patch said, hopping up on the fence next to me.

"Don't strain yourself, it's good to practice though," Miss Cora says, wiping my face gently.

"Why'd you bring him?" I ask.

"He's apologizing for being a bloody idiot," Miss Cora says.

"I'm sorry I kicked you eight times and pulled your hair," Patch says, extending a hand, "Friends again?"