The Last Guardian (Ch. 8)

The Last Guardian

Chapter 8

Harry woke to the distant sound of a diesel truck backfiring. He turned his head and looked at the digital clock beside his bed. It was just past eight in the morning, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep. Sleep hadn’t come easily last night. A group of idiots had decided to rent the room next to his and throw a wild party. The laughter and bangs against the wall had kept him up all night. He lay still, staring at the ugly brown stain on the motel ceiling, wondering what noise would come to irritate him next. It came soon after. There was a polite, percussive knock on the door. Harry stretched his arms, rolled off the bed, and padded to the door in socked feet.

He expected it to be the manager asking about last night’s noise complaint. Instead, when he pulled open the door, he got Lana. She stood on the concrete walkway, hands buried in her jacket pockets, and she was smiling up at him with a look that would make lesser men go stupid.

“Good morning,” she sang out.

Harry leaned against the doorframe, eyebrows up. “If it were any good, I’d still be asleep.”

Lana grinned wider. “Don’t you know that the early bird catches the worm?”

He gave a theatrical yawn and motioned her in. “This motel is full of bugs. I’m sure if you look around, you might find a worm or two you can catch,” he told her. 

“Ew gross!” she said, immediately looking down at the ratty carpet. She stepped inside and took in the wreckage of his motel room. The air smelled like carpet shampoo and harsh chemicals. Clearly, someone had tried and failed to properly clean the old room. Harry glanced around. There was laundry draped over most surfaces and a half-eaten box of pizza on the chair. The stacks of cash and gold were gone. He had used his powers to put most of it in the bank, and he had hidden the rest. Harry felt a twinge of embarrassment at the state of his room.

“You ready?” Lana asked, bouncing excitedly on her toes.

Harry squinted. “Ready for what? Are we going on another epic adventure to the local library?” Lana had already dragged him there three times that week. 

“House hunting, dummy,” she said. She reached out, grabbed his hand, and shook it for emphasis. “You said you were looking for a place. So, let’s find you one.”

He let her hold his hand for as long as she wanted. “How many houses are for sale in this tiny town?”

She shrugged and finally let go of his hand. “You’d be surprised. I know of a few that came on the market before I left for France.”

Harry nodded. “And you’ll be my tour guide?”

She pulled a face. “I’ll do my best to help you find the perfect place. House hunting is a major milestone, Harry. This is really important.”

He found her intensity funny. Lana had a way of treating mundane events like they were world-ending battles. She’d already made this house hunt feel like a quest. With a flare of green light, Harry was dressed and clean, and he followed her outside. The Kansas sky was huge and blue, and the air smelled faintly of truck exhaust. Lana led him to her car, and Harry got in. Lana started the engine, and they rolled out of the parking lot.

“So,” she said, “What are you looking for in a house?”

He pondered her question. “Walls … A roof … Hopefully decent plumbing.”

Lana snorted. “Wow. Your ambition is overwhelming.”

Harry shrugged. “I don’t know. I lived most of my life in a walk-in closet under the stairs.”

She looked over at him, softer now. “Seriously?”

He nodded. “Yep. Life as an orphan sucked. My aunt wasn’t exactly the nicest person around.”

Lana turned her eyes back to the road. “You deserve something better … Something that’s actually yours.”

Harry stared out the window. The cornfields zipped by in a blur of green. “That’d be nice,” he said. Harry definitely wanted to get out of that motel as fast as humanly possible. 

They drove through Smallville, past the bakery, the Talon, and the gas station with the half-lit neon sign. Lana turned off Main Street and headed toward the edge of town. The houses out here were set back from the road. Harry didn’t recognize most of them, but one house caught his attention. It was a two-story farmhouse with a porch that stretched across the entire front. It came with a lot of empty land that would be useful to him. Lois had picked him up from the motel a couple of days before and had driven him out to check it out. It had been empty for a while. The grass had grown up to the mailbox, but the house itself looked to be in really good shape.

Lana slowed as they approached, her fingers tensing on the wheel. She pulled onto the gravel shoulder and parked. They sat for a moment, neither speaking.

