The Knowers (The Exiled Trilogy) Read online

  The Knowers

  Merry Brown

  Copyrighted 2010, Merry Brown. All rights reserved.

  Cover picture and back cover art from shutterstock.com.

  The Knowers is a YA Books imprint.

  MerryBrown.com

  For my boys,

  Judah, Leopold, and Thomas

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One: Sue’s Party

  Chapter Two: New School, Senior Year

  Chapter Three: P.E.

  Chapter Four: Homecoming

  Chapter Five: Katie’s House

  Chapter Six: Camping

  Chapter Seven: Things in Common

  Chapter Eight: Robbery

  Chapter Nine: Will’s House

  Chapter Ten: I Love You Too. We Can’t Be Together

  Chapter Eleven: Avoidance

  Chapter Twelve: Guys Night Out

  Chapter Thirteen: Dealing with a Broken Heart

  Chapter Fourteen: Faux Baby

  Chapter Fifteen: Transported

  Chapter Sixteen: The Truth

  Chapter Seventeen: Enjoying Liz

  Chapter Eighteen: Living

  Chapter Nineteen: The Mystery That Is Liz

  Chapter Twenty: The Crowded Kitchen

  Chapter Twenty-One: Thankful

  Chapter Twenty-Two: Break

  Chapter Twenty-Three: Christmas Day

  Chapter Twenty-Four: ‘Father’

  Chapter Twenty-Five: Wraiths

  Chapter Twenty-Six: The Killing Day

  Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Dead

  Chapter Twenty-Eight: Gone

  Chapter Twenty-Nine: Love

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter One: Sue’s Party

  “You’re only young once, William, and such a drag to be around. Go out, have too much fun tonight. Call me from prison. I just might come get you,” my father slurred, barely coherent, as he poured his paid-date-for-the-night another drink. It was just 5 o’clock and he was plastered.

  “Piss-off,” I spat back, unable to keep it together.

  I instantly regretted it.

  “Now you’re in the spirit of things,” he laughed, amused at my anger. “This one is too tame to be my son. Maybe my late wife was sleeping with the mail man,” he said to the unnatural blonde, who was clearly unnatural from head to toe.

  There was no winning with my father. If I said nothing to his insults, he got a rise out of knowing I was seething inside. But what he really loved was to see me lose control and fight back.

  Michael and John pulled-up as I slammed the front door behind me. Just another day in hell.

  Shake it off. Just breathe in and out, in and out.

  I jumped in the car, my face still red and hard.

  “You okay?” John asked.

  “Am now.”

  John and Michael didn’t need an explanation. Michael had been my best friend since the third grade and seen it all. We met John the first day of fifth grade when he moved to Bakersfield from some small town in Idaho. Since he was kinda skinny and wimpy, Carl Banter zoned right in on him. I walked into the boys bathroom to see Carl attempting to shove a kicking and screaming John in the trash can.

  I told Carl to cut it out. That’s when Carl punched me so hard he almost broke my nose. By the end of the fight I was covered in blood, but so was Carl. Mr. Hayden finally yanked us apart and marched us to Mrs. Hill, the principal.

  I remember the look on my father’s face when he entered the tiny school office and saw me sitting against the wall with a bloody towel shoved up my nose. He was beaming.

  “I think I’m suspended,” I said to him, fearing whatever he’d do to me.

  “Who cares. So, whose butt did you kick?”

  I told him the story and watched as his face turned from pride to disgust.

  “You’re such a disappointment. Next time let runts fight their own fights.”

  He stormed into the principal’s office. I only heard bits and pieces of the conversation, but by the end I was no longer suspended and Carl was going to spend the rest of the year at a juvy school.

  Michael pulled out of my driveway. We were picking up Hannah next.

  I sat in the backseat lost in thought, trying to calm down.

  I’m not sure how Michael got me to come tonight. I’m not much of a party person, not these days anyway. I used to be the fun guy, up for anything. But that was a long time ago.

