The Divide

by E. J. Mellow

“Well, there were glowing bands people wore that made them act—”

  “Like they were in heat? Yeah, I remember.”

  As if that were an invitation, Dev’s eyes light with mischief, and he takes a step closer. I hold up a to hand stop him. “Dev. Concentrate.”

  He smirks at my attempt to keep us on task, but stays put. “Hector deals in those.”

  My brows rise. “He’s a drug dealer?”

  “They aren’t illegal, so not a drug dealer in the mobster sense, but the business can be just as dangerous. Like anything to do with an addictive substance.”

  “So that’s his main purpose in Terra? To get people high?”

  “It wasn’t always. He once was a very respected Vigil.”

  “What happened?”

  “You know that scar across his face?”

  I nod.

  “Well, he got it when he was guarding a Dreamer on Earth.”

  “What?” I stop walking.

  “Yeah, he used to be sent out to guard certain Dreamers of interest and—” Dev pauses, his brows creasing with thought.

  “What is it?” I ask.

  “In all Terra…it makes sense now.”

  “What? What does?”

  Dev turns to me. “I think Hector was your grandfather’s Vigil guard?”

  My mouth drops open. “Why would you think that?”

  “He got the scar in your World War II. And he was a high-profile Vigil. He wouldn’t have been sent out to guard just anyone. By the Navitas…now I understand his self-torment.”

  “Dev, please stop talking to yourself and explain.”

  “I don’t know too many details, considering I didn’t know too much about his particular Dreamer, but what I do know is that Hector went to war with the one he was protecting. Acted as a soldier in the American army, in the same platoon. They got caught in a firefight while abroad in Europe. The Dreamer he was protecting very nearly died, and when Hector came back, he had a vicious scar across his face that he wouldn’t let any of our healers fix. He barely talked about what happened, save for saying how he failed in his duty, quitting his position and never portaling back to Earth again.”

  I try and think about the war stories my grandfather’s shared with us, about one particular time he always seems to gloss over. I also search his memories that I was given. Many have Hector in them, but none outright title him as my grandfather’s guardian. For some reason, the memories of my grandfather that Elena gave are piecemeal. Not as full or fluid as the other Dreamers, and I have a feeling it’s because most were redacted that had her and him together. The amount missing speaks volumes. “Wow. Do you really—”

  There’s a bright burst of light, and Dev suddenly throws us to the ground right as something grazes past my cheek. An explosion rocks the night, and my ears ring as I blink, trying to clear my head. What the hell? Dev is off of me in a flash and running in the opposite direction we were headed. I sit up, still trying to get my bearings, only to see a dark form in front of him. Is he chasing someone? The person jumps on what looks like a slick black hovering motorcycle, except it only has one large wheel, and without making a sound, it speeds off. Even with Dev’s lightning-fast abilities, he would never be able to catch up with whomever that was. I hear him curse as he lets fly Navitas-filled arrow after arrow. The bike swerves left and then right, easily dodging his attack, and then, just as quickly as their arrival, they’re gone.

  “What the hell was that?” I ask Dev as he comes running back. He holds my shoulders and inspects my every inch, turning me around, lifting up my arms. “Dev, Dev.” I stop him. “I’m fine, just some bruising from the fall.” His eyes are wild as they find mine, and then he’s kissing me just as crazily. His fingers weave into my hair, holding my head firm, almost painfully. His other hand presses me to his body, and I’m lost for a moment in his desperation.

  “Thank Terra you didn’t wake up,” he says, pressing his forehead against mine. “I would have gone crazy not knowing if you were okay.”

  “I’m fine. I promise.”

  His shoulders sag with relief.

  “What was that?” I step back.

  “Someone attacked us.” With my hand securely in his, we walk to the blast area. In the center of a simmering and glowing blue-white circle, where the grass is blown-back, protrudes a sleek silver arrow.

  “Attacked us? But why?!” I glance to our surroundings again, finding nothing.

