Read Lies: A Gone Novel for Free Online Page A

know why you left your house?”
    â€œThey said they would…hurt me, I guess.”
    Mary wasn’t sure she wanted to pry any deeper. Perdido Beach was a community in a permanent state of fear andworry and loss. Kids didn’t always behave too well. Older brothers and sisters sometimes lost it when dealing with their siblings.
    Mary had seen things…things she would never have believed possible.
    â€œWell, you can stay with us for a while,” Mary said. She gave the girl a hug. “Francis will tell you the rules, okay? He’s that big kid over in the corner.”
    Jill turned away reluctantly and took a couple of hesitant steps toward Francis. Then she turned back. “Don’t worry: I won’t sing.”
    Mary almost didn’t respond. But something about the way Jill had said it…
    â€œOf course you can sing,” Mary said.
    â€œI better not,” Jill said.
    â€œWhat’s your favorite song?” Mary asked.
    Jill looked bashful. “I don’t know.”
    Mary persisted. “I’d like to hear you sing, Jill.”
    Jill sang. A Christmas carol.
    What child is this who laid to rest
    on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
    Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
    While shepherds watch are keeping…
    And the world stopped.
    Later—how much later, Mary could not know—Jill satdown on an unoccupied cot, cradled her doll close, and fell to sleep.
    The room had fallen silent as she sang. Every child standing stock-still, as if they’d been frozen. But everywhere eyes were alight and mouths formed dreamy half smiles.
    When Jill stopped singing, Mary looked at Francis.
    â€œDid you…”
    Francis nodded. There were tears in his eyes. “Mary, you need to catch some sleep, hon. Eliza and I will handle breakfast.”
    â€œI’m just going to sit down, rest my feet for a while,” Mary said. But sleep took her, anyway.
    Francis woke her what seemed like mere minutes later. “I have to go,” he said.
    â€œIs it time?” Mary shook her head to clear it. Her eyes didn’t seem to want to focus.
    â€œSoon. And I have some good-byes to say first,” he said. He put his hand on her shoulder and said, “You’re a great person, Mary. And another great person has come to see you.”
    Mary stood up, not really following what Francis was saying, just knowing that someone was there to see her.
    Orsay. She was so slight and fragile looking Mary instinctively liked her. She seemed like one of the kids, almost, one of the littles.
    Francis touched Orsay’s hand and almost seemed to bow his head as if in prayer for a moment. “Prophetess,” he said.
    â€œMother Mary, the Prophetess,” Francis said, performing avery formal introduction. Mary felt like she was meeting the president or something.
    â€œOrsay, please,” Orsay said in a soft voice. “And this is my friend, Nerezza.”
    Nerezza was very different from Orsay. She had green eyes and olive skin and hair that was black and lustrous, gathered in a sort of loose wave on one side. Mary did not recall having seen her before. But Mary was trapped in the day care most of the day; she didn’t socialize much.
    Francis grinned a little nervously, it seemed to Mary.
    â€œHappy rebirth day,” Nerezza said.
    â€œYes. Thank you,” Francis said. He squared his shoulders, nodded to Nerezza, and to Orsay said, “I have some more people to see, and not much time. Prophetess, thank you for showing me the way.” And with that, he turned away quickly and left.
    Orsay seemed almost sickened. As though she wanted to spit something out. She nodded tersely to Francis’s back and gritted her teeth.
    Nerezza’s face was unreadable. Deliberately, Mary thought, as though she was concealing an emotion she felt strongly.
    â€œHi…Orsay.” Mary wasn’t quite sure what to call her now. She’d heard kids talking about