Nearing the lake, Jaden realized the scenery looked way too familiar. Then the reason hit him. They weren’t just getting to the lake today. They were getting to the lake at almost exactly the same time of year he and his parents had visited all those years ago. He punched commands into his PAL to verify the date of their last stay. Almost to the day. There was no such thing as coincidence anymore, only design. Jaden shivered. But whose?
“Where would you like us to land?” Han’s question garnered his attention.
“My mom said we were on the eastern side of the lake, in one of the cabins along the shore.”
“Anywhere along the eastern shore then?”
“Yes, as long as it’s near the cabins.”
As Han took the lead, Jaden overheard Kayla questioning Taz. “Will you leave once you’ve dropped us off?”
Taz shook her head. “No. This area is probably on the Usurper’s radar, which means the likelihood of Gaptors is high. Besides, if we stay, you’ll have the liberty of exploring free of the people vacationing here now.”
“Ah, yes, the time freeze. That will certainly work to our advantage.”
“I’m glad you approve.”
Jaden wasn’t the only only who detected the disappointment in Taz’s tone.
Ruffling the fur along Taz’s neck, Kayla said, “And knowing you’re near will reassure me.”
Taz’s teeth gleamed as she smiled. Yes, Taz wanted to know she was as important to Kayla as Kayla was to her. Jaden took consolation in knowing Taz wasn’t going to let anything happen to Kayla any more than he would. Or, at least, Taz would help Jaden keep Kayla as safe as they could in the circumstances they found themselves in. So much was beyond their control. Jaden sighed, accepting he couldn’t change it.
Their gliders dipped low, discharging their voyagers before looping back to land next to them. The group surveyed their surroundings.
“I doubt any Gaptors are hiding in those narrow spaces between the buildings and trees,” Kayla remarked.
“And we can’t go there either,” Taz lamented. “Han, Aren and I will get back in the air. Up there, it’ll be easier to see danger coming and keep an eye on you as you traverse those narrow trails between cabins.”
Kayla nodded. “Be safe.”
“You too. We’ll be close.” With that, the three gliders took to the skies once more.
“Shall we?” Jaden asked.
“Yes, let’s,” Kayla agreed. “What cabin number are we looking for?”
Jaden pulled up the receipt on his PAL. “232.”
The four teens crossed the field to the playground and set off along the main path to the cabins. Smaller trails branched off at regular intervals, some leading to cabins and others going deeper into the forest. The first cabin closest to the path was on their right, numbered 205. The next one on their left was 275. A little further along, an offshoot of a side trail led to another cabin on the left, 268.
“This numbering is all messed up,” Jaden muttered. “Shouldn’t these things be sequential?”
“I think I know how they did it,” Kayla offered. “Let’s see what this next one on the right is.”
“206,” Atu announced.
“I think I understand,” Kayla said. “They numbered all the cabins on our right first. Somewhere up ahead, these cabins come to an end, and then the numbering picks up at the cabins on the left. I think the missing numbers indicate that there are cabins deeper in the woods off these side trails.”
“We’ll keep going straight then,” Jaden declared. “The cabin should be on our right since those are the ones next to the water.”
In fact, cabin 232 was the very last cabin in the row before the numbering flipped to the cabins on the left. “I should’ve guessed my folks would’ve picked a cabin where we didn’t have neighbors on one side!”
They entered the cabin cautiously. Even though they had spent months with their gliders, this was the first time they were actually entering a place where strangers existed with the time freeze in effect. Would the people still be there, but just frozen in place?
To their relief, they found the cabin empty, although there were signs of habitation: discarded garments on the floor in the bedroom, toiletries in the bathroom, and dishes in the sink.
“Eerie, isn’t it?’ Kayla murmured. “To know that someone’s here but not actually see them.”
“Totally creepy.” Iri shivered.
“Not really,” Jaden said. “It’s just like walking into someone’s house when they’re not there.”
“Yeah, but usually you only do that when you know the people,” Atu countered. “Here, I feel like an intruder. And I’m left wondering when the homeowners will appear to defend their property.”
