by Sherry Soule
“This is such a pretty spot,” I say, taking in the view.
“I love it here and I’m pleased you like it, too,” Hayden replies from behind me on the trail.
“I’m glad you invited me to ride today.”
Without tugging Seneka off the path, I turn my head and catch Hayden’s smile and feel proud of myself. I’m a natural rider!
Out of nowhere, a deafening crack echoes across the valley, like the breaking of a hefty tree limb. The grin drops from Hayden’s face, and I whip my attention forward.
Seneka, spooked by the noise, breaks into a hard sprint. The luminous plants and trees whoosh by in a terrifying blur, and my heart jumps into my throat. I grip the reins, struggling to halt Seneka with all my might before I’m thrown to the ground. Jolts of pain radiate up through my butt and along my spine as I’m flung up and down in the saddle.
“Hayden!” My grip slips, my sweaty palms losing their hold on the reins.
“Tug upward!” he shouts. “Harder!”
The edge of the bluff overlooking the ocean rushes closer and closer. Seneka is racing right for it. I clutch the reins with my perspiring hands and pull hard.
“Whoa! Halt, Seneka!” I give the reins another firm jerk, my knuckles white from my tight grip on the leather straps, but she doesn’t slow. “Help! She won’t stop!”
Hayden races alongside us. His face pales at the approaching precipice, then at the animal striving to break the sound barrier by sprinting toward certain death.
TWENTY-THREE
I stand in the saddle, ready to leap off, but the reins are suddenly pulled tight across my thighs. Dirt flies in my face as Seneka skids to a heart-pounding stop twenty feet from the edge, sending me flying into the air. I land hard on my butt in a sloshy mud puddle.
At least, I pray its mud and not a pile of equestroxian dung.
The world spins as I sit there stunned, breathing fast. Hayden and Xiao tower over me, and he has one hand lower on my equestroxian’s reins. He lets go and straightens in the saddle. Hayden’s panting too, and wipes a bead of sweat from his worried brow. He slides out of the saddle and crouches beside me.
Ah, my knight in shining Abercrombie.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I manage to gasp out. “My butt hurts.”
“You took a nasty spill,” he says, helping me to my feet.
“Thanks.” Mud coats my clothes and skin like ugly brown frosting.
“All part of my hero work.” Hayden plucks a twig from my hair. “Let’s head back.”
I give Seneka a sidelong glance. My legs are too shaky to make the trek to the stables, so I set a trembling hand on the saddle, suck in enough breath to fill an air mattress, and toss my leg over her back.
We trot at a much slower pace away from the cliff. Seneka seems calm now, as if she wasn’t just galloping at warp-speed toward a cliff on a suicide mission. We reach the buildings and tears sting my eyes.
He glances over at me. “You all right, Sloane?”
Sucking in a rattling breath, I choke back a sob unable to answer.
“Hey there,” Hayden dismounts and rushes to me.
He helps me slide out of the saddle, but I sway when I try to stand because I’m shaking so violently. He wraps me in his arms and holds me close. I press my cheek into Hayden’s shoulder and cry. The shock and fear discharges itself all over his T-shirt in a sloppy and snotty mess. Hayden doesn’t seem to care as he hugs me, rubbing my back.
Once I regain control over my emotions, I pull away and sniffle. Hayden goes into the barn and returns with a wad of tissues. I blow my nose and dry my tears. I must look like a deranged raccoon after all that blubbering.
“What the hell happened? Why did Seneka get so spooked?”
Hayden leads the equestroxians inside and puts them in their stalls. “I’m not sure. Seneka’s usually such a peaceful creature.”
I scan the meadow, an icy chill racing along my spine. The reporter in me wants to investigate the spot where we heard the noise and search for clues. Neela’s warning to stay away from Hayden repeats in my head.
He laces his fingers through mine. “Let’s call it a day.”
As we exit the building, I can’t help but check one last time, staring hard at the trees and the cliff to see if anyone is hiding there. Only dense foliage and high grass. Still, I can’t shake the creepy feeling Seneka was intentionally startled by a mysterious vacation sabotager.
“You hungry?” he asks.
“Always.”
