Star Gods, стр. 10
“Maybe I could be of assistance to you?”
I whirl around. The same Star God from before is standing in the middle of my room wearing the same clothes. He tugs on his collar, and I want to tell him to put on jeans and a t-shirt.
“You don’t know how to knock?” I ask.
He clasps his hands in front of his body and waits.
I turn my back on him and resume looking into our yard. “I haven’t found the girl yet if that’s why you’re here.”
“I heard you, Zeke. I’m here to offer my assistance.”
“Your assistance?” I turn back around and cross my arms over my chest, leaning back against my windowsill. “I don’t even know your name.”
“Just call me Neil.” He smirks at me.
I chuckle. “Why not Barney?”
He pulls on the collar of his shirt. “I’ve been told it’s also the name of a purple dinosaur from the 1990’s I may not want to be associated with.”
I laugh, remembering my dad saying the same thing. “Okay, Neil. The only way you can help me is to bring my parents back.”
“I’m sorry, Zeke, I wish I could.”
“Then there’s nothing you can do for me.”
“All right.” He straightens his shirt. “I’ll leave you then.”
“Go ahead.” I turn back to my window.
“I really want to help you more, with all of this.”
I shake my head.
“Call me, Zeke, if you need me. You only need to say my name.”
I look over my shoulder, but he’s already gone. “Say your name, huh? I didn’t call you in the first place.” I push away from the sill and go to my desk to flip through my sketchpad, hoping to get some kind of clue of where this girl is going to be. It doesn’t feel right to do this without my brothers; it feels even worse lying to them.
A rap on my door has me closing it, and I turn to see Tyce coming through.
“How long has Ashe been out?”
“About a half hour.”
“You okay?”
I nod, stuffing my hands into my front pockets.
Tyce raises his brows.
I huff out a breath of annoyance. “I’m a little tired, but otherwise fine.”
“There ya go. I’ll go put together some dinner.” He points at me. “You, lay down for a few. I’ll wake you when dinner is ready.”
I rock back onto my heels. “Cesar sent sandwiches and stuff.”
“Excellent. You can still take a nap. I’ll wake you in a little while.”
“Yeah, okay.” I glance to my sketchpad. It isn’t going to give me any more answers right now, so I sprawl out on my bed thinking about a wet alleyway with a mysterious red door.
Friday, April 15, 2039
I lift myself up on an elbow feeling disoriented. My room is too dark for only a few minutes to have passed. I glance to my digital clock and raise my brows in surprise; 12:30 a.m.
“What the heck?” I run my fingers through my hair, climb out of bed, and go into the hall. I can hear my brothers’ deep breathing from their bedrooms as I head toward the kitchen and food. I read the note taped to the fridge and happily grab the sandwich left for me, along with the already poured glass of milk. That was Mom’s thing, the milk; Ashe is following by her example and I miss her all over again.
I set my plate on the coffee table and turn the TV on low as I eat, flipping through the channels. On my third time around, a rustle of movement calls my attention and I glance over to see Neil standing by the recliner.
I jump. “Seriously, Neil, you have to give me some kind of warning you’re coming.”
He glances toward the side door. “It may be a good time for you to check out that alley again.”
I arch a brow. Somehow, he seems different. “You watching me?”
He shrugs. “I feel responsible for you.”
“My parents, my brothers, and I are responsible for me.” I push my plate away and stare at him.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.” He sits on the recliner and I almost laugh when it rocks and startles him. “In any case, I’m here to help tonight.”
“Help?” I lean forward looking him square in the face, he seems off. “I have brothers who can help me.”
“They’re not an option for you right now.”
I narrow my eyes at him. Why does he seem different? “Who are you really?”
His eyes flash and fade in what seems like anger. “I’m a Star God here to help you.”
“You’re a lone Star God telling me to go outside our code and find a girl without my brothers’ help.”
“She’s important, Zeke.”
“Who is she?”
“I already told you I can’t say.”
“Why is she important?”
“Zeke…”
I growl in frustration. I guess he’s not so different. I pick up my plate and glass, and bring them into the kitchen, rinsing them in the sink. “You need to tell me why, Neil, or you can go find her yourself.”
“I can’t do that. If I could, why would I be here?”
I turn around and he’s standing right behind me making me uncomfortable. I hadn’t even heard him come into the kitchen. “You can’t tell me, or you can’t go find her yourself?”
“Neither.”
I sigh. “I can’t go in the middle of the night. If my brothers find me gone I’m dead meat.”
“I can help with that.”
I feel a wave of something I’ve never felt before and look to him in alarm. “What did you do?”
“Relax.” He flicks hair that has fallen across his forehead. For some reason I find the gesture strange. “It assists them with sleep until you’re safely home.”
“I don’t like this, Neil.”
“I assure you, your brothers are completely safe. No harm will come to them.” He stuffs his hands into his pockets. “Zeke, finding this girl is important. She has to be found and kept safe.”
“I swear, if you get me into any trouble tonight...”
“All will be fine. I will remain