The Airdrie Firefly

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Talyn and Everything After

Steven felt his stomach drop, a feeling not unlike going down a big drop on a roller coaster, but without the fun of the ride. "What?" was the only response he was able to muster.

Mr. Thorne let out a big sigh and sat back in his chair, considering Steven.

"It's time, Buster," Steven's dad chimed in. "Tell him."

Mr. Thorne nodded slightly, leaned forward in his chair, and rested his huge forearms on the table. He regarded Steven for another moment. "All right," he finally said with grim resolution in his voice. "You see, kiddo, ghouls are pretty much human with a few small differences."

"The way they transform," Steven said, his posture becoming very stiff.

"Sure," Mr. Thorne continued, "when they are under stress. Also the increased strength, speed, and senses that go with it.

"And the protein thing," Steven added.

"And the protein thing," Mr. Thorne agreed. "You've already seen what happens if they don't get enough."

Steven sat motionless and didn't so much as blink for fear he would miss something. "They turn into zombies."

"Which is a polite way to say they lose control, lose their senses. It's a terrible thing," Mr. Thorne said, his eyes looking distant and glassy for a moment.

"Yes, Georgia doesn't remember a thing that happened," Mr. Nessman said. "Only blacking out and waking up to the good doctor's help."

"Yes," Mr. Thorne said. "And then there is bonding."

"Bonding?" Steven asked, both excited and nervous to be learning something new.

"Yes," Mr. Thorne continued, "bonding. Ghouls usually go through the change in their late adolescence—between sixteen and twenty, maybe. Sometime after that, they bond."

"What's that?" Steven said.

Steven's dad interjected. "You know how certain animals, like blue jays, mate for life, and their lives revolve around their mates'? So much so that when one passes, the other will pass shortly after?"

Steven's posture became even more rigid. "Yeah," Steven said, dragging out the sound of each letter.

"Well," his dad said, "it's like that for ghouls."

Steven cocked his head to one side, pensively. Did Talyn bond? Steven thought. That would explain her being so distant lately. Maybe she was just spending her time with whomever she bonded to. But . . .

"But Talyn is only twelve," Steven said.

"Her mother's premature death seems to have . . . accelerated things a bit," Mr. Thorne said.

"So, Mrs. Thorne was bonded to you?" Steven said, regarding Mr. Thorne.

"Yep."

"And Dad, Mom is bonded to you?"

"Yes."

Steven sat back. What am I missing?

Steven lurched forward in a panic. "Did Talyn bond to someone who died? Is she dying?"