A Way (The Voyagers Book 1)

by Tara Lutz

  Just like that, her friend Ger, didn’t exist; like she was a living dream. Her lingering headache was pulsing again. Sammy explained that Gerald’s transformation was no different than her entering this realm, as a teenager. He made the decision to hide in plain sight; mostly, to find Jessie, partly, because he was bored. It worked. Jessie was here and when she reflected on her choice, she realized the huge part he played in her making it. Ger didn’t discouraged her from making the weekend trip, she convinced her to move to the city and she never warmed to Allison/Rebecca. Jessie had always been the buffer in their disjointed friendship; or was she the puppet?

  “Does Rebecca know that Gerald was Ger?” Jessie asked the room, not caring who answered. Peter and Sammy started to reply at the same time, but it was Dex’s response that made the hairs on her arm, bristle.

  “We don’t think so. She didn’t yesterday, anyway.” This time he didn’t look up from his phone.

  “What has changed since yesterday? They’ve spent hours together. Why would Rebecca all of a sudden suspect that Ger was actually Gerald?” Jessie knew it had something to do with her. She inadvertently alerted Rebecca to what was going on.

  “It was something that happened at Central, on Friday night. Something she overheard,” Dex said.

  Jessie thought back to the night that seemed so far away and removed. She filtered through every conversation she had, over the last week, with the person she thought was her friend.

  “Dammit,” she said, banging her fist on the counter. She heard the words in her head and recited them with her voice. “Ger, you could be my brother.”

  It was an off-handed remark. They had been talking about a guy Jessie met. The comments Ger made, as Jessie had expressed, reminded her of a protective big brother.

  “That’s it, isn’t it? That’s what’s made her suspicious?”

  Dex nodded his head to confirm she was right and began pacing the kitchen, frustration escaping from every pore on his body. Peter was picking at the nail on his thumb and Sammy was looking at everything in the room, except for Jessie. Adam stopped drying Duke and stood nervously in the corner of the room. The calmness, Jessie fought so hard to maintain, was ripped away from her. Are they blaming me? Dex’s eyes soothed her paranoia, of course they weren’t.

  “She doesn’t know,” Peter said, emptying the remainder of the coffee, from the pot, into the sink. “I talked to Gerald last night and he hasn’t seen her since Friday. It helps that she doesn’t have a cell phone,” he winked at Jessie.

  “If she knows, what can she do?” Jessie’s voice reached an unintended, high pitch. To bring it down a few notches, she took a sip of her lukewarm coffee. Something else was happening. If she learned anything in the last two days, it was that there was always, something else happening.

  “It’s not as if she can stop us! She isn’t that powerful!” That was the last thing Jessie needed. She already had a time travelling boyfriend, a sister who skipped ten years and a brother who decided, temporarily, to become a girl. All the story needed was a super villain: their very own Loki.

  “We never know what she could do,” Dex returned to the seat beside and slipped his arm around her waist. She knew he was recalling the warning Rebecca had given him, long ago, in front of the store. He tried to force a reassurance into his smile.

  “We don’t use the term time traveler. They don’t exist.”

  Jessie looked at him wide-eyed. “How do you do that?”

  There would never be enough time to know as much about him as he knew about her, especially, if Peter and Sammy got their wish and the gateway was destroyed.

  “Did you ever find out what her deal is? This all can’t be because you dated her in a realm that you can’t even remember.” Jessie’s voice had stabilized.

  “I think that’s all it is,” Sammy offered. “I just think she’s a jealous brat, who hates when things don’t go her way.”

  Jessie smiled. She appreciated their patience with her rehashing the subjects they had already discussed, numerous times. Dex’s phone beeped and the screen lit up. Jessie read the words at the same time he did.

  On my way.

  He slumped against the stool’s cushioned back and pinched the stress marks between his eyes. Jessie rested her head on his shoulder and felt him relax.

  “We’re just so close. What if something happens?” Dex’s words vibrated through her body. It scared her to see him doubting himself.

