Chapter 3

"Folks, we have begun our descent to DFW international airport where the current weather is eighty-four degrees. We'd like the flight attendants to prepare the cabin for arrival. And once again, thank you for flying with American Airlines." I hear a pilot with a smoky voice say over the intercom.

I'm grateful for the interruption of my flashback to earlier this morning. I shiver thinking of Kao and his evil black eyes. I didn't tell Tristan what I saw. Instead I blamed my screaming on a spider. I know it's lying but, Kao is dangerous and the last thing I need is to have Tristan risking his life by running after him. I can’t even imagine the things Kao is capable of and I definitely don’t want Tristan caught up in this more than he already is. I also didn't want to have to go into detail about Kai's twin brother who is now a human after he once tried to hunt me down as a Night Marcher.

A blonde flight attendant announces that we need to turn off all electronics and put our seats back in the upright position. The man sitting in the seat next to me puts his laptop away. I shake my head a bit trying to clear it from the daze I was in throughout the flight. My stomach growls and I realize that I didn't eat or drink a single thing. I don't even remember the flight attendant coming by and asking for my order. I look over to the attendant who is cautiously checking to make sure everyone is following directions. She looks at me with a strange expression. Blushing, I realize it's most likely because I must have been basically unresponsive these past eight hours. I turn my gaze out the window, trying to not draw any additional undue attention to myself.

Seeing the familiar flight tower of the Dallas Fort Worth airport brings back memories of the many trips my dad and I made for his work. My stomach sinks when I think about what I've put him through and the sacrifice he is making by sending his only daughter thousands of miles away to keep her safe.

Once we land I grab my small carry-on from overhead and follow the shuffling group of weary travelers out onto the jet bridge. Stepping out on the gate I take a second to really absorb the fact that I'm back home, in Texas. While I wasn't happy that my dad sent me here when I need to be in Hawaii trying to help Kai, Adam and Noa, I can't deny that seeing Kaylee isn't getting me excited.

I look at my watch to see that it's already six p.m. It has nearly been twenty-four hours since Paul's terrifying announcement that someone captured Adam. Paul's friends said that they are looking into a way to find Adam and I can’t help but wonder if they were successful. My rushed attempt last night was totally faltered. My chest aches thinking of Adam still being out there somewhere hurting. I offer a silent prayer to God that the Menehune's have been able to find a way to get to him.

After a long walk I finally turn the corner into the baggage claim area only to hear a high pitch, deafening scream, which captures most of my other fellow travelers attention as well. It doesn't take me long to recognize those vocal cords. Tears spring to my eyes as I see Kaylee running towards me. My heart wells up as I run meeting her half way and we crash into each other in a heart felt hug. I can't believe how much I missed my BFI. Best friends infinitely are what we call each other. Not forever, because with a friendship like ours, forever is too short. I'm sure people are staring at us but we don't care, we just stand in the middle of the baggage claim hugging and crying like two sobbing fools.

After a few seconds Kaylee pulls away but keeps her hands on my shoulders. Searching my eyes she says, "Emma, it's going to all be okay now. I'm so glad that you’re home." Not able to respond I just nod and hope that she's right. Even if she's not, at least I have my best friend to talk to now.

As we hear the beeping sound announcing that luggage is going to start spitting out onto the carousel, we both start wiping our eyes with our hands. I'm pretty sure that my mascara is running everywhere, so is Kaylee's, but of course she still looks like a super model with her big blue eyes and blonde hair.

A few seconds later my luggage comes circling around. I didn't pack my stuff; I'm guessing that my dad did. It doesn't matter though if he missed anything. Kaylee and I wear pretty much the same size so I can always borrow what I don't have from her.

With my luggage in hand, Kaylee and I head out into the balmy late spring air of Dallas, Texas. The sun has already set and all of the city lights have come on full force. Kaylee grabs her keys out of her purse and we take the long hike towards her red Volvo.

After stuffing my luggage in her small trunk we both hop in, Kaylee starts the ignition, pulls out and starts driving towards her house.

