by E. J. Mellow
“We need to talk.”
His arms tense around me. “I already don’t like it.”
I worry my bottom lip and glance off into the distance.
“Okay…now I really don’t like it. Molly.” He tips my chin so I look at him again. “What’s going on?”
I take in a giant breath. Here goes everything. “Elena recently informed me about something. Actually, my grandfather did first, but he thought I already knew, which I most definitely did not. Because if I did…well, I probably would have freaked out just as much, but it for sure would have been better to have known this earlier. I’m still mega pissed at Elena—”
“Midnight.” Dev brushes my arm, attempting to calm me. “Whatever it is, it’ll be all right. We’ll figure it out.”
I play with the T-shirt material covering his chest. “That’s what Rae said.”
“Because we will.”
I shake my head, hiding my face in my hands. “But, Dev, I don’t know how that’s possible.” I will not cry. I will not cry.
“Well, why don’t you tell me what you learned, and we can go from there.”
“I’m scared to.”
“Molly.” He pries my fingers apart.
“Okay, okay. Like a Band-Aid, right?” My stomach is in my mouth. Breathe. Just breathe. “I learned…I learned that Dreamers have cutoffs—I have a cutoff. On my twenty-fifth birthday, I’ll have to choose either Earth or Terra, locking myself out of one permanently.”
The leaves in the tree rustle above us. Stars streak by. Dev blinks. “What?”
I swallow. “Eventually I won’t be able to come to Terra anymore. That, or I’ll never be able to go home.”
He shakes his head. “No.” Popping up, he causes me to tumble from his lap. I watch from the ground as he begins to pace. “No.”
“I didn’t believe it at first either, but Elena confirmed—”
“No!” Dev presses his palms against his forehead, his breathing labored. “This can’t be happening.” I stay silent, letting it sink in as much as something like this can. He glances to the city and grows quiet, contemplative, before looking back at me. “Did she say why? Is it always this way?”
I nod, my throat working. “Always. It happened to my grandfather and every Dreamer before him. They say it’s to give us a chance at a normal life. But, Dev, if I…if I choose Earth, I’ll lose all my memories of this place.” And of you. The words burn as they leave my mouth.
Horror fills his gaze before it grows dark, deadly. He kneels in front of me, grabbing my hands. “I won’t lose you, Molly. I…I can’t. There has to be another way. Something else that can be done.”
“I know.” The anguish in my voice is evident. “But I can’t think of what. I’ve been going over it for days—”
“Days?” His brows knit. “How long have you known this?”
“Uh, since last weekend.”
“Since last…” He drops my hands. “Why didn’t you tell me right away?!” Hurt is worn in every crease on his face.
“I’m sorry. I just…I couldn’t yet. I know I should have, but I needed time with it. It was a huge thing to learn.”
He looks away from me, a lost expression in his features. “This can’t be happening.” The words come out so softly that I barely hear them. My heart breaks and then breaks again. Do I tell him that I’ve been thinking of choosing Terra? Do I give him that hope when I’m not completely certain myself? I’ve never seen Dev cry before, but watching him now, his chest heaving, his hands in white-knuckled fists, and his eyes torturously pained, I think he might. And I can’t see that. If I do…I won’t be able to keep it together anymore, because then that truly means there’s no hope.
I reach for him, and he quickly takes me into his arms, hugging me so tight I might bruise. But I don’t care. I need this. This is a good discomfort, a necessary one. Unlike the agony going on in my throat to try keeping my own tears at bay.
“I love you,” I say as I press my face into the crook of his neck. His grip on me strengthens as a shaky breath releases.
“You are my everything,” he says.
We stay wrapped like this. Time, for the first time, is of no consequence. As long as we’re here, like this, together, everything’s all right. Everything makes sense.
Gently, he pulls back and studies me, committing everything to memory. “You know I can’t ask you to give up your family,” he says, and I nod solemnly. “But I also can’t let you disappear from my life.” Cupping my cheeks in his hands, he stares into my eyes with a new resolve. “Rae’s right. We’re going to figure this out. I promise you. We’ll figure it out.” I try shaking my head and looking away, but he won’t let me. “Molly, do you trust me?”
