Anywho, here is the new section of The Scroll. In this episode, Leslie and Savannah decide to see what's inside Gray's scroll.
The car ride back home was unbearably silent. Leslie kept her hands on the steering wheel at ten and two as she drove slowly through the light fog, but she stole glances at Gray. He sat slumped over in his seat, staring at his hands. Savannah sat in back, her knees pulled up to her chest. Whenever Leslie glanced at her in the rearview mirror, Savannah was watching Gray through narrowed eyes.
“I can still taste it,” Gray said suddenly.
“Taste what?” asked Leslie, though she was afraid of the answer.
“The blood, the fur,” said Gray. “It won’t go away. And it’s on my hands.” He curled his hands into claws.
There was an edge of desperation in Gray’s voice that made Leslie’s heart beat frantically. She gripped the steering wheel tighter. “We’ll clean you up when we get home.”
Finally, they turned into the Matheson’s driveway. Leslie waited while the garage door opened. She looked over at Gray. He leaned against the window, peering out into the night. She wanted to say something to lift his spirits, but she had no idea what would help.
She pulled into the garage, pressed the automatic control button to close the garage door, and turned off the Aspire. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Savannah said, “Hey, are you gonna let me out or not?”
Leslie and Gray got out of the car, and Savannah scrambled out behind them. They kicked off their shoes in the mudroom and opened the door.
Mr. Matheson was waiting for them. Only a single light was on, but his disappointed frown was still easy to see. He leaned against the kitchen table, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
Leslie froze, and Savannah bumped into her from behind. Gray stood still, staring miserably at Mr. Matheson.
“Well,” said Mr. Matheson. He glanced at his watch. “It’s one o’clock in the morning. That’s an interesting time to come home. Care to explain?”
Leslie and Gray glanced at each other. They hadn’t thought up a back story. Leslie began, “We—”
Mr. Matheson raised his hand. “Never mind. I don’t want to know right now—I have the feeling I’ll only lose my temper. You’re all grounded. No t.v. and no friends for two weeks. You come straight home from school and work on your homework. Once you’re done, you’ll go straight to your rooms. I’ll talk to my boss about bringing work home so I can come home early and check on you. Now, everybody go to your room, and be prepared to tell me what happened in the morning.”
Savannah peeked out from behind Leslie and raised her hand. “Um, can we go to the bathroom first?”
Mr. Matheson didn’t smile.
* * *
Gray scrubbed his hands under hot water until they were raw. Then he brushed his teeth and his tongue and gurgled with hot water until his gums began to bleed and his tongue felt scorched. He splashed water on his face and finally turned off the water. He gripped the sides of the sink. It wasn’t enough. It still wasn’t enough. He could still remember.
It wasn’t the first time he’d tasted blood—he’d hunted as a panther with his family before—but it was the first time he’d felt…inhuman. His soul binder was supposed to prevent that, but it failed. One moment, he’d been completely aware of himself, fighting to protect Leslie and Savannah. Then, when he’d bitten into the shoulder of that gorilla…he wasn’t Gray anymore. The bloodlust had come over him, and he was simply a predator trying to bring down his prey. And it had been so intoxicating…. When Leslie touched him, he’d become confused. For a moment, he thought he was going to attack her. Then he’d come to his senses, and he painfully changed back into a human.
He remembered how powerful and ruthless he felt, and the corners of his lips curled into a smile. Fear gripped his heart, and he shook his head. He splashed more water on his face. Hesitantly, he looked into the mirror above the sink. His dark-rimmed eyes stared back at him. They looked haunted.
How am I supposed to help my village when I myself am dying?
* * *
Leslie sat on her bed. She doubted if she’d be able to sleep even if she tried. Images flashed across her mind—animals leaping out of the fog, an elephant’s scythe-like tusks just missing her, Gray shuddering as he tried to become human once more. What exactly was going on?
A soft pattering sound came from Leslie’s window. She ignored it. It was probably a moth.
The pattering became more frantic. Leslie went to the window and peered through the glass. Ten fingers clung to the outside window ledge. Leslie opened the window and poked her head outside. Savannah craned her curly-haired head up and smiled.
“Savannah?” Leslie said, flabbergasted.
“Can you help me up?” Savannah grunted.
Leslie jerked out of her shock and grabbed Savannah’s arms. She hauled her up and fell back on her bed. “How did you get out there?” she asked.
Savannah stretched her arms and rolled her shoulders. “I climbed from your window to mine. I didn’t want to risk Dad hearing my door open.”
Leslie went back to her window and leaned out. Savannah’s window was ten feet away, and there was nothing to hold on to. Leslie looked back at her sister. “How…”
Savannah smiled slyly. “I’m a ninja.”
Leslie put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows. “Really.”
With a shrug of her shoulders, Savannah changed the subject. “That was pretty crazy, what happened back there. How much do you think Gray knows?”
Leslie looked at Savannah. “What do you mean?”
“Think about it. Gray shows up with this scroll thing he has to deliver to a Professor Brown. A Cougar Girl attacks him, then a fake answer to an email leads us straight into an ambush. Why is this scroll so important? It can’t just be a plea for medical help. I think we should look at the scroll.”
Leslie glanced at her end table near her bed. A Pringles can sat on its surface—Gray’s wooden cylinder was inside it. Gray had been so preoccupied that Leslie decided to hold onto it for him.
Hesitantly, Leslie popped the lid off the Pringles can and slipped the cylinder out. She pulled at the ends of the cylinder until one end came off. She shook the cylinder, and a weather-stained piece of parchment slid out. A bit of wax sealed it shut.
Leslie slipped a finger behind the edge of the parchment and broke the wax seal. An electric shock went up her arm.
“Ouch!” Leslie hissed.
“What?” asked Savannah.
“Nothing,” said Leslie. She wiggled her fingers. “Just a bit of static.”
She spread open the scroll. It was covered in strange runes. She frowned.
“Great,” said Savannah. She was peeking over Leslie’s shoulder. “It’s not in English.”
There was a knock at Leslie’s door. She hastily shoved the scroll back into the wooden cylinder and closed it. “Who is it?” she said softly.
“It’s Gray,” he said in a whisper. “Do you have my scroll?”
Leslie opened the door. “Here,” she said, handing him the cylinder.
Gray took it, smiling weakly. He looked worse than before. “Thank you,” he said before shuffling back to his room.
Leslie closed the door and looked at Savannah. “I’m going to trust him,” she said. “I have to.”
