Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Thirty Two

     Link had felt helpless because of the strange things that happened to him. Without knowledge of what it was about or what it was for, it seemed so daunting for somebody without any experience. He felt that if he didn't have Rhett by his side, he wouldn't have anything to make him feel protected. 

     Tomorrow night, Terra was to become one of those killers. She won't be the same girl they'd met a few days prior, or who Link vaguely remembered from his past. Their obligation to do something as Rhett had so eloquently put it, was now. Link had been pulled out of his thoughts when he heard Rhett's phone.

     "Jessie, hey. I found Link," Rhett answered.

     "Mom's in the bathroom. Is he okay, dad?"  Rhett's heart froze in his chest and his eyes widened. Hearing Locke's voice and the question that came out of his mouth made his hackles raise. It appeared that Link's kids weren't the only ones questioning things.

     "Uh, he's okay bud. He just needed to get out to take a walk."

     "Lily called here crying. She's really scared." Rhett had no idea what to say. Link's vision narrowed as his heart ground to a screeching halt. He'd successfully frightened his own children, and he had no clue how to stop himself. It was like he had no voluntary control of what was happening to him anymore. He slipped his hand under his glasses to wipe another tear from his eye.

     Rhett heard Jessie ask who was on the phone and seconds later, she had it in her hands. "How's Link doing?"

     "Have Locke leave the room, would you?"

     "Okay," Jessie said hesitantly. She shooed Locke out of the room and he heard the bedroom door shut. 

     He sighed with relief. "Link found a body while he was out on his walk last night."

     "You're kidding me. A dead body?" 

     Rhett tried very hard not to be sarcastic and say, 'no, a body of water,' but he held himself together. This was a very serious issue. "Yes honey. We need to call the police after I get off the phone with you. I just wanted to let you know that I found Link and he's safe."

     "Good. Did you guys call Christy? Lily called over here in hysterics."

     "I know." Rhett swallowed and looked toward Link, who had sat himself on the ground with his knees drawn up to his chest. He rested his chin on top of them, and he had a small twig he'd found in his hand. While Rhett talked, he occupied himself with drawing in the dirt absentmindedly. "We did call them and they know he's okay too. I'll call you back as soon as we're on our way back."

     "Alright. See you guys soon."

     "See you soon. I love you."

     "I love you too." 

     Rhett sucked his bottom lip into his mouth. He dreaded the next call he had to make, as he didn't want he and Link to become regulars with law enforcement. With a heavy sigh, he punched in 911 and was on the line with an operator within seconds. 

     He told them that his friend had found a body while out on a walk, gave them the location, and said that there was a wild animal that they both witnessed. Rhett was told that they were dispatching an officer to the scene, and he tucked his phone into his pocket before he joined Link on the ground. His back was still sore from the fall to the ground and he bared his teeth as he drew his legs into a criss-cross.

     He didn't say anything to Link, but watched intently as he drew in the dirt. He craned his head to the side curiously and followed Link's hand as he etched out what looked like a creek. The details were so fine and immaculate, and he was surprised that Link could pull that off only using dirt and a stick. He adorned the creek with trees, tall and short, and a couple bushes with a crest along the creek's edge. He then wrote something in the water of the creek and Rhett narrowed his eyes, leaning in closer.