Page 79 of Fallen Thorns
“Great things, Arlo. Unimaginable greatness. I chose you for a reason. You were never meant to be like them.”
What does he mean?
“You have the power to do whatever you want now. Your life is limitless. You can befree.Forever.”
Like a god.
“If you just let me guide you. You will find yourself.”
Guide me. Help me.
“I won’t treat you like a child. You are so much more than they all realise.”
I am not weak.
I am not weak.
His mouth tilted upwards in pride as he watched something unlock within my consciousness at the same time I felt it happen. The thing that laid dormant in me since the day I died.
His doing. Not Lucy.
“Now,” he said after a beat. “I’ll be seeing you again shortly. Ponder that proposal will you, Arlo? You know I’m right.”
He started to retreat. “Oh, and remember Arlo, you can’t trust them all. They all hold such dark secrets.”
My body didn’t movean inch and I watched him slip away as quietly as he came.
My body doesn’t move an inch and I watch him slip away as quietly as he came.
I letthe next thirty minutes pass me by, returning to the chair.
Mars was not a minute late. “Have you really just been sat there for a whole hour?” they asked lightly. “Anything then?”
“Nothing.”
They chewed at the inside of their mouth. “Oh well, it was worth a try. Let’s get you moving again. I’ll update Marianne and we’ll head back up.”
I nodded.
“Are you sure everything is alright?”
“Always.”I smiled.
ChapterNineteen
I need to learn patience. It is, I’ll admit, my downfall.
But he has now realised what must be done.
Iawoke with a skull splitting headache. It was well past noon, so my watch showed, and I was still with The Thorns. Heaviness overcame my limbs as I sat myself up and swung my legs over the side of the bed. I couldn’t for the life of me remember what had happened the night before, a common occurrence by this point. Outside was deathly quiet, which only added to the disorientation.
A call came from outside — Mars — and the door burst open a second later, no regards for privacy.
“God, you’re awake! Finally. I heard movement.” They were almost out of breath.
“You were waiting outside for me? Since when?” I was suddenly aware of the fact I was sat in my pyjamas while Mars was fully dressed up in a winter coat and boots. I really had overslept.
“Not long, I’m not a psychopath. I figured you needed the sleep, though. You’ve still got to get used to it.”