  Sammy threw a dish cloth at him. “Dex, RELAX. Ever since Jessie got here you’ve been tied up in knots. Nothing is going to happen. She’s here, Gerald is on his way and you haven’t even heard the best part.” She pulled Peter close to her. “We’re going through the gateway with you, both of us.”

  Peter nodded his confirmation, at Sammy’s declaration. “We talked about it this morning,” he said. “It makes the most sense. If we let the single souls destroy it, then that would be it for us, just when we all found each other, again.” He bent his head to kiss Sammy’s cheek, causing her to turn a bright shade of pink.

  Adam, who had been petting Duke and listening, stood up and joined the conversation. Jessie still hadn’t been told the part he played in the voyager/gateway saga.

  “Wait, so Ger, that girl you were with at the bar, is your brother?” He asked the room, his eyes full of confusion.

  “Sorry, man,” Dex said. Jessie glanced at him, just as puzzled. “Adam’s new,” he shrugged. She was glad she wasn’t the only one in the room, who wasn’t completely sure, of what was going on.

  A clap of thunder startled them and Duke leapt to his feet, barking. Simultaneously, Dex’s phone signaled another incoming text from Gerald. When he read it the crinkle he rubbed out of his forehead returned. Jessie leaned across, to read it.

  At diner…I need your help.

  CHAPTER 51

  “I’m coming with you,” Jessie said, her tone left no room for argument. She already had her shoes on and was standing in the front entrance, her hand ready to twist the brass doorknob.

  “Jessie, please, stay here. I’ll be back in less than an hour. I know why he needs help and it’s nothing to worry about.” Dex ran his palms up and down her arms, like he was chasing away a chill, and looked her straight in the eye. His eyes said he wasn’t worried, the trembling on the edge of his smile, told her something different.

  “Fine, if it’s no big deal, then let’s go.” She shook free from his grasp and yanked open the door. Driving rain blinded her, as the gale force wind slammed it into her face. Dex caught her when stumbled back, sputtering.

  “Seriously, you don’t need to come. Go back inside.” He pushed the door shut, against the storm, and turned her around so she was facing him. “Will you stay, if I promise to text you every five minutes?” Dex pleaded.

  “Not if you’re driving.” She bit her trembling lip, so hard, she could taste blood. Jessie didn’t like being separated from him, not yet.

  He hugged her close, weaved his hand through her hair, and twisted a curl around his index finger. “I won’t be long. I need you to stay here, where I know for sure, that you’re safe.” He could feel her relenting. “I’ll bring back some burgers from the diner.”

  He was bribing her with food; she smirked at him. “You really think the promise of a burger will let you get away that easily?” Standing on her toes Jessie gave him a kiss to match the one they had shared on the steps.

  “Please, be careful,” she whispered.

  “I will.” He tucked another curl behind her ear and tugged the lobe, kissing the top of her head, as he moved past her. They held onto each other’s hand as long as they could, before distance and the closing door, broke them apart. When he looked back to see her, watching him through the window, he was transported back to the day after a different kind of storm; the day his life changed forever. She blew him the same kiss.

  ********

  Sammy tried to distract Jessie from staring out the window and checking her phone every minute
with a game of Crazy Eight’s. Duke was curled up beside her on the couch. Dex had left, exactly thirteen minutes earlier.

  “How long has he been gone?” Jessie asked Sammy, again.

  Sammy made no motion to look at her watch. “Thirteen minutes. Pick up two.” She slapped the two of hearts down on the lopsided pile. Jessie considered her cards, then picked up her phone again, and willed it to vibrate, beep, do anything than just sit there, inanimate.

  “He’s fine, Jessie. Gerald probably just needed some advice about the gateway and he was too embarrassed to ask about it, in front of us. He likes to think he’s as much of an expert as Dex, but he’s not even close.” Sammy laughed lightly.

  A streak of lightening streaked across the sky, temporarily illuminating the dark room. Over the non-stop pounding rain, Jessie could just make out the music the guys were listening to, at the other end of the house.

  “I thought he would’ve text by now.” She knew she was being ridiculous. On a good day, it was half an hour, into town. He was in a lose/lose situation. If he used his phone now, she would be upset that he text when he was driving, if he waited, she would be anxious.

