The Winter War, epub Read online

  A new, more intense pain exploded in Xavier’s leg. He grabbed hold of his knee, aware that something terrible had happened, for this was unlike anything he had experienced before.

  “Blake, you all right?” He looked up to see Coach Cav and a ref gazing down at him. His teammates crowded around, concern on their faces.

  “Yeah, I’m fine . . . just felt something go pop in my knee.” He winced with the pain and tried to get up, but every movement of that knee brought instant agony.

  The coach and Daryn helped him up. Xavier hopped on one leg, leaning on them until he got to the bench. Jonathan’s dad, who happened to be a doctor, knelt in front of Xavier and felt around his knee.

  “I don’t think it’s broken,” he said. “But you’ll need an MRI. I suspect it’s a torn ACL.”

  Xavier groaned. A torn ACL was a season-ending injury.

  The doctor put an ice pack on Xavier’s knee and wrapped it in a gauze bandage. Xavier’s mom and dad came down from the bleachers, their faces painted with worry. Someone ran in with a wheelchair. Xavier wanted to refuse. “I can walk. Just give me a minute!” But in the end he got into the wheelchair. His mom wheeled him out of the gym while his dad went to the locker room for his clothes.

  Xavier sat in the back of the car, the throbbing in his knee made worse by the realization that he was out for the season. No more basketball.

  Evan got into the seat beside him. Xavier turned away from him, looking out the window to avoid his gaze. Evan was wise enough not to try and talk to him.

  Once home, his parents helped him get to his room and into bed. His mom gave him a fresh ice pack and some Tylenol for the pain.

  “I’ve already made an appointment,” she said. “Thankfully, the office is open late tonight. We’ll get in for the MRI first thing in the morning.”

  “Mom, what will they have to do if it’s my ACL?”

  “Well, you might have to have surgery, and rehab,” she said with a sigh. “Could be a few months.”

  Xavier said nothing. His mom left the room, turning out the light.

  Xavier lay on his bed a long time, unable to sleep, thinking about what had happened. He glanced over at his closet door, which was open, and saw the stick Ruwach had given him.

  “So that’s what it’s for,” he said to himself, the bitterness rising in his throat. “It’s a crutch.”

  CHAPTER 16

  Home at Last

  Day 16

  Levi sat in the back of the car, waiting for his mom to emerge from the hospital entrance with his dad. He played a game on his phone to pass the time and squash his nervousness. He tried to picture Mr. J. Ar walking out of the hospital, hand in hand with his mom, straight and tall as always. He longed for that.

  When the sliding doors finally opened, Levi saw his dad in a wheelchair, pushed by his mom. His heart sank. But then Mr. J. Ar stood up—a little slowly, but he stood. On his own two feet. He grabbed his wife’s hand, and she walked with him toward the car. They were moving really slowly, but that was probably because there were still patches of ice and snow on the sidewalk.

  Levi jumped out of the car. “Hey, Dad!” he said, running over to him.

  “Levi!” said Mr. J. Ar. He grabbed Levi’s head and pulled him close. Levi used to feel nearly smothered by his dad’s hugs, but not this time. He wrapped his arms around his dad, careful not to hurt him.

  The three of them walked the last few steps to the car. “Still a lot of snow around,” Mr. J. Ar said as Levi’s mom helped him into the passenger seat.

  “Yeah,” said Levi. Usually snow in their area melted pretty quickly, but it had remained cold, and the snow had stayed. “They said on the news that we got forty inches.”

  “Forty, huh?” Mr. J. Ar took a deep breath. “Not surprised.”

  “They had to bring snowplows in from other states to clear it all. School was out for a week.”

  “Man, I missed a lot,” said Mr. J. Ar.

  “Everyone got their seat belts on?” asked his mom. Mr. J. Ar reached for his belt but had trouble buckling it. Levi’s mom had to help him.

  “Still a little sore,” was all he said.

  As they drove home, Levi’s mom told her husband that so many people were waiting to come and see him that she had to start an appointment list.

