Fear Tomorrow (The Fear Chronicles Book 4)

by C. C. Bolick

  I typed my code on the pad. Surprisingly, the lights turned green, which meant Sylvia never had me deactivated in the system. The fact she still considered me a trusted agent made me want to laugh. How could I ever go back to being an agent with this hole inside of me?

  The magnetic lock clicked and I shoved open the door. Van rose to his feet and held out his hands, palms up. His voice sounded like a stranger. “I see your pain.”

  Of course. One of Van’s powers was to read the emotions on a person’s face. “Can you see how I want to tear you apart?”

  “Yes, but your pain overshadows your desire to hurt me. I’m truly sorry.”

  Maybe Van was right. I was angry, but I was also one fight away from falling apart. I thought of all the ways I wanted to hurt him, starting with burning the flesh from his bones. If only my power would return.

  “I wish I could kill you,” I said. “I never should have become an agent. I suck at this job.”

  “Travis,” Angel hissed from behind me. “The fact you can’t kill Van doesn’t make you a bad agent.”

  “No,” I said. “It makes me worse.”

  Behind Angel, the queen stepped into the room. “Trying to kill Van is pointless, unless your powers have returned. It won’t change what happens tomorrow.”

  “What were you thinking?” asked Angel. “You’ll be lucky if Sylvia doesn’t have you locked in the room next door.”

  “Sylvia’s not here.” I looked from Angel to the queen. “What, are you best buds now?”

  Angel shot a look at the queen. “I’ve known her longer than you realize. This isn’t her first trip to Earth.”

  “I don’t care how many times she’s been here,” I said. “Don’t you worry about the fleet of ships parked on our doorstep? She could be the reason why this planet is destroyed if that jazz about the future is true.”

  “It is,” the queen said.

  Arguing with her was pointless. Filled by frustration, I pushed past them into the hall. A doctor and a nurse watched from two rooms down. I passed them both and headed for the elevator.

  “You’ve always wanted to know what happened the night your father disappeared.”

  I turned as the queen approached. “At the moment, I don’t care.”

  She stopped in front of me. “He was there that night in New York, along with Agent Mason and Sylvia. So was I.”

  “Didn’t you hear what I said?”

  “As I ran out of that farmhouse and into the snow, he grabbed my arm. He touched me for seconds at most, but it was enough to see my future. All of this began that night.”

  “Then I have another reason to hate you.”

  Angel stopped at her side. “Listen to what she’s saying.”

  I balled my fists. “I hear what she’s saying. This is her fault. Rena died because of her, because of this plan.”

  “A plan that your father is about to deviate from,” the queen said.

  “Why do you think I care?”

  “He needs your help.”

  “Screw him,” I said. “Screw all of you.”

  Angel held out a gold watch, the same watch the doctors had removed while I was in the coma. “I thought you might want this back.”

  I glared at the watch. “You thought wrong.”

  “You’ll need it,” the queen said. “Pay attention to the time, especially eleven fifty-six.”

  “Next you’ll probably tell me the world is going to end at the stroke of twelve.”

  “We’re not in that kind of story,” she said.

  I snatched the watch from Angel’s hand and secured it on my wrist, despite hands that shook with anger. “The only reason I’m taking this watch is so that I can throw it in my father’s face when I see him again.”

  Angel crossed her arms. “I was hoping I could get you to be reasonable.”

  “Reasonable?” I yelled. “Reasonable is someone telling me the truth. Reasonable is protecting those I care about. She ordered Van to kill Rena and now you’re taking her side.”

  “There’s only one side,” the queen said.

  My anger overflowed. “You’re wrong, your highness. There’s your side and there’s mine.”

  She cringed. “I asked you to call me Kayden.”

  “I can think of no better reason to call you ‘your highness.’”

  As my anger burned out and a sharp edge of pain cut me on the raw, I ran for the elevator. I pressed the button over and over as I willed the doors to open.

  The queen followed, though not in any hurry. “Did your father ever tell you how your uncle died?”

  “Saving your life.” I hit the button. When the doors didn’t open, I slammed my hand against the wall.

  She tilted her head to the side as she watched me. “Your father didn’t tell you the manner in which his brother died?”

  I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. “No.”

  “People with the power to see the future—we called them Olsandyols on Golvern. By touching a person’s skin, they can read that person’s future. Sometimes even their past.”

  “I know how the power works.”

  “An Olsandyol also has the power to show a person the future.”

  I hated to admit I didn’t know enough about a power I carried. I opened my eyes and looked at her. “How do you show someone your power?”

  “From what I’ve been told, you touch a person’s skin, you picture their future, and you project what you see to their mind.”

  “Why have I never heard of this?”

  “Because,” she said slowly, “when you use this power, you can only use it once.”

  “What do you mean ‘only use it once’?”

  “Within hours all of the blood vessels in your brain will burst. You’ll die a painful death.”

  “Like what happened to Rachelle?”

  “Not exactly,” she said.

  Angel approached with her hands in her pockets. “Rachelle is in a coma, but at least she’s still alive.”

  “That’s how my uncle died?”

  “Yes,” the queen said. “He traded his life to save the future of Golvern. I fear your father is about to make the same sacrifice.”

