by Lucy Adler
“What about you, Dash?”
“Well, since it hadn’t really been working for me for like two years anyway, there isn’t much to miss!” she laughed. Still, she couldn’t help thinking back to those hours on the track at the facility. How good it felt. Despite the years of shame and humiliation, the revelation of being deceived at the Institute, and the new power she was now experiencing, a rosy glow still lingered over the thought of what might have been.
So stupid. How can I think like that?
As much as she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jake Two was a lying, cheating jerk who had only played games with her for the sake of some ‘experimment’, or whatever it was, she still found herself thinking how nice it was to be pursued. To be wanted by someone, instead of pitied.
Then she shook her head.
These probably aren’t helpful thoughts, Dashy.
She looked up at Jake, Real Jake, walking ahead of her.
He rescued you, remember?
She smiled to herself and then tried to let the memory of their kiss wash away the other thoughts.
As is typical of an aborted journey, the trip back to the starting point always feels much faster, even though you’ve travelled the exact same path. They were back to the cabin in no time, dropping their bags in the living area and flopping down on the couches and chairs.
“Have you heard anything from Mr. Barrymore?” Daria asked Jake. “Was he able to find Brix?”
“No, he hasn’t been in touch yet, actually. I would have expected him to give us the all-clear by now but maybe he got held up.”
Jake shared a quick, slightly concerned look with Corey. Daria noticed it but didn’t say anything. They were already taking her visions seriously, she didn’t need to press the issue.
“Let’s see if we can get to sleep as early as possible tonight,” Corey said.
Daria was on the end of the couch, her elbow resting on the arm and supporting her head. She was looking down at the floor now.
“You alright?” he asked her.
“Yeah. Just a little nervous about falling asleep.”
“I would be, too,” Aury said.
Julia gave her a frown.
“What? I would. I’ve never had a vision before.”
“But she doesn’t need to be afraid,” Julia corrected her. “We’re here for you,” she said, looking at Daria.
“Thanks.”
That night, Aury volunteered to sleep on the floor in Daria’s room. Daria tried to protest, several times, but the girl who was quickly becoming like a little sister to her wouldn’t hear it. Even though Aury was a bit scared herself, she hated even more seeing anyone else scared. So she laid a couple of blankets down and made herself comfortable beside Daria’s bed.
“You really don--”
“Shh! No more of that, kiddo. I’m here. End of discussion.”
Daria laughed.
“Ok, mom!”
“That’s better. Now get some rest, Dashy.”
Daria didn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry, is that ok?” Aury asked nervously. “I mean, I’ve heard Jake calling you ‘Dash’ and I just thought ‘Dashy’ sounded kinda cute. Do you mind?”
“Not at all,” she replied.
Though neither of them could see the other in the dark, they both smiled as they made their last tosses and turns to get comfortable for the night.
_______________________
“How can going down the hill feel harder than going up??”
“It’s hard to slow yourself down with each step,” Corey replied, “and, you’re carrying a pack this time. You didn’t have anything on your back on the way up.”
“So maybe I just throw the pack ahead of me and stop slowing myself down?” Max replied.
“Good luck with that.”
Max started taking his pack off.
“Please don’t,” Corey said.
“I’m just kidding, mate,” Max laughed. “You know I love a good ball o’ chalk. But while we’re in the city, I gotta grab me some new rhythms. These are killin’ me.”
“We should all probably stock up on whatever we need while we’re down there,” Julia said.
It had been over two hours and Aury was looking tired, so Daria didn’t bother her for an interpretation. Instead, she decided to get her mind off of her own exhaustion by trying to guess what Max was saying.
There had been quiet for about ten solid minutes when she finally burst out with something.
“Walk!”
“What?” Jake replied, a little startled.
“Ball of chalk! Walk!”
“Spot on, skin!” Max said happily.
Daria was pleased with herself, and it helped her finish the last stretch of the hike with a little more energy.
She would still have to figure out ‘rhythms’, though.
_______________________
They arrived at a stretch of the Road Network just before midday. It was the exact place where Corey and Daria had left Jake during her extraction. She figured it must be their standard point of contact with the tentacles of transportation to and from Progress. The vehicle that had brought her out of the city a few days earlier was still parked where they had left it.
“Just one car?” Max asked.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” Corey replied, “but I didn’t have time to organise your usual entourage.”
“I’ll let it slide this time,” Max played along, “just don’t let it happen again.”
“I hadn’t imagined we’d all be leaving this way. That’s not usually how it works.”
They all piled their bags and themselves into the vehicle. Corey and Max rode up front while Jake crammed into the back with the girls.
“Why are we taking all of our stuff again?” Daria asked as she punched her bag a few times to make more space. “Couldn’t we have gone in, gotten Brix, and brought her back to the cabin, like you did with me?”
