Phantom Universe

by Laura Kreitzer

CHAPTER 15: SPLASHY

  16 years old

  It’s the abrupt burst of frigid water that wakes Summer as they glide under the waterfall. There’s an arm that binds her tightly around her waist, and a firm hand at the back of her neck. Her feet dangle off the ground.

  “Retire,” Gage says, and they drop to the ground. A golden light bathes the cave, and the waterfall echoes off the rocks. He carefully removes his hand from her neck, and she looks up at his eyes, his blonde hair dripping onto her face. “You’re awake.” He smiles.

  She returns the smile, her body still calmly drifting in some far off ocean. But then she begins to shiver from the cold water and the even colder cave air. It’s like a different planet on the other side. He removes the jacket he had placed around her before they went under the waterfall with one hand. He keeps his one arm steady about her waist, which is good because she probably couldn’t stand. The jacket drops to the ground. There’s a hood, but she guesses the water was too violent and ripped it off because her hair drips water down her back, which is also soaked.

  “How’s your head feeling?” he asks and offers his palm to her like it’s so normal.

  “Unattached,” she writes in his palm.

  “That good, eh?” He laughs, and she silently joins him. But his laughter dies away and their closeness is unmistakable—spotlighted, even. “I . . . um,” he stutters.

  “The scanner is ready,” Cameron announces behind her.

  He bends down and takes her into his arms. This is becoming a habit, she thinks wryly—she hates and likes it all at the same time. Everything about this man makes her feel conflicted. He situates her on a sleeping bag that Cameron has laid out.

  “Lie down on your side, facing away from me,” Cameron commands with a genuine smile.

  She does as she’s told, and Gage walks out of view. She can hear him and Jaden conversing, but their voices are too low to hear anything due to the waterfall. She wonders if they are talking about her.

  “Okay, Summer. Hold perfectly still—this will be painless.” There’s a buzzing in her ear as Cameron moves some device over her head. The sound is suddenly cut off. “Well, you didn’t crack your skull, and there doesn’t appear to be any swelling in your brain.The Jackerion I fused the cut with should hold for a couple of days, but it’s only temporary. If it doesn’t heal in a few days, we’ll have to try something more permanent.”

  Summer turns over and stares into Cameron’s brown eyes with her black hair framing her face. There’s a silence between them, but she wants to ask a question. She sits up and reaches for Cameron’s palm to see if she can easily understand her like Gage can, but after two failed attempts it’s obvious she can’t. Cameron calls for Gage.

  “She’s trying to tell me something, but I don’t understand.” She sighs.

  “What is it?” he asks Summer, sits down next to her, and holds out his palm.

  Eager, she hauls his palm into her lap and quickly writes, “What is Jackerion? Is it what makes me funny inside?”

  Jaden drags over a sleeping bag and drops it across from them. Jaden and Cameron sit down and begin to watch the two of them, like they’re a movie.

  “Well, Jackerion is a substance that seals wounds, contains a ridiculous amount of antibiotics, and is an instant pain reliever. It can sometimes be too much when the person is underweight and can make them sleepy or feel fuzzy.” His too-green eyes glance sideways at her with humor. “It was named after the inventor, Jack. Actually, he named it.” He pauses. “Now can I ask a question?”

  She gives a quick tap into his palm.

  He’s reluctant for a second, but finally asks, “Why did you react that way back there.” His head automatically tilts toward the waterfall.

  Her palm rubs against his for a second as she thinks of how to answer. She writes, “I laughed. Everyone stared at me in shock like I did something wrong. I—” She stops and contemplates how to word it. “Many of my scars are from doing things like that.”

  He doesn’t respond, and the waterfall’s echoing roar fills the silence, seemingly growing in volume. Her heart starts to pick up its pace, even though the drugs in her system tell her to relax. She quickly begins to write into his palm again, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have.” He shakes his head swiftly, and the movement causes her to flinch away. It’s just so automatic for her.

  “Please don’t,” he says softly. “I’m just having a hard time digesting the fact you went through all of that, so scared to speak or make a single sound. Do you ever . . . speak, that is?”

  Two taps.

  “Never?”

  “Never,” she writes in his palm, pauses and adds, “Will you tell us about the future?” She wants to change the subject; it’s tiring to always be the focus.

  “After the several World Wars, and our takeover of the U.S., scientists were brought in from all over the globe to prevent our economy from being so dependent on oil. Now ninety percent of our energy comes from solar power and fusion technology,” he explains, and Summer feels lost.

  “Skip the boring stuff and focus on the cool toys!” Jaden exclaims and pokes Cameron’s belt with all its gadgets. “I mean, how awesome are TVs now?”

  Cameron and Gage exchange an amused look.

  “We don’t have TV anymore,” Cameron explains, and Summer internally laughs at how Captain Travis would have a fit if he could no longer pirate big screens leaving Japan via freighters.

