| |
Inese chose a relatively open highway to lower the car onto, then she shifted the gears and actually drove. She opened the windows. Fresh, moist air rushed in. I grinned, enjoying the experience as we cruised along at a speed higher than normal in the Community.
The parking lot was surrounded by leafy bushes and a craggy cliff. Skinny trees periodically dotted the concrete barriers between the parking lot and the ocean. Though I’d seen the ocean from an aerial view, I’d never seen such a large body of water up close.
Once Inese had the car parked, I scooted from my seat to escape the faint traces of Val’s perfume. Outside, the muddled din of vacationers mixed with ocean waves—
Voices overlapped, rising and falling...
I flinched and pushed that memory away as fast as it came.
“Now, the plan is to keep this mission simple,” Inese announced. “At fifteen thirty I expect everyone to meet me for scuba diving lessons. There’s an underwater ruin nearby that might have one of those time stones, and Pops figured we ought to take a look. I don’t expect to find anything, but if you see anything unusual, let me know.”
“So—” Val swayed on her heels. “This is a vacation?”
I glared at her. “Hardly. We have a distinct purpose to this trip.”
“We’re on a beach. What do you plan to do until fifteen thirty?”
Inese cleared her throat. “For one, we need to get you the proper attire to wear under your diving suit. Then you’re free to relax.”
“Shopping!” Val clapped her hands and cheered. Even Inese winced, rubbing her ear after the high-pitched squeal subsided.
“She’s way too excited about this,” Tim whispered. Lance nodded his agreement. Couldn’t say I was surprised. Unless we were on the market for a new sword, I couldn’t have dragged him shopping through a candy aisle.
“See? It’s a vacation!” Val grinned. “Haven’t you guys been shopping before? I guess you haven’t, since you’re wearing those old things, but come on, it’s fun!” She grabbed Lance and Tim by their wrists and bounded after Inese.
I twisted my lips. Our clothing wasn’t that bad.
Then again, Lance’s borrowed shirt from Jack had a not Community-friendly message, Tim’s attire had to be run through the washer several times before it was wearable again, and I was wearing a shirt that Gwen outgrew around 2030.
So maybe it was that bad.
Val, on the other hand, wore her flouncy black skirt along with a black head veil—supposedly to keep the sun out of her eyes—and yet she looked Community compared to the people on the beach. Most of the men had shorts and no shirt at all. The women followed the leaders’ less-is-better theory, wearing nothing more than a bikini and thong. A few kids had one-piece suits, but those didn’t come close to the full-body swimming gear I was accustomed to wearing during swim practice.
Inese led us inside a small apparel shop made from whitewashed planks of wood. While Lance and Tim hesitantly chose from a variety of swimming trunks, my options were limited to two-piece swimsuits with hardly any fabric, and one-piece swimsuits my grandmother wouldn’t wear.
“How about this?” Inese tossed me a light blue bikini that had the most fabric of any of them. “Go try it on.”
While I’d have preferred something less revealing, this particular piece was better than the neon orange one she showed me a few minutes ago. I reluctantly shuffled into the dressing room and tried on the stupid swimsuit. I felt naked, which wasn’t far from the truth.
After several minutes of trying to think of an excuse to find something else, it was Tim’s excited voice that made me wonder what Val chose.
“You look amazing!”
“Yeah,” Lance agreed. “That looks really, really nice on you.”
Lance? I propped the door open. “What are you going on a—What is that?”
Val had chosen a shiny silver material that hid almost nothing, held together by teeny straps of fabric that I wouldn’t have trusted to tie my shoes.
Lance’s eyes widened when he saw me. “Wow, Jenna—you look... very nice.” He smiled and tilted his head.
Community help me...
I ducked behind the door and pressed my hands against the splintery wood to reassure myself. Everyone else wore the same type of swimsuit, and they couldn’t all be leaders.
I took a deep breath and stepped outside. “This one will work.”
Inese nodded, proud of herself, and I hurried to slip my shoes on while the others chatted about their choices. Up front, the cashier’s desk peeked through spinning racks of various trinkets—necklaces with metal flip-flop charms and seashell bracelets and something called a toe ring.
