Michael by Aaron Patterson

the feel and character of my grandfather. What little I know of him, anyway.
    I turned and walked ahead. I was struck that we had managed to evade the cops—or the FBI or who knew what other agency—all the way to Oregon. I was thankful that Michael had it all together; it was easy to follow his lead when he was sure enough for both of us. I wondered what gave him such easy confidence. Was it all that cash? The security that was lining his pockets? What would happen when that ran out? What was his plan then? Did he have a plan B? I didn’t know. I shook my head and walked on.
    Most of the ruin was wide open to the hanging and smudged sky. What used to be the floor was now a quarry for brick remnants—and, given who had destroyed the place, human remnants turned to ash and blown off—and I hobbled over the roughness of it in my lightweight hikers. It was cold. Off to one side, a solitary doorway led into a dark space. I saw the look on Kim’s face as I looked back and forth between it and her. She grunted, shoving her hands into her pockets.
    “Hey, at least it’ll be shelter from the wind and rain.” I pulled the hood of my sweater over my head.
    “Go on with your bad self, then. I’ll be right here if you need me. This place is way creepy.”
    I nodded and stepped through the rubble toward the doorway. I could make out little details, but not much. “Be careful.” She said. I kept picking my way over the rubble.
    “So what, Kim’s intuition is right?” I asked under my breath.
    Nothing.
    I stopped and closed my eyes, focusing. Better not to take chances, especially given how quiet She had been lately. I hoped that if Kreios was still close I could reach out and find him with my mind, possibly break loose and let him know I was here—I was alive. I waited for something but nothing happened. I felt really foolish, like an amateur in a pro world. “Come on. No use being all quiet now,” I said quietly. “You’re the one that might be able to help me right here, right now. Please.”
    I stood motionless. Finally She stirred again. I plugged my ears, drowning out the sound of the wind and rain. “One is coming who will guide you on your path. Only be careful.” Classic She; I got nothing more.
    “You know what, you are impossible.” I opened my eyes and walked on, toward the black doorway. “This is stupid. What do we think we’re gonna find? A love note, telling us where he’s going next? To go kill and destroy?”
    Just as I reached the frame of the door, a chill feeling crept into me. I turned back to Kim but she was in the zone, looking off to the horizon, in her own world. I shrugged the feeling off and turned back toward the doorway. I picked my way through crumbled brick and splintered ash. It was dark, and I had to pause to let my eyes adjust. I looked down and around on the floor inside the huge room. It was pitch black; I couldn’t see anything beyond the first few feet inside the room.
    A flash of bright light, and I was spun around. Something—someone—grabbed and yanked me from the side and I went down hard. I rolled over quickly and managed to get to one knee. Immediately my senses kicked in full force.
    Thanks for the warning. Clearly She was laying down on the job.
    I looked up to see a woman—a girl about my age—standing over me with a short curved sword.
    I sprang to my feet. I reacted out of shock, grabbing her outstretched wrist, yanking her off balance. She pitched forward. I forced her to foul her blade against the ground, safely away from my body, and hit her hard as she came into me. I smacked her in the forehead with the heel of my hand, right between the eyes. The girl’s head snapped backward, and she twisted back and around and away.
    I scrambled to my feet. I knew my opponent would waste no time in renewing her attack and I wanted to be ready.
    “Stop!” The voice was so loud that it reverberated through my body. It was Michael.
    The girl was on her feet again, but