The bully looked up at Steven with brimming eyes.
“You know effin’ karate?”
“What’s that?”
“Jerk,” Ralphie growled. “I’m gonna kill you for this!”
Steven just stood and watched him. It didn’t occur to him to turn and run away. In his mind, he had more right to be here than the bigger boy.
Suddenly Ralphie found his strength. He picked up a fallen branch and came running after Steven, ready to hurt him. Steven backed away now, but too late. The branch swung toward him . . .
. . . and somehow stopped just inches from his head.
“What the . . . ?”
Ralphie struggled to move his arm, still wielding the stick up high, but he couldn’t. It was as if some invisible hand had taken hold of his wrist.
“What are you doing to me?” he cried. “Cut it out!”
“I’m not . . .”
The wind began to blow, gently at first, tossing the detritus on the forest floor. But within seconds it began to pick up speed, rocking small branches and knocking leaves from the trees. And as Steven stood watching him, Ralphie Mercken went completely ashen. Something dark and nameless began to surround him, a sense of fear so palpable it seemed to be carried on the wind itself.
Ralphie, never so terrified in his life, began to scream.
Something’s coming for me! Something’s coming to get me!
“I’m gonna die!”
The wind blew furiously, knocking the stick from Ralphie’s hand. Inexplicable fear had turned him from a bully to a frightened little boy, and he gazed at Steven with pleading eyes.
“Don’t let it hurt me! Stop it! Stop!”
Ralphie felt something knock him to the ground. All the nightmares he’d ever had, all the fears of being hurt by his unloving parents, all the dark and evil threats he’d ever heard, seemed to be whirling around him, waiting to tear him apart.
Steven watched all this in wonder, afraid because of Ralphie’s behavior and yet unable to understand what had turned the bully into the screaming boy who thrashed about on the forest floor.
And then he heard another scream, from behind him. He turned quickly and saw Tatiana, still dressed in her church clothes, gazing at Ralphie with a shocked expression.
“What’s going on?” she cried, her voice barely louder than the wind. “What’s wrong with him?”
“Nothing!” Steven yelled. “It’s a trick! Go home! Go away!”
Tatiana glared at him. Fear of the scene before her was momentarily pushed aside by indignation. How dare this newcomer chase her from her own property?
“I’m telling my father!”
She turned to run back to the house, leaving Ralphie screaming. Steven began to run after her.
“Wait! You’ll ruin everything! Don’t go!”
But Tatiana was too far ahead to hear him. Steven tried to run after her, but something grabbed hold of him. There was nothing there. Steven stopped, expecting the same thing to happen to him that had happened to Ralphie Mercken. But the pressure on his arm stopped, and at the very same moment, so did the wind. Ralphie was silent, lying quietly on the ground.
Steven heard a voice. It seemed to come from inside his head, and yet, at the same time, from all around him.
Don’t be afraid.
Who said that?
Steven was surprised he answered from within his mind.
I’m a friend. I’m here to help you.
Did you . . . did you make that happen?
Though his eyes were open, his mind still formed the vague image of a boy.
I didn’t really make anything happen. It’s all illusion. You can do it too.
Steven thought for a moment. Somehow the voice in his head seemed natural, and he wasn’t afraid of it. But he was full of questions.
Why can’t I see you?
We’re too far from each other. But you will, one day soon. You can call me Marty, Steven.
Steven felt his heart skip a beat.
How did you know my name?
I have always known you. Steven, you told the girl she’d ‘ruin everything.’ Why did you say that? What do you know of all this?
I . . . I don’t remember saying that. I don’t know what it means.
In truth, he did remember his words. But the thought of saying something that made no sense was too much to deal with. Instead, he walked to Ralphie’s unconscious form.
Is he dead? Did you kill him?
No, but he’ll never bother you again. I’ve been looking for you, Steven. When that boy tried to hurt you, your emotions were so strong I was able to find you.
Why were you trying to find me?
There are others like us. We’ll be meeting each other soon. You’re a very special person, Steven. But you must not let anyone know this. You mustn’t tell anyone what happened here in the woods.