Page 56 of Deceiver

“I can’t. I’m being attacked and I need him to help me.”

“No,” my dad says, “you need me to help you. That’s why I brought you here. To help you.”

I tilt my head, trying to make sense of what he’s saying. “I thoughtyouneededmyhelp?”

“We help each other,” my dad says. “I’ll keep you safe from that man. He’s a troublemaker.”

I shake my head. “Wilder’s not a troublemaker. He’s trying to help me.”

“He’s trying to get rid of me.”

“Well, yeah, because you don’t belong here. We’ve been over this before. It’s good to see you, Dad, but…” My words trail off as my brain goes hazy, like clouds are moving in, blocking my ability to think clearly. What the hell?

“What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” my dad asks, stepping closer to me.

“I feel weird. Like something’s happening to me.”

“I don’t know. You seem fine.”

“This is a dream, right?”

I glance up, but the space around me is blurry. I can just make out my dad’s form, but he’s not moving closer to comfort me, he’s watching me.

“No, Keagan, this is not a dream. I brought you here because I need you to do something for me.”

“Okay, Dad,” I say, even as my stomach twists in knots. “What do you need me to do?”

“There’s someone I have some unfinished business with. If this works, you can help me tie up all the loose ends I left behind, and then I can rest in peace.”

“Okay, Dad, whatever you say.”

“That’s my boy. It’s really easy. I don’t need much from you right now, I just need you to relax and trust me. Can you do that, Keagan?”

“Relax,” I repeat, moving into a sitting position. “I can relax.”

“Yes, and learn to trust me. I’m not gonna hurt you. I would never hurt you.”

“Never hurt me,” I repeat, even as some desperate part of me tries to push through the fog in my mind.

It’s too strong, so I give in, exhaling slowly and lying slumped against the ground.

“You’re safe with me, kiddo.” My dad’s voice settles over me like a warm blanket, and the shivering stops. “It doesn’t even hurt,” he says.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, vaguely aware that his words don’t make sense to me.

“That’s it, Keagan, you’re doing fine.”

“What? What am I doing?”

Suddenly I feel light, as if I’m floating and gravity doesn’t exist anymore. I glance down at my body, but it doesn’t feel like mine. I’m so weirdly disconnected from reality.

“Just a little bit more.” My dad’s voice reaches me, but I can’t see him anymore.

“A little bit more what?”

I wake with a jolt, gasping for air.