When Sawyer came back to the cabin, the temporary-not-demon âAmosâ was exactly where heâd left them, and making a rather obvious show of it, too. But Sawyer wasnât really paying attention.
âNice walk?â they asked.
Sawyer said nothing. They sighed and got up, to join him on the bed. âHey, kid. Whatâs up?â
Sawyer was silent a few more moments. And then he said, âWhy didnât you tell me youâd met Sixer?â
This made the other pause. â...Did you see him today?â
âYeah.â Sawyer was gazing at the table by the woodstove, for some reason. âHe didnât seem real happy youâre here.â
Something in Amosâ expression immediately soured, but they hitched an indifferent smile back onto their face. âOh, you know the Stanfords, always overreacting!â They twiddled their thumbs a little nervously. âHeâs not coming here, is he?â
âNo.â
The two of them sat in silence. The birds were chattering outside. The sun filtered through the pines, casting bright, dancing spots on the wood floor of the cabin.
âSomething happened today, didnât it,â Amos said after a while. Sawyer nodded slowly.
They reached over to take Sawyerâs hand. âWhat was it?â
Sawyer flinched. They knew, they knew he could never not answer a question from them...
It took some gentle pushing, but eventually he opened up.
........
Some time later, after a long talk, Sawyer had his head resting on his friendâs arm, eyes closed.
âIf I were in my real shape right now,â they were saying, âIâd take you to the Quadrangle. The two of us could just get lost for a little while...â
Sawyer nodded. They reached a hand around to pat his head. âYouâve been doing so well, you know that?â
Sawyer stirred a little, but said nothing.
âI keep telling you, youâve got an understanding of things now.â They smiled. âThereâre many places I wish I could take you, you know. Maybe someday. Thereâs this one sweet little world I remember, you would like it, itâs so soft and green, and the stars at night...â
They kept talking a long time. It was by design, meant to distract the boy. They told stories of other worlds and other times, of beasts and spirits theyâd known, and adventures theyâd had. Nothing important, and quite possibly embellished, but just fantastical enough to be like some kind of odd bedtime story in the middle of the day. Half the time Sawyer wasnât exactly listening, but his teacherâs whisper in his ear was enough to hold onto, just for a little while...
