“Not Colchester. Colchester has hurt you. He’s used you. And he intends to wipe you out of existence. He wants your life, Jeremy. I’m not going to let him have it.”

“He said he would give me what I wanted.”

“He lies. That’s what he does.”

“You don’t know,” Jeremy shrieks, on the edge of a tantrum. “You don’t know what I did!”

“Your parents,” Eric said. The black rain pelts down, and the Shadowmen flit around them, and the wind tosses Jeremy’s golden hair.

Jeremy nods. “They’re gone,” Jeremy says. “It’s too late.”

“It’s never too late,” Eric says. “Let me help you, Jeremy.”

“My mom and dad,” Jeremy says with a sniffle, looking up at Eric. “Can you bring them back?”

Eric hesitates. He can’t lie.

“No,” he says. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

Jeremy’s chin quivers. He looks about to burst into tears again.

Then Colchester’s sneer grips Jeremy’s features. “So what good are you?” he says.

Colchester unfreezes, back in control. Eric barely has time to raise a defense. Colchester lifts his hand, and Jeremy’s hand rises in tandem. A bolt of dark magic burns through the air, and sends Eric tumbling back, nearly cracking his shield in two.

Colchester steps over the grass toward Eric, Jeremy moving like a toy underneath him.

“I can’t believe you thought that would work,” he says. “Did you really believe you could talk him out of this? That love would conquer all? You think that’s how this works? I told you already, son: there are no fairy tales.”

Eric gets back to his feet. He’s had about enough of this shit.

“Hey, Charlie, you remember how you said death is a gift?” he says. “Guess what? Today’s your birthday and Christmas.”

Eric gathers lightning in both hands. Darkness swirls and blooms around Colchester. There is a final moment of stillness, and all over the world, children murmur in their sleep as they feel the onset of nightmares.

This is how the last battle begins.

33

Fresh Blood on Its Hands

Carrie and her mom stumble away from Wade and Alana. Carrie wants to get her mom to safety. Mary wants the same for her daughter.

Serena Brinkley, former captain of the debate team and speaker of the house of the YMCA Youth Legislature, emerges from the mob, holding a shotgun. She blocks their path.

“Don’t move!” she screams at them. She’s apparently under the impression that this can all be salvaged if she only gets Carrie back under control.

But Carrie is already on top of her. Shotguns are not up-close-and-personal weapons. She uses her good leg and propels herself into Serena, clinging to her, pinning the rifle between them. Carrie headbutts her, breaking her nose with a hard crunch.