Jack Staples and the Ring of Time Read Online Free PDF Page A

Doctor Falvey seemed overwhelmed by the outburst.
    “Silence!” Mrs. Dumphry’s voice was like the crack of a whip.
    The voices cut off immediately, and each child watched their ancient teacher with wide eyes.
    “Children, listen to me. Just last year I went swimming with the great white sharks. I tell you this to let you know that animals can smell fear. And whatever is killing these poor beasts will only be encouraged by the smell. You mustn’t allow fear to rule you.” Mrs. Dumphry beamed with pride. “I swam alongside those sharks for hours, and at no time did they sense even a smidgen of fear.”
    Arthur would have been willing to bet it had been the sharks that had been afraid.
    “Patrick Falvey and George McCarty will escort every one of you to your homes. Over the next few days, or until we find the beast, school will be canceled. And remember, whatever happens, do not enter the forest.”
    Mrs. Dumphry grabbed an eraser and began clearing the chalkboard. Everyone just sat and watched with wide eyes, too afraid to move. After a moment Doctor Falvey shook his head and spoke to the class.
    He cleared his throat. “Yes, well, ah … that’s right,” he said. “Come along now, children, and stay together.”
    Arthur didn’t move. He sat at his desk staring fearfully out the window. Jack was out there. They’d promised to meet each other at their fort at the end of the school day. Feeling a sense of dread, Arthur decided it would be best to tell Mrs. Dumphry. Maybe she would go out and find his best friend.

Chapter 5
    WITHIN THE CLOUD
     
    At the best of times, Jack Staples was not the greatest athlete. But running full speed through the forest while being pursued by black fog had left him exhausted. He could barely breathe. He’d run harder and faster than ever before. As Jack lay beneath the ocean of darkness, he turned onto his back and struggled to fill his lungs.
    The moment the dark fog crashed over him like a tidal wave, the whispering had stopped. And though the fog didn’t make a sound, he could feel it above him. With the fog came a wind that gave Jack the feeling of being doused in sewage.
    When a hand gripped Jack’s shoulder, he screamed in fear. As he turned to see who it was, he would have screamed again if he hadn’t been so confused. Lying beside Jack was … Jack. He was looking at himself. The other Jack was gripping his shoulder and weeping uncontrollably. His clothes were unlike anything Jack had seen before. He wore a black cloak and a shirt the color of a storm cloud with elaborate golden thread sewn into each shoulder. But what most drew Jack’s eye was the sword in the other Jack’s hand. Its blade was the color of pitch, and on its pommel was the head of a roaring lion.
    The sword-bearing Jack screamed through tears, “You have to listen to them, do you hear me? You have to listen! It’s you who kills them! You kill them all. Don’t you understand? Mother, the town, the city of Agartha! Its all your fault, all of it!”
    The weeping Jack pounced on Jack and began choking him. Jack fought with himself in a frenzied attempt to keep the other Jack’s hands away from his neck.
    “I can’t let you live,” the other Jack said, weeping. “Don’t you understand? We destroy everything! The prophecy is about me. I am the one who will join the Assassin. I am the one who destroys the Awakened!”
    The only thing Jack understood was that he was slowly losing the battle with himself. Above them, the dark fog continued to rage as its scorching wind blew a torrent of earth and leaves into the air. Just as Jack thought he was going to lose the battle, the other Jack screamed.
    “No!”
    This was the last word Jack heard before losing consciousness.
     
    The words of Minister McCarty and Doctor Falvey spun through Arthur’s mind as he entered the forest. He was more afraid than he had ever been, yet he knew he could not turn back. Jack was his best friend and would never have left him