Witness: See Series (Volume 1)(77)

“You went to Esterious?” Wesley asked, clearly alarmed.

I nodded. “I was looking for Austin. They said he was there with all the other travelers. Have you been sitting here the whole time?” I asked, completely confused by the gap in time.

The girl with him, Erica, laughed as she patted his knee. “I gave him a bathroom break, but that was it.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, finding it somewhat amusing.

Madison leaned forward and looked at Wesley. “Your home...your home is breathtaking. I don’t know how you found the will to leave it.”

The smile on Erica’s face grew as she looked to her side at Wesley. “I think I’m completely convinced now: we should live in Chara.”

Wesley grinned. “All I needed to do was have them tell you that?” he asked.

Erica smiled. “It has to be magical. I just watched both of their wrists heal before my eyes.”

Wesley looked back at us. “That was intriguing. Who did that?”

“Preston,” I answered.

He shook his head no once, telling us he didn’t know him.

“Look, we have to go. I’m sorry for stealing your day. We told everyone we saw to send Austin back. Will you tell us the moment you see him?” I asked as I stood.

They stood with us. The boxer came to Madison, begging her to pet her. She eagerly complied.

“Will do,” Wesley said.

Erica led us to the door. As she opened it, she smiled at me. “I can’t wait for tomorrow. I bet that’s going to be the concert of the year. Happy early birthday.”

“Thanks,” I said as the anxiety of what that concert or my birthday may bring.

When I got in my car, I reached for my phone. I had seven missed texts; all but one was from Draven. I’d caused him to worry about me again. He had said he thought the tattoo was awesome – that he would have been there if he knew. When I didn’t respond, he became worried and started asking me where I was.

I texted him back: ‘Sorry for the delay – I was looking for Austin – he should be on his way here soon.’

The other text was from Aden. It simply read: ‘when and where’. I answered him back: ‘your house we need drums –how about now?’

Just as I hit send, Draven responded: ‘Is he here?’

I answered: ‘no I used that seeing trick you taught me and went to Chara myself - long story. I’m going to your house to work on a sound with Aden.’

Aden had already responded: ‘on my way’ at the same time that Draven texted: ‘almost done – I’ll bring dinner to you guys.’

I looked to my side at Madison. She was reading the text on her phone and blushing slightly. I thought about everything I saw in that dark dimension and wanted to talk to her about it, but something told me Preston had distracted her on purpose, like he knew she wasn’t ready to see that world. I didn’t understand why. I assumed it was because she wasn’t used to seeing the darkness I saw. I mean, she saw shadows, but I was able to see the darkest, cruelest moments; she only shifted through emotions when she helped them.

“Who are you blushing at?” I asked as I turned around in the street and made my way toward Draven’s.

“Britain,” she answered quietly. “He wants to see me. Can you take me to my car?”

A ghostly grin echoed in my bemused expression, knowing that if she’d said that a few days ago, I would have been outraged – even terrified – by her request; now, it seemed like a relief. She was happy and he was safe - that was a win for me.

“Bianca isn’t there – right?” I asked.

“No. He kicked her out months ago; she’s not allowed there. In fact, before a few days ago, she hadn’t shown her face around here.”

I gritted my teeth, remembering when I’d seen her in town with him: the morning I figured out Evan was back. To me, they looked like old friends having breakfast. I guess I was starting to figure out that things weren’t always what they seemed.

As we drove toward my house, I couldn’t help thinking of that young King that Preston had shown me. I wondered if he was OK, if what I saw on the balcony had happened before or after the night of the blue moon.

“Madison,” I said quietly. “A few months back, you had a really bad night – the worst I’ve know you to have. The blue moon – you remember that?”

The happiness that Britain’s text had caused faded instantly as she nodded.

“Why was it bad for you?” I asked.

“I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Do you just wanna show me? I can pull over.”

“No,” she said shortly. “No offense, but I’m not ready to share my dreams; they’re too personal.”

“I get that. I’m just trying to understand.”

“Just imagine…just imagine seeing something horrible happening to Draven…,” she said quietly.

“Did something happen to the one you dream about?” I asked, knowing that Britain was fine.

“Yeah, but he’s OK now…I still feel him.”

“Feel him, like, around you?” I asked, knowing that that wasn’t farfetched; I could feel Silas around me, even though I couldn’t see him.

“No…I just know his heart still beats.”