The ender, p.14
The Ender, page 14
The same warming sensation emanated from her palm as when she touched him earlier. Whenever the Wanderer held him or touched him when he was younger, the only sensation he remembered was a chilling cold.
“Yes, Christopher.” Tim returned, pointing a shotgun at Brian’s head. “Tell us what you know, or your friend dies.”
“Tim!” Both Shelly and Grady rushed toward him.
“Back off!” He shouted the words through gritted teeth. “Let him tell us where my baby is.” The gun shook in his hand. “Because if one hair is harmed on her head…”
Instead of sitting back down, Grady stood between Tim and Brian. He held up his hands in surrender.
“Sit down, Grady.” He kept the gun aimed at Brian, directly through the old man.
“This boy has nothing to do with Laney’s actions.” Grady took a step towards Tim. “He’s just doing his job.” He took another step closer. “Laney’s acting on her own free will. And I know your thoughts… if I hadn’t sent her to college in Boston… The reality is, the same thing would have happened if you had her locked in her room here in Derry. It’s her destiny, all of it—Jonas, Brian, William, the Wanderer.”
“Step back, Grady.” Tim kept his eyes on Brian, ignoring the man in front of him.
He placed his shaking hand on Tim’s, keeping his head in front of the barrel of the gun. “I know all this because it’s my destiny, too. Shooting this boy will only make things worse for Laney because if she’s inside a book, there might not be a way for her to get back.”
Tim dropped the gun and finally gave his attention to Grady. “Have you gone completely off the deep end?” He looked at his wife. “You see? I told you we had to get your father checked out at the doctors.”
“What do you mean, Dad?” Shelly walked over and stood next to her husband, placing a hand on the arm that held the gun. “What did you mean that she might not be able to get back from a book?”
“Laney is a Weaver, just like me. When we write, our words come to life.” He kept his eyes on Tim first but then looked at his daughter. “Your mother first breathed life in a book I wrote.”
Jonas watched his parents as they took in the bombshell. His father stood still, gazing off seemingly into some drug-infested wasteland where he thought Laney currently existed. His mother’s eyes filled with tears, probably thinking her own father was a stark-raving lunatic. They needed proof, which they didn’t have at the moment.
“So, you’re saying that Mom wasn’t real?” She blotted her eyes with a tissue she grabbed from the coffee table.
“No, not at all.” Grady kept his distance from them. “What I’m saying is—well, when I was younger, I wrote a story.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his ring. “Because of this ring, my characters were able to find me.”
Tim woke from his trance. “That’s the same type of stone Laney has on her necklace. Where’d you get it? I thought the pendant was one of a kind.”
“You know, it just kind of appeared.” Grady shook his head and then smiled as if remembering a funny memory. “I was working on a Studebaker at the garage one afternoon. My leverage on one of the nuts wasn’t making it budge, so I greased it up a bit more. While I continued to work at it, something fell from the gear shaft. I rolled over, thinking it was another nut, but instead found a sapphire ring, the kind football players wear. The spider in the center was different from anything I’d ever seen before. It spoke to me, so I started wearing it.” He looked directly at Tim. “Laney’s necklace found her, too.”
“He’s telling the truth.” The old man needed support. The heaviness of the truth was a bit much for anyone to handle, and Jonas could tell his parents were struggling to connect the dots. “The witch who raised me has the ability to enter books as she pleases. She placed me in Laney’s book and erased my memories. The Wanderer wanted to make sure that I destroyed my own sister.”
“Why would you do that?” Shelly plucked another tissue from the box and blew her nose.
“Because I was the bad guy in her book. I was her Ender. The sole purpose of an Ender when they come outside the book is to change the ending—to make the story go my way.” Jonas stepped closer to his parents as he provided his own despicable truth. “I wanted Laney to kill William Clarke and his entire family.”
“William?” Tim raised an eyebrow and downed the rest of his drink. “As in Laney’s boyfriend?”
“Yes.” He watched his father, especially the hand with the gun. “William’s father is a doctor. He couldn’t save my brother. I didn’t think he put in all the effort he could have to save him.”
“Your immediate response to your brother’s death is to kill a bunch of people?” Tim’s shoulders puffed up, and his finger slipped back onto the trigger.
“It was back then.” He picked up a book from the end table next to him and flipped through the pages. “You don’t understand. When you’re a character in a book, you’re at the whim of the author. You’re not given free will. Laney wrote me as a revengeful alcoholic. Going from a high school student to what she made me in a matter of moments, or pages, is not for the faint of heart. I know now that she was just trying to write a good story, not ruin my life.”
“I’m not sure how to deal with this right now.” Tim placed the gun on the mantle. “Shelly and I are supposed to believe that our son who’s been gone for over twenty years is back from a book world our daughter created. And then on top of that, Rebecca was a character from Grady’s book.”
Stepping forward, Grady laid his hand on his arm. “No. It’s too much for anyone to take. We’re just planting the seed. Hopefully, with time, it will grow into a greater understanding of what Laney’s been through over the past year and a half.” He reached out and took Shelly’s hand. “She’s been through more than anyone her age should have to go through.”
