by Jus Accardo
I leaned into the mirror and tapped it twice, right between my reflection’s eyes. “If I get through this, I promise to do something about it. I swear I’ll live my life like my art. Take chances. Live in vivid color.”
Smoothing out the hoodie, I took a deep breath and pulled open the bathroom door. Cade and Noah were waiting on the other side of the room, and we were officially out of time. It was now or never. “Let’s do this.”
...
We arrived at the park thirty minutes early. Cade insisted on scouting the area beforehand. He wanted to have alternate escape plans and know every possible way Dylan could get close to us without coming from the most direct route. Once he was satisfied he had it all mapped out, we returned to the rendezvous point to wait.
Cade knelt in front of me. For the longest moment, he said nothing. Only watched me as though trying to memorize every last line of my face. Commit every detail to memory. “Are you sure about this?”
I forced a laugh. It came out sounding like a nervous giggle. “What choice do I have, right?”
“We could find another way.”
I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak. He didn’t believe that. There was no other way. This was the bonus shot. An absolute last-ditch attempt.
“This is the only way,” I said.
He nodded sadly, then said, “You have the key?”
Dylan’s self-imposed timeline was creeping up on us. If he stayed true to his original word, then he would skip within the next two hours. That left less than sixty minutes to lure him in, take him down, and steal the other key—if a second one even existed—and get Dad back. We were cutting it close. Too close in so many ways. I needed insurance.
I dipped my hand into my pocket, my fingers brushing the steely disc, then let my mouth fall open.
“What?” he said, taking a step toward me. “What’s wrong?”
I fumbled with the small disk, tucking it into the small hole in the bottom of my pocket. “It’s not here.” Taking a shaky breath, I turned out both pockets and forced a whimper. “I think I lost it, Cade. In the commotion, it must have fallen.”
I think at first he didn’t believe me, because all he did was stare. No expression and no words. However, it didn’t last long. “You…lost it? How could you lose the only thing capable of saving your life, Kori? Do you realize what this means?” I could hear the anger building in his voice, buried just beneath the disbelief, so I interrupted him before he could blow up.
“This isn’t about me. It’s not about revenge or getting back what you lost. It’s about stopping Dylan. Keeping him from doing this over someplace else.” Taking his hands, I squeezed tight, then let go and started for the bench across the walkway. It took all my willpower not to turn around and face the pain I’d caused. Hopefully I’d get a chance to make it up to him.
The plan was for me to sit on the bench far from the boys, facing away. It would simply look like I was waiting for him. Cade would meet his brother—hopefully with Dad in tow—and bring him across the field. There was a single light a few feet from the bench. It would be just enough to see me sitting there, but not enough of a glow to show major details. Once they got close, we’d overpower him. I doubted it would go down that simply. Surely Dylan would come prepared, but as I told Cade—it was the only way. I was hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. That’s what good soldiers did. And while I wasn’t one, in the technical sense, I was beginning to realize I was a soldier at heart.
I took my seat and leaned back, pushing the dark strands of my newly dyed hair behind my ears. Provided he was telling the truth about the second key, it would all be over tonight. My cuff, as well as Dad’s, would be off, and Noah and Cade would finally take Dylan down. Then they could go home. Back to their Earth.
Back to their Earth…
It was a shame, really. That the universe had cheated me out of meeting him here. He was strong and sweet and honorable. The world—any world—would be a better place with him in it. And that’s how I soothed the sting of him leaving. At least he’d be out there. Someplace. Standing up for the little people. Doing the right thing. What hurt the most was wondering what might have been had he been born here. Had we been given a chance.
And Noah…combative, irritating Noah. Despite all his snapping and snarling, I’d miss him, too. His shrugging and sighing. His attitude and ravenous appetite. But he was just one more piece of a puzzle I’d never fit into. He’d taken a seat beside me, silently slipping his hand into mine. Every once in a while he’d squeeze, and I wasn’t clear if it was for my benefit—or for his.
