Darian pulls his arm back, hand still clenched, looking like he’s about to punch the guy again, his eyes glazed over as if he didn’t hear me.
Bald Guy holds his hands up defensively. “Sorry, man. I didn’t know she was your girl.”
I want to tell him that I’m not Darian’s girl—that I’m not anybody’s girl really, but it doesn’t matter.
I step in front of Darian, but his enraged eyes are still focused over my shoulder on Bald Guy. “It’s me.” I gaze up into his deep blue eyes that resemble a storm brewing over troubled seas. They mesmerize me, drawing me back to a time in the sixth grade when Darian found me face-planted in the mud—after Asher had pushed me into it. Darian’s twelve-year-old self flashes in my mind’s eye. He’s wearing the same dangerous look, glaring at Asher, with his fists held at his sides. Darian was skinny then, unlike the muscular hulk he is now, but brave—always brave.
Someone shuffles past, bumping into me, and stirring me back to present day Darian. I keep my gaze on his. Deep in his eyes I still see the little boy in him—the one that always protected me.
“Darian,” I say. “It’s okay.” I squeeze his hand. “Forget about him.”
Finally, he lowers his gaze, meeting mine, and the anger slowly washes away from his features. He picks up my hand, threading his fingers through mine and guides me through the crowd. I try not to focus on how his hand feels so warm wrapped around mine. It reminds me of the way it felt on the tram when his mouth was just a hair’s breadth away from my ear, filling me with excitement and adrenaline.
This is just Darian.
He leads me to a back corner and tugs out a seat for me at a small, round table.
“Sorry about that,” he says as he sits across from me.
“No worries,” I say, just glad to be away from the creepy bald guy. I use the napkin placed on the table to try rubbing away some grease marks before resting my arms on its edge. “I can’t believe I actually found you.”
His lips curve into a sly grin. “Looks like I found you.”
“Well, not really,” I retort. “I’m the one who had to decipher that code and get to this dive in the first place.”
He chuckles. “Then you’re a quick study, aren’t you?”
I laugh. “But you didn’t need to punch that guy, you know,” I mention, although truthfully, a part of me thinks he deserved it. “I had it under control.”
He arches a brow until it disappears under his baseball cap. “I saw that,” he says with a laugh. Then, shaking his head, he growls, “He’s drunken scum. He’s lucky all he got is a bloody nose.”
I slip out of my winter coat and sling it over the back of my chair. “It’s hot in here,” I say, changing the topic before he flips out again.
A waitress walks by and Darian waves his hand, catching her attention. “A Cherry Coke and a Sprite,” he says. I smile, warmth tingling through me that he remembers my favorite drink. He digs into his jeans pocket, pulls out a twenty, and hands it to her. “The sooner the better, please.”
The waitress nods and sashays off. Darian looks back at me with a lopsided grin. “Still love Cherry Coke?”
I nod and smile. “Yup, thanks.” Then I take a breath. “But, Darian, I came because I discovered something…and you’re the only one I can tell.” His eyes widen slightly and I lean across the table, searching his tired but gorgeous face. “I found out about a drug The Protectorate uses that wipe your memories of whatever they want. It’s called Falnesia, and it somehow works together with the Dreamscape. That’s why I forgot about Sophia.” I swallow back tears. “You were right…about everything…and I’m sorry it took so long for me to believe you.”
His face lights up with surprise, followed by unmistakable relief. “You couldn’t have known. Falnesia, huh?” He goes quiet a moment, rubbing the stubble on his chin, as if processing what I said.
The waitress plops down two glasses in front of Darian and he slides my Cherry Coke across the table. I catch it and gulp some back, my mouth suddenly very dry. “But what are we going to do?” I ask. “There are others out there. The Unwanted, like you said. I got a name of a contact that brings them supplies, or at least he used to. His name is Luther Mills.”
Darian inclines his head toward me. “Luther Mills?” The pale light of a candle shimmering on the table draws my attention to the silver-gray scar running down the side of his neck. I shift, and reach across the table, just managing to stop myself before I touch it.
