“Time is important,” Ted acknowledged.
Mia was about to mention that she knew a time traveler, but Glenda signaled for the check.
“Kids, we’re going to go about this search as adults,” Glenda insisted. “A young man’s life is at stake. My friend gave me an idea of where the asylum is, but if we don’t find it right off, I’m going to alert the local police that we think this is where Burt was going. It’s more important for Burt to be found than our finding him.”
“I agree,” Mia said. “Also, if we are attacked, I would like us to scrap the mission. I don’t want any of you to get hurt.”
“Are you going to stop?” Mike asked.
“Murphy and I will continue. We’re used to fighting monsters.”
“But you’re twelve,” Ted pointed out.
“Murphy more than makes up for my physical inadequacies.”
“What if something happens to Murphy?” Ted asked.
“I guess I’m screwed then,” she said, scratching her head.
~
The rain had let up by the time Glenda and Mike pulled the cars over and parked them on the verge. The group loaded up their packs with ghost-fighting and survival equipment. Glenda carried the shotgun the way her father taught her. She had it broke open over her arm with the muzzle angled at the ground. No one dared question whether she knew what she was doing.
Mia kept her hands free.
They started walking east on the north side of the river. It wasn’t long before they spotted remnants of a spray-painted X on a tree. Murphy moved ahead of them and returned and reported to Mia, “The building is about a half hour walk in that direction.”
“Go ahead and see if Burt is there,” Mia said.
“No.”
“But why walk that way if he’s not there?” Mia reasoned.
“I’m with you,” Murphy said stubbornly. “Besides, I can’t search that place all by myself. It’s massive.”
“K,” Mia said, looking up at the ghost. They locked eyes and more passed between the two of them in seconds than could in hours of conversation.
Mike nudged Ted. “You can’t compete with that.”
“Neither can you, asshole,” Ted said.
“I know the future has you two paired, but when you blow yourself up, Mr. Scientist, I’m going after her.”
Ted shook his head and walked away.
Cid walked up to Mia and asked, “Did he see anybody in the forest? Are there other searchers?”
Murphy shook his head before he disappeared.
“K. Let’s get started. I’ll follow Murphy. I can see him without him manifesting.”
Cid fell in line behind Mia. Mike kept even with his mother, assisting her over brambles and pointing out hazards, offering her an arm which she took a few times. Ted paralleled the group, checking for signs of anyone else in the forest.
They climbed up until Mia found areas of the old drive. “This should be easier going,” she said. The group was able to spread out and walk at their own pace. She stopped a few times and looked behind them.
“What?” Mike asked.
“I don’t know. This doesn’t feel right.”
“Mia has Spidey sense,” Ted commented.
“Murph?” she whispered and pointed to the right of them.
“I hear breathing,” Cid said. “Over there,” he said, pointing in the opposite direction. Cid pulled out a strap and secured his glasses tightly to his head.
Mia turned around slowly. She called out, “What do you want? We can see you.”
Glenda loaded two shells into the shotgun, clicked it shut, and trained it on what she deemed a threat.
A tall thin man wearing a Burberry duster walked out of the forest above the road’s grade. He approached slowly, showing his hands. “I’m looking for Mia Cooper.”
“You found her,” Mia said. “What is your business with me, Other?”
The man quickly hid his look of surprise. “Have we met?”
“I have met your kind before,” Mia said. “What is your contract?”
“That’s between me and my customer,” he said. “I would like you to leave your group and come with me.”
“I’m sorry, but that’s not happening,” Glenda said. “She’s a child and will stay under my protection.”
The Other turned his head and motioned for his partner to come out from under cover. This stouter man was sizing up the small group of humans. He too wore the Burberry uniform of his partner. Mia could see weapons contained on his body as he moved.
“Miss Cooper, we don’t want to hurt your friends, but we will do anything to complete our contract,” the approaching Other said.
“Show me the contract. I know it’s my right to see the contract before you collect me.”
The two Others stopped moving.
Mia hissed, “When this breaks loose, get everybody to the hospital. Get to Burt,” she said to Mike.
“There are only two of them.”
“They have six other goons with them in the forest. We’re outnumbered,” Mia said and added, “The weapons we made will only work on ghosts.”
“How do you know we’re outnumbered?”
“I read the first man’s mind as the second one approached,” Mia said. “The important thing is for you to get to Burt and get him to break the candle.”
“I can’t leave you.”
“I have Murphy. They haven’t
