Jeremy Chikalto and the Demon Trace (Book III of The Hazy Souls) (22 page)

Chapter 42

The Sorting

When Jeremy returned to the Maze, he found
ghosts and amalgamated soul-creatures circled around Maren. She had
Mantel's scepter—an onyx rod with gold foil cornucopia
embellishments—on her lap in a gesture of good will. "I guess I
started a movement,” said Maren when she saw him.

“I've got Lyrna.” Jeremy gestured to the
next room over. “What's going on?”

Maren stood up and brushed the dirt off of
her butt. “Ms. Fritz and Jasmine have been out spreading the word
that Mantel's been sorted. Many of these souls have been in the
Maze so long that they're actually relieved to go too.”

Jeremy fidgeted.

“Tina has volunteered to be the first one to
be sorted.” Maren called Tina over to her, who was standing a few
feet away, and she held Tina's hands.

“We'd like to be sorted at the same time,”
said General Forero and Tina's mother, Anna, stepping past the
creatures to join them.

“Of course.” Maren smiled at Tina's
family.

Jeremy frowned and a flake of dirt crumbled
from the ceiling and fell on his nose.

“What was that?” asked Tina, leaning towards
Jeremy to investigate.

“Nothing,” Jeremy drew back from her.

“I want everyone to see me
go,” said Tina. “Not only because I'm fabulous, but so everyone can
see that it's going to be okay. If Maren's right
—
if I've accepted my
death
—
than Lyrna
will sort me peacefully.” Tina continued, her eyes wide and
inviting, “I believe in Maren, and I believe in you too, Jeremy. I
know what's on the other side. Bliss, memories, and
more
—
a
future.”

Maren reached out for Jeremy's hand. “Let's
say goodbye,” she said.

“Okay?” Jeremy frowned.

“Stay strong, Jeremy,” she whispered.

“Tina, can I talk with you for a second?”
Jeremy tried to mask his emotions, but was never very good at
self-restraint. He pulled her away from her family and whispered,
“Are you sure you want to go first? You're ready?”

“Yes.”

“Because...? I'm sorry,
but...that's it
—
you're ready to just go?”

Tina laughed. “Well, I'd love to see you
fight the Antichrist, don't get me wrong. But I'm in way over my
head. This is all you, Jeremy. Plus, I'm dead!” She shrugged. “I'll
see you soon. Can you flex for me real quick?”

Jeremy winced. “How are you even thinking
about something like that?”

Tina crossed her arms.

Jeremy looked over his shoulder, saw that
nobody was paying attention, and then produced a muscle for Tina,
which she gleefully wrapped her hands around.

“Ooo la la!” She winked. “Better get back to
my parents. Punch Satan in the face for me.” Tina patted Jeremy on
the shoulders. And then she gave Jeremy a pity hug.

It was the first time he'd been on the
receiving end of a pity hug. “Okay,” he said, wiping a tear from
his eye. “Let me go and get Lyrna.”

Jeremy wanted to take his time retrieving
his fizdruft, but the floor shook slightly and some more debris
crumbled from the ceiling. He opened the door to Lyrna's chamber.
“Lyrna, we need you over here. Be gentle.” He wiped at his brow.
This was really happening. He admired Tina's readiness, but
couldn't accept it. She was always braver than him.

Jeremy and Lyrna entered the room shielded
from the onlookers by a large force field. Everyone stood along the
back of the wall for the viewing. Jeremy reached out and pulled
Tina into the force field, followed by General Forero and Anna.

“Hi, Lyrna,” said Tina, and she lay down on
the floor. Her parents followed suit.

Lyrna fluffed her fur out a little and
stretched out her claws.

Jeremy eyed his fizdruft suspiciously.
“Gentle, Lyrna. Everyone, make yourself like water. Slow down your
breathing. Be at peace.”

Everyone quieted down and Tina giggled.
Jeremy couldn't help but admire her. Lyrna padded forward.

“Mew!” She purred.

“Love you, mom and dad.”

“Love you too, Tina.”

Lyrna swept her paw at Tina's sternum and
caught hold of a wispy chord. She pulled it forward and Tina
quieted. Tina's body lay still, but her spirit swam upward with
Lyrna. She waved at everyone with an ethereal hand and her physical
body shimmered and was no more. Lyrna did the same to General
Forero and Anna, until she held three chords in her mouth. Then the
pilot and her passengers disappeared.