  Had he really travelled through realm after realm to find her? It was her sarcastic devil again. She flicked him off her shoulder, over the back of the couch. Dex was fine. He had to be fine.

  Adam appeared in the door way, giving Jessie the moment of distraction she needed to take her turn in the card game.

  “Hey, Sammy, do you have any more of that raspberry beer?” he asked.

  “On the bottom shelf of the fridge,” Sammy replied, without looking up from her cards. Jessie played one of her own to make her pick up four.

  That was what Jessie needed: a drink. “That sounds like a good idea. Do you want something, Sammy?” Ignoring Duke’s protests, she unfolded legs, to stand.

  “Nope, I’m good,” Sammy replied.

  Duke followed Jessie to the kitchen and scratched at the back door, demanding his release.

  “Are you sure, buddy? It’s nasty out.” She opened the door, just enough that he could fit through. Deterred by the waves of rain, the dog sniffed the air tentatively. His bladder made the decision for him and he ventured out into the weather.

  Jessie watched him spin in circles in the back yard while she reached for a glass above the sink and opened the fridge to dig out the ginger ale, from behind a few stray beers. She just finished topping off the pop, with some wine, when she saw Duke dart around the corner of the cottage and headed towards the front yard. The racket of the storm blocked out his distressed bark.

  Jessie peeked into the room where Peter and Adam were sitting, then headed back to her card game. She thought she saw a shadow pass over the ceiling above her, like a car had pulled into the driveway and for a second blocked what little light the menacing clouds were allowing.

  He can’t be back yet, she thought.

  Sammy flew out in front of Jessie, pushing her forcefully, back down the hall and into the room under the stairs

  “Sammy, what are you doing?” Jessie was surprised, at the strength, the tiny girl possessed.

  She put her finger up to her lips, “Shhhh…” Her eyes were round with an emotion Jessie was scared to identify as terror. “Did you lock the front door?” Sammy whispered, urgently.

  “What are you talking about? What’s going on?” Jessie asked, looking around at Adam and Peter. They had both stood up when they heard Jessie’s panicked cry and were moving towards the hallway.

  “Wait!” Sammy released Jessie and grabbed both of their arms. Thunder rolled again, the power flickered and went out. For a moment, everything was deathly silent and then it was interrupted by Duke’s scratching at the back door. Jessie pushed past Sammy to let him in, but Adam stopped her from leaving the room.

  “I’ll get him. You stay here.” He exited, before Jessie argue.

  “Sammy, do you want to tell me what happened? What spooked you?” Duke bounded into the room and jumped on Jessie with his wet paws. He was whimpering. Looking at him closely, she could see a mark on his shoulder. Has he been bitten?

  “Oh my god, he’s hurt.” Jessie bent down to get a better look; it wasn’t a bite mark, something had hit him. They were miles from the nearest road; they were all alone. The fear she glimpsed in Sammy’s eyes dropped into her own stomach. She was about to suggest they all get into her rental car and leave when a pounding rumbled through the house. This one didn’t come from the sky.

  “She found us.”

  Jessie didn’t have to ask Peter who he was referring to.

  CHAPTER 52

  Heavy rain added an extra ten minutes to Dex’s trip into town. Approaching the diner, he saw the red convertible parked outside. The space beside it was empty, as were most of the spots lining the main street. There wasn’t much activity in the small town, today. The storm had trapped the long weekend revelers inside their rentals. He wished he was back in the cottage, with Jessie. He hadn’t anticipated how hard it would be to leave her. The connection between them was even stronger than he remembered. He wondered if it was the gateway, sending a signal to the five, that things weren’t as they should be. He was confident with his decision that they should leave today. If the gateway’s pull was getting stronger, he wouldn’t be the only voyager that would feel it.

  Thoughts of Jessie reminded him of his promise to text her. He dug the phone from the depths of his jacket and noticed he missed another text from Gerald.

  Hurry up dude…it’s about Rebecca.

