Witch and Wizard_ The Fire - James Patterson [82]
I’m aghast. “I thought it was all gone. Wiped out by the New Order.”
“Amazing what kind of magic can happen when good triumphs over evil,” Dad says seriously. “Never underestimate the difference it can make.”
“Stuff actually looks pretty much the same,” Wisty quips.
“Yep, even the same leaky pipes, same garage door that sticks, same bathroom needing a coat of paint,” Mom says wryly, looking at Dad.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m on it,” he replies, but they’re both smiling from ear to ear.
He takes her hand, and they turn around in their seats to look at us.
“Do you know how very, very proud of you guys we are?” Mom says, tears glistening in her eyes. “You’re the most courageous, compassionate kids — nearly adults — that any parent could ask for.”
It sounds cheesy, but Wisty and I are seriously beaming like a couple of morons.
“We owe you so much,” Dad continues. “Not just our freedom, or our home, but our lives, and each other. Without you we’d be —” My parents lock eyes, and Dad’s start to well up.
“Dad, you don’t owe us anything.” My voice cracks.
My dad shakes his head as if waving the emotion away. “All I’m saying is you did good, kids.” He squeezes my shoulder and then Wisty’s hand. Tears are streaming down my sister’s face.
We sit like that for a minute, just thankful for one another, and then Mom starts laughing and wipes the water off her cheeks.
“So what are we waiting for?” she asks so brightly that we all laugh, too. “Let’s get our house back.”
Feffer barks her assent from the back, and we follow her out of the van and walk together up to the front steps. Wisty looks up at me, and I nod.
“This is as far as we go,” I tell my parents, stopping on the porch.
Mom looks concerned. “You’re not leaving already?”
“We have to, Mom,” Wisty says, hugging her. “There are still things we have to do out there. Evil didn’t die just because The One did.”
Dad frowns. “Evil is going to be there anytime you look for it. The work will never be done. Maybe you should take some time to be yourselves, to just be kids for a bit.” Wisty looks at me. We both hesitate, but we know what needs to be done.
“It feels like we stopped being kids a long time ago, Pops,” I say gently. “You guys let us be kids for as long as you could, and we had an amazing childhood. But now we know who we are — what we are — and that we have a bigger responsibility.”
Dad looks at Mom, who nods, pressing her lips together. I can see the anxiety on their faces, but they know we’re making the right call, and they’re proud, too. “All right, then. Come back and visit. We’ll be here this time. I know you’ll take care of each other and trust your instincts, and I hope you’ll always follow your hearts.”
He turns to me. “And, guys?” My father gives each of us a long look filled with conflict, and I stare at him questioningly. But in the end he just shakes his head decisively and shrugs. “Come here” is all he says, enveloping Wisty and me in a fierce hug. He grips the back of my neck. “Just be careful,” he whispers.
“Always.” I nod.
As we walk away from our parents once again, I know that there’s so much more about this world to understand and learn. But this time, I’m ready.
Chapter 87
Wisty
WHIT AND I pull out of our driveway in our rusty old van that we recovered from the local N.O. OFFICIALS ONLY lot. We may be unsure of where we’re going, but we’re positive we’ll find friends when we get there.
Our street buzzes with activity. There is still evidence of the mass destruction caused by The One — leveled buildings and unused watchtowers casting shadows on the rubble below — but in just a few days since the collapse of the New Order, you can already feel change afoot.
For one, there are people everywhere. Not soldiers in black boots waving automatic rifles but everyday citizens emerging from behind their blackened