by H. L. Burke
“Anything,” Jake blurted out. A sudden weight caused him to look down at his own hand. His fingers grasped the cold metal of a handgun. He tried to drop it, but his grip wouldn’t release.
“I have a group of problems, and you’re going to take care of them for me.” Uncle Vic opened a folder full of photographs. Jake couldn’t bring himself to look.
He shook his head. “I’ve never done this before. I can’t. I don’t know how.”
“You can, and you will. Look, Jake. Look at what you need to do.”
Jake forced himself to gaze upon the photos, and his blood ran cold.
Fade, Prism, Laleh, Marco—even baby Ruby—
The familiar faces stared back at him.
“You have to choose. Them or the gang. You can’t walk both worlds, Jake.”
“No!”
The folder hit the floor and suddenly they weren’t pictures, but people, people standing before him, frozen in place, gazing at him in disappointment and fear.
“I can’t!” Jake needed to run. This couldn’t be happening.
Hatred rippled across Uncle Vic’s face. “I knew you were useless.” He threw out his hands, accessing his power. Globules of water appeared in the air, growing larger by the moment. Jake tried to flee. He stumbled back and flailed for his powers, but they resisted him. The water droplets continued to swell, grabbing onto his body like gobs of glue. The voices of his friends filled the air, calling out for help.
Got to break free. Got to help them—
A great roar rose up around him. The world spun, and instead of in the warehouse, he was standing in the ravine again, a wall of water crashing towards him.
Before he could so much as scream, it hit, pushing him under the surface. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t tell up from down. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out, only water rushing in
“Jake! Jake!” Marco’s voice fought through the water. The torrent tossed Jake around like a scrap of soggy paper. He couldn’t fight, couldn’t run, couldn’t use his powers.
“Jake!” A sharp pain radiated through him, and he sat up, gasping. Air rushed into his lungs.
He shoved aside his sweat drenched blankets and blinked at Marco who hovered over him in the dim light, eyes wide.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Jake rubbed his suddenly sore shoulder. Definitely a bruise there. “Did you pinch me?”
“You were screaming in your sleep, and you wouldn’t wake up—” Before Marco could explain further, their bedroom door burst open.
“Are you two murdering each other in here?” Laleh asked.
“Jake was having a nightmare,” Marco said.
Jake’s face warmed. “It was nothing.”
“It sure didn’t sound like nothing. It woke me up from the other room.” Laleh flipped on the light.
“Geez!” Jake flung his arm over his eyes against the brightness. When his vision adjusted he found both his friends looming over him with concerned looks on their faces. “Uh, I’m seriously okay, guys. I swear.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Laleh asked.
“Nope.” He started to slip out of bed, realized he was in his boxers, and paused. Glancing around, he found his sweatpants on the floor. He managed to get them on beneath his blankets before sitting at the edge of the bed. “Nightmares happen.”
“Yeah, we all have them, but we don’t usually scream bloody murder during them.” Laleh frowned. “It must’ve been pretty bad.”
“I guess, but it’s over, and I’m already forgetting what it was about,” he lied. “Besides, we’ve got a long drive to the airport tomorrow then the flight. You guys should be in bed.”
“Can you fall back asleep?” Marco asked.
Jake opened his mouth, shut it again, then shrugged.
“That settles it. We’re staying with you,” Laleh said.
Marco’s face brightened, and he opened the lower drawer of their shared dresser and pulled out a bag of snack mix. “I knew I was saving this for a reason. We can make this a party!”
“I’m not sure this is a good idea—” Jake began.
“Shut up, Jake.” Laleh frowned at him. “We’re a team now, and teammates don’t leave other teammates alone in the dark facing existential dread.”
A warmth spread through Jake followed quickly by discomfort. He hung his head. “Dang—I don’t deserve you guys.”
“I know,” Laleh said.
“Yeah, you do,” Marco countered.
“I don’t suppose you have any drinks in that drawer?” Laleh eyed the dresser.
