Twenty-Seven

Bobby

I stayed a short time longer at Cole's house before deciding it was time to go home. I pulled Cole into my arms and held him while we swayed back and forth, just inside the door to his house. "I had a nice time, thanks for asking me over."

"I did too, and I'm going to miss you in my bed tonight," Cole said.

"I'll miss you too, but if I don't go now, I probably won't leave." He smiled at that and kissed me one last time before opening the door for me.

"Bye, Cole," I said and waved as I hurried to my car. He stood outside as I drove away, and I wished I could have stayed but there was something else on my mind that I didn't want to share with him. We needed every chance we had to get rid of Nox and the only place I could think of that might have some answers was the carnival we'd gone to.

The more I thought about it the stranger it seemed that he'd suddenly been able to hear thoughts when we'd gone there, but also that after talking to the guy from the entrance, he'd been able to shut it down, so he wasn't in pain. I also wanted to know if it was possible Nox was hiding the ability to read minds so Cole wouldn't know he had that power at his disposal.

The exit for the carnival came up fast and I was relieved to see it was still there. I exited the freeway and drove the short distance down the small country road that led to the large open field that was being used as a parking lot.

I parked close to the entrance and sat in my car a moment after turning off the engine. The place was a mess of activity as some workmen walked around cleaning up, while others were hurrying to food stands with supplies or fixing anything that needed to be repaired. It looked so different during the day, and if I didn't know better, I'd have sworn it was a throwback to the old carnivals from long before I was born. And who knew, maybe it had been around that long.

A workman walked by carrying a garbage bag and I hurried out of my car. "Excuse me, would you know if the men that were working at the entrance on Friday are here today?"

He adjusted the bag and walked closer to me. "Ah that'd be Errante and Rafe. You can find them over by the big tent." He pointed to the largest tent in the carnival, and after thanking him I hurried in that direction taking the same route we'd walked Friday. There at the end of the row was the large tent. All the sides were pulled up allowing me to see inside. I could see a few workers gathered around in the tent talking quietly as I got closer.

"Excuse me, can I be of some assistance?" one of the men from the entrance asked as I stepped inside the tent.

"Yes, I'd like to speak to you and the other man who were working the entrance on Friday."

"Is there a problem?" the other man said. He was dressed like a ringmaster, and I wondered how I hadn't noticed that the other night. Both of them were mesmerizing in their beauty, so I blamed my lack of attention on being distracted.

"No, no problem. I came here the other night with my friend Cole Ryan. He had an odd experience while he was here, and I wanted to speak to you to see if this had happened before." A look passed between them for a split second before they both turned to me.

"I'm Errante Ame, and this is my ringmaster, Rafe. I remember you, but I'm not sure I remember who your friend is." They waited while I pulled up pictures of Cole and hoped one of them recognized him.

"Oh yes, I do remember him. He appeared to be having a panic attack near the food booths," Errante said.

"It wasn't a panic attack. I know this will sound strange, but Cole was hit by lighting a few weeks ago. Since then, he's had many strange things happen. As soon as he crossed through the entrance to the carnival, he was able to hear everyone's thoughts." I waited for their reaction, not really sure what they'd think of some random stranger walking into their show asking about something as unbelievable as hearing thoughts.

Rafe murmured something close to Errante's ear and turned back to me. "I have some matters to take care of before the carnival opens. Good day, and good luck to you," he said before walking out of the tent.

"Are you quite positive your friend can read minds? That sounds a bit far-fetched," Errante said, bringing my attention back to him.

"No more far-fetched than a carnival that looks like something from days gone by suddenly showing up near where we both live," I said, and hoped to get some reaction from him.

"What is it you want from us?" Errante asked, completely ignoring my comment.

"We spoke to someone else who has a connection to all of this, and she thought that maybe, when we walked into the carnival, it stripped away a power that might have been hiding the fact he gained the ability to read minds when he was struck by lightning."

His eyes grew intense and somehow darker as he stood there silently. "The carnival is many things to many people. Anything is possible here, and if your friend was meant to know he had contracted some such ability, then it is possible he could have been shown that truth when he crossed the entrance. But he would not have gained any such abilities while he was here. We are just a carnival no matter how we appear to you."

"I'm sorry, I didn't come here to accuse you of anything, it's just we can't seem to find out any real answers. Everything we know is either someone else's opinion or rumor." I clutched at my hair as I realized there wasn't any big revelation found here either.

"If your friend has been touched by magic, that magic would leave a trace. A psychic may be able to help him figure out exactly what happened and learn how to control his abilities. But I'm afraid there isn't much else I can do to help." He looked concerned but I also couldn't shake the feeling there was more to this carnival than just a roadside attraction that moved town to town.

"My mum used to go to a psychic in Dublin that she swore told her when she'd get pregnant and the exact date I'd be born. But I don't think she's gone there for a few years."

"We have a fortune teller here, if you and your friend would like to stop by the carnival after we open, you're welcome to have an audience with her," Errante said.

"I think I'll ask my mum about her friend first. If she can't help us, then we'll come back."

"Very well. I'm sorry I couldn't offer more assistance."

"It's okay, you actually helped. I hadn't considered speaking to a psychic. Thank you, and I'm sorry if I was rude before," I said before shaking his hand and walking back the way I'd come. I hurried back out to my car. As soon as I closed the door, I was on the phone to my mum.

"Hello, Bobby, what are you up to this weekend?" she asked. Being from Dublin, my mum still had a heavy Irish accent that I would always equate with making me feel safe and content.

"Hi, Ma. I've been to Hickory Crossing with Cole. Mum, I think I need your help."

"What is it, son?" Her voice was full of concern, and I was more thankful than ever for her compassion and willingness to always help.

"This is going to sound strange, but remember the psychic you used to talk to years ago?"

"You mean Saorise?"

"Yes, do you still speak to her?"

"I do, but not as often as I once did. Since we moved here, I only speak with her on the phone or if we do a virtual session."

"Do you think she'd be willing to have a session with Cole and me?" I hoped she said yes because I wasn't sure who else we could find that could possibly help. I shook my head at blowing the chance to ask the fortune teller at the carnival to help. But something told me this was the way to go.

"She's always willing to help, Bobby. Let me call her and see what she says."

"Thanks, Ma, I've been freaking out about how to find someone to get us some answers. I'm really worried about Cole."

"I want you to tell me everything," she said. So, while I drove back home, I did. Dad was a great listener, but Mum was a believer. She never once doubted anything I told her, from the weird blue lightning to the fact that Cole could now read minds. When I finished it felt like a weight had been lifted.

"Rest easy, son, I'll see what I can find out."

I hung up just as I pulled up to my house, and for once I felt what might be the beginnings of hope.