The Dream Thief by Kari Kilgore (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

The tunnel looped back on itself three times, and Loretta found herself reassured Karl was behind her after all. The steep footing was more treacherous than she liked, even without Gemma making the climb.

"Here we are." George handed his lantern to Gemma, who held it steady in both hands. "That last key I gave you will open this door. Give me a minute."

Dim light came through glass near the top of the door, but Loretta was grateful for the lanterns. She was even more grateful for George going ahead of them. A smell she'd barely noticed farther back was making her eyes water closer to the surface.

At first she'd thought someone must have relieved themselves in the corridor, just too damn lazy to wait until they were outside. But this was horrible and getting worse. The nastiest toilet combined with a filthy operating room mixed with a refuse pile.

If that stench was coming from the house, she would not be leaving her grandmother or anyone else out here.

George peered through the glass in the door before he unlocked it and stepped through. Loretta coughed and covered her nose, watching Gemma do the same.

When she looked back at Karl, he was breathing normally. He looked upset, but he made no move to protect himself. Before she could ask why, George ducked back in.

"Come on. It's all clear," he said. "I'm sorry about that smell. If you don't get used to it, I can bring gas masks. That's the ’sters, though, not the house. It's clean enough."

The air seemed to get thicker as Loretta walked toward the door. She wanted to grab Gemma and turn around and get her out of there. Neither of them could possibly tolerate whatever made that smell.

"Oh, it's perfectly lovely!" Gemma exclaimed.

Loretta was surprised enough when she followed her grandmother that she gasped without thinking. The horrible odor seemed to be coating the back of her throat now, but Gemma was right.

The caretaker's house was a simple stone building, not a whole lot larger than the house Gemma had left behind in the Northland mountains. Four doors stood open, revealing three bedrooms and a bathroom. There was only one hearth, but it was an old-fashioned open one, several feet across and lined with fire brick. Plenty of room for her grandmother's cauldrons and power generators.

"How long has this place been empty?" Karl said, walking over to one of the large windows.

"About thirty years, I think," George said. "At least that's the closest anyone can guess."

"I can understand why with this stench," Loretta said.

"Yeah, that was part of it." George tried to smile, but his eyes were watering. "The people who work with the ’sters say you get used to it pretty quickly. I don't know if I believe that."

Gemma stood beside Karl at the window.

"The yard is small," she said. "But I'd have enough space for a garden. Maybe even a few animals."

"I wouldn't recommend the animals, Gemma," George said, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but they'd probably draw the monsters right to this place."

"Won't that happen anyway once they notice us?" Gemma said.

Loretta glanced out the windows, then stopped for a longer look. The yard was overgrown with weeds, but it was level with plenty of space. A black metal fence surrounded everything, arching up and out of sight above the house.

"That's what the fence is for," George said. "I'm afraid animals would get them too upset. I doubt the animals would be happy out here, either."

"This isn't as bad as I thought it would be," Karl said. "Except for the smell." He was still looking out the window, Gemma at his side. "Georgie, why was it abandoned? We can't leave anyone out here if it's not safe."

"I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't think it was safe, Karl. I've never been able to track down the records, but the story is the last caretaker kept saying there was no point in living all the way out here. He couldn't control the ’sters, and they hadn't managed to really hurt each other for a long time. When he finished his turn, no one was sent back."

"That doesn't make any sense," Loretta said. "Why maintain it, then?"

"Sometimes I don't think they know why." George was moving around the house, checking the windows and fittings. "But I wonder if it all might change depending on what ’sters are out here. If it's more important that they be kept healthy, you know?"

Karl shook his head at George, just for a second, but Loretta caught it. She was sure there was plenty she wasn't supposed to know. She wouldn't forget the slip.

Beyond the fence, the landscape was nearly as open as around Gemma's house in the Northlands. A few trees broke up the grasslands, and she could see the spiraling brick towers of Jeffrey Columns not far off. Nothing was moving, but at least nothing out there looked like a monster.

"Well, what do you think?" Karl said.

He spoke to Gemma, but his gaze met Loretta's.

Gemma clasped her hands between her breasts. "I think I could do perfectly wonderful things out here once I have my supplies. That hearth should be big enough once I have everything set back up."

"I'll have to double check the chimney for you," George said. "I'd hold off on fires for a little while. At least wait until we're all out here with you." He leaned into the hearth, looking up with his lantern held high. "I don't think the ’sters will be drawn to it. I'm not sure, though. I'm quite sure a lot of smoke will catch more attention than you want. Can you have your fires more at night for whatever you need?"

"I need it mostly at night, I suppose," Gemma said. "Do you have peat here, or will I have to use wood?"

"Pete?" George shook his head, but Karl jumped in.

"We'll have to see about that," he