Darkest Designs by Dale Mayer Read Free Book Online Page A

through the same way as the many paper portals Storey had drawn.
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    â€œWe gave up paper decades ago,” Paxton said testily.
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    â€œAnd that’s why I was wondering if I should port to Storey’s bedroom and grab more of her sketchbooks. Her closet has several of them.” Storey’d had everything she needed for the last trip to the Louers’ dimension, and as far as he remembered, she’d still had her travelling pouch during that last jump with his father. But…that didn’t mean she still had it. What if she’d lost her pouch in her fall? According to what he’d learned so far, that could mean the pack was there, but just out of sight.
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    Besides, the more supplies the better.
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    The more he considered it, the better he like the idea. He might be able to scoop up some of her never ending stash of granola bars, too.
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    â€œI don’t like all this traffic. You know it creates tunnels between dimensions when we do too much of it. That’s why visits to her dimension are so carefully regulated.”
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    â€œI understand that. But we have to do what we can to make sure that we have all options covered. If her paper can create a portal to get us out – like she created to allow us to rescue my father – then we should have more in this situation.” Maybe the gentle reminder of how many times Storey had used paper to save their lives would help nudge Paxton. Eric didn’t know if cross-dimension travel was an issue based in reality or just another of Paxton’s unfounded worries.
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    How could anyone know?
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    â€œThen make it quick. In and out. Let no one see you and get back here immediately. Time is running out. If you’re going to try and find Storey, I think you need to go there as soon as possible. The damage to her system, providing she’s even alive, will increase by the hour.”
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    Crap. “I didn’t need to hear that,” Eric muttered. “I’m going to run. Back within the hour.”
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S torey took another look at the man leaning at the impossible angle. If she’d found one person, would she find more if she stayed here longer? And how? She couldn’t help but think it was only dumb luck that had brought her to this man in the first place. He still hadn’t given her his name. She’d feel better talking to him if she knew what to call him.
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    She leaned across and nudged his shoulder. Then nudged it again – harder.
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    He blinked at her. Damn that was irritating. “Hey, remember me? What is your name?” She spoke clearly and slowly. Maybe it would help him understand.
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    â€œDillon.” He frowned as if surprised by his answer. “I think.”
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    â€œDillon. Good. That’s a good start. How long have you been here, Dillon?”
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    His frown deepened. “I…don’t know.”
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    â€œRight. That probably wasn’t the best question to ask you as time doesn’t seem to matter here. Okay, Dillon, do you have any family back home that might be missing you?”
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    She winced. Probably not a good question either. But she needed to find out something about him. Just in case they could find a way to keep him alive. She refused to entertain the concept of failure in this case. Any information she could find would help Paxton sort this out. And let Dillon’s family know what had happened to him.
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    â€œBrother,” he said faintly, closing his eyes and swaying as if the effort had taxed him.
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    Excellent. His brain was functioning. “Good. You have a brother. He might be still alive too. What’s his name?”
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    Dillon looked at her in confusion. Not that she’d seen many other expressions from him yet. She did get the impression she was disturbing his sleep. Something he was falling back into every time she stopped talking to him. So she kept talking. “Dillon?”