Free Three Promises by Bishop O'Connell Page B

dusting herself off. “I mean, I can’t control it.”
    â€œJesus, girl, do you even know where you are?”
    She looked around and hugged herself as she shook her head. “A haunted forest?” Her tone was sarcastic.
    â€œNot that lucky, I’m afraid,” Brendan said.
    â€œWhy are you tied up?” she asked, taking a few steps forward. She narrowed her eyes, focusing to see him in the perpetual faint light.
    â€œThat’s a bit of a long story, that is,” he said. “And not one to be telling a kid.”
    â€œTrust me, mister,” she said. “My story isn’t exactly rainbows and unicorns either.”
    Brendan didn’t know what to say. He could see it in her eyes; hear the truth of her words. They were soaked in sadness and regret. It was something all too familiar to him.
    â€œI have a knife,” she said. “I could cut you down—­Oh my god!” Her eyes went wide when she got close enough to see his injuries. “You’re hurt! Really bad!”
    â€œAye, I noticed that,” Brendan said. “But you can’t cut me loose, love. It ain’t safe. Not for you or anyone else.”
    She kept stepping forward, her eyes looking him over. “Was it the Order?”
    â€œThe who?”
    â€œYou didn’t, um, do this to yourself, did you?”
    Brendan shrugged, or tried to. “Aye, though not directly.”
    Her face scrunched in confusion. “I have no idea what that means.”
    He shook his head. “It’s not important. What is, is that you get your arse out of here, and right bleeding now.”
    â€œI told you, I can’t control the wormholes,” she said and ran her hands through her hair. “I’ve been jumping all over the place for what feels like weeks.”
    â€œWormholes? What the hell are you talking about?”
    She nodded. “You see, there are countless holes in space-­time on the subatomic level, though I only shift through space—­at least, I think.” She shook her head. “Anyway, somehow I’m manipulating the chance that these holes will join together and form one large enough to reach the macro universe and—­”
    â€œI’ve got no bleeding clue what you’re saying, girl.”
    â€œSorry.” She shrugged. “And my name’s Wraith, not girl. What’s yours?”
    He hesitated for a long while before deciding there was no harm in it. “Brendan,” he said. “Fine then, Wraith, if you can’t go back, can you make yourself invisible again? Hide until you figure out how to go back?”
    â€œMaybe?” she said. “I mean, it just sort of happens, I don’t really control it either, but I’m trying. And I’m sure I’ll stride again, I always do. I just don’t know when.” She looked down. “But you shouldn’t be close by when I do. Let’s just say it would be really bad.”
    Inside, the demon was drawing what little strength there was and fighting for control. Brendan was pushing it back down, but he was losing.
    â€œYou have to go—­”
    â€œI told you—­”
    â€œFrom here,” Brendan said. “From me!”
    Wraith stepped a little closer, tilting her head to try and see his eyes. “Why? You’re hurt really bad and tied to a tree. I don’t think you could hurt me, even if I did cut you down.”
    â€œI’ve got no time to explain, love,” Brendan said. “Trust me when I say—­” There was pain as the demon fought its way up.
    â€œI’m sorry. I was wrong,” it said through Brendan’s mouth. “It’s the pain you see. I’m not thinking straight. Please, free me. You’re right, I won’t hurt you—­”
    Brendan pushed back, wrenching the monster from control. “Don’t listen to me, go, now! Go and don’t ever come back, or tell anyone you