“Then I’m worried about your health.”
“I’m not worried about yours, I already know you’re just a whack job.” Ugh, that was a quick and cringe-worthy comeback. Usually I was better than that. Cedrix must have knocked a few thousand-brain cells out of me.
“What did you just call me?” Don’t make me repeat it. The unbearable cringe-
“A whack job.” And I said it.
“Okay guys. Let’s have no more fighting today.” Landon interrupted. “Nova was doing pretty well before Cedrix showed up and I don’t doubt that she’ll continue to do well.”
“We’ll see how long that lasts.” Halo jumped up, her boobs following her and practically slapping her in her face. As if she could even reach her arms past her chest to hit me anyway.
Apparently she’d found a way because suddenly her red nail had sliced through my cheekbone and her fist had wrapped itself around my hair.
“Hey now! This isn’t fighting, this is just catty,” I shouted over her yelling in an attempt to get her off my scalp before she ripped it off entirely.
Finally she let go, but not without taking a chunk of my hair. I felt my vision turn red as I stared at the silver strands in her hand and instantly wanted to send her to her next life where I’d kill her again and again and again... and you get the picture.
Heck, I could have if my own cockiness hadn’t made an appearance.
I’d been doing pretty well, delivering swift and hard hits to her face (not that she could feel any of it with the amount of plastic in her body) but then I felt someone yank me off her and throw me onto my back.
Ace looked over me, his hands pinning me to the mat and legs either side of me. I looked down wearily and struggled underneath him.
“That’s not fair,” I panted and tried to bash my head against his but my neck didn’t stretch that far. A shame considering how good it would have felt. Maybe it would have bashed his Totem back into his head.
“Figured it was my turn,” he murmured, his tongue flicked against his bottom lip and I followed the movement with a clenched jaw. This would have been the moment he looked down at us and made a suggestive comment but instead he stood up and offered me a hand.
There was no way I was going to fool for that.
I reached my hand out towards his and just as we were about to meet I swiped my leg behind his knees and caused him to tumble down. I’d planned on rolling out just in time to jump up and fight him but as he fell he grabbed hold of my waist, turning me with him until I was a tangled heap on top of him.
Now he would make a suggestive comment. Ace opened his mouth with a faint smirk but was interrupted when a voice echoed throughout the room: “I believe I’ve found a way to follow Totems. Can you all come up for some testing?” Vix ordered.
There was a series of groans as we began making our way towards the pod to go up a level.
“What was that?” Fynn murmured.
“What was what?” I asked, taking long gulps of water and following the others.
“You and Ace.”
“You’re actually delusional.” I rolled my eyes and clambered into the pod where we all panted heavily.
“Did Cedrix hear?” Aeron asked and we all looked towards the man punching his dummy vigorously with his headphones in.
Ace didn’t wait for a reply before throwing a water bottle towards him; it sailed through the air and smacked Cedrix directly in the head. He looked up puzzled then eagerly leapt his way over to us in long strides.
The doors closed before he had a chance to climb in and we looked through the glass as his face turned into a scow. The others laughed loudly.
“Tough luck big guy.” Ace shrugged and waved a hand as we began to move.
CHAPTER 8
Time: 1st August 1979
Location: United States of America, California
Vix was a genius: an actual genius who never ceased to impress me. His theory seemed to work, we found a way to follow each other’s Totems into the past. Now if we saw the Raven whilst meditating, we would actually be able to follow him instead of watching in despair as he floated away. It took a crap ton of attention and you had to know what you were looking for or else other Totems were barely noticeable. But they were there.
I was attempting to find Halo’s moth and when I caught a glimpse of it I followed it until I appeared in my 1979 body.
Wow, it had been a while Nicki. This was the life after my 1940s life and was about 4 years after my neighbour (Robert from the last mission) had died. I’d only ever visited this life once, mainly because you weren’t much use in a seventeen-year-olds body with the strictest dad. Even then it was just to take notes on what the life was so I could read my logs if I ever had a mission in that life.
I’d visited all my lives when I first discovered the ability with Vix and Landon. After visiting all 208 lives my memories seemed to refresh. I’d remember tiny details... like where all that information was in my 1940 mission or the fact there wasn’t meant to be a wooden bird on the payphone. I seemed to remember less about any life before the 1800s though. I couldn’t even name a life before then without needing to scroll through the logs.
Everything came into focus and I held onto the bedpost staring around at my old pink bedroom covered up in various posters of old bands. I quickly realised I had no idea how to find Halo.
Quickly, I searched for my calendar finding it on the back of my door as I’d left it.
There were 5 months left till I died. 19th December 1979. She had the day marked as her first day of Christmas holidays on their annual trip to Colorado to ski. Little did she know, she’d marked the very day she would die.
I yanked open a drawer and pulled out my diary and read yesterday’s entry. Christopher (my old boyfriend) had taken me to the movies to watch Alien. I shuddered, instantly remembering the first time I’d seen it.
Today was a day spent at home, I remembered correctly that I stayed in bed and attempted not to remember the freakish film.
It’d have to change - sorry Nicki no time to catch up on sleep. I had to find Halo.
