by Julia Crane
“Okay, guys, come on,” Callie soothed, stepping between them. Alaric’s hand brushed against her back, sending a shiver down her spine. A good shiver.
“Let me walk you back,” Alaric said, using one strong hand to firmly grip Callie’s bicep and turn her around.
“We aren’t going back,” Callie argued, jerking her arm from his grasp. “What is it with you guys and grabbing me? Thank you, Alaric, but we’re going to continue our walk around the island.”
“It’s dangerous. Why don’t you go this way with me?” He jerked his head in the other direction.
“We just came from there,” Nailah said in a bored tone.
“Yoo-hoo!” Emma’s voice called down from above their heads. Callie turned to find her mother on top of the cliff, waving madly. From near the shoreline, Gran emerged from the forest. Emma yelled, “Girls! Who’s that boy?”
“That’s my mom,” Callie explained to Alaric.
He grinned and waved to Emma. “How’d she get up there?”
“Sheer craziness.” Callie sighed and held a hand out to her grandmother as she drew near. “Alaric, this is my Gran. She’s the sanest one of our group.”
Gran laughed and offered Alaric her hand. “I don’t know about that, honey. Nice to meet you, Alaric. We’re just out for a stroll. Emma, my daughter,”—Gran gestured to where Callie’s mom was standing—“likes to get the lay of the land. I think it makes her feel better.”
“Understandable.” Alaric nodded, a smile on his face. “I was just telling Callie that there is no sense in going any further. There’s nothing more to see, and it can be quite dangerous.”
“Oh, I’m afraid to tell you that you’re wasting your breath, dear.” Gran laughed and patted him gently on the hand. “Once Emma gets a wild hair, there’s no stopping her. She won’t quit until we’ve walked the length of the island.”
Alaric glanced up at Emma and shook his head. He took a deep breath as he said, “Well, I guess I’ll be joining you. I’d feel responsible if anything happened to you ladies.”
As if to punctuate his point, Emma’s voice drifted down, tinny and far away. “There’s an easy way to get up here. You have to see this view!”
“Alaric. My mother,” Callie said wryly.
Alaric laughed. “I know the way she’s talking about. Come with me.”
Callie fell into step beside him as he led them to the cliff face and around a wall of fallen rocks. A worn, winding path snaked up a crevice in the rock wall.
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Alaric promised, his pale eyes flashing on Callie, who flushed under his gaze.
He was right—the elevation wasn’t as noticeable because of the gradual slant. The cliff on either side became narrower as they climbed, and the path was studded with stones that made traction slippery, but Callie barely noticed any of it; she was too busy stealing glances at Alaric.
I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful, she thought dreamily. He made Jonathan look average at best. She wondered if Alaric had a girlfriend on the island… I should probably find out before I get my hopes up. All she needed was a repeat of Jonathan. That would be just her luck.
Just the memory of Jonathan gave Callie pangs of homesickness. Not because of that jerk, but the thought of San Diego and Braden and Avery. Already her old life was starting to feel like a lifetime ago, and it had only been a few days.
I’m going back.
“Are there many teenagers here?” Callie asked Alaric. Ease into the girlfriend situation, she told herself.
“There are quite a few at eighteen or nineteen, but only a handful younger than that,” he responded. They reached the top of the incline, where Emma waited. Alaric offered a hand to Callie to help her take the last two steps over the rock ledge. He took Gran’s hand and pulled.
“How long have you been here?” Gran asked curiously.
When Alaric offered to help Nailah, she rebuffed him, grabbing the rocks and hauling herself over them. The top of the cliff was barren and rocky for several yards before the trees grew once more, just as thickly as at the bottom. The ground looked unsteady.
Alaric brushed it off. “I was really young when we ended up here, so a while.”
“Mom, this is Alaric,” Callie cut in, noticing her mom standing at their side.
Emma had been watching the exchange with a raised eyebrow. The eyebrow fell, and she returned Alaric’s welcoming grin as she shook his hand. “Good to see you, Alaric. I recognize you from the meeting hall yesterday.”