Everyone cheered. Jeremy had to turn away to
prevent the others from seeing his tears. His chest tightened.

Maren appeared behind him and placed a
gentle hand on his shoulder. “Don't let them see you this way,” she
whispered.

The remaining party broke
into separate groups
—
those who wished for a public sorting, and those who opted
for a private sorting. The public sortings were granted first. One
by one, they shimmered from existence on this plane. Mateo opted
for a grand exit and requested a last dance with Maren. He looked
as merry as ever. “Hope to meet my grandchild
soon
—
I love you
both!” Jeremy pulled Mateo into the ring, and Mateo shook his hand
with gusto. “I'm going to see my wife again. Lyrna, take me
dancing.” Everyone cheered Mateo on and Lyrna floated over his
chest and pulled his spirit free. He shimmered and
disappeared.

Jeremy had to take a
break. He led Lyrna to her private chamber, and then flew off into
a separate room and balled his eyes out. Why couldn't he find
peace? He was supposed to be the angel—the one with the surest
knowledge that there was some divine plan in place. He believed in
a Heaven and Hell, but still wanted to exist perpetually in the
realm of the living. Why? His parents would be leaving him soon.
And they had to, or else the Maze would collapse on them.
It roams
, a voice
whispered in his head. What did Lyrna mean,
'It roams'
?

Jeremy returned to the camp to find a line
formed at the door to Lyrna's chambers. Maren gave the okay for the
next in line to enter. Frisky gave her a big hug, and then Ren, who
would be next. She walked into the room and closed the door gently
behind her.

“Jeremy,” said Maren. “They wanted a private
sorting. I think I'll go privately, too. You're struggling.”

“So are you!”

“Jeremy,” said Maren in a hushed voice.
“There goes Ren. Your parents are next, be strong for them. Here
they come.”

Jeremy's heart beat wildly.

“I still can't get over Mateo,” said Wantoro
with a twinkle in his eye. He laughed and embraced his son. “It's
okay to cry, Jeremy. I know how you are, and that's okay. You've
got a big show ahead of you. You'll see us again.”

“Don't go,” said Jeremy, pulling him closer.
“Please stay.”

Raaychila brushed her hand on his arm. “My
son. You're not dead yet. I don't suppose you understand how truly
ready we are. You've always been my angel.”

Jeremy got down on his knees. He threw
himself around his mom's waist.

Raaychila kissed him on the forehead. “We
love you and we'll see you soon.” She freed herself from him, and
then held Wantoro's hand. Together they entered Lyrna's
chambers.

Maren led Jeremy to a small patch of moss
and sat beside him. They watched the rest of the sortings in
silence. After the last had gone, Jeremy turned to Maren, his eyes
pleading. “Maren, please don't leave me.”

“I think I'm ready,” she said, her eyes
welling up. “I have a lot to be happy about, but I'm scared,” she
admitted.

“Then you can't be sorted. Scared doesn't
cut it.”

Maren's lip trembled.

Lyrna's chamber door opened with a squeak
and Jeremy hugged Maren close to him.

“I have to go now,” said Maren, pushing him
away weakly.

Lyrna walked towards them. “Mew.” She licked
her paw. “Now sort roots, oasis.”

Jeremy nodded. “Yes, yes, Maren later then,
right?” he said, squeezing her tighter.

Lyrna cocked her head. “No. Maren not dead.”
Lyrna walked away.

Chapter 43

The Antichrist

Jeremy and Maren embraced, laughed, then
cried. They ran over to the oasis and gulped the fluid greedily,
fearing its imminent absence.

Lyrna held her paw above the oasis and soon
thousands of small threads rose to meet her. “Meow! Meow!”

The walls were shaking. The ceiling broke
apart and spirit animals entered the Maze in droves. There were
cats of all sizes, racoons, dogs, camels, goats, pigs, and even
mysterious species from the Andes; deep-sea dwellers floated by
with neon tentacles. The animals packed in tight, pulling chords
from the ground, even the doors. Everything, it seemed, was
enchanted with soul pieces.

“Much to sort,” said Lyrna. “Go, now.” Lyrna
jumped on Jeremy's lap and licked his cheek. “Now, Apollyon. Have
peace.” Lyrna jumped off Jeremy's lap and rubbed up against his
side. Then she rubbed up against Maren. A final “Meow!” and she ran
off with the other spirit animals. The ground rumbled.

