Yesterday's Gone: Season One

didn’t want to interrupt Desmond. He could tell that the man was figuring out something. Desmond could smell stuff better than the rest of them, even Will, at least in his own way. They both stood there for nearly 10 minutes. He could sense that Desmond was close to discovering what Vader already knew.
    He wondered if Desmond could understand him. He was the most intuitive of the group, other than Luca.
    If Desmond could understand him, then Dog Vader would be willing to tell him everything he needed to know. He couldn’t wait any longer; he had to get Desmond’s attention.
    BARK... RUFF RUFF...BARK... RUFF RUFF
    “Not now, boy,” Desmond said.
    BARK... RUFF RUFF...BARK... RUFF RUFF
    Desmond moved his gaze from the window to the dog, then dropped to one knee. “What is it?” he said. “What do you know?”
    BARK... RUFF RUFF...BARK... RUFF RUFF...THE SOFT MAN IS AN IMPOSTOR, A PLAGUE THAT WILL RUIN EVERYTHING. HE IS A STARLESS NIGHT THAT WILL SLOWLY FADE UNTIL THE SKY IS AS BLACK AS HIS INSIDES!...BARK... RUFF RUFF...BARK... RUFF RUFF
    “You smell something,” he said, then stood and shook his head. “Me , too.”  
    “Lunch!” Mary called.  
    Desmond walked toward the bar and Dog Vader followed. They were halfway there when the impostor and Jimmy entered the lobby.  
    BARK... RUFF RUFF...BARK... RUFF RUFF RUFF
    BARK... RUFF RUFF...BARK... RUFF RUFF RUFF  
    “Maybe we should put the dog in one of the rooms,” the impostor said.
    “No, he’s okay, right, boy?” Luca tried to soothe him.
    BARK... RUFF RUFF...BARK... RUFF RUFF RUFF
    BARK... RUFF RUFF...BARK... RUFF RUFF RUFF
    Desmond said, “Maybe John’s right. Just for lunch. Okay, buddy?”
    “Okay” The boy looked down, then over at Dog Vader. “Come on,” he said.
    The impostor turned to the group, “I’m going to keep watch on the second floor if you don’t mind. I’m a bit worried about what’s happening outside, and not too hungry.”
    “Sure thing, John,” Desmond said.  
    Luca led Vader to the far side of the kitchen, opened the door, gently ushered him inside, patted him on the head and said, “See you soon!” then closed the door behind him.  
    This couldn't be it.  
    This couldn't be the end.  
    Vader barked, hoping Luca would come back.
    The impostor would be coming soon. Dog Vader had to stay alive, at least long enough to get to the boy’s dreams, where everything would be okay and he could finally tell him everything; finally finish what he’d been brought along to do.  
    Vader pawed at the outside door.  
    Maybe he could get everyone’s attention if he could get outside and circle back to the front of the hotel. He never should have let Luca lock him inside the kitchen. It was only a matter of time before...
    The doorknob turned and the door swung wide.  
    He smelled the air, but nothing was there.  
    No... something was there: faded... tired... dehydrated... rotten.  
    The impostor entered the kitchen and leaped at Dog Vader, before he’d even had a chance to growl.  
    Dog Vader’s world went dark.  

    * * * *

CHARLIE WILKENS

    October 19
    Morning
    Pensacola, Florida

    “Who the fuck are you?” Bob said, rising from the floor, buttoning his jeans.
    “Boy, you ain’t a good listener; I already told you my name was Boricio. I know class was in session, so that must mean you were staring out the window. I sure hope you don’t get held back, but rules is rules, and your attention span might not leave Mr. Boricio with much of a choice.”
    Charlie stared at Callie, on the ground, sobbing. Bob had tried to rape her, which made Charlie wonder if he saw what he’d thought he saw in the pool. Perhaps Callie wasn’t a willing participant, after all. It wasn’t like he hung around long enough to get a good look. He’d been so disgusted by the thought of a girl he liked being with Bob, he ran. Now, as he looked down and saw the look in her eyes, he felt horrible. If Bob was raping her then, Charlie could, no should , have done something. Instead, he fled like a pussy.
    “What the hell is going on here, Charlie?” Bob said, face red and eyes aflame.  
    “Why don’t you tell me?” Charlie said, his voice a third as confident as he wanted to sound. He imagined returning to slap Bob into place, armed with the barrel of motivational speeches Boricio delivered over several hundred miles.  
    “The only way to get power,” Boricio had said on the ride to Florida, “is to step to the fuckin’ plate