  “I don’t know.” Dev’s whole body is a coil ready to spring. “But one thing’s for certain.” He stares at the weapon sticking out of the ground. “It wasn’t a Metus.”

  —∞—

  Elena glances from the arrow in Dev’s hand up to us, shock written all over her face. “Someone shot at you with this?”

  “I think they were mainly trying to hit Molly. I couldn’t get a good look at them. They were head to toe in black and had a Tacet bike.” He looks to me. “That’s why we didn’t hear them approach. Tacet bikes are used for stealth missions.”

  Elena gingerly picks up the arrow from Dev’s palm and carefully inspects it before turning to one of her guards. “Inform the Vigil elders that we need to convene.”

  The guard nods and quickly exits.

  “Elena, what’s going on?” Dev’s tone is low, a warning of his barely contained rage.

  “We should sit.” She gestures to her two couches that reside in front of a window spanning one whole side of her office. The view looks out to City Hall Square.

  “We’re fine.” Dev crosses his arms.

  Elena nods but takes a seat anyway, seeming to need it more for herself. Crap. This so isn’t good.

  “This is a Conscious arrow.” She places it carefully on her white coffee table, the silver blending in with the surface. “They are made to protect Terra against Dreamers, in case they end up abusing their power.”

  “What does it do?” I ask.

  “It cuts you off.”

  My body stills. “Um, what do you mean, exactly, when you say it cuts me off?”

  “Precisely that. It severs your connection to Terra. You would no longer be transported here through your dreams.”

  The blood drains from my face. “You were right. We should sit.” I practically fall onto the couch. “So basically…I was almost locked out of Terra tonight?”

  She nods.

  Holy Mother of—

  “What Vigil have access to these?” Dev grabs the back of the sofa, his knuckles turning white. “We know it couldn’t have been a Nocturna, because the majority of us have no idea about Dreamers here, about Molly or these weapons. It has to be one of your people.”

  Elena shakes her head, almost in a daze, and I have to say that her present bewilderment with our situation is in no way comforting. She’s supposed to have all the answers! Where are her omniscient powers when we need them? “There’s only a very select few who have access—who know about these, but none of them would want to use this against the Dreamer. It makes no sense.”

  “Well, someone in Terra wants her gone. Because it definitely wasn’t a Metus, and they definitely weren’t aiming to miss.”

  I suddenly grow extremely pissed, and the lights in the room wink in and out with my palpable rage. Dev glances to me. “Mol—”

  “Why would someone want me gone? Don’t they know I’m trying to help?!” I stand. “I risk my life every time I come here, and this is how they repay me? So what? Now I need to be scared of the very people I’m trying to protect? Well, fuck that.” I turn to Elena. “You need to tell me everything. Every little detail about what you guys have made that could possibly be used against me. No more half briefings. If you want me to help, then start talking.”

  She’s nodding but still says nothing.

  “Elena.”

  She blinks up to me, the faraway look in her eyes clearing. “Yes, you’re right. Tomorrow night. You’ll come with me when I talk with the Vigil elders, and then I’ll explain what’s been created to inhibit your powe
rs.”

  “Why tomorrow? Tell me now.”

  She shakes her head. “We’ve run out of time. You’re waking up.”

  I frown. “No I’m not. I feel fine. I’m not—” There’s a sudden tug to my body, and my legs become trapped around a soft material. Great, now she uses her omniscient powers. I glance to Dev, slight panic washing over me for leaving when there’s still so much to know.

  He reaches out. “Tomorrow,” he says, his words coming out blanketed, and our fingertips barely brush before I’m swept away.

  I open my eyes to the early morning light filtering into my childhood bedroom. Lying still, I study the glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling and replay everything that happened tonight. Who would want to cut me off? Dev seemed pretty certain it was a Vigil, but it doesn’t make any sense. They treat me like I’m practically royalty. No, it can’t be them. Maybe a Nocturna who knows about me? I flip through the list of potentials. Even though I’ve always been a bit sour to Aurora, she’s been nothing but nice to me. And she’s Vigil too. Brenna? No way in Metus dung would she do that. I drum my fingers on the mattress when my thoughts stop on a certain individual. Aveline. If this happened a month ago, I might think she was capable, but now…no. She knows what that would do to Dev, to me. She would never…right? With a frustrated sigh, I roll to my side and then bolt upright, seeing someone sitting at my desk chair near my bed.

