Ship of Souls

hand.
    Billy turns, and whatever he sees in the darkness of the tunnel propels him forward into the light. The train heaves and surges ahead. Billy breaks into a run. Nyla gasps and points at the angry fingers of gray mist licking at Billy’s heels.
    “Traitor!”
    “Hurry, Billy,” I cry out. “Take my hand. TAKE MY HAND!”
    Billy runs harder, flinching as the bright lights from the subway platform beat down on him. The flesh returns to his bones as Billy catches up to the train. My heart pounds in my chest as I will Billy not to fall, not to stop, not to give up. Then Billy looks up into my eyes, and in a split second I see his fear vanish. He makes a desperate leap, and a crackling flash of light blinds us all as Billy’s fingers grab hold of mine. I pull him up onto the narrow ledge and proudly shout, “You did it, Billy—you did it!”
    I don’t know if anyone can hear me above the deafening groans of the train. The four of us huddle close together. We hold on for dear life as the train hurtles through the darkness and carries us under the river and into lower Manhattan.
    When the train finally slows and pulls into the next station, Nuru speaks to me. I hop down onto the tracks, and the others follow me without question. We walk back down the tracks until we come to a metal door that’s been painted bright yellow. A sign on the door says, “Authorized personnel only.” But Nuru says, Proceed , so I try the doorknob and find that it isn’t locked. A short hallway lit by a caged bulb leads us into another train tunnel. There are tracks on the ground, but the tunnel doesn’t seem like it has been used in a long time. Instead of soot-covered concrete, the curved walls are made of reddish-brown bricks. The air is warm, and there isn’t any water trickling down the walls or pooling between the rails.
    We are nearly there, D. Hold out your hand.
    I do as I’m told and lift my arm up so that Nuru’s light will guide us through the darkness. “Nuru says we’re almost there.”
    Nyla and Keem nod silently to let me know they’re ready to go on. I turn to Billy and see that he’s trembling. “Billy—are you OK?”
    He stares at his hands and then points at me. “You…you…”
    I put my hand on his shoulder and try my best to reassure him. “It’s all right, Billy—we’re safe. The nether beings can’t reach us now.”
    Billy shakes his head but not because he doesn’t believe me. “You… touched me,” he says softly. Billy looks at me with tear-filled eyes and then stares down at his hands once more. Tears fall into his palms as he holds them out, transfixed. For the first time, I notice that the gray gloom has left his body. Billy glows with light that is pale, but warm. “I…I can feel again,” he says, amazed.
    Keem steps up and holds out his hand. “We couldn’t do this before.”
    Billy stares at Keem’s hand for several seconds, then reaches out and shakes it heartily. Billy’s excitement spreads, and we all start to laugh as Keem tries to teach him the homeboy handshake. Billy turns to Nyla next, but she doesn’t hold out her hand—Nyla opens her arms and folds Billy inside. Our laughter dies when we realize that Billy’s sobbing. Nyla doesn’t let go. Keem turns away and clears his throat. I wipe away my own tears with the back of my sleeve. It’s been three months since my mother wrapped me in her arms. I can’t even imagine waiting more than two hundred years for someone else to hug me. For just a moment, I think of Mrs. Martin and how it was between us before Mercy arrived. Nuru’s voice helps me push those thoughts aside.
    We must not delay. Follow this tunnel to the Chamber of Souls.
    “We’re almost there,” I tell my companions. Then I take a deep breath, banish all thoughts of the past, and say, “Let’s do this.”
    There’s an eerie silence in this new tunnel. No sound penetrates the curved brick walls, and with each step forward, I feel as if I’m leaving reality behind. A moment ago we clung to a sleek, silver train—now we seem to be sliding into the past, leaving technology behind.
    “That’s weird—my watch stopped. Anybody got the time?” asks Keem.
    Billy and I shake our heads. Keem opens his mouth to say something else but sighs heavily instead. Nuru’s light burns bright above, but we all slow down as a heavy, invisible burden settles upon us.
    Suddenly Nyla gasps and clamps a hand over her mouth. Tears squeeze out of her closed eyes