Shimmer

by Matthew Keith

  Chapter 30

  Alex stood on Leeann’s front doorstep with his hands in his pockets, his jean jacket clutched tightly to his sides. It wasn’t cold, but he felt exposed out in the open like this. Inside, he could see the flickering glow of the television in the family room. Someone was still awake.

  He rang the doorbell again, the sound startling on the quiet block. Alex could imagine Leeann’s parents giving each other questioning looks. At the Choi residence, Alex knew it was unheard of for anyone to come unannounced this late in the evening.

  “Leeann, could you get that?” Alex heard Mrs. Choi through the closed door. “I’m in my night gown!”

  Alex waited, but no one came to the door. He glanced over his shoulder at the empty street, irrationally feeling as if there were eyes everywhere in the darkness, watching him.

  He rang the doorbell again, twice.

  “Leeann!” Mrs. Choi called out again, her tone irritated now.

  Finally, Alex heard someone stomping sullenly down the steps.

  The deadbolt was turned and the door yanked open, and there stood Leeann, who looked ready to faint when she saw who was at her door.

  Alex waited quietly, a hopeful look on his face. He raised his eyebrows and gave her a tiny shrug with a small, helpless smile.

  When Leeann finally spoke, she looked as surprised as him by what she said.

  “What the hell?” she hissed, one hand going to her mouth.

  “Leeann!” her mother called out from the living room. “Who is it?”

  “Hi,” Alex replied quietly.

  “What are,” Leeann started to say, but apparently changed her mind. “Are you okay?” she asked instead. “Where have you been?” She leaned toward the door, looking out into the night behind him. “How did you get here?”

  “Leeann!” her mother called again.

  “Can I come in?” Alex asked.

  Leeann blinked. “Of course,” she opening the door wide. “Of course you can.” Alex stepped over the threshold and she awkwardly moved to give him a hug, but something made her hesitate. They shared a tense, silent moment before Alex closed the distance between them and wrapped her in a careful embrace.

  She hugged him back, tears spilling down her cheeks. She clutched him tightly, her face buried in his chest. “Is it really you?” she whispered.

  “I’m alright,” he told her, stroking her hair. “I’m fine.”

  Leeann took a deep, shuddering breath and composed herself, pulling away. A thin line of spittle stayed attached to his jacket where her face had been pressed. They both stared as it lengthened without breaking. Then they looked up at each other and the gravity of the moment was broken. They started laughing.

  And then Leeann slapped Alex across the face, hard enough to rock his head back.

  “What was that for?” he cried.

  “Seriously?! The last time I saw you, you beamed down into my yard with the cops chasing after you! You couldn’t call? You couldn’t send me a text?” Leeann demanded. She swung to slap him again for good measure, but he easily grabbed hold of her wrist. She looked down at the hand that held her, surprised.

  “No, I couldn’t text you,” Alex told her, and something about the way he answered gave her pause. “I would have if I could have, I swear,” he assured her, “but I couldn’t. I was…”

  Alex’s voice trailed off and he looked away, his expression growing hard.

  “You… what?” Leeann asked.

  “I was very far away,” Alex said finally. “And I have to go back. As soon as possible.”

  “What? No!” Leeann exclaimed. “Everyone is looking for you and your dad. Do you know what this is doing to the town? EMIT has been shut down for over a month and they’re talking about making it permanent. My dad doesn’t have a job right now, Alex!” She blinked. “Wait. Did you find your dad?”

  Alex pursed his lips but didn’t answer. He looked at her apologetically.

  “Alex!” Leeann’s mother came sweeping into the room, interrupting any reply Alex might have given. She wrapped her arms around him unabashedly, night gown and all. “You gave us such a scare!” She cupped his face in both her hands and called out, “Jin! Jin, you won’t believe who is here!”

  Mr. Choi came around the corner and missed a step, his typically-impassive demeanor momentarily broken. He took a breath and straightened his back.

  “Well now,” Mr. Choi chided his family, “give the young man some room to breathe.” Grasping Alex by both shoulders, he said, “You look well. I am very pleased.”

