THE 33 KEYS: Key 2 - ANSWER THE CALL "Listen for that Perfect Beat"

CHAPTER 84: ANSWER THE CALL

"See?" The serpent returns. "That wasn't so bad."

"Only because he was nice to me."

"You know, they're not half as terrible as people make them out to be."

"Who was he?"

"Ask him all your questions. Not me," It looks at my cloak. "After all, you two are now one."

"Okay." I sigh. "What comes next?"

"Remember when your bus kept breaking down?"

"Yes, because nothing ever works in Leer Island."

"Why do you think that is?"

"What do you mean? Why nothing ever works?"

"Why'd your bus keep breaking down?"

"Hazel said it was because we need to be alone for some trips."

"Why didn't it break down today?"

"I don't know why. Maybe it knew I couldn't put off what I had to do for another day."

"Or maybe the time was right because you answered the call."

"The call to die? That's what you people sit around waiting for? To kill us instead of help?"

"You didn't answer our call to simply die, Mary?"

"Yes, pretty much. I took half bottle of pills, remember?"

"You wanted the pain to end, not your life."

"Yet, here we are."

"Yes, here we are. And right on time too."

"I beg to differ," I correct it. "Look! Let's not talk about this anymore. I'm past all that."

"Are you really?"

"All right. You could've come sooner. A lot of things would've been avoided. That's all."

"We only come when you've had enough. And not until you're truly ready for change."

"Like I said, let's change the topic. Tell me about the next throne."

"Its ruler doesn't like people who try to make the sun shine before it's good and ready."

"Oh," I say. "Whatever the hell that means."

"Perhaps we'll meet when you're done."