*
The night had come by the time Famine drove the cart back in front of the mausoleum. The storm had abated some and the torrent had become a constant thick drizzle. Beside him, Devon giggled mischievously. Famine shot him a glaring look and the ghost stifled his laughter with his hand. A quick glance at the front windows showed figures frantically moving within. Every torch in the front windows burned brightly. Surely they must’ve noticed the missing vehicle by now…it was only a matter of going in to see of they had. If they hadn’t then it seemed, to Famine, to have been a waste of time. Yes, the ride itself was fun, but he had taken the cart to prove a point, not for a joyride.
“Let’s go in,” he said getting out, ”I want to see what they have to say.”
Devon hopped off noiselessly and joined him as he walked up to the front door. “I think you did great! I can’t wait to see their faces!”
Famine opened the door and walked in. The Reaper, Llorona, Ankou, and Morrigan all looked in his direction with looks of surprise and anger. Morrigan rushed up to him with a huge smile across her face.
“You’re home!”
Her relief was short lived. When Devon stepped from behind Famine, her face fell and she sneered at the ghost.
“Yeah and as you can see, I brought company.”
“Hello, Devon,” she replied with an icy tone, “How are you?”
“I’m just dandy, thanks for asking.”
Ankou approached them with a look of worry and concern. “Did you see the cart when you came in? It was stolen a few hours ago. We’ve called the Death Patrol but they haven’t seen anything.”
“Yeah, it’s out there,” remarked Devon off handedly.
Ankou, Morrigan, and The Reaper rushed to the door and threw it open. Much to their relief, the cart was sitting in the front yard. The horses looked in their direction and snorted in what seemed to be a greeting. Ankou ran out and began to inspect his carriage with meticulous care. The look on Llorona;s face was sullen, she looked down at the floor shaking her head. Morrigan turned her attention to Devon. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion and kept the same cold tone she had taken with him seconds ago.
“Odd how the cart showed up just as you two got home…”
“What are you suggesting?” asked he putting his arms across his chest.
The Reaper got behind Morrigan and laid his hands on her shoulders. Famine couldn’t see the face from beneath the hood of the cloak but he knew the tone of voice too well. The old man was angry. “I think she’s suggesting you took it, young man. Does she have any justification in that?”
“You’re crazy. We were just out walking around,” he answered.
“Walking in the rain? That might be OK for your friend, Famine, but not for you. Why aren’t your clothes dirtier? You should be covered from head to toe in mud if that was the case.”
“Just tell him, honey,” said Devon giving both Morrigan and The Reaper a look of disgust.
“Yes, tell us, honey. We’re living to know.”
Famine turned away from everyone and walked towards the fireplace. “Yes! I stole the damned cart! Is that what you want to hear? I stole it and I’m glad I did!”
Llorona finally spoke. “Defiance can be dangerous. You never know who can get hurt.”
“I don’t care who gets hurt, mother. Nothing matters but me and Devon.”
No one said a word. From outside, they could hear the softly falling rain and Ankou talking to himself. Devon joined Famine as he once again faced The Reaper and Morrigan. “Don’t you feel better now? Getting that off your chest?” he asked.
The Reaper removed his hood. A bright red glow burned from within his eye sockets. He pointed a bony finger at the two teenagers who stood defiantly before him. “You’re in a world of trouble. Do you realize what you’ve done? The Death Patrol was called!”
“I don’t care! I don’t care about any of this stupid crap!” shouted Famine.
“You better care. I don’t think you realize the seriousness of your actions.”
“Why,” asked Morrigan standing alongside The Reaper, “did you do this? It’s not like you.”
“That’s exactly why I did it! You guys think you know me but you don’t! You don’t know me at all!”
“You treat him like a brainless child. He’s so much more than that. No wonder he hates it here.”
“You shut up, Devon. This is none of your business. You’ve done enough. Famine wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for you,” Morrigan spat back.
“Thank evilness for that! I’m his liberator. You’re all just his jailers.”
Llorona was now getting riled. “No, were are his family. That means something.”
Devon spat and said coldly. “Shut-up, bitch. It means nothing.”
The Reaper stepped up and glared down at the ghost. “I suggest you leave now before I get any angrier.”
“What are you going to do? Huh? You can’t do anything to me! You’ve missed that chance! I can go where ever I want!”
Just then Ankou walked in shaking the excess water from his hat. “Looks like everything’s fine. I called the Death Patrol and let them know it was home.”
As he surveyed the situation, his face went from relief back to worry. He didn’t like the way everyone was looking at him. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Devon and Famine are the ones who stole your cart, Ankou,” answered Morrigan.
