by S. S. Segran
The clarity he had through the pain, choosing such a beautiful spot to lay Tayel to rest, she thought. Meanwhile, I was a disaster. He took care of everything so dutifully, with so much strength.
“I miss him,” Ashack murmured. “I miss our boy, Saiyu.”
“Me too,” she whispered.
“He was just fifteen.”
“I know.”
“It could not have been his time. It was too soon. Why did he have to go?”
Saiyu was alarmed to see a few tears drip down his chin. She wiped them away but her own vision blurred. “He is still with us. Always.”
“I know. But it hurts.”
“It does.” Pressing her palms to her eyes, she took a few trembling breaths. “It really does.”
She felt Ashack shift at her side, and his bearing shifted with him. He drew her closer, his familiar strength surrounding her. “I would like to think that, in time, we may learn what all this pain is for,” he said quietly.
“As do I. But it is difficult to see past the suffering.”
He buried his face in her hair. “Do you remember what my mother said?”
“She said many things, Ashack.”
“Right after Tayel passed. She said that though we may not see it when it happens, or even after the dust has long since settled, it is only through the cracks of our life where the light is let in.”
“She was always wise.”
They stood together in silence, taking in the faint perfume of pine with the cold air. Some ways behind them, one of the horses neighed.
Saiyu glanced down at the flowers closest to her boots. The village had been shocked when the creek suddenly sprang within the Emerald Field not long after Tayel’s burial. A miracle, some had called it. The work of the deceased, said others. Saiyu and Ashack hadn't known what to make of it, but in an unspoken way they were both grateful for the creek’s unexpected appearance, though they could never explain why.
Bending down, Saiyu trailed her fingers over one of the flower, admiring the way it endured the winter. It was as though their son’s bright, adventurous spirit lived on through its presence, and it brought some comfort to the bereaved parents.
She sighed and straightened. “Earlier, when you suggested we come here, you said something about clarity. What is it exactly that has given you clarity? And about what?”
Ashack tilted his chin up. “Nal.”
Saiyu turned a prodding expression toward him. He closed his eyes for a moment then slowly opened them, as if it were his way of waving goodbye to the Emerald Field, then faced her. “Let us return home. I still have some things left to piece together, but I know I am on the verge of completing this puzzle. Then, I promise, I will tell you and the others everything. I just want to be certain. After what happened with my furious handling of Hutar last moon cycle, I need to ensure my case is incontrovertible, else Nageau will keep to his word and call the Council about expunging me as Elder. Suffice to say, I believe I have just about figured out how our knowledge keeps finding its way to Reyor even with Hutar diligently keeping his truth hidden.”
The sun had vanished behind the peaks by the time they settled back in their saddles. Saiyu’s mind was abuzz with questions but she schooled them into order. As they left the field behind, a vast, arching river of dancing colors appeared above them in the darkening northern sky, celestial white with hints of green and violet to guide them home.
Mariah leaned against Kody as they disembarked their plane late at night in Geneva, Switzerland; it was one of the few airports in Europe still operating, albeit with limited flights. Even so, people from all over flew in and out of the country, their faces taut behind masks and their pace fast. She’d been barely conscious when they started their journey to the Lodge, but on the last leg she’d regained some strength. Kody had stuck himself at her side the entire trip.
A perpetual headache tormented her, and she refused to speak unless absolutely necessary. Everything about her body ached and felt sensitive. Even inhaling through her nose hurt. Her stunt at the New Zealand site had forced her past her limits; she’d extended her abilities farther than ever before—over half a mile—to fill the crates with water from the bay.
Deverell, like Kody, had been hovering around since she’d regained consciousness. He made sure she stayed hydrated and ate. Even if she could barely stomach anything, he’d insist on giving her fruits. And if she refused even that, Kody would just pick up the food and feed her.
