Unremembered (Unremembered #1)(73)

‘Unless what?’

‘Unless . . .’ I begin again, but I can’t seem to come up with a logical response.

‘Unless I can see the future?’ she says, flashing me a shrewd smile.

I turn and gape at her.

‘Don’t look so surprised,’ she says. ‘You know how transession works now. And I already explained this to you during our online chat.’

‘You did?’

‘You asked who I was, and I said I was—’

‘An old friend,’ I finish, quoting her exactly from the transcript that’s now etched into my memory.

‘You just assumed I was a friend from the past.’

‘You mean, we met in the future?’ I venture, completely unsure of the words coming out of my mouth.

‘Yes,’ she says. ‘Although technically it’s your future, not mine. For me, the meeting has already happened. That’s how I knew so much about you. Or even that you existed. Because you told me everything. About the phone call, about Zen, about when you would contact me, and what you would ask. You even told me what search terms you would use on the Internet. That’s how I knew how to set up the message-board posting so you would find it. And find me. The only thing you conveniently managed to leave out was the kid.’ She jerks a thumb over her shoulder and I glance back again at the still unconscious Cody.

‘I’m still confused. When is all this going to happen?’

‘For you, the meeting will take place . . .’ She pauses, biting her lip. ‘Well, you’ll find out soon enough. Let’s just say you and I are destined to play a very important role in each other’s lives.’

I struggle to follow her explanation. ‘So you’re saying that sometime in the future – my future – I’m going to travel back to somewhere in the past – your past – and I’m going to tell you how this day happened?’

‘Yes. But not only that, you’re going to send me here – to this point in time – to help you.’

I shake my head. ‘This is crazy.’

She laughs. ‘Welcome to my world.’



Twenty minutes later, Maxxer pulls the car to the side of the road and kills the engine. I peer through the windshield but there’s really not much to see. Through the darkness, I can make out nothing but miles of jaggedly cut red-rock mountains.

Maxxer takes the phone from my lap and shows me the screen. ‘As you can see, we’re currently at 35.34128, -117.971756. Which means you have to travel approximately three miles north-west to get to the coordinates Alixter sent.’

I nod, feeling my stomach start to churn. ‘OK.’

‘You should take this phone with you. It’ll help lead you to the right place.’

I grab it and stuff it in my pocket. ‘Thanks.’ Then, with a deep sigh, I step out of the car. I open the back door and duck inside. Cody is still out. His body is sprawled across the seat, the side of his face pressed into the black leather upholstery.

‘Are you sure he’s going to be OK?’

‘He’ll be fine,’ Maxxer assures me. ‘After I drop you off, I’ll drive him home and put him to bed. When he wakes up in the morning, he won’t remember any of this. Or me.’

I know I will probably never see Cody again. Or Heather. Or Scott. The thought saddens me but I understand it’s the way it has to be.

I bend down and whisper into his ear. ‘Goodbye, Cody.’ And even though I know he can’t hear me and won’t remember any of this anyway, I add, ‘When I get back to my home planet, I’ll be sure to send you the hottest thirteen-year-old girl I can find.’

Then I plant a soft kiss on his exposed cheek. It’s the first time I’ve kissed anyone since I lost my memories. And although I know it’s not the same kind of kiss I witnessed between Zen and me when we were on the compound, it still fills my body with warmth.

I give his blond hair a ruffle and shut the back door. I walk around the front of the car, and Maxxer rolls down the window.

‘Well,’ I say with a weak smile, ‘I guess I’ll see you later?’

She chuckles. ‘Yes, you will.’ Then she reaches out the window and grabs my hand. ‘Be careful.’

I nod. ‘I will.’

I start to turn but stop when I hear Maxxer say, ‘Actually there’s one more thing I’m supposed to tell you.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Just a little piece of advice that you asked me to relay to you.’

‘That I asked you?’ I confirm.

‘Yes.’

‘OK,’ I say warily. ‘What advice did I have for myself?’

She closes her eyes for a brief moment, as if trying to remember the exact words. When she opens them again her expression is serene. Placid.

‘Trust your heart,’ she says, her gaze drifting downward for a moment, in the direction of my chest, before returning to meet mine again. ‘It’s the only thing that will never lie to you.’





43


FALLEN


As I start to run, gaining speed by the second, I feel the cool prick of moisture on my cheeks. I hadn’t even realized I’d started crying again.

But the warm wind whisks against my face, roughly brushing the droplets away, and the arid desert climate immediately dries my skin. Leaving behind no trace of the tears. Or the emotions that summoned them.