  Who needs a crowd? I’d rather spend my Friday night hanging out with Michael and John. . . but that was before Michael met Hannah. Now, if I want to be with my best friend I have to go where she wants to go, do what she wants to do. It’s aggravating my best friend’s girlfriend has taken over my social life. I wish she’d just go away.

  “Ugh. What have I done to deserve this? I swore I’d never go to her party again. This is going to be torture,” John protested as I stared out the window. Tonight wouldn’t be a total loss with him there.

  “I can’t believe I’m actually going to a costume party!” What was happening to me? Who was I turning into? Was I so desperate to get out of the house that I’d go to Sue Lempsky’s annual back to school costume party?

  I knew the answer immediately. Yes. Anything to get me out of that house. Even Sue’s party.

  “Too bad Michael couldn’t ditch Hannah just this once,” I whispered to John, my bitterness to his new distraction showing more than I intended.

  “I know man, it’s sick. Oh well, it’s not like she’ll be around forever. We’ll just have to wait it out,” he said back under this breath.

  But not quiet enough. Michael glared at us through his rear-view mirror, annoyed.

  Michael and Hannah were dressed up as Edward and Bella from Twilight – obviously her idea. Hannah tried to get John and me to dress up too – yeah right, as if that would ever happen. Poor Michael, he looked like such a love-struck fool with his face painted white and his yellow contacts. If that’s what love does to a person, I don’t want anything to do with it.

  Hannah was helping Sue with last-minute party business, so we all arrived early. John and I could’ve taken my car and not been stuck there from the beginning to the endless end, but I hated to drive my car.

  My car. How could my father think I wanted such a thing? Some guys would call me a spoiled brat for complaining about having a sports car, but I could really care less. I hate it because he thinks he can buy me. I’ve vowed to only drive it when absolutely necessary.

  Tonight was almost one of those necessary occasions. But I missed hanging out with Michael, and riding with him would give us more time to hang.

  Sue came screeching down her driveway when she saw us, gushing over Hannah and Michael’s romantic costumes. She threw a threatening look in John’s direction as she pulled Hannah into the house to get busy hanging the last of the lights.

  Michael, John, and I got one of the basketballs from the garage and played a game of horse, mostly in silence. We all felt how odd it was. Here we were, seniors, best friends, band mates, always together….

  “Working on any songs, man?” Michael asked me.

  “Yeah, a little. I play all the time, but the words and the melody just won’t match up right now. I feel like I see something coming, something really cool, but it’s vague and I can’t seem to get a hold of it. It’s really frustrating.”

  John made his next four shots in a row and won. “When can we get together to jam?”

  When, the eternal question. Lately we’ve spent more time talking about when we can practice than any time spent actually practicing! We all have jobs, of course there’s the ever-present Hannah, the issue of my father, and soon we’d have schoolwork on top of it all.


  “How about tomorrow, my house? My father is supposed to be at a board meeting.”

  “I have to work from 8 – 3 tomorrow, but after that I can,” Michael said as John groaned. “Yeah, and I work from 2 till closing.”

  Silence… then we all started cracking up. How crazy and confusing our lives had become. A simple practice was beyond our talents to coordinate. I missed these guys. Who knows what I’d be like if it wasn’t for them? I’d probably be totally messed up, like my brother was. He never had anyone to help him, protect him, keep him sane. Michael and John saved me from that fate. They have no idea, no clue, how much I owe them for my sanity.

  What a year this was going to be. A senior, finally. Deported to Panama West High – the new school in town. No one to play music with. No best friends to hang out with. I could feel the anger rising in me. Unfair. Life was unfair. I needed something to punch.

  By now the partygoers were arriving. You could tell which guys had dates – they were the ones dressed in costumes. The rest of us got to wear our regular clothes. Michael found Hannah. John and I headed for the food.

  The center of Sue’s spacious house had been cleared of furniture, with couches and chairs pushed against the walls. Strings of lights were all over the place, hanging from the ceiling, the doorframes, bookcases, and fireplace; just about everywhere.

