Read Online Awoken by Timothy Miller - Free Book Online Page A

left. “Meatloaf would be great, Mrs. Wiffle. In fact, how about I hold off on the nap and help you with dinner?”
    Barbara’s surprised face popped out of the kitchen into the living room. “That would be wonderful, Michael. And call me Barbara.”
    “Sorry, Mrs.…Barbara.”
    He really didn’t like meatloaf, but he didn’t want to spend the time he had left with Barbara cooped up in his room. After supper, in the dark and whether the Wiffles were asleep or not, he was leaving. As he stepped into the kitchen, a crow cawed. The bird sounded close.
    Barbara looked toward the patio door and grimaced. “Do you hear that? To tell you the truth, I’ve always hated those filthy birds. My grandmother used to call them the Devil’s eyes.”
    The crow cawed again, and the stonesong twitched.
    “Maybe she was right,” Michael said quietly.
    “Heaven forbid.” Barbara wiped her hands on her apron. “Now, how about we get started on that meatloaf?”
    Michael nodded and pretended not to notice the continued cawing outside. He was leaving tonight. He only hoped he was not too late.

15
Visitors
    During supper, Karl remarked on the broken sidewalk and made mention of Mrs. Finche’s earthquake theory. This provoked a lively discussion concerning flagging city maintenance, as well as the potential mental hazards of spending too much time around garden pesticides.
    Aside from an occasional nod, Michael stayed out of the discussion. Mrs. Finche hadn’t mentioned seeing him at the broken sidewalk when she’d spoken to Karl. The old woman had probably forgotten about him completely in all the excitement. That was fine. Her senility kept him from having to give his own eyewitness account of the accident.
    After supper, he helped clean the dishes and said goodnight to the Wiffles.
    “Goodnight, dear,” Barbara said. “Thanks again for all your help tonight.”
    Karl lowered the newspaper he was reading to give Michael an approving nod. “You should get out again tomorrow. Fresh air looks to have agreed with you.”
    “Thanks, Mr. Wiffle. Goodnight.”
    Michael left the kitchen and hurried upstairs. The dark had come, and though he had no money and no idea where he was going, he was leaving.
    Once in his room, he pulled his backpack out from under the bed and began to remove his sheets. There was a long drop from the window to the deck, but tying the sheets together would make a serviceable rope. A shadow moved across his mattress.
    “Take it out,” someone growled behind him.
    Smiley!
    He dove across the bed, but something snagged his collar, jerking him back and throwing him to the floor. A dainty foot pressed down on his chest, pinning him in place.
    Michael’s jaw dropped. “Lina?”
    The green-eyed girl from the park glared down at him. “You remember my name. That’s peachy. I remembered yours, too. Did you think I wouldn’t find you?” Dressed in a sleeveless blue hoody and blue jeans, she looked paler than he remembered, almost sickly, and there were long streaks of silver in her coal-black hair.
    “Are you crazy?” Michael pushed at Lina’s foot, but she didn’t budge. “What are you doing here? How did you get in my room?”
    “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
    “Well, I’m kind of in a hurry. Could you let me up?”
    Lina shook her head. “Not until you tell me how to get it out.”
    A crow cawed, and Michael looked fearfully toward the window. The Ven would be coming soon, them or Smiley. To keep the Wiffles safe, he needed to be gone when they got here. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. And I don’t care. Just let me up.”
    Lina shoved her palm an inch from his nose. “I’m talking about this.” Covered in a lattice of silvery metal, a clear jewel glittered in the center of her palm. “I’m talking about your stupid necklace.”
    “The waystone,” Michael breathed. He looked closer. The pendant seemed to have fused with Lina’s skin. “Oh man, this can’t be