Marco shook his head. “Just the snack mix.”
“I’ll go get some.” Laleh left the room and returned a few minutes later with three cans of sparkling water and Wherezit riding on her shoulder, visible.
Jake snickered. “He’s making an appearance for once, huh?”
“I bribed him with cheese.” Laleh set down the cans, fished a plastic baggy of cheddar out of her pocket, and offered Wherezit a bite. The ferret gobbled it up.
Marco opened up his can. “I’m glad you brought him.”
Wherezit skittered off her shoulder and began to poke around the room. Jake held up the snack mix so the animal couldn’t get into it.
“At the creek, you said you had a plan.” Laleh settled cross legged on the rug. “You gonna let us in on what it is?”
Jake let out a breath. He didn’t want to, but if he was going to pull this off, he might need their help. “The Sand Foxes have dens scattered around the southwest, including in San Diego. They’re usually manned by one or two members, and they keep supplies and money in case one of us needs them in a pinch. The San Diego location will easily have that much cash on hand. If I can get in contact with them and use the right pass-code to verify that I’m Vic Lucas’s nephew, they should be able to give me what we need.”
Laleh scrutinized him. “Are you sure we should be taking money from supervillains, Jake?”
“Do you have a better idea?” he snapped.
She flinched back, and regret stabbed him.
“Look,” he continued in a more measured tone. “We don’t have a lot of time to fix this, and this is the best option we have.”
“Could you at least let me try to get the money from my mom first?” Laleh asked. “I just ... I don’t like the idea of you going to your gang, Jake. They aren’t safe. They hurt people.”
“They won’t hurt me,” Jake said dismissively. “I’m a Lucas.”
“That’s not exactly what I’m worried about,” she murmured.
The room fell silent.
“I can give you some time,” Jake then said. “It’s not like we can get the old guy his money until after we’re back anyway, and we’re going to be in San Diego for almost four days.” There were other things he needed to figure out, too. His uncle had made him memorize the phone numbers and pass-codes for all the major Sand Fox hideouts, but phone numbers didn’t do a lot of good without a phone. He’d have to be on the lookout for a chance to grab one. Man, if Laleh could get the money from her parents it would solve so many problems.
“Maybe it will work out.” Laleh fiddled with her ponytail.
Wherezit circled around Jake who stroked the creature’s long, snaky spine.
“I can’t wait to see my mom again,” Marco said. “What about you Laleh?”
“It’s complicated,” she mumbled. “I guess I do kind of miss her and Dad, though. Also, San Diego’s nice. I’ve been to the zoo there a couple of times and they’ve got a huge battleship you can tour parked right in the harbor—”
“Aircraft carriers aren’t battleships,” Marco interrupted, his mouth full of snack mix. “They’re carriers.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “They’re ships made for battle—”
“There’s a difference though,” Marco persisted.
“Ha, Princess Laleh doesn’t know everything,” Jake teased.
“I know more than you.” She tossed a piece of
popcorn from the mix at him. He fragmented, letting it pass through his body, and smirked at her. Wherezit scrambled for the popcorn, nosing at it curiously.
“I’m not really into zoos or ships though.” Jake popped a pretzel into his mouth before taking a sip of seltzer.
“How do you know you aren’t?” Laleh frowned. “I mean, seriously, Jake, you said you weren’t into video games when we got here, but you seem to like those now. Plus you have to have some hobbies. Sarcasm and deflection don’t count.”
“I’ve always wanted to go to the zoo. We could never afford it, but I used to go on the website and watch the animal cams.” Marco sighed. “The polar bears are huge and sometimes they’ll put ice and stuff out for them.”
“Yeah, we should all go.” Laleh gazed pointedly at Jake.
He grunted, but he wasn’t enough of a jackass to want to mess things up for Marco. “Okay, I will, but I don’t have to enjoy myself.”
“Whatever.”
A gentle rapping caused them to freeze.
