Insight: Web of Hearts and Souls #1 (Insight series 1) Read online

We found our way to a quaint little town that was a lot like Franklin. The buildings all dated back to the 1800s. Shops and restaurants lined the streets. We settled in at a little café, which was set in front of a square park that centered the town. People were pushing strollers, walking their dogs, and lounging on the benches. On the other side of the park was a beautiful church. Flowers and white lace decorated the step. I could only assume that a wedding was in progress.

  “Are there places like that in Chara?”

  “The building? Or what they do there?”

  Knowing there was a wedding in process, I squirmed in my seat. I didn’t want him to think I was insinuating anything.

  “Either.”

  “Well, in some way, yes to both.” He gazed at the historic church with the utmost respect. “That place is powerful, I feel the same kind of energy when I go to the places I took you today.”

  “I can see that.” I let the tension slide out of my body. He misread my question.

  He tilted his head and glanced at me curiously. “Were you talking about the wedding part? Or the higher power part?”

  I started laughing, that’s all I could do to hide the embarrassment.

  “Do you want a wedding?” he asked sincerely.

  I couldn’t say or think a single thought. The boy had the insight of truth so I couldn’t lie, and I refused to admit I was curious about how couples symbolized a bond.

  Landen moved his chair closer to mine, wrapped his arm around me, and we watched the couples make their way out.

  “They seem happy,” Landen thought, glancing at the groom, then back to me.

  I could sense the bride and groom from where I sat. There was a love between them, but, for some reason our love felt older. Bonded at the core of our being.

  “In Chara, we celebrate when couples find one another. Friends and family welcome home the ones who were searching and their soul mates.” Landen paused and looked deep into my eyes before continuing. “We believe that we are each other’s gift from the heavens. We thank the heavens every moment for the love we feel. In Chara, ‘I love you,’ is more than just three words. They are never spoken unless that emotion is felt at our core. Right now we are just as, if not more so, committed as that couple. This is forever. This life and the next. I made you that promise the second I knew you could hear me.”

  He drew my face closer to his and said, “I love you, Willow. I always have, and I always will.”

  His voice, his words, they were so deep.

  “I love you.” I whispered.

  He ticked his head toward the church. “Is there an image over there I need to be aware of? I can’t stand waiting to see the way you do this any longer.”

  “All right. All right. I’m focusing.”

  I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath, only to open them and see him looking at me in a humorous way.

  “Breathe deep? That’s your trick.”

  I playfully glared. “Everyone seems to be in place. Images stick out.”

  One nod, a teasingly, disbelieving nod.

  “I’m serious.” I glanced around us. “Come on, let’s walk.”

  We had only taken a few steps before I felt that familiar pull on me. I hesitated and searched the emotions around us. Somebody was painfully nervous. I spotted a young man pacing back and forth. He looked as if he were rehearsing a speech, playing the words across his lips. I watched him as he stopped his pacing and took a step forward, then halt and start pacing again. I was almost sure he was an image. He was stepping forward to a tree, but a tree would definitely not need a rehearsed speech.

  “Do you see that guy over by the Dogwood tree?”

  Landen followed my gaze. “What do you see?” he asked.

  “A man preparing to give a speech to a tree.”

  He erupted into laughter.

  “What? Trees can be intimidating. That or he’s out of place just like I said he would be,” I thought as I raised my chin to drive home my point.

  “Is the tree making him nervous?”

  “Something is,” I thought.

  “Your sure he’s an image?” Landen asked as he continued searching the people on the streets.

  “If I get closer to him then I’ll know for sure. The pull will be stronger,” I thought pulling him toward the man.

  “What do you mean, ‘pull?’”

  “The images pull me to them, then after I help them, they push me back to where I began.”

  We began to walk closer to the young man. As we did, he stopped his pacing again, then stood in place and pulled a little box out of his pocket. I knew then what he was nervous about. I started to walk faster. I could tell he was losing his nerve.

  “Okay, you hold onto me. I’ll let go of him when it’s over,” I told him.

