Paradox (Travelers Series Book 2) (8 page)

“You’re kidding me, right? This is totally beyond belief,” I say, on both counts. “And don’t think for a moment you’re going without me.” He spent the weekend trying to convince my dad I’m the leader of this future rebellion, but I’m not allowed to go and recruit my own team? And the deal with being friends with Jenny? Ridiculous.

He stops fiddling with the fireplace and looks at me for a moment. Maybe he knows how stubborn I can be or he’s thinking of the future me and what she—I?—might do if he doesn’t listen to me.

He sighs in resignation. “Fine, but it’s not going to be easy. Yes, these are our trusted friends, but remember, they don’t know us here in the present time. Not only that, but they come from different realities. Traveling can put a strain on you.”

I relax back into my chair. I’m sure he notices my smug smile. There’s no way I’m going to let him do everything for me. I don’t know why yet, but I’m their leader for a reason. If this is my fight and my team, I’m going. This past week I’ve relied on Cooper for a lot of things, but I’m not going to start making a habit of it.

“Thank you. Now, back to this Jenny thing. Seriously?” But maybe it isn’t as complicated as I imagine it to be. I mean, logically, I know there are various versions of us running around in other realities, but my confusion lies more with Jenny being my friend. She can’t possibly be. Jaime is my best friend, not the queen bee of bitchdom. Even though Cooper said she’s from a different reality, I have a hard time believing she’s changed. She always manages to remain the same in the two realities I already know her from.

He rejoins me on the chaise lounge. “There’s not a whole lot of difference between science and destiny when you’re talking about alternate universes. Scientifically speaking, there are multiple universes that play out different scenarios, as you are now well aware, but in every reality, we maintain relationships with the same people. Some people call it fate. We are forever linked, no matter what reality you’re in. In some, we’re friends, in others, foes.”

“So, there’s a Jenny running around who’s my ally in the other world?” Incredible. My biggest nemesis is now a friend and confidant. How the hell does something like this happen?

“Yes, and the Jenny we need to recruit is in Mexico City, in an alternate dimension,” he explains.

“We have to go to Mexico? I don’t even speak Spanish.”
This is going to be fun, but I did ask for it.
Maybe my protests to join him were premature. For some reason, I didn’t think he was being literal when he said we were going to look for my team. I mean, he already knows where to find them right?

“Aw, come on. It’ll be like an adventure,” he says, responding to my thoughts. “You can still back out, you know.”

There’s no way I’m backing out now. “I think I can handle it, thank you. And stop reading my mind.”

“Sorry, can’t help it. Your mind is practically screaming sarcasm. Look, she’s an essential part of the team, Etta. Without her and her family’s resources, we don’t get far in overtaking Thornberry.”

“Oh, right and by resources, you mean she’s rich.” Jenny comes from a pretty influential family, her father being the Mexican Ambassador and all. I think her family also owns a beer distributorship or something like that. In this reality anyway. She must have a similar life in Mexico if she’s still well-off.

I’m rewarded with another one of Cooper’s brilliant smiles. “Well, that and the other thing.”

“What’s that?” I can’t wait to hear this one.

“She’s a medium. Jenny can speak to the dead.”

Holy crap!
This is the first time Cooper’s ever mentioned others possessing psionic abilities like the two of us. I know my dad conducted tests on more than just me and Cooper, but no one’s ever brought up what their individual powers are. I wonder how many of them there are. “Can she do that in this reality?”

He shakes his head. “Not that I’m aware of. Apparently, she was one of your father’s test subjects, so as far as I know, her gifts are only present in the Jenny we’re going to look for.”

I chew on this bit of information for a moment. I know he said we’d be going to search for our future team, but it never occurred to me they’d have special abilities too. “Jenny’s not the only one is she? We’re going to be recruiting others like us, aren’t we?”

“You, Etta my darlin’, he starts, “when we’re done, are going to have one super team.”

“And I’m sure you’re including yourself in that statement.” I nudge him in the arm. “So, who’s on our list?”

