by Ann Aguirre
“Wow, really? Instead of taking you away, she wants to join?”
“Is that okay? I meant it when I said I’m done with that crowd.” Clearly, Jake put some stock in the rumor that someone had sabotaged his party to steal Tanya.
“Fine by me. It may be crowded until I leave. There will be more space next year.”
He ruffled my hair. “Don’t say that. You’ll make me emotional.”
“What will?” Tanya gave me a tentative smile, as if she wasn’t sure where we were on the social spectrum.
“We were just talking about my imminent relocation. My dad’s been transferred.” That was a good lie, right?
Just then, Kian and Vonna came down the hall, and if I had to third-wheel with a happy couple, they were a much better choice. Vonna glanced over shoulder as we walked away. “That looked pretty civilized. You okay?”
“Yeah. We were basically just killing time.” I swallowed a laugh at the accidental pun.
“You still miss the other guy?” she asked.
Hating myself a little, I nodded. When she hugged me, I leaned in, and it was good, though I feared dissolving in her arms like a wicked woman in a bible story, nothing left but sparks and salt. Maybe not even salt.
“Thanks. But I’ll be all right. I’m really used to good-byes.”
“You shouldn’t be,” Kian said.
There was nothing I could say to make him understand, so I just listened to the pep talk about how modern life made it easy to keep in touch until the bell rang. Not long now.
* * *
Two days later, I had failed in every conceivable way to get this damn pen into Wade’s backpack. It was becoming a maddening, impossible quest. The thing was always in his locker; he rarely carried it to class. So how the hell …
Oh, shit. My mind is going. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this.
Embarrassment practically immolated me. Putting that aside, I strode toward him, pen in hand. “Hey, Wade.”
He drew back on instinct. “Hey.”
“I just wanted to give you something.”
“What is it?”
I handed him the pen. “Just a symbol that we’re cool.”
In his huge hands, the thin blue cylinder looked even smaller, which made his reticence pretty funny. “This is exploding ink, right?”
“Nope. It’s just a decent pen. See?” I got out a notebook and wrote Chelsea Brooks has no grudge against Wade Tennant.
“Oh, it’s gel,” he said.
“They write really smooth. Just be careful, they can smear if you touch the ink too soon.”
Wade clearly didn’t know what to make of this slightly odd “gift,” but he seemed to conclude it was a harmless gesture. “Okay, cool.”
Lowering my voice, I added, “I’m proving to everyone else that we’re fine too. See how they’re watching us?”
“Right. Morons.” He’d had enough attention lately, it seemed.
As I walked off, I mentally high-fived myself. All the pieces are falling into place. But I shouldn’t have celebrated so early. That was the fastest way for things to go horribly wrong.
And they did.
RUNNING RAGGED
May came in like a day at the beach, plenty of sunshine, but there were also sand mites and uncontrollable itching. These days even my skin hurt, and I often had to drag myself out of bed. I bought a bunch of makeup to camouflage how shitty I looked, and Selena taught me to apply it with a heavy hand. I went for video vixen style, and my friends were too busy criticizing my new look to wonder why I’d suddenly switched it up.
I can’t have them asking if I’m sick. Just need to hold together a little longer.
But the truth was, I couldn’t stand looking at myself in the mirror. Beneath the foundation, my skin seemed papery and odd, showing gold sparks, and I’d gotten so thin that I could hardly wear the clothes I’d bought when I first arrived. Selena brought home a belt, and I made the pants work and covered with hoodies that were more oversize than ever.
She scrutinized me. “Are you going to make it?”
“I don’t know.” My whole being was locked on the goal, but sheer will could only take you so far in overcoming physics.
“I could give you a focus, like I did for your school friend.”
“Would that help?”
“Not sure. To be honest, I’ve never run into a time traveler before. At any rate, it can’t make things worse, right?”
