Sirens (Theo Raeken) [1]

Eichen

I scour The Dread Doctors again. I have to be missing something. I've read through it, and even highlighted any parts that seem vaguely helpful, but nothing seems to make any more sense than before.

I get on my computer and search up the author's name. Nothing. Not even results about The Dread Doctors.

I decide to go back to the start. I analyse every piece of the cover and the publishing information page. I flick to the next page. Something catches my eye.

Dedicated to Gabriel Valack.

I search up the name. A few results come up, but it's the first one which catches my attention. I click on the link.

Gabriel Valack was admitted to mental facility, Eichen House, June 24th in 2002. His infamous act of drilling a hole in the middle of his forehead to give him a supposed third eye means that he remains in solitary confinement at the facility. His clinical disorders include psychopathic tendencies and, previously, hallucinations.

I call up Lydia. After a few rings, she answers. I tell her about my recent findings, but she doesn't seem surprised. "Scott, Kira, Stiles and I are on our way there right now," she says. That officially makes me sound like the slowest person in the world.

"I'll be there soon," I tell her and hang up before she has a chance to respond with a refusal.

"Mom, I'm going out with my friends," I scream down the hall.

My mom's car is running again, so I can use my own. I start up the engine and turn on the radio and heater. Embarrassingly enough, I sing along to all the pop songs that come on. I cruise along the empty roads at a high speed.

There's something on the road, I notice suddenly. No, not something, someone. Someone else pulls the person back as I swerve out of the way, narrowly missing a tree and plunge into the dark forest. I hit reverse and slam my foot on the pedal. Something is blocking it.

I open the car door and the chill hits me hard. I climb up the slope to see if the person is alright. My breath is a vapour as I approach the person.

As I get closer, I realise I know the person. Malia lies on the ground as Theo shields her body with his own. I ignore the pang of jealousy that hits me and call out to them. "Malia, are you alright?" I ask, my voice strained. "What were you doing back there?"

She looks up at Theo and then back down at her hands. She doesn't reply. "I was giving her a driving lesson," Theo says. "I think it was something to do with the car crash she was in."

I kneel down. "Are you going to be able to get her home okay?" I ask Theo.

He props her up straight, but she still looks like she's about to faint or have a mental breakdown. I point behind me with my thumb in the vague direction of my car. "I have to go," I say. "The others are waiting for me at Eichen House."

"Do you need help with your car?" Theo asks.

I'm gripping my phone so hard that my knuckles are turning white, but I remain casual when I answer. "Uh, no, I can do it myself," I say. I start walking away. "But thank you," I say over my shoulder.

It takes me a few minutes to find my car amidst the dark shadows of the forest. I try reversing again, but to no avail of getting me out of there. I sigh and get out of the car. I turn my phone's flashlight on and bend down, looking around the tyres.

I groan to myself when I see the problem. My tyres are stuck in dark, thick mud. I don't think I can get it out. I put my hands against the back and try with all my strength to push it out. It doesn't move even the slightest bit.