“Well, I just told you about Jenny. Then there’s Taylor, Moose, the Dyson twins, and to answer your question, yes, yours truly.”

“That’s it?” In my head, I imagine I’d have this whole entourage, that’s not even enough for a baseball team. How are we supposed to take over Thornberry with just seven of us?

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, darlin’. Of course there are more, but these are your key lieutenants,” he explains. “These individuals are not only your friends, but they have the gifts necessary in order to succeed.”

In other words, they all have powers like mine. Well, that’s good news, at least. I was beginning to think this was some dink operation. Then again, I trust Cooper, so if he says I’m leading a powerhouse of a team, I believe him.

“So, where to first?” I hope he doesn’t bring up Mexico again. I think I can wait until I’ve met some of the others before I have to face alternate Jenny.

A
s much as I hate to admit it, I’m beginning to miss Cooper taking me to school. When I first arrived here in this reality, he served as part bodyguard, part tour guide, until I got situated in my new role here. When I was brought back to this world, everyone in this reality went on as if I was always a part of it, as if I’d never left. I’m still not sure how that works, but unfortunately, I’m left with all the memories of the orphan reality, but without the ones the others have in this one. It’s like a charade, being the girl everyone expects me to be, but I’m pretty sure I’m not who they think I am.

Without Cooper to watch over me, I take the long way to Dominion Hall, and wish I’d played sick this morning to get out of having to go to school. For the second time this morning, I wish Cooper was with me. It’s comforting to know he has my back, even if it’s only from the sidelines.

For the first half of the day, I manage to avoid Alex and Jenny. I begin to relax and go to my classes without thinking about them too much. For the most part, I’m invisible, as far as Jenny is concerned. That is, until I get to English class.

I stare at the empty seat next to me and think of Jaime. Since I manage to avoid pretty much everyone, I’m not sure what the rumor mill has spun with regard to Jaime and her sudden disappearance. It’s been two days now, surely they’ve started to wonder. Then again, I’m probably being overdramatic. They probably think she’s just out sick.

Oh, but not Jenny. “So really, what happened to Jaime? Did her parents decide she was a loser and un-adopt her?”

The giggling in the background breaks my train of thought. You’d think Jenny and her league of minions would have learned their lesson after yesterday’s foray in the mud. “Are you sure you want to go there Jenny?” I threaten.

Her eyes pierce through mine, waiting a split second too long before responding. That’s when I know I have her. She truly is afraid of me at this point. I didn’t think it was possible to get under that thick skin of hers, but I got her. I realize her nasty comment is just for show, so as not to appear weak in front of her fledglings.

“Whatev’s,” is all that manages to come out before she takes her seat.

The rest of the period goes by without me paying attention to anything the teacher is lecturing on. All I can do is continue to glance over at Jaime’s empty seat and pray for the millionth time that she’s okay.

•  •  •

All in all, school wasn’t as bad today as it was yesterday. Mainly because I didn’t bump into Alex. I have a sneaking suspicion he’s avoiding me, just as much as I’m trying to avoid him. Other than the little altercation with Jenny in class, things were pretty normal and no one asked about Jaime. Again, not that I really expected them to.

I head straight home from school and decide to search for her again. I know I’m taking a big risk, especially since the last time I astraled and almost got caught by Thornberry, but I wouldn’t have astraled to that weird government building unless Jaime was there too. It’s a chance I’m willing to take, if it means saving my friend.

I don’t even bother to announce to anyone I’m home from school. I go directly to my room and make myself comfortable on my bed. I let my mind relax as I focused on a mental image of Jaime’s face. I try to visualize her in her last moments there at her house and do the breathing exercises that allows my mind to relax. Each time I try to astral project, it gets a little bit easier. I find myself being able to clear all the random thoughts roaming around in my head and get a good hold of Jaime’s image.

Soon, my eyes begin to flutter and my mind wavers onto another plane. Still conscious of my physical presence, I begin to feel a slight chill and then, just as instantly as I recall closing my eyes, I’m transported back to the building where I last tried to locate Jaime.

