Under_The_Whispering_Door_by_TJ_Klune
opened your eyes. I can see the good in you now, and what you’re willing todo for those you care about. Because you do care about them, don’t you?”“Yes,” Wallace said gruffly.“I figured. And really, I can see why. They’re certainly … unique.”“I know they are. There’s no one like them.”The boy laughed again. “I’m glad we can at least agree on that.” Hesobered. “One week, dear Wallace. I’ll give you one more week. In sevendays, I shall return. I’ll bring you to this door. I will see you through itbecause that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”“And if I refuse?”The boy shrugged. “Then you do. I hope you won’t, but I can’t promisethat this will go on for much longer. You aren’t meant to be here. Not likethis. Perhaps in another life, you could have found your way to this place,and made the most of it.”“I don’t want to go,” Wallace said. “I’m not ready.”“I know that,” the boy said, for the first time sounding irritated. “Which iswhy I’m giving you a week rather than making you go now.” His facedarkened. “Don’t mistake my offer for anything but what it is. There is noloophole, no last-minute bit of evidence you can fling upon the courtroom ina display of your legal prowess. I can make you do things, Wallace. I don’twant to, but I can.”Dazed, Wallace said, “I … maybe it’d be different. I’ve changed. You’vesaid as much. I—”“No,” the boy said, shaking his head. “It’s not the same. You aren’tNelson, the grandfather who guided Hugo after the loss of his parents. Youaren’t Apollo, who helped Hugo to breathe when his lungs collapsed in hischest. You are an outsider, an anomaly. The options I’ve laid out for you—going through the door or running the risk of losing all you’ve gained—areyour only options. You’re a disruption, Wallace, and though I’ve allowedcertain … concessions in the spirit of magnanimity, don’t make the mistake ofthinking I’ll look the other way for you. This was always temporary.”“And what about Cameron?” Wallace demanded. “And all the others likehim?”The boy looked surprised. “The Husks? Why do you care?”I’m still here. I’m still here.
“He’s not gone,” Wallace said. “He’s still there. Part of him still exists.Help him, and I’ll do whatever you want.”The boy shook his head slowly. “I’m not here to bargain with you,Wallace. I thought you were beyond that stage already. You’re into the fabledland of acceptance, or at least you were. Don’t backtrack on me now.”“It’s not for me,” Wallace snapped. “It’s for him.”“Ah,” the boy said. “Is it? What would you have me do? Cure him? Heknew the risks when he chose to leave the grounds.” He stood, wiping hishands off on the front of his jeans. “I’m glad we’ve had this talk. It’s been apleasure meeting you, and believe me, that’s not something I say often.” Hegrimaced. “Humans are untidy. I’d rather keep my distance if possible. It’seasier when they agree with me, as you have.”“I didn’t agree to anything!” Wallace cried.The boy pouted. “Aw. Well, I’m sure you’ll come around to it. One week,Wallace. What will you do with the time you have left? I can’t wait to findout. Tell the others, or don’t. It doesn’t concern me either way. And don’tworry about the health inspector. He won’t remember a thing.” The boytipped Wallace a jaunty salute. “See you soon.”And then he vanished.Wallace’s knees felt weak, loose, and he grabbed onto the railing to holdhimself up as he heard yelling come from the bottom floor below him. Heclosed his eyes when Hugo began to shout his name frantically. “Here,” hewhispered. “I’m still here.”