  “What?” Jaden shouts, her face falling in disappointment. “That’s so lame!”

  “We have something much cooler now,” she continues with a smirk, removes something from her pocket, and sets it on the ground. A button is pressed, and a movie of some kind plays—except you can walk all the way around it. It’s like everything’s happening in the room.

  “Freakin’ cool!” Jaden bellows and jumps to her feet, circling the holograph. “And he’s hot!” Reaching out, her hand goes right through the guy.

  “Yeah,” Carmon agrees. “That’s Maddox. He’s very famous in the Federation.”

  “But his acting is pretty splashy,” Gage adds playfully.

  “That’s the word that one girl was using—Paige? What does it mean?” Jaden wonders as she sits again.

  “It means excrement,” Cameron clarifies with a chuckle. She shuts the device down, and the hologram disappears. “I think it’s time we all get some sleep, though. Tomorrow I’m bringing you two into the hospital.”

  Before Gage can leave Summer’s grasp, she writes in his hand quickly, “I want to know more about you.” She pauses before writing, “So I can feel more comfortable.” She flushes with embarrassment and slight anxiety. Did she go too far?

  He nods once, a smile playing at his lips. “Can you two give us a minute?”

  “Sure,” Cameron allows. “I still need to do an exam on Jaden, anyway.”

  They stand, stride to the far end of the cave’s large cavern, and turn a corner, and the light mysteriously follows them. How they do that will have to go on the Things to Ask About Later list.

  “I’ll tell you anything you want to know,” Gage says and scoots so they face each other. “But, you have to promise me you’ll quit flinching every time I move. I’m not your master, I’ve never had a slave before, and I have never hit a female. I’m not going to start now.”

  “I’ll try,” she writes uncertainly.

  He sighs. “I’ll take it, but no more incidents like outside. Now, about me.” He smirks. “I’m eighteen; I’ve been training to be in the Canadian League since I was eight. Everyone is required to join for five years when they turn seventeen, but only some are Lifers. Because of my training, I’m automatically the commanding officer for those who aren’t Lifers.” He pauses, and then grumbles under his breath, “I don’t even like the government, yet I’m supposed to fight for them.”

  She locks away the information, making a special note that he doesn’t like authority, and then writes, “I’m glad you were the one to find us.”
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br />   “Me too,” he agrees and squeezes her hand.

  “What about family?” she writes.

  “No siblings. I haven’t seen my parents in two years. When I went away to do more extensive training, they left to go be hippies in a village in the Bahamas. Funny thing is—they were the ones who choose my career path, and now they preach peace and love, just like people used to do during the Vietnam War. They even rock out to John Lennon.” Though his voice conveys how upset he is by their abandonment, he smiles when talking about them. Her eyes are trained on every facial expression, trying to read him. He cocks his head to the side in question.

  “Do faeries exist?” she writes, being completely serious. It’s time to put the question to rest.

  He bursts into laughter, and his head flings back. “No. No faeries.”

  She frowns in disappointment that they aren’t real. She wants to question him further—it can’t be true. There must be faeries.

  “Listen, Summer.” He turns serious immediately, changing her favorite subject. “I’m not quite sure how to act around you. I’ve never met anyone like you before, and I don’t want to overstep my bounds.” He takes both of her hands between his so quickly that she almost flinches, but stops herself.

  He’s not going to hurt me, she tells herself. Breathe, stay calm. The thing is—she’s surprisingly calm with him holding her hands. She’s not sure how long this feeling will last; it’s probably the drugs.

  “If I ever do anything you’re uncomfortable with, please tell me somehow. It’s okay to say no to me; I won’t punish you for it.” He takes a deep breath. “I’m afraid I’ll never see you again after tomorrow, and I don’t want that to be the case. Would you be opposed to me visiting you in the hospital?” He looks hopeful.

  Those same butterflies tingle and flutter their way through her stomach, and her heart picks up speed. She pulls a hand free from his and gently strokes his cheek that’s a little rough from not shaving. Then she does something unpredictable—she grasps his neck, draws him down to her, and softly kisses his cheek. She pauses a few inches away from his face, her breath heavy, and carefully lets go. She wants to kiss his lips, too, but she hasn’t had the chance to brush her teeth since before the ship blew up. She should be panicking over her actions, but the drugs make her calm and carefree almost.

  Gage’s cheeks flame red as his hypnotic green eyes catch hers, burning with intensity. “Is that a yes?” he breathes.

  She holds his palm with care and writes, “I’d be offended if you didn’t visit.” They both share a private smile, and Summer’s body is slowly learning to relax in his presence.

  “I’ll be there every day,” he promises. Earlier today she would have considered that a threat—now she looks forward to it.

  Throwing her arms around his neck, she squeezes with all the strength she can muster. He reciprocates, but is much gentler as he encircles her waist. With her head on his shoulder, she mouths “thank you” over and over again. This is the first time she’s felt remotely safe since she lost Landon, but how long will it last?