“Benji gave a little tidbit. Something I never knew about them. Yeah, they can heal, and travel and bunch of other cool things that far surpass those magic decoder rings they used to have in cereal boxes, but this…this one was a surprise.” He scratches his nose. “So, do you think your mom will let me stay the night?”
“Really. Back to that again. How are we related?”
“You keep asking that. Do you really not know?”
“Enough.” I slam my hands on the steering wheel. Our breath fogs up the windows and Zane shifts his gaze out of his window. “You’re going to tell me. Everything. And now, before I shove you out of this truck and—”
“Okay, okay, I just need a nice warm bed and some sleep. We’ve got a long road ahead of us. I know what to do, but how long it’s going to take isn’t really clear to me.” Zane grows serious. “Benji talked to me while I was in the coma. He said that the rings contain memories—the rings save them, kind of like a computer hard-drive. They can also take them away—suck them from our brains into the ring. Kind of like a virus or something.”
My throat clogs. “Take them?” I’m assaulted by the snapshots of memories I’ve been having of him from when we were kids. “I remember you,” I whisper. “Not all of it, but I remember little things.” I glance up at him. “You took care of me. I don’t know how or why, but when Sage told me you were my brother, I just remembered. Are those real?”
“Maybe.” He focuses on the floorboards of the truck.
“Did somebody take mine?” I ask.
“I don’t know, Adam. That’s not a question I can answer.” I’m not so sure he’s telling the truth, but he leans against the door. “We need to get moving. Can we sleep at your mom’s? I’m not sure how long we’re going to be gone and if we’ll even have a chance to sleep?”
I glance upstairs. No lights on. “Yeah, I bet she’s gone to bed. But you have to be quiet and we have to get out of here before she sees us. I’m not sure how to explain disappearing on her again. I’ve already worried her so much.”
“We’ll go early,” he says. “Places to go, things to do, all that. Now get out that little magic ring and beam us up to your bedroom please. And do I get the bed?”
“No.” I slide the ring on my finger and grab his arm. The light swirls through the truck, twisting my stomach, dropping us into my bedroom. I gasp for a breath. It’s been a long time since I’ve traveled like this.
I’m still pushing myself up from the floor while Zane’s scanning the walls in my room. “Hmm,” he says, motioning. “You really need some life in this room.”
There was once. Sage and Lucas insisted I was too boring and had jokingly covered my walls in rom-com movie posters and motivational quotes. It looked ridiculous, but I had left them up for a long time.
Now it’s so bare. Like me.
Zane flops down on the bed. “Get some sleep, little bro.” He closes his eyes, his breathing slowing. Damn, him.
I pull the pillow from beneath his head and flick his cheek. He moans, turns and snores. I’m tempted to just roll him off onto the floor, but my mom’s room is just down the hall and I’m not sure the risk is worth it. I drag a blanket and the pillow to the window seat that overlooks the lake. I wrap the quilt around me and lay down on the pillow. Through the window, a clear sky covered in stars looks back. She’s out there, under these stars. They’re blinking at her like they blink at me. Did they blink at the other Sage too? The one who’d grown up here. Who’d filled these walls and walked these beaches. Are they blinking on her?
I swallow. No, they don’t. That Sage is dead. She died in a parking lot in Roswell, New Mexico. Whether it was the blood loss or the Nexus that killed her, she died just the same. It’s selfish of me, to get lost in all the what ifs, but I miss her so damn much. So, I close my eyes to the stars and let my dreams steal me away.
“Adam.” He’s pounding on my head. “Adam, get up. We need to get out of here before the sun comes up.”
“Seriously.” I sit up and rub my eyes. I rub my head where he had been knocking on it. “Ow, I think I’m going to have a bruise.”
“Well, somebody had to get you up,” he says. “You were sleeping like the dead.”
“Well, I didn’t exactly have the most comfortable place to sleep in.” I push myself off the window seat and stretch my back. My legs feel like Lincoln Logs.
Zane watches me as I stretch. “What are you 80?”
