The Edge of Forever (18 page)

Alora doesn’t say anything once we’re on the path. She walks fast, like she doesn’t want to be here. I match her pace and check out the forest. Sun streaks through the trees, mixing dark with light. It gives the place a creepy atmosphere. I try to locate the abandoned house, but I don’t see it anywhere.

The silence is getting to me. “So, have you lived here your whole life?”

Her jaw tenses before she says, “No.”

“Okay then,” I say slowly. “So how long have you lived here?”

“Ten years. Why?”

“No particular reason. Just trying to get to know you better.”

“Right.” She folds her arms across her chest and speeds up. “The river’s just up ahead.”

Wondering why she seemed so evasive when I asked a simple question, I decide to leave it alone for now.

The sound of flowing water reaches us before we get to the river. Alora visibly relaxes the closer we get. When we emerge from the forest, she smiles. A genuine smile that makes my pulse speed up. I stop and close my eyes. This is ridiculous. I’ve got to be having this kind of reaction because of her resemblance to Vika. Still, that’s messed up.

Alora runs to a pier jutting out over the river. She sinks on the wooden planks and hugs her legs close to her body. I sit next to her, waiting for her to say something. Dad always told me if a girl doesn’t want to talk, pushing her won’t work.

“This is my favorite place to go,” Alora finally says. “It’s really peaceful out here.”

I nod. “I know what you mean.”

Alora looks at me. “Do you have somewhere you like to go back home?”

“Yes.” I think of the mountains. I remember all the times Dad used to take me and Shan camping. All the times I went with Zed and Elijah. If I hadn’t been so determined to find out what Dad wanted me to do, I’d be there right now. My throat tightens.

“I can tell you miss it.”

A sense of loss hits me. I hadn’t thought about it, being so obsessed with my dad, but that’s a part of my life I’ll never get back. I swallow past the lump in my throat and whisper, “Yeah, I do.”

A muffled sound shatters the moment. Alora reaches into her pocket and withdraws her phone. She peers at the screen and lets out a little yelp. “I’ve got to take this. I’ll be right back.”

She strides off the pier and walks in a crazy pattern, going in one direction and then another. She finally stops near the woods. Her words drift back to me, soft, yet urgent.

While Alora talks, I try to figure out what’s wrong with her. Obviously, she’s not comfortable talking about her past. It has to be the key to why Dad wanted to save her. But what could be so important? I’ve got to somehow draw the info out of her.

But how without sounding like a nosy creeper?

Alora ends the call and walks back to the pier. Maybe I can get something out of her now. I scratch the back of my neck and try to act bored. “Important call?” I ask all smooth-like.

“I thought it was,” she says in a quiet voice.

“Anything you want to share?” I hope I’m not pushing it with that line.

She grows serious, narrowing her eyes at me. “Why do you care?”

Think, Bridger. Dig yourself out of this before she clams up completely. “You seemed a little stressed earlier. And then you were all excited about that call, but now you seem kind of sad again. I’m concerned, that’s all.”

Her expression softens. “I’m sorry. I’ve just had a lot on my mind lately.”

“I know what you mean.”

I leave it at that and hope like hell that Alora will decide to trust me. She just looks at me, then back at the river. My mind screams for me to do something.

Finally, she sighs. “I can’t believe I’m going to do this, but I need to tell somebody.” She takes a deep breath. “That was a guy named John Miller, but not the one I’m looking for. I’ve been trying to contact the one who was my father’s friend. I’ve searched a lot of phone numbers belonging to guys with that name, and I’ve been calling them, trying to figure out which one is the right number.” Alora looks down at her phone like it’s the most important thing in the world. “I’m still looking.”

“Why do you need to talk to him?”

Alora seems unsure if she wants to continue.

“It’s okay,” I say. “If you don’t want to tell me, I get it.”

She closes her eyes for a moment, and then looks up at the sky. “My dad left me with Aunt Grace when I was six, and I don’t know why. I can’t remember much of anything before that. Hell, I don’t even know if my parents are still alive.”

“Why did he do that?”

“I don’t know, and Aunt Grace won’t tell me. She says he never told her, but I think she’s lying.”

“Why would she lie to you?”

“She thinks the truth could damage me,” Alora says with a scowl.

