Darkmouth Read Online Free Page A

“Two walls pulverized in Fillet Lane. A car half-destroyed by your boy at the Charmless Gap—”
    â€œOkay, Sergeant,” said Finn’s dad, raising his hands. “We’ll be sure to—”
    â€œTwo people treated for shock.”
    â€œWe can cover whatever costs—”
    â€œThe real cost is to you, Hugo. The people here are already scared stiff of the monsters; they don’t need to fear the people who are supposed to be protecting them.” Sergeant Doyle never looked pleased to be in Darkmouth. This day was no different.
    â€œI have to train him, Sergeant—” began Finn’s dad.
    â€œWe know you need to teach the boy, but there must be a better way than giving him a weapon and letting him loose,” said Sergeant Doyle, stepping away from the door. Pressed against the wall, Finn felt the heat rise inhis face. The sergeant walked right past Finn without noticing him, got into his car, and rolled down the window. “Hugo, you and I both know people here wonder why Darkmouth is the last place left where these attacks still happen. They’re beginning to blame you. Some of them are even asking if you keep letting the monsters in deliberately to keep your job.”
    â€œAh now, Sergeant . . .”
    â€œThere are people in Darkmouth who wonder if they might be better off dealing with this themselves. It’s the twenty-first century, Hugo. They think they can buy monster-killing kits on the internet.”
    Finn’s dad sighed. “They’re called Legends.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œSee you, Sergeant.” Finn’s dad watched Sergeant Doyle drive off. “Close the door on your way in, Finn,” he remarked as he reentered the house.
    Finn groaned. He should have known it was pretty much impossible for him to snoop on his dad. Even his childhood games of hide-and-seek had been ruined by his father’s inability to even pretend he didn’t know where his son was.
    As Finn started toward his front door, he saw something out of the corner of his eye, a blur farther backalong the street, moving quickly from one doorway to another. It was smaller than him, but tall enough, and he caught a glimpse of what might be fur. Red, flaming fur. Either that or . . .
    Finn hesitated, opened his mouth to call his dad, then decided against it.
    He held his palm out but felt no rain, turned his head toward home but heard no alarm.
    He looked at his house, then back toward the figure. Quick and deft, it disappeared around the corner.
    This was one chase Finn needed to do himself.
    He followed it.

8
    A s he turned the corner, Finn got a better glimpse of the figure he was pursuing.
    He felt a shot of relief as it confirmed what he had hoped from the moment he saw it. He was confident now that he would not need any help, any armor, any weapon. Nor would he need any of the courage his father kept insisting he would one day find.
    It wasn’t a Legend but a person. And, if a person was going to be sneaking around, a mass of blazing red hair wasn’t much use for blending in.
    Arriving onto the next street, he saw her right away. She hadn’t even attempted to hide, but instead appeared to be waiting for him, leaning against a wall, her eyes only half-visible behind her hair. Finn had felt those eyes trained on the back of his head throughout the school day, but whenever he had glanced back at her she hadn’t been looking at him.
    â€œWhat do you want?” he asked, realizing he didn’t know the new girl’s name.
    â€œYou’re Finn, aren’t you?”
    â€œYeah,” said Finn crossly. “And you are . . . ?”
    She didn’t answer.
    â€œWhy are you following me?” said Finn. “I mean, have you seen my street? We don’t exactly get many visitors.”
    â€œThat’s not what I heard.”
    â€œThen you should know that you’re better off staying away.” He took a deep breath