“Yeah,” Carlton whispered. “He’s okay. Go be with your friends.” He smiled, but Michael didn’t get up. He was looking at Carlton’s chest, where someone had placed a drawing over his wound. “This is a part of you,” Carlton said, grasping at the picture.

“You’ll die without it,” Michael whispered.

“I can’t keep this.” Carlton shook his head as Michael pushed it back. “You can give it to me next time you see me.”

Michael smiled, and the drawing began to fade, hovering where Michael had placed it for a last moment before the ghostly image vanished, seeming to sink into Carlton’s chest.

Thank you. Carlton heard the echo of Michael’s voice, but Michael was gone, and there was nothing but the light.

*  *  *

“Carlton!” John.

“Carlton, hang on!”

“We’re going to get you out of here!”

Marla. Jessica.

“Carlton!”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

So, what happened then?” Marla had scooted so close to Carlton’s hospital bed that she was practically in the bed with him.

“Ouch, Marla! The nurse said I need to sleep, and I shouldn’t be exposed to a lot of stress right now.” He reached for a juice box nearby, but Marla pushed it out of reach.

“Oh please, I practically am a nurse, and besides, I want to know what happened.” Marla lifted a series of tubes and pulled them out of her way so she could get closer.

“Marla! Those are attached to me! Those are keeping me alive!” He searched frantically around his bedside table. “Where’s my panic button?”

Marla felt around the edges of the bed until she found the small device with a red button on it, then set it neatly in her lap, clearly under her protection. “No juice; no nurse; tell me what happened.”

“Where’s Dad—Clay?” He lifted his eyes, searching the room until he found his father, who was standing by the window, his face tight with worry.

“I’m right here,” he said, and shook his head. “You gave us a scare, and it wasn’t a practical joke this time.”

Carlton grinned, but it was short-lived as he glanced around the small room in distress.

“Are the kids all right?” he asked, not sure he wanted to hear the answer.

“They’re safe. All of them,” Jessica said quickly.

“All of them?” Carlton said in joyful disbelief.

“Yes. You saved him, the last one.” Jessica smiled.

“And he’s okay?” Carlton said again for confirmation, and Jessica nodded.

“And Charlie?” he said softly. Jessica and Marla looked at each other, unsure.

“We don’t know,” Clay said, stepping forward. “I’ve been out to look for her, and I’m going to keep looking for her, but so far …” He broke off, then cleared his throat. “I’m going to keep looking,” he repeated.

Carlton looked down thoughtfully, then looked up once more. “And what about hot Charlie?”