The Screamers don’t fight fair; you shouldn’t either.
To my darling girl:
For as long as possible, do not report my “death” to the Enclave. I owe them nothing, and they’ll find out soon enough.
Have a funeral anyway.
If Adele hasn’t arrived, call her. (I suspect she’ll arrive.)
In the back corner of the pantry, you’ll find the necessary supplies.
In the coming months, you’ll need to break some rules.
Trust that you’ll know which ones.
Always know that you are loved.
Lastly, memories are precious; keep them close.
I tell him briefly about my mother’s last months, about hospice. In his eyes, I see the lingering sadness.
He nods, purses his lips, and says, “Yes. My father, too.”
Again, I want to reach for his hand, but I hold back.
Then I tell him about the morning my mother vanished: the strange light, the screech of music, the man who came to take my mother away. She must have known him; after all, she didn’t fight, didn’t beat her fists against his chest, not that she had the strength. In fact, she looked content in his embrace. If not for me chasing after them, I think she would’ve been completely happy to leave.
“I thought he was taking her to the housing development, but they vanished into the silo instead.”
“Is the silo like the housing development, then? Do you tend to it?”
I shake my head. “There’s nothing to repair. It just sits there and is wrong.”
Henry nods thoughtfully.
“Have you ever heard of such a thing, Agent Darnelle?”
He raises an eyebrow at me.
“I mean, Henry.” His name feels soft and forbidden against my lips. And? If I’m being honest? Absolutely wonderful. So I ask again, “Have you ever heard of such a thing, Henry? Of people vanishing like that.”
“It’s not unknown.”
“So strangers from other…”
“Dimensions,” he supplies.
“Strangers from other dimensions pop in and abduct random people.”
“I’m only guessing here, but I don’t think this was random or that the man was a stranger, to your mother, at least.”
He’s right. “How come I’ve never heard of this before?” This is important information. You’d think they’d cover this sort of scenario at the Academy.
“It’s classified.”
Oh. That’s why.
“The eyewitness accounts we have are suspect, at best,” he adds. “The official stance is that, in theory, it could happen, but it’s doubtful it does. I suppose the line of thought is that the knowledge might be more harmful than helpful.”