Jaden remembered something Han had told him. “The homeowners aren’t going to appear. Han said the time freeze creates a bubble around us. When the gliders are near, we’re safe inside that bubble. Everything outside freezes.”
“Okay, stop, you’re making it worse,” Iri complained.
“How?” Jaden looked incredulous.
“The way you described that makes me feel like a goldfish in a bowl. Like the world out there is gawking at me and I’m oblivious.”
Kayla grimaced. “Okay, that does sound unappealing.”
“No one’s outside the bubble looking in on us. They can’t see us any more than we can see them,” Jaden argued.
Atu chimed in. “Maybe try thinking of it like a parallel universe. We’re in the same place as everyone else, just in a different universe—one that parallels this world in every way, except we’re the only people in it.”
Iri raised a hand. “Enough! Can we stop talking about being trapped?”
“Anyone ready for food?” Kayla asked.
The abrupt change in subject made Jaden wonder what Kayla was up to. Then he noticed Iri’s face. She was totally frazzled. “Always. Let’s use the picnic table outside. The gliders will be happier if they can see we’re okay.” And Iri won’t feel like she’s trapped.
Kayla took his hand as they headed outdoors. Jaden smiled, understanding she was grateful he’d picked up on her goal. He squeezed her hand, and that lovely smile appeared. How he adored making her smile!
Delving around in their packs, they removed the last of their food. They would stock up at the lake’s store before they left. Jaden smiled when he caught sight of Han leading the others. He waved, and Han dipped his wings in acknowledgement. Then the gliders turned and cruised toward the other side of the lake.
“I wonder where they’re going,” Iri said.
“Probably to get their own meal,” Jaden replied. “There are plenty of berry bushes along that side of the shore.”
“You remember that?” Kayla blinked in surprise.
“Without looking at the photos of this vacation with my mom before we left, I wouldn’t have. But they helped me remember plenty.”
Kayla’s answering smile made Jaden wonder what she was thinking. He quirked an eyebrow at her, but she only shook her head. She wasn’t willing to share in a group setting. Nodding acceptance, he continued watching her, hoping for some clue. A smile still played around the corners of her mouth. It was fascinating. Her whole face had softened, her green eyes going dreamy and faraway. He ached to be close to her. He had to find a way to carve out some alone time for them—he needed to hold her, feel her next to him, and oh yes, he wanted to kiss her again. Desperately.
Kayla glanced his way, her eyes catching his and sticking. As he stared into those soft green pools, an electric current rippled through him. It had been far too long since they were alone.
Jaden dropped his gaze, breaking the spell just in time to catch Atu’s question. “What are our plans now?”
Jaden sighed. Why do they all look to me for guidance? We’re all in this together, aren’t we? Then he scrubbed a hand over his face. They were only asking him because he’d been here before, and the map was somehow linked to this place. “Atu, you know more
about star maps than I do, but I’d guess we have to compare the disc to the stars here to make sure we’re in the right place?”
“You’d guess right. We might just have to wait all night because the stars move across the sky, so the pattern may only be fully revealed later rather than earlier.”
“We have to stay up all night?” Kayla groaned.
“Not necessarily.” Atu chuckled. “I did say ‘might’ in that last sentence. For all I know, they could appear as soon as it gets dark.”
“In that case,” Jaden said, “I suggest we get some sleep this afternoon. It could be a long night, even if the pattern appears right away.”
Sated by their meal, the idea was appealing enough that no one complained.
“Where are we going to sleep?” Iri asked, looking worried.
“In the cabin,” Jaden answered without thinking. “There are plenty of beds there.”
Kayla was watching Iri. “I don’t think she wants to sleep where people might suddenly appear.”
“Oh, that again.” Jaden waved dismissively. “The gliders said they would stick around, and they aren’t ones to change their minds.”
“Not without good reason,” Kayla murmured so that only Jaden heard.