"By the way, my mom is going to be heading out of town tomorrow for a week long business trip. She couldn't cancel it. Your dad was okay with everything though. After all, both of us are less than a few months from turning eighteen." Kaylee says with a sly smile. I consider this predicament. It couldn’t be more convenient, or ironic, at how well this may turn out. I may very well have just been handed an opportunity.

"Well, that's mighty convenient Kaylee because I could really use your help." I say as the wheels start churning in my head.

"Oh really? Spill girl." She says allotting a short mischievous glance in my direction before returning her gaze back onto the road.

I inhale deeply allowing myself a moment to gather my thoughts. After all this time I thought it would be easy to spill the beans to Kaylee. After all, we’ve been friends for what seems like forever. Shouldn’t this be like second nature? I try to think of where to start only to have to retort to plan B, then C and so on… I just can’t figure out how on earth to tell her about these evil wandering spirits who kidnaped Kai and Noa and my need to drag her across the Pacific to help them. It doesn’t even seem plausible in my mind much less if I were to say it aloud.

Kaylee must sense my hesitancy but just patiently waits for me to begin. I twiddle my thumbs in nervous anticipation. I haven’t done that since I was small but find myself resorting to it for some form of comfort. I watch the cars zip past us on the expressway and I try to clear my head. There is only one way to start this, and it has to be from the beginning.

***

I hold tight to the ‘oh-crap’ handle as Kaylee drives frantically through the city. Tires squeal as she makes a sharp right turn into a gas station and parks at a neck breaking halt.

“So let me get this straight,” Kaylee begins in a frenzy. Her eyes are wild and she’s sort of scaring me right now. I don’t think I have ever seen her like this before. “You go to Hawaii, meet a guy, fall for him, and then get caught up with some ‘Night Marchers’?” She says the last part with air quotes. If there is ever a time to be afraid of Kaylee, it’s when she uses air quotes. “Then you meet a hot guy named Kai who saves you and you break your leg in the process of getting rescued.” Her eyes begin bugging out of her head at this point and she grabs the center console. “And then somehow, your ‘broken leg’ heals in a day.” Using more air quotes again. “ Then you train with some Menehunes to fight the Night Marcher and fail, so Kai steps in and becomes a Night Marcher himself releasing his evil brother Kao. Then later on you find out Tristan’s best friend was also taken? Seriously Emma? What do you think I am, a fool? You are on drugs Emma, right? What kind? That's so jacked up, seriously, we vowed not to do stupid crap!” Well, at least I can say she was paying attention.

At this point I am plastered to the passenger door wondering if my best friend’s evil side is going to come slamming at me full speed in an all out brawl. Kaylee is breathing heavily and staring me down, making me feel insignificantly small.

“Yes,” it was all I could squeak out as I cringe waiting for her reaction but then I correct myself when her eyes bug out in horror. I realize quickly my error and stumble to correct myself. "I mean, no, I'm not on drugs! Yes, I am serious about everything I told you. No hallucinogens were needed for any of that."

She watches me for a long second and then begins to straighten out her hair with her fingers. It was as if Mr. Hyde had put Dr. Jekyll back in his place. All the anger and animosity has simply disappeared leaving my BFI Kaylee in its wake. She relaxes into her seat and puts her hair down looking me in the eyes. “Why didn’t you just tell me everything before now?” A look of hurt flashes across her face and in that moment the guilt of keeping all this to myself comes rushing out in the form of tears. “Oh, honey.” Kaylee reaches over and embraces me in one of her reassuring hugs. “It’s going to be okay.” Kaylee says reassuringly. “We’re going to figure this out, I promise.” Kaylee abruptly pulls me from her embrace and braces my shoulders forcing me to look her square in the eyes. “But you promise me one thing missy.” She doesn’t wait for me to respond before she begins again. “Don’t you EVER keep things like this from me again!” I simply nod as her face softens back to the friend I have grown to love.

Pulling up to Kaylee’s house I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s good to be back, is all I can think. Kaylee’s mom comes rushing out the front door wearing a hot pink muumuu. The funny thing is, she looks good in it. I don’t think anyone else could rock it the way she does.

