“I got nipped a couple of times but I’m fine. Just sore.”
She opens the Metro’s door.
“Get in the damn car. We’re going to the clinic.”
I shake my head.
“I’m going to Teddy Osterberg’s. I’m not letting that corpse fucker kill one more person. If you’re going to be part of what I do, you have to understand this is how things are sometimes. I’m used to bleeding and being hurt and they don’t have a damn thing to do with finishing the job.”
She stalks away, spins, and walks back again.
“You’re such a fucking guy. I bet you never stop and ask for directions.”
“If I stopped and asked for directions, I wouldn’t end up in Hell so much and where’s the fun in that?”
Candy gets in the car, which is a good thing because the ground trembles and opens where she was standing. I go to the edge of the hole.
“Not now, Cherry.”
“The girl is on a rampage. You have to save us.”
“Up here too. She’s not going to stop until I get Teddy, so crawl back into your box and hide.”
“If you don’t kill her, I’ll never leave you alone. I’ll pull the floor out from under you and drop you so low you’ll be a cripple . . .”
I get in the Metro while Cherry is still talking. Traven looks a little alarmed.
“You were talking to a hole. Why?”
“Sometimes you need to remind the dead to stay dead. Maybe I hurt her feelings. She’ll get over it.”
“Who?”
“After we deal with Teddy, I’ll tell you all about it. Now please, can we just fucking go?”
Traven starts the car and pulls away from Blackburn’s, aiming us at Malibu.
“Why do we hate Teddy so much that we have to go there now instead of patching you up?”
“Teddy kills people and eats them and I don’t know if he does it in that order. And if he keeps killing dreamers, the world is over.”
Traven nods.
“I understand. But maybe we could stop and at least get you some bandages?”
“Also, Teddy seems to have a real taste for kids.”
Traven stops the car.
“Drive, Father.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t just leave you bleeding. I have towels in the trunk. You can at least staunch your wounds.”
“Fine.”
Traven pops the trunk and Candy grabs a couple of towels. I stuff them under the armor. The pressure feels good but I can’t help wondering a little if Traven doesn’t want me leaking all over the back of his car.
While Traven drives, Candy reaches between the seats and squeezes my bloody hand. I squeeze hers back.
What am I supposed to think about someone like Teddy Osterberg? I want to kill him
