Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(56)

“We’re going to teach Brady and the others how Willow travels so that when the time comes, we’ll be able to get them all back safely,” Landen said to my father.

My father turned quickly. “That’s a good idea, but do you think it’s safe for the two of you to leave Chara?” my father asked.

“We’ll stay close,” Landen promised.

“Just make sure the two of you stay close to each other…I still don’t understand what happened to your bodies yesterday.”

Landen nodded. My father then looked at me, reached over, and kissed my cheek. I closed my eyes as I sensed his concern. I didn’t understand why he wouldn’t just tell me what he knew.

“Be safe. I’ll see you tonight,” he said quietly as he turned to leave.

I sat patiently on the couch as Landen called his brother and Marc to come over, but my stomach was tied in knots. All I could think about was how short I’d been with Monica the last time I saw her. I’d taken her for granted. Now she’d never know how much she really meant to me. I let memories of Olivia, Hannah, and Jessica run through my mind. I could hear their voices and smell their perfume. They didn’t deserve to be pulled into this twisted fate that had always chased me. I didn’t care if it was an accident or not. Drake had put all of my friends in danger, and I would not rest until he paid for my grief and their suffering.

While we waited on the front porch for everyone to arrive, I stared out into the field, taking in the pure beauty of Chara.

Brady was the first one to make it to the house. He stepped out of a large white Jeep that had gray glass panels running across the hood and doors. I noticed he was dressed almost completely in black. As he walked toward us, I couldn’t help but ask.

“What is it with all the black? Do I need to change?” I asked, looking down at my white shorts and purple top.

Landen smiled at my new observation. “No, I’ll keep you close. It’s just easier to see each other in the string if your wear black. If you get more than ten feet apart, you seem to fade.”

Brady and Landen were now standing side by side, and their resemblance to one another was more than apparent. It wouldn’t be difficult for a stranger to mistake one for the other.

“How’s your—” Brady started to say as he looked at Landen’s arm.

“I don’t know,” Landen answered before Brady could ask.

Brady nodded, dropping the subject. These two had a tight bond that I had no doubt everyone could sense.

Another Jeep pulled up. It was dark gray. I could see the same panels that were on Brady’s Jeep. I studied the panels on both vehicles, trying to understand how they were powering the Jeeps. Landen grinned as he watched my eyes take in all the details.

“I keep forgetting that this is all new to you. It’s like you’ve always been here with me.”

I grinned. “I have been. I just never paid much attention to the scenery around us.”

“You two are talking, aren’t you?” asked Brady. “Now that’s weird. I don’t know if I’d want Felicity in my head…I mean she is the one, but this is just—just something else.”

Landen laughed, then pulled me to him and kissed me, not caring who was watching. With that kiss my mind flashed over last night, I knew exactly how his lips felt over every inch of my body. I had to stop the kiss this time or I would end up embarrassing the both of us.

There were two people in the Jeep. I recognized Marc; he was the one driving. The other guy was tall and had a lean build like the others, but with a baby face. His hair was a dirty blond and very curly, and he had a playful emotion wrapped in anticipation. “That’s Chrispin. He’s Marc’s baby brother,” Landen answered my question before I could even ask it.

“I have to say, you two look a lot better today. You had me worried, little one,” Marc said to me as he reached the porch and hugged me.

“Can I see your arm?” Chrispin asked as he got closer.

Landen looked at Marc, then down to his arm. I felt the shock come from Marc, but Landen just shrugged his shoulders. Marc then looked back at Chrispin and shook his head, letting him know to drop the subject. I felt the confusion coming from Chrispin as he looked nervously back and forth between Landen and me.

“This is Chrispin. He’s very excited to meet you, though I’m sure you already know that,” Marc said.

“Hey,” I said shyly. “Thanks for coming on such short notice. I’m sure you all had your day planned out already.”

“Hey, li’l sis. You two are the only show in town right now. We’re proud to be here,” Marc said.

I blushed as he complimented us. It was very hard for me to be the center of attention. I hoped that I’d be strong enough to stand in a room with a lot of people that night.

I followed Landen’s lead, and we walked off the porch to the fields that surrounded the house. Along the way, we passed a large windmill, which was almost a mile away from our house. “We’re going to take a shortcut to another dimension, Olence. It has towns like yours.”

“I’m worried my insight won’t work outside of Infante,” I thought.

“I know it will. When we were in the string yesterday, I could see your paths everywhere. Apparently, you’ve gone farther than your father thought.”