Kaylee’s face has a look of pure horror as she takes in the sight of her mom. “Mom! You’re embarrassing me! What if the neighbors see you in that getup?”

Her mom simply ignores her and wraps me into a rib-crushing hug. Feeling as if all the life has drained out of me, she finally releases me.

“Hi Dyan.” It was all I could muster after being practically crushed to death.

Kaylee’s mom Dyan is like the mother I never got the chance to have. She is extremely eccentric, but that is exactly what I love about her.

Dyan grabs my luggage and ushers us into the house. Inside, the house smells of fresh baked cookies and all sorts of homemade goodness. My stomach begins to churn at the smell. I honestly can’t tell if it’s because I’m hungry or because the smell reminds me of Alani and all of her homemade goodies.

Dropping my luggage in the foyer, we all plop onto bar stools and dig into the pile of cookies.

“Thanks mom,” Kaylee says through her mouth full of food. One thing I will never understand is how Kaylee can eat like she does and never gain a pound or a blemish. It doesn’t seem cosmically possible.

Before I am on my second bite of cookie Kaylee grabs the plate and drags me back to her room. I smile at the sight before me. It looks like the color pink threw up in here. There’s a child’s canopy bed set up against a rose pink wall along with other antique furniture dotting the room. Teddy bears are piled up in the corner in mesh netting displayed for all to see. Kaylee’s mom installed a trundle bed underneath the canopy so that we could have sleepovers. I’ve spent countless nights in here growing up and the sight and smell of it is comforting in and of itself. It's like coming home.

"So, why did you pull me away so fast?" I mumble trying not to let the cookie crumbs fall out of my mouth. I can’t deny that I was looking forward to catching up with Dyan too.

Kaylee gives me that roguish grin that always sets me on edge because I know it means that she's got some type of mischief planned. That's when I see the light bounce off a metal blade in her hand. I instinctively drop my cookie and gasp when Kaylee pulls out a butcher knife that she must have grabbed from the kitchen on our way in here. Now it makes sense why she flew out of the room with me in tow in such a hurry.

"What the hell Kayle?" I yell at her just a tad bit freaked out.

"I have an idea." She says raising her eyebrow at me as if silently asking me if I'm game.

"Um, okay but I don't think now is the time to try to do some type of 'blood sisters' ritual or something like we did in the seventh grade." I say a little nervously. I can't see how anything that has to do with a knife like that could be a good idea.

"No, Emma, I'm not doing some stupid ritual, after all we are already sisters, we don't need to share blood to know that. I was just thinking...and it's totally up to you, but perhaps we can test out this rapid healing of yours."

If I could see myself in the mirror, I'm sure my eyes would bug out of my head. "WTF?"

Kaylee tries to lighten the mood by joking, "Why The Face?" She sees that I'm still looking at her in dismay so she says, "I'm not suggesting that we plunge this into your heart or anything. I'm just sayin’ a little cut is all."

"Well then you could have grabbed a smaller knife! Geez Kaylee. That giant butcher knife is really freaking me out."

She turns if upside down and hands it to me handle first. I gladly accept it. She then clarifies herself. "A broken leg healing in a matter of days? That's comic book stuff. Maybe something crazy is happening to you. I mean, obviously it's something good, but it's still crazy nonetheless. Don't you want to know if you are still healing that rapidly and why?"

I think about it for a minute. The anxiety of what happened to Kai has been stuck in the forefront of my mind so I really haven't allowed myself too much time to dwell on my fast healing. I have no idea what's going on or more importantly what’s causing it. The only two things that I can think of is perhaps it has to do with the curse that I struck or the drink that Kai gave me. But, Kaylee is right. I do need to find out if I'm still healing fast or if it's slowing down. "Okay, but a small cut and I will do it myself." I say resolutely.

"Um, of course Emma. I don't feel like slicing up my best friend. I'm not that much of a lunatic." She says laughing.

