PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

“Like what?” Evie asks looking more than a little nervous. No doubt she’s thinking of the myriad of pranks we have pulled over the years that could definitely be categorized as suspicious.

  “I’ve heard that they pay a lot of attention to claims of hauntings, rescues no one can explain, things that just don’t make sense. I’m sure that has gotten easier with everything people post on the internet these days.” Robin looks down at the ground. “They’ve been doing this for centuries. If you give them even a small chance to find you, they will.”

  “How do they usually come after Aerlings?” I ask.

  I want to believe that it will never happen, but I have to be realistic. We may have given them dozens of chances to figure out who I am. Robin showing up with a troop of Sentinels watching her probably hasn’t helped, either. I have to know what to expect.

  Robin doesn’t seem overly fond of talking about this subject, but we all wait, refusing to let her get out of answering. Sighing, Robin starts talking.

  “They operate like any other sicko trying to take a kid, wait until the right opportunity presents itself.” Robin swipes at another tear before continuing. “Getting them at night is fairly common. Or public places when one of the parents looks away for a second. Crowded areas, walking home from school, all the usual techniques.”

  So it could be anywhere at any time. Great. That doesn’t help me know where to focus.

  “It’s easier when the Aerlings are young,” Robin says quietly. “They can’t resist or put up much of a fight.”

  “How old was Eliana?” Olivia asks.

  Sniffing and batting at tears again, Robin says, “Seven.”

  “So you’ve been moving around the country for ten years with these freaks following you?” Evie asks.

  Robin nods. “I thought they had given up. No one in my family has seen anyone that looked like a Sentinel in years. I guess I just got too complacent. I wasn’t careful enough.”

  “Robin, it’s not your fault,” I say. Olivia and Evie seem to disagree with me on that point, but I ignore them.

  Somehow, I think this has more to do with my first family than it does with Robin. I want to ask Robin, see if she could find out more about the Caretakers I first lived with, but that would require telling her the reason behind the request, the truth. I may not think she’s in league with the Sentinels, but that doesn’t mean I trust her with my secrets.

  Olivia fires out a few more questions about the Sentinels, but Robin doesn’t know enough to lend any more insight. She offers to ask her parents, but that only causes a round of silence. I can see the fear shining in Olivia’s eyes. I feel the fear as well, but the burning desire to know the truth tries to overwhelm it. Unable to determine the best course, I stay silent.

  “My parents are going to be expecting me home soon,” Robin says.

  “I’ll drive you home,” Olivia offers unexpectedly. When no one says anything, Olivia shrugs. “If they think we’re hiding something, we just have to prove them wrong. We’re just two friends hanging out. Nothing weird about that.”

  Robin nods, a small smile tentatively turning her lips up. I feel bad knowing she wishes that were true, that Olivia was her friend. She may not want to hold her breath on that one. Olivia clearly blames her for the Sentinels’ presence. Someone putting her family in danger isn’t something Olivia will forgive easily.

  When Robin stands and waits for Olivia to get her keys, her hands twist together, knuckles white. Knowing that Olivia will think I’m not taking this threat seriously keeps me from offering Robin any more comfort. I do, however, catch Olivia’s arm before she makes it past me. She looks up at me expectantly, almost daring me to say something to defend Robin.

  “Be careful,” I say instead.

  A flash of surprise lights on her face before mellowing into a warm smile. “I will. Keep an eye on Evie.”

  “I won’t let anything happen to her.”

  My promise brings Olivia’s arms around me in a quick hug. “I’ll be right back.”

  She hustles Robin out the door and I watch them pretend to be natural and carefree as they walk to the Jeep. It’s not very convincing. Hopefully the guy in the car buys it. From here, it’s difficult to catch any facial expressions. Watching his head turn to follow the girls is easy enough. I expect him to take off after them, or maybe approach the house. He surprises me by driving away in the opposite direction.

  I stay at the window with Evie parked on the couch, watching for more strange vehicles, until the familiar rumble of the Jeep rolls back into the driveway and shuts off. Olivia hustles up to the house and bursts through the door a few seconds later.

