Unfaded

by Sarah Ripley

“Yeah, well you can stop worrying,” Seito said and he slowed down.

  It took me a few seconds to see what he was referring to. Then I saw them about fifty feet ahead and on the sidewalk. Granny was walking in the direction of my house. Beside her was Kian and he’d taken his jacket off and given it to her. All he had left was a short sleeved shirt and jeans. They were walking slowly because of the snow and she was laughing and pointing up at the sky.

  I was off the bike the second Seito pulled up next to them. Granny spotted me as I pulled off my helmet.

  “Mai!” she said. “Isn’t it a beautiful day? I’ll bet it’s going to storm all night. I can’t remember the last time I got to take a stroll in the snow. It feels like forever ago and a day.”

  “Are you cold, Granny?” I asked. There was something odd about the way she was walking. She had a youthful spring in her step as if she knew exactly where she was going and where she’d been. I hadn’t seen her that alert in years. I reached out and took her hand and it was warm. Shoving his hands in his pockets, Kian stepped back from us as if he wasn’t sure what to do.

  “I’m perfectly fine,” she said. “I ran into your friend here. What a lovely gentleman. It’s not too often in this day and age where a man will remove his jacket for you. Why haven’t you brought him around the house more often?”

  “I have. You met him last week.”

  “Did I? It’s so strange, Mai. I feel like I’ve been dreaming for a long time and I’ve only just woken up. Now it’s as if I’m dancing on top of a rainbow. Does that sound odd to you?”

  I looked at Kian for an explanation but he was only looking at me. His eyes shimmered but his gaze was unfaltering. Giving me a sad smile, he took another step backwards and then turned and headed over to where Seito waited.

  “I’m sure you haven’t missed much,” I said and I gave her hand a soft squeeze. Tears began to fill my eyes but I didn’t care. I let them slip down my cheeks before wiping them away with my glove. “But we’d better get you back home. Marley’s been worried.”

  “Worried? Why on earth should she be worried? All I did was go for a walk with a nice gentleman. She should be so lucky. All she ever does is sit in the house and clean up after your Dad. I swear, I thought he was raised better than that. Besides, a walk in the cold is good for the complexion. We all need our beauty fixes.”

  I turned to Kian and Seito where they were waiting about ten feet away. “It’s Ok, I’ll walk her home,” I said. Catching Kian’s eyes, I gave him the same sad smile in return. A million thoughts tossed around inside my brain but I couldn’t bring myself to ask any of them. There were no words to explain what I was feeling. “Thank you,” I finally said.

  He nodded.

  “Look Mai! The kids across the street are making snow angels. We should join them. I remember how much you used to love doing that.”

  I turned my attention back to Granny as she watched the neighbour’s children playing in the snow. I quickly texted Marley to let her know I’d found Granny and that we’d be home in a bit. A few minutes passed by before I managed to glance back. Seito was still there, he’d follow us home as usual. But Kian was gone.

  * * *

  “I don’t get it.”

  We were sitting around the kitchen table while Granny was in the living room, folding the laundry that Marley had forgotten on the couch during her earlier panic. She was whistling to herself while she sorted through Dad’s underwear and taking the occasional sip from a mug of tea she’d made for herself the second we got home.

  “Maybe this is normal?” Dad said. “I’ve heard that in some cases, people can have moments of clarity. But this goes beyond her having a bit of clear-headedness. It’s like she’s never been sick.”

  “It’s some sort of miracle,” Marley said.

  I wondered how he’d done it. I knew Unfaded healed quicker than humans but no one had ever mentioned that they had the power to cure human diseases. Of course I couldn’t tell either of them that I knew Kian was responsible. Instead I pretended to be just as stumped as them.

  “It’s wonderful,” I said. “If she’s better then we don’t have to send her to Pine Valley. She can stay with us.”

  “I don’t know, Mai,” Dad said. “I think we’d better take her to the doctor. I’ll make an appointment with Dr. Clay and he’ll run some tests. But yes, if the doctor says she’s well, then I can’t see putting her in the home. I don’t think Pine Valley would take her in this condition anyway.”