  Landen held my hand tightly. The memory that I was going to use would be so powerful that this young man would have enough courage to last him for a lifetime. As I reached for his arm, the day shifted to evening, and the air had a gentle breeze. He was standing outside a quaint apartment building. I let the memory of seeing Landen outside my dreams for the first time come to me. The tension then left, and the young man took a deep breath and ran forward. I lost my touch.

  Landen and I were back. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as happy for one of my images before.

  I smiled up at Landen. “Well, how was that?” I thought, proud of myself.

  Landen looked around to see if anyone had seen us come or go. Finding no one paying attention to us, he thought, “I think you have me beat.”

  “What? There’s no way—there was no wave or beautiful light.”

  “Yes, there was. You just didn’t see it,” he thought, smiling.

  What did he mean by that?

  “You just crossed the string and made your own light. The pull you feel is the energy of the string,” he continued. “Look at where he was, remember the way you felt…do you see it?”

  I could see. It was a wave, where one did not exist before. I took Landen’s hand and stepped through, not knowing if we’d be with the young man or back in the string. When I heard the hum and felt the current, though, I knew we were in the string.

  “Look, do you see the green in the wall?” Landen asked. I looked to the right and could see a light green haze, the same size as me. Landen walked to the left side of the string and pointed out the twin image on the other side of the string. As I realized what he was saying, a grin came across my face.

  Without warning, the hum of the string grew louder. The current was moving faster. Landen pulled me down to the ground and wrapped his arms and body around me. The energy filling the string was so powerful, it vibrated every part of me. Just when I thought I couldn’t stand another moment, everything was still again. I rose in a daze, and a numbing feeling came over me. The walls of the string had changed, and my green haze was no longer there. We had moved.

  “Did I do that?” I asked, afraid of what his answer might be.

  “It was just a storm. They’re unpredictable.”

  “Do you know where we are?” I asked with a trembling voice.

  Landen looked at the walls of the string. Once he found his place, a smile came across his face. “Well, we’re back, a little faster than I would’ve preferred,” he said reaching to help me up.

  There was a light blue haze, and as we stepped through it the river that ran along the cabin was in front of us.

  As we walked toward the cabin, I felt all the vibe that I loved, the ones that only a family could give you.

  Libby was running down the river path as fast as she could, excitement pouring from her. When she reached us, she leaped into Landen’s arms and reached across to pull me to them.

  “You guys left me all day,” she said in her fake pout voice. “Did you take Willow to your castle?” she asked Landen. He lifted her above his head making her scream with laughter.

  “Did you?” she said through her giggles.

  “No, not yet
but I will very soon. When I do, you get to come, too. How does that sound?”

  “I get to live with you?”

  Landen was starting to learn that nothing got past Libby.

  “Well, you get to live very close with your mom and dad.”

  “How close?” she pressured.

  “Close enough that you can run there in less than a minute,” Landen said, setting her down. Libby seemed to be satisfied with his answer, and I was, too. I needed Libby close to me.

  At the cabin, dinner was on the table. Marc had made it there safely, and the cabin was filled with a sense of joy. The stories of all the places travelers had seen sent my imagination running wild. My eyes always found their way to Libby. She’d insisted on sitting in Landen’s lap for dinner; he didn’t seem to mind. I wondered what she’d filled her day with or if she’d picked up on her insight.

  When Libby finished her dinner she slid off Landen’s lap and went into the living room. Once there, she stretched out on the floor and began to color across one of my sketchpads. Landen and I stared at her as the others continued to reminisce.

  “I wonder if she has a gift of art, too,” Landen thought.

  “If she does, she’ll humble my talent.”

  “Landen, do you agree that we should wait another day before we travel home?” Livingston asked pulling us from our private conversation.

  Landen’s stare was still on Libby, “I don’t want to take any risks. We should wait for the storm that’s turning to pass.”

  I could feel eagerness inside Livingston. If it were up to him, we’d already be on our way.

  “I’m going to get Libby ready for bed,” I said, standing.

  I wanted to spend some time alone with her, see if I could pick up on how well this insight of hers was developing, or at the very least let her know she could ask me about anything she thought was weird.

