Noah's Adventure - 29. The Truth

I sat there, listening to my dad try to justify everything.

Something about protection. About doing what was necessary.

It sounded like excuses.

The lies just kept piling up.

Meeting my dad wasn’t supposed to go like this. I’d imagined it a thousand different ways.

None of them included me being mad at him.

“I think there might be someone who can help,” Dad said.

I let out a frustrated breath. “I’m not sure I want to meet anyone else right now.”

He gave me a small, knowing smile. “Trust me. You’ll want to meet this one.”

And just like that—

He was gone.

A shadow stretched across the ground in front of me.

Someone stepped forward.

As he came into view, I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

That tiny scar above his eye—

Not Shiloh.

But close enough to make my chest tighten.

“Silas,” I breathed.

“Hello, Noah,” he said, sitting beside me. “We need to talk.”

“About your brothers?” I asked.

“We’ll get to them,” he said. “But this is about your father… your grandmother… and the secrets they’ve been keeping.”

I groaned. “Great. More secrets.”

“First,” I said quickly, “please tell me we’re not related.”

Silas laughed. “We are. Very distantly. Through your grandfather. You’re safe.”

“Good,” I muttered. “One crisis at a time.”

“So… how are you here?” I asked.

He tilted his head slightly. “You ask a lot of questions.”

“Yeah, well, I just found out my entire life is basically a lie, so—”

“Fair,” he said.

He leaned back slightly, gaze drifting.

“The afterlife isn’t what people think,” he said. “It’s not just heaven or hell. There’s… more. Layers. Purpose. Sometimes we’re allowed to stay close to the people we love.”

A pause.

“Before you ask—yes,” he added. “I chose to become Shiloh’s guardian.”

“What?” I stared at him. “You’re serious?”

“Completely.”

My brain tried to catch up and failed.

“I’m here,” he continued gently, “because my brother isn’t. And right now, you need someone to help you think clearly.”

He gave me a look.

“I also know about the… Hokey Pokey incident.”

I winced. “Yeah, that tracks.”

“So why did my dad say you could help me?” I asked.

Silas hesitated. Just for a second.

Then: “Because this isn’t really about Shiloh.”

That got my attention.

“It’s about your family.”

“What about them?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Besides the explosions? The car crashes? The general chaos?”

“Okay, fair,” I muttered.

“My family is… complicated,” I said. “I know they love me. Things just… get out of hand.”

“Out of hand,” he repeated, amused. “That’s one way to put it.”

Then his tone shifted.

“Your mother,” he said quietly, “was trying to reach you. From the other side.”

Ice flooded my veins.

I looked around instinctively.

Silas placed a hand over mine.

Calm.

Instant. Deep. Unshakable.

“She’s not here,” he said. “And where she is now… she’s not coming back from.”

I swallowed hard.

“The plan to protect you and Shiloh,” he continued, “has been in motion since before any of us understood it.”

“Like a prophecy?” I asked.

“Exactly.”

My stomach dropped.

“You have family members who can see the future,” he said. “When they saw what your mother would become—what she would try to do—your grandmother made a choice.”

“To keep me away,” I finished.

He nodded.

Not to control me.

To protect me.

“That guilt you’re feeling?” Silas added with a faint grin. “Also a family trait. You’re not the first to jump to conclusions.”

I rolled my eyes. “Great. Love that for me.”

“So where do you fit into all this?” I asked.

“Someone had to explain it to you,” he said simply.

I hesitated.

“Did you know you were going to die that day?” I asked quietly. “In the rip current?”

Silas’s expression softened.

“Not until the very end,” he admitted. “Someone appeared next to me. Told me everything would be okay.”

He exhaled slowly.

“It wasn’t easy. I was angry. Confused. Your dad… helped me through it.”

I glanced down.

“So what—you got raptured or something?” I tried to joke.

Silas shook his head.

“No,” he said.

“Little B did it.”

“…What?”

“Little B has had his abilities far longer than anyone realized,” Silas explained. “Your uncles didn’t know. Your grandmother did.”

I groaned. “Of course she did.”

“Before you spiral again,” he added, “remember—some secrets aren’t kept to hurt you.”

I sighed.

“So… what now?”

“You apologize,” Silas said simply. “To your father. And eventually your grandmother.”

“And Uncle Brody,” I muttered.

He actually laughed. “Yes. Definitely him.”

“Why did you take that car?” he added. “Out of everything available?”

“I’ve always wanted to drive it,” I admitted. “He said no. Too much power.”

“It has a 426 Hemi, Noah,” Silas said. “That car isn’t just powerful—it’s rare. Replacing it won’t be easy.”

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I figured.”

Silas stood.

“Before I go,” he said, slipping a bracelet off his wrist, “give this to Shiloh.”

I took it carefully.

“Tell him I love him,” Silas added. “And that he needs to forgive Caleb.”

“Can’t I just explain everything?” I asked.

“You can,” my dad said, reappearing, “but that doesn’t mean he’ll believe you.”

This time, he wasn’t alone.

“NOAH!” Little B squealed, launching himself at me.

I caught him—and froze.

“Dad…” I said slowly. “Were you the one… holding me? When Shiloh was kidnapped?”

A flicker of guilt crossed his face.

“…Yeah,” he admitted. “Don’t tell your grandmother. She’d be furious. You needed comfort.”

He smiled faintly. “Matt has that ability too.”

“Me too, Unca Noah!” Little B beamed.

Dad ruffled his hair. “You have more than anyone realizes.”

Little B suddenly stiffened.

“We gotta go,” he said. “Grandma mad she can’t come here.”

“…What?”

Dad chuckled. “She knows better.”

I hugged them both.

Silas.

My dad.

And then—

Light.

“I think he’s waking up,” Uncle Matt said.

“I’ll get a doctor,” Uncle Brody added, stepping out quickly.

I blinked against the brightness.

Grandma was there immediately, her face tear-streaked.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said softly.

“It’s okay, Grandma,” I said. “Dad told me.”

Uncle Matt’s head snapped toward me.

“So,” Grandma said carefully, “you met your father.”

“And the messenger,” I added.

Recognition flashed across her face.

Confusion across Matt’s.

“What’s in your hand?” Grandma asked.