Forgiving Light

Chapter 26

Mama calls me over to the dining room to eat when she's done. When one last pat on his shoulder, I leave Dark alone. I go to the dining room, and we sit down to eat.

"Mama, Papa, where are you going?" I ask them, sure that they're probably not going to tell me.

"Just somewhere for something," Papa says with a shrug. "It's nothing you need to worry about, Cathy."

Papa was a little vague. He's never vague.

I probe his mind secretly. I hear both of their thoughts:

Get as far away from here as possible. The Agent has already marked her; she will be safe. Come back when the evil one's hold on us ends. Keep Cathy safe.

"Okay..."

After dinner, Mama and Papa leave. Bella and I watch them go.

"So, who's the new guy?" Bella asks as soon as the car is out of sight.

"His name is Dark." I stare off into the distance. I blink and turn back to Bella. "Nisha's keeping him company whenever I'm gone. Her calm should be good for him."

"Cat, I've seen the guy. He's a zombie over there," Bella points out. "I doubt he'll notice if anyone's keeping him company."

"Bella! Be nice! He knows if there's someone there. He gets lonely, too, you know."

Bella and I go back inside. I plop down on the bottom step and close my eyes, meditating. I really think I'm getting the hang of this. Just let your mind wander, but keep a firm hold, too, in case of an assault.

"Yami...Yami..."

Yami? What's that even mean?

I get up, sighing. "Dark, what's going on?" I call.

No response. That's really not strange seeing the state that he's in. It is troubling, though.

I go back to meditating.

"Yami...Hakai..."

Bella paws at me. "Cat, I think you should see this. The zombie is up!"

I open my eyes to see Dark wandering about. He looks almost in a trance. His eyes are all clouded over.

"Hakai...Yami..."

"Dark, where are you going?" I demand. I rush over and grab his arm. "Where are you going?"

"Nii-sama is calling...I must answer..."

"Dark, you're being controlled," I warn. "Snap out of it right now!"

When Dark keeps going forward, I pull him toward me. He falls to the ground, and I pin him down. I slap him reluctantly, but still firmly.

"Snap out of it!"

Dark blinks in surprise. He looks around, as if he doesn't know how in the world he got here.

"How did I get here?" he wonders. "And when?"

"You were being controlled," I repeat. "You must have let your guard down or something along those lines.

"I must have dozed off."

I let him up and take his hand. "Come on. It's night, and it gets really cold at night."

Dark nods. He lets me take him to the warmth of the fire.

A/N: Yeah, I know, short chapter -.- I'm not very fond of short chapters...