My mind reels. Alora is having a hard time remembering anything from her childhood. And my father wanted to save her. Somehow I think the two are tied together. I wonder if it’s possible that someone used a Mind Redeemer on her. Or maybe it’s just because she was so young.

“So, that’s why I’m looking for answers on my own.” Alora stops and lets out a heavy sigh. “You have no idea what it’s like, going every day not being able to remember my own parents. I mean, I knew them once, but in a way it’s like I never did. And I kind of feel cheated, you know?” Her eyes fill with tears.

Fure, I’m in uncharted territory here. I have no clue how to deal with an emotional female. “Um, well, you could . . .” I begin, but something over Alora’s shoulder catches my attention.

Just inside the tree line, the air in one spot is rippling. Like the air over a flame. I blink, thinking it’s just my imagination. But the ripple is still there each time I open my eyes.

It’s a cloaked person in the forest. And since that technology doesn’t exist in this time, it has to be a Time Bender.

I spring to my feet and run toward whomever it is.

“What’s the matter?” Alora asks.

I don’t respond. What can I say?
Oh, it’s nothing, just an invisible time traveler watching us.
Someone who could be reporting my location back to the DTA right now.

I get to the tree line, but whoever was there moments before is gone. I turn around, my head snapping from side to side. I don’t see anything. What I’d give for a comm-set right now.

Alora comes up by me, her face pale. “Did you see someone?”

Even though I’m worried about who was spying on us, I can’t help but notice how shaken she is. “I thought I did, but it’s nothing.”

“Are you sure?” She’s peering into the forest, as if she expects someone to pop out at any moment.

I place a hand on her shoulder. Weird, but I feel all protective. “I’m positive. I guess my mind was playing tricks on me.”

Alora’s muscles relax under my fingers. “Oh, okay.” She offers a thin smile. “You know, I need to get back to the house. I’ve got some things I need to do.”

“That’s probably a good idea.”

We talk as we make our way back through the forest. Alora still seems on edge. I try to keep her mind off whatever scared her back there. I can’t help but feel that something else happened to Alora recently in the forest. Something she doesn’t want to tell me.

I don’t know what that could be, but I do know one thing. From now on, I’m staying close to Alora. I’ll try to figure out why her parents apparently abandoned her.

21

ALORA

APRIL 13, 2013

S
ela turns in the long, paved driveway leading up to Levi’s house. The closer we get, the harder my heart hammers and the more I wish I’d stayed home. What if Trevor tries to start something? I rub my arm where he grabbed me a few days ago. There’s a small bruise on it.

Cars and trucks line the driveway. Sela parks and pulls her phone out of her purse. Her fingers fly over the screen.

“Who are you texting?” I ask

“Jess.”

Oh, yes. We can’t forget about the Brainless Twins.

After a moment, the phone chirps and Sela reads the message. “Jess says she and Miranda are waiting by the front door.”

“Great,” I mutter. As I climb out of the car, the hem of my dress rides up and two guys passing by notice. One leers at me. I tug it back down, wishing I had on a pair of jeans. I feel too slutty in this thing.

“Do I look okay?” Sela asks, coming up next to me. She smoothes the bottom of her dress and rearranges the top, making sure her cleavage is showing. She’s blessed up there. Sela may have lost a lot of weight, but the boobs stayed.

“You’re gorgeous.” I try to grin, but I’m sure it looks more like a grimace. All I can focus on is Levi’s house and the muffled music drifting from within. A few people are standing around outside, talking and laughing. I wonder where Trevor is.

Bridger climbs out of the back seat and joins us. “So, ladies, are you ready?”

No. And I swear, from the expression on his face, he’s not either.

“Oh, yes,” Sela says, grabbing Bridger’s hand and mine. “Come on, you two. I’m ready to dance!”

My feet move forward, but my mind screams for me to stay at the car. I don’t know if I can do this.

“It’s okay. I’m here with you,” Bridger whispers, his warm breath tickling my ear.

“Thanks.” Funny, but it makes me feel a tiny bit better. I may not know Bridger very well, but I’d rather be with him than most anyone else here.

The Brainless Twins practically assault Sela when they see us. They hug her and gush about how much fun they’re having. Of course, they ignore me, but flash dazzling, plastic smiles at Bridger.