Jaden had to give her that. “Alright, we can take shifts keeping watch if you want. I think it’s a waste of time, but if it helps Iri sleep, we’ll do that.”
Iri nodded vigorously. “Thanks, that would help tremendously.”
Jaden set up the shifts, and Iri offered to go first. “I won’t complain.” Jaden grinned. “A sleep right now sounds perfect.”
“Baby,” Kayla teased.
Jaden laughed. He and Kayla were covering the last two shifts, so they would have a nice long stretch of sleep before they had to wake up. “Call me what you want, I don’t care. I’m grateful for the sleep. See you all later.”
The boys disappeared inside the cabin. Kayla lingered with Iri to make sure she would be okay.
“I’d rather be awake than sleeping,” Iri admitted. “In fact, I don’t know that I’ll even be able to sleep once my shift’s over.”
“The thought of people suddenly appearing here is that unsettling?”
“Yes.”
Kayla waited to see if she would share more, but Iri remained silent. After a while, Kayla said her farewells and made for the cabin. Without a doubt, Iri was hiding something. But Kayla would have to wait until she was ready to spill. Whatever it was, it didn’t seem to be something that would undermine the trust Kayla had in her, and that was reassuring.
Kayla smiled when she noticed that Jaden and Atu had left the main room for her. She snuggled under the covers, only then getting an inkling of what Iri had been referring to. There were other people actually living here, even if they weren’t here at this exact moment. But they were going to sleep in this bed again as soon as the voyagers and their gliders were gone. Sniffing her clothes, she smelled the smoke from their fire of the previous evening.
Crawling from the bed, Kayla yanked her sleeping shell from her pack and dumped it over the sheets. At least it would provide some barrier to the smell. With that thought, she crashed.
She awoke to Jaden’s soft touch what seemed like only moments later. Groggily, she looked at him. “What’s up?”
“Time for your shift.” A smile creased his handsome face. “Or what’s left of it.”
Kayla squinted at her PAL. “Jaden, you should’ve woken me earlier. You let me sleep though almost half my shift.”
“It’s alright. I got in a decent sleep before my shift started, enough that I didn’t feel like going back to sleep when my shift ended. I thought I’d let you sleep a little longer. But maybe I should’ve left you sleeping.”
Kayla smiled. “No, I’m glad you woke me. That is, if you aren’t going back to sleep?”
“I’m not. Why?”
“Because,” Kayla said, extricating herself from her sleeping shell and sliding toward him, “it means we can finally have some time together.”
Jaden grinned. “To be totally honest, that was part of the reason I didn’t let you sleep your whole shift.”
Kayla giggled and threw a pillow at him. “You crafty weasel!”
“Weasel! Couldn’t you have thought of a better adjective?”
Kayla laughed. “What would you prefer for me to have said?”
Jaden shook his head. “That’s not for me to decide. You come up with something, then let me know.”
“Alright.” Kayla eyed him. Then she rose onto her knees on the edge of the bed next to where he was standing. Stretching her arms, she could only just reach around his neck. He was so tall! But she didn’t let that stop her. Gently, she tugged on his neck, pleased when he bent his face closer to hers. She smiled and gave him a soft kiss, then pulled her mouth away to gaze into his eyes.
Without a word, he reached down and lifted her into his arms. Kayla squeaked in surprise.
“Shh, you’ll wake the others,” Jaden warned.
She giggled, then turned her head into his shoulder to muffle the sound. She felt like a naughty schoolgirl, sneaking away to get up to mischief.
Jaden grinned and carried her outside to a secluded spot behind some trees that sheltered the patio. It was invisible to those who might look out of the cabin’s windows, but any threat to the cabin could be seen from here. She surveyed the sky as Jaden set her down. “Wow, look at that sunset.”
“What’s in front of me is far more beautiful.”
Turning from the golden sky, Kayla gazed into Jaden’s eyes. What she saw there made her heart skip. Then he tilted his head and kissed her.
