The Dark Lands

Chapter 3

3

I slip out of the limo and into the worst-smelling place ever. Honestly, it’s like a dumpster and a toilet got together and made an alley. The area is a thin break between two tall brick buildings. Any nearby windows are all boarded up. Graffiti covers almost every surface. The place looks deserted, but I know that’s not true.

Walker steps out from the shadows.

“Greetings, Myla.”

My honorary older brother looks as he always does: tall and pale in his long black ghoul robes. His hair is styled in a perma brush-cut with sideburns. It’s the same look Walker had when his mortal form passed away in his mid-twenties.

“Hi, Walker.” I step up and give him a peck on the cheek. “I saw the news about Drayden’s statue. That’s so great!” Growing up, Walker always talked about Drayden the smart, the strong, the noble. Most of Walker’s afterlife has been spent trying to do what Drayden would have if he’d lived.

A pained look enters Walker’s all-black eyes. “About that.”

“What?”

Walker nervously twists a heavy ring on his finger. It’s one that Drayden gave him and holds the image of a book carved in silver. Normally, Walker only fiddles with that ring only when he’s really worried. Huh.

“Did you see our interview today with Becky Tizzle?” I ask.

Walker nods. “I didn’t release any intel about Lucifer or the Viper.” He twists the ring some more.

“So what do you know?” Because I can tell you know something.

“I’ll share everything very soon,” offers Walker. A bead of black sweat rolls down his cheek. “But we can’t be late for this morning’s meeting.”

Walker looks so upset, I can’t push him on this. Yet.

“That’s fine,” I say. “I’ll wait.”

A low hum fills the air. No mistaking that noise. It’s the unmistakable sound of a ghoul portal. A moment later, a door-like black opening appears behind Walker. This is the one perk of being a ghoul; you can create portals and move almost instantly between most parts of the after-realms.

Walker takes my hand and we step into the darkness. A moment later, we exit the portal and enter a strange landscape. Once we’ve marched out, the portal behind us disappears.

I scan my new surroundings. Gray clouds hang overhead. Neat rows of dirt stretch off in every direction, forming a countryside that reminds me of brown corduroy. The tangy scent of fresh earth fills the air.

“Damn,” mumbles Walker. “I placed us too far from the farmhouse.”

“You did?” My brows lift. Walker never makes mistakes with his ghoul portals.

“I don’t trust my focus today,” adds Walker. “No more portals. Do you mind if we approach the farmhouse the old fashioned way?”

“We can hoof it, no problem.”

“Thank you.”

Walker and I take off down a cobblestone path. We don’t get very far until a question appears in my mind. “What kind of farm is this, anyway?”

“I was afraid you’d ask me that.”

My insides twist with foreboding. Something tells me I’m to receive the first in a long line of bad news from Walker.

Uh oh.