They waited in the arrivals area for Tegan, Aari and Victor, whose flight wasn’t due for another half hour. Mariah pressed her face against Kody’s side, dozing. She was certain she’d only been out for a few minutes but, the next thing she knew, two pairs of hands grasped her arms. She opened her eyes to the sight of her friends, weary but smiling down at her.
They hugged her wordlessly. Tegan placed a kiss to the crown of her head, then grabbed her hand while Aari held the other. Together, the six of them, with Chief, headed out. Deverell had procured a rental car while Mariah had been resting. They piled in, the Welshman behind the wheel with Victor in the passenger seat, and the friends crammed in the back with the wolfdog. Chief licked all of them on the chin, tail wagging, before resting his head against Mariah’s chest with a snuffle. He seemed to be timing his breathing with hers, as if trying to guide her into better health in his own way. Mariah nuzzled him between the ears and thanked him in a whisper. She found it hard to believe how wary she had been of him not so long ago.
As they exited the airport grounds, they were confronted with a multitude of cars, their lights stretching into the distance. A van honked somewhere ahead. It wasn’t overly crowded, but the vehicles certainly weren’t sailing by. So many people out, Mariah thought. I guess everyone’s tired of being cooped up and afraid.
A second later Kody voiced the same observation aloud. Deverell chimed in. “When I last called, my brother did mention that there’s been more traffic of late. He figures that with more people getting the cure, some of them are feeling brave enough to travel to meet up with their families. And since this is the only active airport for hundreds of miles, they all flock here.”
Mariah, with only one eye open, watched the sights inch past as they turned onto the highway that would take them east into the French Alps. A number of offices were still lit, as were most residences. Beside her, Aari was half talking to himself with his cheek pressed against the window.
“This is the second or third time we’ve seen this place, but man it’s still nice. Look at those buildings out there. It’s like every kind of architecture is here. Roman, post-modern, gothic, art nouveau, renaissance, baroque . . .”
Mariah smiled to herself. He sounds like an encyclopedia. Gosh, we’ve only been apart a few days, but I’m glad we’re all together again. Or . . . well, almost.
A sinkhole had opened within the friends’ hearts, and it grew bigger and deeper every passing day they couldn’t find Jag.
He has to be at the last Sanctuary, wherever that is, Mariah thought. All we have to do is find it. If he’s not there, then we might as well just throw a dart on the world map and search wherever it lands, because at that point he could be anywhere.
On her left, Tegan grunted and wriggled a bit, trying to make herself comfortable into the cramped backseat and consequently squashing Kody further against the door. “They didn’t have any bigger cars, Dev?” she complained.
“Or a newer model with a heater that works for more than a minute at a time?” Kody added, pushing against the side of Tegan’s head to get some breathing room. “I’m freezing my butt off here. I like winter, but I’m not looking to turn into a popsicle.”
“My apologies, everyone,” Deverell said. “The car hire company gouged their prices and this was the only decent, reasonably-priced tin can I could find that had good tires for going up mountains.”
“If it gets stuffy, just roll down the windows,” Victor said in a manner that indicated he only had one foot in the con
versation; he was texting Kenzo the details of their newly-acquired satellite phone as another line of communication.
“Oh, sure,” Kody said. “Why not let all the cold air in? Solid plan, sir.”
“Thanks. I try.”
The friends stared at each other.
“Did he just crack a joke?” Kody mouthed.
“Either that, or my hearing’s off,” Tegan mouthed back, and the four of them giggled.
Mariah started to nod off once more, enjoying the feeling of being with her friends again and relishing in how safe she felt.
But what’s my contribution to this team? The thought shot into her head unbidden. They make me feel safe and loved, but what do I give back, telekinesis aside? I’m not emotional support, I’m not a leader. She twitched her head. Where in the world is all this coming from?
Then she recalled one of her last conversations with Kody before she’d created the diversion to help Deverell escape the Phoenix site. Ah . . . humph. Knock it off, brain. Too tired for this.
Sudden brightness, tinted like fire, flashed against her closed eyelids before fading. She grunted, face scrunching as resettled herself against Chief. Who’s got taillights like that? So inconsiderate.