And that was how I spent the next fifteen or so minutes. Just sitting on that bench, lamenting about the life I’d never have. Sitting next to the brother who died so long ago. Pining for the love I would never get. Until I heard them. First it was the crack of a twig. The crunch of leaves underfoot. That was followed by the sound of soft voices.
“There she is,” I heard Cade say. “That was the deal. Now give me the general and the key.”
“You got what you wanted, son.”
I tensed. Dad. That was Dad’s voice! He was okay, and he was here. That was one huge step in the right direction. Maybe this was possible after all…
Dylan laughed. “I know you don’t think I’m that stupid, little brother. You get the key and the old man as soon as I get Ava.”
Noah’s hand in mine tightened. “He’s coming toward us. You ready?”
“No.” My lips split with a grin. “But what the hell.”
He snickered and stood, tugging me gently off the bench, but keeping me faced away. My pulse pounded so hard, I was sure it would shatter me. Each breath was an effort. A war between the bravery I wanted so badly to feel and normal human instinct. Dylan could see me shaking. Despite the dark, he had to have been able to see the absolute terror in my stance. There was no way to hide it.
“Ava?” Dylan said tentatively. He was behind me, only a few feet away.
At the sound of her name, I picked up my head as I imagined any other person would have done. There was so much hope in his voice. So much fear. It was almost enough to make me feel sorry for him. He’d lost her, and it’d driven him nuts. He’d committed multiple atrocities and fought the universe itself to try to get her back. Was that what love did to you? Made you crazy enough to lose yourself? Maybe I was doing myself a favor keeping my heart walled up. I never wanted to be where he was. Never wanted to be torn open like that with no possible way to get stitched back up.
“I know this whole thing is weird, but trust me, Ava. I can explain everything.” Material rustled, and he said, “Just get out of the way and let me talk to her.”
Noah let go of a breath and released my hand. He made a move to start around the bench, but something stopped him.
“Where’s Kori?” The taint of suspicion vibrated through Dylan’s voice. The hairs at the nape of my neck jumped to attention as he came a step closer.
When no one said anything, he cursed.
The rest happened so fast. Something latched onto my shoulder and spun me around. I teetered off-balance, crashing into the bench and jarring my knee hard enough to bring involuntary tears to my eyes, before rolling off the edge and to the ground.
Noah dove forward, but it was too late. Dylan threaded his fingers into a handful of my hair and dragged me around to his side of the bench. “Where is she?” he demanded, giving a violent shake.
“She’s not here,” I said, breathless. “Like you and Cade, she was never born in this world. She never existed.”
He let go of an anguished howl, and I cringed as his grip on my hair pulled just a little tighter. “You’re lying.”
Cade approached slowly, flanked by Noah. Dad, who seemed to have his hands bound behind his back, brought up the rear. Even trussed like a Thanksgiving Day turkey he looked imposing. “She’s not lying, Dylan. Ava wasn’t born in this reality. Neither were we. You had to know that was a possibility. You’ve seen it before.”
Dylan didn’t answer. He maneuvered us farther from the bench, deeper into the park. I struggled, unwilling to go gently into that good night, but he was stronger. Brute force wouldn’t win this. Had to think smart and wait for my chance.
“Fine,” he said finally. “Ava’s not here. But Kori is.” He inclined his head toward Dad. “He is.”
“Neither my daughter nor I have ever wronged you, son.” Dad shouldered his way past Cade and Noah, stopping a few feet from us. “What happened to your friend wasn’t our doing.”
“Maybe not,” Dylan spat. “But I made my brother a promise and, until I get my Ava back, I intend to keep it.”
“You’re an idiot,” I spat, struggling against his grip just a bit harder. “Your Ava is gone. You can’t get her back.”
He leaned down, breath hot against my ear, and said, “Then I guess I’ll just keep killing you. Over and over, I’ll watch you die. And as the light fades from your eyes, I’ll know that Cade is just as miserable as me.”