  “Let them all come at once,” said Mr. J. Ar. “The more the merrier.” He coughed slightly. The sound made Levi’s hair stand on end. “What’s this I hear about Xavier?”

  “Oh yeah. Guess he took a bad fall at the game last night,” said Levi’s mom. “Torn ACL. He’s out for the season.”

  “Oh, that’s a shame,” said Mr. J. Ar. “That’s gotta be tough for Xavier.”

  Especially after he messed up the battle, Levi thought to himself, though he didn’t say that out loud. He was trying not to blame Xavier too much. After all, Levi hadn’t really been much help in the battle, being so distracted by the news he’d just gotten about his dad’s illness. He wished he could get a do-over, replay the battle, stay with Ivy and those Finnish twins instead of following Xavier. If he’d been thinking more clearly, he might have even been able to talk Xavier out of doing what he did.

  He also wished he’d had a vision of what was really there, as he had at the battle on Cedar Hill against the Glommers. Then he had seen the unseen warriors aligned with them in battle. That was the gift Ruwach had given him. But at the Bridge of Tears, he’d seen nothing.

  Maybe it was because he hadn’t even been looking.

  Levi’s mom started talking about all the flowers and baked goods that had come for Mr. J. Ar, especially from the parents of rec center kids who were so grateful to him for all he’d done for them. He’d provided their kids a safe place to hang out; he’d encouraged them to work hard and keep fighting for what was right. He was like a dad to many kids who didn’t have a dad of their own.

  Levi began to wonder, for the first time, why his dad did those things. Why he had decided to give up his career as a salesman for a big company to work a part-time job at the rec center, coaching basketball and helping kids with their problems.

  Levi suddenly remembered the metal scar on his dad’s elbow that Ruwach had healed the last time Mr. J. Ar had been in Ahoratos with them. That scar had been a reminder of something in his past he had never told Levi about. Maybe he was still ashamed or embarrassed. Maybe it was something so terrible he couldn’t even tell his own son about it.

  When they arrived home, Levi helped his dad get out of the car and walk into the house. Mr. J. Ar’s hand rested upon his shoulder, giving him an assurance that everything was going to be okay now.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry,” said Mr. J. Ar.

  The house was full of flowers and gifts. Handmade get-well cards graced every surface. The kitchen table was set for three, with a big soup tureen in the middle and a basket of warm bread. The smell was heavenly.

  “Looks like some angels have been here already,” Mr. J. Ar said with a deep chuckle. “Although if those angels really loved me, they would have brought me a double-stacked cheeseburger and a bucket of french fries.”

  “Well, the angels know you are only allowed to have soup right now,” said Levi’s mom with a grin.

  The three of them sat down at the table. Mr. J. Ar said grace, as he usually did, and Levi’s mom started dishing out the soup.

  “Gumbo! My favorite,” said Mr. J. Ar.

  Levi’s stomach had been all in knots, but the aroma of the food awakened his appetite. He dug into the soup and grabbed a roll from the basket. He glanced up once to see his mom smiling at him. Then she reached over and grabbed her husband’s hand.

  “Do you think you’ll be able to come back to the Rec soon?” Levi asked. “I mean, everyone wants to see you.”

  “Oh, I’m going to try,” said his dad. “How are the kids
doing?”

  “I don’t really know. I haven’t been around them much.”

  “I see.” Mr. J. Ar considered his son for a long moment.

  “Well, I need to get back to the hospital for rounds,” said Levi’s mom, glancing at her watch. “You two be okay for a while?”

  “Sure,” said Levi. “I’ll take care of . . . everything.”

  “I’m trusting you to make sure your dad doesn’t go out and start shooting baskets,” she said with a stern smile. “He’s got to behave himself until the sutures are removed.”

  “Okay.”

  Dr. Arthur said her goodbyes and left the house. Levi started to clear the table. There was a long silence before Mr. J. Ar spoke.