  “Where’d the car go?” she demands.

  I shrug. “Drove off in the opposite direction after you left. Maybe he really is just watching Robin.”

  “We can’t assume that,” Olivia argues.

  “Yeah, I don’t trust Robin,” Evie pipes in.

  I know arguing with them won’t help. “Evie, don’t you have homework to do?” I ask after placing two fingers on her forearm.

  Groaning and rolling her eyes, she starts for the stairs.

  “Wait a minute,” Olivia says. Evie is all too happy to obey. She immediately puts a hand on my shoulder so as not to miss a single word.

  Curious, I ask, “What’s wrong?”

  “I think Robin’s whole family could see her Aerling. I think that’s how it’s supposed to work, not just one person like it is with me.” She turns and looks at me with a searching expression. “Can you remember? Did everyone in your first family see and hear you?”

  Olivia knows how hard it is for me to think about my family. She wouldn’t ask me to dredge up those kinds of memories without a good reason. That is the only reason I try. Did they all see me? Hear me? I know my mom did. Flashes of my dad trying to teach me how to say the alphabet flicker through my mind, as do memories of my sister drawing on my face with a marker as I laughed at how it tickled me. I remember my older brother getting mad at me for taking his drumsticks without asking. He looked right at me as he lectured me.

  It’s all just bits and fragments, but it’s enough. “Yeah, I think they could.”

  Olivia sighs. “That’s what I thought. We have to be more careful around her. She’ll realize we’re lying if she figures out I’m the only one who can see you.”

  Evie cringes. “I didn’t even think about that.”

  “It’s alright,” Olivia says. “I’ll mention it to Mom and Dad too, just in case she’s over again.”

  The expression on her face as she says that makes it clear Olivia hopes that won’t happen again. Evie shares her opinion.

  A few minutes later after Evie has disappeared upstairs to do her homework, I flop onto the couch feeling suddenly worn out. Olivia follows me, leaning her head against my shoulder. Neither one of us speaks for a while. I’m too lost in my own thoughts to attempt conversation.

  What Robin said about how the Sentinels hunt keeps scratching at my mind, making me obsess over why my family had to die when hers didn’t.

  “I would have gone with the Sentinels willingly if it meant my family wouldn’t be hurt,” I say quietly.

  Olivia sits up and faces me solemnly. “I know you would have.”

  “If it comes to that again . . . ”

  She doesn’t let me finish. Olivia’s hands grasp my face firmly. “I’m not letting anyone take you away from me.”

  “I won’t let them hurt you just to save myself.”

  My heart rate jumps up a few notches as Olivia’s hands slide down my neck to rest on my shoulders. My own hands come up to grip her arms. I barely stop myself from pulling her in, from kissing her until she understands how much I love her and that I would give up anything to make sure she is safe. The fierce seriousness in her eyes is the only thing that makes me hold back.

  “Mason,” she says almost angrily, “whatever happens, we’re in this together. Do you understand me? If I ever hear you talk about leaving again, I’
ll duct tape you to a chair. You aren’t going anywhere. I won’t let you.”

  Olivia’s forehead rests gently against mine. The temptation is almost too much to bear. My fingers tighten around her shoulders. I want to tell her that she’s right, that I’ll never leave and we’ll always be together. She wants me to say it. Her expression, her eyes beg me to speak the words. I almost give in to the delusion.

  I don’t want to lie to her. Leaving Olivia is a crippling thought. Imagining my life without her breaks down my restraint and I pull her into my arms, squeezing her almost to the point of hurting her. Only one thought causes me more pain than leaving Olivia, and that is seeing her hurt. I want to tell her I’ll never leave, but if that’s what it takes to keep her safe, I’ll have no other choice.

  Chapter 9

  Golden Waterfalls

  (Olivia)

  “I’m starting to regret telling Dad about the creepy guy in the car,” Evie moans as she folds a pair of jeans. “It’s like being in prison, only worse.”

