Page 111 of Goldilocks
Eric’s pupils were the same size, which Sam took as a very good sign.
“Better.”
They stared at each other, Sam taking the time to find his words. “Roan made it to the ocean okay?”
“He wasn’t happy about leaving you, but yeah. He got there. I promised I’d bring you to the water as soon as you woke up, so we’re going to have to make a stop before heading home.”
Sam wondered if Eric had been told about the ghoul. Had someone explained the details to him yet? Before he could ask, red caught his eye at the kitchen doorway. He frowned, spotting stacked canisters of gasoline.
Eric followed his gaze. “They were in the attic. Fionn said they probably belonged to Gary.”
Had Gary come here to hurt Sam? And in exchange for that malice, he’d met something far more fierce than he was.
“The house stinks,” Eric said. “Everything in it. I couldn’t find a single book or T-shirt that doesn’t smell like a dead body. I got out all the photos I could. Most were ripped to pieces.”
Sam looked from the gasoline to Eric. “You want to burn it?”
“If that’s not what you want, we won’t,” Eric said. “But Sam, I think it’s safer for all of us—”
“Burn it,” Sam agreed. He would never set foot in the house again. He never wanted to see it again. He never wanted Eric in the house again. He never wanted his dad in it either.Dad. Sam forced the thought of Oisín away and lifted himself to sit up. An orange glow on the horizon, the opposite direction of the setting sun, lit the night sky.
“What’s that?” Sam asked.
“A fire. Apparently someone was burning gorse, and it jumped the road and spread. It’s been dry all week, so the grass is catching faster than anyone can stop it.” Eric rose to his feet. “Nobody’s going to look twice at our place. Let’s just make sure we have the hose running and it doesn’t spread.” His eyes were on the apple trees. “Dad would kill us if we let those robins lose their house over this.”
Sam studied the sky as he got to his feet. He’d spent enough time over the years watching the sky to identify an on-coming rain shower. “I’ll get the hose. We should move him, shouldn’t we? There will be bones left behind otherwise.”
“They’re both gone already,” Eric said. And when Sam asked where, Eric wouldn’t tell him.
Eric led the way to the front of the house where Ivan and Fionn were leaning against his car, talking in low voices. They both turned as they came out of the garden. “All ready here?” Eric asked.
“Ready,” Ivan confirmed.
Through the open front door, Sam saw that all the doors inside had been opened, and part of the wall halfway down had already collapsed.
Ivan followed Sam’s gaze. “That monster threw Jasper so hard into the wall the thing collapsed on the both of us.” His mouth twisted into a grimace. “Glad there was only one.” He went with Eric to get the gasoline.
Sam stood by Fionn, who was examining where his car was crumbled into the side of Sam’s house. “Story is, I came to visit. Accidentally drove into the side of your house, and the car caught fire, which then spread to the rest of your house and burned it down. You promise not to sue me, right?”
“I promise.”
“You going to be okay? With your dad?”
Fionn shrugged. “I guess I’ll see.” There was worry in his eyes, but he flashed Sam a smile anyway. “Car’s smashed already. Can’t do anything else about it.”
Eric had matches, but Ivan snatched them from him and threw the match that ignited the gasoline, and in that hot, dry, unnatural heat, Sam’s childhood home burned up like gasoline-soaked kindling.
***
Hours later, Sam and Eric were sitting on the end of the dock at Connor’s house, bare feet dipped into the water. After everything, Eric told him he was due another round with Adonis – apparently Eric had been filled in on that after also experiencing it himself – and Trevor insisted they all spend the night.
“I left him in the house with that thing,” Sam said. The ocean breeze was cool on his skin, and the ink-black water before him lapped in a soothing lull that didn’t reflect what he felt inside. Guilt, keener than Jasper’s dagger, stabbed him deep within. “I left him alone to be devoured.”
Eric’s arm wrapped around Sam’s shoulders, and he buried his face in his hair. His exhales were shaky, and his fingers were ice cold. “And I left you both.” Eric’s voice shook. “To that thing. I can’t remember it, but I know it. I know it.”
“I think he must be why I don’t remember you,” Sam said. “And I’m sure there’s so much more in my head missing. And Dad…” Sam exhaled. “Does he even have dementia, or was that thing just eating his mind?”
“It’s dead now.”