I accepted her offer, and when I took the paper clip, some of the pain did recede, like it had when the Harbinger was nearby. Back then, I’d imagined it must have to do with our connection, but apparently immortal energy had the power to buffer the effects of cellular decay. Glad Selena likes me. Apart from Rochelle, she was the nicest supernatural I’d met.
“I might live,” I said.
“Good to hear. The end of the round is coming up, so stay sharp. Coldsnap will absolutely make a move before then.”
“I’m loving your nicknames for him.”
“It’s best not to drop names unless you want attention,” she told me.
“Huh. So J.K. Rowling had that part right?” I remembered Kian also cautioning me against calling things that might refuse to leave.
“Who?” Selena asked.
“You’re not a big reader, I take it.”
“Kidding. Harry Potter, the boy who lived. I’ve seen all the movies like three times.”
And I’m the girl who won’t.
Despite my dark mood, I laughed. “Okay, I’m off.”
The bus ride wasn’t bad, but I missed arriving in Jake’s town car. Now that he was back with Tanya, I doubted she’d appreciate it if I kept mooching rides. Today, summer was holding an early launch party in the parking lot. The skateboarders were going nuts, and someone was blasting music from his car, plenty of thumping bass. Hot as it already was, I should have been sweltering in my sweatshirt and gloves, but I couldn’t get warm.
Only three more weeks.
As I crossed, avoiding knots of students, a skateboarder careened off course right into the path of a car pulling into the lot. The driver panicked and jerked the wheel, so instead of hitting a person, he slammed into the light pole. It toppled toward me and I dove out of its path, but I couldn’t predict the trajectory of the broken, snapping electrical wires. The pole hit hard only a few feet from me, whereas the wires jerked, inching ever closer. I scrambled away from the current, gloves scraping over the pavement. To me, it looked like the cable had a mind of its own, determined to fry me with thousands of volts. I stared at the twitching wire, crackling power as it thrashed closer to my legs. I scrambled backward. All around me, people screamed, and someone was asking driver and skateboarder if they were okay.
If I move too much, somebody else might get hurt.
At my movement, the wire reacted like a live snake, curling back to strike. Yeah, this is definitely not normal. Kian grabbed me from behind and hauled me away from the tangle of copper and fire. Something popped, the power box maybe, and smoke poured from the downed pole. Probably the world, then, not Wedderburn, if it backed off hurting anyone but me.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“More or less.” But I was shaky as shit.
I’d come so close to being flash-fried that I appreciated the new bruises and the bloody scrape on my knee. Kian supported me all the way to the front of the school, where the nurse took charge of me. As we went inside, sirens wailed in the distance.
She checked me over, then said, “You were lucky. It could’ve been a lot worse. Do you want to call home?”
Shit, not this again.
But this “accident” had been so much more serious than the one with the cement blocks and other people could’ve been hurt. It would be abnormal if I didn’t want go home, hug my parents, and cry. So I input a fake number and waited while pretending to listen to it ring.
“He’s not answering,” I finally said.
“Is there anyone else you can
call? I can’t send you home without a parent coming to pick you up.” Her sad eyes said she felt sorry for me, but that she wasn’t surprised to find a kid who couldn’t get ahold of anyone who cared in a crisis.
I shook my head without meeting her gaze. “It’s just my dad and me. He works a lot.”
“Let me take care of your knee,” she said gently. “You can rest on the cot for a while if you like and try again later.”
“Okay.”
An hour passed, and I went to sleep to avoid dealing with my messy reality. An announcement that the situation had been handled came on the PA; then the principal added, “There will be no loitering permitted in the parking lot, before or after school. This is not a skate park, and the rules will be strictly enforced going forward.”
Groans came from neighboring classrooms. I pretended to be asleep when the nurse checked on me. A few minutes later, the principal came to the mini-clinic to ask about me. But he wasn’t interested in my welfare as much as concerned about a lawsuit.
“I need to speak with Miss Brooks.”
“The poor kid’s been through enough.” The nurse sounded irritated.