Like before, the halls are cold and desolate as I walk freely around the building. Where is everyone? Surely, this is still a functional military base or government building, if that’s what it is. I know I’m at the same place because the walls still bear the same photos of military war heroes and battlegrounds. As I continue to study the photos, I notice the bumps along the concrete wall and realize I’ve been in this building before. It’s the same one that housed me as an orphan and it’s the same one I go to everyday in my current reality, Dominion Hall Academy. No wonder I thought it familiar the last time.

Exactly what is it about this building? Then I remember Cooper telling me about how we maintain the same relationships in every reality. I guess that applies to buildings too. I can only imagine how many transformations in all the different realities this building has gone through. So far, I know it as Dominion House for Girls and Dominion Hall Academy. I wonder what they call this building in this reality. Dominion Military, Inc.? Only seems fitting, with all the military references.

Just as I’m getting comfortable loitering around, I hear footsteps. Careful not to let myself known, I fade through one of the rooms—it’s kinda neat to be able to walk through walls. Thankfully, this means I don’t need the code or keycard for the security keypad. That and I’m relived to find the room empty. I guess luck is on my side for a change. Before securing a hiding spot, I take a quick glance around the room to get my bearings. I may be an apparition, but I can still be seen. The room is full of medical equipment, much like a storage facility one might find in a hospital, where they keep supplies and machines when not in use. I’m glad I didn’t go into a room where they actually perform whatever it is they do with these contraptions. This ranks high on the creep factor when you start to see medical equipment in a building that’s supposedly reserved for the military.

I can still hear the clap of shoes against the tile flooring and instinct tells me to hide behind one of the machines. I don’t dare try to take a chance and float through any of the other adjoining rooms. I got lucky this room wasn’t occupied when I went through the door. I don’t want to know what’s behind the other walls in this place. Logically, I know whoever it is can’t actually hear me move as my presence is merely an image of myself—it’s not like you can hear my footsteps. Still, I can’t take the chance that whoever it is actually saw me and decided to investigate.

Good thing I went with my gut instinct to hide behind one of the larger machines. The door opens gently, as if the person behind it knows I’m lurking somewhere within the room and doesn’t want me to know. Whatever, as if I can’t hear the hinges of the door creak. And of course, try as I might to be quiet, I have to sneeze. There’s nothing I can do to block the sound, as I have no control over my physical body.

“Gazuntite.” The voice belongs to a woman. The gesture is almost sarcastic in tone, as if she knows I’ve been caught and it’s only a matter of time before she finds me. I give whoever it is credit. It’s almost instinct for me to say “thank you,” but I catch myself before replying back. My guess is, she hoped I’d slip up and respond. For the first time, I wonder if the person knows it’s me that’s been snooping around the building. If she knows my identity, then I’m in more trouble than I realize.

Even though I don’t make another sound, I can tell she knows I’m in here by the shuffling of her feet. Quickly, I find the first thing that comes within my line of vision. A box of sterile gloves catch my eye and I immediately focus on the box and will it to fall off the top shelf. I visualize the box moving and it begins to rock on the shelf until it ultimately falls, causing a big plop sound against on the floor. This should occupy the woman long enough to keep the heat off me, while I try to astral back. There’s no way I want to get caught being here. It’s not to late for me to go fade through the wall next to me, but I don’t really want to know what’s lurking behind that room. So, astraling back is my only option.

“What the—” Is all a hear before I find myself back into my corporeal body.

My eyes slowly adjust to the light from my bedroom. Funny, I don’t remember having the lights on when I settled in my bed. And that’s when I realize just how busted I am. I don’t know what’s worse: getting caught by the mystery woman, for being in a place I shouldn’t be, or by my aunt for using my powers when I shouldn’t be.

Her face comes into focus. “Now, I know you weren’t just sleeping.” Aunt Maggie doesn’t look angry as much as she looks concerned.

“I’m in big trouble aren’t I?” I’d promised I wouldn’t use my new power unless it was absolutely necessary. And even then, under the direct supervision of my father. Not that there would ever be a time when astral projecting is warranted according to him, considering the dangers involved, but those are the rules.