The FernWood Trilogy: Prophecy Twin

Slack from the Universe - Chapter 11

It was the early morning, the air frigid and the dew still nestled on the grass before us. We watch as Sean tosses a glimmering match at the log cabin, it was a magic match that burned a self contained fire. It would burn the house to ashes and then go out, leaving us without the worry of arson.

"How are we supposed to get to Salem now?" Finlen whined, "We don't have a car and teleporting into Salem is a sure fire way of exposing the magic world."

"Quiet while I think, please." Sean snaps at Finlen as a light bulb appears over my head.

I pipe up, "Cops are swarming the area. But, what they aren't expecting is a pack of wolves."

"Wolves?" Everyone murmurs practically in sync until the idea catches like wildfire.

"You're suggesting we transfigure into wolves?" Griffin asks and I nod up and down. He grimaces and tells me, "It's a bit risky to do that... Wolf instinct is very hard to overcome, even in a transfigured state."

"Coywolves," I specify, "They're a species native to New Jersey. We'd blend right in until we're out of New Jersey."

"It's a risk," Sean says, "But a calculated one at that."

I look over at Fawn and Richard, Fawn who reaches over a hand to hold his in the early morning. Why did I always catch myself staring at them? Perhaps it was because I wanted nothing more than to be like them, to find the love that they've found.

Glancing over at Argos who smiles when my gaze meets his I think, but maybe I already have. Maybe I'm just afraid to let him in.

It was like I was standing inside my house while the rain pours outside, thunder crashing all around as he bangs on the door, begging me to let him in.

Argos slides next to me, a smile tweaking his lips as he wrapped his arm around my hips, clutching close to my pelvic bone. His thumb rubs against my skin and I don't even know if he realizes what he's doing. Across the way, however, my gaze catches hers. Eredith. She appears to be glaring and it made sense why. Argos was her best friend, he should be trying to comfort her, even if she may not remember who he is.

I bring my lips close to Argos, needing to be up on my tippy toes to do so, and I whisper in his ear. "Shouldn't you be over there with Eredith?"

Glancing at his expression, he frowns. He whispers back, "She doesn't remember us, Parker. I'm just trying to give her space." He practically growls as he adds, "Griffin never should have brought her out here, it's dangerous for a girl who can't remember who she is."

Tears well in my eyes just slightly as I try not to let his words sting. I look at Eredith and I see myself in her sallow skin and her messy hair. I see myself in her fingernails chewed down to a nub as she struggles to remember who she is. That was me for months in the foster care system as they sat me down in dark rooms with child specialists who tried to analyze me better than I analyzed myself, which of course was impossible. No one could ever analyze me more than I analyzed myself, those specialists weren't there in the dark of the night when I tore myself apart and put myself back together to see how I worked.

"Cut her some slack," I tell him, "She'll remember someday."

I remove his arm from around my waist and step forward into the circle that we'd all formed accidentally, standing with our social clusters and murmuring as a plan is formed. Disagreeing to each other but never aloud. The secrets were never ending here.

"Are you in," I pose my question, looking around at wide eyes, "Or are you out?"

"I'm in." Fawn says boldly, stepping forward. I smile. I hadn't quite expected her to be the first to volunteer, but I was happy it was her.