  Rolling my eyes, I toss a pair of balled up socks at her. “And you would know what prison is like how?”

  “I watch TV.”

  The socks come flying back at my head. It’s not too hard to bat down her weak throw. “You’re not even supposed to be dating Aaron, and you still get to see him at school all day. What exactly are you missing out on?”

  “Hello . . . ” Evie says, “getting a ride home from Aaron. It’s like the only time we actually get to be alone. Now I have to ride home with you every day. This sucks.”

  “Being kidnapped or dead sucks even more.”

  Evie sticks her tongue out at me and sloppily folds another pair of jeans.

  It’s only been three days since the weird guy in the car parked his suspicious self in front of our house. Nobody has seen him since, but I’m still on edge. Evie acts like it’s been years since she’s seen Aaron. It’s not like he’s that amazing of a catch anyway. He has a super annoying laugh and the only thing he seems capable of having a conversation about is video games. Personally, I think Dad did Evie a favor.

  Myself, I’m feeling rather grateful for the lack of freedom. It gave me a good reason to get out of going to the movies with Hayden when he asked yesterday. I was a little offended that he laughed when I told him I was grounded—which is basically true. He didn’t believe it for a second and I was forced to explain that some creepy guy had been hanging around the neighborhood and my dad was being overly cautious for the foreseeable future.

  That he believed.

  He also promised to check back with me next week and see if the ban on outings had been lifted.

  I don’t know why his invitation to see a movie with him causes me so much turmoil. He’s a nice guy, pretty hot, and seems genuinely interested in me. So why not go out with him?

  Why not?

  Because every time I think of going out with Hayden, my conversation with Dad that night creeps back into my head and starts taking me down strange paths. It’s really starting to get on my nerves. Eyeing Evie, I wonder if her talent for chatter can talk me out of my funk.

  “Dad asked me about college a while ago . . . about what Mason plans to do after graduation, too,” I say.

  Evie glances over at me with a crooked eyebrow. My tone has definitely alerted her that I don’t want to talk about majors. “Mason? What does he want to do?”

  “Come to college with me,” I mumble as I straighten the collar of the shirt I just hung up.

  Going from bent over the dryer to standing hipshot with her eyebrow climbing even higher, Evie watches me. “What do you mean with you? Like go to the same college, or live with you? ‘Cause that’s not gonna be the easiest thing to explain to a roommate.”

  “That’s what Dad said . . . among other things.”

  The clothes are abandoned as Evie jumps up to sit on the dryer. His eyes are fastened on me. “So he does want to live with you?”

  “Well, where else is he supposed to live?” I snap, suddenly defensive. I ditch the waiting clothes as well and lean against the washer.

  Evie laughs, one of those high, quick laughs that is clearly meant to mock. “And you thought Dad was going to go for that?”

  “I hadn’t really thought about it before then. I just assumed Mason would come with me. I wasn’t thinking about roommates and all that,” I say. “Besides, what’s so weird about living with Mason. Siblings share apartments.”

  The glare Evie sends my way is scathing. “Are you really that oblivious, or are you just trying to be dense?”

  “What?”

  “Mason is not your brother,” Evie says, emphasizing each word. “Of course Dad is going to freak if you tell him you and Mason want to move in together. It’s not too hard to figure out where that might lead, and Dad is not ready to think about that. Geez, Olivia, he just about died when Mom was out of town last month and my period started! You expect him to think about you and Mason shacking up and not have a problem with that?”

  My whole body flames red with embarrassment. “Shacking up? Who said anything about that? I’m talking about living with Mason, like we do now!”

  Evie snorts. Prissy, prim Evie actually snorts at me! “You are delusional. Are you actually trying to make me believe that the thought of you and Mason tangled up in the sheets has never crossed your mind?”

  “No!” I snap. “Not until Dad brought it up, anyway.”

  The silence that fills the basement minute after minute is unnerving. Evie is never this quiet. She’s never stopped talking for this long. Ever. Each excruciatingly long moment peels away a layer of confidence. I start to wonder if she’s right, if I’ve really been deluding myself this whole time. But, it honestly hadn’t even occurred to me that living with Mason would be a problem before that night. Why would I?