- Page 199 and 200: behind clouds. The tea plants looke
- Page 201 and 202: people like him.” He swallowed th
- Page 203 and 204: him and he waited, waited, waited f
- Page 205 and 206: CHAPTER15Alan tried to leave.He did
- Page 207 and 208: we’re all traveling on.”Alan sh
- Page 209 and 210: we can do it after—”“Oh, hey,
- Page 211 and 212: come. “Any specific reason?”“
- Page 213 and 214: Wallace blinked. “Oh, uh. Practic
- Page 215 and 216: “How did it go?”Hugo started to
- Page 217 and 218: CHAPTER16“Are you sure about this
- Page 219 and 220: down at his tea, muttering under hi
- Page 221 and 222: “Yes,” Wallace said. “And whe
- Page 223 and 224: The tables jumped again as Alan too
- Page 225 and 226: He hated how much he focused on it,
- Page 227 and 228: “He does,” Hugo said. He looked
- Page 229 and 230: “Or I know my limits,” Wallace
- Page 231 and 232: age. He was coldly handsome, though
- Page 233 and 234: were here in February. Speaking of,
- Page 235 and 236: him. He turned to see Alan stepping
- Page 237 and 238: Alan rose slowly to his feet, point
- Page 239 and 240: CHAPTER17It was bigger than any sta
- Page 241 and 242: The boy nodded at Wallace before lo
- Page 243 and 244: instead of solid. “In fact, an ar
- Page 245 and 246: full well he wasn’t in his right
- Page 247 and 248: dies. Death is cleansing. The pain
- Page 249: Sure, the bureaucracy of it all can
- Page 253 and 254: He didn’t know.He’d never felt
- Page 255 and 256: “Then do it. I don’t know what
- Page 257 and 258: Hugo shook his head. Muttering unde
- Page 259 and 260: The sadness receded, though it didn
- Page 261 and 262: On the third evening, Hugo switched
- Page 263 and 264: Nancy did as asked, clutching her p
- Page 265 and 266: Mei cocked her head as if confused,
- Page 267 and 268: I KNOW. BUT I HOPE IN HEARING FROM
- Page 269 and 270: For a moment, Wallace thought it’
- Page 271 and 272: CHAPTER19Acceptance.It was easier t
- Page 273 and 274: then another and then another. And
- Page 275 and 276: didn’t know if anyone would answe
- Page 277 and 278: “What’s that supposed to mean?
- Page 279 and 280: “I’m not trying to,” Wallace
- Page 281 and 282: He laughed wildly. “If not now, w
- Page 283 and 284: Wallace felt the pull the moment th
- Page 285 and 286: As the sun set, they stood side by
- Page 287 and 288: He failed.His eyes rolled up in his
- Page 289 and 290: They said, “Cameron, let’s go o
- Page 291 and 292: grit his teeth together. Tears floo
- Page 293 and 294: CHAPTER21The next day, Charon’s C
- Page 295 and 296: He hung his head. “I’m scared,
- Page 297 and 298: Nelson rose from his chair, tugging
- Page 299 and 300: on forever. He wondered if there we
opened your eyes. I can see the good in you now, and what you’re willing to
do for those you care about. Because you do care about them, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Wallace said gruffly.
“I figured. And really, I can see why. They’re certainly … unique.”
“I know they are. There’s no one like them.”
The boy laughed again. “I’m glad we can at least agree on that.” He
sobered. “One week, dear Wallace. I’ll give you one more week. In seven
days, I shall return. I’ll bring you to this door. I will see you through it
because that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
“And if I refuse?”
The boy shrugged. “Then you do. I hope you won’t, but I can’t promise
that this will go on for much longer. You aren’t meant to be here. Not like
this. Perhaps in another life, you could have found your way to this place,
and made the most of it.”
“I don’t want to go,” Wallace said. “I’m not ready.”
“I know that,” the boy said, for the first time sounding irritated. “Which is
why I’m giving you a week rather than making you go now.” His face
darkened. “Don’t mistake my offer for anything but what it is. There is no
loophole, no last-minute bit of evidence you can fling upon the courtroom in
a display of your legal prowess. I can make you do things, Wallace. I don’t
want to, but I can.”
Dazed, Wallace said, “I … maybe it’d be different. I’ve changed. You’ve
said as much. I—”
“No,” the boy said, shaking his head. “It’s not the same. You aren’t
Nelson, the grandfather who guided Hugo after the loss of his parents. You
aren’t Apollo, who helped Hugo to breathe when his lungs collapsed in his
chest. You are an outsider, an anomaly. The options I’ve laid out for you—
going through the door or running the risk of losing all you’ve gained—are
your only options. You’re a disruption, Wallace, and though I’ve allowed
certain … concessions in the spirit of magnanimity, don’t make the mistake of
thinking I’ll look the other way for you. This was always temporary.”
“And what about Cameron?” Wallace demanded. “And all the others like
him?”
The boy looked surprised. “The Husks? Why do you care?”
I’m still here. I’m still here.
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