Hayden teleports me to the boardwalk area where we met Viola, Delta, Tanisha, and Zach for lunch. I tell them my harrowing story about the runaway equestroxian and the almost nosedive off the cliff.
“You must be part cat, Sloane,” Zach says, wearing his usual attire, khaki cargo shorts with a T-shirt, and a deadly smirk. “You’ve got nine lives.”
“You might be right,” I say with a wink. “Occasionally my claws do come out.”
Everyone laughs. Except Delta, she stares at me through a fringe of tangled hair with those oval-shaped black eyes.
“Well, at least you had some excitement,” Tanisha says.
I grunt. “Pfft. You call that excitement?”
“Yeah, you’ve got a thrilling story to tell everyone when we get home,” Tanisha says.
“I’ve got too many stories thanks to Xavier, Sector Thirteen, the reapers, Tama—”
“Okay!” She laughs. “I get it.”
“From now on, I want only boring-planet-vacay stories to share.”
Hayden puts his arm around my shoulders. “That will be our new goal for the rest of the trip.”
By the time we finish eating, I’m craving a drama-free afternoon with Hayden. Instead, Tanisha invites us to do something fun she calls Water-Gliding at the beach near her home.
Delta tugs on Zach’s arm and she rubs her stomach. “Brother, I do not want to go. Not feeling good.”
“I’ll meet you guys there,” Zach says and takes his sister via teleportation home.
“I can take Viola with me,” Tanisha offers.
Viola’s gaze meets mine. “You mean teleport?”
“Yeah, it’s a safe mode of travel,” I say to reassure her. “You’ll be fine…once the nausea wears off.”
I ask if my brother can join us, and when Tanisha says yes, Hayden and I teleport to my house to pick him up and tell my parents where we’re spending the afternoon.
Hayden teleports my brother and me to another part of the beach where we meet Tanisha’s parents and the rest of our gang, hanging out near a table laden with fruity drinks and snacks.
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson share Tanisha’s smooth caramel skin, statuesque frames, and dark eyes and hair. They warmly greet us and they’re the first Meleah parents to be nice to me, so they get major props.
“Before we’re scheduled to leave,” Mrs. Jackson says, “the Zetas throw us a goodbye party on a yacht and we cruise the ocean. You have to come, Sloane.”
“How fancy is this party?” I ask Tanisha, grabbing a wedge of orange.
“Very formal.” Tanisha snags a yellow drink and takes a sip. “We can go shopping.”
Viola’s ears perk up. “Count me in, but please tell me the stores here have something other than those boring jumpsuits the Zeta kids wear. I can’t believe aliens are so unfashionable. Apparently it’s up to me to carry the coolness torch on this planet.” She sighs. “There’s no rest for the fashion-forward.”
I laugh and Tanisha shakes her head. Jonah leans forward to grab a piece of…cheese?
“No one’s heard from Neela yet?” Zach asks, taking a handful of sapphire peanuts.
I pick one up and pop into my mouth, so chewy and tasty it puts almonds to shame.
The quiet descends wintry and bleak. I half-expect villain theme music to play and Hayden’s jealous ex-fiancée to pop out of the shrubbery.
“Not that I’ve heard,” Mrs. Jackson says. “Everyone’s talking about it, and the
Galactic Brotherhood is looking into the disappearance, so I’m sure Neela will return safe and sound. Would anyone like a tour of the grounds?”
Vi smooths the skirt on her black mourning attire dress. “I’d love a tour.”
“What about you, Sloane? Care to join us?” Mrs. Jackson asks. “I can teach you about the flora indigenous on Reticuli.”
“Okay. Hayden?” I say, glancing at my boyfriend. “You wanna join?”
He grabs a cold beverage. “Nah, you go ahead.”
“I’ll go with you.” Tanisha gulps her drink and places the empty glass on the table.
“We’ll come, too,” Zach says, knocking Jonah on the shoulder.
