Page 98 of Praying for Thunder

Dio fell into me.

Grims was suddenly there, steadying him while telling everyone, “Just in shock. That’s all.”

When Dio started to tremble, his skin heating up again, I wrapped my arms around him. “Diablo, breathe with me.” I was confident the Stallions didn’t know of his secret.

“That’s right,” said Grims to Dio. “You have him now.”

Dio’s back expanded with his deep breaths, then the heat subsided.

Grims suggested, “Maybe we all should talk outside and give them a minute.”

After the tent cleared, Dio dared to look up at me. Then he fell back on his butt. “Was that real?”

Swallowing, I nodded. “Yeah, I had forgotten my friend’s—the foster girl’s—screams until now. What does it mean?”

He rubbed a shaky hand down his paling face. “I don’t know.”

“How’d Onus make me forget?”

Dio nibbled on his lip ring. “M-Maybe you were just in shock.”

My throat tightened. “I haven’t heard the Voice in years.

He looked at me sideways… “What are you saying? That you heard it just now for the first time?”

I nodded. “And it told me to listen.”

He was getting annoyed. “Listen to what?”

“Whatever that memory meant.”

“I don’t care what the memory meant.” He got up on his knees. “I’m here to take you home—” He snapped, “Why do you keep scratching your hand?”

“Huh?” I peered down.

He flipped it over and examined my palm. “What’s this scar from—” He yanked his hand away. “Youch! Is it not burning you?”

“No.” In disbelief, I stared at my palm. “Dio… he cut me that night.”

“Grims,” growled Dio, in an animalistic low tone.

Grims came in. “What—”

Dio pointed. “This scar.”

Grims came and grabbed my hand, only to yank his away like Dio had. “What the—” He looked to me. “How’d you get that?”

My ears rang… “Onus. He cut himself, too. Then,” I clapped my hands together. “Mine and his.”

Staring at me, Grims took steps back. “Cleaner, something’s going on here.”

“But what?” asked Dio in a growing panic.

Grims took another step back. “Diablo, this ain’t good.”

Dio stood in a rush. “Tell me something I don’t know, like what the fuck happened to my boy.”

Grims clasped his hands behind his head and pulled. “Ah, shit. His nightmare—back at your apartment—the fire—”