Alan Price and the Colossus of Rhodes (The Nephilim Chronicles) Read Free

Larson’s advice and
go to the dance, no matter how scared he might be. Besides, this could be it.
Maybe this was the moment things would start looking up.
    For the first time in a very long time,
Alan felt something more than the gaping hole of misery. Hope had been planted.
Alan was beginning to feel better all ready.

 
    Chapter 6
     
    “Nope, you can’t take the car.”
    “I know you have rules but I’m
eighteen now and I have my license. I would only need it to go to the tuxedo
shop and to the dance tonight, that’s it.”
    Tony raised his eyebrows and looked
at him as though he had heard him but didn’t believe him. “You’re going where?”
    Alan agreed that it did sound out
of the ordinary for him. “I’m going to the dance tonight.” An idea popped into
Alan’s mind like a coiled spring being released. “Technically, it’s my
psychiatrist’s orders. She thought it would be good for me to get out of my
shell.”
    Tony pursed his lips. “And how are
you going to afford a tuxedo there, James Bond? Those aren’t exactly cheap.”
    “I know. I thought about that but I
still have the money I earned from working over the summer at the library. I
could use that.”
    Tony let out a long sigh, “Listen,
buddy, I admire you wanting to go and your willingness to try and socialize but
the car is just off limits. I can give you a ride if you want. That’s the best
I can do.”
    Alan knew arguing would be
pointless. Once Tony had made up his mind on a subject, it would be easier to
move a mountain than convince him otherwise. “Okay, thanks anyway.”
    Alan bit his lower lip as he made
his way up the creaking stairs and to his room. Tony took care of three
orphaned boys including Alan. Since the other two boys were still in elementary
school, Alan was allowed to have his own room while the other two boys shared.
Alan entered his haven closing the door behind him.
    You can’t give up now. Not when
you finally feel good about a plan.
    Alan felt as if he had been
depressed for years. The anger was a more recent feeling. The anger came from
his inability to do anything about his depression. Now when hope had finally
been found Alan refused to let it go. Alan shuffled to his bed and threw
himself on top of the lumpy mattress.
    There has to be a way.
    Alan glanced out the window at the
setting sun. If there was going to be a way then he had to come up with one fast.
He still needed to get a tuxedo and make it to the dance. The notion of calling
Dr. Larson and asking her to pick him up as his date teased him. Alan smiled as
he shook his head.
    Then the answer came to him from
the most unexpected person, Tony.

 
    Chapter 7
     
    “Alan,” Tony’s voice came through
the closed bedroom door. “The boys have their Scout meeting tonight. We’re
carpooling with the neighbors next door. We’ll be back by nine.”
    Alan cocked his head to the side as
his brain processed a new plan. A dangerous plan that hinged on Tony and the
boys being driven by the neighbors.
    “Alan? Did you hear me?”
    “Uhh—yeah—okay.” Alan
could hear Tony’s feet walk across the wood floors soon accompanied by two
pairs of smaller running steps.
    A small amount of adrenaline oozed
through Alan’s veins. He got to his feet and looked out his room window on the
second story. Sure enough, Tony and the boys were leaving the house.
    Tony was dressed in a Scout uniform
that was made for someone a size or two smaller than he was. The two young boys
raced each other to the neighbor’s house. They weren’t taking Tony’s car.
    You’re going to get in so much
trouble for this. But if everything goes well tonight, wouldn’t it be worth it?
    Alan made his way downstairs to the
house’s garage. He paced back and forth deep in thought. Tony’s brand new
Mercedes Benz, sat sleek and beautiful in the dull light practically seducing
him to enter.
    Alan fidgeted as he walked up and
down in front of the car, tapping a forefinger on his chin.