I bite the inside of my cheek as his steady gaze is just that—steady. “Yes, I trust you.”
“Then trust that I’ll figure this out.”
I inhale a calming breath. “Okay.”
And then he’s kissing me. Claiming my soul again. Reminding me over and over why he’s the man worth fighting fate for. Momentarily, my worry drops away, and I truly believe we might actually have a chance, that we can find a solution to this divide. Hope bubbles. But then all too quickly, like a Metus invading, I’m reminded of something.
We must all wake up from dreams.
— 39 —
MAKING OUR WAY to the wall, Dev is in the middle of explaining where he’s going to look first for answers, when a hover car bursts from a hole that opens in the fortification. It races toward us, and Dev removes his Arcus as I switch into to the Terra uniform, knowing what the sudden arrival of this vehicle means.
“Sir.” Michael, a Nocturna guard who has been cleared of my purpose here, nods to Dev. The number of Nocturna aware of my presence has done nothing but grow, and I know it’s only a matter of days till the whole city is buzzing with the knowledge of a Dreamer in their midst. Elena has already prepared a plan to address the population and introduce the Dreamers’ history and me. There will most certainly be an uprising of some sort, since not everyone will be pleased to learn there’s a human walking among them, let alone one that carries limitless abilities. But Elena merely reminded me about how every Dreamer has caused a change in Terra, and this one seems to be mine—letting their world see the very thing they live to protect and unlocking a history centuries kept secret. Because of the special bands that can be worn to ward off my abilities, she seems confident the news will be more inspiring than hostile. I’m happy to help in any way I can, but I can’t stop the unease that twists in my gut thinking about the kind of unwanted attention this will garner and even more security. I’ve definitely been taking traveling under the radar here for granted.
“Michael,” Dev greets his cadet. “What’s going on now?”
“Sir, it’s the Nursery.” He glances between the both of us, his gray eyes a powerful contrast to his dark skin
“Again?”
“Yes, sir, and it’s bad. There are three or four packs.”
“Jesus.” My eyebrows shoot to my hairline. Almost one hundred Metus.
Dev is already climbing into the car. “Take us, and put on all thrusters.”
My stomach is plastered to the back of my spine. We’ve traveled for less than a minute at a cosmic speed, the surrounding glass lit up with thermal energy surveillance as Dev communicates with the city for backup. The area where the Metus are attacking glows an angry orange-red. “How long ago did this start?” He zooms in and rotates the image along the glass.
“Not long. The guards on the Nursery wall saw them approaching and called it in.”
Dev frowns. “That’s not consistent to their recent behavior. Why so openly reveal themselves now?”
“What’s that?” I point to a hot blue-white blob on the map that’s close to the Nursery’s fortification, where the Metus seemed to have gathered.
“It’s a new Navitas generator. There was a recent shift in atmospheric energy, and we’ve needed to construct towers in new areas for min
ing. Not an ideal location obviously, but it’s not like we can tell you Dreamers to fly in more convenient places. It’s always changing.”
Huh, I didn’t know that.
“We’re here.” Michael presses a button on the control panel, slowing the vehicle. I’m finally able to take a deep breath, but it hitches when the opaque glass becomes clear and I take in the scene. They’re everywhere. A field of glowing lava forms, surrounding a sleek jutting radio tower, the tip of which crackles with blue-white energy that’s being collected from the sky. The tall metal walls to the Nursery are only three football fields in length away, and I can imagine the terrified children on the other side, their carefully created population so close to a threat. My gaze moves back to the tower, running upward along its smooth black sides. A handful of Metus have already begun climbing to the top. Their bodies shift between liquid and solid as they suction themselves forward, a sludge coating the building like a stain. A few are shot with arrows and burst apart, but just as one is destroyed, another comes, each desperate to get to their prize at the tip.
“There’s so few of us,” I whisper, sweeping my gaze over the chaotic tumbling of glowing blues to oranges, only spotting two dozen or so Vigil and Nocturna. Though our car is soundproof, the angry roar of battle is apparent everywhere I look.
