"Super-powered" Noah Brandt is the ice to her twin sister Autumn's fire, but when Autumn falls into a mysterious coma, it's up to Noah to find out why and save her sister before it's too late. . . with a little help from Autumn's lifelong crush, Cai...
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C H A P T E R S E V E N T E E N
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We plan the trip to Northwestern a week after our assembly in the Haas kitchen. It'll take a little over three hours, probably four if we're taking snack and bathroom breaks into account.
I meet the Haas siblings at their house after saying goodbye to Autumn. My travel bag is small; I packed lightly, though carefully, since we'll be staying overnight at a hotel. The plan is to arrive on campus mid-day, ask our questions through into the afternoon, and then rest up before returning back to Fairfield early morning.
Mom thinks I'm just taking a routine tour of Northwestern, guided by Mia and accompanied by Caiden. I figure it's best not to worry her until I have solid information -- until we interrogate Mia's contact.
All week, I watched as Autumn declined, her condition worsening quickly. Kaia's killing her, and it's physically evident. The viein-y lines on her body are only spreading, and her temperature is dangerously high, even for a fire Elemental.
I know this must also mean that Caiden's feeling the strain too. He's linked to her, after all -- the only thing keeping her alive -- but if he's weakening, he hides it well.
With both Autumn's and Caiden's lives on the line, today couldn't arrive soon enough, and as we merge onto the highway, it's obvious Mia feels the same. She's driving us up to Evanston after insisting on taking her car, but she's speeding. . . and not too subtlety either. She's reckless merging lanes and impatient behind cars who actually are obeying the limit, and we're on the receiving end of some angry honks more times than I can count.
Yet, we manage to avoid the attention of any badges, perhaps thanks to Caiden's prayers. Otherwise, our journey is a quiet one; I'm too deep in thought to strike up a conversation. Up at the front of the SUV, Mia is focused solely on the road and getting us to our destination as fast as she can, and although Caiden makes the odd comment here and there, he seems to be relatively introspective as well.
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