Vindicate (Insight #5)(20)

“You get them , ” I said as I stepped into the string. Once there , I hesitated , waiting for the pain to come. I t didn’t , and when it didn’t , I found a reason to smile. Not because I was no long er attached by force to Landen, but because I wasn ’t helpless – defenseless without them. It was an empowering moment that nearly took my breath away. I could swear I co uld feel Landen smiling at me. I c ould feel him pushing me to go. To walk. Feel him guiding me.

Oliv ia had followed me in. “Willow. Willow. Look at me , ” s he said , trying to get my attention. “How bad does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t , ” I swore. I pulled down the collar of my long sleeve black shirt. “Do you see anything here?” I asked.

Her awe and the astonished look in her glowing green eye s told me she did. “How? When? Where did that come from ?” she stuttered.

“I don’t know . When I was in that coma , I dreamed about it. This mark took my pain away in that dream . Landen saw it , to o. I t ’s there , so I can fight for them. So I won’t be trapped in Esterious.”

“Good –g ood,” she said nervously . “Let’s get Chrispin.”

I ignored her as I began to speed walk toward Infante. Other travelers were walking toward me, two young men. I felt their confusion as they passed by me and nodded. I also felt their intent to ask someone if I should be in there . I knew I didn’t have much time before someone would come looking for us. I didn’t care if anyone caught up with me ; I just didn’t have the time to turn back for them. I’d already wasted precious hours talking to Perodine and Stella – roaming the halls.

“Willow?” Olivia said , keeping pace with me. “Seriously , do you know where you ’re going?”

“I do.”

“Good . Let’s go get Chrispin . We don’t know these people. We don’t need to go there alone.”

“Are you serious?!” I said , halting to glare at her. “You think I’m scared of them? Do you really think they could hurt me? Go get Chrispin if you want to. I’m going now . For all I know , every second counts. I have to help them. I have to get them away from that girl.” Then I began to walk forward at a brisk pace again.

“So much for altering your future,” she mumbled as she kept pace with me.

“What’s that suppose d to mean?” I asked sarcastically . I mean what did they expect? For me to sit at Landen’s side and cry endlessly? No, I was going to fix this. If they were looking for a damsel in distressed they had another thing coming. I twirled my ring, slicing my skin with my nail just as the caged anger in my core started to grumble.

“I don’t get why I dream things if I can’t change them.” Olivia hastily stated.

“You dreamed this?”

“I knew we ’d be alone when we met them , ” s he said shortly.

“Did you see them?”

“Not clearly. Don’t worry , though, Brady will be right behind us.”

I glanced back in the direction of the travelers that had passed us. “Yeah . They were going to tell them we were in here.”

“He’s going to be mad . Ju st saying.”

“Do you think I care?” I asked , glancing at her.

“Yes and no . When they come for us , don’t be mad . It will scare these people. Maybe we can at least avoid that.”

I felt the slightest bit guilty , but that passed w hen my determination to save Landen and Drake came over me. “Dream anything else?”

“Only you trying to kill me . No big deal , ” s he said in her familiar witty tone.

I glanced down at her wrist , then elbowed her. “You have the tattoo . You’re safe.”

“One could hope. Felicity dreamed about the tattoo, too . Did you know that ?”

“I think I remember Brady mentioning it yesterday . He said there wer e two other girls that had it. What’s up with that?”

“I don’t know…but it can’t be good.”

“For us or them?” I asked , having my doubts about charging into unknown territory.

“From my dreams. You’re the danger , not them.”

Well that made me feel like a rock star. Not. I t was really irritating me that they were afraid of me. I was still Willow. A very tired and stressed out Willow. “I would never hurt you. A nyone.” I winced. “On purpose.”

“No. Not on purpose,” she mumbled , looking behind us.

I gritted my teeth and promised myself that when Olivia or anyone else was around me with that tattoo , I would think twice before I reacted. “The y’re not in here yet,” I promised , knowing I didn’t feel the anger Brady was sure to have. I halfway hoped my father would be th e one that came looking for me. Even though I knew I wasn’t that lucky.

I slowed down as we approached Infante. I gazed forward as flashes of my dream came to me , Preston running though the passages. I remembered the hazes he passed and found my bearings . A few steps later , I saw a purple haze , and I knew I was close . With my next step , I saw the gray one with another purple passage a few feet away.

“Is this it?” Olivia asked as she looked behind us again.

I didn’t answer at first. I was feeling the emotions on the other side of th e passage. I felt disdain, I felt d etermination, I felt protection. I felt peace . A ll coming from different sources. Their intent was simple and shared among each of them : to redeem the damned.