50

BRIDGER

JULY 4, 2013

After I erase Mr. Palmer’s last memories, leaving him unconscious, I race out of the inn. Lights flash behind me. I twist around in time to see headlights bouncing as a white auto speeds down the driveway.

Grace is here.

The knot in my stomach grows tighter. She’s going to find Mr. Palmer inside and wild out. Then she’ll summon the authorities.

I can’t deal with that. Alora is going to die soon. How can I keep her alive without changing history? Her death is on record. The only possible way I could save her without destroying the timeline is to somehow make everybody think she died tonight. But how can I do that when there won’t be a body?

The smell of smoke fills the forest. My nails bite into my palms. It’s just another reminder of Alora’s impending death.

Voices greet me as I near the river. A familiar female’s voice and Dad’s. It sounds like they’re arguing. A new wave of adrenaline explodes through my body. I run faster.

I stop before I reach the clearing by the river. Dad taught me never to rush into anything blind. I peer through the trees. Three figures are illuminated by the fireworks. Dad is standing a few feet away from two girls. Both of them with blonde hair. One looks terrified, hugging her arms against her chest. The other yells at Dad, pointing a weapon at the first girl.

I feel like someone blasted me with a stunner.

The girl with the weapon is Vika.

She’s alive.

I sway a little. How is that possible, unless she shifted here before her death? But why didn’t she tell me about it?

Behind me, footsteps close in on my position. “Alora!” Grace screams. “Where are you?”

Damn. She must have seen our footsteps on the dirt path leading to the forest. I’ve got to stop her before she ruins everything. Before she passes me, I deactivate my cloak and leap in front of her.

She starts to scream. I throw my hand over her mouth and whisper, “Be quiet. Alora’s in danger.”

Grace’s eyes are huge. When I lower my hand, she says, “What’s going on? I’ve been looking for her for hours.”

I wish there was a way to make Grace go back. I think about taking the Mind Redeemer out and erasing her memories from the past few hours. Before I can, the voices behind me rise again. Grace’s eyes shift from my face to behind me. Her mouth forms an O. “Holy Mother of God. They look so alike.”

I turn around. While I was busy trying to stop Grace, Dad moved closer to Alora and Vika.

Vika points her weapon at Dad. “I don’t want to hurt you. I’m only here to make sure Alora dies.”

Raw fear pierces my heart. Why would Vika want to do that?

“You don’t have to do that, Vika,” Dad says in a soothing voice. “She’s not supposed to be here. She needs to go back to our time.”

Grace tries to pass me, but I hold her back. “Wait,” I hiss. “That’s my father out there.”

“And that’s my niece. I have to help her.”

Another round of fireworks blasts at the same time. It casts everyone in a faint greenish glow for a moment. Vika pretends to think, tapping her chin. “You should know better. There’s an obituary for Alora. She has to die.”

“What does she mean?” Grace asks in a high-pitched voice.

“Nobody is going to die.” I stare hard at Grace. “That’s why I’m here.”

But apparently Grace doesn’t believe me. She kicks me. Pain rips up my leg and I bend over, letting go of her.

Which I should’ve never done because Grace brushes past me and bursts out of the forest.

Immediately, a shot rings out.

Grace crumples to the ground.