  Standing by the twinkling fireplace I noticed a group of girls. I knew most of them, but one I was sure I’d never seen before.

  All were costumed as if they just descended Mt. Olympus. White sheets tied around their waists and chests with gold cord, bare arms shimmering with a dusting of body glitter. Some were more successful with the Greek goddess look than others.

  I absently stared at the group of girls, thinking about that song again, when the one I didn’t know turned her head to look around. As her eyes swept the dimly lit room, her gaze fell on me. Her head stopped. Her eyes went wide, then wicked, as she stared me down.

  I looked away. Annoyed and embarrassed. Why was she staring at me as if I stepped on her cat or ran over her foot?

  Maybe it’s the lights. Maybe she thinks I’m someone else. But that’s doubtful. I look just like him and everyone within a hundred mile radius knows what my father looks like. We are both on the tall side with an athletic build, dark brown hair and blue eyes. His eyes used to shine with strength; so penetrating and wise. Now his eyes bore a gut-wrenching hole in my soul whenever I’d bring myself to look him in the face.

  I raised my head to see if she was still looking at me. She was, but she was also walking across the makeshift dance floor, heading right for me. Her glare was intense, and I have to admit, a bit exciting.

  As soon as she reached me she grabbed the sides of my button down shirt with both hands, gently pulling my ear to her full lips and whispered, “I know what your father is.”

  And with that she let me go, turned around and walked right out of the room.

  “Who was that?” John asked with obvious awe. I was too stunned to reply. I grabbed a soda and headed for a couch.

  “Well?” John asked as he followed me.

  “I have no idea.”

  What just happened? A gorgeous girl, appropriately dressed as a Greek goddess, approached me, grabbed me and seductively whispered, what? Not, “I know who your father is.” No, she didn’t say that. She said, “I know what your father is.”

  Everyone knows my father, of course, but no one ever mentions him to me. My teachers, coaches, any adult for that matter, have always treated me with kid gloves. Who would risk upsetting me? Who would ever think to give me less than an “A” even if I deserved it? Who would not give me anything I asked for? No one. I knew it; they knew it. So I never asked.

  I was a straight “A” student so no one would have to give me what I didn’t deserve. I never tried out for anything, knowing I’d never get a fair shot. If I went out for the team, any team, I’d make it, or the spring play— I’d get the lead regardless of my talent.

  He couldn’t buy me and I’d be damned if I’d accept any special treatment as long as I had anything to say about it. I wanted nothing special from him.

  I could’ve asked him to pull some strings, let me stay at Bakersfield High with my friends. But… I couldn’t bring myself to do it, I wouldn’t do it. I’d rather rot in hell than have him do any favors for me. On second thought – forget hell, because that’s where he’s going to spend eternity.

  Soon I’ll be 18 and as far away from him as possible. I’ll fend for myself, somehow.

  Of course she knew who my father is, but that’s not what she said. She said she knows what he is. What is that supposed to mean?

  “What did she want?” John pulled me from my thoughts. There was no way I was about to admit to John what she said. He knew I loathed my so-called father, how embarrassed I was from the attention I received because of him.

  “She said she knew who my father is.”

  “Of course she does, man. Don’t worry about it.” He could see I was pretty upset. “Let’s get out of here.”

  The party was in full swing, bodies everywhere. The music was loud, the room muggy from all the costumed teenagers dancing. But that’s not why my head was spinning, blood boiling. Why did she single me out? What’s wrong with her? The last thing I wanted to think about tonight was him, and now, well, I could feel the anger pull through me.

  As we headed for the back porch we passed the now smaller group of Greek goddesses: Abby, Keely, Shannon, DaVene, and Lizzy.

  As I passed them I was bumped by an overly enthusiastic dancer, which sent me right into the ring of girls, knocking Lizzy to the ground.