“Just a precaution,” Jake said. “We use the cabin to give new sleepers a chance to transition. To get to know a few of us, and a little about their new situation, like you’ve been doing. We find it helps them make a connection before they go deeper. The cabin also adds a step to help make sure no one is following us. But in this case, since Brix isn’t a sleeper and we have no idea what’s going to happen down there, we thought it would be better to be prepared, especially if we have to leave the city in a different direction.”
“So, basically, you don’t want an outsider in the clubhouse, eh?”
“Yup!” Julia laughed. “The cabin is a special place for those of us who came from Progress. It’s like our first true home.”
Daria understood what she meant. It was the first place she had felt like she could relax and be herself in a long time.
“You’re going to have to learn how to be a little paranoid when it comes to the Advanced Cities,” Jake said. “It’s one thing if they identify you as a sleeper but you’re easily suppressed with Sendrax. You’re not a threat. But once you know what you are, then there’s no mercy.”
“Usually,” Julia said quietly.
“You can’t be afraid of Brix, though. She’s our friend. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt us.”
“We just have to be careful, that’s all,” he said calmly.
_______________________
They arrived in the city in the late afternoon, and there was still no word from Aaron Barrymore. The van turned down a couple of side streets into a residential neighbourhood, and eventually came to a stop. There was a bang-bang-bang on the metal divider that stood between the front and back of the vehicle. That was their cue to get out and stretch.
“So, where are we headed?” Corey asked Daria.
“Uh, what? I don’t know...?” she replied as she paced around the sidewalk, trying to get the blood flowing in her legs again.
“What do you mean? I thought you saw your friend?”
“Yeah, I did, but I don’t know where she is.
It was all dark around her and the doctor. Like they were floating in space.”
Corey rubbed his forehead with his hand, then gave Jake a concerned look. He had been listening to the conversation.
“I’m sorry,” Jake said to him, “I didn’t realise... I guess I just assumed.”
“What’s wrong?” Daria asked.
“Sleepers with visionary powers are usually able to tell us exactly where we’re going,” he replied. “They either see something specific about the location or they just know it, as part of the vision. I just assumed you knew where she was.”
“Well, we could always just start with her house?”
“I don’t like the idea of playing hide-and-seek with this Brix girl,” Corey said quietly to Jake.
“We’ll do it as carefully as possible,” he assured him. “Trust me.”
When they had all had the chance to move around and shake off the cramped feeling from the van, they once again piled into it. But for a much shorter trip this time. It was only fifteen minutes before they stopped a few streets away from the home of Brianna Saxon.
And, one block beyond that, Daria’s home.
When the door slid open, revealing an area she knew so well, Daria didn’t feel much like getting out.
“Ok, here’s how this’ll go,” Jake said. He had ridden up front, squeezed between Corey and Max, so they could talk about the plan.
“Aury, we think you’re the least likely to be recognised by anyone, and the most likely to be a friend of Brix. How do you feel about knocking on their door?”
“Sure, I’ll do it.” She was obviously nervous. But Daria noticed a resolve, a focus she hadn’t seen in her the last few days. Suddenly, she seemed much older than her age.
“Awesome. Now, Max will walk behind you, about fifty yards or so, and follow you there. He’ll stroll by across the street, taking his time so he can keep an eye on you at the front door. The rest of us will be parked around the corner. If you need us, just hit the band and we’ll be there in a few seconds, ok?”
Jake tossed a wristband to Aury and she slipped it over her hand.
“Ok,” she replied.
“And if anything crazy happens, just do whatever you’ve got to do to stay safe.”
She nodded.
“Good. Let’s get started.”
_______________________
The two guys sat up front while Daria and Julia waited in the back of the van.
“Is this... normal?” Daria asked her.
“Well, not really. Usually we have all the steps mapped out from start to finish. Corey and Jake are really good at this stuff. But it’s ok. You saw what you saw, and we have to follow up,” she said with a reassuring smile.
“I wish I knew more.”
“It’s amazing you even had a vision, let alone more than one! Don’t be hard on yourself!”
“I just couldn’t handle it if something happened to Aury.”
“Don’t worry,” Julia said, rubbing Daria’s knee with her hand, “there’s more to that sweet little face than meets the eye, believe me! She can take care of herself.”
_______________________
“Hello?”
“Hi! I’m a friend of Brix. Is she around?”
“What’s your name?”
“Ella.”
“What’s this about?” the young man asked rather forcefully.
“Uh, we’re just friends. I just wanted to say hi, that’s all,” Aury replied warmly.
“Did you message her?”
“I forgot my tablet at school but I live like two streets down,” she said, pointing away from the house, “so I figured I’d stop by on my way home. It’s no big deal if she’s not around.”
The young man gave her a suspicious stare for a few seconds then finally relaxed his gaze.
“I’m sorry, Ella,” he smiled, “but Brianna isn’t home right now.”
“Ok, no worri--”
“But you’re welcome to come in and wait for her, if you want? She should be back any minute.”
