Paladin Prophecy 2: Alliance by Mark Frost Read Free Book Online Page A

energy.
    “Damn,” said Will.
    “What kind of lock is that ?” asked Nick.
    “Unless I very much miss my guess,” whispered Ajay, sounding a little shaken, “one built by the Other Team … with their mysterious and otherworldly aphotic technology.”
    “And where are we supposed to look for this key?” asked Will, turning back to Nepsted.
    “Down deep,” said Nepsted, his voice like sandpaper.
    “Like, in the tunnels?” asked Nick.
    “Deeper. Much deeper. In the cavern at the bottom of the stairs. They used to keep it in the hospital … but you can only get to it by going down through the old cathedral.” Nepsted slumped over, drained of energy.
    “I’m not sure we know what you’re talking about—” said Will, glancing at the others.
    “That is me in the picture,” said Nepsted, tapping it with a tendril. “And you’re right about the … other student. I did—I do—know him, but I can’t say anymore now. Bring me that key first … and I’ll tell you everything . …”
    Will turned to look at Nepsted and saw him for the first time through Dave’s glasses. The poor pathetic creature that inhabited the chair nearly broke his heart. Raymond Llewelyn was nothing more than a slack lump of pale, shapeless flesh with half-formed limbs, slumped in his chair like a malformed starfish. Nepsted’s unmistakable eyes sunk into a melted set of features that passed for a face.
    Will quickly took the glasses off, but not before Nepsted caught his gaze and Will sensed that Nepsted knew what they’d seen. He wheeled his chair around and headed toward the back. The overhead lights in the cage blinked off behind him as he went, one by one, until Nepsted disappeared in the gloom.
    The boys waited silently until he was gone. Ajay and Nick took off their glasses; Will knew they’d seen the real Nepsted, too.
    “What a splendid way to kick off summer vacation,” said Ajay.
    “That poor bastard,” said Nick, shaken to his core. “Did you see that … that … what he looked like?”
    “We saw him, Nick,” said Ajay.
    “Damn it, what the hell, who did that to him?”
    “We can talk about that later, but not here,” said Will quietly. “Come with me.”
    He led them straight to the door in the locker room that used to lead to the auxiliary locker room and the tunnels.
    “We need to take another look in here,” said Will.
    Nick tried the door. Locked. He punched it in frustration.
    “Nick, you have our permission to open it,” said Will.
    Nick whirled and roundhouse kicked it, and the door nearly flew off its hinges.
    “Ajay, check the walls. Is there any way we can get through them?” asked Will.
    Ajay examined the walls in the broom closet with a device he took from his pocket.
    “Solid concrete, sealed off in all directions,” said Ajay. “Not a chance, Will.”
    “Then we’ll have to take the other way into the tunnels,” said Will.
    “From the island in Lake Waukoma?” asked Ajay, his eyes widening in alarm. “Will, the last time nearly finished us.”
    “Dude, Raymond knew Hobbes. They were both in the Knights and he’ll tell us the rest if we find that key—”
    “Honestly, tunnels, hospitals, old cathedrals, it could be a bunch of malarkey,” said Ajay.
    “It’s all we’ve got to go on,” said Will. “We need to bring the girls up to speed and get their help. We all need to stick around this summer.”
    Nick raised both hands in frustration and slammed one palm against the broken door, denting the metal.
    “Aw, donuts! You freakin’ chowder head.”
    “What’s wrong?” asked Ajay.
    “I forgot to ask Nepsted about the little wrestler, ” said Nick.

WILL AND ELISE
AND BROOKE
    Elise had seemed less affected by the harsh ordeal they’d been through last fall than anyone, but Will knew it was also in her nature to show less than they felt. Elise was all tensile steel inside, not unlike Will.
    Not so their fifth roommate: After the incident, Brooke Springer, the