Like some holy relic, Hart holds the piece of paper. “Did we miss our turn?”
“Tell me again what happened,” Rett says to Hart. “Bizzy said she wanted to leave? Why wouldn’t she tell JJ or me?”
“I told you. She asked Deo to get her a ride to the airport.” His voice is nonchalant as he shields his eyes from the sun, studying the street signs.
“That’s not weird to you?” I ask, still grappling with decisions I have to make.
“I don’t know.”
“You have a personal opinion on most things, but not on that?” Rett asks him, giving me a pointed look.
“Give me the note,” I tell Hart.
It reads:
Time never ending, forces unseen
The Sentinels four, in font of green,
Likeness shrouded for protection, an echo from the past
Heed warnings harken - don’t look back
Two steps from the angel on the mezzanine coal black
Water runs pristine
Eight in the House will intervene.
When the jaws of time open wide
Mouths not to speak, clues to guide
Destruction marches forward, a veiled threat to all
To break the cycle, to stop the fall
Eternal Triad can end evil untold
Because time never ending, salvation will uphold
Sacrifice the one, deny the four, kneel the Sentinels, the eight to fight.
Smother the darkness, shed the light.
“And you think ‘the angel on mezzanine coal black’ is the stretch of road before that fountain, because of an old song?” My head is pounding. And I’d dearly love to punch Hart’s smirky face.
Maybe he’ll get hit by a car while pacing by the fountain.
Classic Hart. Wildly unlikeable.
Hart huffs off to the driver Deo secured today. “You’re really nailing geographical locations today.” He shoves his phone in his face. “This is where we need to go.”
We set off again, heading toward a fountain by a church south of the city.
“Have you talked to her?” I ask Rett quietly.
He shakes his head, frowning. “Her phone goes straight to voicemail.”
