Then his words slip in, weirdly mirroring a similar sentiment his son has been trying to tell me from the beginning. I am not normal. I will never be normal. I remember Angel’s words too. About love being a power in the darkness.
The understanding settles into my skin like a protective shield. All at once the power begins to return to me.
It never left me at all. I just stopped understanding. I have the power. I have meaning. I have something that William Moore will never have.
He’s weak. Average. He’s the normal one.
And what’s so great about that?
I’mnotnormal and I’ve never been happier about it.
Fuck running. It’s time I stay and fight.
* * *
Nathaniel
I run to my car, heart racing. I never should have let Will take Julia. I was a fool to think this wasn’t always a part of his plan.
The moment I’m off base, I find my phone and turn it on. I need to warn Lincoln that our father is out for blood. I turn onto Main Street to head to the police station when my phone immediately starts ringing from a blocked number. I only answer because it could be Julia.
“Hello?”
“Nathaniel? This is a friend of Julia’s.” The words are contorted into a robotic tone like the caller is using a voice changer.
My heart is already racing as I speed too fast through town, phone tucked against my shoulder.
“Who?” I ask.
“Julia knows me as Angel. She’s in danger. Will isn’t taking her to the police.”
I don’t have any reason to trust this person but it would be ridiculous to question when they already know this much.
“Where is she?” I ask.
“Go left and head up the mountain. I will text you their location. He’s taking her to the old mines.”
I hit the steering wheel but follow the instructions. I don’t question anything at this point. My only concern is Julia.
“Is she okay?” I ask, voice cracking.
Traffic is heavy with summer break visitors.
There’s a pause. “I don’t know, but there’s more. He has Lincoln.”
The two most important people to me in the world. I take the next turn too sharply and the phone falls from my clammy palms. “Shit.”
The car jerks up the narrow winding road leading up the mountain as I blindly reach for the phone while trying to stay in my lane. I have to focus on driving.
When I am able to get the phone again, I hear the voice calling out. “Hello? Hello?”
“Sorry. Dropped my phone.” I’m shaking all over. “Are they okay?”
“I don’t—you have to hurry—isn’t who he seems—is hunting—” The voice starts to break up the higher I speed up the mountain.
“I can’t hear you.” When I pull the phone away from my ear to check, the call has dropped and I have no bars.
I hit the steering wheel again. Thankfully the text with the location has come through. I will not lose my only family. I won’t let him take anything else from me.
