She wrapped her arms to protect her head, preparing for a landing that may hit her face, but this time the world opened from behind, knocking the air out of her lungs.
"Dame it!" she yelled in pain.
"At least I landed you on soft ground." Holden shrugged like it was not his fault.
"When do I get my own teleporting-coat-thing?"
"Not a chance. You'll be flying right into a planet!"
Hailee sat up from the lawn, they were right outside her house, her bedroom window was still lit.
"Wait a minute. You set time running again when we were in LA, does that mean time here also resumes?"
"The universe runs on a single timeline."
"Does that mean Mom is still knocking on my door?"
"Most likely came in and found the room empty."
"Oh My God! What am I going to tell her?"
"You're a teenager. I'm sure you can make up something."
Hailee looked at her watch, they were gone for half an hour, not long enough to upset her mother... hopefully.
"It's so late. I'm gonna get drowsy all day tomorrow thanks to you!"
"And I'll make it up to you. I promise you get three days of sleep."
"Just don't do it until I'm asleep. I still want a running shower."
"So many demands for someone so young!" Holden rolled his eyes.
"Hey! I'm the one being dragged out in the middle of the night!"
Ignoring the teenager, Holden pulled his raincoat over his head. Like an invisible cloak, it wrapped itself into thin air, leaving Hailee alone on the lawn.
She fetched out her keys and opened the door, her mother coming down the stairs at once.
"Hailee! Where did you go?"
"I... eh... went to find the rat."
"Whatever for??"
"So it won't come into our house again!" Hailee looked back, hoping Holden could hear that.
"Did you find it?"
"Nope. I think I chased it away."
"Then go get some sleep. You still have school tomorrow."
"I will, Mom. Good night."
She kissed her mother and immediately hit the shower, washing frantically even though she never had direct contact with the filthy roach, but the thought alone was enough to make her skin crawl.
Dried and dressed, Hailee hopped into bed and turned off the light. The clock on the nightstand showed 11:45 p.m., way beyond her school day bedtime, but if Holden lives up to his words, he will slow down time so she can get enough sleep.
She closed her eyes.