After introducing them, Sela touches Bridger on the arm. “Promise you’ll dance with me, okay?”

Bridger’s cuts his eyes from Sela to me. “Um . . . sure.”

Yeah, Sela is definitely not subtle.

Once we’re inside, I can’t hear anything, much less think. From where we’re standing, it seems like every inch is packed with people, many of them holding plastic cups or beer bottles. Levi supposedly invites certain people to his parties, but it looks like the entire school came. And the smell . . . let’s just say I imagine the boys’ locker room smells something like this. I want to go back outside, but Miranda has other ideas—she leads us to a large den that’s the source of the music.

Sela grabs my hand again. “Let’s dance!”

I shake my head. I’m pretty sure I’ll look like someone having a seizure.

Sela frowns. “Oh, come on!”

“You go ahead,” Bridger says to her. “I’ll stay with Alora.” He puts a hand on my shoulder. My skin tingles under his touch.

Sela rolls her eyes. “Suit yourself, but you’re gonna be miserable if you just stand around all night.” Then she disappears into the crowd with the Brainless Twins trailing her, leaving me feeling abandoned.

My spine stiffens—all I want to do is get out of here. I almost decide to flee, but the warmth radiating from Bridger brings me back to reality. No. I’m not going to run away like a spoiled brat. I’m here and I’m going to make the best of it.

Somehow.

I start to speak to Bridger, but his expression makes me pause. His eyes dart from person to person, almost like he’s searching for someone in particular. Probably someone who’s not so lame to hang out with.

He suddenly looks over at me. “You know, you really look like you don’t want to go out there.”

“No, not really,” I reply, turning my attention back to Sela. Now she’s laughing with those twits.

“I don’t believe you. And you know what? I think you don’t want to go out there because you think you’ll look too weird.”

I glance sharply at him. It’s almost like he can read my mind. “What would you know about that?”

“I get it. I used to be the same way when I started going to a dance club back home, but I got over it. I thought everyone would talk about how wild I looked out there. Then I realized nobody gave a shit. They just wanted to have a good time. I wanted to have a good time.” He touches the tip of my nose. “And I think you want to have a good time.”

My heart is full-on galloping. His eyes are so intense, it’s like he can see my soul. But that’s completely ridiculous and cliché. Still, he’s right. I’ve never been invited to a party before. I’ve been content, but I don’t remember being really happy.

I
want
to be happy.

I want to have a good time, even if it’s for one night.

Bridger takes me by the hand. “Would you like to dance?”

I nod and his fingers tighten around mine. Before I know it I’m in the middle of the den, surrounded by dozens of writhing bodies.

I freeze, feeling stupid.

Bridger says, “Relax. Forget about everyone and focus on me.”

He begins to move with the music. I hesitate, but he pulls me toward him, so close I can’t help but move with him. I feel weird at first, but soon I just concentrate on Bridger as his body molds against mine, moving in perfect sync with me. As I loosen up, everything else melts away. It’s just the two of us. I laugh, feeling more alive than I have in a long time.

We dance for two more songs until I see a familiar figure pushing his way through the crowd.

Trevor.

His eyes are fixed on me. And he doesn’t look happy.

“Are you okay?” Bridger asks.

I don’t have time to answer before Trevor reaches us. His eyes comb my entire body in a way that makes me want to shower in bleach.

“Hey, Alora. You wanna dance?” His words are slurred, and even with the mass consumption of alcohol going on all around us, the smell of beer on him is overpowering.

Bridger’s mouth presses to a thin line as he faces Trevor. And he has to look up. Trevor’s about three or four inches taller than Bridger, but he doesn’t let that intimidate him. Bridger stands up straighter and squares his shoulders.

“She’s dancing with me.”

Trevor barely glances at him. “I didn’t ask you.”

“And I didn’t hear her say yes.” Bridger’s hands curl into fists.

I refuse to let them fight in the middle of the party. It’ll ruin everything. I jump between them and put my hands on their chests and push. “Stop it.”

Bridger’s eyes snap from Trevor to me. “I won’t start anything.”

Trevor points a finger at Bridger. “’Course you won’t. Ain’t nobody gonna mess with me.”