Cynaline teleported the car back into the alley way we came from. It didn't feel any better than before. It was as instantaneous as blinking.
As Cynaline drove out of the garage, I got a good look at Zinoray’s house. It looked like a small, Greek temple built from smooth, black and gray river stones. The rainbow of neighborhood houses all faced each other in a circle, with a vast field making up their backyards.
Families sat on their porches, enjoying the sunny weather and listening to music. Dorothy pointed out a couple watching a small TV in the backyard, sitting on a long couch. The delicious smell of cookout danced in the air and made me realize how hungry I was.
A wide street carried us out of the neighborhood, past the sprouting bean fields and distant willow tree forests, and into the city once again. Actually, those might've been corn fields.
Or both, as Cynaline informed us. They were like beans, but grew in ears like corn. Something called bemen.
“Do they have big hotels where you're from?” Cynaline asked with a curious smile. “I saw a few pictures of some in India, but I know that's not where you're from.”
“There’s some expensive ones, smaller ones, motels,” Dorothy said.
“Have you stayed in one?”
“Not a giant one. Just a normal one.”
“Cool, cuz that's where we're going. Zinoray found out that one of the Incarnates are in there. He tried getting a reservation, but they rejected him, so we have to check in up front. Ooh, I'm so excited! I never stayed in a hotel before.”
“Never?”
“Nuh uh. I don't know anyone who did. I think my cousin went for a convention, but that was it.”
I was a little lost. “Wait, I thought the Incarnates were in the library? Those weapons.”
“They’re replicas,” Cynaline clarified. “The real ones can disguise themselves as anything, and since none of the owners ever said what theirs looked like, they just printed everyone's interpretation. They're basically movie props.”
“So, does Zinoray work at the Mind?”
He laughed. “No. He works at a grocery store. I'll worry about the Incarnate stuff. Just relax.”
I realized I forgot to put on my glasses—bad habit. Now that everything was clear and not a blurry, glowy mess, I rested my head on the window and melted into the cozy beauty of the Zarcrotian countryside.
Cynaline pulled a Ziploc of chocolate cookies from the center console and handed me one.
“Thought you might want some more,” he beamed. “I got the recipe from my cooking teacher. I used my own ingredients in this batch, though, so they might taste different.”
A little different, but just as delicious as the Earth ones he made. As I ate, I noticed there were no rearview mirrors. I looked at my reflection in the window to see if I had any crumbs on my face, only to see someone else looking back at me.
Their stunned, brown eyes, squarish glasses, and gentle skin.
The familiarity melted in my blood, leaving my brain to wander.
He was the guy I met in my dream. And he was shocked because they were me. These glasses were the same ones he wore.
“Jackie, are you ready?” Dorothy rubbed my shoulder.
The strong reflection faded to a lively parking lot outside the window. The car had already stopped.
“Jack?” she repeated louder.
YOU ARE READING
Heaven Gilded Zarcroft Hybrid
Ficção Adolescente[CANCELLED AND MOVED] "Were you able to get out of bed this morning?" he asked, staring into the water. His voice was soothing, with the rasp of a fire. "I..." My breathing spiked. "I don't remember. I think so. I'm here now, right?" "But did you ha...
