The Law of Three by Caroline Rennie-Pattison

Author:Caroline Rennie-Pattison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV028000, JUV039220
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2007-12-14T05:00:00+00:00

Confrontations

Date: Friday, November 2

Location: School and Byron’s House

Nobody else in my family seems to have a problem with impulsivity. Only me. Why is that? Today took the cake. I stewed all through the night because I didn’t tell Dad about Nathan Tremball’s little vandalism spree, and I continued to worry about it all morning. It was like I was obsessed. That might help explain my behaviour when I saw that red-headed, freckle-faced Neanderthal heading for the gym. I made a beeline for him, without putting my brain into gear first.

“Nathan, wait up!” I called.

He turned, startled to see someone he didn’t know calling his name.

“Hi. My name is Sarah Martin. Do you have a minute?” I asked, totally ad libbing because I had no plan.

“Yeah, I guess so. What’s up?” he asked, looking puzzled. We walked towards the lockers, out of the main traffic area of the hall.

“I need to talk to you about Halloween night,” I said. No sense beating around the bush.

“What about it?” he asked warily.

“I saw what you did at the Hoppers’ house.”

He took a step away from me, suddenly on his guard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. How many times have you vandalized their house, Nathan?”

He threw up his hands and backed away from me as though I had leprosy. “Whoa. Hold on there. I wasn’t anywhere near the Hoppers’ house Halloween night, or any other night. You got the wrong guy.”

“I don’t think so. Grim Reaper, right?”

He stared at me, his eyes fierce. I stared right back. To my amazement, his face suddenly crumpled. “I shouldn’t have done it,” he said, putting his hands up to his face. “I know it was wrong.”

“Why did you? What made you so mad when you looked into that window?” I asked.

He dropped his hands. There were no tears, but his eyes looked hollow and empty. He spoke quietly, “I saw them doing some kind of ritual. They’re witches and devil worshippers, you know.”

“Byron told me they weren’t.”

“He’s lying. His sister put a spell on my brother. And it killed him!” he said fiercely. “It killed him!”

“What did you see through the Hoppers’ window?” I asked.

He stared off into the distance. “I saw this weird room that had an altar with little statues of people on it. Candles were burning everywhere. The Hoppers were sitting around something on the floor. I couldn’t tell what it was. Probably a small animal they were sacrificing or something …”

I shuddered.

“They were holding hands and chanting strange words. I couldn’t make out what they were saying. Something evil.” He looked at me, eyes haunted. “They’re devil worshippers, I tell you. What they were doing wasn’t normal. That’s why I threw the rock through their window. To stop them. I think I saved somebody’s life. Somebody else’s brother. I know it was wrong, but I’d do it again, if I had to.” He glared at me, challengingly.

I didn’t doubt that Nathan truly believed he’d stopped the Hoppers from doing something harmful.

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