I just look at her nervously and position the knife over the inside of my forearm. I take a deep breath and make a slow slash. It's no deeper than a paper cut but it stings like the dickens.

We both stand there for five minutes staring at my bleeding arm. Kaylee hands me a few tissues when some of the blood starts dripping over. Both of us are so silent that you could hear a pin drop. After a few more minutes we both look up at each other and then start cracking up uncontrollably. My arm is still covered in blood, but what did we think? That we would just stand there and watch it close up like on some kind of crazy sci-fi movie?

Laughing with Kaylee is one of the first normal moments that I've had in several days. When our giggling dies down, Kaylee suggests, "Why don't you go clean that off. I don't want to get your blood all over my nice pink rug."

"Yeah, we wouldn't want that." I say smiling, then turn towards her attached bathroom to rinse it off. As I'm washing my arm off I steal a glance of my reflection in the mirror. I look pretty haggard. My dark hair is oily and flat and my brown eyes look red and tired. I desperately need to get some sleep.

When I go to turn off the water I look at my arm and my breath goes whooshing out of me. I barely find myself able to stutter, "Kkayllee."

She comes running in and we are both stunned into complete sober silence as we stare at my bare forearm. Other than a fading white scar, there is no evidence that I just cut myself a few minutes before. I look at Kaylee in complete shock. I'm grateful that she has the same shock on her face, which tells me that I'm not crazy. After all if I were crazy, she would not be as surprised as I am that my arm has healed so quickly. I pick up the tissue that has my blood on it, proof that my arm had been bleeding.

"OMG, Emma. This is totally nuts. Do you know what this means?"

I look at her in question and answer, "No..."

"You’re immortal! Maybe you’re a vampire or something. Or a werewolf or something as equally impressive!" She says, her words spitting out a thousand miles a minute.

Raising my eyebrows I give her a serious look and then bust out laughing. I laugh so hard that I can't stand. I sit down on her bathroom floor unable to contain my hysterical cackling. "Yeah, or maybe I'm Wonder Woman now. Maybe I can fly!" I can't help myself I'm cracking up so bad.

"Hey!" Kaylee says hands on her hips, trying to act annoyed even though I can tell she's doing her best to suppress her giggles. "Okay, okay, maybe you aren't a super hero. But, you have to admit, this is pure craziness."

Calming down a little, since laughing is now making my side hurt, I reply, "Yes, it's crazy but Kaylee, you have been reading way too much paranormal teen fiction. I am quite positive that I'm not immortal or some type of new breed. I'm not certain what is going on with me, but I have much bigger fish to fry." Thinking about the last part sobers me up completely.

Kaylee sees my change in mood and sits down next to me. She traces over the scar on my arm with her finger as if she needed to do that to really believe that what she saw was reality. Then turning towards me she says assuredly, "It's all good, whatever it is Emma. I think it's pretty cool, but I know that this is the least of your problems. We are BFI's though and now your problems are my problems. We’ll get through this. We just need to brainstorm...What's our game plan?"

It doesn't take me long to come to terms with what I need to do. "Well, one things for certain Kaylee, I need to go back."

"Okay, but you do mean we need to go back, right?" She asks.

I think about it for a moment weighing everything out. I want Kaylee with me, but do I really want to put her in danger. I mean risking my life is one thing, but to risk hers too? I don't know if I'm okay with that. I look at her in the eyes and can tell that she's reading my thoughts because her face is all scrunched up in that, 'oh no you don't' look of hers. "I just don't want to put you in danger Kaylee, that’s all."

"Okay, let me clarify this for you Emma. If you are going back to Kauai, I will be going back with you. I am not asking you, I am telling you. I will not let you do this alone and you will not shut me out. Understand? "

I have known Kaylee long enough to understand that there is no more discussing this. When she is set on something, she is immovable. I can however put in my own stipulations. "Fine. You can come with me, but, if I am ever in a situation of danger, you will listen to me and not follow me into it if I tell you to stay put. Now, I have had more training than you and obviously I can heal quicker than you so this is non-negotiable. Capiche?"

