Where The Raven Sits

WTRS Chapter 6

They pulled up at the hiking trail just as a small dust storm was clearing up. At that time during a weekday there were no other cars in the lot. It was eerily empty, like people had been evacuated instead of being at work or school or any other busy place. To Kadie, the parking lot looked unusually large. The air was choking, but her dad didn't mind as he led her down the trail. Almost letting her nerves get the better of her, she nearly found herself reaching for her dad's hand. Kadie held off, making a fist and sticking it in her pocket. She wasn't positive that that made her feel safer than holding hands with her dad, but she convinced herself that nothing else could grab it. On the other hand, her dad didn't seem too worried about strange creatures getting grabby. As they walked the trail, his face grew hard with thought. The wrinkles on his forehead doubled and his eyes lost focus. Kadie wondered if he was rethinking tracking this creature down. She hoped that's what her dad was thinking.

Why are we doing this anyway? Kadie thought as she glanced around her. We should be trying to figure out a way to tell people about this thing.... Maybe that's what Dad's doing. Did he bring a camera or something? Worried that the creature may have been watching them, Kadie tried to inspect her dad's pocket as inconspicuously as possible. There were no noticeable bulges in his shorts or shirt pockets. Maybe he'll use his phone.

The lookout was just as bare as the trail, the landing empty aside from a teenager in a hoodie. The hood was down and Kadie instantly recognized the dark, wild hair from the day before. The boy had to be a monster, she figured, if he could wear a sweatshirt in that kind of heat. He didn't turn around when her dad hailed him, waving a hand in acknowledgment as he looked out over the ledge. Kadie's dad strode right up to him, leaning against the railing. Kadie hung back, wondering if he had lost his mind.

"There was no reason for you to bring her," the boy said.

"You bound her the same way you did me," her dad returned. "It's only fair. Kay, come here."

Kadie shook her head. "No. You come here! Get away from that before it pulls you over the edge again!"

"I wasn't trying to do that last time!" the boy snapped, still with his back to her. "He jumped on me! Not that I didn't appreciate the sentiment." The boy turned only his head toward her dad. "Is she going to go run screaming? 'Cause I'd have to chase her and I don't want to do that."

Her dad sighed. "Kadie, get over here. Let's get this over with."

Reluctantly, Kadie took her dad's outstretched hand and let him pull her against him. She accepted the comfort of her dad's closeness, feeling wholly unsafe standing so near to the currently teenage looking boy.

"All right, Gale, tell us what all is going on."

Kadie looked up at her dad. Gale?! It has a name?!

The teenager focused harder on the canyon. Something about the concentration reminded her of when she saw him the day before. "I've only had to do this once, thirty-something years ago, so I'm not really sure how to start. What am I? Where did I come from? Can you put your hand in my chest? It's all one long story, to be honest.... Actually, let's start with that last one: No, you can't. It's annoying and I hate it."

"I had no intentions of asking that," her dad said. "Why don't we skip the story and you just answer our questions as we ask them? I find it easier than trying to work out a difficult explanation."

"Fine," the boy agreed. "Go on."

"What are you?" Kadie's dad asked.

"I'm human.... I was human. Now I'm part dopple-ghost."