  “How could you not have thought about Mason like that?” Evie asks finally. The disbelief in her voice makes me feel foolish without really knowing why.

  “I don’t know. I’ve always thought of him as my brother.”

  “What is wrong with you?” Evie demands.

  Shocked by the strength behind her words, I struggle to form a coherent response. “Are you saying that you’ve thought of him like that?” My nose wrinkles. “What’s wrong with you?”

  Evie’s Sketcher-clad feet slap on the concrete floor as she jumps down from the dryer and glares at me. “For one, Mason is not and has never been our brother. Do I love him? Absolutely. But is he my brother? No.”

  “How can you say that?” I demand.

  “It’s not some personal attack on him! It’s just the truth. He’s not our brother.” Evie shakes her head at me. “I care about Mason just as much as anyone else in the family. It has nothing to do with that. I’m just being honest here.”

  I don’t understand her, but I know I have no right to criticize her for not thinking about Mason the same as a blood brother. Am I the one that’s seeing this situation abnormally? I thought everyone in the family viewed Mason like I did.

  “Secondly,” Evie continues, “Mason is just about the most awesome person I’ve ever met. He’s completely hot! How could I not think about him like that? Not that I fantasize about him or anything, but the possibility of you two being together has certainly crossed my mind.”

  “How would you know whether or not Mason is hot?” I snap, regretting very much ever starting this conversation. Evie has thought about Mason like that? Eew!

  Evie starts chucking mismatched socks at me, startling me into tripping over a basket and landing hard on my hip. When she runs out of socks, she stares me down. “You have got to be the most hypocritical person I have ever met if you think I was talking about Mason’s looks.”

  I scrunch up my face in confusion, wondering if she has lost it.

  “You of all people,” Evie snaps, “Miss I’m Gorgeous But It Doesn’t Matter. Miss Every Guy Practically Drools Over Me As I Walk Down The Hall! Who cares what Mason looks like? He is the most caring, loving,
sweet, doting, selfless guy I know. He’s practically perfect and you act like he’s just some run of the mill average Joe. Is he unattractive? Is he? Because if that’s your problem with him, you don’t deserve him!”

  Completely stunned, I have no idea how to respond to any of that.

  “Well?” Evie demands.

  “Well what?” I ask. Was there actually a question somewhere in her tirade she expected me to answer?

  “Is Mason ugly? Is that why you don’t like him?”

  Is she serious? This whole conversation has turned into a nightmare!

  “I never said I didn’t like Mason,” I snap. “I just said I hadn’t considered our relationship going in that direction until Dad brought it up because I’ve always thought of Mason as a brother—which I’m apparently alone in! And no, he isn’t ugly. That has nothing to do with it. Why would you even say something like that?”

  Folding her arms across her chest smugly, Evie says, “Well, I honestly can’t figure out why you wouldn’t be jumping at the chance to be with Mason. The only thing I can come up with was that you’re way shallower than I expected.”

  “Thanks. Thanks very much! This is the last time I ever try to talk to you about something like this.”

  Throwing the loose socks off my body and pushing myself up off the floor, I wince when a sharp pain shoots through my thigh. Yeah, this is definitely the last time I ever go to Evie for advice! She can finish the laundry by herself. I’m done!

  Pushing past Evie, I try to shake her off when she grabs my arm. Getting away from Evie has never been easy, though.

  “Olivia, wait. I’m sorry. Don’t storm off all mad, please?”

  “When have I ever judged someone based on how they look?” I demand angrily.

  Her head falls, ashamed. “Never. I shouldn’t have said that. I know you wouldn’t turn Mason down just because he was unattractive. I just don’t get it.”

  “I don’t get why you don’t think of him as your brother. He’s been here since you were three!”

  Evie shrugs. “I don’t know. I just don’t think of him that way. He’s always been more like this amazing friend who gets to stay over every night. It doesn’t mean I love him any less.”