Sure, the Community had simple ring bands to designate those who’d been given partners, but what was the point of a ring you couldn’t see?
“Does this look all right?” Val asked, shuffling her feet and trying different poses. “I couldn’t decide on the white one with sequins or the silver one.”
“The silver one looks amazing on you,” Tim said. He never took his eyes off her.
“It does look nice,” Lance agreed. I snorted and glared at the brightly printed sign behind the counter. Just because Tim was girl-crazy didn’t mean Lance had to be.
“What?” Lance looked perplexed. I tucked my hands under my armpits, not expecting him to understand.
Inese paid for our swimsuits and I woefully stashed my old clothes into my backpack. At least the outside breeze was enjoyable. It was warm and comforting after the chill indoor air conditioning, and a soft mist sprayed from the ocean. The hot sun burned my shoulders.
No one gave us a second glance, except to Val, who strutted to the shoreline and dragged Tim into the water. She laughed and giggled, tugging his arm and tripping over her own flip-flops.
“Come on, Jen. Let’s go swimming.” Lance smiled and held out his hand. Behind us, a couple girls pointed at him, whispering and giggling. One of them shouted something in Japanese and waved, but he didn’t notice.
“That’s okay, you go,” I said.
Lance frowned, then tugged my elbow. “I thought you liked swimming.” He ran a hand through his dark hair, and I paused. He was fit. If we were in the Community, he wouldn’t have a single problem passing the physical for Special Forces. He just had the whole rebellion issue, which they would probably break.
I shuddered. “We should be rescuing people, not out here playing ‘leader,’ ” I said. “Why is everyone so quick to call this a vacation?”
“Because Jack is still recovering. We’d be stuck on the airship if we weren’t here.” He held out his hand again. “You’ve got to relax. Otherwise you’ll wear yourself out, like Gwen did. Besides, the diving instructor won’t be ready for us until later. We have to be patient.”
I sighed. He had a point.
“By the way...” Lance gestured to Lady Winters’ charm. “I didn’t think you were going to use that.”
“I’m not! It’s just a reminder that we have work to do.”
He grinned. “Can I see it?”
I held the charm out, watching it glint in the watery sunlight. There was nothing of the swimsuit to hide it.
Lance’s eyes went wide. “Fancy.” He smirked, as if challenging me to complain about Val’s leaderesque attire now. But then his expression softened. “It suits you. Even looks like a flower.”
I’d noticed that. I fingered the stone petals and the little emerald gemstone at the center. “It’s a bit gaudy, but at least it means something. Better than a mass-produced charm that anyone can wear.”
He laughed. “Still your old self, I see.”
I glared at him. “Oh, you think running from the Community changes any of that? I still plan to graduate college.”
“Well, maybe one of the OA bases will take you in. I’m sure they have a use for a biologist.” He nudged my shoulder playfully, but the thought soured my mood.
They had no use for me. All they did was kill beasts, not save them. No wonder Commander Rick fought the Oriental Alliance. I just wish he hadn’t lied to us about already winning—or about the true nature of the Health Scan.
I grunted and slipped off my socks and shoes, then stashed my backpack with Inese’s gear. She’d laid out a long blanket and blissfully relaxed with her usual sunglasses.
Unfortunately, this beach wasn’t the smooth poolside that the Community covered in a soft rubber mat to keep people from slipping. The rocky sand was hot and I winced every time I stepped on a shell or piece of flotsam.
Once in the water, the pain subsided. The warm ocean lapped across my toes, then cooled when the tide returned to the ocean and wind ran across my feet. Too far away for me to hear, Val splashed Tim. He ducked, disappearing under the blue water then coming up, grinning hysterically.
I gritted my teeth. There were people dying. I laced my arm through Lance’s. “You’re right—this’ll be relaxing,” I said, more sarcastic than intended.
He frowned. “You’ve been acting funny ever since we got back. I know Gwen wasn’t able to help you, but—”
Drowning in beastie tanks were a perfectly good reason to act funny. Having a strange new girl usurping best friends was also a good reason. So was not knowing where my parents were.
I stepped into the water. Sharp sand lodged between my toes.
