Where The Raven Sits

WTRS Chapter 9

Gale was still leaning against the railing when Kadie and her dad returned to the lookout, hanging over it in a way that was sure to leave a bruise on his chest. Kadie wandered how the rails could hold the weight of such a big, stone bodied creature. Was his weight based on his monster body or his human one? She couldn't remember what his skin felt like when she had touched his hand in her dream. Stone, she assumed, since that's what his body looked to be made from. She could imagine it being coarse, scraping her hand as he touched her, but she wasn't sure. She told herself to start paying more attention when he walked, listening for the sounds of something heavy tromp against the ground. Did he leave claw marks in the dirt or shoes prints? Looking at the bottom of his shoes as he looked down into the canyon, Kadie glanced around the dusty landing to see if any footprints matched with his. In the disturbed dirt there seemed to only be two sets of clear shoe marks, and neither of them belonged to Gale. There weren't any prints that looked like giant birds' feet either.

That doesn't make any sense. Kadie frowned. He wears clothes; he gave me his jacket. How is he not leaving footprints? She was half tempted to go up to him and kick the bottom of his shoes to see if they were real. That...may not be smart.

"Did you find him?" Gale asked, looking over his shoulder. "He didn't get mauled by a wild bunny?"

"Did...you just make a reference to my favorite movie?" Kadie's dad grinned. "Might you be in need of a new best friend, because I think I really like you."

"I'm fine not having friends, sir, thank you," the boy said. "I wasn't expecting this to be some big event where we all get to know each other and share cookies, okay? I made a promise to tell you what I was and that was it. We don't have any reason to interact after this."

"I disagree. Kay and I are very much interested to learn more about this other world and these creatures that live in it."

"Then you're going to be disappointed. I can't and won't tell you anything else about it. There's not much else to tell anyway. You exist, thus a ghost copy of you exists. Dopple-ghosts aren't all that impressive or interesting. In fact, they complain about being bored often. They tend to not do much and can't leave their world unless they temporarily switch places with a version of their mortal counterpart."

"How does that work?" Kadie's dad questioned.

Gale shrugged. "I don't know. I've only heard about it from Mo. It's not something I've seen myself. The only thing I know for sure is that the mortal and their dopple need to be in the same place or something like that."

"And who's Mo? Are they someone else who's been cursed?"

"Mo?" the boy laughed. "Mora'Tola is a dopple-ghost. The one who cursed me, in fact. Petty git. I don't know whose dopple he is, but I'd give him a taste of his own medicine by smacking his mortal a good one. Ugh, I hate him, but he checks up on how the egg is doing now and again, so I have to keep groveling back to him. If I can ever get him to feel merciful he may make the egg hatch quicker."

"Tough break. Hope you can do it, though. We're rooting for you, kid. Aren't we, Kay?"

Kadie looked up at her dad like he was crazy. She wasn't rooting for that boy in any way, shape or form. She was perfectly fine with him being in the situation he was in. But she gave a slight nod, hoping it would end the conversation faster.

"Hey...didn't you promise Mom we'd get some groceries while we were out?" Kadie said. "It's getting late and you know how she is."

"Yes, Kay, you're right," her dad sighed. "Thank you, Gale, for seeing us. I hope to learn more about you and these ghosts soon. It's all so very fascinating."

"If you were me you wouldn't be thinking that." The boy leapt onto the rail, preparing himself to jump. "But, unlike your kid, you're a nice man. I may come see you again and tell you more secrets if I find any out. Have a good one, sir."

Kadie knew he was going to jump – the creature had already said that it was how he got back and forth between worlds – but seeing a fifteen year old dive head first into the canyon still made her breath hitch. Her dad must have felt the same as his body tensed to stop himself from running over to catch the Gale. She looked up at him, trying to see past the wonder and excitement on his face for any hint of logical fear and disgust for what they'd learned about the monster and the other world.

It'll wear off. Kadie told herself. This is new and it's kind of cool to meet a monster, but Dad has to be just as scared on the inside as I am.

Taking her dad's hand, Kadie lead him back to the car. Her dad followed without resistance. To give his mind time to clear, she bypassed any shortcuts, walking him down the entire path to the lots. Either he wasn't as deep in thought as he seemed, or the trail was committed to muscle memory because he didn't stumble once. Kadie wondered how often he went walking without her. The wind kicked up, creating colonies of mini tornados of leaves and dirt and the remnants of twigs. Kadie spat debris from her mouth and checked on her dad. How could he think with dust blowing in their face? How could he breathe?

Her dad was so wrapped up in his thoughts that she was able to get the keys from him and guide him into the passenger seat. The car coughed as Kadie started the engine. It only seemed to do that when she drove it, but nonetheless, it functioned fine and she left the hiking trail. It hadn't been long since her own car had been taken; sitting behind the wheel immediately made her tear up. She stopped caring about the dopple-ghosts and monster Gale. How was she going to get her car back? Was it okay? She should have done more to stop them from taking it. She should have quickly jumped in and driven off instead of standing there yelling and crying at the tow truck driver. She should have thrown herself in front of the tow truck. There were so many things she could have r should have done that would have changed the outcome, but she had done none of it. Trying to distract herself, Kadie reached for the radio. While most of the buttons were in the same place, her dad's radio was made up of knobs that needed to be turned instead of pushed. Glancing away from the road, she glared at the dashboard.

I'm a terrible car parent. Creeping into the supermarket parking lot, Kadie's lip quivered as they passed a little two door that resembled hers. Feeling rightfully low, she swerved into a handicap space. Hanging the blue tag in the rearview mirror, she climbed out of the car. The seats don't even feel the same. My butt hurts after just a few minutes. Kadie tugged her dad out of the passenger side and into the store.

"Harper is probably scared right now. Wondering where I am and why I haven't come for her yet."

"Who?" Kadie's dad snapped out of his thoughts. "Are you talking about a friend of yours, or a child you kidnapped?"

"My baby, Dad," she clarified. "She's been snatched away from my bosom and taken to some unknown place. She hasn't had a bath and I'm sure they haven't fed her."

"Your mother never loved you as much as you love that car...and that is concerning. Hey, Kay, you wanna know what's cooler than a thousand dollar car?"

"If you say a car that transforms and flies I'm going to tell Mom about the pies."

"A car that transforms, flies, and talks."