  I reached out to pull her up. As she looked up at me, shock spread across her face. Not the kind from being thrown to the ground unexpectedly. No, it was like… the shock of being violently pulled out of a meditative state. Her incredulous expression melted into something different. Was it interest? Yes and no. It was more a look of sweetness and peace.

  As I grabbed her hand to pull her from the floor, something like a bolt of electricity passed from her to me and my fury and anger fell away instantly. I quickly apologized and hurried away.

  As I passed through the sliding glass door to the patio, I glanced behind me. Her eyes were on me. Her face wore a smile— a stunning, breathtaking smile.

  For the first time in years I felt hope.

  I made my way to the plastic lawn chairs, barely feeling my head attached to my shoulders. My mind was in a tangle. What was going on with me tonight? In the space of 10 minutes I’d been angry, embarrassed, and filled with hope. What a bizarre night.

  Jan and Katie found us outside; Jan dressed as a cat and Katie as a slightly haggard Hannah Montana.

  “Hey guys, what’s up? How long you been here?” Katie asked.

  “Since before the beginning. Will and I came early with Michael and Hannah. Hannah wanted to help Sue,” John replied.

  “She looks so cute tonight. But if I were to go as Bella, I’d go as the pregnant Bella, moments before the bloody event. Hey – that’s what I’ll do for Halloween this year!”

  Gotta love Katie.

  They pulled up chairs and gave us the summer gossip run down: Apparently Miss Weaver was dating the new science teacher, Carrie dumped Jon, Matt was back with Jenny, Eric broke his arm skiing, Tori was pregnant, and J.D. got suspended for TP’ing the principal’s house—again.

  Jan went on and on, filling us in on the rest of the local gossip.

  I was glad to see Jan and Katie. They were usually entertaining. Tonight I sat back and let my mind go, barely aware of their stories of high school angst.

  I wondered over the strange events of the evening: my last ‘back to school’ party of high school, of my youth, the maddening behavior of unknown girl #1 – and the accompanying anger, the strange reaction by Lizzy and the strong, almost unrecognizable reaction from me. She smiled at me, her touch….

  “Will… Will. What do you think?” Jan asked, pulling on
my arm. “Do you want to join us for some karaoke? It’s going to be fun and I love your voice. Come on, please?”

  My first instinct was to say no, but if I hang out with Katie tonight, I might be able to get her alone and ask her about the unknown Greek goddess. I would never hear the end of it if I asked Jan, but Katie, she’d just tell me what I wanted to know without any ribbing.

  “What are you going to sing?” I asked Katie, absent-mindedly rubbing my hand, still throbbing from Lizzy’s sting.

  “The usual, of course. You in?” Katie asked, jumping up and down, clapping her hands.

  “Yeah, why not. What about you man?”

  “I’m already there,” John said as he stood up.

  The four of us headed for the stage by the pool. Jan found our song and “Bohemian Rhapsody” began. I could see Michael working his way to the stage. Next came Jan and Katie’s “Call Me Maybe.” Hannah joined Michael for “I Got You Babe,” and I got talked into singing “Grace” by U2.

  As my solo was coming to an end, I noticed Lizzy standing under the porch. She was situated such that the twinkle light wrapping around the pillar behind her made it look, from my perspective on stage, like she was glowing. She was looking at me with an expression that made me feel completely at peace.

  I’d never given much thought to Lizzy before. She moved here last spring and fit in with my friends right away. She was fun, kind, and very mature for a high school student, but not in a bad way. She was nice, but not dating material in my book.

  I didn’t really date, but I still divided girls into three categories: date worthy, friend worthy, and stay as far away from as possible.

  Lizzy was in the friend category; should she stay there? Not that it mattered in practice because I didn’t date for two main reasons:

  Reason #1: I wanted to be free to get out of town as soon as possible, nothing tying me to this place.

  Reason #2: Bad things seem to happen to those around me. I didn’t want to be with someone since it might literally be bad for her health! I didn’t wish my crazy, messed-up, and dangerous life on anyone.