The Dark Stranger Page #3

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It looks like blood?

- Oh, no, no, it's a new

just a new India ink pigment.

I really like the look that it

gives.

- Is this supposed to be me?

Well, it's actually a

pretty good likeness.

You know I'd really like

to read this whole story

from the beginning.

- Why?

- Because I think it

will give me some insight

into where you are creatively

and I can see if there's a link

to the work that we're doing

together.

- No, you and dad have been

on me to start drawing again

and you wanna take it away?

- No, I'm not asking you

not to do your art, Leah.

I just

I just wanna be sure that it's

not taking

you to a bad space is all.

- Okay.

- Okay, good.

You'll have them all

back at our next session.

- Yeah, okay.

- I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Nobody answered when I knocked.

- What are you doing here?

- Mr. Toth asked me to return

your mother's paintings.

- You can just leave them on the

porch.

- All right but

are you still sick?

- Why?

- Because

could I come in just for a few

minutes

just to charge my phone.

Because if your dad calls

and he can't get in touch me,

I know he's going to kill me.

- I don't know.

I don't know.

You might wanna

invest in a car charger.

- Yeah,

yeah.

I know I actually had one but

last week my car got broken into

and the a-holes they stole it

so I've been meaning to

get a new one ever since.

- Does this mean Mr. Toth

doesn't like my mom's work?

- I'm not sure.

He did ask though if those

were the last paintings

she did before

before she died.

- Why?

- He didn't say.

- Okay well no they're not.

- Okay.

He didn't think so.

Can I

can I take the last one

she did to show him?

- No, the frame's cracked.

I'm gonna get it fixed but

it won't be done in time for the

show.

- Yeah, okay, okay.

Okay, I'm at 5% right now

so I'll just wait til I get to

like 10%

and then I'll be out of your

hair, okay?

- I really like your jacket.

- Oh, thanks, thanks.

Yeah, I got it in Kensington

market

right next to this coffee place.

- Hannah's beanery.

- Yeah, you know it?

- Yeah, I basically lived there

when I was in arts school.

- Oh, yeah.

Yeah, me too.

You know we were probably

there at the same time

and had no idea.

- Do you draw?

- Uh,

ish.

I mean I try but I know

where my strengths are

which is studying art history

rather than attempting

to be a part of it in any way

whatsoever.

Unlike you.

- Oh, no, I mean I draw but

no one's making history here.

- It's not what I hear.

- Well, my dad is very good

at playing the dotting father

and in case you haven't noticed

he's a little bit of a.

- Well,

I'd love to take a look

at your work sometime.

- Oh, I mean I am working on

something

but it's not ready to show

especially to a professional

critique.

- If and when you're ready

I'd love to take a look

and I promise that I won't bite.

Okay, okay I'm at 15%

so that should do it so

I'm sorry for the intrusion.

- No.

- It was really nice

chatting with you, Leah.

So don't be a stranger.

- Okay.

Poor Alyra didn't stand a chance

against these vicious creatures.

Their hatred of her voice

was too much for her to stand up

to.

But faith intervened

when she was rescued by a

heroic goblin named Meric.

Meric was a little bit of

light in her dark world.

He made her feel like she

didn't have to prove to anyone

that her voice was beautiful

it just was.

The dark stranger seethed with

jealousy

accusing Alyra of neglecting

him.

He warned her that

Meric was a false friend

no different from the

creatures who attacked her.

They were all envious of her

talent.

The stranger told her to trust

only in him

because he thought her

voice was the most beautiful

he had ever heard.

He vowed that no one

would come between them again.

What am I doing?

What time is he coming over?

- Mr. Toth he should be here any

minute.

Which reminds me he and I are

having dinner tomorrow night

so you both are on your own.

- It sounds like you two are

going steady.

- You know what, Toby, you

should really think about

leaving the whole musician

thing and going into comedy.

You're such a natural.

- I get all my humor from you,

dad.

- Okay, sorry I don't

understand why you and Mr. Toth

have to meet so much.

What else does he want to know?

- He just wants to chat about

your mom

find out who she was as an

artist.

Any chance you wanna join us?

We could stay right here.

- Oh, yeah, thanks for the

invite, dad.

I know it would mean so much

to you for me to be there

but I really don't have the

time.

I really have to wash my hair.

- What is that really necessary?

I didn't think you'd be

interested in coming to

an artist's meeting.

- Is mark gonna be there?

- Well, he can if it'll sway

you.

That must be my date.

- Good to see you, Brendan.

- Hey Mr. Toth.

- Am I early?

- No, you're fine.

Come on in, Mr. Toth.

I'm just gonna get my coat.

- You must be Leah.

It's very nice to meet ya.

- You look familiar.

- Oh,

do I why is that do you think?

- I guess you just look

like somebody that I know.

- And who might that be?

- I don't remember.

- Okay, Mr. Toth, there's

a nice cafe up the street.

- You know sometimes strangers

can

seem familiar.

Shall we?

- Sh*t.

Sh*t, sh*t.

- Leah.

- Who's there?

- Be with us, Leah.

- Join us, Leah.

- Dead with us, Leah.

- Who's there?

Mom.

- Oh, angel

don't give him what he wants.

- What are you talking about?

- The dark stranger.

- Mom, I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry

I made you...

- Kill yourself.

- Leah, Leah, Leah

Leah, for godsakes calm down.

It's okay. It's okay.

It's okay.

It's okay, honey, what happened?

What happened?

- Toth, Mr. Toth

Mr. Toth was here he was here.

- Mr. Toth why would Mr. Toth be

here?

- Where's the coffee?

I thought we had a full bag?

- Why don't we try some

decaf this morning,

give all that caffeine a break?

- That's what you think's

going on

I'm not getting enough sleep?

- I don't know what it is

but I think you need to try

and start taking care of

yourself.

- Why? My symptoms don't match

anything.

I'm a lost cause.

- No, no, you're not a lost

cause.

You're under a lot of stress.

You're not eating well.

You're not sleeping.

How else would you explain what

you saw in the laundry room?

I think you're afraid of Randall

Toth

and what his art show

represents.

- That's not it.

- It reminds you what happened

with mom.

- It's gonna happen to me.

- No, it's not true

you hear me?

Because I won't let it

you here me?

I won't let it.

- Oh, oh, god.

No, no, no, no

sh*t.

- Leah.

- Leah.

- Okay

you want me to draw

I'll draw.

It was time to Alyra's big

debut.

As the rag doll sang

to an enraptured crowd

a vision appeared.

It was Calah.

With her spirit returned to its

pure form

she had come to reveal the true

nature of the dark stranger.

She told Alyra that he

was using her talent

to make himself stronger.

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