I sat crossed-legged on the floor and calmed my breathing, this meditating crap was boring but it needed to be done if I were to find Halo.
I saw the moth, floating in front of me teasingly. I stood following my mind, which in turn followed the moth. Gradually I weaved my way through my old home and clambered into my dad’s car, he was in the backyard playing catch with my half brother Michael so he wouldn’t notice.
Nicki didn’t know how to drive but thankfully I did.
Now a lot of stuff could go wrong, so I kept to the speed limit and followed the god damn moth. I’d been driving for a good hour until I arrived outside a public swimming pool.
Here? She was here?
The moth floated persistently until I stepped out of the car and walked over to the metal fence. I peered through, watching children as they splashed into the pool and teenagers who were jumping off a diving board and blasting music.
I entered and scanned the area for the moth. It was flying over towards a brown skinned figure sunbathing. I stood over Halo, covering her with my shadow.
She opened her eyes and scowled. “Took you long enough, can we go back now?”
“I was an hour away.” I crossed my arms in front of my chest irritably, Halo looked nothing like how she did in her future. For one, her chest was flatter and she now had frizzy brown hair and looked about ten years older.
“Can I help you?” she suddenly said her voice hinting she had a Mexican accent and she looked at me puzzled.
You had to be kidding me. Halo just left me here?
“Oh no, don’t worry.”
She just freaking left? I travelled an hour for her just to go back?
“I’m just kidding.” A hysterical giggle erupted from Halo and I turned sharply to her.
“That sure as hell wasn’t funny,” I sneered. “I’ve got to drive Nicki back now, she can’t drive.”
“Well at least we know we can follow each other’s Totems. Come on, let’s get her back and go home.”
The hour back with Halo was a pain in the ass and I ended up getting an earful from my dad. His quickly receding hairline and red forehead kept me entertained, although I felt bad for leaving Nicki with such a hassle. I was thankful I didn’t have that obstacle in the future. It would be a burden.
Eventually, I snuck Halo into my room and I followed her moth back to the present. Halo promised to sneak out before Nicki realised she was there.
Somehow, despite leaving way after me Halo woke up just moments after me.
Vix was there to greet us, relief on his face to see us back in one piece. The others were dotted around the room, eyes closed and each attached to monitors.
“You’re the first ones awake,” Vix said and lent me a hand to sit up. I took it shakily and began rolling my head side to side in an attempt to relax my muscles.
“Can we find a way to bring our Totems in? I’m not going to be able to get back with the Raven when he dies… unless he changes sides of course.”
Vix nodded his head. “Yeah we’ll try that next. You just have to force your Totem with you.”
“How are you feeling?” Ace opened one eye from across me. He was sat crossed-legged on the floor in an attempt to search for his Totem.
I replied with a wince. “A little tired.”
“I was talking to Halo.” He crossed his arms and turned his head towards Halo. Someone’s a little snarky still. Halo shrugged and swung her legs off the side.
“I feel fine.”
“You’re supposed to keep your eyes closed,” Vix scolded, narrowing his eyes at Ace.
“It’s not working,” Ace snapped. He jumped abruptly to his feet and poured himself a glass of water.
“Well maybe if you-”
“Ughhhh!” Came a long groan from the other side of the room, Fynn clutched his head and rolled onto his side.
Aeron who was across the room shouted out, suddenly bolting upright with a loud shout slamming his head on the light above him, we all jumped towards them.
“What? What happened?” Vix asked urgently, examining their heart rates and flashing a light in Fynn’s eyes. Ouch.
Aeron stumbled to the floor and crumbled into a heap. “Can someone turn off the lights?”
“The others aren’t back yet,” Halo said, lending him a hand. I stood in the centre of the room wondering what the hell was going on, Fynn was clutching his head, his face growing red with suppressed pain.
“Holy shit. What happened to you?” Ace contributed. Aeron self-consciously ran a hand through his purple hair and sat up straight.
“Well, Fynn took his time finding me.” Aeron took generous sips of water and he brought his knees to his chest.
“Wow, make me seem like the twat why don’t you.” Fynn shrugged Vix away from him with a groan and lay back down.
“What life did you go to?”
“1790, how was I supposed to know he was a slave?” Aeron grumbled under his breath. “I thought they were freed by then...”
I rolled my eyes, and that was why we did our homework - reading each other’s logs. Or just brush up on history in general because he was about 60 years too early.
“It’s not that difficult to remember. Half of my lives are useless because I’m always a slave you idiot.” Fynn had an arm covering both his eyes and went to rub his temples softly. Time Bending had always given him a headache. It had apparently gotten significantly worse the more he did it, especially going further back than the 19th century.
I cringed. How could Aeron have made that mistake?
“But then I’d only have like one life with you and you’d know it easily! We were supposed to surprise you,” Aeron exclaimed in an attempt to defend himself. Fynn didn’t look too impressed by him.
“I have other lives further back where it’s fine,” Fynn retorted.
“Oh? So what happened to half your lives being in slavery-?”