  I stared at her incredulously. “You want me to stop him? I don’t even know how to find him.”

  “You’ll figure it out. Your family has already sacrificed enough for me and for Golvern. I want you to stop him from making this choice.”

  “You can’t give me orders,” I said. “I don’t work for you and I never will.”

  She shook her head. “It has to be you.”

  My anger lit anew. “Stop the cryptic B.S. Like how you said you ‘made’ me a promise. You asked for forgiveness. If I’d known the cost, I would have thrown that serum in your face.”

  “Rena’s powers had to be released. That serum gave you a night together.”

  “It wasn’t worth it.”

  “I’m sorry you don’t think so.”

  “That’s not…” I shoved a hand through my hair. “What are you trying to do, prove you’re better at predicting the future than my dad?”

  “No,” she said. “I’m trying to make sure everyone who can come out of this alive does.”

  “You’re hurting,” Angel said. “Everyone gets that. Do you know Rena stopped a bomb earlier? Even if you think what happened to her is straight up betrayal by everyone, not that I’d argue, she’s still willing to help us. She understands what saving lives means. It’s part of being an agent.”

  “There’s another part of being an agent,” I said. “Fighting for what you believe in.”

  Angel put a hand on my arm. “You need to talk through what’s happened with someone who’s qualified to handle what’s going on in your head. We’re going to see Dr. Greene.”

  A psychologist was the last person I wanted to see. “You go see Dr. Greene. I’ve got nothing to say to him.”

  “You’re not being reasonable.”

  I grabbed Angel’s arm and spun her
until our eyes met. She didn’t fight me. “After taking their side, the least you could do is understand what I’m feeling.”

  “I do,” she said. “That’s why we’re going to Dr. Greene’s office. Either walk or I’ll pick your mode of travel.”

  Chapter Eight

  Rena

  The room around me faded and merged into a place I didn’t recognize. A dresser sat on the wall in front of me. Beneath me was a bed with pink and gold flowers against a black comforter. I stood and walked to the mirror over the dresser that held the reflection of Rachelle’s face.

  In front of me sat two pictures in silver frames. The one to my right showed a smiling Rachelle on a porch swing with her parents to either side. I lifted the one to my left that showed Rachelle and three other girls. The faces felt familiar though the only one I recognized was Angel.

  Could this be Rachelle’s bedroom? Maybe I’d somehow tapped into her memories and these were friends from her school.

  “You’re here,” a voice said.

  I dropped the picture and the glass shattered on the floor at my feet. “Who’s there?” I asked, but no one answered.

  Spinning, I found the door to the hall, a red door. What a strange color to paint a door. Outside was a long hallway with dozens of doors to either side, perhaps hundreds since the doors stretched to the edge of my vision.

  Every door was red.

  The first red door led to a similar hall and so did the second. Every door opened to a hall. When I took one of those halls, each door opened to another hall that seemed to be a mirror image.

  I opened doors for what felt like hours. A gentle buzzing began, the sound of a carpenter bee like the ones that drilled holes in the wooden bathhouses of the campground where I grew up. The sound became louder until I dropped to my knees and slapped my hands over my ears.

  “Stop,” I screamed.

  The sound ended as if someone flipped a switch. A cold wind blew through the hall. Shivering, I hugged myself and blew out a cloudy breath. Was this Rachelle? Her power was to affect the temperature.

  I dropped my arms and looked behind me. Was someone watching? No, I was alone.

  Fear grew within me. Her palms, slightly darker than mine, didn’t sparkle with blue. The right hand didn’t have the scar from where I’d touched an electric fence years before. Another blast of cold air brought goosebumps along my arms.

  Again, I had the feeling someone was watching. I climbed to my feet and ran down the hall in a desperate attempt to escape.

  “Rena,” someone said as a hand touched my shoulder.

  I opened my eyes and stared at the white ceiling above. A steady beeping sounded. Voices filtered in from a distance.

  Erin’s blurry face came into view. “Rena?”

  I smiled. “It’s me. How long was I gone?”

  “A few minutes. What was it like in her head?”

  “Terrifying.” I held up a hand, the same hand without the scar. Her hand.

  “It must have been if you were scared.”

  Twisting, I tried to sit up and she held my arm. “Don’t make any sudden movements,” she said. “You might have only been gone a few minutes, but this body has been in a coma. Your legs won’t work properly yet.”

  The fact I’d successfully taken over Rachelle’s body thrilled me, but also brought pain. These hands and feet would move because of me, not Rachelle. Despite how I wanted to be back alive and see Travis more than anything, my guilt surged. I wondered if what I felt inside now was me or a part of her. Maybe both.

  The thought was beyond creepy.

  “Did you see her?” Erin asked.

  “No. Someone was watching me, but it didn’t feel like her. I think if I had more time—”

  “Time is the one thing we don’t have.” She helped me sit up and swing my feet over the side of the bed. Below, Rachelle’s feet dangled as I wiggled her toes. “This is definitely up there on the list of weird things I’ve seen.”

  “You’re telling me.” I pushed myself off the bed and she caught my arm to keep me from falling.