The old soul collector shut the door and approached his nephew with disbelief. “Is that true, child?”
Famine nodded. “Yes, I took it.”
“Why?”
“I’m not gong through that again! You just have to ask everyone else here.”
“I’m guessing that Devon put him up to it,” said Morrigan.
“That’s right, I did. Want to make something of it, you nosey little wench?”
Morrigan gasped and took a step forward. “Are you going to let him talk to me that way, Famine? I thought we were friends.”
“You thought wrong,” he answered waving a hand at her, “I don’t need friends like you. You like to keep me submissive, too. You’re nothing more than a boring little spoiled rich girl with the personality of wet cardboard!”
Morrigan began to cry. She tried to defend herself but the tears came faster. She sat on the sofa, crying over one of its overstuffed dusty arms. Llorona sat beside her, offering comfort with a hug.
“That was uncalled for, child. You go apologize right now. That girl cares about you and you don’t treat her that way,” Ankou said.
“I can do whatever I want, Uncle. It’s none of your business.”
“Look here, I’m willing to forget about the cart. You were upset and weren’t thinking when that little ghost friend of yours talked you into it. You caused a great deal of trouble but no one or nothing got hurt in the process. However, I’ll be damned to be alive if you stand there and disrespect your family and friends.”
“Don’t you lecture me. You’re not my father and you can’t tell me what to do.”
The Reaper stepped forward and in front of Ankou, who was now crestfallen. “You’re not going to stand in this house and talk to any of us that way. Do you understand?”
“Then maybe he shouldn’t be in this house,” Devon said boldly.
“I told you to stay out of this,” The Reaper hissed.
“He’s right. If I can’t be what I want to be or do what I want to do, then I should go somewhere than I can.”
“You’re not going anywhere. Devon’s going to leave and you’re to stay in this mausoleum for the next fifty years.”
Famine got right in The Reaper’s skeletal face and looked at him with intense loathing. “You’re not going to do anything of the sort. You’ve kept me prisoner for too long already. You tell me that you care about me but you don’t. I’m just a prize for your collection. I’m just a freak that you took pity on. I’m no better than the dog Ankou brought home. You keep me around so that you
can show off the freak to your friends. And on top of it all, I saved your bony ass from The Hunter! Some gratitude you show! Well…no more! I’m done with you and this whole nasty family! I’m leaving!”
Famine backed off. The Reaper’s eyes began to lose their glow. “What do you mean ‘saved my bony ass’?”
“As if I’d tell you now. Ask Morrigan.”Devon took Famine’s hand before any question could be asked. “Come on, let’s go. You can stay with me. Forget these pathetic losers.”
They pushed themselves past The Reaper and opened the front door. Ankou called after them. “Don’t leave, child. Don’t listen to that ghost. Stay…we can work through this.”
Just as Famine was about to leave, he turned to his uncle. The rage had subsided. “I’m sorry, Uncle. I can’t. I don’t have anything against you. You’ve never hurt me. I’m sorry I have to hurt you.”
Before Ankou could respond, Famine and Devon went out. The rain had started coming down heavy again. The cart driver ran to the door to see if he could see them, but they were lost in the downpour and darkness of the night. The Reaper came up behind Ankou. “I’m afraid of what he’s going to do next, brother. I think I just made another horrible mistake.”
“No, you did everything you could. We just have to wait and see what happens next.”
Morrigan got up from the sofa wiping her face. Her eyes were puffy and red and she talked with a choked voice. “I’m going to follow them.”
The Reaper and Ankou looked at her with shock. “That’s not a good idea, honey. You don’t know where they’re going,” said the cart driver.“That’s the whole point. I don’t trust Devon. He could be taking Famine anywhere. I have to make sure he’s safe.”“I think she’s right, brother,” said The Reaper, “let her go. If he’s leading the boy into any more trouble, we need to know.”
Morrigan smiled at them. “Thank you, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Just as she was leaving, Ankou grabbed her shoulder. “Be careful, child. We’ll call your mother and let her know what’s going on.”
“I will, Mr. Ankou.”
With that, the girl was gone. Ankou walked towards the dining room. “I’ll get a hold of The Banshee.”
Llorona got up from the sofa and held The Reaper’s hands. “I know you’re blaming yourself now. But you can’t do that. This was bound to happen no matter who was involved. We just have to see what happens.”
The Reaper nodded, “I know but sometimes you just have to questions decisions you’ve made.” He walked up to the fireplace and looked at the wooden box on the mantle. He rubbed its smooth surface and stroked his chin in thought.
*