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Garovel gave a nod. ‘I suppose that’s all that matters at the moment.’

Hector didn’t get on the highway yet. It had been blocked on the way into the city, and he doubted it had been cleared already. Instead, he followed the street beyond the city limits and waited until he saw the open country before getting on the larger road.

The kids took a while to adjust to the ride, crying for a good half hour before settling down.

‘Do you, um... do you think this was Geoffrey’s doing?’

Garovel was slow to answer. ‘That might explain why we haven’t seen him in Brighton. But you’d think Colt would have mentioned Geoffrey in his text.’

‘I don’t think he had much time, seeing as he never replied. And... if it was Geoffrey, then Colt might’ve been worried that I’d go after him instead of getting the kids to safety...’

‘Hmm.’

With a clear, open road ahead of him and a setting sun over the horizon, Hector eyed the children another time. They both stared back at him, chubby-cheeked and curious.

Hector frowned inside his riding helmet. ‘Garovel... what the hell are we gonna do...?’

-+-+-+-+-

“Hello.”

“...Agh? Hmm? What’s happening?”

“Easy there. You’ve had a rough day.”

“Where am I? Who are you?”

“You’re dead. My name is Bohwanox. And there’s something I’d like to ask you.”


Chapter Twenty-Seven: ‘O, implacable father...!’
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Colt opened his eyes. Dark waters greeted him. As did a shark, its teeth already digging into his chest.

‘Oh yeah,’ said Bohwanox, touching Colt’s shoulder. ‘The current carried you into shark-infested waters, by the way.’

Colt would have yelled at the reaper if he could. Burning aches shot through his body, regrowing muscle, restoring flesh faster than the shark could tear it away. He punched the fish in the nose. It released him but didn’t flee, and after a moment, it lunged for him again. He kicked the beast with all the strength he could muster, and it torpedoed into the murky blackness.