“No, but I’m on eight minutes of sleep.”
“Funny,” he smirks. “But no worries, you can rest your pretty little head very soon.” He pats me on the back.
“I thought you said we were going somewhere.” I yawn still trying to blink the sleep from my eyes. What time is it?
“No, I said I was going somewhere.”
“No, I’m pretty sure—”
“Well whatever,” he interrupts. “We can stand here and argue or about one word or we can go save the world. I prefer go save the world and I think it’s better if I go alone on this.” He holds out the ring turning it around his palm.
“Where exactly are you going? And hey, when did you—” I reach into my pocket, my very empty pocket where I tucked the ring last night.
“Like I said, Benji says these things hold memories. He also told me there’s a way to access the memories imprinted on the ring. We can see the memories of anyone who’s ever worn this thing.” He’s staring darkly at the ring and begins to twirl it on his fingertip.
“That’s Laris’ ring, right?” He’s still twisting it on his finger. “The one I gave Sage…do you think. Do you think it has her memories?”
“I don’t know, lil bro, which is why I’m going to do this alone. No need to let your emotions screw this up for us. I’ll take the ring, go get the memories and return. Okay?”
“Can’t you just do it here?”
“It’s not like traveling Adam. You don’t just put it on and tap your heels. It’s a little more involved.” He’s still staring at the ring as if he’s waiting for it to grow sprouts or something. I’m tempted to jerk it out of his hand, but he sighs and slides it on his finger. “I’m not sure what’s going to happen, I’m going to say a word and then I’m guessing I’ll disappear but I’m not sure. And I don’t know where it’ll take me or if I’ll be gone for a while. Benji wasn’t clear on that part.”
“You don’t know what’s going to happen?” I glance apprehensively at my door. “My mom is just down the hall.”
“I know that,” he says. He slides the finger up and down. “That’s why I’m not going to try it here.”
“And what exactly are you going to try?”
“Well, Benji said I need to slip it on, say a word that sounds like a bunch of gibberish to me but apparently has meaning, and picture the tree.”
“The tree?”
“You know the one, the crooked one on the lake.” He’s playing with the ring again. “You weren’t as stupid as you thought. That tree does have power passed down from generations of Ojibwe. It’s their power, not ours, but channeling it is what allows us to see the memories. So, that’s why I have no idea what’s going to happen. It’s not exactly a Perseidian thing.”
“If you don’t know what’s going to happen, maybe I should come with you.”
“Your worry is touching, little bro. But I’m doing this one on my own, got it?” He looks up, meeting his eyes with powerful intensity. “I really don’t know what’s going to happen. And your life is worth more than mine.”
“Not really,” I shrug.
“Don’t ever say that.” He grabs my collar. “I changed everything to save your ass. You don’t get to throw that away. Now, you’re not coming with me, but you can come with me to the truck, at least. That way, if the house explodes, it won’t wake your mom.”
“If the house explodes, I’m not sure it will matter.” He ignores me, grabbing my arm sending us swirling through the night air into the truck in the drive. “We could’ve taken the stairs,”
I say.
“Much more fun this way.” He smirks. “I want you to know, Adam. I’m not playing games. I will be back and we’re going to figure this out together. Okay? I want that stupid Nexus destroyed as much as you do. There’s important people out there to me too.” He grows quiet, his eyes looking past me into the waking dawn.
I look down. “When you see her memories—” I can’t find the words.
Zane clutches my shoulder. “I got this, okay.” I look up at him, feeling like I’m two all over again and he’s my big brother pouring cereal into my bowl. “Captain Crunch?” he used to ask. “I know that’s your favorite.”
“Captain Crunch.” I smile. “You fed me Captain Crunch for breakfast.”
“You really didn’t sleep enough, lil bro. Promise me you’ll go take a nap after this, okay? I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone and I’m going to need your help. So, don’t go all moody and grumpy on me again or decide to take off with Zoey. However, a night out and a few kisses might do you some good.”