  “That’s wonderful,” I said.

  Granny threw the last sock down on the pile and wandered back into the kitchen. “I’m going to start dinner. Mai, can you run down to the freezer and bring up some chicken?”

  “Sure,” I said.

  We had dinner that night as an entire family. I couldn’t remember the last time it happened. Afterwards I helped Granny and Marley clean up in the kitchen before I went up to finish my English paper.

  I was in my room when I heard Granny gasp. I went to investigate and found her in the bathroom, looking in the mirror. She was touching her skin, rubbing the wrinkles and examining her grey hair.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “It’s so odd, Mai,” she said. “I don’t understand how I let myself go. Look at my hair, it’s a mess.”

  “We’ll get it fixed up,” I told her. “Maybe we can get you a dye job too.”

  Granny rummaged through Marley’s make-up bag until she found a shade of lipstick she liked. She began to apply it, studying herself critically as she worked. I stood at the doorway and watched her.

  “That young man of yours is rather nice,” Granny said casually. “Be sure to give him his jacket back and thank him, will you.”

  “I’ll give it to his friend,” I said. “I’m not exactly talking to him right now.”

  Granny raised her eyebrows at me. “Why not? I got the impression that he’s quite taken with you. He seemed very passionate. I would have liked to have found a young man like that in my youth. Of course your grandfather was a lot like that. He once travelled eight miles by foot to bring me a single rose on my birthday.”

  “It’s complicated,” I said. “It’s not that I don’t want to talk to him, I just can’t.”

  Granny closed the lipstick and put it back in the bag. “Well, I’m not about to meddle in your affairs but I’ll say this. Life is short, Mai. Take it from me, an old lady who has obviously just missed a few years. I don’t know what happened to me or why I’m back but I know I was gone.”

  I didn’t know what to say so I stared at my feet instead.

  “You’re a beautiful girl, you look so much like your mother right now,” she said. “She wasn’t long for this world but I think you’ll do better. Promise me you won’t waste it. True love’s a gift. Most people never get to open the package.” She reached out and ran a wrinkled finger along my cheek. “There’s too much sadness in your eyes. Be happy, Mai. Otherwise you’ll wake up one morning, old and crooked with messy grey hair, wondering what happened.”

  I nodded. “But what if I can’t forgive him for what he’s done?”

  “You’ll find a way,” she said. “And if he’s a true gentleman, he’ll make it easy for you.”

  “Thanks, Granny,” I said.

  “Anytime, sweetheart,” she said.

  I went back to my room and sat down at the computer to look like I was at least somewhat working on my paper.

  It seemed the entire world wanted me to give Kian a second chance. Today he’d given me the most wonderful gift I’d only dreamed about until now. He didn’t do it because he was sorry about what happened. He didn’t do it because he thought it might make me want to get back together with him. It was done because he loved me, even though I’d told him to go away and leave me alone.

  He was unlike anyone I’d ever met before. But I all ready knew that.

  Maybe Granny was right. Life was too short, even if you were an Unfaded. What good was everlasting life if there was no
thing to live for?

  * * *

  I was up earlier than usual because Dad, Marley and Granny were heading to the city. Granny was still the same. She’d even gotten up before Marley and had breakfast waiting for everyone. The kitchen smelled of pancakes and syrup when I came down to find a cup of coffee.

  “Happy Friday, Mai,” Granny said as she filled up a plate for me. I sat down at the table, yawning, and taking a gulp of coffee.

  “It’s too early,” I yawned again.

  Granny responded by passing me a plate filled with pancakes and bacon. I’d spent most of the night trying to finish my paper. It hadn’t been easy, my mind had been elsewhere. Normally English and I got along great but last night had been like giving a lecture in quantum physics without wearing pants. Needless to say I didn’t think I’d end up getting anything less than a C. Oh well, hopefully I still had plenty of time to make up for it later.