Darian cocks his head. “What’s wrong?”
“How did you get that scar?”
Darian doesn’t flinch, but after a moment he reaches up and clasps his hand around the side of his neck. “I got it when I was in Olympus Jail. It’s not a topic I like talking about.”
“How?” I press anyway, curious.
Darian looks away, narrowing his eyes, which seem to be growing stormy again. “You don’t want to know, trust me.”
I lean back and decide to let it go for now. We have other things we need to talk about, so I decide to push it another time. I sigh. “Darian, we need to get that flash drive you told me about. I’ve got an empty drug vial labeled Falnesia. Together with the flash drive that shows how the Dreamscape works, maybe we can convince people that—”
“Convince them of what, Rae?” He blinks, unbelievingly. “To not use the Dreamscape and never sleep?”
He’s right of course. Defeated, I drop my head into my hands and groan.
Darian sighs, reaches across the table, and rubs a finger gently across the back of my hand. It sends a little electric pulse through me, unexpected and unsettling. I pull my hand back and lift my head.
“Look,” he says. “I’m working on a plan. Don’t give up, okay? I didn’t get a chance to tell you the other day on the tram, but I met the owner here. He’s like me—you know—in that one percent the Dreamscape never worked on. He lets me use his Dreamscape briefly here and there just so I can get by, but I think he knows people, Rae. I’m trying to get him to trust me…to let me in.” He shoots me one of his amazing, crooked grins, then lifts his Sprite and gulps back the whole glass.
“And I see you still like Sprite,” I say with a laugh.
He sets his glass down with a clunk and lifts an eyebrow, his gaze leveling mine, his eyes smoldering. “It’s about having good taste and knowing what you like.” His lips slide into a side grin and I feel myself blush.
Before I can respond, he says, “But I do need to get the flash drive. I’m just waiting for the right time. This guy I met here? Jameson? I overheard a conversation between him and some other guy talking about a group of people. He referred to them as the Awakened. I think they’re trying to gather evidence against The Protectorate…and I think they live somewhere else—without the Dreamscape.”
“The Awakened??” My heart pounds in shock and disbelief. “And they can really sleep without the Dreamscape? But, but…how’s that possible?”
He shrugs. “I have no idea. That’s what I’m saying. I need time to convince Jameson to let me in. I’m not even supposed to know as much as I do. But if it’s true, that flash drive can buy us in—proof that we’re with the Awakened and against The Protectorate.”
I dart my eyes around the room, making sure nobody is watching us, and thankful for the loud music. Even though I now know that The Protectorate is innately corrupt, hearing him say the words “against The Protectorate” sends a shiver rushing through me. I was never that girl—never one to cause trouble—and here I am now—my life consisting of nothing but trouble.
“But what about my parents and Laken…and my neighbors?” I think of Sage and Mr. Williams and of everyone I want to help escape from the veil of brainwashing we’re subjected to, who I don’t want to leave behind.
A fine crease forms between his brows. “I can ask about maybe bringing your parents, Rae, but I think we’ll be lucky if they even let us in.”
And by us, I figure he mostly means me. Darian is big and strong and I’m sure he would be c
onsidered a huge asset to any uprising. I, on the other hand, would most likely be considered dead weight.
He frowns and adds, “I think we’ll be lucky if I can even get Jameson to tell me what’s up. But give me some time, okay?”
It feels just like it did when we were little, on a scavenger hunt in the woods for items his parents hid, or competing to see how many fish we could catch. The memory makes me smile a little, even though I know trying to gather information in this case means much higher stakes.
The hope of finding a way to sleep without the Dreamscape is both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I’d be free of its manipulation—now that I know that’s what it is—but I’d eventually have to face what I’ve been told is a nightmare.
It’s always the unknown that’s the scariest, but facing a nightmare seems like the only real solution…and my only hope of finding people who might know more about what’s truly going on. And what happened to Sophia.
Darian tugs me to my feet, tearing me from my thoughts. He squeezes my hand and a small smile flicks across his face. With his other hand, he tucks my hair behind my ear and slides the back of his fingers down my cheek. “I’m glad you came tonight, Rae.”
