“Okay baby. What can I help with?”
“Have you ever had a feeling?” I stumbled over my words. I didn’t know how to explain it.
“I need more of an explanation, Amy.”
“Have you ever met a shaman…”
“Your mother introduced you to Carl?” His voice was surprised. “How is the old bastard?”
Carl chuckled. “I’m good Gavin.” I hit the speakerphone and my father’s surprise filtered through. I saw my mom sag against the shelf at his voice.
“Carl, it’s good to hear your voice.” They went through the idle chitchat that people do, and then my father steered the call back to the matter at hand. “This isn’t why you called, is it?”
“No.” Carl’s voice was frank. “I need your help.”
“You need my help? And you convinced Amy to help you?” He sounded a little taken aback.
“No daddy. I had…” I looked at Carl. “I don’t know what happened.”
“She had a vision of sorts.” Carl tried to help.
“A vision?”
“Is that normal with your line?” Carl hedged his bet.
“Not with me, but my grandmother did.” My father became quiet. “What did you see?”
“Destruction. Death. The end of our kind,” Carly and I said together.
“What is going on, Amy?”
“Carly’s come into her power.” I watched as Carl tried to push down his feelings.
“Who’s Carly?” My dad asked.
“Carl’s four-year-old daughter.” I looked down at the girl, but she shook her head.
“I’m four and a half.” Her little voice made me smile.
“Oh Carl. I am so sorry.” My dad comforted him, but he was already shaking his head.
“Nothing you should apologize for.”
“What can I do?”
“Grandma’s cabin…They need to go there.”
“It’s a burnt husk baby, you saw that for yourself.”
“Carl will rebuild it with Carly. When the cabin is done…” I trailed off, I looked up and met his eyes. He gave a small nod. Carl knew and understood that as soon as the cabin was rebuilt, his time was up.
“We can’t stay here.” Carl put out.
“You are more than welcome back.” My dad was quiet for a moment. “Does your mother know? I don’t want her to be surprised by this. I don’t want to hurt her.” I watched as a tear slipped down her face, and she turned away.
“Yeah daddy, she knows.” I looked back at Carly. “If Carly falls into the wrong hands, then everything we are trying to protect will fall.”
“I understand.” He was quiet. “This is becoming a bigger mess than I thought possible way faster than I expected.”
