DOBREV by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-11-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9:

Lila Flirts With Achille, Who Flirts With Death

Dobrev hadn’t lied to his adopted family since he reunited with Achille. His anxiety learned a valuable lesson, and the now thirteen-year-old did his best to make sure that newfound knowledge stayed firmly in place. Being open and telling the truth was an easier confrontation than lying and being caught later. Not by much, but the difference was significant to Dobrev Reign, who pretended to be someone braver when he told his aunt he was going to the public library and might stop by Achille’s house afterwards.

“Okay. I’ll text you when dinner’s ready—be safe!”

Yeah. Elena’s gentle warning was much better than being approached by a steaming Ian in the backyard…

Dobrev meant to be at the library longer, but he couldn’t stay focused on the contents of Dracula for longer than a few pages, and so left early and began wandering Ghoulsby in search of a better place to read. Winter was nearly upon them, trees becoming bare and extra spooky, streets recovering from last night’s frost, sidewalks already littered in salt that had a different meaning to Dobrev and Achille than it did to the rest of the residents.

Lonely ghosts were still wandering, unfazed by the change of seasons, gazes just as empty as they were in autumn—Dobrev was relieved to know that his expression had definitely changed for the better since the arrival of earth’s final season.

I could go home and try to read, I guess , the boy pondered, reaching the end of the sidewalk. But it’ll be snowing in the weeks to come, and I like reading outside. Where could I go?

Dobrev paused, feet meeting yellow grass where the sidewalk ended—whistling attracted his attention right, where the Ghoulsby Forest stood proudly, tall trees completely stripped, floor covered in fallen leaves and branches pulled off by the wind. Normally, Dobrev would have sprinted in the opposite direction at such a chilling sight, but then he remembered the ghostly children who played and roamed the forest. He hadn’t been there since his birthday, when he went with Achille, and the idea that the children missed him allowed Dobrev an excuse to slowly make his way through the mass of winding trees.

I hope I don’t get lost. How does Achille not get lost all the time? Dobrev wondered, holding the book tightly to his chest as he crept over fallen branches. Maybe…I can feel my way through.

Dobrev would never admit to trying out his psychic powers like this to anyone, except maybe Mina, and maybe Everly, because she would get a good kick out of it. Achille would probably be horrified by Dobrev’s pathetic attempt, but since the sixth grader really didn’t want to call his uncle to come find him in the Ghoulsby Forest, he had to at least try and figure out where he was going.

“Okay…how do I even start to?...”

Sighing, Dobrev dared to close his eyes, exhaling a deep breath and focusing his mind on a particular image. He could picture the abandoned playground.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.