His demeanour became warm and welcoming as he stepped back and motioned with his hand for her to come inside.
“Oh, it’s really ok, I --”
“No, please,” he said, “I’m sure she’ll want to see you.”
“Alright,” Aury replied, stepping through the doorway and giving a quick glance back in Max’s general direction.
He barely had time to see her face as the door slammed shut behind her. Max waited a few seconds, then crossed the street and tried to sneak up to the house. He didn’t want to stand on the front lawn, staring through the windows, so he looked for one along the side of the house.
It took him longer than expected to find one where the curtains were open wide enough for him to see anything, which gave his mind time to worry about all the horrible things that might happen to Aury. She clearly hadn’t signalled them with her wristband, so she must be ok. For now. But his heart was still beating faster.
Eventually, after hopping the fence and creeping along the back of the house, he found an open window. He tried to reveal as little of his face as possible as he peeked inside.
But as the living room slowly came into view, he suddenly stopped worrying. In fact, he stood up straight and stepped in full view of the window, pressing his hand to the glass to block the glare.
In the middle of the living room floor, three men were lying unconscious in a little heap, with the guy from the front door on top.
Aury was sitting on the couch, waving to him with a big smile on her face.
“Come inside!” she mouthed.
_______________________
By the time Max had entered the house, Aury had stretched out on the couch. She was still smiling but it was a tired smile, her eyelids at half mast as she tried to raise her eyebrows to compensate.
“Hey there,” she said sleepily as Max knelt down beside her. He put his hand on her forehead.
“Are you alright?”
“You know, just a little cream crackered...” Her words were trailing off as she struggled to keep her eyes open.
“It’s ok, turtle dove. Just relax.”
He stroked her head a few times as she drifted off to sleep.
Once she was out cold, Max searched the house. He checked every room and closet, just to be safe. When he was sure they were alone, he left Aury asleep on the couch and ran to get the others. They were only around the corner, and he didn’t want to use his wristband and give them all a scare for nothing.
_______________________
“See, I told you!” Julia laughed as she and Daria saw the pile of bodies in the living room.
“What the heck happened?” Daria asked in disbelief.
“I don’t know,” Max replied. “I think this guy,” he said, nudging the one on the top of the pile with his foot, “answered the door and invited her inside. As soon as the door closed, I crossed the street and tried to get a look at them through that window. It was maybe a minute, minute and a half total? By the time I got a good angle, they were already like this!”
“And Aury?”
“She was fine. Just tired. She dropped out pretty fast!”
Daria knelt down beside her. It was a bizarre juxtaposition - the energy and intensity that must have filled the room only a few minutes ago... and the young girl now sleeping peacefully on the sofa.
Daria smiled and squeezed her hand gently. Then she stood up and looked more closely at the three men. Until that moment, she had been focused more on the overall scene than the details. But then suddenly, she gasped.
“What is it?” Jake asked.
“It’s Jake Two!”
“Who?”
“Oh wait, that’s the guy that chased you,” Corey chimed in. “The one I stopped in the hall, right?”
“Yeah.”
Jake looked back and forth between them with a confused face.
“You were kinda out of it,” Daria said. “The main point is, if he’s her
e, then they must have Brix.”
“So they’ve probably taken her to the Institute, eh?” Max asked.
“I assume so,” Jake replied.
“We have to go get her,” Daria said insistently. “We can’t leave her there.”
“We also can’t leave her here,” he replied, nodding toward Aury.
“Can’t she sleep in the van?”
“Sure, but she’s going to need several hours at least, and the Institute is only two hours away. It’s safer for her to rest here. And actually, we’re all going to need to be as rested as possible. Probably better if we camp here for six or seven hours, then head over.”
“And if we do that,” Corey added, “we can time our visit for when most of them are having their 45-minute sleep. Might thin the herd and make it a little easier to sneak around the place.”
As much as she was worried about Brix, she knew they were right. It had already been a fairly exhausting eight hours, between the three-hour hike down the mountain and the cramped, five-hour drive to the city. The group settled in and got comfortable, trying to relax and forget the mission ahead of them for a while.
“What about these guys?” Daria asked. “What if they wake up?”
“Believe me,” Jake said with a laugh, “if whatever Aury did to them took this much out of her, they won’t be waking up for at least a day!”
20
Month: 4 | Day: 2 | Year: 60
POWER
“Oh my! What happened?”
“I’m very sorry, Mrs. Saxon, but I’m afraid she passed out a few minutes ago.”
“Bring her in, bring her in!” the woman said, waving the man inside. He was carrying her daughter’s limp body in his arms.
They entered the living room and he laid her gently on the couch.
“How did this happen?” Mrs. Saxon asked, kneeling down beside the sofa. As she felt her forehead, she was so focused on her unconscious daughter that she didn’t hear or sense the man from the door now standing immediately behind her.
