by Kyra Dune
“I am so sorry you all got caught up in this.” I pushed myself up a little straighter on the bed. “I did some thinking while I was lying in the backseat trying not to pass out or throw up, and I decided I’ve been going about this all wrong. I’ve been trying to keep you all with me because I’m afraid of what will happen if any of you try to go home. But it’s not my choice.”
I looked to Steve and Trudy, who must have made up from their little fight since they were standing there practically attached at the hip. “I don’t know how you’ll answer all the questions they’ll have back home, but if you want to go, then go. No hard feelings.”
They both looked relieved. “I hate to abandon you,” Trudy said.
“You won’t be.” I smiled at her. I really did like Trudy and I wanted her and Steve to have a chance to be the people they used to be. If they had any hope of getting back to themselves, they couldn’t do it so long as they stayed with me. “You guys can help me out by giving the tape I made to our parents. Maybe you can even talk them into really listening to what I had to say.”
Steve nodded. “We’ll try.”
Trudy came over to me with tears in her eyes and hugged me. “I wish you the best of luck. When this all over, I want to see you again. Okay? I want to know you made it through all right.”
“Sure thing.” It might not have been a promise I knew I could keep, but it was one I was willing to make if it would ease her pain.
“Bye Brandy.” She gave Brandy a hug too, though it wasn’t returned. Then she rejoined Steve. He put his arm around her and kissed the side of her head. And yeah, I was jealous all over again. I wanted so badly for that to be me and Zack, but I was beginning think it would never happen.
“Curtis, would you go with them to get the tape?” I asked.
“Yeah.” The three of them left the room.
In all truth, I would have liked to send my cousin, and Brandy, back home as well. But I knew they wouldn’t go and to even suggest it would only hurt their feelings.
“So what do we do now?” Hannah leaned back against the desk.
“We leave,” I said. “As soon as possible. Brandy, did you get the money?”
She raised a brow. “I thought you were opposed to the idea.”
“I was, but I guess getting hit in the head knocked some sense into me. Did you get it?”
“I did. And a car. Of sorts.” She made a face. “It’s a miserable piece of junk but the man who owned it was happy to take cash and didn’t ask questions. I’m fairly certain it will work well enough get us wherever we need to go.”
“Where is that, exactly?” Hannah asked.
“Oregon,” I said. “The file in Alastair’s computer said Megara is in The Cascade Mountains.”
“Is that all?” Derek asked. “It’s a little vague. We won’t have an easy time searching for one woman across an entire range of mountains.”
“It’s better than nothing,” I said with way more conviction than I felt. “And if we’re all set, then we should leave as soon as Curtis gets back. Before the humans or the trackers find us here.”
“Sweet.” Hannah stretched her arms over her head and grinned. “Let’s blow this city. I don’t know about you guys, but this girl is more than ready for a road trip.”
Nobody else shared her enthusiasm. “Oregon, here we come,” I muttered. We’d find Megara there, or else she’d find us. I was sure of it. Either way, she was my last hope. My one chance of getting myself out of the crazy mess my life had become. If she didn’t kill me first.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kyra Dune was born in Oklahoma, but spent most of her life travelling with her family. She is the author of more than a dozen fantasy novels, including: Shadow of the Dragon, Elfblood, and Firebrand. As a child, her favorite stories were those that told of ordinary children being whisked away to magical lands. She has yet to find her own secret wardrobe or rabbit hole, but she hasn’t given up the search. You never know what might be waiting over the next rainbow.
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