“Since the personnel reduction, we’ve been lax about monitoring the side lot. Her parents are lawyers, Clara. This could get ugly.”
“Really? Just now, she said it was only her dad at home.”
Shit. There goes the first thread unraveling.
Incredibly stiff and sore, I rolled off the cot and went to wrangle damage control. “My parents are divorced. They’re both attorneys, but I don’t live with my mom.”
Sorry, Mom and Dad. I know you were happy together.
“See?” the principal said meaningfully.
The nurse sighed. “Fine. You can talk to her since she’s awake.”
“Would you please come to my office, Miss Brooks?”
“No problem.” But it was likely to be a huge, insurmountable one.
He started the conversation with an apology and an explanation about budget cuts. They’d laid off two security guards who normally prevented nonsense that like what happened this morning. In conclusion, he felt sure I could agree it was all an unfortunate accident and would I mind explaining this to my parents?
“Not at all. I’ll talk to my dad tonight,” I said.
“Excellent. When can he come in to discuss the incident and to sign some simple documentation for the school?”
You want a promise not to sue, huh?
But my heart sank. I’d painted myself into a corner by saying I lived with my father because I didn’t know anyone who could fill in. If the Harbinger hadn’t gone, he could’ve slipped into the Mr. Brooks persona with no problem, but José was the only older guy I knew, and he’d think I was out of my mind if I showed up with such a sudden, random request. Possibly Selena could shift her appearance like the Harbinger, but I’d already gotten two favors from her.
Plus, it was hard to pretend things were normal at school day after day. So I made an irrevocable choice. “Actually, we’re moving. My dad’s already in Miami. I stayed to wrap up the school year and pack up our apartment, but considering what happened today, I think he’d want me to come now. I’ll talk to him about it when I call tonight.”
“You’re leaving?” He sounded as if he couldn’t decide if this was a good thing.
“Yeah, I don’t feel safe here. If my dad flies back, it won’t be to sign stuff.” Shots fired.
In five seconds, my meaning registered with him. “Do whatever you think best for your family, Miss Brooks.”
“The nurse said I can’t leave unless he picks me up. So what am I supposed to do? He’s in court right now.”
“We don’t want to make your father get on a plane over a skinned knee.” The principal was probably imagining how pissed my fictional self-absorbed, high-powered attorney papa would be under those circumstances. “I’ll make an exception and sign off for you.”
“Thanks. I need to get home and start packing.”
“I’m sorry this happened, but I’m relieved you’re not seriously hurt. We’ll expedite transcripts and transfer papers when the request comes in,” he added eagerly.
You’ll be waiting a long time.
Five more minutes of apologies, and I had a pass permitting me to take off. Wow, this is the last time I’ll be here. Unlike the other times when I just vanished and turned off my phone, I texted everyone I thought might care. I’m done at this school. You know how to find me. By the time I got home, my friends were having lunch, and they flooded my phone with questions.
Devon: Did U get suspended? That’s BS. How’s that your fault?
Kian: What’s wrong? What happened?
Carmen: U okay? Want to come over?
With most of them, I just kept it vague, but I wrote a longer message to Kian since he knew more about me. They wanted to talk to my parents. I had to bail.
Ah. So RU going to Miami early?
Nah. Studio’s paid until June. Not smart to waste money.
He sent back, Cool. So you’ll be here for my b-day?
Of course, I thought. That’s what I’m waiting for.
But I couldn’t tell him that. Depends. When is it?
June 3.
Oh definitely. Will probably take off right after, though.
I’ll miss U, he texted.
Ditto.
For a while, I thought that was the end of the convo, but eventually he sent, It’s gonna be weird without U at school.
U can always come over as long as Vonna’s cool with it.
I’ll talk to her.
