How To Kill a Songbird

Chapter 46: A Letter, A Blade, and A Bold Plan

"Ash what is it?" asked Morgan when she saw my face go pale.

"Harlow wants to do a trade," I sighed as I turned to her with my head. "He wants the blood blade and in return, he will let Soph go."

"That sounds way too easy," Gentry interjected. "I mean, he is thinking we are boneheaded stupid that believe everything he tells us. The letter was clearly gaslighting you, MacArthur."

He found an Easy button somewhere and hit it. I don't know why the Airbnb had the Staples Easy button, but it did.

"Gentry!" I sighed a little.

"You know I am the lord of the memes," Gentry laughed a little.

"He is right though, Ash," sighed Morgan. "This is a little too easy. Nothing is ever that easy when it comes to him. There is no guarantee that he will keep his word. Plus, that just sounds like us giving him the tools to kill you both before the eclipse."

"I didn't tell you the second part M," I sighed. "He also wants me."

Morgan's face fell at the fact I would have to give myself up. She stepped back and let me go. Her eyes were wide. Her face said it all. She didn't like it one bit. She looked at me with a serious expression like I was lying to her.

"Ash, are you fucking kidding me? If this is some elaborate prank, this isn't funny," she gasped.

I sighed as I handed it to her, "I wish."

She looked over the note and then looked at me, "Don't do it. He will kill you! He won't just give her back!"

"If I don't he will kill Soph," I pointed out. "We don't have the dagger and he said the sacrifice will happen at the eclipse today. I will not go quietly into the night Morgan. I have come too far. We all have."

I sighed as I leaned on the chair. My hands were clutching it in a white-knuckled grip. I wasn't going to give myself up that easily. He thinks I am weak for doing such a thing. I wasn't sure what else I could do at this point as we were running out of time.

I was trying to think here. I knew that if I did this it might be a bad idea, but even if I get the blade and let the clock run out, Harlow is still going to kill Soph. If I sneak into where the altar is to break the damn thing, there is the risk I will be killed and Soph.

"What if we trap him?" asked Gentry. "He thinks you wouldn't catch on to the scam. We can use that to our advantage."

He was right. Even in an ideal situation that blade needed to be destroyed. Plus, even if the blade wasn't procured, Soph will die. If I go there and do what he says, I can buy us some time to fix this mess and all of us come out of this in one piece. I can save all of us. I can save Soph. He will be there so it's not like I can sneak up and break it behind his back. It even needs to be under the bloody sun that turned into an eclipse. So, for this to work in our favor, I have to do what he says for now. It's our only shot. It's just incredibly risky.

"Don't look at me like that," I sighed a little as I put my hands on my hips. "I was basically on acid yesterday and things happened to me that I cannot explain. I am not crazy contrary to popular belief."

"I need you two boys to break into the church and steal holy water. I need three vials for this plan. We are going to play 'the uno reverse card' on Harlow's trap for me. I will be going in alone to make it look real. You three need to start following me three minutes behind me. Gentry and Johnson, you need to get as close as you can to the altar. I will buy us as much time as I can to make sure that Baal's fourth sign is activated."

"You are going to let a forest fire happen?" asked Morgan. "Babe, no, this isn't a good idea."

"How else are we going to break the blade under a blood-red sun that leads into a solar eclipse and get Soph back all at the same time? We can't just sneak by him you know?" I sighed. "Plus, he might try to possess me again. You said there was a backdoor, but you can access that, too. Hopefully, it will free Soph as well. Boys, go get the holy water as Morgan and I go get the blade. Get dressed and eat something. When the sun turns red you need to stop what you are doing and come back here. Got it?"

They nodded as we finished getting ready and ate breakfast. Morgan and I took my car, and the boys took Morgan's. We started passing by businesses as the streets were littered with so many dead ravens and crows that I am pretty sure blood was all over the underside of my car and all over my tires. We headed towards the exit of town when we saw the dirt road. It ran parallel to the river Nate said. I turned down the road and continued the drive.

"Morgan," I said after several minutes of silence between us. Morgan was watching the scenery go by as she looked out the window. She made eye contact with me after I got her attention, "This is my crazy ass idea, and you are right. This can cause my death. So, I want you to promise me something."

"Don't you dare say it," Morgan snapped a little. "I am not making a promise like that. If so, you are not doing this."

"If I don't, we are going to be on the run for the rest of our lives," I sighed. "More kids are going to die, and Soph and I going to die either way you put it. Morgan, I want you to worry about yourself when the forest fire starts. Even if I am the last one in that forest as it goes up like a tinder box, I want you to care about your own well-being because this is my mess. I realize that I didn't die at fifteen now more than ever because I love you, but I can't have you dying on me trying to save my ass from the monster I have had a hand in creating."

"I'm not doing it," she huffed a little. "You are not going to do that because I want you to marry me eventually. I want a life with you."

I figured out that I was going to have to bribe her to get her to agree to this. I have just the thing she wanted most, and I was even considering it myself at this point. I am in love with her, and I see a future with her too.

"Fine," I sighed. "If we live through this and go on a couple dates, I will consider marrying you."

She stopped right then and there. She changed her tune quickly, "OK. I am trusting you then."

"That's my girl," I laughed. "I promise to come back from this alive."

"You better," smiled Morgan. "Or I will kick your ass."

"Baby," I laughed. "You can't kick my ass if I am dead."

We were both laughing at that. The energy changed in the car to a more hopeful vibe.

We finally reached the mine. Due to erosion, it was now part of the river. It was what I expected. It was a gaping hole in the side of the hill. The river was low. We had at least four hours to get in and get out.

The terrain had shifted over the years so it might get harder to do than I thought. I shut the car door and opened the trunk. Morgan got out, too, and met me there. I removed a false floorboard and took out a flashlight and a flare that was in my trunk. I also handed her a two-way radio.

"This is in case we get separated," I said as I handed it to her. "Just light the flare and I will find you."

"We won't," she smiled. "You are so fucking loud that I can hear you a mile away."

I scoffed to pretend I was offended, "How dare you!"

"It's true," she smiled. "Especially last night and the night before."

"Aww, shut up, you little tease," I laughed. I kissed her and held her hand as we entered the mineshaft. We went into the unknown.