  “Why don’t you tell me about the battle?”

  Levi started telling him all the details, including the way Xavier had made a bad decision and led them all into a trap. He couldn’t hide his own bitterness at this turn of events.

  “I understand your feelings, Levi. But wouldn’t it be better to think about what you can do to change things rather than focus on what other people did or didn’t do?”

  Levi sighed. “Maybe.” He sat back down in his chair, slumping a little. “It just made me mad. Xavier is always the leader. He thinks he knows how to do everything better than the rest of us. Ruwach seems to think so too. He even gave him a gift.”

  “Oh? What was it?”

  “Some big old stick.”

  “I see.” Mr. J. Ar sat back in his chair, smiling a little. “A big old stick,” he murmured to himself. He seemed to be thinking of something else, as if the mention of the stick had triggered some long-forgotten memory. Then he heaved a big sigh. “Well, I’m sure that will come in handy, one way or another. Hey, son, help me up the stairs, will you? Think I’ll take a little nap.”

  Levi swallowed a lump in his throat. His big, strong father needed help climbing the stairs. But he got up and once again put his arm around his father’s waist and helped him get to his room.

  “We’ll talk more later,” Mr. J. Ar said. “I love you, son.”

  “I love you too, Dad.”

  The bedroom door closed. Levi turned around to head back down the stairs.

  But something was in his way.

  The Crest.

  CHAPTER 17

  The Way Up

  Levi found himself in the middle of nowhere.

  Literally.

  At least, that’s what he thought. He knew he had to get to the Water, but there was nothing around that looked remotely like water. All he saw was red dirt stretched out on either side of him, kicked up by a hot wind so that it stuck to his skin and coated his eyelashes.

  At least it’s not winter here, he thought.

  Not sure what to do, he pulled his shirt up over his nose to avoid inhaling the dust and started to walk. In a few minutes, he saw a group of square yellow buildings that looked like abandoned warehouses.

  He picked up his pace and headed toward the buildings. Maybe one of them held the Water. He’d learned to expect the unexpected when traveling to Ahoratos, especially in the In-Between.

  He noticed that the buildings were laid out in straight rows. He counted. Four rows with ten buildings in each row.

  Forty.

  He started walking down the first row, trying the doors. There was only one door to each building, and no windows. The first door was locked. So was the second. In fact, all the doors were locked. The first row and the second. Levi started to get nervous, moving from a walk to a trot.

  But the first door of the third row was unlocked. He turned the knob, then hesitated. He suddenly wasn’t sure he should go in. And yet, an unlocked door seemed like an invitation. Maybe the Water was inside. Besides, the more time he spent outside, the more dangerous things might get. He took a deep breath, turned the knob, and opened the door very slowly.

  It was completely dark inside. Even with the door open, no light spilled into the room.

  “Hello?” Levi said. He stood in the doorway a moment until he was sure nothing was going to jump out at him or fall on his head. Then he took a few steps inside. He couldn’t see any water. He couldn’t see anything.

  “Why are you here?” said a voice from the dark.

  Levi was startled but not afraid. For some reason, the voice didn’t sound scary. It sounded old and a little tired. It wasn’t a friendly voice, but it wasn’t unfriendly either.

  “The door was unlocked.” Levi tried to guess where the voice was coming from. But it seemed to be coming from everywhere. And nowhere. There was a weird smell too. Kind of rancid and sweet at the same time. Like the smell in the Garden the last time he was there.

  “What are you looking for?”

  “I was looking for the Water. But I guess it’s not in here.” Levi turned to leave but then stopped. “Who are you?”

  “You don’t know me?”

  “You sound familiar. Are you . . . a friend?”

  There was a silence.

  “No,” said the voice. “But I am not an enemy either.”

  Levi considered that. “Why can’t I see you?”

  “That is not allowed. Just yet.”

  “Are you . . . the Source?” Levi held his breath, waiting for the answer.

  The voice let out a low chuckle. “No. We are—acquainted, however.”

