He nodded.
Another quiet moment. Then, So you can tell when I switch it on?
I can.
Good. If I ever do it with you, accidentally, stop me, okay?
You think I wouldnt? I knocked his shoulder. Believe me, you are not using any of that mojo on me. Ever. You want to convince me of anything, you gotta be you.
Good. He caught my gaze and held it for a moment, then looked away quickly and said again, Good. Still up for talking about your powers? What youve been feeling?
Absolutely.
Unfortunately, any discussion of my powers led to thoughts of shape-shifting, which led to thoughts of Annie, which led to worry. Worry? Hell, no. Lets call it what it really was. Outright panic. If I even started thinking of it, my heart pounded and my mouth went dry.
When I tried to skate over the subject, Daniel brought me back, and we hashed it out. Turning out like Annie wasnt a certaintyshe was the only subject we knew whod begun to shift. Growing up in a medical research town meant we knew all about side effects and outliers. Her case might be a one-off.
And if it wasnt? Then we knew where to find the scientists whod done this to us. We didnt trust them. We didnt want anything to do with them. Still
If that happens to you, were getting their help, Daniel said.
But
He put his hand over my mouth. No buts. If it happens to you, we go to them. Well force them to fix you on our terms. A wry smile. I can make people do things, remember?
I was sure it wouldnt be that easy. But having him say it? Be willing to take that risk for me? It meant a lot.
We talked until well, until we werent talking anymore. I suppose I fell asleep first. I dreamed of Rafe. I dreamed he was out there, in the forest, lost and hurt and calling me. Needing me. This time, though, I didnt bolt awake thinking it was real. Maybe I was just too tired. Or maybe, finally, I knew it wasnt real, couldnt be real, however much I ached to believe it.
Next thing I knew, I was waking to Kenjii licking my face and Corey saying, Now this is when I really need a camera.
Im sure that when I fell asleep, Id been lying on my back, looking up at the sky as I talked to Daniel. But when I woke up, I was on my side, nestled with my back against him, his arm over me. I jumped up so fast I kicked him in the shins and he let out an Oomph.
Coreys laugh rang out through the silent forest. Oh, come on. You guys looked so cute.
Cold, I muttered. It got cold.
Then lets hit the trail and warm up, Corey said.
EGHTEEN
AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR of walking, I started thinking maybe Id cuddle up with Daniel again, just to make Corey laugh. The morning had started on a light note, but it darkened fast. The sky darkened too. Wed escaped the threat of rain on our first night, but now the black clouds gathering overhead said it had only been a temporary reprieve.
The rain began as a light drizzle. Being part cat, Im not keen on rain, but Ive always liked a light one, especially on a hot summers day, tramping through the woods or rock climbing, enjoying the cool mist on my face, the sweet fresh smell of it, the inevitable rainbow afterward. But this wasnt a refreshing mist on a hot summers day. It was an icy drizzle that slid down the backs of our necks and plopped off the end of branches and froze our ears and soaked our shoes.
Can we stop? Hayley asked.
If I see a sheltered spot, well hole up for a while.
Can we look for one? I have a blister
We all have blisters, Sam said.
We need to keep going, Daniel said. We lost a lot of time yesterday.
What? Are we on a schedule? Hayley said. Is there a bus waiting to pick us up somewhere? She sighed, then said, I hate complaining.
So dont do it, Sam said.
Hayley glowered at her. You think I like being the whiner? If Nicole was here, shed be complaining just as much. Were tired and wet and miserable, but Im stuck being the one who says it while everyone else just hopes I whine loud enough so we all get to stop and rest. Maya and Daniel cant complain. They need to set an example. Unless Coreys in enough pain that he snaps again, hes going to tough it out. And Sam? Well, shes not even human, so she doesnt count.
Excuse me? Sam said.
Face it, youre not one of those bendo-things. Youre a robot. A cyborg. Probably an evil one, programmed to murder us all in our sleep.
Corey snickered.
Yeah? Sam lifted a fist to Hayley. You want to try that one again, blondie?
Hayley looked at Daniel and me. I rest my case.
Hayleys right, I said. About the complaining part. Were not on a schedule and the harder we push, the more exhausted well get. I waved to the west. The redwoods seem to thin over there. We might find a grove of ferns for some shelter.
We tramped over, and as we stepped from the thick trees, we all stopped and stared. Then Corey raced forward, arms raised.
Its a road. Oh my God. A road! He dropped to his knees by the roadside. Oww.