  “Easy. I told you to take it slow.”

  “You also said we were out of time.”

  “Rachelle’s body is trying to adjust.”

  “It can adjust on the way. I need to find Travis.” I glanced down at the white gown. “First, I need your help.”

  “Since when are you going to listen long enough for me to help?”

  “Since I need some clothes to get out of here.”

  She helped me to the door and opened it. After glancing both ways, we walked into the hall with me leaning on her arm.

  “What if someone sees us?” I asked.

  “The doctors will talk. It’s not like you’re going to be able to hide.”

  I faced forward as we walked. When a nurse walked out of another room, I leaned in to whisper to Erin and avoided her eyes. Hiding didn’t make sense because they’d find out the minute someone noticed Rachelle’s empty bed. Guilt made me sneak out of the med-level, guilt at others seeing I’d followed my mother’s footsteps and stolen another person’s body.

  We made it to the elevator without being stopped. I began to relax as the chime sounded and the elevator arrived. Who would stop us? I was being escorted by the agency’s acting director.

  The doors opened and Agent Dallas stepped into the hall. Behind her, another agent swore as he saw us and insisted he’d get one of the doctors.

  “Let the girl have some space.” Agent Dallas looked over my gown and at my bare feet. “I’m assuming that’s you in there, Rena.”

  I grinned. “How did you guess?”

  “I told you before, you’re just like your mother. Matter of fact, I was coming here to see if you’d found a way to communicate yet.”

  “Why did you freak out in the conference room?” I asked. “I didn’t think you’d believe in ghosts.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “You don’t think you’re the first ghost I’ve seen?”

  “Can we talk about this later?” Erin asked. “We’re going to her room to grab some clothes.”

  “When you say ‘her,’ I hope you mean Rachelle’s room. She’s too tall for Rena’s clothes.”

  Leave it to Agent Dallas to make a point. “Any chance you can show us the way?”

  “As long as you promise to stop the freaky ghost moves.”

  At least I’d finally found something she feared.

  * * * * *

  I hesitated at the door to Rachelle’s room. Even though I was inside of Rachelle’s head, going inside her room felt too personal.

  “Any reason why we’re not moving?” Erin asked.

  “This doesn’t feel right,” I said.

  “Let me know when you get over the guilt.” With a thick layer of sarcasm, Agent Dallas laughed and left us standing at the door.

  “I don’t think I like her,” Erin said.

  “She’ll grow on you. What if the door is locked?”

  Erin turned the handle and pushed open the door. We walked in and both froze when Rachelle’s mom glanced up from where she sat on the couch.

  Rachelle’s mom stood with tears in her eyes. She ran forward and wrapped me in her arms. “Thank god. I was afraid you’d never wake up.”

  Guilt gripped me at the pain in her voice and the hope. “I’m not Rachelle.”

  Her arms stiffened. “What?”

  “It’s Rena.”

  She pulled back with a haunted look in her eyes. “You’re not my baby?”

  “No,” I said.

  “Is she… Can you talk to Rachelle? Is she still… in there?”

  My insides twisted. “I looked for Rachelle. I’ve tried everything I can to find her. I’m sorry.”

  She touched my hair—or actually Rachelle’s hair. It didn’t matter, I was so confused. “I heard about what happened to you this morning, Rena. I’m so sorry, but I don’t think it’s right for you to take Rachelle’s body.”

  “You’re right,” I said. “I
didn’t have a choice.”

  Tears streamed down her face as she choked on a sob. “I don’t think I can handle this right now.”

  “It would be a struggle for anyone,” Erin said.

  “You don’t think she’s coming back. If you thought you could save Rachelle, you wouldn’t have left.”

  Erin sighed. “I’m sorry. I thought leaving would be better for everyone. I didn’t want to face the fact I couldn’t save your daughter.”

  “If Rachelle is here, I’ll find her.” I put a hand on her arm and she shivered. “I’ll do whatever I can to bring your daughter back.”

  “Rena…”

  My voice rose. “I promise this isn’t permanent. I don’t plan to keep her body. I just really need to reach Travis.”

  She wiped her tears. “I’m sure… I know you don’t mean to take her away.”

  “No,” I said. “Rachelle is my friend and I would never do anything to hurt her.”

  “What do you need from me?”

  “Just some clothes. Let me borrow some of Rachelle’s clothes and I’ll leave you alone.”

  She nodded. “Take anything you like, but please bring back my daughter.”

  * * * * *

  Travis

  Angel didn’t let me out of her sight as we walked to Dr. Greene’s office. He opened the door as we approached. Talk about a set-up.

  Dr. Greene motioned us to the couch along the wall of his office. He sat in a chair to my side. Next to him sat a small table with a stack of folders and a sheet of paper on top. Probably the order to have me locked back on the isolation floor.

  The paper slid off the stack of folders and landed upside down on the floor. He cleared his throat and bent to grab the paper. Since I felt no breeze, I glanced around. Could Rena be in the room?

  “Let’s get started.” Dr. Greene folded his hands in his lap as Sylvia often did. Having grown up around Joel, I knew he was more like his mother than he cared to admit. If he pressed my buttons, I’d make sure to tell him so.