  Dad came down the stairs lugging a few overnight bags. Dropping them at the front door, he came into the kitchen and dug into the pancakes. He was always the morning eater of the family. He was the only person I’d ever met who could wake up after a long nights sleep and polish off a steak.

  “I’ve got a list of numbers on the fridge,” Dad said to me. “You make sure you keep your phone on because I’ll be calling to check up on you. We’ll be back Sunday afternoon. No parties. No boys either.”

  “Oh come on,” I said. “No parties? You know I’m such a wild and crazy gal. Whatever will I tell all my friends when they show up with the kegger?”

  “Not funny,” he said but I could see the corners of his mouth twitch. We had this conversation every time they went away for the weekend. Not once had I ever thrown a party. But I guess he felt it was his duty as a parent.

  “I’ll make you proud,” I said and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  “You always do,” was his response.

  Granny wouldn’t let me leave the table until I’d put away at least two pancakes. By the time I made it upstairs to grab my backpack, I was running behind and Granny was arguing with Marley because she’d gone and packed her overnight bag for her.

  “I’m not an invalid,” Granny snapped. “I can pack my own bags.”

  “I’m sorry,” Marley said. She didn’t dare mention that she’d been packing and dressing Granny for the past two years.

  Outside, Seito was waiting for me in Kian’s car. Yesterday’s snowfall had been a record and there was too much ice on the roads for even him to risk driving the bike. Climbing inside, I threw my bag at my feet.

  “How’s it going?”

  “Ug. Granny forced me into breakfast hell this morning. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, way too much food.”

  “And you didn’t invite me because...” Seito grinned and hit the gas. “I love breakfast. Only the most important meal of the day.”

  “I’ll pack you a doggie bag next time,” I said. “I think she’s planning on making this a daily event.”

  “Fantastic!”

  I didn’t get a chance to respond because suddenly I wasn’t in the car. I was somewhere else.

  The air was still. Not a single breeze dared flutter a leaf or stir the grass. The clouds were stagnant in the sky, refusing to move or even change shape. They were dark and hazy, waiting. Below them was a valley, a place I recognized, it had once been full of life and beauty, now it was silent but not calm. Even the animals had long departed, following their instincts and running for shelter.

  I was high up on a hill and an entire army waited with me. Weapons drawn, bows poised, swords oiled. They were ready to fight, ready to die. Beside me was Rafferty. Even though this was my first real look at him, I immediately knew who he was. On my other side was Dialexa, her eyes blazing and fingers itching. Nostrils sniffed the air and the smile on her face was that of pure anticipation. Apani waited beside them. Her hands held no weapon for she would not take part in what was coming. Once again I was witnessing the event as a ghost. No one took notice of me.

  “It’s a good day to die,” Rafferty said.

  “Who said anything about dying?” Dialexa said. “We’ll defeat them all and put an end to their misery. Do they really think having humans on their side will make them stronger? Let’s free them all.”

  “This is utter foolishness,” Apani said. “No one will win this war. Is it really worth the fight?”

  “Hush, sister. I’ve grown impatient with your constant babbling. I know you’ve been talking with Aelin. I wonder how you’ll feel when I kill her.”

  Raising her bow to the sky, she let forth an arrow that flew through the air and straight into the throat of the closest Unfaded. The poor soul fell to the ground, clawing at the wood as it drew his life force from his body.

  A voice screamed somewhere in the middle of the opposing side. Another answered it. Soon both sides surged forward, feet trampling the wild flowers and once green grass of the valley. Bodies dropped as arrows pierced hearts and swords sent sparks flying as metal met metal.

  The rain continued into the night, tiny rivers flooded their way through the soil, and blood mixed in with the mud.

  Apani was the only one left behind on the hill. I stood next to her, watching the event.

  “It’s started,” she said. Turning, she looked me right in the eyes. “You’d better be prepared. They’re coming for you. He’s already started the journey. He’s not going to leave you alone this time.”

  I came back into the real world with a loud gasping breath. Seito was watching me, both amused and concerned at the same time.

  “Welcome back,” he said. “Nice trip?”

