Ship of Souls

anymore,” I say, but it doesn’t sound like my usual voice. It sounds like Nuru.
    “Don’t give up,” Nyla whispers through her tears.
    “I have to,” I say, though I want nothing more than to stay and help Nyla the way she helped me. I peel Nyla’s fingers away and try not to watch as she clutches her wound and curls into a ball. Nyla’s sobs follow me as I walk away, the spiked fence rail poking into my back as the stone beast prods me forward.
    I hear Nyla moaning behind me, and then, with all the strength she can muster, Nyla screams, “KEEM!”
    I look back and see a flash of red in the trees. This time it’s not a cardinal—it’s Keem’s red hoodie. I almost choke with relief when I see Keem break out of the woods and sprint toward Nyla. He’s strong—he’ll get her out of here and make sure she’s OK.
    The sharp spike digs into my back again, and I stumble on toward my own fate.

12.
    I trudge up East Drive hoping that a passing jogger or car will spot me and call the police. But tonight the park seems as if it has been abandoned by the living. Even the animals in the park zoo are silent. The biggest full moon I have ever seen stares down at me like an unblinking eye.
    The stone beast forces me to march through the gap between two hills called Battle Pass. That’s where American soldiers tried to stop the enemy’s advance by blocking the road with a massive oak tree. It was a pretty good strategy except that the British secretly circled around them at night and trapped the patriots. We eventually won the war, but we lost that first Battle of Long Island. It’s all on a plaque attached to a big rock—I’ve read it a hundred times. The boulder’s embedded in the steep hill on the west side of the road. That must be the portal Nuru told me about because that’s not where I’m heading now.
    As darkness descends, it becomes clear that our destination is the other boulder—a smaller white rock set a few feet back from the road on the east side. It too has a plaque on its front, and as we approach, the hissing voices say, “ Bring him in .”
    Nothing should surprise me at this point, but I’m still amazed when the engraved bronze plaque swings open like a door. A blast of stale, earthy air blows over me, and I’m immediately reminded of the basement at Mrs. Martin’s house. I barely have a moment to wonder if she’s missing me before the spike prods me forward again. I crawl into the small opening but can’t force myself to descend the stairs that lead down into total darkness.
    Suddenly the stone beast sways and starts to crumble. I nearly tumble down the stairs as several heavy paving stones roll past me. To steady myself, I grab hold of the tangled roots that cover the stairway’s earthen walls like hair. Within a few noisy seconds, the stone beast is reduced to a pile of rubble that nearly covers the white boulder. I hear a sharp click and realize the plaque-door has just closed. I sigh and blink back fresh tears. No one will find me now.
    Don’t worry, D. I am with you .
    I press myself into the dirt wall and try to see through the darkness. “Who’s there?”
    Can you not feel me? Look inside your heart, D. You are not alone.
    I unzip my coat, pull out my collar, and peer inside my shirt. A soft red glow is coming from within my chest. “Nuru?”
    You must listen for my commands, D. The nether beings will play on your fear, but they will not harm you. Have faith in me, and I will keep you safe.
    I think of the stone beast thrusting that spike into Nyla and wonder what will stop the nether beings from doing the same to me. But I can’t afford to doubt Nuru now. “OK,” I say. “I trust you.”
    You must communicate with me using your mind instead of your voice .
    How can I talk without using my voice? I just nod instead and take a deep breath before cautiously inching down the stairs. There are no lights, but somehow the glow within my chest pushes back the darkness enough for me to see my way forward. After a few more steps, I hear eerie laughter coming from below. I freeze, but Nuru urges me on.
    We cannot retreat. They are celebrating my capture, but theirs is a false victory. The nether beings can no longer take human form. They can only manipulate surface materials .
    I open my mouth to respond, but then remember I have to communicate with my thoughts. I form a question in my mind. Surface materials?
    Things that can be found above ground—inanimate objects