“Hey, do I hear voices in there?” The door squeaked open, and Prism gazed in. “All three of you, huh? And having a picnic? Why wasn’t I invited?”
Sighting the twinkle in her eye, Jake relaxed. “We couldn’t sleep.”
“Well, I hate to be the bad guy, but you’re going to have to try a little harder.” She opened the door the rest of the way. “We need to be up in six hours to head to the airport, and I’m not carrying you guys through security if you decide to pass out on me.”
“Sorry.” Laleh hopped up.
At the sudden movement, Wherezit squeaked and darted towards the bed. Jake grabbed him before he could disappear beneath it. He passed him to Laleh who took him and held him up against her face.
“I wish we could take him,” she said. “I think he’ll miss us.”
“He’ll be fine. The Bend branch is sending us a couple of team members to look after the house and the chickens, and I’ve left them instructions for dealing with Wherezit too.” Prism held the door open and motioned for Laleh to step outside. She then addressed the boys. “Make sure you don’t leave any crumbs out from your midnight snacking. I don’t want to come back to mice.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Marco picked up the bag of snack mix and rolled the top shut.
Prism cast them a motherly smile. Something in Jake warmed only to be immediately replaced by shame.
Soft. Always soft. Why do I let things get to me?
“Good night, kids.”
Laleh and Prism left, and Marco finished squirreling away the snacks before turning out the lights. Not bothering to take his sweat pants off again, Jake lay on top of his blankets, staring up at the bottom of Marco’s bunk. What if he made contact with his gang and it turned out like his dream? Not with the insane, trippy parts, of course, but with the same choice: between his new friends at camp or his old family with the Sand Foxes.
I can’t walk both worlds—but man, I’m not ready to choose.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jake’s whole body jolted as the plane bounced against the tarmac.
“We’re here!” Marco reached for his belt buckle.
“Easy!” Fade touched the kid’s arm. “Still a few bumps left.”
Across the aisle, Ruby whined and clutched at her mom.
“Shh, baby, almost done,” Prism said, patting her back.
Laleh took out her earbuds. “Dang, fifteen more minutes and my movie would’ve been over.”
“You can watch it on the return trip.” Fade took his phone from his jacket pocket. “Man, I need to stand up again. Someday we need to convince DOSA to spring for first class legroom.”
Jake’s stomach roiled as he peered out the window at the perfect blue skies. He was really here which meant he really had a chance to complete his plan and contact the Sand Foxes. If only that didn’t feel like such a bad idea now.
Suck it up, Jake, he chided himself. This is your mess, and you need to clean it up. Get a phone. Contact the Sand Foxes. Set up a meeting. Slip away long enough to get the money and bring it back to Marco. That’s all.
The plane came to a stop at the gate. The intercom beeped, and a male voice gave final instructions for disembarking. Jake sat still as the other passengers started to stand and go through the overhead compartments for their carry ons. Jake had gate checked his backpack, so he didn’t have to worry about that.
Prism stood. “I hope the baggage handlers didn’t bang up Ruby’s car seat ... or worse, lose it. I want to get her down for a nap as soon as possible.”
As if in response, Ruby began to fuss, wiggling to get out of her mom’s arms.
“Here, let me see her.” Fade reached across the aisle and claimed his daughter.
Jake grimaced at the thought of losing his backpack. He’d packed pretty much everything he owned in there. Not that that was much, but still, he didn’t want to lose it. Why had he allowed the agent to gate check it?
“How do I get my backpack?” he asked.
“We’ll go to the baggage claim as soon as we get out of here,” Fade said. “Make sure you still have that claim slip they gave you.”
Jake rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a couple of pieces of crumpled paper. One was his boarding pass and the other his claim slip. He unfolded them both. He hadn’t really looked at his documents. Prism and Fade had led their group right to the gate, so he hadn’t needed to check the flight number or any of that. Now, however, he glanced at them. He blinked.
The name on the top of the pass was “Jason Stark” not Jake Lucas. Before he could question this, the passengers started to move.
