Everlasting Alternate Ending

CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Search for Everlasting The next morning, I woke to the sound of something in the room. I craned my stiff neck sideways to see the snippety sentinel in the silky, white dress. He was perched by the window, staring me down. I stared back, trying to wipe the puddle of drool off my chin with my shoulder. This wasn’t happening. It had to be a dream, but I could never dream up something so bizarre. “Get up!” he snarled in a chew-your-head-off sort of way. We formed our line and followed the leader down the hall, up the elevator, and into the colorful room. “Morning, children. Why don’t you sit down?” Mr. Ping-Pong said in a singsong voice. “Uh-oh, you guys look a little pouty. Would you like some breakfast?” I nodded silently. …show more content…

“Use your words.” “Words, huh?” I felt a dull, roiling rumble in my belly. “Okay, I’m starving.” “That’s better.” “Nothing for me, thanks,” Seth muttered. “Intestinal problems.” “Ah, so you’re the trouble-maker.” Mr. Ping-Pong wrinkled his nose. “Are you going to try me, boy?” Seth dropped his eyes to the floor. “No, sir.” “Good. Despite my age, I believe that if you were to test me, you’d be sorry.” The semi-senile man clutched his walker as he shuffled over to stand in a patch of warm sunlight. He turned toward Ryan and smiled. “You’re the one who’s most like me—tall, extremely handsome, and clever. I would imagine you’re rather skillful in other ways too.” “Uh, thanks.” Ryan scooted back on his stool. I wondered if plastered old Mr. Ping-Pong had been hitting the happy sauce a little too hard this morning. I guessed it was five o’clock somewhere. “I need you to do me a favor,” Ryan said. “If you don’t mind, sir?” Mr. Ping-Pong sank deeply into his overstuffed chair and began drumming his spindly fingers on the arm. “Name it.” “You’re asking me to betray my friends.” “For Pete’s sake, boy!” Mr. Ping-Pong shook his head. “I would never ask you to do something so treacherous. Now, what can I do for …show more content…

“Do you understand now?” “I think he’s serious,” Ryan said. “But maybe—” “You want to haggle with me, boy? By all means, haggle away.” “Okay, here’s the deal.” He smiled. “If you’re willing to pay my aunt for the Dragon, we’ll tell you where it’s hidden.” “Um, Ryan.” I shifted uncomfortably. “That isn’t a good idea—” Mr. Ping-Pong shook his head. “Unfortunately, I’ve already paid Bane for the stone. But if you tell me where it is,” he studied the drapes, “I’ll tear up your aunt’s mortgage note and guarantee you that the ghost will be gone before you get home. Then everything will be just as it was before. Perfect.” I blinked. “How could you know about the ghost unless—?” “I have a crystal ball in my bedroom that enables me to gain mystical insight.” He giggled. “I can see the past, understand the present, and foretell the future.” I tried to argue, but Mr. Ping-Pong held up a finger to silence me. “Lead Bane to the stone and all poor Aunt Emma’s problems will be solved.” Ryan shrugged. “Let’s just give it to him and get this over with.” “Yeah, dude. I don’t trust this guy,” Seth said. “No offense, Mr.