Micah nodded, then walked over to a park bench. They had all been torn up, and repositioned near common work and rest areas. Kaitlyn joined him, drying her wet hands on her pants. "You're not going to make the walk to the mall today, are you?" she asked.
He shook his head.
"Are you going to tell me to stay?" she asked. They sat down on the bench together.
Micah intertwined his fingers with hers. "I know well enough I can't make you do anything."
She rested her head on his shoulder. "I'll stay."
He kissed her on the head and whispered, "Thank you."
"Just for today. We can use the time to plan. But seriously, I need to be in the camp every day starting tomorrow. Whether you join me or not."
"Deal," Micah said. A cold wind blew. He put his arm around her. "Winter's coming. Do you even have a coat?"
"I had a yellow rain jacket," Kaitlyn said, almost giggling underneath her breath.
Micah narrowed his eyes at her, but let it go. "Come on. The arcade serves as a storeroom for extra supplies. Let's see if there are any in there."
As they stood, the wind blew again. Some of the last leaves still hanging onto the limbs above detached. Kaitlyn caught a reddish-orange leaf midair. She pinched the stem, spinning it around. "I miss our cherry blossoms," she said.
"Me, too." Micah put his arm over her – his legs were heavy, like he was walking through mud. "But we couldn't hide out at the Chakra forever."
Micah watched as Kaitlyn's hand squeezed into a fist. The dried out leaf crumbled, bits floating to the ground.
"Nope," agreed Kaitlyn. "Not if we are out to save the world."
Micah took her hand, wiping the rest of the leaf bits off. "What happened, here?" He pried her palm the rest of the way open. "It looks like you burned yourself."
"I did…using the Chalice. Long story."
"Both of Shawn's hands were wrapped in gauze. Did you notice?" Micah glanced at Kaitlyn sideways.
"Yeah I…oh my God." She froze in her tracks. "I know what he's doing."
"What?"
"It ain't good – for us, anyway. Come on."
Chapter 47
Working Party
"Easy there, princess."
I shuddered at his voice, remembering what happened at the other end of his gun. This time, I moved out of its way. I surveyed the rest of the large circle, looking for clues. My eyes kept getting drawn back to the mist in front of Shawn. It was brighter than before, and moved faster around and into itself, shimmering with speed. It appeared to be trying to take shape, but it lacked something – more elements.
I turned away from it. Could there be more I had been missing this entire time? I kept my eyes low to the ground, searching for the telltale swirling.
"Where is the baby?"
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore him. I searched around and behind Akasha, finding it easier once it rose, taking its searing light with it. I squinted, huffing in frustration. The mist very well could've been tricks of light caused by the dancing flames around me.
"Is the baby mine?"
I moved to the area behind Shawn, waving my hands in front of me, hoping to agitate any clumps of mist, making them more visible. With Akasha rising, I didn't have much time left.
I bent lower, searching for the slightest shimmer, waving my hands in a frantic panic. Blood was descending over the flames around me. Finally, I found something. Once I zeroed in on it, I was amazed I had missed it all this time. Four more distinct balls of mist, also low to the ground. I squatted down to examine them, willing them to materialize. The mist swirled faster, until I thought I could distinguish body parts. A hand here, a head over there…
Shawn's words boomed through the area, "You are too late."
* * *
The next morning we made our way back to the mall. Micah was almost fully recovered, almost. He had insisted we try the energy exchange again last night, but fell dead asleep before he had a chance to counter my refusal with an argument. We walked down the long alleyway leading to One Less, donning our disguises. Micah pulled on his hoodie and I removed extra layers of clothes. I shivered, wondering how long the weather would let me bare my skin.
"I'll be close by the entire day," Micah said, voice low.
I nodded, handing him a blue arm bandana and slipping on my own. We walked past the guard without a word. He looked at us, yawning.
"I need to find out who is in charge of training," I said. "I'll have to ask around at admin."
"Shawn could be there," Micah said, laying his hand on my arm. "Let me go."
"No. They know me there – besides, who do you think is more recognizable. You or me?" I smiled, pulling on the strings to tighten his hood.