Read Online Gatekeepers by Robert Liparulo - Free Book Online Page A

have to go to the bathroom,” Toria said.
    â€œCan you hold it?” David said.
    She bit her lower lip and shook her head.
    â€œMake it fast, Tor,” Xander said.
    Bam! Bam! Bam!
    David jumped and grabbed Xander’s shirt again. “They’re knocking ?” he said.
    â€œPounding,” Xander corrected.
    â€œTaksidian can’t expect us to answer.”
    â€œDavid,” Toria called quietly. She was standing in front of the bathroom, pointing at the chair in the hallway. “What’s that doing there?”
    Xander swung his head around. “Don’t touch it,” he said. “It’s part of the surprise. Go, if you have to. Hurry.”
    â€œAnd don’t flush,” David said.
    Toria made a face and disappeared into the bathroom.
    The pounding on the door continued.
    â€œWhat if it’s the cops?” David said.
    â€œWe’re still not answering.”
    The door handle rattled.
    Now David’s stomach tightened and rolled. It felt like one of the cannonballs he had recently seen.
    Somebody spoke, the deep voice of a man. David could hear the rhythm, but he could not make out the words. A second voice, quieter, responded.
    Bam! Bam! Bam!
    â€œHello?” the deep voice called. “Anybody in there?”
    David said, “I don’t think that’s Taksidian.”
    â€œI don’t care who it is,” Xander said. “It’s after one in the morning, we’re alone, and people are out to get us.”
    A thump followed by scraping echoed from the door.
    â€œWhat’s that?” David said. His fear was morphing into panic.
    â€œThey’re trying to break in,” Xander said.
    The boys scrambled up and headed down the hall. Xander stopped and reversed so quickly, David lost his grip on his brother’s T-shirt.
    â€œWhat—?” he said, then he saw the toy rifle Xander had left on the floor.
    Xander snatched it up, hefting it in his hands.
    â€œWish it was real,” David said.
    Toria came out of the bathroom.
    â€œWe’re leaving,” Xander told her. He pointed at David.
    â€œYou go first. Get out of the locker as fast as you can. I’ll send Toria next.”
    Thinking of Clayton’s experience, David said, “I can open the door for her from the outside, when I hear her come through.”
    â€œCome through?” Looking up at them, Toria’s eyes were big and scared. “What locker? Where are we—?”
    Xander put his hands on her shoulders and leaned his face close to hers. “The people outside are trying to break in. Just trust us, okay?”
    David watched her searching for reassurance in Xander’s eyes. She must have seen it: her features softened, and she nodded.
    Something banged against the front door—not a knock. But David realized with some relief it wasn’t the door crashing open, either.
    David and Xander looked at each other, drawing strength from one other.
    â€œOkay,” David said. He gripped the closet door handle as Xander bent to pull the chair away. Under David’s hand, the handle moved—all by itself. He lunged at Xander, knocking him away from the chair. The toy rifle clattered away.
    Xander hit the wall, and they both went down.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Xander said.
    â€œThere’s someone in the closet!” David said. “Where’s the flashlight?” He spotted it on the floor on the far side of the grand staircase. He planted one hand on Xander’s chest and pushed himself up. He ran past the foyer and the stairs, certain the door would burst open.
    He grabbed the light and ran back. Toria saw him coming and flattened herself against the wall. David dropped to his knees, then flat on his stomach, in front of the chair. He switched on the flashlight and shined it beneath the door: shoes! They were black. They shifted apart as their owner adjusted his stance. The right one rose out of the light. A