“So, what does this have to do with Jason’s death?” Shelly’s forehead creased as she looked at her father.
Jonas swallowed. This was it. The moment of no return. He wouldn’t find the forgiveness he’d hoped for—prayed for. Once his mother knew the truth, she’d see him as a monster.
His grandfather turned his eyes to Jonas, and an understanding passed between them. The old man knew this was Jonas’s secret to tell, and it belonged to no one else.
Grady squeezed her hand. “We’re still not sure what happened to Jason. It’s something that still haunts Laney.” He sat down on the sofa next to his daughter. “Even though it might take a while to understand what’s been revealed here, you need to know Jonas is your son. Hasn’t he been gone too long to waste another minute without him?”
Shelly’s eyes filled with tears as she stood up and wrapped her arms around Jonas. He’d been hugged by his family in the book, but never by the Wanderer. He crumpled into her arms although he stood at least five inches taller than her. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Tim, whose mouth was set in a firm line, his arms crossed, perhaps unwilling to accept the strange truth from them.
“I think we should find a safer place to take this family reunion.” Brian opened the door to the store below. “We don’t know the Wanderer’s whereabouts, and she could return at any time.”
Although it would take more to convince his father of the truth, a piece of Jonas’s life that had been missing now fell into place, giving him the motivation to bring his entire family back together again.
Chapter 16
William woke to the sound of hushed voices murmuring at his bedside. A dull ache radiated through his leg as he lifted his eyelids. Laney and Nick conversed in the chairs near the window that overlooked a brick building.
“You’re awake.” Laney rushed over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “The doctor stitched you up last night. He said if we waited much longer, they wouldn’t be able to reverse the infection.”
A tall man with red hair and a white coat entered the room, grabbing for a clipboard on his way in. “It looks like our young hero’s awake.” He offered a hand to William. “I’m Doctor Shultz. Happy to be of service.”
“William.” He shook the doctor’s hand.
“I know.” The doctor removed a pair of glasses from his pocket and perched them on his nose. “It tells me right here in your chart.”
If the Wanderer followed them back to Madison, they needed to plan their next steps, not sit around in some hospital room. He lifted the blankets off his legs before noticing the tubes attached to his arms.
“Hey, not so fast.” The doctor placed a hand on William’s arm. “Based on your actions with that bear, I know you think you can take on the world, but even Superman has his limits.”
“Bear?” William glanced at Laney and Nick.
It was Nick who jumped forward and lifted a cup of water from William’s nightstand. “My God! He must have amnesia from the shock. Don’t you remember? We were all camping up in New Hampshire, and that bear came out of nowhere. You chased it away, but not before it took a chunk out of your leg.”
“Oh, right.” He sipped water from the plastic cup. “And can you tell me why you brought me to a hospital in Massachusetts instead of, let’s say… Manchester?”
Laney widened her eyes as she squeezed his hand. “We just thought you’d be more comfortable close to home. But, in our good intentions, the extra time let the infection set in.”
It was obvious she wasn’t used to seeing the playful side of him. At home he teased Sarah constantly and, before the war, was often considered a class clown at school. Being a Watcher had worn on him, but he also knew he’d see this road to the end—even if the end meant his death.
With his thumb, he rotated her diamond back and forth on her finger. That’s why he proposed to her in the middle of all this. He wanted a reason to go on and something bigger to fight for in the craziness that surrounded them. Having Laney as his wife would make any life worth living.
“All I have to say is you’re a lucky young man.” The doctor motioned to Laney, who still held his hand. “Is this your fiancée?”
“He just asked me last night.” Her face flushed, obviously not liking the attention. She had so many characteristics of Anne yet magnified ten-fold.
“Really?” The doctor removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “Was that before or after the bear attack?”
“Before,” they all answered at the same time.
The doctor rose from his stool. “Well, at least your stories all corroborate.” He set the chart back beside the door. “If you heal well enough, you should be out of here before the week’s end.”
William’s head spun with the revelation that this doctor wanted him to spend the week in the hospital. “You need to get me out of here.”
“Your wound could get worse if you leave.” Laney sat down on the mattress next to him. “We know what we have to do. You could stay here and rest and—”
“No. I’m not leaving you, or at least you’re not leaving me.” He played with her ring again. “We’re in this together, and I’m not going to let you face her alone.”
“What am I?” Nick appeared out of a shroud of anonymity, bursting their bubble. “Chopped liver? I protected her this year while you were gone. You don’t think I can do the same thing again?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” William sat up straighter. “You dealt with Jonas. He’s child’s play compared to the Wanderer. You’ve seen what she’s capable of. If it hadn’t been for Jonas and Laney, we’d be dead right now.”
Without another word, he let go of Laney’s hand and removed his IVs, causing several buzzers to sound. He didn’t care because they couldn’t legally stop him from leaving.
“I’m not staying around for this.” Nick grabbed his bag and turned when he reached the door. “I’ll be in the lobby, scouting out the vending machines for a bag of Cheetos.”
* * *
Laney dug William’s clothes out of his backpack, flushing again when she looked at him. The cool draft in the back of his hospital gown reminded him that he had nothing on underneath.