I’m pretty sure this is what flirting is, and all I know is that it feels thrilling and awkward at the same time.
He cups my chin and pulls my lip free from my teeth. “Stop biting your lip,” he says with a laugh. “It’s your tell-tale worry sign.”
I pull away, run my tongue over my lips, and cast my eyes to the floor.
“Listen, I’m a man of my word,” he says, drawing my attention back. “If there’s an answer to this, I promise I’ll find it.” His lips curve upward. He tugs his cap low and cocks his head to the side, smirking. “Trust me?”
I nod. He’s being cocky, of course, but deep down I know if there’s an answer to be found, there’s no one more capable than Darian.
“You need to go home and get some sleep,” he says. “But will you meet me at the Dungeon after school tomorrow?”
I unconsciously take in a sharp breath and step back, mesmerized by his good looks, charm, and invitation. Darian is my childhood friend, but the feelings stirring inside me hint of something different—something more—and it surprises me.
He pauses, watching me. “You okay?”
I smile and force myself to act normal. “What? Yeah, I’m fine.”
He rocks back on his heels, grinning. “Dungeon tomorrow?” he asks again.
“Sure,” I say, natural as rain, surprising even myself. “Dungeon with the dragon,” I add and laugh, remembering what I called him when we were kids.
Darian tips his head back and chuckles, a deep, throaty laugh, and I laugh again, too, ignited by something I don’t recognize.
He helps me back into my coat, takes my hand, and leads me outside. Darian walks me all the way through the metro streets until we’re just feet from the Sky Tram Port. And even though it’s cold and the wind has picked up swirling debris around our feet, a warm feeling buzzes through me until it almost feels like I’m floating.
Chapter Twenty
The next day is a blur. I’m so focused on meeting Darian after school that it’s hard for me to concentrate. A few times Sage waves his hand in front of my face and asks me to come back to the land of the living, and once I even try to drink my Cherry Coke without popping the lid.
I attempt to talk to Mr. Williams on my lunch break, but he refuses to say anything about his cancer. The only thing I can get out of him is, “I’m almost fifty-five now, sugar. My time’s about up anyway and I get to see Henry again in the ever after.”
I hug him and thank him for helping me escape and, to my surprise, Mr. Williams doesn’t ask questions. He just pats my back. “Try to stay out of trouble, Desiree. I don’t want anything bad happening to you, ya hear?”
Mrs. Vickers keeps the class late, going over issues one of the students had in dealing with a patient and how better to handle certain situations. I keep eyeing the clock and I swear I can hear each second ticking by.
When I finally make it to Lake Briar about fifteen minutes late, Darian is waiting for me just by the cut-off that leads through our secret woods. He’s leaning against a tree, a smile tugging at his lips. He looks showered, clean-shaven, and is wearing jeans and a thick blue and black lumber jacket. The sun shimmers down through the canopy of trees, sending ribbons of light dancing across his face.
“Hey, Rae.”
“Hey, dragon,” I reply, unsure of what to say.
“You shouldn’t keep me waiting.” He grins. “I’m an impatient man.”
“Sorry about that, but my teacher—”
“You hungry?” he asks, cutting me off. He bends over to pick up a basket at his feet.
I’m more nervous than hungry, which in and of itself is strange, considering I’ve known Darian pretty much my whole life. “Sure,” I say. Then I do a double take. “When did you learn to cook?”
He heads through the woods toward the lake. “I don’t know if throwing meat and cheese between bread is considered cooking, but I guess I learned about an hour ago.” He chuckles, and I trail after him. It’s nice that he’s made an effort. The Darian I knew would have burned water.
I suddenly feel bad that I’ve shown up empty-handed. “I’m sorry I didn’t bring anything. I didn’t realize you were coming bearing gifts and all.” I jump over a log and try to keep up with his long strides.
He glances over his shoulder through long, dark lashes. “Well then, that means you owe me, right?”
“Ha. Owe you what exactly? Knowing you, it’d be something like my kidney.”
