The Gryphon Project by Carrie Mac

Author:Carrie Mac [Mac, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Literature
ISBN: 9780143168140
Publisher: Puffin Books
Published: 2009-08-04T00:00:00+00:00

HE WASN’T OPENING his door. Nadia banged on it again.

“Open this door or we will break it down!”

No response.

“Come on, Neko.” Phee leaned her forehead against the death metal posters and KEEP OUT signs. At home, Neko seemed even younger than when he hung out with Gryph and the guys. Nadia said Phee used to change his diaper when he was little, but Phee didn’t remember. “Let us in.”

Still nothing. The two girls slid to the floor and sat cross-legged, blocking the way. “He can go out the window,” Nadia mentioned after they’d been sitting there for a while. “He always sneaks out that way.”

“I know. But do you think he would?”

“Maybe.” Nadia nodded. “He stayed out all night. His friend is dead. He’s upset. Just because he’s grounded doesn’t mean he’s going to stay put. Look who he hangs around with.”

“Neko!” Phee reached up behind her and pounded on the door. “If you don’t open this door I’ll get an axe and chop it into little bits.”

Another moment passed, and then they heard him. “We don’t own an axe.” His voice sounded so small and scared that Nadia immediately started crying.

“Oh, Neko, come on, honey,” she begged through the thin wood. “Open the door!”

They heard footsteps and then the lock releasing. The girls scrambled to their feet. Neko opened the door a crack. He was pale, his eyes bloodshot. He stared at the girls.

“Neko—”

“I’m not talking.” His head was bowed, his black hair falling across his face. “None of us are. So don’t even bother.”

Nadia was immediately indignant. “You owe Phee some answers.”

He kept silent, but Phee could see his reserve shaking. He’d been in with Gryph and his friends only since the New Year, after chasing Gryph’s shadow his whole life. “Sorry, Phee.” His voice was even smaller. “I’m sorry.”

“What happened?” she asked as gently as she could, setting aside her impatience and trying for kindness instead. “You can tell us. We won’t tell the guys that you said anything.”

“He tripped.”

Phee stared at him, her arms crossed. “He did not.”

Neko tried to shut the door. “Oh, no you don’t.” Nadia stuck her foot in. “Tell us what happened.”

“I can’t.”

“You can!” Nadia tried to shove her way into his room, but he resisted, barring the door with his shoulder. “You can tell us, Neko. We promise we won’t tell.”

“I just can’t.”

Phee reached for one of Neko’s hands, and he let her take it. She held it in both of hers and looked him straight in the eye. “My brother … my brother is dead, Neko. He’s dead, and I need to know what happened. I need to know.”

With a glance at each of the girls, Neko relaxed his grip on the door.

“Now, talk.” With a graceless heave, Nadia pushed the door open, overpowering her little brother. Phee followed her into the room. The shades were drawn, and it stank of dirty clothes. Empty plates scattered the floor, and the desk was heaped with junk. There was nowhere to sit but the bed, but the sheets reeked of teenage boy, and she didn’t want to sit.

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