  “Grandpa?”

  He tilts his head, studying me.

  “Grandpa, what are you doing? You scared me.” I pull the covers closer to my chest.

  “Did you see her?” he asks, his eyes growing wide, desperate.

  “Who?”

  He leans forward. “Elena.”

  — 30 —

  ONE TIME I fell asleep in the middle of my college psych class. It was during one of those periods near the end of the day, just weeks before school let out for the summer. I happened to take a seat closest to the window and got bathed with the warmth of the afternoon sun, the exact hour in which it’s the coziest. So it was no surprise that with the extra warmth, combined with a beautiful food coma from my earlier lunch, I winked out. And I have to say, there’s nothing more discombobulating than being woken up mere minutes into a catnap to find a roomful of people staring at the drool sliding down your face and your professor demanding you give the answer to a question you very obviously didn’t hear. Nope, nothing as flustering…that is, until this moment.

  “You remember?” I sit up straighter, my heart a jackhammer in my chest.

  My grandfather nods. “And you know who I’m talking about.” It’s not a question.

  My turn to nod.

  He takes in a deep breath and leans back. “I thought I was losing my mind.”

  “No.” I slide forward on the bed. “It’s real. Terra’s real.”

  “Terra.” He says the name on a whisper, his eyes growing unfocused for a moment. “So you must be…” He turns back. “You’re our Dreamer?”

  “Yes.”

  “By all that’s holy…”

  “But, Grandpa, you were too.”

  His gaze meets mine, tears suddenly collecting in his eyes. “Oh, Molly,” he chokes out and then covers his face as he begins to cry.

  “Shh, it’s okay.” I kneel on my carpet, soothingly rubbing his arm. We’ve been sitting like this for a couple of minutes, and I glance to my closed door, wondering if my parents are up.

  “I can’t believe this.” He tries to compose himself, and my heart breaks, seeing him in any way upset. “You’re a Dreamer. You’re seeing everything I did. It’s all real.” He grabs both my hands. “You’ve met Elena.”

  “Yes. Actually, I was just with her.”

  A smile filled with fond memories breaks across his face.

  “I know about you two, by the way.”

  His brows rise. “Did she tell you?”

  “Not exactly. She let me see some of your memories.”

  He’s silent for a moment. “I never thought she’d let anyone… Well, that must have been awkward for you.”

  “Yeah…only when I found out whose memories they were. But, Grandpa, seriously, Elena?”

  He laughs. “She’s a lot more than what she allows people to see.”

  “Yeah, I learned that. Kind of the hard way.”

  He hides a smile before throwing his hands in the air. “This is amazing. I feel like my adolescent self again. You have to tell me everything that’s going on. Is it bad there? Will there be another World War? I’ve been watching the news. The temperature isn’t the greatest, but it’s nothing like how it was when I was a Dreamer.”

  I’ve never seen him so animated before…well, not when I knew him only as my grandfather. “Yeah, you had it bad. I’ve only collected one or two Dreamers that have seen war as intense as you.”

  “Riki?”

  “You remember her?” My ears perk up.

  He nods. “She was the fiercest Dreamer I was ever given.”

  I grin. “Yeah, she’s a total badass. She actually pops up the most out of any of the Dreamers when I need to tap into more energy.”

  My grandfather pats my hand. “I bet this is weird for you. Talking to me…about all this.”

  “Weird for me? What about you? Grandpa, we’re both Dreamers! This is so crazy!”

  He shakes his head. “I never thought anything like this was possible. That my own granddaughter…”

  “Neither did Elena.”

  “She didn’t?” His eyes widen. “How?”

