Chapter 10: Paladin
Ace was on a quick trip to the countryside. Outside the bus window the city thinned out, replaced by open fields and scattered farmhouses. He planned to stay only a day, so he packed light: spare clothes and two bottles of water.
He’d come to meet one person. Thinking back to his first life, Ace’s chest tightened; his friend’s childhood had been nothing but pain.
The bus hissed to a stop and the riders filed off. Ace stepped down, drew a long breath of clean air, and started walking.
He ducked into a tiny roadside store for snacks, then headed toward the place he was sure he’d find his old friend. He didn’t remember the kid’s address, but he knew the spot where young Mercer always spent his free time.
When Ace reached a narrow river wedged between two steep banks, he spotted a black‑haired boy of about fourteen stretched out on the grass. Eyes closed, the kid looked perfectly at peace. No one would guess he’d already thought about ending his life.
Mercer... on your deathbed you told me you just needed one person to prove the world isn’t all darkness. If someone had helped you believe in people, you’d never have fallen into such pain.
Mercer’s parents had been rich until their company crashed. They blew what was left of their money, moved to the country, and drowned their loss in booze, cigarettes, and cheap drugs. Mercer was only three, so he never tasted wealth—or even normal life. The house reeked of smoke, and the stench clung to him, turning him into a target for bullying from both kids and their parents.
Neglected, he studied as hard as he could, hoping for a way out, but life kept piling on. By fourteen the boy was toying with suicide.
Ace sat a few feet away and held out a can. "Want a Coke?"
Mercer’s eyes snapped open. A stranger was handing him his favorite drink. After a stunned blink he took it. "Thank you, sir."