We meander through Mrs. Jackson’s botanical garden with multicolored flowers, wild vegetation, and even a few Earth plants and herbs. The garden is located on the east side of the their estate, alongside a gigantic domed residence—twice the size of my Zeta home—surrounded by a copse of lofty yellow trees with pink blossoms. The overgrown vegetation has many aromatic herbs, each growing in abundance. As we stroll along, I stay close to Viola. Tanisha and her mother walk ahead while Zach and Jonah lag behind.
“Every plant is native to Reticulan.” Mrs. Jackson points at a lavender flower. “Even the Zetas praise my green thumb.”
“You’re too humble, Mrs. Jackson,” Zach jokes, earning a playful punch in the arm from my brother.
“Sloane, thanks again for letting me tag along,” Viola says as we make our way along the stone path weaving between the flowerbeds. “This has been the most thrilling adventure of my life.”
“A little too thrilling for me,” I say, “but I’m glad you’re here.”
“Listen, can you forgive Tanisha? She really is sorry and I think her inviting us here today is her way of making an amends.”
I almost say, Yeah, okay, like an automatic response. But it isn’t okay. Instead, I mutter, “I’m trying to be civil.”
Viola pushes hair behind her dainty ear. “If you can forgive Zach for his asshole-ness, then can’t you pardon Tanisha, too? For me?” She sticks out a pouty red bottom lip.
“I can only promise to try,” I say, linking my arm through hers.
“Thanks,” she says. “You’re the best, Sloane—”
“Ladies? Hurry up,” Mrs. Jackson says. “I can’t wait to show you the toklians!”
“Can’t wait to see them,” Vi replies politely. “Lead on!”
To our right is a fat bush with prickly yellow thorns and tiny lime-green berries surrounded by a three-foot trellis.
“Why is this plant sealed off?” I ask, leaning over the fence.
“Don’t get too close to the toklians,” Mrs. Jackson warns.
“Why not?” I ask.
Mrs. Jackson steps past Tanisha. “It’s extremely toxic to Meleah. Eating or drinking the toklians can temporarily immobilize your abilities, like teleportation, and it can sedate you for hours. Even touching its branches will make you weak and sick for days. You might want to take a step back.”
“If it’s so poisonous, why have it in your garden?” Viola asks.
Mrs. Jackson laughs, shaking her head. “Because this is one of the planet’s most infamous floras.” She turns and walks beside Tanisha to continue the tour. “Wait until you see the wonkas, they’re blooming!”
After viewing three more plants and the wonkas, which resemble blue roses, the garden tour is over. We return to the patio, where Hayden and Mr. Jackson are enjoying the beachfront view. I sit on Hayden’s lap and wrap my arms around his neck. Jonah, sitting across from me at the table, concentrates on the eReader on his lap as the conversation and laughter flows around him. My brother can be so anti-social, which makes me wonder why he agreed to come at all. Maybe being in a foreign land so far from home and feeling like an outsider is making him crave the company of others.
Tanisha steps forward. “Time for water-gliding.”
“Um, what is that?” Viola asks.
“A Water-Glider is basically the motorcycle of the sea,” Mr. Jackson says. “Completely safe and lots of fun. You kids enjoy.”
“Hell, yeah.” Zach tugs off his T-shirt. “Let’s do this!”
“I’ll sit this one out,” I say, getting off Hayden’s lap. “I only have six lives left.”
“Don’t be like that,” Hayden says. “It’ll be fun, you’ll see.”
Viola steps closer to me. “You realize you’ll be stuck here,” she says under her breath, “listening to more of Mrs. Jackson’s gardening tips.”
“Water-gliding, here I come!” I exclaim.
I move over to my brother. “Jonah? You wanna ride one, too?”
He shakes his head, his eyes glued to the screen. “Nah. I’m not into sports.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I want to read now,” Jonah says.
He stays behind with the Jacksons to read and discuss plant life much to Mrs. Jackson’s delight while the rest of us go to the dock lined with watercrafts with motorcycle handlebars.
Turns out Water-Gliding is similar to Jet-Skiing, and way funnier and seems a whole lot safer than equestroxian riding.
Skimming over the water with the salty ocean breeze on my face and my wet, purple hair flying out behind me is the most adrenaline-charged feeling I’ve had in a while.
“Are you having fun, Peaches?” Hayden shouts, slowing next to me.