“More are on their way.” Dev turns to me. “Ready?”
I flex my fingers and nod.
“Michael, tell the Nursery to engage the wall units and shoot when they have a clear target. Molly and I will try to clear the tower until more backup comes.”
“Yes, sir.” Michael quickly types instructions into his monitor as the glass top opens with a whoosh. I’m almost knocked back into my seat from the wave of stink that crashes into me, the vibrating howl of nightmares setting my follicles on end.
Dev squats when he hits the ground, and I’m right beside him. “We’ll take the wide route and clear a path as best we can. Most of us are between the generator and the Nursery.” He points to where a cluster of men and women fight. “We’re too concentrated. We need to spread out, or we’ll be easily surrounded.” He turns to me, eyes flashing like reflected steel. “I’ll need you to watch our sides and back as I aim for the tower. Whatever happens, they cannot reach the top.”
I shiver, knowing the horror of such consequences only from another’s memory. A flash of a bloated, engorged Metus, immeasurable power spewing from every orifice. Nocturna screams, and death. I push the images aside. “Okay, but Dev”—I grab his arm as he’s about to make a run for it—“what happens if my brain freezes up again like…” I swallow.
He places his hand atop mine and squeezes. “It won’t. Listen to me. It won’t. Just don’t push yourself too much. If you need to use your Arcus, use it. That’s what it’s there for.”
“I wish I had that vest,” I mutter, glancing out to the battle. But there’s no way I can imagine that here. The energy inside is too complicated and unknown for me try and replicate it properly.
“What vest?” Dev asks.
I shake my head. “Nothing. Never mind.” Squaring my shoulders, I try the best I can to set my nerves to stone. “Okay, let’s go.”
With a quick flash of his encouraging smile, Dev turns and moves forward. I follow close behind as we run crouched in the tall grass, staying out of sight as long as we can. Gently I begin to ball my energy into my chest, preparing to use it whenever needed.
The first one is easy to take down, a straggler, and I ease Navitas out and forward, coating his burning form and dissolving him silently. The next two I attack at once. Shooting thick balls from either palm, I aim straight for their heads, and they barely get a scream out before bursting apart.
Dev glances over his shoulder, a proud smile momentarily overtaking his lips before continuing forward. My breathing is steady but labored, and adrenaline dances in every vein as we come to a stop. We settle ourselves low, blending into the night.
“Okay, it’s going to be a bit tougher from here.” Dev nods to our left, where two Nocturna engage three Metus. “Can you help them while I start taking down the climbers? I’ll be next to you, but we need more bodies so we can start creating a ring around the base.”
“Got it.” I slowly approach the tangle of unaware fighters, eyeing the three monsters as a plan materializes in my head. Lying flat on the ground, I extend my arms, imagining what I need to grow out of each finger, and smile when ten identical Navitas snakes wriggle free, quickly slithering unseen to their targets. I watch as they pair off and combine from ten to three, growing their bodies bigger and bigger. I whisper instructions in my mind, telling them where to go, what to destroy.
A fighting Nocturna yelps in shock and jumps back as one of the glowing serpents travels over its foot. The group momentarily freezes, each mesmerized by the new shining intrusions that now curl around the base of each Metus. The nightmares do nothing to stop them, for they too are transfixed by these creatures that wind around and around, curling up and up, the Metus’ liquid skin solidifying where they roam. When the energy snakes reach the monsters’ heads, they quickly wrap around the base of their necks in one identical movement. Finally realizing what’s happening, the Metus howl in panic and dig their claws into the now vise-tight cords, trying to dislodge them. But the attempt is futile as I hold them locked in my mind. Tighter, my thoughts whisper as sweat drips down my forehead. Tighter. A dark feeling edges out from a crack in my chest—how much easier it is to use my powers to destroy. The hate I let loose after Alec’s death effortlessly accessible, like evil muscle memory in my heart. I wet my lips as gurgles emanate from the Metus, my power keeping them from turning to liquid. How many will I need to kill for this to stop? How many will it take for me to start liking it? The black smoke begins to grow inside me. Molly. A girl’s voice sounds in my head, and I tense. No. It’s barely a whisper, barely a breath, but I can sense it screaming at me. Riki? My mind searches for her, but she evades. Do not give in. Her words are louder now. You are not them. You are strong. Stop this. I blink to lucidity, watching as I continue to hold the Metus as choking prisoners. The realization of what I’m doing, what I was starting to enjoy, slaps me hard, and my clarity sends the internal darkness scattering. I focus back on my task and wait for the moment when the beasts open their mouths, emanating a bleat of pain. Just as they do, each snake dives inside, filling their heads instantly with blinding blue-white light. Like an overfilled water balloon, they burst apart, leaving nothing but simmering bits of glowing lava. Taking in a shaky breath, I stand, ignoring the twisted place my energy momentarily took me. Three slack-jawed Nocturna stare at me.