* * *
For the first week after I left school, I just vegged in the apartment, but then it hit me. Anything could happen to Kian. And Selena even warned me to be vigilant. With me out of the picture, Wedderburn could do whatever the hell he wanted. That fear took hold and wouldn’t let go, like a dog with a locked jaw. I considered checking in via text, but I wouldn’t feel secure until I saw him in person.
The second week in May, I stalked him, harder than it sounded. Unlike Boston, where he followed me around, the crowds weren’t as dense in Cross Point and I constantly had to dodge aside and hide around corners. Kian definitely had the sense something was up because his attention sharpened, as if he sensed I was watching. But then, I didn’t have any cool tech to help me with the mission.
School was another problem, however. Against my better judgment, I sent a request to Devon. Do me a favor?
Depends. What?
Watch out for Kian. And ping me if you see any weird, shady types hanging around.
A long silence followed. Finally, I got, U, not the cops. RU in trouble?
I debated a long time before answering, Unsure. Just want to be sure U guys R OK. Help me out? Pls.
U got it.
That message relieved my mind. If anything went down at school, I could tag Selena and we’d ride to the rescue. Instead of going to class, I studied at the University of Kian. In the morning, I watched him from the shadows across the street. He smiled a lot more these days, usually while checking his phone. Must be messages from Vonna. Once he left his house, I ran to the stop before his and got on just before. Since he tended to sit near the front, he never saw me hunkered down in the back. The aching emptiness of just observing, nothing more, hurt more than usual, and even meditation couldn’t make it go away.
Is this how he felt, watching me?
I’d done a good job of smothering it, but I did still love him, for all the good it did. At least he’s still alive in this world.
As he got off at school, I twitched into a full-on seizure, and maybe because I looked weird, nobody tried to help me. When I came out of it, my head lolled against the window and blood trickled from my lips. I got off at the next stop, disgusted with humanity. Really? They’d just let me die of whatever was wrong rather than get involved.
My mouth tasted of copper, but it was actually a pleasant change from nothing. As usual, I killed time at a nearby park and slept
in the sun, waiting for school to end. I woke to a text from Devon. Might B nothing, but … past 2 days, a weirdo seems 2B stalking UR boy. My nerves crackled to high alert. Aegis quivered on my wrist.
Description? I sent.
Old woman. Scary, not sure why.
With that news, I ratcheted to high alert. Has to be the hag. No time to find Selena, I have to handle this. I remembered our fight in Wedderburn’s compound … and back then, I’d had Allison’s help. Weak as I was now, it couldn’t be a straight up battle. I had to catch the monster unaware, or I’d lose.
If I lose, Kian dies. This has all been for nothing.
Terror and urgency created an adrenaline cocktail, and I raced faster than I ever had. I spotted Kian leaving school alone, headed for the bus stop a few blocks down. There were a couple of decent ambush points—I’d scouted them a week ago while on silent watch—and if I was the hag, I’d be lurking in one of them. Gathering my full strength, I pushed to a sprint, feet slamming against the sidewalk. I dodged people like I’d just stolen someone’s purse and vaulted over a bench, determined to get ahead of him. Wheezing, I reached the first danger point and found it empty.
Only one other spot she could be.
I changed directions, circling to enter the alley from the next street. Can’t stop. My chest burned; full body pain threatened to cripple me. Somehow I pushed on, despite feeling like I could shake apart at any moment. A woman yelled at me for nearly bumping into her, but I couldn’t stop. Seconds might separate the distance between victory and defeat. My knee still hadn’t healed properly, and running broke open the scab, so blood trickled down my shin.
Here, she has to be here.
I charged in from the back of the alley, startling the creature lying in wait. She lashed out, but I already had Aegis drawn. Dizzy as hell, I whirled in and delivered a wound to her gut. She hunched over, raking my back with her iron claws as murky fumes boiled out of her belly. I ate that pain too and spat it back at her, slashing in a vicious swing that would determine who lived.
In a golden shimmer, Aegis arced like a throat-seeking missile as it sliced through her neck. She dissolved in a swirl of dark smoke.