Jeremy and Maren only had a few seconds
before the ceiling of the oasis room gave way entirely. Jeremy
grabbed hold of Maren and shot upward like an energized particle,
passing through solid matter. Jeremy cursed at his recklessness and
kissed Maren on the forehead. “Good, you're still with me!”

“Jeremy, the key!” Maren pointed across the
graveyard. It was bobbing up and down above the gravestones.

Jeremy set Maren down and they ran to the
key. Spirit animals swirled all around them, drawing out soul
remains and threads from the ground and walls. Jeremy could see the
key through the transparent bodies and reached out for it. As he
clasped his hands around it, his entire body lit up with a white
light. Then the entire ceiling of the Maze crashed down.

Jeremy shot upward through the Earth with
one hand on the key and the other wrapped around Maren's waist.
They burst into the atmosphere and stared down now as the surface
of the Earth collapsed in on itself. After a moment of disbelief,
they floated back down to an island of rock on the new landscape,
which was flowing with molten-red lava. The sky was indigo, and all
around them large rocks were raining down. Jeremy maintained his
protective shield. “Maren?”

“Yes?” she managed. The parched, loose Earth
beneath them shook.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“We need to find a mountain.”

Maren nodded.

“I'm going to travel pretty fast... you sure
you're okay?”

“I've made it this far. But my belly feels
sort of...?”

Jeremy lifted her up so that he could see
her belly. He placed his ear to it.

“It feels tight, is all. I can still feel
the baby moving.”

Jeremy sighed. “Let's give this a try.” He
fortified his force field and then blasted forward. Everything was
a blur, and he stopped after a second. “With me?”

“I'm fine.”

“Good,” said Jeremy, and he blasted forward
again, finding a mountain range that rose high above Earth's molten
deadlands. He landed on a cliff that led to an empty cave, and they
took shelter in it. When they settled, Jeremy held up the key.
“So,” he said placing it between them, “am I the Antichrist?”

“No,” she said. The wind began to howl
outside the cave. Maren shivered.

“Shall we cave draw?” Jeremy bent down and
grabbed two stones. He handed one to Maren.

“Sure,” she said. Maren lifted her stone and
etched a circle into the rock wall. Then she drew a circle around
the top, like a crown on a head. She dropped the stone. “Am I the
whore of Babylon?”

Jeremy raised his eyebrows and cracked a
smile at the idea of Maren doing anything whorish.

She began to recite from memory: “And the
kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived
deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when
they shall see the smoke of her burning....”

Jeremy laughed, but was unsure. “No, I only
know one ruler who fornicated with you.”

“Maybe the Maze was Babylon?”

“No, no,” said Jeremy. “And besides, I was
groomed to be a ruler, once. But I am no ruler.”

“The Whore of Babylon drank freely of wine,
and it was the blood of the people.”

Jeremy shook his head.
“Don't confuse interesting coincidences with an
essence
—
you're
pure and true, Maren,” he said. “Can you recite more of
Revelations?”

“It's the strangest thing,” said Maren, “I
had the bulk of it memorized. But now my mind's foggy, like I
haven't thought about it in years. Time is passing by strangely.
When the Haze collapsed I blacked out, and I've never been the
same.”

Jeremy looked out the mouth of the cave.
Smoke was rising from below and getting swept away by the wind.
“Well you look pretty pregnant to me. Your arms are too skinny, I
wish I could have got you more to eat.” Jeremy frowned and looked
back at the rock wall.

“It's like a long, illogical dream,” said
Maren.

They pondered this for a moment.

“Draw,” said Jeremy finally. “Sometimes our
minds think in images.”

Maren accepted the stone
and faced the rock wall once more. “I had started to draw a
face
—
I think it
was supposed to be me. Then this thing on my
head
—
it looks
like the halo.”

“Could be a veil.” Jeremy scooched next to
her. “I'm King, you're Queen.” Jeremy scribbled white all over her
drawing's body, making it a white block. “We'll just cover you up,
all modest-like. No more Babylon lady.” He smiled at Maren. “A
lovely, pregnant bride. Wanna get married?” Jeremy leaned over and
kissed Maren on the cheek.