“Pretty frightening, isn’t she?” Dev smirks, stepping to my side.
I glance to him. “I thought you were supposed to be taking down the climbers.”
“Oh, I am.” He lifts his Arcus and, without removing his gaze from mine, lets free an arrow. There’s a piercing wail as it hits its target right before the sound of a goopy pop.
I roll my eyes. “Show off.”
“Someone’s calling the kettle black, Queen Cleopatra.” He turns to our new added reinforcements and gestures for them to follow. As I step behind them, I shiver away the thought of comparing myself to that woman’s fated demise.
Creating a half circle around the base of the tower, we hold back any Metus that attempt to climb it. Like Dev promised, more backup guards begin to make their way from Terra, and collectively we’re able to engage the monsters at a steady pace. Even so, no matter how many we take down, more come, like they are appearing out of a hole in the ground. I tangle them up with my powers, take off limbs before removing heads, throw protective walls over certain fighters as Metus attempt to douse them with spewing fire. Over and over it goes, until my arms ache and my mind begins its familiar icy burn of exhaustion.
Tim is now here with Aveline as well as Aurora and Ezekial, and they spread out to my right. “Guys,” I call over my shoulder as another knife pricks my brain. “I need to rest
for a second.”
Tim nods and moves in front, wedging me between his back and the generator’s wall as he pumps out balls of energy from a complicated-looking gun. I pant, massaging my temples. Not now. Don’t do this now.
“Over there!” A Nocturna points to a mass of new Metus in the distance beginning to attack the Nursery’s wall. The Nocturna on the platforms above shoot down at the beasts, keeping them from getting too close.
“Where are they all coming from?!” Aveline growls as she lets loose an arrow into an approaching monster.
“It’s like they’re popping up from the ground.” I shake out my arms, getting ready to engage again. I’m not nearly rested enough, but the Metus don’t seem to care about that.
“The ground…” Tim’s head lifts, his eyes going round. “Why didn’t we think of that before?”
“Think of what?” I ask.
“Dev!” Tim waves his hand to get his attention. He’s a few yards away, a blur of movement as he dances around two monsters. He decapitates one and then glances over just as the second’s fiery paw swipes at his abdomen. I gasp, but he twists away in the nick of time, twirling his Arcus fluidly through the air to lodge in the top of the Metus’s head. He pulls it out with a sickening wet pop. Dev raises his hands to guard off most of the splatter.
“Really, Tim?” He jogs over, flicking an errant glob off his shoulder. “Couldn’t you see I was busy?”
“The tunnels!” Tim says, brushing away Dev’s words. “That’s where they must be coming from. Why we haven’t seen them approach.”
“What tunnels?” Aveline and I both ask.
“But they were supposed to have collapsed and been closed off.” Dev frowns, glancing to where the new Nocturna reinforcements are speeding to defend the wall.
“Some of them must not be.” Tim searches the area. “Terra, this is bad. They have pathways to everything.”
My mind quickly flickers through all the memories I’ve gathered, and I suck in air, locking on to one of Riki’s. Caverns everywhere, underneath us, stretching out like a complicated web. They were used to travel between outposts and areas around Terra before they had the safety of the hover cars and other vehicles. I never thought to connect them with this recent problem. “You’re right, Dev,” I say, my gaze unfocused. “They were destroyed. One of the Dreamers saw to it when they were breached just like this.”