“Yeah.” His face fell; Callie wondered if he was thinking of the survivors who sailed on the doomed ship.
“Mom, come over here. You have to see the ocean from this height.” Emma took Gran’s elbow and pulled her. “Excuse us, kids.”
“Do you even remember what it’s like outside of Aionia?” Callie asked after they’d walked away.
“Just flashes. I used to dream about going home, but I’ve outgrown that. Aionia is great. From stuff I’ve heard about violence and crime in the old world, we’re lucky to be here. It’s safe.”
“You sound like you’re brainwashed,” Nailah said.
“You’ll get it one day. There’s no need to brainwash anyone here. You’ll learn to love Aionia, just like everyone else.” Alaric smiled, but Nailah rolled her eyes.
Callie was so gonna have a talk with that girl later.
“I don’t know,” Callie said playfully, trying to ease the tension between her two companions. “You can say that because you’ve never had the internet, or Starbucks, or a Big Mac. This place might be beautiful, but it can’t compare to the real world.”
“Those things are material, Callie.” Alaric’s eyes sought hers; she didn’t know what he was looking for but she could have remained in his gaze forever. “They aren’t necessary to existence. All you need is air and shelter and love.”
Callie flushed at the tone of his voice; it seemed to be pitched directly to her, particularly on the “love.” She shrugged, a grin on her face as she replied, “Trust me. You’d give up paradise for breakfast at Waffle House.”
His full lips held the faintest smile. “I would love to see your world through your eyes.”
Callie turned to look out over the ocean. It was a like a jewel, reflecting the light of the sun as it spread into a cerulean sky. It looked like any other ocean back home, yet home was so far away. Callie glanced at Alaric, whose eyes were firmly on her. “It’s your world, too. We just have to find a way to get back to it.”
Alaric turned away. “There isn’t a way back.”
“It was nice to meet you,” Alaric told Callie. They drew near to the townhouse and he turned to face her on the sidewalk, as Gran and Emma drifted away and Nailah disappeared inside. When they were alone, he said, “I’d like to see you again.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?” Callie blurted, and then immediately blushed. “God, I’m so sorry. It’s just I had this…thing, happen back home and I’m kinda still burned by it…”
“Callie,” Alaric broke in with a laugh. “Seriously, you don’t have to explain yourself.” His lips quirked into a half-smile. “I’m unattached.”
“Oh. Good.” Callie couldn’t help the relief in her voice.
He chuckled again. “I usually eat lunch at the cafeteria in the government building. You know, the temple-looking place?”
Callie nodded.
“That’s where I work.” He cleared his throat and reached out to take her hand. His skin was soft and warm. “You could maybe come eat with me tomorrow?”
“Yes. Absolutely, that sounds wonderful.” She was tripping over her words but had no way to stop it. His very presence put her on edge—in a good way.
“Great. I’ll see you then.” His hand lingered for a moment on hers, and then he turned and strolled away, glancing back for one last wave before he took the corner that led back to the city center.
Callie was walking on clouds—not cobblestones—as she joined Gran and Emma by the shore
. The ocean was still and calm, and the tide was out. Low, gentle waves rushed inland, fizzling against the sand.
There was a small crowd sitting on the beach being presided over by Callie’s mom and Gran. Callie stopped beside her grandmother and raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Madeline. And baby Willow.” Gran pointed to the center of the circle. The woman, Madeline, sat cross-legged on the sand. A group of unfamiliar women were gathered around her, passing the baby from hand to hand. Their faces were soft and happy; they cooed over the baby Willow, the sound drifting over the sound of the tides.
“They act like they haven’t seen a baby before,” Callie joked.
“Weird,” Emma agreed. She began to stride away. “Let’s go say hi.”
Gran sighed, turning amused eyes to Callie. “Your mother is incredibly nosy. Let’s go save her before she gets lynched for sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“Hello, all!” Emma said brightly as they caught up to her. She knelt next to Madeline and arranged her dress around her legs. “What’s up?”