“Yup.” I slow the throttle on the handlebar and coast to a stop. I watch the others laughing and tearing around at full speed. “Let’s race.”
I gun the engine and zoom out into the open ocean. Hayden speeds ahead, smiling over his shoulder. Riding in his rippling wake, I slow to turn back, but as I twist the throttle, the Water-Glider releases a mournful cough and smoke bellows from the engine.
Hayden slows beside me. “You done already?”
I push dripping wet hair behind my shoulders. “My Water-Glider died.”
“Let me check it.” Hayden bends to open the hatch and inspect the engine. “It just looks like a loose wire. You should be ready now.”
“Thanks,” I say, gazing at the scenery. “This planet really is amazing. Like paradise.”
“It certainly is,” Hayden agrees.
Tanisha and Viola zip past us with a wave, traveling to the beach. Zach flies by with a classic guy chin jerk, following the girls. Beneath me in the water is a cluster of bulky white rocks and sharp coral.
“I’m exhausted and hungry,” I say, revving the engine. “I’m going to join the others.”
I start for the shoreline, coasting over the waves. As I get closer to the beach, I try to decelerate, but the Water-Glider keeps zooming forward. I try to slow it again. Still nothing.
Frowning, I attempt to twist harder on the throttle, but the craft only speeds up. My heart slams against my ribcage. Jagged rocks jutting from the sea come into view as the beach looms closer.
“Ah, I’m going way too fast,” I say, then utter a string of swear words that would make my grandmother blush.
I turn a sharp right, narrowly hitting the cluster of rocks. A terrifying, squealing vibration shudders through the Water-Glider. The throttle won’t twist. I catch sight of the beach. The Water-Glider jerks, then zips around in the water like an eager puppy hoping I’ll play its favorite game, while waiting for me to regain control.
Blowing out a frustrated breath, I clutch the handlebars tightly, my face scolding. Everyone on the shoreline is watching me get schooled by this stupid contraption.
“Sloane!” Hayden shouts behind me. “Slow down!”
I spot Viola on the beach waving her hands above her head to warn me, as if I don’t see the boulders and shore looming ahead.
Sweat prickles over my skin. I’m going to crash if I don’t turn soon. I jerk on the handlebars, but now they’ve locked up like the throttle.
“Jump, Sloane!” Hayden yells.
Standing on quivering legs, I dive off the side of the Water-Glider. My body hits the icy water and the W
ater-Glider bumps my shoulder so hard, a blast of intense pain pitches through me.
I swim to the surface, treading water and taking a gulp of air. The Water-Glider makes a horrific grinding noise as it slams into the coral and crumbles like fiberglass, looking pitiful and broken.
Embarrassed beyond belief and having swallowed a cupful of saltwater, I decide to check “Water-Glider” off my fun to-do list.
Swimming to shore, I spot my friends huddled on the beach, observing the whole thing go down. The second my eyes meet Viola’s, she sprints into the tide and wades out to me.
“Are you all right?” Vi grabs my arms, helping me to stand.
My shoulder aches. “Yeah, I think so. Except my arm hurts.”
We walk to the beach and I collapse on my butt in the wet sand, hugging my knees.
“What the hell happened?” Zach asks, hurrying over.
“I don’t know. The Water-Glider wouldn’t stop. It must’ve malfunctioned,” I say, checking my shoulder, which is bruised and sore. “As much as I love this place, there are only so many near-death experiences a girl can take.”
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson arrive, looking solemn and mumbling apologies. Jonah plunks down next to me in the sand and rubs my uninjured arm.
I look at Tanisha’s parents. “Sorry about crashing your Water-Glider.”
Damn, I really am a cyclone. Now I’ve moved up to destroying personal property and not just tearing apart families.
“Don’t give it a second thought,” Mr. Jackson says. “We’re just glad you’re okay.”
Hayden races from the dock where he secures his own Water-Glider, and sits on the other side of me. “Holy shit. That was bizarre,” he says, out of breath.
Tanisha’s hands cup her cheeks. “Sloane, I’m so sorry! We haven’t used the Water-Gliders in about a year, but my dad checks them before we take them out.”