Aari spoke up, uncharacteristically hesitant. “Was that . . . an explosion? In the sky?”
Before anyone could respond, the car came to a jerking halt, snapping Mariah into full wakefulness. She peeked through the gap between the wolfdog’s ears. The vehicles in front of them no longer had their lights on.
“What . . . ?” she started, voice brittle.
“Did the car stall?” Tegan asked.
“Not just ours,” Victor murmured, slowly putting his phone down. “And not just the cars.”
The friends strained to see through the windows. All around them, vehicles were as immobile as boulders, their occupants busy turning keys in ignition switches without results. Others simply looked around, bewildered.
“Guys,” Aari said, pointing out his window.
Not far off, the lights of the cityscape were being snuffed block by block as though a fast-moving tidal wave had washed over them. Everywhere, lampposts and streetlights blinked out. Geneva was plunged into darkness.
Mariah pulled her phone out of her pocket to activate the flashlight, but it wouldn’t turn on. “My phone’s dead,” she said, puzzled. “It had nearly full battery when we landed.”
Her friends checked their own devices. Not one worked. “What’s going on?” Tegan muttered.
Mariah noticed Kody go still as he looked upward through his window. Then he threw the door open and leapt onto the highway.
“Hey!” Deverell exclaimed. “Kody—”
But the boy was off, leaving everyone else to scramble out of the car. He ran through the rows of vehicles, beating against windows. “Get out!” he yelled to startled occupants. “Get out of your car! C’mon! Move!”
Aari cupped his hands over his mouth. “Kody!”
“What did he see?” Mariah craned her neck back to scan the sky. As far as she could tell, it was a clear night with stars—stars, she realized, that could be seen with amazing clarity in the absence of city lights.
Her brow furrowed. There was an expanding void in the twinkling canvas. It grew noticeably bigger every second, taking proper shape as it drew closer.
“Oh, my God,” she breathed. The group looked up and froze.
A plane was plummeting toward them.
Victor’s voice boomed out. “Run!”
All over the highway, people had begun to notice the falling aircraft. They were out of their vehicles in a heartbeat, screaming and pulling each other away from the packed lanes. Strangers in facemasks helped carry children. Younger generations guided the older ones off the highway. Someone grabbed Mariah’s arm and pulled her along with the surging crowd. She stumbled but caught her footing as Tegan led her and Aari away. “Wait!” she cried. “Kody!”
They were nearly a hundred yards from the car when the plane struck the ground in an explosive blaze. The world turned orange and then black as the impact threw everyone off their feet. Mariah tumbled several times before coming to a halt. Groaning, she got onto all fours and faced the searing air raging around them, her hair buffeted in the strong wind and her eyes aching as moisture left them. Heat waves distorted the burning cars and plane. The smoke was dark and thick, moving fast to engulf the friends.
Mariah buried her head in her arms against the ground, eyes squeezed shut. She held her breath until she couldn’t anymore and took small, careful inhales, but even then the smoke seeped into her nose and throat. She coughed hard, unable to quell it, and knew she’d wind up vomiting if she didn’t stop.
Mariah! Tegan called telepathically.
I’m okay! Mariah answered, forcing her mouth closed. Where are you?
A hand gripped her ankle. Here! I’ve got Aari behind me! We need to find the others!
Together, they crawled toward the side of the highway where the smoke was not as thick. All three were covered in soot and dust. Mariah leaned over the side and emptied her stomach. I hate this, she groaned to Tegan. What’s happening?
Aari thinks he might know. EMP.
EMP? Like, electromagnetic pulse EMP? That means everything with a chip is fried?
Yeah. Explains the blackout and why our phones and most of the cars aren’t working.
Aari said he saw a bright flash in the sky. Was that it?
At first he thought maybe two planes had collided or something. But . . . we’ll talk later. Let’s go.
