Magics: Escape (Book 2)

Chapter Four

She's back. I can't believe she's back. What is she going to do now? What are we going to do? She's obviously playing one of her games right now, but why would she kill someone innocent? Because she's Moon, that's why. I still can't believe this. What are we going to do? 

Kai's mind was rushing through options and questions as he and Shintaro hurried through town. After a few minutes of staying with the girl, a man who claimed to be her father had shown up and taken her back home. He had thanked Shintaro and Kai over and over, until Shintaro had told him that they needed to get back home. Now they were almost blindly rushing through town.

Shintaro was going so fast that Kai was having to run. Shintaro wasn't even running, just speed-walking, but he was going too fast for Kai. His face was almost completely numb now, and he couldn't feel his hands, which he had stuffed in the coat's pockets. Shintaro didn't seem to care about the blood that was now dry on his coat, but Kai couldn't look at him without seeing it. 

Finally, the two made it back home. Shintaro didn't knock, just quickly swung open the door, slipped his jacket off, hung it up, and rushed into the living room. Kai followed him without taking his coat off. 

The lights were on again, and Falte was sitting at the table, his mouth on the rim of a coffee cup when he looked up. He had a book in the other hand, and looked ready to head out as soon as he finished the coffee. Linda was reading too, the book rested on her lap, but she looked up eagerly when Shintaro and Kai came in. Chase was in the kitchen, but popped his head out when he heard the door close. Abby was looking like she just woke up - she was rubbing her eyes and stretching. 

"What happened?" Linda and Falte asked at the same time, each putting their book aside. 

Kai was still trying to catch his breath and warm up, so he let Shintaro explain. While he did, he watched everyone for their reactions. Falte was listening with his mouth hanging open in shock, Linda was narrowing her eyes and frowning, Abby had her hand on her mouth, and Chase was shaking his head. 

"We're sure that it was Moon," Shintaro finished with a grim look at Falte, who was only told what Moon was like and who she was. 

"That woman that you were telling me about a long time ago?" Falte asked in a frightened voice. He cast a glance at his son, who had sat down next to Abby. "She's here?"

Shintaro and Kai nodded at the same time. Shintaro rubbed his forehead and sighed, while Kai put his hand on Abby's. She looked up at him with a terrified face. 

"What are we going to do?" she asked, her voice shaking. She squeezed Kai's hand tightly, scooting closer to him. "I don't want her to do what she did to us again. Especially you two." She pointed with her free hand at Kai and Shintaro. "You two have been through it already. You don't need to go through it again. What should we do?" 

Shintaro shook his head. "I don't know, Abby." He sighed again and glanced over at Kai, who was finally starting to warm up. He slipped the coat off, stood up, and hung it up. At the same time, Falte stood. 

"I have to get to work," he said solemnly. "We can discuss this when I get back, which will be around 5." He offered everyone a small smile before taking his coat. Kai caught his arm with a pleading look.

"Please be careful," he said to his father. I don't want to lose you too, his mind added. We've already lost Mom. Let's not lose you too. "If anything out of the ordinary happens, whether it's to you or anyone else, please contact Linda." 

"How do I -" Falte started. 

"You just think like your talking to me," Linda answered, "but in your head." She picked up her book and began reading it again, surprisingly calm. Kai felt a little jealous of how tranquil she was.