by Cole Gibsen
leave me.”
I tried to say his name, tried to choke out an apology, but all I managed to do was cough up more blood.
“No,” Kim whispered. “No!”
“Kim, don’t!” Gene shouted.
I could no longer see him, but the moment his fingers touched mine, the fire inside me extinguished. Inside my head, I could hear nothing but the sounds of my own struggled gasps for air. Everything spun, from the ground beneath me to the space inside my head. I squeezed Kim’s hand tighter, hoping his touch would somehow root me in place, but I only seemed to drift further away.
“Rileigh?” Kim’s voice broke through the whirlwind. “Are you okay? Please, say something.” His fingers pushed back the sweat-soaked hair covering my forehead.
No matter how many times I blinked, I was unable to bring the swirling colors into focus. I opened my mouth to answer him, but I couldn’t force the words through my chattering teeth.
“I don’t understand,” Kim said. “Why is she shaking? Is she cold?”
“No,” Gene answered, his voice full of fear. “I think—I think it may be a seizure.”
A seizure? I knew I should be afraid, but I was too busy trying to fight for control of the body I was trapped inside. My muscles spasmed, my arms thrashed, and my head rattled against the floor.
“Rileigh, listen to me,” Kim whispered against my ear. “You’re going to be okay. When this is over, we’re going to get into the car and we’re going to leave. I meant it when I said I don’t care what body you’re in. To me, you’ll always be Senshi—my Senshi. Do you remember our pact? What you promised me? You promised you’d never go where I couldn’t follow. You promised.”
Through the tremors shaking my body, a memory came to me, so vivid I could almost smell the smoke from the fire pit in the corner of the room.
Japan, 1493
“You have to promise me.” Yoshido stared into Senshi’s eyes, drawing her in until she felt sure she would fall and drown inside their black depths.
She laughed. “Yoshido, what on earth could I promise you that you do not already claim? You have my heart. What else is there?”
“It is not enough.” He shook his head, his expression a curious combination of desperation and fear. “With you—it is never enough.”
She stopped polishing her katana and set it aside. “What would you have from me then?”
“Promise me that … ” He paused long enough to clench his jaw. “If something should happen to either of us, promise me that you will not go anywhere I cannot follow.”
Senshi frowned and reached for him. “Yoshido—”
He shook his head and sidestepped her grasp. “Promise me.”
She snapped her jaw shut. A hundred questions raced through her mind. Why was he asking now? And what kind of place could she go where he couldn’t find her? Still, she would promise. She would always give him whatever he wanted. He was and always would be her greatest weakness. “Of course.”
“You have to mean it.” He took her hands within his, his skin rough and calloused from a lifetime of wielding a sword. “Because this, what we have together—they will build statues of us and write songs about our love.”
She couldn’t help it; a smile tugged at her lips. “Statues and songs?”
He nodded. “But the statues will crumble and in time, people will forget the words to the songs. But you and I? We will continue on as long as neither of us goes where the other cannot follow.”
35
Yoshido?”
“I’m here,” he whispered.
But that wasn’t right. The voice was wrong … and yet it wasn’t.
Everything was wrong … and yet not.
I blinked open my eyes, but couldn’t see past the black hair matted against my face.
Slowly, the pieces fell into place. Gene … the ceremony …
the shaking.
I rolled onto my knees. “It didn’t work?”
“Easy, Rileigh.” The voice was Q’s. “You suffered a major seizure. Maybe you should stay down a little longer.”
I shook my head but it did nothing to dislodge the hair stuck to my sweat-soaked face. “No … can’t … ” The Network would be here any minute. But when I tried to move, I found I couldn’t. Disappointment wrapped around me like ropes, keeping me
anchored to the floor. I’d had one chance at getting my body back—getting my life back—and it didn’t work. It looked like I was going to be stuck as Sumi forever.
Kim’s sandalwood cologne enveloped me, rustling the memories of a lifetime ago and making my head swim. “Rileigh.” There was no mistaking the relief in his voice. “It’s going to be okay.”
A lump rose inside my throat and no amount of swallowing could dislodge it. “But it didn’t work.” Slowly, I lifted my head up.
His hand slid under my hair and rested against my chin. “The only thing that matters to me is that you’re all right.” With his free hand, he smoothed the hair away from my face and that’s when he froze, his eyes wide and locked on mine. A strangled sound emerged from his throat.
“What’s wrong?” Gene asked.
“I don’t believe it,” Kim answered, his voice barely a whisper.
“What’s going on?” Quentin rose from his spot beside my old body. He walked toward me only to stop after a couple of steps. “Oh, my God.”
“What is it?” I brought my hands to my face, expecting to feel some sort of disfigurement, scar, or anything else that might be the reason for their reactions.
Gene stretched his hand out. “Give me your hand.”
With a thick pulse in the back of my throat, I placed my hand within his.
Gene jerked upright. But just as quickly, a smile spread across his face. “Now that was unexpected.”
“What?” I snatched my hand back. “What’s going on?”