“This is the place Lois mentioned,” Harry said, finally. “She said it was up for sale.”

Lana didn’t answer right away. Her eyes stayed on the house. “Yeah,” she said, quietly. “That was my old house. I grew up there with my Aunt Nell.”

Harry looked at her. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, but her lips pressed together in a line. “Yeah. It’s just… weird. I haven’t been back here in a while.”

Harry was ready to suggest a different house, but Lana was already opening her door. She walked ahead, kicking up gravel. He followed behind her. The wind tugged at her hair, and she tucked a loose bundle behind her ear.

The porch needed a little bit of work, but the front steps were sturdy. The old swing was still there, creaking in the breeze. Lana climbed the steps and peeked in the window. The inside was empty. There was no furniture, just a wide patch of sunlight and dust motes floating above the hardwood floor.

Harry joined her at the window. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asked, softly rubbing her back. 

She nodded. “Yeah. It just brings back memories. I was really upset when she decided to sell it.”

He waited, but she didn’t elaborate. Instead, she pressed her face to the glass and peered into the living room. “I used to do my homework in there,” she said. “Aunt Nell made me sit at the dining table. She said if I did it on the couch, my brain would turn to jelly.”

Harry laughed. “That explains so much about you.”

She rolled her eyes and smacked his arm. “It’s a good house, and it’s close to the Kents, which is nice. You’ll be set if you ever need a cup of sugar or moral guidance.”

He snorted. “I don’t see myself needing either any time soon.”

Lana tried the front door and found it locked. Harry pointed at the handle, and there was a sudden click. Lana tried again, opened the door, and stepped inside. The air was stale, and the floor creaked in protest under their feet. Sunlight poured in through the big front window, lighting up the dust. Harry walked around, checking the rooms. The kitchen was bigger than anything he’d ever had. Upstairs, there were three bedrooms. The master bedroom was painted a light blue, and the smaller room still had stickers on the closet door. There were horses, flowers, and a faded sticker that read “Believe in Magic.”

Harry smiled teasingly at her. “Did you put this here?”

Lana came up behind him and peeked at the sticker. Her face turned pink. “Yeah, when I was a kid. I was obsessed with horses … and magic, apparently.” 

They finished touring the upstairs. The last room was small, windowless, and probably meant for storage or an office. Harry stuck his head inside and looked around. There wasn’t much to see except a layer of dust on the floor.

He followed her back downstairs. They stood in the empty living room, surrounded by the memories of Lana’s childhood. Harry tried to picture what his own life would look like here. He’d only ever lived at the Dursleys’ or at Grimmauld Place for a short time. He wondered if he could get used to a house that didn’t try to kill him.

“So?” Lana asked. “What do you think?”

“It’s probably the nicest place I’m going to find in Smallville,” Harry told her. 

She smiled, relieved. “I think you should get it,” she said. “You can make a fresh start.”

He turned the idea over in his mind. “You don’t think it’ll be weird for me to live in your old house?”

She shook her head. “Better you than some weirdo. God knows this town is full of them.”

Harry smiled. He could hear in her voice that she really wanted him to buy it. They went back outside and walked the perimeter. The barn was empty except for a broken tractor and a pile of old fence posts. Harry leaned against the barn door and looked at Lana.

They stood there in silence, the wind blowing through the dry grass. Harry felt something settle inside him, like a weight he hadn’t realized he was carrying. For the first time since he’d landed in this universe, he felt like maybe he could really start a new life here. He looked at Lana, who was watching him with a soft, intimate smile.

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll do it. I’ll buy the house.”

Lana whooped and threw her arms around him, hugging him tight. He hugged her back, breathing in the smell of her shampoo and perfume. When she pulled away, she brushed her hair behind her ear and looked up at him. “So what’s next?”

Harry shrugged. “I suppose I’ll call the number on the For Sale sign and see what they have to say.”

She smiled while her eyes sparkled in the morning sun. “My little Harry Potter is all grown up,” she teased, wiping a fake tear from her eye. 

