Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Fifty Five

     Link felt like the apples of his cheeks were on fire, and he took his face into his hands. The pit of his stomach was rumbling like he ate something bad, and he started shaking his head. When he lowered his hands, his eyes had been redder and puffier than before. "Look, I have no idea why I feel the way that I feel but you have to listen to me," Link's voice took on a pleading tone, his eyes watering.

     "That scream that ripped through the building after the lights went out did something to me. It made me feel like my entire body was being dipped into a well of boiling hot lava, taken out to be thrown onto a bed of razor sharp spikes while being run over by an 18 wheeler multiple times forward and backward. There's a feeling right here-" he pointed to the middle of his chest. "-like something really bad is about to ha,-" he cut off short as something moving in his peripheral vision caught his eye. He turned his head to look down the hall again, his eyes widening. He slapped Rhett on the chest and pointed down the hall, and Rhett turned his head to look.

     A short, older woman with long silver hair in a braid had been walking, and he couldn't tell in which direction from that far. He exhaled sharply when he realized that the woman was approaching them, a somber look in her deep brown eyes. Mike, Alex, Link, and Rhett stood still as she stopped in front of the four of them, her eyes falling on Link. Her cracked lips pulled into a deep frown, bringing the rest of her wrinkled features down with it. "Tá sé ró- dhéanach, Charles." 

     Rhett eyed Link warily, balling his sweaty fists up. 

     Link took in a deep breath, his body trembling. "What," was all he could say, his voice small. A single tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away hastily, moving to walk past the boys. Alex and Mike looked at each other with scrunched brows, and Alex reached forward to touch Rhett's back. Rhett turned his head to look at him, shaking his head slowly. Rhett watched Link's face expectantly, waiting for him to react to the woman's bizarre babble. All Link could do was look at the floor at his feet. "What on earth did she just say to you?"

     Link raised his head, his chest shuddering. "Tá sé ró- dhéanach," he recited perfectly. "It's too late." 

     Alex made a sound that resembled a dog barking as he brought his hand up to his mouth, his eyes wild. Mike recoiled a bit, eyeing Link as if he'd just warped in from another time dimension. Rhett's right eye twitched and his lips came apart, and he leaned close to Link. "How did you know what that meant?" 

     Link shook his head. "I don't know! The more important question should be, what does that mean?" 

     The four of them shared glances. their faces etched in horror and milky white.

     "How does she know you?" 

     Link completely disregarded Mike's question as he began wandering down the hall toward the darkened room. 

     Rhett looked at the two standing behind him and he ushered with his head to follow. "Where ya goin, buddy?" Rhett asked, and again Link didn't answer. Rhett found it odd that just moments ago, Link was insistent that they leave instead of checking out what the show was about. 

     Link had his head tilted to the side, and he moved carefully as if he was avoiding stepping on a lego. Rhett caught up with him in two long strides and simply walked quietly beside him. Alex and Mike followed behind, and the both of them felt their hearts pounding mercilessly in their chests. They had not one iota of an idea as to what was going on, as Rhett and Link had purposely been leaving them in the dark just to protect them. 

     Link had tuned everything out at this point, only listening to the constant hum in his ears that sounded like somebody whispering in another language. He stopped in front of the door with his head lowered and the guys flanked him from behind. He slowly raised his head to look into the darkened room, realizing that they were standing at the open doors of an auditorium. The stage was several yards into the room and they were looking at rows upon rows of seats, all occupied.