Another quiet moment. Then, So you can tell when I switch it on?
I can.
Good. If I ever do it with you, accidentally, stop me, okay?
You think I wouldnt? I knocked his shoulder. Believe me, you are not using any of that mojo on me. Ever. You want to convince me of anything, you gotta be you.
Good. He caught my gaze and held it for a moment, then looked away quickly and said again, Good. Still up for talking about your powers? What youve been feeling?
Absolutely.
Unfortunately, any discussion of my powers led to thoughts of shape-shifting, which led to thoughts of Annie, which led to worry. Worry? Hell, no. Lets call it what it really was. Outright panic. If I even started thinking of it, my heart pounded and my mouth went dry.
When I tried to skate over the subject, Daniel brought me back, and we hashed it out. Turning out like Annie wasnt a certaintyshe was the only subject we knew whod begun to shift. Growing up in a medical research town meant we knew all about side effects and outliers. Her case might be a one-off.
And if it wasnt? Then we knew where to find the scientists whod done this to us. We didnt trust them. We didnt want anything to do with them. Still
If that happens to you, were getting their help, Daniel said.
But
He put his hand over my mouth. No buts. If it happens to you, we go to them. Well force them to fix you on our terms. A wry smile. I can make people do things, remember?
I was sure it wouldnt be that easy. But having him say it? Be willing to take that risk for me? It meant a lot.
We talked until well, until we werent talking anymore. I suppose I fell asleep first. I dreamed of Rafe. I dreamed he was out there, in the forest, lost and hurt and calling me. Needing me. This time, though, I didnt bolt awake thinking it was real. Maybe I was just too tired. Or maybe, finally, I knew it wasnt real, couldnt be real, however much I ached to believe it.
Next thing I knew, I was waking to Kenjii licking my face and Corey saying, Now this is when I really need a camera.
Im sure that when I fell asleep, Id been lying on my back, looking up at the sky as I talked to Daniel. But when I woke up, I was on my side, nestled with my back against him, his arm over me. I jumped up so fast I kicked him in the shins and he let out an Oomph.
Coreys laugh rang out through the silent forest. Oh, come on. You guys looked so cute.
Cold, I muttered. It got cold.
Then lets hit the trail and warm up, Corey said.
EGHTEEN
AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR of walking, I started thinking maybe Id cuddle up with Daniel again, just to make Corey laugh. The morning had started on a light note, but it darkened fast. The sky darkened too. Wed escaped the threat of rain on our first night, but now the black clouds gathering overhead said it had only been a temporary reprieve.
The rain began as a light drizzle. Being part cat, Im not keen on rain, but Ive always liked a light one, especially on a hot summers day, tramping through the woods or rock climbing, enjoying the cool mist on my face, the sweet fresh smell of it, the inevitable rainbow afterward. But this wasnt a refreshing mist on a hot summers day. It was an icy drizzle that slid down the backs of our necks and plopped off the end of branches and froze our ears and soaked our shoes.
Can we stop? Hayley asked.
If I see a sheltered spot, well hole up for a while.
Can we look for one? I have a blister
We all have blisters, Sam said.
We need to keep going, Daniel said. We lost a lot of time yesterday.
What? Are we on a schedule? Hayley said. Is there a bus waiting to pick us up somewhere? She sighed, then said, I hate complaining.
So dont do it, Sam said.
Hayley glowered at her. You think I like being the whiner? If Nicole was here, shed be complaining just as much. Were tired and wet and miserable, but Im stuck being the one who says it while everyone else just hopes I whine loud enough so we all get to stop and rest. Maya and Daniel cant complain. They need to set an example. Unless Coreys in enough pain that he snaps again, hes going to tough it out. And Sam? Well, shes not even human, so she doesnt count.
Excuse me? Sam said.
Face it, youre not one of those bendo-things. Youre a robot. A cyborg. Probably an evil one, programmed to murder us all in our sleep.
Corey snickered.
Yeah? Sam lifted a fist to Hayley. You want to try that one again, blondie?
Hayley looked at Daniel and me. I rest my case.
Hayleys right, I said. About the complaining part. Were not on a schedule and the harder we push, the more exhausted well get. I waved to the west. The redwoods seem to thin over there. We might find a grove of ferns for some shelter.
We tramped over, and as we stepped from the thick trees, we all stopped and stared. Then Corey raced forward, arms raised.
Its a road. Oh my God. A road! He dropped to his knees by the roadside. Oww.
