Gone Again: World Hoppers {book two}

Rescue One

There was a bang from he back of the cabin. Cas nearly screamed as two eyes popped up in the thin back window. "I'm coming in!" Cas pushed Ollie behind him as footsteps moved around the outside of the cabin, there was a thud as the door was kicked. He scrambled to the back of the cabin, another thud. "What's happening Cas?" "I don't-"

The door feel to the ground, fog moved in. "Who- who are you?" A cloaked girl with burn marks on her face appeared, her eyes were narrow and she was breathing heavily. "Ya'll remember?" There was laughing from behind her, "You just busted down a door and you just- ya'll- I can't with you-" another girl appeared behind her, "Ya'll- ya'll oka- I can't." She stumbled back out of view as the girl stepped forward taking off her hood.

"Nat? Natalie!" He ran to hug her but stopped short, "What happened? Where were you?" She glanced over at Ollie, still in shock, before returning her gaze to Cas. "A lot but-" "Hey back up lady!" They moved toward the door just in time to see Naomi deck a robed woman, "Naomi? Woah- who's that?" He pointed to a white-haired girl standing just behind Naomi. "That's Dj, she's part of the story to. We have to go, is Ollie alright? And-" she froze, "We left Blue." Cas scanned her face and quickly added to the realization, "We don't know where Atti is either."

They fought off the witches and bolted, Ollie stayed close to Cas the entire time, unable to remember anything as they trekked through the woods. Noan stopped them mid-step, "Come out." There was some shuffling before a woman stepped out from the trees. "Are you lost?" Noan shook his head, "A friend of ours is," he backed away, grouping them all together. "She's a little girl, blonde and- you've seen her." The woman looked around, "I may have." "Give her to us." "She has something important of ours. A knowledge of something." Noan sighed and looked around at the group. "You stay-" "We're coming." "No your- fine. Take us to her, please."

They were led to Atti, she greeted them excitedly, hugging each of them but pausing on Natalie. "What happened?" She brushed her hand against her undercut, "Lots."

"We've made the ointment and we're testing it today." They crowded into a room with many sick beings inside, they looked half-dead. Noan turned to them. "I want all of you out. Honic you can stay if you please." "No thank you," Honic rushed out of the room, Ollie and Cas followed. "This isn't a pleasant process, I've seen similar things and you should go." "Naomi-" Dj tugged at her arm, "I'm going." Naomi sighed and left, Natalie and Atti behind her.

Noan left the room a near fifteen minutes later. "They're fine. We're leaving." He paused, closed his eyes and suddenly five Jumpers appeared. "Let's get out of here." They hesitantly went with them, "I don't know Cas-" a Jumper grabbed his head, looked him up and down, and then he crumpled. Cas reaches to catch him but the Jumper pushed him away, "Don't touch him, moving him now could mess it up. I've pulled up memories from years back along with fresher ones, he'll take a few days to fully be restored but he will remember it all eventually."

They waited until Ollie woke up to take him and then they were all at the school again. Noan arranged for one of the Jumpers to take Natalie to get Blue so in around fifteen minutes, he too was there.

They all recounted what had happened. Naomi and Natalie introduces Dj who shyly waved and then retreated back to Naomi's side. They told them about the other school, the abilities they'd had, subsequently finding out Dj still had hers, and the fight. Natalie told them about being a child for a day or so and meeting a man in the woods, later fighting him and he soon-to-be scar and new undercut. Blue told them about an all boy's school across the river and how he'd been confused but an older boy had led him through it.

Cas and Ollie told them about the thieves and then the witches and the cabin. Atti told them all about the lady, Aba, and the sick animals.

After they'd told them about everything they discussed what to do about Ryan, York, and June. Honic and Noan told them what had happened and they all nodded along.

"Let's just- y'know, nab em." Naomi raised an eyebrow, "Ryan and York would kill you." The room stared at her, "You guys are dumb." Dj elbowed her, "You guys are mistaken," she looked to Dj who gave a nod, "I should get them because if they remember their childhoods, well-" she paused, "Huh."

"I know the most about them. We'll talk and-" "Can you do that memory thing those people did with Oliver." Ollie glared at her, partly for the use of his full name and partly because he thought it was a terrible idea. "My head still hurts." Dj nodded and apologized. Ollie sighed and apologized as well, "It's not a terrible idea." Natalie clapped her hands, "Then it's settled. We'll get the Jumpers-" "They're not things Natalie. They're still people." Natalie laughed, quickly stopping when she realized he was serious. "I can't think of-" "Aza?" She paused, "Sorry."

The room was quiet, "So are we doing it tonight or?" Everyone turned to Cas, "Let's vote and then I'll decide who goes." Everyone agreed to Noan's idea, they voted for tonight. "Alright I want Naomi, Ollie, and-" his gaze paused on Natalie, "Cas." The others left the room as several Jumpers filed in.