“These ladies wanted to play with Willow,” Madeline answered, raising an eyebrow at Emma. She shrugged. “Will loves the attention.”
As if on cue, the baby giggled. The woman holding her—an elderly lady with long, white hair and a kind smile—spoke. “A baby is a special gift here. It’s not often we get babies on the island.”
Gran frowned. “What do you mean? Surely, babies must be born here. I’ve seen many young couples.”
“No, ma’am,” another woman answered. She was young—younger than thirty—and had a head full of ebony curls that stood out in stark contrast to her pale skin. “There are no babies here. Ever.”
Callie and Gran exchanged wary glances.
“How is that even possible? I’m sure people don’t abstain from sex. Do they?” Emma looked horrified.
The elderly lady chuckled. “Oh, no.” She sobered, cradling the baby against her chest. “There are just no pregnancies in Aionia. As long as I’ve been here, we’ve not had a single birth.”
Nailah was stretched out on the couch, her head on the seat cushion and her ankles propped up on the other arm as she read from a book. Callie patted her legs and Nailah lifted them so she could sit down.
“You’ll never believe what we just heard,” Callie said, resting her arms over her friend’s legs.
“Girls, would you like some lunch?” Emma called from the kitchen.
“That’d be great, Mom,” Callie answered, as Nailah said, “Yes, please!”
Callie filled Nailah in on what they’d heard on the beach.
Nailah put the book down across her chest. “No babies? That’s weird. Why? Did they say?”
Shaking her head, Callie said, “No. They wouldn’t clarify at all. They just skirted the subject, like it was taboo.”
“You should ask Alaric about it.” Nailah pursed her lips. She picked her book back up and her face disappeared.
Callie grabbed the top of the book and pulled it down, glaring at her. “What do you have against this guy?”
Nailah’s face was sullen. “Nothing.”
“Right. And I’m Elton John.”
Wrinkling her nose, Nailah said, “Really? Elton John is who you come up with?”
Callie pinched her friend hard on the arm. “Come on, Nailah. What’s the matter with you?”
She sighed and draped the book over her face. When she spoke, her voice was muffled. “I don’t like people who spy.”
“Oh dear God, Nailah, that’s it?” Callie rolled her eyes. “He was there first. Did it ever occur to you that he was too shy to speak to us?”
Nailah grasped the edge of her book and slid it down just enough to peek over the book. “There’s more to it than that, Calista.”
“Then enlighten me.”
Nailah sat up, dropping her bare feet to the floor. After throwing her book on the low wood coffee table, she glanced at the kitchen, where Callie’s mom and Gran were chatting, oblivious to the girls. Nailah sighed. “I had problems. With a overzealous fan. He got arrested for stalking.” At Callie’s look of horror, Nailah rushed on. “No, no, not like that. He never touched me. But, I felt so violated that he invaded my personal space. He released photographs of me online—of me changing, half-dressed, sleeping. He followed me everywhere and blogged about my every movement. Thankfully, they were able to track him through the website.”
“Damn, Nailah. I’m sorry. That’s…messed up. I’m sure you were terrified.” Callie touched her friend’s hand comfortingly. “I’m glad they caught him.”
“It wasn’t all bad. That’s how I met my fiancé. He was one of the cops that investigated.” Nailah smiled slightly, but there was sadness in her eyes.
Callie wondered what it would be like to have found the man you wanted to spend the rest of your life with, only for him to be stripped away when you crash-landed in another dimension.
“I’m glad something good came out of the ordeal.” Callie leaned over to give her a quick hug. “I can understand why you would be wary of Alaric, but can you please try to give him a chance?”
“I’m going to keep my eye on him. I swear if he hurts you, he will regret it.” Nailah’s jaw hardened, and Callie realized Alaric was on his own. He would have to prove himself to Nailah. She had a mean stubborn streak.
Bummer. He’s not here.
Callie took her usual seat at the table closest to the left wall. Alaric was nowhere to be seen, though the six parliament members presided over their usual positions at the head table.