  I sit back on my bed and tell him everything. That Elena couldn’t find anything in their history books about Terra ever having a direct bloodline Dreamer, that my powers are supposedly stronger because of it. I tell him her theories on why this might have happened and about what I’ve done so far, the Metus I’ve fought and the people I’ve lost. He nods in understanding and shares some of his own stories, stories that I didn’t experience through his eyes. I greedily take in his every word, and when he’s done, I tell him about the Nocturna, to which he falls deeply transfixed. He makes me explain, in painful detail, the city of Terra and what the Nocturna are like. He catches my tone when I mention Dev, and his eyes alight with compassion, but thankfully he doesn’t pry. He lets me go on and on about everything I’ve ever wanted to share with someone from my world. That it’s with family—well, that’s the superrich, sprinkle-covered cherry on top.

  “So who’s your Vigil guard?” he asks as I step out of my bathroom after putting on running clothes. Yeah, even after all this, I know I’m still going to be forced to run. We’ve been talking for the past hour, but because I woke up early, we haven’t yet been disturbed.

  “This is the part you’ll find amusing. It’s Rae.”

  “Becca’s boyfriend, Rae?” He shakes his head. “I should’ve known. Look at the size of him! And that hair color. Why are they always so good looking?”

  “Right?” I laugh while putting on my sneakers. When I’m done, I glance up to him. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course, anything.”

  “Was Hector yours?”

  “Hector—” His breath hitches. “Dear Lord, is he still alive?”

  I nod, and my heart skips in excitement to tell Dev what he suspected was true.

  “I never knew what happened to him. He was my closest friend for many years, and then…” He looks away, brows creased. “I woke up in a hospital at the end of the war, and he was just…gone.”

  I want to ask him more about this, about what happened, but I’m momentarily rendered speechless by all the information, and I instead find myself asking, “How have you been able to handle it for all these years, keeping Terra a secret? Did Grandma know?”

  He snorts out a laugh. “Goodness no. I met her at the very end, around your age actually, so it wasn’t that big of a problem. And I hadn’t started remembering Terra again until very recently. I don’t think they planned for me to live this long.”

  I frown. “What do you mean?”


  “Because I chose Earth,” he says like that explains everything. “Have you decided yet? It has to be much harder for you, since you’ve actually spent time in the city and met these Nocturna folks. I’m not sure what I would have chosen if I were able to see more than war and those white walls of the Center. But, it’s probably best that I—” He stops when he catches my blank stare. “Oh, Molly.” A sad realization washes across his face. “You don’t know, do you?”

  My chest tightens. “Don’t know what?”

  “This is terrible.” He glances away, his jaw tight. “I shouldn’t be the one to tell you this. I thought you knew. You’re twenty-four—you should’ve already known. What is Elena thinking?”

  “Grandpa, you’re freaking me out.”

  “I’m sorry.” He leans forward, taking my hands in his, seeming to think over how to explain. “Have you ever wondered why I stopped coming to Terra?”

  “Of course. That was my next question.”

  He nods. “So you must have known…even a little…that you wouldn’t be able to live like this forever.”

  My stomach plummets, and I stay very still as he says his next words.

  “You will have to choose, Molly. On your twenty-fifth birthday, you will have to choose which world you will call home.”

  — 31 —

  I’M FLOATING OUTSIDE my body, barely listening to my grandfather as he continues spewing words that hold no meaning to me. It’s just loud clunky sounds coming out of his mouth. I walk around myself, taking in the way my chest rises and falls, wondering how that’s possible when I can’t seem to breathe. I study my dry eyes, not understanding why they aren’t red and puffy from the sobbing that’s taking place inside.

  My grandfather says my name. I remain separate. He says it again, this time with a tug to my arm, and I’m slammed back together.

  “Are you okay?” he asks, his question coming out clear.

  My mouth opens, but nothing’s said.

  “I’m so sorry you had to learn this way. I was told a few years before the cutoff, but maybe because you’ve only had access to Terra recently, Elena, for some reason, thought to hold off explaining.”