It was just loud enough for the others to hear. Dad roared, and Cade lunged forward. Dylan jerked us to the right, out of his path. It was just the opportunity I needed. I threw myself forward with all my strength. He didn’t let go, but his balance was disturbed. I inhaled deeply and brought my elbow back, into his gut. He let out a grunt, but still held tight.
I straightened and pushed, digging the toes of my brand-new boots into the mud. We flew backward, crashing into a large pine tree with tooth-cracking force. He let out a roar and pushed off the trunk, flinging me away as though I weighed nothing more than a feather. For a moment everything spun. A whirling kaleidoscope of nature’s colors whizzing by at a vomit-inducing speed.
I hit the ground hard and tasted the foulness of copper as Cade crashed into his brother. They tumbled to the right of me, trading blows. For a moment it was all a blur. A flurry of tangled limbs and pounding fists mixed with feral grunts. It was hard to tell where one Granger ended and the other began. Noah hauled me upward, dragging me back to where Dad was as Cade got the upper hand.
“This ends now!” He landed a violent right hook, and Dylan’s head rocked to the side, eyes rolling back. Without missing a beat, he wrapped his fingers around his brother’s neck and began to squeeze.
Dylan came to life. He kicked and struggled, grasping and scratching at Cade’s fingers in desperation. Still Cade didn’t relent. Much longer and he would kill him. Dylan would be dead, and no one else would have to die. The whole thing would be over.
That’s not who Cade is. He’s not a murderer…
“Cade,” I said, stepping past Noah. “Stop.”
In an instant, Noah was beside me. I assumed it was to cheer his friend on, but he surprised me. “Cade, man. Enough. He doesn’t deserve to live, but he can’t go down this way. Not by your hand.”
“He took everything from me,” Cade said with a snarl. His eyes were dark with a gleam of madness. The kind of look someone gets right before they trip right off the deep end and start drowning in their own demons.
Dylan continued to paw at his fingers. “And someday we’ll be—even,” he choked out.
“You’re not a killer.” Noah took another step toward them. There was a distinct ring of panic in his voice. “I want him dead just as much as you do, but not at the cost of your sanity. You want it—I understand that—but you’ll never be able to live with yourself. Do the right thing. Turn him in.”
I could see the fight fade from Cade’s eyes. The tension in his body drained away. The desire was still there, mingled with an inner darkness that made me wonder if he wasn’t like his brother, at least in some small way. But reason and logic won out. His fingers loosened, and he leaned back. Dylan gasped and coughed, doubling over in a struggle to fill his lungs.
Cade took Noah’s outstretched hand and stood. “Dylan Granger, by order of the United States Military under the direction of the Fort Hannity Tribunal, you are to be remanded into custody until the time you are able to stand trial and be judged for your crimes.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Once Dylan caught his breath he began to laugh. “You made a mistake, little brother.” He wiped a streak of mud from his face. “You should have killed me. I would have.”
“No you wouldn’t,” was Cade’s response. But he didn’t sound sure. He was looking at his brother differently now. Almost like he was seeing him for the first time—and he didn’t like what he saw.
“I would,” Dylan insisted. “I would take you out in a heartbeat if I thought it would make up for what you did. But death is too easy. Too fast. No.” He shook his head, fingers balling so tightly that his knuckles turned white. “No. You need to suffer for what you did to Ava. The same way I’m suffering.”
Cade stood a little straighter. “What happened was an accident. For a long time I blamed myself, but it’s not my fault. I wasn’t drinking.”
“You chose Ava. They were both in the backseat and you swerved right instead of left.”
Cade’s mouth fell open. “I chose? Do you hear yourself? I cut the wheel, Dylan. It was a split-second decision. I didn’t consciously pick a side. Kori could have just as easily been sitting where Ava was. It just happened. It’s time to let it go!”
Dylan laughed. He dug into his pocket, and for a second I was afraid he’d pull out a weapon. He didn’t, though. At first I wasn’t sure what he’d removed. Lint? Gum? It wasn’t until he held up his hand, the second key between his thumb and pointer fingers, that I realized what was happening.
