68. The Balloon

Oli’s parents give me hugs before I leave.

I feel I know and trust them even though I’ve only been around them for an hour.

I thank Mr. Meiners, then head out of the barn and back toward the tracks. I feel lighter, like a balloon full of helium. Except instead of helium, it’s hope.

The light almost seems to drip through the treetops in these woods. The leaves and the color are coming back now. It’s nice to see and hear the life filling back in.

I almost walk right by him.

Almost.

But I stop and dart my head and eyes toward the thing that’s out of place.

It’s not the object but the color.

Something orange.

Then I see a figure move behind a tree.

“Hey,” I call out.

That’s when he runs.

Whoever it is, he starts heading to the tracks.

I hesitate for a second until I see the face look back at me.

Jared.

The guy who told me he was my cousin, only to take advantage of me. I take off after him.

He’s running fast, but so am I. He looks back at me, and I see that he’s got a faint beard and mustache, and for some reason that reminds me of something.

New Year’s Eve.

Spying on the group of hooded men out to make a sacrifice. Hiding in the trees and then being found by one of them.

Fighting with him and taking off his hood.

It’s the same guy.

The same guy I wrestled with and shot. The one with the boyish look and the attempt at a mustache and a beard.

But if I shot him, then how—-

The Falls.

Maybe they made him better the same way they made me better. Maybe Kinner helped save him or heal him.

I keep running now, even more angry and intent on catching up with him.

He’s fast, but I’m faster.

He’s strong, but I’m stronger.

Jared breaks into daylight by the train.

Where’s a train when you need it?

I’m only seconds behind him.

I’ve been waiting to see him. Waiting to let him know exactly what I think about his lies and about him burning down the Crag’s Inn.

Soon I’m close enough to launch myself and tackle him. We both go tumbling down the embankment to the railroad tracks.

I hear his heavy breathing as I grab his arms, then his neck, and then see him cover his face as if I’m going to punch him.

“Why’d you do it?” I ask.

He launches an elbow that makes me curl up breathless. Then I feel another elbow crack over my cheek. Jared shoves me away and gets back on his feet.

From somewhere he produces a gun, pointing it directly at my forehead.

“Lay off, or I swear I’ll put a bullet in you that counts.”

I’m sucking in air and wincing from the blows. Jared spits, then curses.

“You’re so stupid, you know that?” he says.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m spying on you. That’s what I’m doing. Follow me anymore and I’ll shoot you.”

“Why are you spying on me?”

“You just don’t learn, do you? You don’t get it.”

“You’re a liar,” I tell him.

Jared laughs. “And you’re a sucker.”

He looks around and then wipes his mouth. “It’s so easy with you. I swear. I think they’re wrong about you. You’re not special.” He slides the gun back in his belt. “You touch me again and I’ll kill you.”

Not if I kill you first.

He starts walking away slowly, without a care. It makes me wonder why he bothered to run in the first place.

When I’m finally back on my feet, I no longer feel like a balloon. Unless it’s one of those that’s come back down to earth and gotten tangled up and torn in tree branches.

Jared’s time will come.

I know that.