“So, we work together in the future.”
“Not only that. I’m going to live with you guys.”
“That’s nice to know,” Ted said as he resumed walking. “Cid, you’re my best friend.”
“You’re mine,” Cid said. “Now, I want you to promise me something.”
“What?”
“Promise me when I get as handsome as Superman that you’re not going to be jealous.”
Ted smiled. “I’m not sure I can do that because Superman is awesome.”
“But you get the girl,” Cid said. “You get Mia, and you have three kids.”
“I guess that’s some compensation for having to live a life with this noble nose,” Ted said. “I do like her.”
“I can see that,” Cid said.
They approached the wall. Ted lowered his pack as he surveyed the area. He looked at the small bridge with the deep ditch on either side. “First thing we need to do is make a few circles of salt so we can protect ourselves if the ghosts come out,” Ted instructed. “Also, we need cover if those Others show up,” he said, walking over and looking in the ditch.
“They won’t get here until Saturday,” Cid said.
“But they may already have spies here. We must plan for all contingencies.”
“You’re right again,” Cid said.
Murphy picked up Mia and flew her upwards to the small opening in the bricked-up window. He couldn’t stay there long with the salt seal so near.
Mia reached an arm in and broke the salt line with her hand. She pulled her arm out.
Murphy pushed his axe through and pulled back, taking a dozen bricks with it. Quickly, Mia was pushed in the opening, falling headfirst into the cell.
Murphy stood guard at the window to keep the ghosts of the building out if they chose to try to enter that way.
Mia got to her feet and rushed to Burt. He was breathing, but it was concerning that he didn’t wake with all the racket she and Murphy caused.
“Come on, Burt,” she said, shaking him, “wake up. I need you to wake up. It’s Mia.”
Burt didn’t know if this was another dream, but he forced his eyes open. Before him was the pale concerned face of a child. If it hadn’t been for those moss-green eyes, he wouldn’t have known her. “Mia?”
“Yes, it’s Mia. Where is the candle?” she asked, pulling his pack towards them. “You have to snap the candle in two. It will take us back to our time. It’s very important.”
Burt forced himself to sit up. “It’s with my lighter,” he said.
Mia searched and found the lighter, but the candle wasn’t there. She emptied the pack, methodically searching for the candle. It wasn’t there.
Murphy moved half in and out of the wall. “Mia, what’s wrong?”
“I can’t find the candle. Burt’s so weak. We don’t have much time.”
“Cid has a candle…”
“Saint Michael’s doghouse! I’m so stupid! Of course, Cid has the candle. He took it to wish us back in time. But he can’t break it because we’ll end up in this cell with Burt dead.”
“Dead? I’m not dead,” Burt protested, getting to his feet.
Mia looked at the battered teen. “We have to get you to the candle or the candle to you,” Mia said. “Murphy, can you cut that window bigger…”
“I don’t think that’s a good way to go. Look,” he warned.
Mia stuck her head out the window and looked down. The deer-woman stood down at the river looking up at her. “Shit, we’ll have to go through the hospital.”
“Tell me, Mia, why do I have to break this candle?” Burt asked, putting his hand on her shoulder to steady himself.
“You made a wish, remember?”
“The birthday party. I didn’t really know I was wishing. I said… Crap, I can’t remember, but I understand that I did something.”
“The candle was a volo candle. There is a caveat to the candle. It will grant your wish, but it affects everyone in the room. You took us all back with you. Murphy and I remembered because I’m a sensitive and he’s a ghost. We retained our memories as you did.”
“I started out early with the intention to get to Mike, but I stopped here… Why did I stop here?” he asked.
“Mia, we don’t have time for this,” Murphy warned. “Listen!”
They heard the fireworks starting.
“We have to get moving. If anything happens to me and Murphy, you get to Cid and tell him Mia says you have to break his candle.”
“Break the candle,” Burt said.
“Snap it in two,” Mia said.
“Snap it in two,” Burt repeated.
Murphy took a swing at the cell door and shattered the hinges. It fell into the room with a clang. On the other side was the ghoulish mushroom-raising ghost. His look of disappointment at Burt still being alive was replaced with the outrage that Murphy, another ghost, was trying to take his planter.
“Mine!” he shouted, advancing on Murphy. He picked up his walking stick and took a swipe at Murphy.
Murphy caught the cane with his axe. Spectral splinters rained down upon them both. Mia pulled Burt through the door during the confusion. She headed towards the only door she could remember which was in the glass-topped lobby. She put a restraining hand on Burt’s arm at the end of the hall. She walked slowly out into the atrium. The sky was rapidly losing the light. The high tree line stopped the setting sun from illuminating the room.
Burt put a hand on her back. “Mia, I can’t see them, but I feel them.”
“Me too. I think they’re at the windows watching Ted and Cid’s roman candles. Let’s try to walk out as if we belong here.”
Burt took