Gene shook his head. “Your soul was too deeply rooted in that body to be removed. But my ki energy must have awakened your ki energy. And when Kim touched you, he reestablished your connection with your past life.”
“It’s amazing. I never would have thought it possible.” Quentin shook his head, his eyes wide. “You’re … you’re … ”
“Not Rileigh anymore,” Kim finished.
I glanced over my shoulder at my old body, lifeless on the ground. “I know. I’m stuck as Sumi.”
Smiling, Kim shook his head. He reached out like he was going to touch my face, but stopped as if suddenly afraid. “You’re exactly how I remembered.”
“What does that even mean?” I backed away from him. “Somebody better tell me what’s going on, like now.”
Quentin plucked my sword off the ground and handed it to me. “See for yourself.”
I hesitated. I knew that when I looked at my reflection, it would only confirm my failure. But with Kim and Q watching me with eager expressions, it wasn’t like I could hold off the inevitable. I grabbed the sword and lifted it to my face. I expected to see Sumi’s eyes staring back at me.
I never expected to see my own.
The sword fell from my hands. Impossible. Maybe the seizure had messed with my brain and now I couldn’t see correctly. “Something’s wrong with my eyes,” I told Q. “You-you have to heal me.”
“Nothing’s wrong with you,” Kim said. “You’re perfect.” A second later I let out a yelp as he lifted me off my feet. Too surprised to stop him, I allowed myself to be carried swiftly across the dojo before he deposited me in front of the mirrors on the far wall. “You’re … you again.”
Shock froze me in place as I took in my reflection. I couldn’t move—couldn’t breathe. Finally, I raised my hand to the mirror. My throat was tight and my chest rigid as I stared into the eyes of what could only be a ghost.
Not a ghost, whispered a voice inside my head.
“It’s impossible.” But the moment my palm touched the reflection, a cold spark ignited beneath my fingers. It traveled through my arms like ribbons of silk until my entire body tingled.
My ki was back.
As if to prove the point, a burst of energy escaped my open palm, swirling around me and fanning the dark hair around my face.
In the mirror, I watched Quentin approach cautiously from behind. I spun around to face him, examining my hand as I did.
Quentin’s brow furrowed. “Are you … who I think you are?”
I glanced over my shoulder at the mirror. My reflection smiled back. “Yes.”
“Quentin.” Gene shuffled toward us, his hand extended. “Allow me to introduce you to Senshi.”
“Whoa,” he answered.
I nodded and pressed my hands against the mirror, as if I could somehow reach through and grab my reflection to ensure she was real. Whoa was an understatement.
Kim appeared over my shoulder. “You’ve been through so much. How are you feeling?”
I turned to him and ran my fingers along his arm, curious if he would feel the same to my new skin. “Better than okay.” I looked up at him and smiled. “I feel … ” I searched for the perfect way to describe it. Being Senshi again felt like slipping on a favorite pair of jeans. She was the embrace from a friend after a too-long absence. “I feel like I’m home.”
He placed his hands against my cheek and dipped his head so our foreheads touched. He opened his mouth to say something, but a moan from the back of the dojo jerked us apart.
“I think Sumi’s waking up,” Quentin said. “Do you want me to knock her out again?”
“Please.” Gene nodded. “I wouldn’t want the Network to have any more difficulties.”
“You got it.” Quentin jogged to the back of the room and crouched beside Sumi.
Gene sighed as he watched Quentin work. “Such a shame—a young life wasted. I know she’s done terrible things, but I believe she only ever wanted to be loved.” He shook his head and held his hand out to me. “Are you ready to say goodbye?”
No. But I knew with the Network on their way, I wouldn’t get another chance. With a lump in my throat, I followed Gene as he walked over to my old body. Together, we stared at what remained of Rileigh Martin. An invisible cord ensnared my chest and pulled tight. I knew I wasn’t so much saying goodbye to my body, but rather goodbye to an entire life.
Quentin moved beside me and slid his arm around my waist. “It’s a lot to take in,” he said.
I nodded. “If I can’t be Rileigh—at least I can still be me.”
He nodded and gave me a squeeze. “I can sense a but.”
“You’re right.” I nodded. “It’s almost perfect. I’m not Sumi—but I still can’t go home. I still lost my old life.”
Quentin was quiet a moment. “Maybe not.”
36
Japan, 1493
Chiyo pulled back on the reigns and halted her horse beside Zeami. Together, they sat mounted before Yoshido’s village. Her bandits stood behind them, their dark clothing making them almost invisible beneath the night sky. It had taken months of planning and waiting for the perfect opportunity for attack. And tonight was finally the night.
Chiyo’s pulse thrummed with excitement. For two years she’d waited for this moment. And now, at long last, it was finally here. She wouldn’t allow any mistakes. “You understand our deal?”
“Of course,” Zeami answered. “Kill the girl and bring you Yoshido. In turn, I get to take over the village.” He lifted his hand and smiled as blue sparks danced from his fingers. “How does this work again?”
