Fischer: No more Ancient Aliens.
Ellie: Tell that to Lincoln.
Oh, for the love of God. The man was one of the Seven Deadly Sins and he was watching Ancient Aliens?
Ellie: But…honestly. What do you think I should do here? Should I call Laxmi? Should I wait for the feeling to clear up a bit? Slash my palm and make a blood sacrifice?
Fischer: Dramatic much, my dear?
Ellie: Am I supposed to be able to feel him the way I sense all of you?
Was she? This wasn’t my area of expertise—I just kind of dealt with the sins. I wasn’t even sure what the hell that meant yet.
However, Ellie was clearly frightened by what was going on. My job there was clear: I was her father and I needed to help her. I stared at the screen.
Fischer: If he’s your brother, then I’d guess yes. Maybe he’s not as clear as we are because he’s your halfbrother?
Ellie: I can sense the twins just fine. And I don’t sense anyone who doesn’t have After blood.
What the actual fuck?
Fischer: You and Ben share a mother, right?
Ellie: Yes.
Then what the hell was going on. If that was the case, that she could only sense people with After blood… It would lead one to think that Ben’s father also had After blood.
And we knew who Ben’s father was.
Ellie: …holy shit.
Fischer: Same, baby doll. Same.
Lincoln
“Daddy, everything feels weird to me out here,” Tim said.
I let out a breath. “I know, Tim. Me too.”
It was the first time I had really noticed that something felt weird. Every other time the After crap intruded, it was plainly obvious—as in I could see things. Snakes, cuts, bruises. We’d even started to realize that certain illusions meant certain sins.
But this time, there was something in the air, a sensation that I didn’t like, like a collar that had been over-starched. Itchy and distracting.
“I want to find Ben,” Tabitha said, looking out the window. “I want Ellie to have her brother back.”
“So do we all, Bits,” I answered. “Can either of you think of a place he could hide? It’s okay if the places aren’t safe or might be illegal. Mom, Fisch, and Aunt Lily are convinced he thinks he’s on a great adventure.”
“That’s not the right kind of adventure,” Tim said.
“No, it isn’t,” I agreed.
“Adventures should stay in the backyard,” Tim continued. “Or the playroom.”
Tabitha nodded along with him. “Our playroom can be plenty adventurous. Especially when evil demons create electric tornados in the corner. That wasn’t fun.”
“Not even close to being a good adventure.” I shivered a bit at the memory.
“How come I can feel him?” Tim asked. “It’s like he’s a light in my brain.”
“Well, that’s a bit of a story, Tim, and we’ll have to talk about it when we get home, okay? But can you follow that light?”
“I feel Ellie too,” he whispered. “It’s like the light from Ben bounces off her, and makes it stronger.”
Well, that was interesting.
My phone pinged.
Ellie: What the hell…I can feel Tim clear as a bell, and I can feel Ben. Help?
Lincoln: I wish I knew what was going on.
Tim gasped, “Ben’s moving away fast. A lot faster than walking, and a lot faster than the bus.”
Ellie: He’s moving fast.
What was going on here? “Tabi, can you feel him?”
“Just a little. I wouldn’t have known he was moving. He’s like a weird…echo? Ghost?”
Well then. That was something I would have to tell Wren and Lily. “Can you tell me which way he’s going, Tim?”
Tim closed his eyes and pointed. “That way. Kinda. There’s a whole bunch of turns. It’s faster than running, but not like race car speed.”
Ellie: He’s moving south west.
The exact direction Tim had pointed.
Lincoln: Tell Wren and Lily exactly what you’re sensing, and I’m going to have Tim help me figure out where we’re going.
Ellie: Got it.
I pulled the car on to Aramingo, and made a right toward the south west. “Tim, I need you to tell me where I’m going. You don’t need to give me directions. Just point.”
He nodded and sat up straighter. I watch him grab his sister’s hand and squeeze. I was glad these two had each other, and I hoped that they would always have that.
I freakin’ missed Vance.
Aramingo led me down toward Center City and Tim’s pointing got more and more west as I reached Fishtown. Navigating the mess that was the on and off ramps for 95 South, I managed to get on to the Vine, and go west. The further west I went, the more south his pointing went again.
We were heading to University City.
I got off for the Museums, and swung around on the back streets until I hit the Walnut Street Bridge. Tim’s arm swung with the turn, and he was pointing at the hospitals. I managed to swing around and get into the staff lot with the card Fischer had left.
“Here, Tim?”
“Inside.” He nodded, and they both unbuckled themselves.
Lincoln: We’re at Penn Medical. I used Fischer’s card to get into the lot. Tim says they’re inside.
Wren: I’ll have Fischer call.
“Come on, kids,” I said, grabbing their hands. “Let’s go find out what’s going on here.”
Walking down and in the front door, there was a conglomeration of cops and staff standing near the reception desk. Between Wren and Fischer, I’d been in enough hospitals to know that many people at front desk was normal at two in the morning.
I headed over, and found the police standing around two little boys, and the instant Ben saw me, he screamed and tried to run.
The officer right next to him grabbed his arm, and pulled him around. I stopped where I was when I saw the wild look in his eyes. He was ready to do whatever it took to not go back to the that hospital.
The sergeant in charge must have seen the look as well. “And you are?”
“Lincoln Foster,” I answered. “These are my kids, Timothy and Tabitha.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Looking for Ben,” Timothy said, pointing at him.
“No! No! My name is John! I’m not Ben!” He was screaming at the top of his lungs. His friend looked terrified, and just huddled behind the officer who had a hand on his shoulder. Ben pointed at him, and screamed again, “Tell them! Tell them I’m John! I’m not Ben.”
“Why are you scared?” Tabitha asked.
“You’re going to put me back! You’re going to make me go back to that horrible room and you’re going to leave me there forever!”
Oh, boy. This sounded really bad. I was glad I had stopped where I was. “Officers, his name is Benjamin Sheehan, and he’s the adopted son of Fischer Skillman and Wren Warner. His parents and sister are looking for him at St. Christopher’s. He’s been there for a few weeks. He was…rescued from that raid.”
One of the officers grimaced. “That raid? Down in Delaware?”
“That one.” I nodded. “He and his friend absconded this evening after the second shift nurse on duty decided that they were going to take a nap instead of doing rounds.” All of this was being shouted over Ben’s wailing and denial. “They thought that this would be a great adventure.”