He rolled his eyes and tried to hide his smile, but it was impossible. He laughed, and together they walked back to her car. Harry grabbed the For Sale sign and ripped it from the ground. Lana yelped when he tossed it into the backseat of her car, causing clumps of dirt to fly all over. 

The Last Guardian

The night sky was stained with the kind of black clouds that meant a storm was coming. Main Street’s shop windows were already dim. It seemed that everyone knew a big storm was on its way and decided to close up a little early. Lana didn’t blame them. She was trying to get home before the first sprinkles decided to fall. She pushed the grocery store’s glass door open with her hip, the brown paper bag pressed to her chest. The door banged closed in the wind. The store manager quickly locked the door behind her. She wanted to get home as quickly as possible as well. A crack of thunder made her jump. Lana pulled her hood up and cinched it tight around her face.

The sidewalk was empty except for puddles and the trash blowing loose down the block. An empty chip wrapper whipped past her face. The wind was powerful and bitterly cold. The storm had the entire town on edge. Lana walked faster, and the groceries in her bag jostled. She kept one hand clamped around the bag and the other shoved deep in her hoodie’s pocket. Her cheeks stung from the cold wind, and the tip of her nose was already going numb.

At the end of the block, she looked up at the string of streetlights. They precariously swayed back and forth in the wind, and Lana wondered how long it would be before they completely fell off.  Lana cut through the parking lot of the hardware store, her sneakers splashing in the shallow puddles.

A few cars rolled past, their drivers hunched and silent. No one else was on the sidewalk, not even the kids who hung out in front of the pizza place. A Saturday night in Smallville had never looked so dead. She crossed the street, eyes fixed on the sidewalk, and tried to ignore how exposed she felt with every step. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She shifted the bag to her other arm and fished it out. It was a text from Harry.

He told her to get home ASAP. The storm was supposed to be a bad one. She smiled and answered that she was on her way. She put the phone away, took a deep breath, and kept walking.

The wind picked up, and the bag crinkled in her arms. She stopped to check the crosswalk, which she knew was silly. There wasn’t another car in sight, but for some reason, it made her feel better to follow the rules, even when no one else was around. She hurried across the street. The crosswalk stripes were slick and shining with the sheen of oil and water. The wind roared louder, and Lana hunched over to protect herself from it and walked along the line of parked cars.

A low rumble was followed by a quick, sharp crack of thunder that made her flinch. The streetlight above her flickered. Then, every light on Main Street snapped off at once. The whole town blinked out. The only illumination left was the distant, bluish-white flashes of lightning streaking across the sky.

Lana stood perfectly still, and her heart thudded in her chest. She waited for her eyes to adjust, but the darkness was all-encompassing. There wasn’t even a speck of moonlight to brighten her path. Despite the fierce wind, every little sound was magnified. She heard the rattle of a loose sign on a shop wall, the scuttle of trash in the wind, and the hiss of the leaves being whipped around high in the trees. She pushed forward, forcing her feet to move.

Behind her, something metal clanged. The sound carried, then died in the wind. Lana turned, the groceries threatening to slip from her grasp. There was nothing but a row of silent, darkened shops. She scanned the sidewalk, the empty parking lot, and the alley just across the street. Her breath sounded too loud in her own ears.

She moved on, walking faster. The old bakery was ahead, its window painted with pastel swirls and pictures of cupcakes. She passed it without slowing, the hair on her arms standing despite the chill. Half a block later, another bang echoed behind her. It was louder and closer than before. Lana twisted, her heart in her throat. It was so dark that she could barely see anything. She could just make out the dim shape of a trash can rolling into the street.

That was when she saw it. A shadow detached itself from the alley next to the bakery, then flattened against the brick wall. The shape was human. It was tall, broad-shouldered, and careful not to be seen. It moved quickly, then stilled. Lana froze, every muscle in her body stiffening. She stared at the figure, trying to convince herself it was nothing. It was just a neighbor out late, or maybe some kid from school playing a prank, but the way it moved wasn’t playful. It was deliberate.

