Mr. Anderson continued to drive in the opposite direction of Shaney’s mother’s house. “Are you going to take the long way around? Because I really need to get some dry clothes.”
A shiver ran from his head to his toes. A flicker of pain stabbed his abdomen, radiating outward. Not now. This energy thing was a fickle bitch, disappearing and reappearing at will.
“How’s your assignment going?” Mr. Anderson asked as he maintained his usual stiff posture.
“Good.” Please, don’t ask me about today.
“And how did today go?”
Shit. Truth? Or dare to lie? “Well, you see, today was...” The pain seized in his chest, and the familiar tingling filled his arms. No creeping up this time. Just full on stabbing pins and needles.
Mr. Anderson gave him a knowing look. “Today was what, Shaney?”
Shaney clenched his teeth. Damn, this was coming on too fast. “I didn’t go today.” Just slap the cuffs on him. Hoosegow, here I come. Although, he would explode into a million Shaney pieces before he could make it to jail.
Mr. Anderson actually chuckled. “I know, Shaney. See, I know a lot about you. Things you probably don’t even know.” Of course, he did. Evil knew everything
Enough with the drama. Panting through the agony, Shaney managed to speak. “Yeah, so?” That alien monster that was in his head was about to pop out of his stomach like that movie The Thing where that guy’s arms got eaten off. Shaney angled his body toward Mr. Anderson. If it ate his probe officer, at least something good would come from Shaney’s death.
“It means I can help you. Help you with what’s causing that pain in your gut right now.”
Shaney backed against the door, eyes wide. “What?” Swirling torrents of pain muddled his thinking. Why had he run from the safety of Hudson?
Because he lied to you.
Mr. Anderson patted Shaney’s leg. “Just hold on a few more minutes, Shaney. We’re almost there.” His probe officer’s concern confused Shaney.
Before Shaney could question him, another painful spasm gripped the muscles in his body. This was getting to be ri-fucking-diculous. A wave of nausea doubled him over, and he stuffed his head between his legs.
The car stopped and Mr. Anderson exited. Barely managing to sit upright, Shaney gained enough air to bark out a loud laugh. Illuminated in the headlights, Maximus towered in all of his annoying, menacing glory.
Of course, Mr. Anderson was in on this. Who the hell wasn’t? How about his mom? She could be surprise guest number four. Hell, she knew Silas after all. How about his fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Nells? He bet she still wanted revenge on Shaney for setting her desk on fire.
Maximus strode around and ripped open Shaney’s door. “Welcome back, Shaney. Missed you,” Maximus said, a lascivious grin crossing his face.
Shaney prayed to lose consciousness as Maximus hoisted him from the car, but no such luck.
Maximus returned Shaney to his cell and unceremoniously dumped him onto the bed. Shaney’s back arched as spikes of red-hot heat plowed through him.
“F-f-fuck!” Shaney managed to stutter out.
“Shaney!” Todd rushed to him, his expression harried. Shaney wanted to grab his best friend and hold on tight.
Caleb appeared with a large, gleaming pair of metal scissors in hand. “Tie him down. I can’t do this with him thrashing around. Why the hell aren’t you with Hudson?” Caleb asked as he cut up the middle of Shaney’s T-shirt, exposing his chest. “I purposely let him waltz out of here with you because it was clear that he’s your Mediator.”
The pain muddled any retrospection on that comment. “S-Silas.”
Caleb blinked those owl eyes. “He’s here already?” Caleb shook his head. “Damn, I need more time.”
Time for what? To kill me?
A bolt of energy seized Shaney’s body and his eyes clamped shut.
“Do something, Caleb!”
Todd’s panic cut through Shaney’s muddled mind. He wore the same tortured look as when he’d chained Shaney to that wall. Shaney grasped Todd’s arm, and his best friend fell to his knees, burying his face in Shaney’s hair. No matter how misguided, Shaney loved Todd and needed him.
“Max, go get him. Use any means necessary to get him here. I don’t know how long I can control this.” Caleb’s usual confidence was gone, and that scared Shaney worse than taking a girl to the prom.
“No Silas,” Shaney pleaded.
For the second time since they met, Caleb slapped a cold metal disc onto Shaney’s chest to curtail his death. In some culture, somewhere, that probably meant they were now married. The symbol dulled the intense pain. A moment of cognitive clarity hit Shaney. “Silas. Don’t bring him here.” Shaney tried to rise, but Caleb held him down with surprising strength.