He’s deflecting—too much. He knows the memory is real just as much as I do. It’s a different view of Zane, my brother. Aaron. The name flits through my brain, gone as fast as it came. He’s not the guy who poured my Captain Crunch anymore.
“I’ll stay here. If you’re planning on coming back that is.”
“I’d never.” Zane presses his heart to his chest. He stops at my glare. “I’ll be back Adam. No matter where this goes. Who knows I might not even leave.”
“You seem pretty confident you will. I feel like you’re not telling me something.”
“I’m just telling you everything Benji shared with me. The guy’s not too descriptive, you know.”
I still don’t buy it. He knows more than he’s letting on, but I’m too tired and my head hurts too much. So, all I ask is “And you’re sure you can trust Benji?”
His gaze hardens. “With my life.”
“Okay.” My stomach sinks and I squeeze my hands, tightening my grip on the edge of the truck seat. “Well, good luck.”
“Adam, I’m coming back. I promise.”
I swallow. “Whatever,” I say. “Do what you have to do.” But there’s something deep inside that’s scared he won’t come back. That he’ll disappear again, like he’s always disappearing. Why do I care so much?
“Trust me, Adam.”
Before I can respond, he slips on the ring and whispers the word, “Gichiwendam.” The truck cab explodes in light so bright; I have to cover my eyes. It hums, like a roaring tornado surging through the ear, rocking the vehicle. My heart pounds. Am I exploding too?
But air fills my lungs again and the light fades. I open up my eyes to an empty truck. Zane is gone. And something slams through me, opening another hole of emptiness in my already empty heart.
Adam, I’m coming back. I promise.
Chapter Twelve
Sage
When I was seventeen, our dog Louie passed away. He was part terrier, part chihuahua and he followed me everywhere. He slept with me every night, curled up next to my desk while I did homework, and followed me from room to room. One Sunday morning we we’re headed upstairs to my room, when Louie suddenly lost control and tumbled back down. Over the next few days he kept getting worse and worse—he limped, refused to eat, and had to be carried outside. The vet ran tests looking for spinal issues, only to come up with nothing. And then Louie’s pain came. He would moan and whimper and nothing helped—even an overnight stay at the local vet. Mom and Dad sat Stella and I down so we could make the choice as a family to let Louie go, but on the way to the clinic to say goodbye, the call came that Louie had already passed. They let us see him, his ears that would never perk up again, his little legs that would never run again. And seeing Stella’s tears—it was all so much. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much in my life. Until now…
We’re in the planetarium lobby where Bella hands me a tissue. She’s been handing me tissues for the past twenty minutes and one by one, I’ve been soaking them with my tears. “Is it Hunter?” she asks, perplexed. I shake my head and look up at the ceiling struggling to catch my breath. I have no freaking clue why I’m crying or why looking at the stars in the planetarium started off a waterfall I can’t seem to control. All I know is it’s like Louie dying over and over and over. It aches so much and the crying—the endless crying. My body trembles and my heart hurts, but I can’t explain why. Bella pats my arm. “You’ve had an emotional few days. Do you want me to cancel my date with Chase tonight?”
“No.” He’s still in the planetarium finishing up. The plan had been to drop me off before the two of them went out to dinner somewhere—I can’t remember where though. I can’t remember anything. Except how those stars made me feel.
“I can, really. I imagine Kat’s out with Matt, and I don’t want to leave you alone.
“I’ll be fine, really. Go.” I wipe a tear. God, I must look awful.
She still offers again—after Chase got done, on the way back to the apartment, in the parking lot behind our building, into the apartment. Even Chase gets in on it. “Really,” he says. “It’s okay. We can go any other night. If you need Bella—"
“No,” I insist shooing them out of the apartment. They both grudgingly leave, and I sit down at the table with a box of tissues. My head falls into my hands as I try to push back the emotions. But it’s hard. Maybe it is Hunter. Maybe I shouldn’t have said no. Maybe I’m feeling guilty or overwhelmed or that I’ve made the biggest mistake of myself.
Maybe…
Maybe I don’t know.