The wind gusted hard, and the figure ducked further back into the alley. Lana’s legs began to tremble. She started walking again, faster this time, then faster still, until she was almost jogging. Her arms ached from gripping the grocery bag so tightly. She risked a glance over her shoulder. The shadow was gone.

She made it another half block before she dared to look back. A flash of lightning tore across the dark sky, illuminating the street. For one split second, she saw the figure standing at the mouth of an alley, head cocked and watching her. It was close now, maybe six or seven car lengths away. Her breath caught, and she nearly screamed.

She broke into a dead run, her groceries bouncing hard against her ribs. The Talon’s sign was still visible from the intermittent flashes of lightning. Her shoes slipped on the wet sidewalk, but she didn’t slow down. She looked back, and for one heart-stopping moment, she locked eyes with the shadow. She couldn’t see his face. It was just a smear of black inside a hooded sweatshirt, but she knew it was looking at her.

She ran as fast as she could toward the Talon and nearly went down when the toe of her shoe hit the curb. The bag of groceries tore open, sending cans skidding down the sidewalk. She kept moving, barely aware of what she had lost. The front door of the Talon was only a few yards away. Her hand shook as she dug for her keys, her breath coming in tiny, ragged gasps. She could hear the footsteps over the howling wind … wet, heavy, and quick.

She stabbed the key into the lock, twisted, and fell through the door. She slammed it behind her and spun the deadbolt. The café was empty and dark. Lana stumbled toward the stairs, tripped on the first step, and climbed the rest on her hands and knees.

She reached the top, dove into her apartment, and locked that door too. Only then did she allow herself to breathe. She backed away, chest heaving, hands shaking so hard she nearly dropped her phone as she dialed Harry’s number. The call rang only once before he answered.

“Hey, Lana,” Harry greeted her in his normal, cheery voice, and she had never been more glad to hear it.

She tried to speak, but her teeth were chattering. “Someone followed me home,” she managed. “I … I think they’re still outside. Please, come over now.”

“I’m on my way,” Harry said.

She hung up, and suddenly, the only sounds in the apartment were the roar of the wind and her own terrified breathing. Outside, thunder continued to roll so hard that she could feel the vibrations. Lana stood there, watching the door with a feeling of dread. All she could do was wait. 

The Last Guardian

Harry was in his room one second, standing by the window, and in the next, he was crouched behind a dumpster in the alley across from the Talon. His nose wrinkled from the sudden smell of garbage. The rain had started coming down heavy and hard, running in streams down the rusted metal bin. Harry pressed his back to the cold brick wall and listened.

The storm was louder here. Wind whistled between the buildings, and the rain hit the pavement in a steady roar. From his spot in the alley, Harry could see the front entrance of the Talon. The street was empty. There were no headlights and no passers-by. There was just the flickering glow of lightning overhead and the dark shape of the cafe.

He scanned the block, reaching out with all his senses … magical and otherwise. He couldn’t find anything. Harry listened to the nearby minds. Some were peaceful, and others were nervous about the storm. Then there was Lana’s. She was terrified, which told him that she definitely wasn’t just seeing things. Whoever was just here had obviously done a runner. The only thing out of place was a trail of groceries smeared down the sidewalk. 

Harry jogged across the street, scanning the windows. He bent down and gathered the groceries, cradling the torn bag in one arm while he set the rest inside. He listened for footsteps, breathing, or even the faintest heartbeat. There was only the wind and the rain.

He circled the building once, his shoes splashing through puddles. The back alley was empty. No one was hiding in the shadows, and the only sound was the persistent drumming of the rain. Harry moved fast, checking every angle and still found nothing. He took the groceries, slipped out of sight behind the Talon, and vanished.

The apartment upstairs was softly lit by a few candles burning on the coffee table and the kitchen counter. Lana waited impatiently for him to arrive. Then, with a soft pop, Harry reappeared inside the living room. He landed in the middle of the rug, his shoes soaked and his hair dripping water onto the floor. The sudden noise made Lana jump so hard she nearly toppled her candle. She spun, her heart slamming against her ribcage, then let out a noise somewhere between a gasp and a laugh.