  I held my hands up to my head, trying to steady my brain. For days I’d been begging my mind to give me a vision, any vision at all. Why had it chosen to give me this one?

  “It was a battle,” I said. “Dialexa and Apani were there. And Rafferty too. She told me they’re coming for me. Him. She said ‘he’s started the journey’.”

  “That sounds like a warning. Have you had that happen before?”

  “I don’t think so. It was a past event. How could something that happened in the past be warning me about the future?”

  “No idea.” Seito thought about it for a bit. “Maybe it wasn’t a warning. Maybe it was just part of the flashback.”

  “Yeah, I guess so.”

  We drove the rest of the way in silence. There was only one person I could ask about this. Kian had spent four hundred years watching me repeat these visions. He might know whether or not I’d ever gone prophecy girl before. Now I had two reasons to see him. I turned to Seito, ready to ask him the question I’d spend most of last night debating.

  “Can you do me a favour? Can you drive me over to the motel after school?”

  “It’s about bloody time,” Seito said. “I was beginning to think you’d never ask.”

  “Is that a yes?”

  “It’s more of a smack for waiting so long, but yes, it’s a yes.”

  “Thanks.”

  * * *

  It was the longest Friday in my life.

  By the time English came around, I was about ready to fall to pieces. I still wasn’t sure about what I was going to say to Kian once I saw him. I’d been hoping I’d figure it out. But at the day slowly rolled to an end, I was still completely unsure of how to approach things. A very large part of me still wanted to go in and scream at him for about an hour until all the pain went away and that probably wasn’t the best approach. Another part wanted to fall to my knees and gush about how thankful I was that he’d helped Granny. But I could always be grateful once I’d gotten all the screaming out. What to do? I guess I’d have to wing it and I hated being unprepared.

  The classroom was relaxed considering it was a Friday. Ms. Gray was pretty lenient and offering us some last minute advice on the essays. She’d taken pity on everyone and given us the weekend for an extension. I was happy because it meant I’d be able to try and fix my paper but disappointed at the same time. So far I was homew
ork free, now I’d be busy again.

  Everyone was in happy spirits.

  But that stopped when someone pulled the fire alarm.

  There was a lot of confusion and laughter while the students dropped their books and filed out the classrooms and into the hallway. This wasn’t a drill. We were always informed ahead of time so everyone, even the teachers, looked confused.

  The panic didn’t start until people started smelling the smoke. It was drifting through the halls, coming from the direction of the library.

  I knew immediately what was happening. Lina had been right all along. They’d been biding their time until they’d devised a trap. I was completely alone and that’s exactly what they wanted. Seito was on the other side of the school and he wouldn’t get to me in time. I had two choices. I could try and navigate myself through the packed hallways and find him before Anique and Sobek caught up with me or I could wait in the classroom and be an easy target.

  I decided to move. Maybe they’d have more trouble spotting me in the crowd. I pushed my way in and started walking towards the closest exit. Bodies crowded against me, shoving me in the right direction. Ten feet ahead, a freshman tripped. People stepped over her, ignoring her cries. I stopped and grabbed her by the arm, her glasses had fallen off and been trampled to pieces under an army of shoes and boots.

  “Can you see?” I asked her once I managed to help her to her feet.

  “Yeah.” She was a little battered but she’d be fine.

  “Stick to the side, it’ll be easier.”

  The smoke was really filling up the halls now, adding to the confusion and panic. It was getting harder to see anything. I was having trouble scanning the crowd for Unfaded. There was no sign of Anique and Sobek, but I couldn’t find Seito either. A boy beside me had a coughing fit, his lungs burning. I couldn’t breathe either. I could feel the pressure building up inside of me as the smoke began to replace the oxygen in my veins.

  It was hard not to sink into the sea of endless panic. I kept getting pushed from behind and each time I’d try and twist myself around to make sure I wasn’t getting attacked. Dozens of faces surrounded me, wide eyes, open mouths, they blurred together in a smoky haze until I couldn’t tell who was who. I wasn’t even moving by choice anymore, bodies shoved me forward and I had no choice but to move along with them.