There was something familiar and comforting in the presence of the other survivors. Little by little, Callie was learning their names: Madeline and Willow, the mother and baby; Esther and Frida, the white-haired, older twins from Florida; Chad and Sarah, the young, honeymooning couple from Michigan; and Michael and Sam, the pre-teen brothers from Philadelphia who had lost their mother in the crash. The other faces Callie would know anywhere, but she didn’t know their names yet.
“Welcome!” Darren’s voice boomed over the chatter of the crowd. He stood and ambled around the table, his colorful dashiki swishing around his hips. “This evening, we’re going to dispense the forms that will help us place you in employment.” He gestured to the back of the room, and Callie turned to see Alaric appear, balancing a stack of papers and pens.
Her heart pounded, and her palms went sweaty as he began to make his way across the room, passing out the sheets and leaving piles of pens on each table.
When he stopped at their table, he grinned. “Ladies,” he whispered. He sat out four pieces of paper and pens, then winked at Callie. “See you tomorrow.”
“You dog!” Nailah punched Callie on the shoulder. “You didn’t tell me you made a date with him!”
Callie rubbed her shoulder and made a face. “Ow! I was under the impression you hated him.”
“I’m over it. You and me talked about it. I feel better.” Nailah smirked.
“Fickle, fickle girl.” Callie stuck her tongue out and pulled her form closer.
Some questions were easy: Name, Date of Birth, Country of Origin. But, when Callie got to the meat of the questionnaire—What are your hobbies?—she drew a blank.
“I don’t have any hobbies,” she murmured.
“That’s not true, baby.” Emma, sitting on Callie’s right, reached up to brush her fingers through Callie’s hair. “You have lots of hobbies.”
“When have I had time to find hobbies?” Callie retorted. “I’ve been too busy traveling the world.”
Her mother took entirely too long before she answered, “You like to read.”
“One hobby. Fantastic.” Callie rolled her eyes.
“You love to journal,” Gran pointed out.
“When I had a journal.” Callie paused, only just realizing that her bag had gone down with the plane. “Damn. My journal is a pile of ash and plane wreckage.”
She loved that journal. It had chron
icled her woes and happiness on the road of traveling for years. Hot tears stung her eyes and her throat got tight.
“We’ll get you a new one, sweetie.” Emma leaned over to kiss her forehead. “Not the end of the world.”
“Is there anything you’ve always wanted to do?” Nailah asked, her pen sliding effortlessly over her own sheet.
“Don’t know.” Callie sighed, fighting away sorrow over her lost journal. She wrote “reading” and “writing” in the space and moved on. The next question made her want to crumple the paper up and toss it at the parliament members. “Prior work experience?”
“Honey, it’s not your fault that you don’t have prior work experience.” Emma took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Just put not applicable.”
Callie moved the pen to scratch an N/A on the sheet, but stopped, the pen hovering over it as she remembered that Alaric worked in the government building. What are the odds I could get in…?
Not just for the fact HE worked there, Callie realized. What if I can find a way out through governmental records? There has to be a library… She hastily scrawled “Previous experience working in a government office” and turned her sheet over before her mom could see.
“This isn’t a test.” Nailah giggled. “You don’t have to hide your answers.”
Callie shrugged. “Just don’t want to look at it anymore. It reminds me of how lame I am.”
The next morning, Callie woke up alone in her room.
The room was bigger than the one she had shared with Nailah at the temple building—probably to accommodate the bigger beds. The mattresses were surprisingly soft and comfy on the wooden frame, and the blankets warm. The window had shutters on the inside, which Nailah had closed before they fell asleep. Nailah’s bed was already made; Callie hadn’t even heard her roommate leave.
Callie stared around at the four blank walls and the dusty stone floors and thought, We’ve gotta give this place some character.
The four of them shared a single, tiny bathroom at the bottom of the stairs. The toilet was just a simple stone throne with a wooden seat. There was no plumbing. My butt literally hangs over the underground sewer, Callie thought in disgust. She missed porcelain and the reassuring flush of modern plumbing.