Chiyo frowned. Zeami had been all too eager in his demand that she loan him some of her power. She hoped it wouldn’t impact the job he had to do. “I am a healer,” she answered. “That means I have complete control of the body. Those blue sparks?” She nodded at his hand. “Your brain is full of them. I merely enable the body to manipulate them.”
His grinned widened as he watched the sparks fly.
“Please keep in mind”—she laced her words with warning—“that your power is only temporary. It will fade.”
His smile dissolved and he dropped his hand.
“I am only allowing you to have it long enough to kill the girl and anyone else who would stop you from bringing me Yoshido. Understood?”
He waved her concern away. “There will be no problems.”
“There better not be.” She narrowed her eyes. “Because I continue to learn more about my abilities by the day. Today I discovered something interesting about my talents.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
Chiyo turned to one of the bandits behind her and lifted a finger. “You there. You are a dog.”
The man dropped on all fours. He sniffed the ground before lifting his head and bellowing at the moon.
Chiyo faced Zeami and was pleased to find his mouth slightly ajar. It would serve her well for him to remember the importance of his mission—and what she would do to him if he failed. “Unless you want to spend your days scratching at fleas—or worse—Yoshido is to be brought to me alive. Is that understood?”
He snapped his mouth closed and swallowed. “Perfectly.”
“Good.” She pointed to the village below. “Now go and bring him to me.”
Zeami nodded and waved the men behind him forward. “Time to move!”
Chiyo’s stomach fluttered with excitement as she watched her small army descend down the hill. After nearly two years, Yoshido would finally be hers. Her newfound ability had been like a gift from the Gods, urging her forward in her plan. Once she had Yoshido, she could make him forget about Senshi and they could finally be married, like they’d intended all those years ago.
She tightened her grip on the reins. Soon. She’d have everything she ever wanted.
She’d finally be happy.
Senshi jolted upright from her sleeping mat, her startled gasp rousing the man next to her.
Yoshido, accustomed to her premonitions, awoke in an instant and grasped beside him for his sword. “How long do we have?”
“The enemy is almost here.”
37
My cell phone buzzed on my desk.
I crammed the last T-shirt into my bag, zipped it up, and grabbed my phone. I had a text from Kim.
We’re outside waiting.
I grinned, slipped the phone in my back pocket, and double checked my duffle bag one last time to make sure I had my passport and ticket—both provided by the Network in an attempt to make up for trying to kill me.
“Rileigh?”
I spun around to find Debbie standing in the doorway with a sad smile on her lips. “If you don’t hurry, you’re going to miss your flight.”
“I know.” I nearly choked on the words. Only two days had passed since I’d lost my former body and assumed I’d lost my mom as well. But thankfully Quentin was able to alter her mind so when she looked at me, she only saw the old me. We weren’t sure it would hold forever. But for now, it was enough.
“Are you certain you don’t need me to drive you to the airport?” She absently twisted a ring on her middle finger. “I don’t mind.”
“That’s okay.” I slipped the duffle bag over my shoulder. “My friends are already waiting outside.”
“Right. I forgot.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I know this was my idea. I wanted you to travel. It’s just hitting me all at once. My baby is an adult now—leaving the house to explore the world.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “You’re going to call me, right?”
I swallowed to keep the tremor out of my voice. “Every day. I promise.”
She nodded and motioned me forward for a hug. I let the bag fall from my shoulder and threw my arms around my mom’s waist. I shuddered when I thought how close I’d come to los
ing her—my only remaining family.
Reluctantly, I pulled back. “I’m going to be late, Mom.”
“I know.” She dabbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Have fun and be safe.”
I picked my bag off the floor. “I will.”
“You have your passport?”
I nodded.
“Money? Your cell phone?”
I laughed. “Yes, Mom! If you don’t let me go, I’m going to miss my flight.”
“C’mon, Debbie.” Dr. Wendell appeared behind her and gently pushed her out of the way. “She has to go.”
“Okay, okay!” She threw her hands in the air and stepped aside. “Can’t a mother be concerned about her only daughter?” She dipped her chin and gave me a pointed look. “You make sure you call me if you need anything. Got that?”
“I will, I promise. But I really have to go.” I stepped around her into the hallway.
“I love you, baby.”
I stopped, a lump thick in my throat. For those words, everything I’d gone through to get my body back, including almost dying, had been worth it. Without turning around, I answered, “I love you, too, Mom.”
I marched down the hall before I succumbed to the tears burning in my eyes. I’d nearly reached the front door when a hand grabbed my arm. “Rileigh?”
I turned around and came face-to-face with Dr. Wendell.
He blinked before shaking his head. “It’s so crazy seeing you in a different body. Even crazier that your mom can’t see it.”
“Thank God for that.” I adjusted the strap on my shoulder.
“Right.” He nodded. “Listen, I know you guys say you’re done with the Network—but we could sure use you. What exactly are you going to do while you’re gone?”
I shrugged. “Not sure.”
“Where are you going?”
“Everywhere.”
“When will you be back?”
“Dunno.”
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “And this is exactly how I know you’re really Rileigh. It doesn’t matter what you look like—you still have the ability to drive me crazy.”