“I’m fine.”
Deep blue waves crested in the distance. Maybe I could talk to Lance out there, where no one would hear my fears of being turned into a beastie, where I might not imagine hearing Val and Tim’s laughter. Where I didn’t have to watch my back for fear of being electrocuted, shot, or roasted alive.
“Let’s go farther out,” I suggested. Seagulls circled above the fog-hidden island in the distance. “Race you?”
Lance grinned, his eyes sparkling with the reflections of the waves. “Sure.”
A thrill of excitement ran through me. It’d been a while since we’d raced. I ducked my head underneath and the water washed around me. Without a full body swimsuit, my muscles tensed at the unexpected drop in temperature, but once I kicked my legs and propelled myself forward, the water warmed and the weightless sensation relaxed me.
I heaved my body upward, thrusting away the surrounding water in a splash. The overhead breeze was cold. Still, despite the distance of the plant life, it felt good to be in water again.
Lance sputtered, presumably at the sharp temperature drop in the wind, then shook his head to get his hair out of his eyes. “You could’ve warned me!”
I grinned. “Feels better once you get used to it.” I sank underwater, just below the surface. Considering that we needed a physical fitness course every year, we’d both had plenty of chances to swim in team exercises and relays.
“Ready?” I asked, treading lightly. He nodded. “Three. Two. One... Go!”
I dove and pushed through the water. Bubbles rippled around my feet before I surfaced again, interchanging strokes so I could breathe. Lance was right behind me. I pulled at my speed power until I felt like I was punching the ocean with each stroke. I kept at it until my muscles began to tire, and then I slowed for Lance. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the freedom of the ocean, the cool air...
My connection to the plants distanced, like I’d taken the pill. Goosebumps formed along my arms and legs. The ocean stretched around me and the water deepened. Lance and the shore seemed too far away, and the tide was stronger now. I gulped, trying to keep calm, but the water dragged at my legs and tugged me under. I gasped and kicked, trying to keep myself above water, but it got into my mouth and stung my eyes.
Even as I spat it out, the water dragged me under again, rushing into my mouth and nose. It turned murky and green, numbing my skin where the swimsuit didn’t cover it...
I shrieked, but my mouth filled with water. I couldn’t breathe. My eyes burned and I struggled to see which way was up.
Not again—not again—
Sunlight!
Rapid bubbles formed around me as I propelled myself upward.
Air!
I gasped and spit what water had gotten into my lungs.
Where were the plants?
I reached out to them, but they were far below, and even if I combined my powers there was no way I could’ve reached them for help. I blinked, salty tears forming in my eyes.
Someone swam toward me.
I treaded water, feeling like lead weights were attached to my limbs.
Shivering, flighty, waiting for that tide to return.
I’d never been scared of swimming before. Why was so I scared of the water now?
The tiny shape broke into view—Lance. He wasn’t far behind. Relief flooded through me and I steered clear of the stronger current, my heart pulsing in my ears. Lance went underwater, then came up again, his strokes as clear as I remembered.
We met past the dangerous tide and he squeezed my hand. “What happened?”
I shook my head, too numb to speak.
“Come on, Jen. Let’s get back.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and helped me swim. His bare skin felt smooth and I held my breath, surprised. It was warm, comforting to the touch.
We reached land and I flopped on the shore, wishing I hadn’t exerted my already aching muscles. Even though Gwen helped heal my wounds, the gash in my shoulder had reopened and stung from the salt.
“Thanks. I wasn’t expecting the current.”
Lance nodded. “Neither was I.”
We sat in silence, the now-cold wind drying us while sand clung to our skin. A towel would’ve been nice, but at least the sun kept us warm.
“There you are!” Val shouted.
I closed my eyes, wishing she could’ve stayed away for another five minutes.
“Tim and I are going to get lunch. Wanna come?” She jabbed her thumb at the crowd of sunbathers. “We found a hotdog stand a little way up the hill if you’re interested.”
Tim stood behind her, his arm entangled in hers. His short, sandy-blond hair was pointed in wet little spikes, and he grinned from ear to ear. “It smelled delicious,” he added enthusiastically.
