For Always (book one)

Chapter 21: Interruptions

Malyn

As soon as we got in the car, Grandmama called Max. She asked if he'd ever heard of a place called Darkness or things called Takers and told him how the dead people were gone and about the old lady. Of course, being the walking book of knowledge on anything weird, he had.

I listened to her side of the conversation half the way home, trying to make sense out of it, when my phone rang. My heart sank when I saw who it was, but I thought I might as well answer it and get it over with.

"Hey, Beth, what's up?"

"Did you really break up with Jace?"

"Yeah. Well, I tried to, anyway."

"Why? What happened?" She didn't sound mad, which was a relief.

"It's complicated. I'll explain when I see you again." Then I had a thought. "I am gonna see you again, right?"

"Why wouldn't you see me again?"

"I thought you might be mad," I admitted.

"Why, lord, no. A little surprised, but not mad. I couldn't care less who Jace dates. It is nice when I like the girl, though. But when I don't, I just try to run her off, which usually works. Who wants to deal with a crazy sister?"

I laughed. "That makes me feel better. You're the only friend I've got here, so I'd hate to lose you."

"You're stuck with me, girl. But it's gonna be weird when we're all together, especially when he gets another girlfriend."

"I hope not." The thought of Jace having another girlfriend turned my stomach. Then I heard Grandmama tell Max bye. "Hey, can I call you back?"

"Sure. Holler at me later."

"Ok, bye." I turned toward Grandmama. "So, what did he say?"

"Ya don't wanna know."

"Why? Is it that bad?"

"Well, after what that lady in the cemetery shared with me, I had a bad feelin'. Max just confirmed it."

I looked at her, not really knowing what to say. "Should we worry?"

"No, we're alive."

"Beau?"

She looked at me with a concerned look. "We're gonna have to learn more. We can Google it when we get home, see if it pulls up anything. Max is gonna do some research, too. Ya know this sorta thing's right up his alley."

I barely heard anything she said. All I kept thinking about was Beau. I didn't know what was going on, but whatever it was it involved him. I was anxious to talk to him, reassure myself he was okay, so I was glad when we made it home but was surprised to see all the lights out. Usually, he turned them on for us. Then panic set in.

"Beau."

I took off into the house with Grandmama right behind me. "Malyn, be careful. We don't know what may be here."

This made me slow down, especially when I opened the door to a very dark house. "Where is he?" I whispered to Grandmama as I started turning lights on. "Should I yell for him?"

"BEAU? ARE YA HERE?" Grandmama shouted.

"Guess that's a yes," I said sarcastically after she about busted my eardrums. He wasn't in the house, so I went out back, where I saw his clothes laying on the table. "BEAU?" Nothing. "Oh, no," I whispered, thinking the worst.

"Now, Malyn, I'm sure he's here somewhere."

"Then why ain't he answering? If he was here, he wouldn't just ignore us." Then I saw something coming up the yard and grabbed Grandmama's arm, pulling her close to my side. "Can you see that?"