I launched myself forward, but I was too far away. Dylan whirled to face the trunk of the huge pine tree and smashed his hand flat against the uneven bark. I reached him as he lifted it away, the small bits of the key slipping through his fingers and falling to the grass.
“No!” I skidded to a stop and dropped to the ground, dredging up the tiny, now useless, parts.
I looked up to see him staring down at me. The expression on his face was one of pure hatred. “You’re lucky.” He shook his head. Lips turned downward, he said, “By doing it this way, I’m giving you something Ava and I never had. A chance to say good-bye.”
“It’s not that easy,” Noah growled. He stepped forward and hauled me off the ground. “Cade couldn’t do it, but I sure as hell can. If you think you’re leaving this park in one piece, you’re fucking delusional. I kill you and Kori’s and the general’s cuffs—as well as ours—come off. Everybody wins.”
Dylan smiled. “I believe you. You always were the violent one. My brother had the wicked temper, but you…you lacked scruples and restraint. So do I think you’d kill me without a second thought? Totally. Will you? Not a chance.”
Noah laughed and took another step forward. “Can’t wait to prove you wrong, you smug fuck.”
“Well, at least wait until you have all the facts.” His grin grew wider. “See, if you don’t let me leave, skip off this rock free and clear, I won’t tell you where the bomb is. You might manage to save her, and yourselves, but you’ll kill hundreds of others.”
“Bullshit,” Noah yelled. I could tell he believed it, though. His voice lacked conviction. His entire form deflated.
Dylan’s expression was smug. “I’m a lot of things, but a liar has never been one of them, Noah.” He glanced over at Cade and flashed him a toothy grin. “I think you both know that.”
Noah’s gaze met mine, and I suddenly understood why he’d been such a bastard to me. He didn’t hate me. It was the opposite. He’d been afraid to get attached. To find his sister again only to lose her just like multiple times before. “And what if I said I didn’t care? That the only thing that mattered was her?”
He threw up his hands. “I’d believe you about that, too.” Dylan leaned forward and winked. He gestured between Dad and Cade. “We both know your moral compass doesn’t point north, Noah. It’s one of the things I’ve always loved about you. But do you really think they’d go for it?”
I glanced back, almost afraid of what I’
d see. Obviously a part of me wanted them to do it. End his life and save us all. The nightmare would be over, and so many people on so many other worlds would be safe. But it wouldn’t be the right thing. I couldn’t let them sacrifice so many others for a single person, even if that person was me.
Dad’s expression contorted, a mask of agony and rage. His little girl—the only part of his family that remained—versus hundreds of innocent lives. As a dad, his choice would have been easy. I knew that, and I loved him for it. But as a general, he had to make the tough call. And for that, I loved him even more.
Cade, so much like Dad in so many ways, seemed less conflicted. The struggle was there in his eyes, but the spark of resistance was so much less. He’d lost me already. Multiple times. And even though I wasn’t his Kori, I was still Kori. He’d failed countless times and didn’t want it to happen again.
“Enough,” I said, pushing Noah aside. I looked from Dad to Cade and shook my head slowly. When I turned back to Dylan, I felt an ember spark deep in my gut. I’d never known true hatred until now. Until this moment. In a way, it was a good thing this was the end of my story. The last few days had shown me what hate could do to a person. How it could twist and turn and create monsters from saints if given a chance to fester. “You can go. Tell me where the bomb is.”
“Aren’t you the selfless one? I guess I should have seen that. I mean, I gave you the other key and you didn’t use it to unlock your cuff. Guessing you won’t now, either. Daddy’s life will come first?”
“The key you gave me is gone,” I said, resisting the urge to dive for his throat. “Lost in all the running.”
He let out a hoot and slapped his hand against his knee. “Are you serious? Wow.” He waggled a finger between Dad and me. “You really are screwed.”
“Just cut the shit,” I snapped. “You got what you wanted. Tell me where it is.”
He grinned and pulled a handful of zip ties from his pocket. “Secure the three of them and the location is all yours, princess.”