“Let’s go.” Fade stepped out into the aisle and motioned for the kids to follow.
The line crept forward towards the front of the plane. In the rear of his group, Jake wished he could use his powers just to sprint through everyone, but even if he hadn’t been wearing his disruptor cuff, he knew that sort of a stunt would draw unwanted attention. He swallowed his annoyance as an elderly woman stood up in front of him and pushed her way between him and Marco. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, checked the screen, then started texting as she walked. Her already glacial pace slowed, and he watched in irritation as the distance grew between himself and the others.
Before he could get too frustrated, though, the old lady put her phone in a side pocket of her purse and started to walk a little faster. Jake zeroed in on the phone. As soon as he was sure no one was looking, he fragmented his fingers, slipped them into the pocket, and caught hold of the device. He withdrew it and pushed it up into his sleeve to hide it. The old lady didn’t so much as look back at him.
When he finally emerged from the plane, he found Fade waiting for him at the end of the boarding ramp.
“The others went ahead to get our bags,” Fade explained. “Let’s try to catch up.”
“Can I ask you something first?” Jake pulled out his boarding pass. “Why the name change?”
Fade laughed quietly. “You just now noticed?”
Jake’s face heated. “I didn’t exactly have a reason to look.”
Fade started walking, and Jake followed. “We requested it. DOSA is supposed to keep your involvement with the camp top secret because of your uncle. If you were flying back and forth from Oregon to California under your real name, someone might find out and come after you.”
Jake’s jaw clenched. Fade and Prism had both said things about how his uncle and the gang hadn’t tried to claim him, but how could they if they didn’t even know where he was?
By the time they caught up with the rest of their group, they were already at the baggage claim watching the carousel circle. Jake spotted his backpack within a few minutes. Grabbing it from the carousel, he took it a few feet away. There he knelt and unzipped it to check on the contents before surreptitiously sliding the stolen phone inside and covering it with one of his t-shirts. This accomplished, he slung the pack over his shoulder.
Prism texted something and waited fo
r a response. Her face relaxed slightly. “Great. Looks like the car DOSA is sending for us is almost here. Let’s hurry.”
Within a few minutes the group had piled into an SUV. Jake was squeezed between Ruby’s car seat and the door in the middle row, his backpack tight against his feet.
“Where are we headed?” Prism asked the driver from where she sat on the other side of Ruby.
“DOSA has set up one of their safe houses for you. It’s about a half hour drive if traffic is good.” The man motioned towards the GPS display in the dashboard. “That said, Cyra Ashe asked if we could drop her daughter off at DOSA headquarters downtown first.”
Prism frowned. “We need to go there too and arrange things with Marco’s mom, but I was hoping not to have to deal with it until tomorrow. Ruby’s exhausted.”
Fade, who had called shotgun because he said his long legs wouldn’t fit in the back seats, leaned to look at her. “If you want, I can go to HQ with Laleh and take care of that while you take Ruby and the other two to the safe house.”
“I kind of want to see headquarters, though,” Marco called out from the back row where he sat with Laleh. “If I get to work with DOSA, I want to be stationed in San Diego so I can be close to Mom.”
Fade gave a slow nod. “Porter’s good with kids. He’d probably be willing to give them a tour.”
Jake winced. “Do we have to?”
“If you want you can come with me instead, but it’ll probably be boring.” Prism passed her daughter a pacifier. “I’m not doing anything for the rest of the day except maybe watching some TV.”
“Are you sure, Jake?” Marco said. “It might be fun.”
Jake shook his head. “Nah. DOSA’s not my thing. I hope you have a good time, though.”
After they dropped off Fade, Laleh, and Marco at the large office building that held DOSA’s San Diego HQ, the driver allowed Jake to move to the front passenger seat while Prism stayed back with her baby. When they finally reached the safe house, the driver helped them bring in the luggage before Prism disappeared into one of the bedrooms with Ruby, leaving Jake to sit on the couch contemplating his boarding pass with the fake name.