“Sure,” Lance said.
I scowled, but regardless of who invited me, lunch did sound good.
“Come on!” Fingers linked with Tim’s, Val ran up the hill in a funny half-skip with her white flip-flops slapping the sand.
Lance offered me his hand. “Want lunch?”
Following Val wasn’t that great of an option, but my stomach rumbled. I sighed and accepted his hand. He pulled me to my feet, and we stopped by Inese for yen.
“Don’t forget to meet me at fifteen thirty,” she reminded us, pointing to a little white boat at a wooden dock. “And have fun.” She tossed her blanket over her shoulder, grabbed our luggage, and then headed toward the shore.
Val led us to a vendor partially hidden by the crowd of vacationers. At the front of a ten-minute line, the stall consisted of a ceramic container with a metal flap on the top. It opened in a whoosh of steam, where dozens of hotdogs bobbed up and down in boiling water. A man in shorts, a pink t-shirt and a yellow apron stood behind the kiosk. He tried to ask Val something, presumably what she wanted, but she shook her head.
“Do you speak English?” she asked.
“Oh! English...” He sounded disappointed, but he was articulate in his pronunciation. “What would you like?”
She grinned and batted her eyes at Tim. “The works.”
I glowered at Val, but my attention soon went to the hotdog. Evidently, “the works” involved the vendor taking a minute to scoop relish into a seeded bun before adding shredded cheese, bacon, ketchup, and mustard. He topped that off with onion bits.
My mouth watered and Tim’s jaw dropped. “Make that two,” Val said, smiling.
Lance laughed. “I want one like that.”
“Ketchup and relish,” I said quickly, afraid I’d betray myself and say the same. No matter how good that hotdog looked, I was not following Val’s lead.
Val shrugged and paid the vendor with Inese’s money.
Afterward, we headed down the beach and watched seagulls searching for crumbs. Val found us a spot to sit and talk. I ate quietly, savoring the pickled relish and ketchup smell wafting from the steaming hotdog.
Though I’d had hotdogs before, this one had cheese inside and the meat was more flavorful than anything the Community served. But the hotdog’s delicious, savory taste was ruined by Val’s cheerful rendition of building sand castles with Tim while I nearly drowned. “How about you?” she asked, turning and flashing me a white, toothy grin.
“We went swimming.” I jerked my thumb at Lance. “The water was nice.”
“The current was strong, though.” Lance glanced at me. His eyes showed concern, though he didn’t say it. “I didn’t know it was like that.”
“Of course.” Val nodded between a bite of the hotdog. A drip of relish and mustard fell into the sand, and a seagull hopped closer. “You have to watch for riptides. You don’t want to be sucked under, after all. It wouldn’t be good to escape a bunch of beasties, only to get lost in the sea.”
She pouted, but underneath her innocence, there was a hint of a predatory smile.
“No, it wouldn’t,” I replied quickly. I pretended to ignore her in favor of watching a boat in the distance.
Lance elbowed me in the ribs and I jumped, surprised by the sudden skin-on-skin contact. “We should come here again.”
Sure, once I’d gotten rid of that stupid memory seed that nearly caused me to drown. Once the Community was safe again.
I looked out at the shore. “Yeah...”
Across the beach, people laughed and joked around, tossing a colorful ball over their heads. The ball soared high, and one guy disappeared from the sand and reappeared midair, then slammed the ball toward his laughing companions.
He had teleportation. He could freely use his powers here.
I smiled and settled back on my beach towel. Other beachgoers ran and collected seashells or built sand castles. Though some had light tans or bright red, sunburnt skin, almost all of them looked happy; except the one crying kid being chased by a crab.
At least I hadn’t stepped on anything with pinchers.
The voices around me turned to white noise, and I watched birds fan out and search for food. Despite Val’s giggly chatter, I felt more at peace here than I’d ever felt in the Community.
If only the rest of the world was as relaxing as this. No beasties. No fear of powers.
Clear blue waves lapped on the shore, rising and falling to a soft tempo. They rolled and peaked, but there was no sign of the heavy current that pulled me under.
It was odd. Despite the calm of the surface, there was danger.