Kat walks in an hour later, a pile of used tissues in front of me and my eyes swollen from the tears. The kitchen is dark because I hadn’t bothered with the light. Instead I had leaned back against the wall and watched the cars going up and down the steep hill between downtown Duluth and campus.
“Oh sweetie,” she gushes as she flips on the light before sitting down next to me. “I knew you were holding back about Hunter. Breakups are hard whether you’re the dumper or dumped.”
I swallow, gathering the tissues to throw them away. Kat follows me across the kitchen. She opens the freezer and pulls out two pints of Ben & Jerry’s. “I know what we need.” She holds up the ice cream and two spoons. “How about some movies?”
“Fine, but no romances.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. Comedies or horror flicks?” She tilts her head and raises her eyebrows. “Laugh or scream? Laugh or scream?”
“Laugh, I guess.”
“Comedies it is,” she grins. “Now come on, quit your moping.”
She carries the ice cream cartons and spoons in her hands up the stairs and struggles to nudge her door open with her full arms. “I can hold that,” I offer.
“Not a chance,” she says. “Tonight, is your night. We can talk and cry and laugh. And then tomorrow you’re coming out with me and Matt.”
“Kat—”
“Nope. You promised. You’re not going to get out of this one. You’re going to love Lucas. He had a bad breakup too, so he’s on the rebound. It’ll be fun. It doesn’t have to be anything serious.”
“Fine,” I agree slowly. “No promises though” Oh, please let me find a way out of this.
We watch our way through Elf and Christmas Vacation. Somehow Christmas movies in February settle my nerves. It’s like I’m at home with Stella and Mom and Dad, sitting around our glowing tree drinking hot chocolate while Stella tries to guess her presents.
Long after the movies are over and Kat is snoring away on the air mattress she brought into my room, I stare at the ceiling watching the car lights dancing off the slanted walls and trying to clear my head. But the thoughts roll on and it’s almost morning before I finally fall asleep. A few short hours later, when the sun pours in my window, I regret the tears and ice cream because my head is throbbing, and my stomach is twisting. I barely make it to the bathroom.
“I think I’m going to have to cancel tonight,” I moan to Kat.
&
nbsp; “Oh no you’re not,” she says. “Here I’ll get you some ibuprofen and saltines. Skip your first class. You’ll be fine.”
Unfortunately, and fortunately she is right.
Two pills and three saltines later, I’m pushing myself out of bed to my closet. I’m out of excuses. Maybe it won’t be so bad. Lucas will be a distraction from Hunter, and it will get Kat off my back. I stare at my clothes. Where is Stella when I need her?
Kat bounces into my room grinning. “So, what are you wearing?” she asks.
“I don’t know,” I say. “I’m not sure. Where are we going? What is this guy like?” Maybe I shouldn’t go. The only boyfriend I’ve ever had is Hunter and the idea of being set up with some stranger feels funny. Awkward. Weird.
“Wear the black dress. You look hot when you wear that,” she says as she rifles through my closet. I bought the dress last year before going home for summer break. Kat insisted I needed it. “Hunter’s eyes will bug out of his head when he sees it” she said. I never wore it though. The price tags still hang from the sleeve.
“It’s a little too cold. And maybe a little too overdressed.”
“Fine,” she says. “Wear a sweater and leggings or whatever you want. I’m just glad you’re going.”
I settle on my favorite jeans and a black top. “That will have to do, Kat. I’m going, that’s enough.”
“You’re going to really like him, Sage. He’s funny and sweet and an awesome guy. If I didn’t have Matt, I’d probably go for him myself.” Kat grins at the sight of Matt pulling into the parking spot behind our houses. Matt’s barely out of the car before Kat leaps into his arms. She covers him with kisses.
“Hey,” he says. “Didn’t we just see each other yesterday?” Matt’s blue eyes sparkle teasingly.
Kat pulls back and pouts, pressing a hand to her hip. “Hey, I miss you. Is that okay?”
“Always,” Matt says gruffly, pulling her into a deep kiss.
Remember the Knight Page 8