"Capoosh! So what's the plan? Hi-jack a boat or stow away on a cruise ship?" Kaylee says excitedly.

"Nah, I get sea sick." I reply jokingly while simultaneously raising an eyebrow at her. "How about an old fashioned plane ride?"

"So practical Emma. I would be more into a more modern plane ride though, I heard those old fashioned ones tend to be really bumpy in the sky." Kaylee says.

I've really missed how natural and fun it is to jump into witty chatter with Kaylee. "Here's the problem, Kaylee, those modern plane rides cost mucho dinero and I don't have any." I watch as Kaylee ponders this dilemma.

"Well, would you consider this an emergency?" Kaylee asks.

"Of the highest sort, yes." I reply.

"I agree. Then I would say that this would be a good reason to dip into my emergency college fund. Now, I know you like to roll in style, but this girl can't afford first class tickets." Kaylee says with a laugh.

Instead of laughing though, my eyes start tearing up. They are good tears though. I have an amazing friend. Kaylee realizes that I've gone into 'serious mode,' and it doesn't take long before her eyes go all watery too.

She grabs two Kleenex’s from her nightstand, hands one to me and then uses the other one to dab at her eyes. "Thank you so much Kaylee. I don't know what I would do without you."

"I don't know either." She says lightening up the mood a bit with her quick wit. "Anyhow, we are family and family helps each other."

I nod and then blush when my stomach lets out a ferocious growl.

"Well then," Kaylee jokes, "I guess it's time to scrounge up some dinner."

We both head to the kitchen. Kaylee's mom has already gone to bed since she has to get up at four a.m. for her flight tomorrow. So with her asleep, we are left to fend for ourselves. After carefully weighing out the option between cereal and ramen we decided on ramen.

Kaylee fills me in on all that's been going on at our high school, senior pranks and all as we slurp our noodles. After dinner we head back to her room, open up my laptop and hunt for deals on last minute flights. We consider trading in Kaylee's ticket that the Kealoha's purchased for her, but decide that it could end up tipping them off on our plans. We check out numerous sites and finally end up settling on one that only costs an arm and half of a leg. Rates on flights must be exponentially higher this week because Texas is out on spring break. We use Kaylee's debit card to purchase and confirm our flights.

With plane tickets set up for tomorrow, I'm exhausted with jet lag and feel sleep calling to me but I have one last thing to do before getting some shuteye. Pulling out my IPhone I send a quick text letting Tristan know the details of our flight. A minute later my phone vibrates; I open it to see the response.

"R U sure? I think perhaps u r safer in Texas." Tristan texts back.

I take a deep breath and try not to be frustrated by his response. "So are u sayin u don't want me 2 come back?" I know I’m being a total girl and twisting his words, but I can’t seem to help it.

A few seconds later he responds, "No! Of course I want u back. I just also want u safe."

Kaylee looks at me and raises her eyebrows in question when she sees me rolling my eyes at the phone. I ignore the question and text back, "Understand. So do u want 2 help or not?"

He doesn't respond. I wonder after a few minutes if he's going to even bother. As I'm about ready to throw my phone out the window in frustration, he says, "K. What do u need me 2 do?"

Using my two thumbs I type out my game plan to Tristan and in the end, the only response I get from him is, "K."

I can tell that he's not too thrilled about how secretive we will have to be, nor is he happy that I'm going to be back in the line of danger. While I care about Tristan and what he thinks, I'm not going to waver on what I need to do. Kai is in this spot because of me. I can't just sit back and let him stay that way while I go on with my life. It's not possible. I send Tristan a final text, "Thx. G Night."

He doesn't text back, but that's okay. I know he's upset and probably feels like I'm pulling his arm since he knows that if he doesn't help me, I will still do this without him. Just call me stubborn. But, tonight, I can't worry about that. I'm too exhausted to worry about it. She sets her alarm for five in the morning, both for making sure her mom is gone, and because we have a flight to catch at nine. As I fall asleep, I can't help but wonder what Kai is going through tonight and if he's thinking about me.