  “What is your name?”

  “Go quickly. Find the Water. The way up is down.”

  Suddenly a violent burst of wind coming from inside the building blew Levi off his feet and backward through the doorway. He landed on his backside, and the door slammed shut on him. Stunned, he picked himself up, brushing the red dust off his pants. The red . . . it reminded him of the Garden.

  Levi tried the door again. This time it was locked.

  He stood for a moment, wondering what to do. He realized it was starting to get dark. Although he could see no actual sun, it was as if something were pulling a shade down over the world.

  He had to hurry.

  Forty buildings. Forty doors. He ran down the rest of the row, trying the doors. All locked. Then it occurred to him that if the unlocked door had locked, perhaps another one had opened. He raced up and down the first two rows again, trying door after door. The dark was coming on quickly. The hot wind turned colder. Levi felt his heart racing like mad in his chest. He sensed the dark actually pursuing him, searching him out, just around each corner.

  And then, a knob turned. Levi threw himself against the door as the dark fell hard and the cold wind blasted his back. He rushed into the building and slammed the door shut behind him.

  He leaned against the door, struggling to catch his breath. He could no longer hear the wind. All was silent. He looked around, shocked.

  He was not in a building at all. In fact, he was back outside, staring at rows of buildings in an endless red landscape. But it was still light. He wondered if he had just passed through some sort of time portal. He needed to find the Water. Quickly.

  When his knees stopped shaking, he started to run again, trying all the doors to see if another one would open. Once again, the dark began to fall, starting at one end of the rows and working its way toward him. Levi frantically searched for the right door. None of them opened.

  He got to the last locked door and dropped to his knees in despair, certain the dark would get him this time. There was no escape. Then he noticed that at this end of the rows, the ground was not red but white. A large white, rounded bowl, like a dry lake bed.

  He got up and went over to the white area, kneeling to touch it. Maybe it was snow.

  No. Salt.

  The dark was so close. It had already covered all the buildings and was headed right for him.

  Then he remembered the voice.

  The way up is down.

  Levi bent forwa
rd and started digging through the salt. Almost immediately, he found water. It was thick and briny with salt. Levi kept digging. That’s when he saw it: The Crest. Bubbling to the surface, crystallizing. Like salt. Levi gasped in relief.

  He shut his eyes, held his nose closed, and dove in headfirst.

  CHAPTER 18

  The Glimmer Glass

  Welcome back, Levi.”

  Ruwach was there in the Cave, waiting for him. Levi was glad to see Ru, but also curious, because he was the only one there. That was unusual.

  He wondered if he was in trouble. Maybe for not helping more in the battle. Maybe for yelling at Xavier and blaming him for getting them trapped in Skot’os. But he was sure Ruwach knew what he was going through, and he would understand.

  Levi took a slow breath. “Ru,” he said, “I met someone, in the In-Between. Well, I didn’t actually see him; I just heard his voice. Who is he?”

  “Didn’t you ask him?” said Ruwach.

  “Yes. Well, no. It was weird. He actually helped me get here.”

  “Did he? How interesting.”

  “Does he work for you?”

  “In a way. But he doesn’t know it.”

  “Ru, what’s going on? I mean, this guy—he’s here because of the Winter isn’t he?”

  “Yes.”

  Levi waited, but Ruwach didn’t explain any more.

  “I brought you here to give you something.” Ruwach glided toward Levi and raised up one long, glowing hand. In it lay a thick round piece of glass marked with a series of concentric ridges. Levi picked it up. It was about the size of his palm.

  “Thanks,” Levi said. “What’s it for?”

  “It is a Glimmer Glass. It will help you see . . . the things you cannot normally see.”

  “Oh. Cool.” Levi held the Glass up to his eye and peered through it. He gasped. The Sparks, those tiny specks of light bouncing around the Cave like dust motes, appeared now as huge shining warriors in full armor.

  “It’s like on the hill, before the battle with the Glommers,” Levi said. “I could see them then.”