Page 211 of Challenge Me

“Don’t you want to see me as often as you can?”

“I love you, but that’s a bit of a stretch. You get in my way.”

“Well, that’s rude.”

He booped my nose, then slipped out of my arms. Moving to the dining room table, he picked up Mal’s mask. She tried to grab it from him, but he danced out of the way and held it up to his face. Even though it wasn’t finished, it was terrifying. Of course, the draugr had been Remi’s idea, and since the strange kid liked to freak out the other children when she opened the door and stood there silently, it was a no-brainer.

“Will it be ready for tomorrow?” I asked.

She nodded. “Perfect.”

“I know it will be.”

“And yours.”

“Mine?”

She went to the hutch and threw open one of the doors. My brows rose when she pulled out an umpire mask. Taking it from her, I checked out the splatters of red paint across the front and the cracks in the casing.

Remi had put on a different one. It had the face of a raven, which reminded me a bit of a plague mask. One of the eyes was hanging out of the socket, secured by a spring that bounced when he moved.

“These are fantastic,” I said. “You must’ve spent a long time on them.”

“Remi helped,” she replied.

“Good. Can’t have him slacking off while we work hard.”

“Careful,” he warned. “I’m the breadwinner in the house now.”

“Sure you are, baby.”

With a glare, he put his mask back on the shelf. Mal turned her nose up at me too, and together they walked out of the room, whispering to each other. Apparently, I’d become the enemy, although I knew that he’d be back before long. Regardless of what he said, he couldn’t stay away.

I looked at the mask with a smile. It still needed something—a finishing touch of sorts.

Heading into the garage, I laid eyes on my wooden bat. I picked it up and twirled it a couple of times, then set off to steal some of Mal’s paint. Might as well go all in. And if I knew Remi at all, he was going to love it.

Epilogue

Remi

The past once clung like death to me;

At night it gnawed my bones to dust.

The Norns remade me slowly, softly,

But love is what restored my trust.

7 Years Later

“He’s out!” I exclaimed.

Oli’s grip on my arm disappeared. With a huff, he dropped into his seat and slumped his shoulders. “He’s going to be devastated.”

“Oh, he’ll be alright. It’s a learning experience.”

“Yeah, sure.”