Over the roar of the fire, they heard Victor bellow for them. His voice, though steady, hinted at underlying panic. The friends plodded through the smoke, keeping their faces hidden as best they could, but couldn’t find the Sentries or Kody. Mariah scoured the novasphere to locate Victor’s presence and reached out, but he didn’t respond. Tegan had probably already established a connection with him.
They picked their way toward the crashed plane. Realizing that people were likely still on board, Mariah kept her mouth and nose covered, then veered deeper into the smog, passing a wrecked wing. As she neared the aircraft, her blood turned to ice.
Most of the plane had disintegrated save the center portion of the fuselage. Debris littered the highway, among it remnants of burnt carry-ons. She swallowed and pushed through a rent in the plane’s side. It was hard to make out anything through the haze, but there were rows upon rows of charred seats—or at least, what remained of them and their occupants.
Mariah walked down the aisle, numb, unable to avert her gaze from the horrors that emerged through the flickering fires. Some of the bodies were singed, while others seemed to be intact but their arms and legs were unnaturally bent. Others were just . . . ash.
Something grabbed her by the shoulders and she screamed, fighting to break free. Strong hands spun her around and she found herself looking at Victor. Still holding onto her, he lowered his head and searched her face. She let out a sob but her eyes were too dry for tears. Victor kept his gaze locked on hers until she was somewhat in control again, then led her out of the wreckage, his grip on her firm and comforting.
She buckled on the side of the road where the rest of the group had gathered. Once Victor let go, she didn’t want anyone touching her and swatted away their hands. From the number of shouts around them, it seemed many people were still on the highway. Mariah didn’t want to think about the ones who hadn’t gotten out of the plane’s path in time.
“It had to be a high-altitude EMP explosion,” Deverell was saying. He wiped some dust off his cheek. Judging by the glazed look on his face, he was full-out reeling from the shock. “That fireball in the sky before things stopped working—it was like sun the had appeared in the middle of the night.”
Aari hacked out some smoke. “This has to be Reyor’s doing. There’s no way this is a coincidence. I don’t care that it’s just one city we’re seeing, I’d bet my entire life that this is the next wave, and we’re not th
e only ones who got hit.”
Victor stared at the smoldering plane. He wasn’t quite glaring, but the white-hot fury in his eyes sent a shudder up Mariah’s spine. Finally, he drew in a long, ragged breath and set his jaw. “We need to get to the Lodge.”
Kody rubbed his face. “What, on foot? Getting there by car alone takes three hours.”
“We’re blind. We need to recoup and find out what happened, and what’s next.”
Keeping to the side of the road, Victor led them past scorched skeletons of vehicles, leaving the destroyed plane behind them. Mariah kept her eyes on the back of his head, refusing to look down for fear of seeing husks of dead people staring up at her.
A boom sounded, reverberating toward them from the north. Mariah whipped around to face the direction of the airport. Silhouetting the buildings, a towering inferno from another fallen aircraft painted the black sky in fiery hues.
Mariah wept, not caring to hide her grief as the others quietly urged her forward. Her foot caught on something but Aari steadied her from behind. Dropping her gaze to the ground, she wanted to scream again. She’d tripped on a severed arm.
“Keep going,” Aari whispered, not letting go of her. His voice hitched. “Keep going.”
Tegan observed the chaos around them, her face hardening into steel forged from anger and disbelief. Her mouth moved but Mariah couldn’t hear her; she might have been uttering a prayer, or she might have been swearing retribution for the dead.
Color started to appear high above them, the wavering curtain of a vivid auroral display. It stretched for miles, beautiful and foreboding. Behind her, Aari murmured in dismay. “They really did go the nuclear route.”
Mariah didn’t even want to ask what he meant.
Deverell, bringing up the rear, called out. “Vic! What are we doing, mate? We’re not really going to walk all the way, are we?”
“No,” Victor said. “Keep an eye out for older cars, ones that don’t run on chips. If it really was an EMP, then they wouldn’t be affected.”
“Good luck with that. People love their new cars with smart systems.”
