“If you only had a few days left in this world,” Karayea said, her voice gone quiet, “how would you spend them?”
Sarika stared forward intently, fire brewing in her eyes. Landon’s mouth was turned up into a forced line, as though he was holding back something, and his eyes were watering. Just like that, it was the old him again, trying to hide who he really was, only this time it was so easy to see through it all. Leila felt his arms around her, holding her tighter and tighter with each line of conversation with Karayea, as though she might float away and up into the sky without his grasp. She glanced down at Sarika, who stared forward intently, fire brewing in her eyes. Her thoughts wandered off to Jon and Liz, back at home.
How she’d called Jon her dad, and how he’d never asked for it.
How Liz desperately wanted to be called Mom, and how she’d struggled with the word for the person who deserved it most.
Her heart felt as though it was trying to wrench itself from her chest.
“I think I’d spend them just like this,” she said, nodding. “Maybe say the right things to the right people. As often as possible.”
“Then go,” Karayea said, the tree starting to seal up around her. “Say those things. Don’t leave one word unsaid, one word forgotten.”
Leila glanced up at Landon, then to Sarika, her thoughts again wandering.
“I won’t,” Leila said, reaching out to Karayea. The dryad held her hand, giving it a soft squeeze, before vanishing inside the tree. “I promise.”
_____
“What do we do?” Sarika asked, tears welling up in her eyes as Leila settled into the passenger seat of Landon’s truck. “I can’t lose you. I won’t lose you.”
“I don’t know,” Leila said as Landon closed the door and made his way around the truck. “I don’t know what to do.”
“I think I know where we can start,” Landon said, as he got into the truck and fastened his seatbelt, his movements quick and precise. “We need to figure out who this is.” He pulled out his cell phone to show a photo to Leila and Sarika. “This is the person who was in the grounds earlier, with the bottles of poison. I managed to get one somewhat clear photo before . . . what is it?”
Leila glared at the phone, and when she looked up she saw a similar fury washing over Sarika’s face.
“What?” Landon insisted.
“We know that person,” Sarika snarled, as she kicked the back seat of the truck. “Hell, I can’t believe this.”
“Who?” Landon asked, taking his phone and staring at the photo. “Who is it?”
“Just drive,” Sarika said. “We’ll explain on the way. Looks like we don’t need that mouse. We just caught ourselves a rat.”
THREAD: PROTEST CANCELED, DANGER (PLEASE READ!)
SUBFORUM: PHILADELPHIA
PROTEST CANCELED, DANGER (PLEASE READ!)
Posted by A Dash of Paprika
AUGUST 28th, 2017 | 6:02PM
The protest this weekend by the Thomas Mansion in Fairmount Park is canceled.
We’ll post more updates when we have them, but please, PLEASE do not go there. Construction is starting soon, and poison has been sprayed on the ground to presumably eliminate any “pests” and overgrown plants in the area. We don’t want any of you getting sick, so please, stay home.
WithouttheY and I will be sending out DMs to everyone who planned to attend, and if any of you know each other IRL, please reach out and let one another know.
RE: PROTEST CANCELED, DANGER (PLEASE READ!)
Posted by Dr. Cordova
AUGUST 28th, 2017 | 7:15PM
My God. I hope you’re all okay! Be sure to clean up and take a seriously long shower. Any sign of the field mice?
RE: PROTEST CANCELED, DANGER (PLEASE READ!)
Posted by WithouttheY
AUGUST 28th, 2017 | 7:17PM
No, we tried. I’m afraid there’s not much else we can do.
RE: PROTEST CANCELED, DANGER (PLEASE READ!)
Posted by Dr. Cordova
AUGUST 28th, 2017 | 7:25PM
That is tragic. Just tragic.
RE: PROTEST CANCELED, DANGER (PLEASE READ!)
Posted by WithouttheY
AUGUST 28th, 2017 | 8:02PM
It’s okay, Dr. Cordova, check your DMs and emails. We’ll be in touch regarding some other projects.
RE: PROTEST CANCELED, DANGER (PLEASE READ!)
Posted by DeLaJessica
AUGUST 28th, 2017 | 9:02PM
LOL.
RE: PROTEST CANCELED, DANGER (PLEASE READ!)
Posted by A Dash of Paprika
AUGUST 28th, 2017 | 9:12PM
Karma is a bitch, Jessica. Remember that. Banned.
XXVII
“Is this the one?” Leila asked, leaning against the cold metal of the lockers that lined the hall. Today was the day. The last day. Her body ached with every movement.
“Yeah,” Gwen muttered, staring at her feet.
“Are you . . . are you sure you want to be here?” Shawn asked, looking up and down the hallway.
“Yes,” Gwen said, her tone a little more resolute. “I’m sure.”
Leila and Shawn leaned against the lockers as Gwen fidgeted awkwardly, her eyes fixed on the cold, hard floor for what felt like an hour. She resisted the urge to pull out her phone and check the time, making quick glances at Shawn and Gwen to pass the time, small nods between the three of them, as the clock ticked down. Everything hinged on the moment being just right.
Jessica and Rebekah pushed through the pair of double doors at the end of the relatively empty hall, their conversation unintelligible but clearly interesting, their tone sarcastic and smooth.
“Here they come,” Shawn said softly, speaking out of the side of his mouth.
“You ready?” Leila asked.
“Hell, yeah,” Shawn said resolutely.
“Gwen?” Leila glanced over, but received no response. The girl stared at her shoes, breathing quickly. “Hey, Gwen.” She looked up. “You’re doing the right thing, you know that, right?”
Gwen nodded softly.
Jessica and Rebekah drew closer, laughing at whatever was glowing back at them on those screens. When they were just a few feet away they stopped abruptly and glared at the three of them.
“Uh, what is this?” Jessica spat, gesturing at them and then glaring at Gwen. “What are you doing with them? And why are you two at my locker?” Jessica covered her mouth and sputtered a laugh. “Wow. You look terrible.”
Leila stepped forward and ignored the flash of rage that brewed in her chest and the ache in her legs at just taking that one step. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, ignoring the small burst of pain that nudged at her with every move.
“Recognize this?” Leila asked, pushing the screen towards Jessica with gritted teeth.
Jessica staggered back and looked at Rebekah, her eyes wide with panic, then turned back to the girls and at Shawn.
“Where did you get that?” Jessica said, the confidence gone from her voice despite the anger in her words.
“We know what you’ve been doing,” Leila said, putting her phone back in her pocket. She coughed, and took a deep breath before continuing. “And you’re going to tell us why.”
“The hell I am,” Jessica spat. “You three,” she emphasized,
glaring at Gwen, who promptly shrunk back, “can go fuck yourselves. You and your stupid trees.”
“Why?” Leila asked, taking a step forward and wincing. “Why destroy that patch of woods? What’s any of it have to do with you? Any of it at all? Why would you even be out there in the first place?”
“What’s it even matter?” Jessica replied. “It’s just a bunch of trees and whatever it was that you and that friend of yours were freaking out about over on your dumb message board. A rat or something.”
“A mouse, and you have no idea what you’ve just done!” Leila shouted. She moved to rush at her but stopped when a wave of weakness washed over her. Her legs buckled a little, and Shawn grabbed her, steadying her.
“What I’ve done?” Jessica asked, laughing. “Who the hell cares? It’s all coming down tonight anyway. And now your precious little animals or whatever won’t get in the way of actual progress. My dad works hard, and all your nonsense was slowing him down.”