“Jesus!” she said, hands to her chest. “Give a girl some warning, will you?”

“Sorry,” Harry said, but he was smiling softly at her. He stepped around the puddle forming at his feet. “I had to make sure you were okay.”

She exhaled, then started to laugh in relief. “Thank goodness you’re here. The power’s out and every little sound … I thought …” Her eyes went to the groceries in his arm. “My groceries?”

He dropped them on the kitchen table, shaking rain from his bare arms. “You left a pretty clear trail. Whoever was out there, they weren’t following anymore.”

Lana moved to the window, peering through the rain-streaked glass into the street below. “Are you sure?” She hugged her arms to herself. The light from the candles made her look even smaller and more fragile than usual.

“I checked the perimeter,” Harry said. “I even listened to everyone’s minds in the area. Whoever it was left in a rush.”

She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing. He could see her shoulders drop, the tension leaking away in slow increments. He reached out, touched her arm, and let a ripple of warmth move through her, drying her clothes in a matter of seconds. Her hair whipped around, then settled, perfectly dry. Harry then did the same for himself. 

She jumped nervously again, but this time she smiled. “Show-off.”

He shrugged with a smile. “I wouldn’t be much of a wizard if I didn’t show off every once in a while, now would I?” He reached past her and drew the curtains. The apartment felt much safer and cozier once the outside world was shut out.

Another flash of lightning lit the entire room. Lana flinched, then gave Harry a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I’m not usually like this. It’s just …”

“Don’t apologize,” Harry said. “You got chased down the street by a psycho in a blackout. I’d be freaked out, too.” He moved into the kitchen, picking up the cans and crackers, and started putting them away. He opened the refrigerator and set the milk on the top shelf. It was still cool inside, despite the lack of power.

Lana followed him, hovering close. “You don’t think it was just some drunk, do you?”

Harry shut the fridge and looked at her. “Think about what you saw, and I’ll see it in your mind,” he told her. Lana nodded and closed her eyes. She shuddered when she replayed the event in her mind. Once she was done, she looked at him hopefully. 

“No. The way he moved, the way he watched you … it felt wrong. He was probably watching you long before you noticed him. I’ll keep an eye out, don’t worry.”

She looked at the table and at the small row of candles on the counter. “Do you ever get the feeling this town is cursed?”

He smiled. “It’s not the town. It’s you. Weirdness just follows you around. I’m a prime example of that.”

She rolled her eyes, but there was a ghost of a smile on her lips. “That’s not very reassuring.”

Harry held out his hand, and she took it. He led her to the couch, letting her sit while he paced the room. He conjured a small ball of light and tossed it up. It floated to the ceiling, stuck there, and lit the room in a light green glow. The shadows faded, and the air felt less heavy.

Lana drew her legs up and tucked them under her. “Thank you,” she said in a small voice. “I feel safer with you here.”

Harry smiled reassuringly at her. “Whenever you need me, I’ll be here,” he promised her before flopping down next to her and looking around. The apartment was as clean as always. The only mess was the water he had dripped on the floor. Harry waved his hand and cleaned it up. 

They sat in silence for a while. The rain hammered the windows, and thunder rolled over the town like an avalanche. Every time it hit, Lana tensed, then slowly relaxed. She leaned into Harry, her head resting on his shoulder. Harry wrapped an arm around her, and she snuggled in deeper. “Will you stay tonight?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to be alone.”

He looked down at her. Her hair was fanned out on his shoulder. Her eyes were closed, and her soft lips were parted in the faintest smile. “Of course,” he said.

She relaxed, her body melting into the couch. Outside, everything rattled and roared, but in the apartment, it was warm, bright, and safe. Harry pulled her closer, and Lana brushed the tip of her nose against his neck. He could feel her warm breath washing over his skin. For the first time since her scare, Lana stopped shaking. She fell asleep like that, safely tucked against him.