Darkborn by Matthew Costello Read Free Book Online Page B

right up to the back door,” Kiff hissed.
    Will nodded.
    There was a small patio in the back, and one chair. A statue, a fountain of some kind, stood surrounded by overgrown ivy. But one arm of the fat cherub statue was broken off, and the fountain listed to the left. It was speckled with black and moldy green.
    Is this where old Mr. Scott comes out to do his reading? Grade his papers? Will wondered.
    He turned back to the door.
    “Get close,” Kiff said angrily. “Somebody might look down. Block me —”
    Will leaned over, watching Kiff. He held a piece of wire.
    A straightened paper clip, it looked like. Kiff kept fiddling with the lock. Then cursing. There’d be a hopeful click. And then Kiff would say shit , or damn , or anyone of the other powerful words from his special litany.
    “I thought you said that you knew how to do this.”
    “I do. Just shut the hell up.”
    Will shook his head. It was time to bailout of this after-school activity.
    A car went up Carroll Street. Slow, almost crawling, its engine just kind of lazily roaring up the block.
    Just the way a cop car would do, Will thought.
    Immediately he imagined the cop car. Moving slowly, maybe called by a suspicious neighbor, some old biddy who spent her day looking out her window for robbers and commies.
    And then, as if to confirm his suspicion, he heard the car stop.
    “Oh, shit, Kiff. There’s somebody out there.”
    The car had stopped. Still Kiff fiddled with the lock, making it rattle hopefully. But nothing happened.
    A window opened. Will heard it.
    From a house down the road.
    There, right there, Officer, Will imagined someone screaming.
    Of course, the cop would shoot to kill. “I’m splitting,” he said.
    But Kiff was too fast.
    His hand shot out and grabbed Will’s collar. Kiff was long, lean — the definition of “wiry.” No one had guessed he was strong.
    But now he was manic as hell and this thing, this crazy garbage that they were doing, obviously meant a lot to him.
    “Don’t — freak —” he said slowly.
    “Hey, I ‘ve —”
    “If you run out there now, and there is someone there, they’ll fucking see you. Maybe it is a cop,” Kiff said with an evil smile. “He’ll nail your ass.” He took a breath. “Besides, I almost got this.”
    Will nodded.
    He looked back at the cherub in the garden.
    Except, it wasn’t a cherub.
    No, its one intact arm had something up to its mouth. And there were these two bumpy ridges on its head. Sort of like horns. And then the legs —
    A different sound sputtered from the lock.
    “Got it!” Kiff said.
    He twisted the door handle.
    And the door opened. Creaked open, louder, louder than the rain spattering, louder than the car that sat on the street, its engine quiet now, clicking, cooling.
    Kiff pushed the door wide open.
    He stepped in.
    And when Will didn’t immediately follow —
    When Will just stood there and watched —
    Kiff, grinning from ear to ear, as he said, “We’re in, Will.”
    And as much as he didn’t want to, Will walked inside the basement apartment.
     
     
    * * *
     
     
    6
     
    Kiff just stood there.
    “What’s wrong?” Will asked.
    “Nothing. It’s just —”
    He heard Kiff breathing, and Will looked around. He saw they were in a tiny kitchen. There was a cereal bowl on the table, crusty with Cheerios. A coffee cup, with just a cold, filmy mouthful left. A small white stove and refrigerator. It felt damp down here.
    “What is it?” Will said.
    “I thought I heard something.”
    They both held their breath, and Will craned his neck, turning slowly from right to left.
    Because if Kiff heard something — someone — then, boys and girls, we’re not alone, Will thought. And if we’re not alone, then we’re in deep —
    Screech.
    They both heard the sound, and they both jumped into the air.
    Before they saw the grayish blur zip across the cracked, yellow linoleum floor.
    Screee-eeek , the mouse squeaked again, suddenly stymied by a wall that offered