Read Online Mania by J. R. Johansson - Free Book Online Page B

problem?” I asked.
    â€œThe kind that complicates everything.” Jack’s words were stiff, but they softened as he continued. “The problem doesn’t matter. What matters is that I have a clue for where to keep searching, but I don’t really understand what it means.”
    Finn opened his mouth, but I spoke faster. “I might have something that could help too, but let’s start with yours. What was the clue?”
    Jack raised his eyebrows in surprise and actually looked me directly in the eye. He must’ve decided my suggestion was a good one though, because he kept talking.
    â€œâ€˜The second’s skull contains the key,’” Jack said, his gaze searching mine for some kind of recognition … or understanding. I repeated the words under my breath.
    â€œâ€˜The second’s skull contains the key’ … what second?” I shook my head, shoulders slumping forward a bit with the heavy weight of disappointing him. My brother had finally turned to me. He wanted to let me help … and I had nothing to offer.
    â€œCryptic,” Finn muttered, raising one eyebrow. “Why isn’t anything with your family ever simple?”
    I sighed, my brow furrowed. “What am I missing? Do you understand that at all?”
    â€œYou.” At my blank stare, Jack continued. “When Dad would talk about you, he referred to you sometimes as ‘the second,’ meaning his second son.”
    â€œ I’m the second?” I sat back in my chair and tried to make sense of the message.
    â€œWait … so you’re saying there’s a key in Parker’s skull?” Finn’s voice went up at the end, and he looked like he couldn’t decide if he should put on his best horrified expression or start cracking jokes.
    â€œYeah … that’s the part I don’t understand.” Jack leaned his head onto his folded arms. He was starting to show signs of the familiar exhaustion that was the worst part of being a Watcher. I tried to remember if he’d mentioned getting any sleep in Mia’s dreams lately. I’d been keeping Addie all to myself.
    I felt a little guilty for that, but I still had a touch of jealousy that welled up at the idea of Addie and Jack sharing dreams. It wasn’t fair of me, and the logical part of me understood that—he needed her dreams as much as I did. But we all knew she’d chosen me, and Jack respected that. However, I would need to stop being selfish and share if Jack agreed to stay with us long-term like Mom and I both wanted.
    I shook off the distraction, refocusing my attention on the task at hand. I needed to up my game if I wanted him to keep letting me help. I tried repeating the clue again to myself.
    â€œThe second’s skull contains the key … ”
    Then I stood up so fast I knocked my chair over. Those words … ‘the skull’? Of course!
    â€œParker?” Jack lifted his head and watched me.
    I turned, stepped over my chair, and ran to my bedroom shouting, “I’ll be right back!” over my shoulder.
    I wasn’t even down the hall before I could hear Finn picking up my chair and muttering something about “Ungrateful kids never cleaning up after themselves.”
    The door to my room was shut, and I twisted the handle and ran into it with my shoulder at full speed, flinging it open. I flipped on the light switch and dove for the wallet I’d placed on my desk when Jack hadn’t answered my text earlier.
    It might not be what the clue was talking about, but it was definitely my best guess.
    Springing to my feet, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My breath stopped in my chest for just an instant when I felt an awful sensation screaming that something wasn’t quite right.
    Every time this happened, I followed the same steps. It was the only thing that could work to set my world back in place again. I closed my eyes, waited for my heart