Witness: See Series (Volume 1)(19)

“No dad?” I asked, trying to make sure I understood the background of this girl.

“There’s a dad, but where he is and what side he’s on is still a mystery.”

“Are you serious? You think he’s a demon or something?”

“I don’t know…I just have a feeling, and Autumn hasn’t bothered to tell me if I’m wrong.”

“This is crazy.”

“Listen, if you still plan on leaving this world with Austin one day, you need to get it into your head that some things cannot be clearly explained. You have to fathom another field of the mind; you have to believe in the unbelievable and trust your soul.”

“I already believe in what cannot be explained; I practically lived with two ghosts my entire life – not to mention I have some demon or wannnabe demon hunting me.”

“Right. Just take one breath at time, and you’ll figure this out. I’ll call the tutor and tell her Monroe is with you.”

“You might wanna call Kara and my mom,” I said blankly, not really caring to explain any of this to them.

“I’m sure they’ve been expecting it. Your mom wanted Monroe to stay with you from day one.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised.

Nana shrugged her shoulders. “She has a soft spot for teen girls who walk on the dark side.”

“Very funny. I wouldn’t call it a soft spot…more like a silent tolerance.”

At that moment; the back door opened. Aden was holding two big bags, and Monroe was standing behind him. I looked at the bags as he passed me to put them in the truck, then back to Monroe.

“Did you pack anything that wasn’t black?” I asked sarcastically.

She smirked, then looked down as she passed me. Nana patted my shoulder. “That’s three responses,” she whispered proudly.

Just as I was about to get the passenger side of the Hummer, I heard footsteps on the stairs and turned to see Winston coming down them. My body tensed; I was prepared to kill him. He raised his hands defensively. “Look – sorry I was a tool. I get crazy when I game; the wrong personality comes out.”

“You only need one personality: yours. Stop trying to be somebody else – you suck at it.”

“Fair enough,” he mumbled as he looked down. “Truce.”

“For now,” I answered with a half-smile on my face.

He looked up with a fearful expression, but when he saw my smile, relief took over his eyes. “Thanks,” he said as he reached for his jaw and rubbed the place where Aden had hit him. It was red and would soon bruise. I almost felt sorry for him – almost.

“Let’s go,” Aden said as he climbed in the driver’s seat.

Nana hugged me once, then went to Winston’s side to look over his jaw. When I climbed in the front seat, I looked back at Monroe. She had her arms crossed, and she was staring out the window.

“This is gonna be a blast,” I mumbled as I pulled my seatbelt across me.

Aden smirked as he pulled forward. Once he turned on the main road, the whispers began and shadows started reaching for the Hummer. Monroe nervously scooted to the center of the backseat; I had no doubt she could see at that point. Aden flipped a switch on the dash that caused the Hummer to light up, then I reached for the radio and turned it up as I mumbled, “Be patient; I’m coming for you.”

Once my words were said, my name screamed out in agony as we raced down the dark, winding road that led to my house.

I made a split second decision: I wasn’t going home – not right now.





Chapter Five


I reached for the radio to kill the volume and turned to face Aden. “Not going home – not now.”

“I’m not taking you to that school,” he scuffed.

“I have a car.”

“I have your keys,” he retorted.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Monroe nervously following the bickering between us. I really felt sorry for this kid.

“Why are you being a jerk? Why can I not go there?”

Aden rolled his eyes. “Seriously, jerk? I deserve that? Look, that school has a lot of energy in it. They have to help as many shadows as they can before you come; they would cause you to go mad if you went there now. Why can’t you just trust me?”

“I’m sick of being the weak link.”

“Well…figure out how to see again,” he said bleakly.

“Fine. Take me to town; let’s people watch.”

“It’s night time, Charlie. More shadows, less people.”

“I’m not a freak of nature that can’t handle the night – or a child, for that matter. Go to the mall, then.”

“Mall? No,” he said firmly.

“Look, let’s just go downtown…there will be lights and people, and we can get coffee, ice cream - something. I have to figure out how to see, Aden. I have to know how to help him.”

Aden’s jaw tightened as he looked in his rearview mirror at Monroe, then to the road. He reached in his pocket for his cell phone and started to text.

“Give me that,” I said reaching for the phone. “No texting and driving. Who are you talking to?”

Aden didn’t fight me for the phone; instead, he gripped the steering wheel. “Draven,” he said shortly.