“I’ll think of something.” He cocks an eyebrow and his lips tilt up on one side.
When we reach the lake, I take in a cleansing breath. No matter how many times I come out here, it still amazes me. The sunlight shimmers over the surface of the water, creating a kaleidoscope of sparkling diamonds. A cool breeze rushes over the lake, shifting my hair back, but with the warm sunlight filtering down, the crisp air only feels refreshing.
Darian digs through the basket and throws me a red woolen blanket. I spread it out on a spot of grass under a patch of sunlight. Multi-colored leaves surround the blanket, scattering across it as the wind blows. I place a rock on each corner to hold it in place and begin helping Darian take the food from the basket.
I pull out two sandwiches, two thermoses labeled hot chocolate, and one chocolate bar. I cast him a confused look, knowing we both love chocolate. “I hope this is for me,” I say boldly, and grin.
He laughs. “Looks like we’ll have to fight for it, huh?”
“Oh, yeah?” I ask. “Okay then, but only if you want to lose.” I cock a brow. “What did you have in mind anyway?”
He points to a large, thick tree that towers high into the air. “Search and rescue,” he says, and I laugh, remembering the game we used to play as kids. Darian’s parents would sometimes hide an object somewhere nearby and give us a few hints. Search and rescue, they’d say. If you want dessert.
“You’re on!” I narrow my eyes. “What’s the object?”
He gives me a devilish grin. “Find the blue bear.”
An image of a blue teddy bear his parents gave me one Christmas races through my mind, but before I get a chance to ask if that’s it, Darian dashes toward the tree.
“Hey, you didn’t say to start!” I yell. I grab a mound of leaves with two hands, propel myself off a moss-covered rock, and throw them at the back of his head.
He laughs, shakes them off, but keeps going. When he reaches the tree, he plants a foot on a low branch and yanks himself up.
The way I see it, Darian has big feet and I don’t, which means I can scoot up using smaller branches. Then again, he’s stronger and can use his arms to pull him up quicker.
I get to the tree just moments after him, stretch my arms high, and pull myself up. The crackling and shifting of the branches above me is a reminder of just how fas
t Darian is.
“Aren’t you afraid you’re gonna fall?” I taunt. “It’s a long way down, you know.”
He shifts a branch from the other side of the tree, peering down and giving me one of his stunning smiles. “Are you afraid?” he asks, then releases the branch, sending pine needles trickling down. He’s climbing again, faster now, and he’s laughing so hard it’s contagious and I can’t stop laughing, either.
I pull and heave myself higher and higher, breathless now, the desire to win outweighing any need for a chocolate bar.
Finally, I catch up and grab a hold of his ankle just before he’s about to move to the next branch. “Gotcha!” I exclaim.
Darian glances down at me, bites the corner of his lip, and then tips his head back, stretching his arm high up into the tree. He pulls out the royal blue teddy bear that the cheater obviously tucked away before we arrived. “I win!” he hollers, looking down at me with a giant grin. “I’ve got Blue!” He grips a branch with one hand and, with the other, he holds up the bear in victory.
“You cheated.” I pause. “And you had a head start.” I shake the branch that he’s standing on a little and he lowers the hand that’s holding Blue to steady himself. “You’re the one who hid the bear, and knew where to look,” I add.
“Don’t be sad, Rae,” he teases. “Maybe I’ll let you have little Blue back.” He winks.
I roll my eyes and laugh. “Whatever, dragon,” I scoot back to sit on a thick branch, not in any hurry to climb back down. I stare out over the lake, watching the sunlight dance in iridescent waves, the scent of pine needles surrounding me.
Darian sighs above me and I can tell he’s happy, too. It’s great not to have to worry about anything for this one moment…not The Protectorate, not Asher, not anything.
After we climb back down, he hands me Blue and, although Blue’s now missing one eye, I can’t help but hug him to my chest as we trudge back to our picnic spot.
We spread out on the blanket and eat our sandwiches while one-eyed Blue watches us from where he’s propped up against the picnic basket.
Awakening Page 16