He grinned and kissed her on the forehead, then lifted his clothes out of her hands. In the bathroom, he pulled on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, then inspected his face in the mirror. He could really use a blade right now, but the hospital staff probably wouldn’t be very accommodating to the needs of an escapee. He washed his face and ran his fingers and a small amount of water through his hair to tame it.
Marching down the hall to the lobby, they passed the nurses station. A woman with dark hair looked up from the computer as they passed.
“Sir.” She jumped up from the chair and rounded the counter, chasing after them. “Sir. You can’t leave. The doctor hasn’t given you your exit papers.”
William spun around to face his jail keeper. “I know quite a few people who died to ensure that I had the freedom to walk out if I please. Am I under arrest?”
The nurse gave him a quizzical look and shook her head. “No. It’s just that you need more time to heal, and if you are leaving, there’s paperwork to be filled out.”
They didn’t have time for this, and besides, William didn’t have money or insurance to pay for his visit. “We’ll be back. I’ve got to let my friend in the lounge know we’ll be a while longer.”
An empty bag of Cheetos and a can of Pepsi sat on the table next to Nick as he flipped through a magazine with his feet reclined on a coffee table. He glanced up when they entered the room.
“We’ve got to go.” Laney grabbed Nick’s backpack from the floor. “I can get the money to pay the hospital later, but right now we don’t have the time.”
He jumped up and followed them out the main doors.
“Something’s been eating at me for a while.” Laney removed a ten-dollar bill from her backpack to pay for their bus ride back to Madison. “If all the Wanderer wants is revenge, it seems like a lot to go through… the whole codex thing. I mean, couldn’t she find another way to kill us like she did with Natalie’s mother?”
The bus pulled up, and they found three seats near the middle. Nick leaned back in his seat with his ear buds in and his cellphone plugged into an outlet beneath his seat.
William stared out the window for a minute or two before turning to Laney. “She’s after something more. The Librarian has all the power as the Keeper of the Books. She doesn’t want to kill all the Weavers, just the ones who stand in her way. Her plan must be to control all the book worlds and the Gate Keepers.” He reached over and clutched Laney’s hand. “I’m still trying to work out the details. But I think she believes Brian’s
“How do you kill a Gate Keeper?” She whispered. “Can’t she just kill him?”
“Yes. He’s human but still not easy to kill. When Silas died, it was an accident. He was too careful to let anyone close enough to put an end to his life.” He tapped his finger on his leg. “Maybe the whole Weaver eradication plan is a distraction.”
She raised an eyebrow. It felt pretty real to her when she was almost burned to death in the cottage. “It’s a pretty elaborate distraction.”
“It needs to be to trick a Gate Keeper, but I’m sure she enjoys taking out a few Weavers along the way, especially smart ones like you.” He lifted his bag to his lap as the bus pulled up in front of Madison.
The three got off the bus and walked slowly towards campus, giving William time to hobble next to them. Plans changed as they crossed the quad. It was no longer about obtaining the manuscripts and saving their own lives—it was about saving the life of the Gate Keeper.
Grady pulled his Subaru into the lower parking lot around dinnertime, and the strange assembly exited the car. Tim still seemed disillusioned as he scanned the area for any would-be assailants. Shelly reached over and took his hand.
“We should go grab some dinner before locking ourselves up beneath the castle.” Jonas’s stomach growled. It had been hours since he’d eaten anything.
Brian shook his head. “The four of you are to go immediately to the cavern beneath the castle. Grady? You remember how to get there?”
“Yes.” He shrugged on his coat.
“I’ll order a couple of pizzas from the dining hall, bring them down, and then we’re locked in.” Brian removed a key from his jeans pocket and handed it to Jonas.
“And what about saving Laney from this fantasy world you’re talking about?” Tim stepped forward. “If we have to close shop for a few days over the busiest shopping period to save her from these mythical monsters, I want to start immediately.”
“You are not going to save her.” Brian glared at the older man as he stood above him. “Your job is to stay safe so you can be there for her when all of this is over.”
They entered Taylor Hall through the front doors, passing students leaving their last classes of the day.
Jonas smiled at the receptionist as they passed the front desk. “Thought I’d take my parents and grandpa down to see Wentworth Chapel. They’re here visiting for the weekend.”
“We’re glad you’re here.” The overly friendly woman shook their hands and scooted over to open the door to the basement for them.
“And where are you taking us again?” Tim clung to the wall as they descended the stairs to the basement. “Because this doesn’t exactly look like a safe place. You all right, Grady?”
“I’m fine. I know you won’t believe it, but I’ve been down here before. Not exactly the best of circumstances.” He made sure he had both feet firmly on a stair before attempting the next one.
When they reached the large room at the bottom, Jonas lit several more candles and then found a place to sit and wait for the Gate Keeper to return with the food.
The dining hall was packed to capacity as Laney scanned it for a place to sit. She found three empty chairs squeezed in by the windows at a table full of students. Just as she set her tray down, Nick rushed over with napkins flying off his tray.
“Brian’s ordering pizza. We’ve got to get over there… now!”