“Okay shut up,” I snapped. “Aeron, you’re just useless, do your studying.” I looked at Fynn and felt my heart clench at the way his eyes were glazed over like he might be sick. “Fynn are you okay?”
He grimaced. “I haven’t – haven’t been to any lives like that since the first time.”
That was a dark year. Fynn’s second year here had consisted of visiting former lives and filling out logs. The emotional strain of those lives sent him into a long depression. I could kill Aeron for not using his brain and making Fynn go back to that time - it was unnecessary.
Aeron bit his lip nervously and wrung his hands together. “I’m sorry.”
Fynn waved his hand. “It’s fine. It was supposed to be a surprise anyway. I’ll get you back in training.”
Aeron’s face paled and he turned to Vix. “Well I guess I should just quit now. Who wants to volunteer doing this full-time?”
“Not me.” Fynn sat up gradually and I handed him a glass of water. “Thanks,” he mumbled.
“How did you get back without Aeron’s Totem?”
“Managed to use my own, thank god,” Fynn replied, rubbing his eyes again. Well, at least we knew it was possible to use our own Totems now.
Ace meanwhile was helping himself to a drink and standing over Cedrix who lay peacefully snoring. “Is Cedrix asleep?” Halo asked, also appearing next to Ace.
“You out of everyone should know he can sleep easily.” Ace raised an eyebrow at her offering his drink to me.
“What’s that supposed to mean Ace?” Halo sneered.
“It means I know you’ve been sleeping with another Time Bender. And that’s against the rules.”
My eyes widened and I wondered if he thought I could still hear him or whether he thought I was too focused on Landon - waiting for him to arrive back.
She was sleeping with a team member, was he being serious?
Halo made a low growl in her throat and my ears perked up curiously.
“Whatever... you... too much... on... Nova...” What? What was she saying? I couldn’t hear over the persistent beeping.
“Nova?” I looked up at Fynn who was watching me expectantly. “You alright?” he repeated. I nodded my head in reply.
“Is Landon back yet?” Fynn began to say before there was an even louder beeping sound. We froze startled by the noise and looked around intently.
Vix jumped to his feet, flying across from us to where Landon lay - the surface beneath him glowing red and continuing to beep.
“Get me the-” Vix began screaming, but Ace was already holding a metallic rod to Vix. He snatched it quickly.
Landon’s shirt was ripped down the middle and Vix had shoved the rod into his chest until a popping noise was made, followed by a long hiss. The beep paused for a moment before beginning again, filling the entire room.
The rest of us stood around helpless as we began to watch Landon’s body convulse and jolt. He was in some kind of mental paralysis - stuck between the past and the present.
“Landon!” Vix began calling, gently pinching his arms and legs, trying to bring him back down to reality.
“Can someone stop that beeping?” Aeron whined, his hands were pressed to his ears and eyes were screwed shut. I sneered - weak. A flicker of shame washed over me. Maybe he had some kind of trauma to do with loud noises. I scoffed, what did I care?
Fynn managed to sort the settings out on Landon’s monitor until it was just a faint beeping we could all cope with. “Everyone out!” Vix shouted loudly standing over Landon distressed.
Everyone left the room panicked. Halo was weeping softly. I backed out of the room last, staring at Landon’s body as it went slack and his eyes opened and stared right through me.
Vix came out after fifteen minutes of us all staring at the door shocked. “He’s stabilised.”
Halo was the first
to rush back into the room and over to the table where he lay, his head hung to his side and his mouth was opened slightly. He looked dead.
As everyone crowded around Landon’s body that was now hooked to various items of equipment I stood back with Vix.
“What is it?” I asked quietly.
“What I feared.”
And that was enough for me to realise we had lost Landon.
CHAPTER 9
Time: Present
Location: Prospect
Halo didn’t leave Landon’s side for two weeks. She stayed, holding his hand refilling IVs, brushing his hair, washing his face. She even shaved him at one point.
When Vix tried to explain to her what was wrong with him she started shouting over his words refusing to listen - let alone believe any of it, so then I attempted to talk to her.
It began with me arriving on Landon’s level where he had been moved to, I found Halo right where I had expected her to be: right by his side. I’d never seen her look so vulnerable… stripped from her makeup, hair tied up and bags under her eyes. She looked like the past: crumpled, damaged and vulnerable.
“You look like shit.” I crossed my arms and leant against the doorframe. Her face turned to me blotched and tear-stained. Instantly I felt bad. She was clearly hurting and me bullying her wasn’t going to do any good.
“You should get some sleep,” I said but it came out harsher than I had intended. This wasn’t like me at all - to come up here and offer kindness. Well, I wish I could say it was out of kindness but really I thought she needed to get a move on and stop slacking.
“You aren’t helping so just leave us alone.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand and leant over Landon again.
“Believe it or not but we’re trying to help.” I narrowed my eyes at her and flicked my ponytail over a shoulder tilting my head up. “What does Cedrix think?”
Her breath caught and then she shuddered. “Cedrix has the brain of a cow, why are you asking?”
My face lifted into a condescending smile. “I think you should cut it off before it becomes a problem. Don’t you think?”
NOVA: The Time Bender Series Book 1 Page 7