Not nearly enough time alone together, Kayla thought, as she heard Atu and Iri emerging from the cabin some time later. She and Jaden had moved to a couch on the patio, and Kayla was leaning back against Jaden’s chest, his arms around her. Kayla grinned when Iri’s steps faltered as she spied them. Iri glanced back at Atu, but he continued forward, unafraid to interrupt. Taking her cue from Atu, Iri resumed walking.
“Pleasant sleep?” Jaden asked.
“Not really,” Atu answered, still cheerful somehow.
Iri still eyed them warily. “Surprisingly, I did sleep, and for the whole time.”
Kayla was suddenly uncomfortable. When Jaden tensed behind her, she looked up, expecting danger. Finding the sky empty, she turned her head and raised an eyebrow at Jaden.
“I’m getting that feeling again,” Jaden muttered.
Kayla inhaled sharply. “About Iri?”
Jaden nodded. “It’s time we figured out what’s going on.”
Chapter Eleven
Iri remained where she was, a few feet away from Jaden and Kayla, studying them. When she first met them, the bright blues swirling around them told her of the bond they shared. The depth of the colors showed the true extent of their feelings for one another. Right now, faded oranges swirled like mists overlaying the blues. What were they anxious about? When Jaden subtly shifted Kayla so that she was somehow behind him, Iri recognized the action—an attempt to keep Kayla out of harm’s way.
Fearless, Iri looked up. She was curious to see these Gaptors the others had told her so much about. But the sky was clear. Confused, she glanced at Jaden again. He had moved to stand in front of Kayla, and Atu had crossed to stand next to Jaden. The two of them presented a wall in front of Kayla. Then she understood. “You think I’m the danger?”
“Why is it,” Jaden said, “that I keep getting this feeling about you? What is it that you aren’t telling us?”
Iri froze. He couldn’t know. Could he? Her face flushed as fear gripped her. How did he know? Her muscles tensed as she prepared to flee.
“Tell them,” a quiet voice behind her said.
Iri whirled, ready to fight. Taz perched on the roof of the cabin, gazing down at her. Taz knew? She was trapped. Sweat ran down Iri’s back. She had to get away. They would be just like all the others.
“Tell us what?” Kayla stepped
out from behind Jaden and Atu.
Taz rolled her massive shoulders. “It’s not my secret to tell.”
Iri stared at the three people facing her. She couldn’t tell them. Not them. They had been so accepting. Well, Kayla had shown some reservations, but she got past those.
Kayla glanced from her glider to Iri, then back at her glider. “Taz, this thing Iri has to tell us, is it something that will put us in danger?”
“Do you think I would’ve allowed her to travel this far with us if I thought she would harm you?”
Tense, Iri watched Kayla. The orange mists melted to a golden yellow. Iri released the breath she had been holding, but she still backed up when Kayla took a step toward her.
Kayla raised her hand in a pacifying gesture. “Iri, it’s alright. You can tell us. Whatever it is, we won’t judge you.”
Iri didn’t dare believe Kayla. Others had told her that, and they hadn’t been true to their word. Iri couldn’t face this group’s fear or ridicule or unbelief or any of the dozen other negative responses she had received when she had lowered her defenses and shared her secret.
Kayla took another cautious step toward her. “Iri?”
“How do I know you won’t act like all the others?” Iri blurted.
Jaden’s cautioning hand went to Kayla’s shoulder as Kayla made to take another step forward, but Kayla glanced back at Jaden and gave him a soothing smile. “I’ve got this.”
What does that mean? Iri wondered. That Kayla will make me leave if I don’t tell them?
Jaden let his hand drop, and Kayla shuffled closer, stopping when Iri made to bolt. “I can’t promise we won’t act like the others you mentioned. All I can say is that we will try and understand.”
Motionless, Iri analyzed the colors surrounding Kayla. The yellows were now interlaced with white. Kayla was at peace. Iri sucked in a deep breath. Yes, I can smell it now, the pure, sweet scent of truth. But a tiny piece inside her was still set on self-preservation. “How are you at believing things that seem impossible?”
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