  Alex bowed his head slightly. “Thank you, sir.”

  Leeann squinted at Alex. Thank you sir?

  “Please,” Mr. Choi urged, “Come into the dining room and we will speak. Can we get you something to drink, some food perhaps?”

  “Water would be fine,” Alex said, following Leeann’s father into the dining room.

  “How long how you been home?” Mr. Choi asked, settling into the seat at the head of the table.

  Alex paused, uncomfortable. “Only tonight,” he replied evasively. There was another uncomfortable pause before he added, “Mr. Choi, I went to my house and it looks like somebody broke into it. Leeann tells me they closed EMIT down. What’s going on?”

  Mr. Choi glanced at Leeann briefly. “I warned you,” he told Alex. “When you were looking for your father, I told you that without him there would be no company.” He shook his head and continued grimly. “That is exactly what has happened.”

  “But Silas?” Alex asked. “Surely EMIT could continue to run for longer than this!”

  Mr. Choi frowned. “Silas was the one who closed it, and he did not wait long. He did it exactly one week after the night you came to our home and disappeared.” Mr. Choi gave Alex a searching look. “The night you disappeared in a flash of light.”

  Alex pressed his lips together in a thin line, but didn’t respond to Mr. Choi’s unspoken question.

  “Alex,” Leeann couldn’t take it any longer. “Did you find your dad or not? This is important!”

  Alex took a deep breath, considering how best to answer. Mrs. Choi came in and placed a tall glass of water on the table before him.

  “Thank you,” Alex murmured. He raised the glass to his lips and took a tiny sip, but lowered it almost immediately. After drinking so much of the pure water from the Great Lake at Domus, the taste of city water didn’t agree with him. He placed his hands flat on the table and looked up, squarely meeting Mr. Choi’s eyes. “I need help,” he said.

  Leeann’s father blinked. “Are you… in trouble?” he asked.

  “Kind of,” Alex answered truthfully. “But not in the way you probably think. I…” he bit the inside of his lip. “I need money, Mr. Choi.” Leeann’s father jerked his head back in surprise. “I need it because I need to help some people, and if I can do that I might be able to bring my dad home. It…”

  Alex took a deep breath. He was having trouble finding the right words.

  “It’s very complicated and probably very unbelievable unless you’ve been where I’ve been, but I…” Alex looked helplessly back and forth between Leeann and her father. “I just need help. I can pay you back, I promise, I just really need the help.”

  Mr. Choi had both hands folded together on the table in front of him and was rubbing his right hand with the pointer finger of his left. To anyone who didn’t know him it probably looked like a calm, comforting gesture that he didn’t even know he was making. For Alex, who had known the Choi family most of his life, he recognized it as a gesture that Mr. Choi was considering his options very seriously.

  “Why would you not go to Silas for this money?” Mr. Choi finally asked. “I am sure he could get it for you, as he is your legal guardian.”

  Alex was already shaking his head. “I can’t,” he replied. “I don’t think he would help me.”

  Alex watched as Mr. Choi’s finger began moving faster, now a clear nervous tick. “And why is that?” he asked. Leeann gave
him a furtive look, trying to caution him not to push her father.

  “Because I think he wants to take something away from me,” Alex replied. “I think he wants to take the personal transport suit, the thing my dad made that I used that night when I teleported out of Leeann’s window.” He swallowed loudly, deciding his best course was to tell the absolute truthful. “I think he’ll do anything to get it, Mr. Choi. I think he knew about it before my dad disappeared.” He paused. “Sir, I think he’s the one who called the police the night I ran away.”

  Mr. Choi stood abruptly, his chair legs scraping noisily on the dining room floor. Leeann and Mrs. Choi both jumped up, startled.

  “Alex, you must leave here now,” Mr. Choi said. He moved to the front window and peered out into the street, looking both ways.

  “What?” Alex exclaimed. “Why? You don’t have to give me any money, Mr. Choi. I was just asking…”

  “No,” Mr. Choi answered tersely, “you do not understand. Under his instructions, I called Silas as soon as I heard you come into our home. He will be here soon.”