“I mean, we aren’t dead,” I told them. “We could be getting all worked up for nothing. And we won’t know unless we open it.”
The morning air and eating some food had revived me in some way. So without waiting for any more arguing, I stepped across the rocks and grabbed the envelope.
“See, no explosions,” I said, watching as both of them relaxed, if only slightly. I turned the envelope over a couple times in my hands, studying the edges and finding that the paper was dry, some dirt stuck in the edges but sealed tightly in the flaps. Whatever was inside wasn’t stiff, so I figured it was safe enough. I glanced up at the others, staring across enraptured. All attention was on me now.
To make it more dramatic, I flicked my finger, and a single silver claw appeared. I liked the surprise on their faces: it made me feel like I was in control again. I drew my blade across the top of the envelope, severing the pieces.
Callista appeared by my side as I pulled the halves apart. Inside was a single, folded piece of paper, thick like the expensive letter stock my mom sometimes used when trying to impress her clients. I could feel the anticipation as Callista and Thad pressed in closer. I unfolded the top third of the letter with fingers holding it gingerly by the edges, trying to put on a strong face so they wouldn’t know I was just as nervous as they were.
When you open a letter, usually you start reading at the top. But in my case, when I bent both of the folds down, the first thing I saw was at the bottom of the page simply because a word on it leapt out at me.
“Anon!” I couldn’t help myself as the name slipped out. The others looked up at me.
“You know who this is from?” Callista asked. I wasn’t sure whether I should shake my head or nod.
“I don’t know him,” I said. “But I know who he is. He’s…someone on the inside.”
Nothing I could have said would have alleviated the questions I saw on their faces. My eagerness was too great to finish an explanation, so I looked back to the letter and read:
To Mr. Asher,
You have finally survived. Your lack of decease shows promise.
At the moment, you are safer than you will ever be for most of your existence. The group sent to end you is under the belief that you perished while attempting to save your Chosen in their plane crash. I am partially responsible for this deception. With your death, your family is now temporarily out of harm’s way. I believe your pursuers will not realize otherwise for a few days, after which you will be in danger again.
Already, I am sure you are feeling lost. You do not know your place in the Grand Design. But I wish to assure you that you do have a place, your place serves a purpose, and all will soon be revealed, if you choose.
Your two companions have a place in this Design as well. The duty of your Chosens is to protect you, their Guardian. This is their obligation. Their failure means their demise.
At the bottom of this page is the address of a house. The owner is of no relevance. The window beside the chimney is open for you already. At this house, you will find the answer to who you are, why you are here, how you got where you are, and what you are to do. I cannot promise that these answers will make you happy.
The house will remain untouched for three days, after which time it will find itself burned to ashes in an unfortunate electrical malfunction. Any evidence of your presence will disappear with it.
If you desire to know the truth, you will follow my instructions. If you desire to disappear and pretend that you are not who you are, then you will never hear from me again.
Choose wisely. Don’t trust anyone.
ANON
While the address at the bottom was circled in pen, there was no written signature. By the time I had reached the ending, the paper was shaking between my hands.
No one said anything at first. An unfathomable silence fell upon us, as if the weight of the letter’s words tugged us toward the ground.
My family is safe. It brought a racing feeling of relief, even if just a little. Maybe if the Guardians thought I was gone, then they’d simply let my death vanish into the cases of unsolved mysteries. But how long would it last?
“So what’s that about?” Thad finally said. I met his eyes but looked away quickly, back to the paper, reading it a second time. The mysterious Anon strikes again. I remembered how secretive Father Lonnie had been even with this man’s reference, frightened at the mere thought of saying it aloud. How had Anon gotten the letter to me? Had he crept up sometime in the night and slipped it under me without being seen? Sent an associate? I doubted he’d risk telling someone else where we were. But I also doubted he’d risk his own safety. If it’d been anyone else, I’d have felt stupid and defeated. But all the secrecy that surrounded Anon had built him up as someone who could remain concealed no matter how much effort we’d put into hiding ourselves.
“I really don’t know,” I replied exhaustedly. That was the best I could do. I waved the paper. “It’s probably stupid but I feel like I believe him.”
“I don’t,” Callista said, breaking her silence abruptly. I hadn’t expected her to agree with me, but I was open to listening.
“If he’s on our side, and he’s been watching all this, why didn’t he show up to help when the plane was going down, and you were nearly being killed?” she said. “What is he talking about, this obligation?”
“I think he means the part where we die if Michael does,” Thad said under his breath.
Callista slid a step away from both of us, hands out defensively.
“Listen, I don’t even know you,” she said. Then, as if everything began to sink in to her at once, she blinked quickly and a frightened look overcame her. “I blew up a plane for you, and I just met you.” Her voice collapsed mid-sentence. “I blew up a plane. I’m a normal person. I don’t do things like this. I’m supposed to be at school right now. I’m supposed to be home. I don’t know how I got here!”
If she’d had been anyone but Callista, she might have broken into tears then. But she only clenched her fists and composed herself.
“I think I’ve already done my fair share,” she said in a hiss. “I’m not a part of whatever this Anon person is talking about. I just want to disappear and try to go back to normal.”
“And what do you think normal means now?” Thad broke in. I picked up on some already-begun conversation they were having, something they’d already argued about before I’d even arrived. Callista’s fists tightened even more.
“What do we have to go back to?” Thad continued. “Normal? They’ve already taken normal from us. You know that.”
“I could go home,” she whispered through her teeth.
“To what?” Thad argued. “They’ll find you there and kill you.”
“But I don’t want to be here!” she shouted.
“None of us want to be here!” I burst, the fury that I’d been withholding finally popping like a balloon.
It shut her up instantly, her mouth snapping closed as she stared at me with pain on her face. It shocked her so much that it forced a Glimpse: terror, sadness, ferociously bitter fury mixed with vengeance. It was like a cocktail of mental agony, so strong it felt like a nail punched into my chest, and I immediately regretted my words.