In the Darkness Read Online Free PDF

grip the wooden floorboards at the mouth of his trapdoor. He was not enthusiastic about leaving the cellar tonight.
    Mother and Father had different eyes than his. Different noses. They couldn’t see or smell or hear as well as he could, but that wasn’t the problem. They were different . What if that white stuff left tracks that they could see but he couldn’t? What if they could see it on his mouth no matter how much he wiped it, or smell it on him as soon as he came into the room?
    What if they just knew he had done something wrong?
    After closing the trapdoor and putting the armoire back into place, Gareth tried to stay as far from his parents as possible without giving himself away. He made it to the table and sat, relieved when he could pull the chair in to shelter his lower body beneath the table.
    Now if he could just resist the urge to wipe at his mouth every few seconds.
    Mother slid a platter in front of him. Lumps of unidentifiable bits of meat and a boiled turnip sat there, steaming. Keeping his hand turned down, in case there were tracks to hide, Gareth reached for a bit of the meat and tasted it. Ooh, squirrel!
    He barely registered how quiet his parents were until he finished the platter of food, and then—strangest thing—Mother took it, dished out another serving, and laid it before him again.
    Before touching the food, he peered up at Mother. Saw her looking at him. Really looking, and he thought about tracks again and tried to shrink in his seat. But Father harrumphed, and Gareth sat a little straighter, steeling himself for a punishment. But why would they give him more food?
    Father said, “Gareth, we got something to talk about, son.”
    The expression on Mother’s face was…soft. Almost a smile. Was something good about to happen?
    “Yes, sir,” he said. Risking a glance, he saw that Father’s face was weird and soft too. “Did I mess up? What did I do?”
    “Oh no no.” Mother shook her head slowly and waved away his words. “This is good news, very good. You will be very pleased!”
    He looked at them, from one to the other.
    Mother said, “There’s something we don’t think we mentioned before, but…we have a relative. A very important man, who knows all about you—”
    “Stop shaking your head!” Father said. “Listen!”
    Mother glared briefly at Father, then continued. “He couldn’t come to see us before because he is so very important and we didn’t want to risk anyone noticing. But you’re all grown up now, and he wants to meet you.”
    “Why—Why for?”
    “Because you’re special! You saw for yourself when you killed the bear.”
    His gaze fell. Was it so special to be a monster?
    “He will come to visit soon, and when he does, we want you to do your best to show him the things your father taught you. Can you do that?”
    “You mean during the daytime?”
    “It won’t matter. You’ll show him how you can use your weapons and how strong you are. If he thinks you are capable, he may have a new job for you. Wouldn’t you like that?”
    This was all wrong. Why were they so strange? And what job could the important visitor have for him? But no, that’s not what mattered, not to them. Not the job.
    “Yes,” he said, knowing the answer was expected. But the truth hung in his mind like the afterimage of a lightning bolt. They’re getting rid of me.
    “Good!” She reached out, and Gareth suppressed the urge to flinch. She patted his hand. “Now finish your supper and get to your chores.”
    Gareth was always hungry, but he found that today he had no more appetite.
    * * *
    Gareth was too close to the village. He knew well that he should not be there, but after brooding alone for so many nights, his desire to see Evin had become irresistible. He would have to be alert and ready to flee at any moment, but he could no longer stay away.
    He knew of a good place to look for Evin and his friends.
    From afar he had sometimes seen them go into one of the work