  Dex frowned at the message. Three hours earlier, Gerald had assured him Rebecca wasn’t going to be a problem, but the more texts he received from his friend, the more leery he felt. Something wasn’t right. Instead of replying, he was sitting outside the place they were supposed to meet, anyway, he typed a quick message to Jessie.

  In town, be back soon x

  He tossed his phone onto the passenger seat and braced himself for the onslaught of rain.

  The comforting bell rang when Dex ran through the door, dripping the storm onto the diner’s scuffed floor. Gerald was sitting at the counter, his hands wrapped around a coffee mug. He was talking to the server and hadn’t noticed Dex yet.

  Must be a big emergency, Dex thought, sarcastically, and crossed the width of the restaurant to his friend.

  The last time he had seen Gerald he was a voluptuous blond, now he was flirting with one. Gerald felt Dex’s approach and spun around to greet him, with a wide smile, so much like his sister’s, that it made Dex angry.

  “What’s going on, Gerald? Why the hell am I here? I thought Rebecca was clueless.”

  The smile faded from Gerald’s face and was replaced with a bewildered smirk. “I was going to ask you the same question. Couldn’t wait to see the old me?”

  The server who was so attentive just a few moments earlier, backed away from the negative energy that passed between Dex and Gerald.

  “You sent me a text, three actually, telling me to meet you here.” Dex snapped. “I got one, just five minutes ago.”

  Reaching for his phone, he remembered he had carelessly, left if in the car. Gerald mimicked his actions and searched his pockets, looking for his own; he checked the outer and inner pockets of his coat and front pockets of his faded jeans. He looked at Dex, his expression holding more of a storm than the sky.

  “I don’t have my phone. Where the hell is it?” He yanked his jacket off and spread it on the counter, nearly toppling the full mug of coffee. He patted the coat down thoroughly, confirming the results of his previous search. “It’s not here.”

  Thunder crashed above their heads and the lights dangling from the ceiling swayed in its wake. The wave of light threw shadows over Dex’s face, accenting the rage that was spewing from his eyes. “Where did you go today?” he asked, through locked teeth.

  “I went to Jessie’s to feed Sam and pick up some of her stuff, just like you asked me to. The cat’s in the car, what a pain in the ass it is, being on a roa
d trip with that….” Dex moved closer to him, anger radiating through his body, forcing Gerald to focus.

  “I went to her apartment, was there less than ten minutes and came back to the car.”

  “Did you send me the text that you were on your way, before or after, you went to her apartment?” Dex knew, Gerald left his phone in the car. Just like he had done before he ran into the diner.

  “Before,” Gerald barely got the word out. Everything was on that phone, including the address of the cottage. After receiving the mysterious message on Friday night, Jessie had sent the address, by text, to her friend, Ger. Rebecca had stolen his phone, she knew where to find Jessie, and she made sure Dex wouldn’t be there, when she arrived.

  “We have to get back there, now!”

  In four long strides, Dex made it to the exit and bolted to his car. Gerald left his jacket on the counter and sprinted after him. He was about to get into the car, with the cat, when Dex blew the horn and swung the passenger door swung open, soaking the interior.

  “Get in!” Dex yelled, above the howling wind.

  Gerald could see the phone in Dex’s hand, his thumbs vigorously typing out a text message. He ran to the far side of the car and pulled open the door that was then slammed shut by the wind. Dex had already put the vehicle in reverse and was backing out of the spot, nearly ripping the handle out of Gerald’s grasp.

  “Geez, Dex! Give me a break here.” Gerald struggled into the wet seat and removed his stomach from his throat. “Are you trying to kill me?” The glare, Dex shot him, wasn’t very encouraging.

  “You told me she had no clue, Gerald! Those were your exact words. Rebecca. Has. No. Clue.” Dex tried to direct his anger where it belonged. He placated himself, with thoughts of all the sacrifices Gerald had made, to help him find Jessie. His hands were starting to cramp, so he loosened his grip on the steering wheel, before it snapped in two.

  “Jessie hasn’t texted back yet. I sent her a message right before I walked into the diner.”