Gatekeeper by Alison Levy

Author:Alison Levy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: SparkPress
Published: 2020-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

10

COINCIDENCE

Bach kept a respectful distance from the slinking brown coat as he watched it creep around the house. Curious though he was, the sight of a coat that moved all on its own dredged up a primitive fear in him that froze his feet to the floor every time he tried to edge his way closer. The only time it passed close to him (it appeared around a corner unexpectedly, causing Bach to jump backward), he snuck a glimpse down the open neck hole. There was nothing inside. The coat was moving as if suspended in midair by a puppeteer’s strings. At this revelation, all of Bach’s hair stood on end and his heart leapt like a rabbit that’s just heard a hawk’s hungry shriek. From that moment on, he was ever vigilant, intent on making sure the coat did not catch him unaware. He followed it and watched it and tried not to think too hard about what was making it move.

Rachel arrived home close to five o’clock with her eyes full of thought. Much to Bach’s surprise, she walked right past the shuffling coat without so much as a glance, yet she shot a brief glare in his direction. She seemed less concerned with the coat’s presence than she was with his.

“You’re still here?” she mumbled.

His stomach lurched at her irritated tone. “Well,” he said quietly, “I have nowhere else to go.”

She looked him up and down. There was a strange mix of intensity and detachment in her face, as if she was a scientist studying a specimen. Bach shifted his weight, uncertain of his place in her home and fearful of returning to the larger world, where the only roof over his head was a rusted bridge. Rachel took off her jacket and tossed it over the banister. Then she brushed past Bach and headed for the kitchen.

“You can’t stay here forever,” she said over her shoulder. “You’re Notan. This is an Arcanan house. You don’t belong here.”

Bach started after her, but the coat drifted across the kitchen threshold, blocking his path. He stared at it, silently willing it to move, but instead it settled down, its fabric crumpling like a balloon losing half its air. With one hand on the doorframe and his feet firmly planted, Bach leaned as far inside the kitchen as he could without making contact with the thing. From where he was, he couldn’t see Rachel, but he could hear her moving around.

“How long will you let me stay?” he called out.

He heard her take a long, deep breath. The refrigerator door opened and then closed. There was a soft clatter as dishes and silverware were moved around. He waited, holding his breath so as not to miss a sound.

“I don’t know,” she finally groaned. “I don’t wanna think about it right now. Are you hungry?”

“Hell yeah.”

“I’m making burgers. Want one?”

The mention of food made his mouth water like a busted faucet. With his sanity only recently returned, he couldn’t remember when he had eaten last, but he knew his stomach was painfully empty.

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