  After she was ready for bed, I read her a story. I noticed that she was losing the excitement that I loved about her; it was as if she’d aged over the past few days.

  “Libby, is there anything you want to talk about or ask me?” I whispered to her.

  Her eyes found mine, and she searched my face. I could feel her running through different emotions: anxiety, a little fear, and then returning to the common thread of excitement. “I think I’m different,” she said in a quiet voice.

  “You are different. Everyone is, and that’s what makes us all so special.”

  “Willow, I think that I am—I have—I can…” She was struggling to find the words. I felt her emotions rush, and I squeezed her tight.

  “I know. Don’t worry about it. It’ll all make more sense as you get older. Don’t rush it. You’ll find your way,” I said, playing with her long brown hair. I felt a calm come over her.

  After she drifted off to sleep, I left her room. As I passed through the hallway to my room, I heard the discussion downstairs in full debate. I could still feel Livingston’s eagerness. I could also feel Landen’s frustration. It was obvious we weren’t going to get any answers that night. I climbed on my bed with my sketchpad in my hand, then turned to a blank page and stared, trying to decide what to draw first. It was hard because my day had been so amazing. I sensed my mother. When I looked up she was leaning in the doorway. She smiled warmly at me. She had her energy and excitement with her again.

  “Can I come in?” she asked. I scooted over on the bed, making room for her to sit beside me.

  “I can only imagine what sketches will come out of the day that you’ve had,” she said.

  I smiled as it rushed through my mind. Mom saw the photo album on the table and grabbed it.

  “Do you miss them?” she asked.

  I nodded.

  “What did you think of the string?”

  “It was amazing, indescribable. It would change, the feelings, the colors, it all changed,” I answered in a rush.

  “I wish I could see it,” she said, feeling envious.

  I suddenly realized how scary only feeling it would be.

  “So, Landen and you…” she said, shifting her emotion.

  I felt myself blush. “Is everyone still shocked about us?” I asked, sitting up a little straighter.

  “Not shocked. It’s just amazing. I still cannot believe that you don’t have to use any words to communicate. Did it scare you?”

  “We didn’t even realize it.”

  “Is it everything? I mean, can you hear his thoughts now?” she asked glancing to the doorway.

  “We only hear each other when we speak to one another.”

  “What about the dreams, are they the same place?”

  “I think so. The last few have been at this beautiful home.”

  “I bet it’s the one he built,” she said, smiling wider. “They all help. The family starts the house when the children are around the age of ten. It’s not something that happens overnight. Your father said his was nearly finished when he left. He had spent ten years on it.” She rand her fingers over the pictured in the album in her lap, “The houses are powered by natural energy. The whole dimension is. The power of sun, wind, and water is all they need.”

  This world was becoming a utopia to me. It was as if the world that I’d lived in had the same choices, but failed to take the right path.

  “Ashten went to see Aubrey today. There must be something in the air...she said Clarissa found her soul mate.”

  I sly smirk rested on the edge of my lips. Landen was confident it wouldn’t be long before she did.

  Mom started to tell me about all the people I would meet when we finally got Chara. I drifted off to sleep somewhere in the middle of that conversation.

  At first, I slept without any dreams. Slowly, though, my home came into view. I walked into the house, stopping to smell the flowers on the front steps. Once inside the house, I made my way through the rooms I’d seen the night before. I made plans to create paintings and place them, highlighting my first time in the string and the wonders of the world where my childhood was spent. I traced my fingers through the designs in the framework that bordered the center of the walls.

  I was in a large room. The couches and chairs all had beautiful patterns on them, and I ran my fingers across each one. I could feel the handmade stitching.

  In the center of the wall was a vast fireplace framed by a stunning mantel, and along it were pieces of what looked to be crystal. The shapes were all amazing, but one caught my eye: a willow tree. It was six inches high, and the branches and leaves each broke out into their own crystals. The sunlight peering through brought out an array of colors. Stepping closer, I could see a little knob on the base of the tree. I gently picked up the delicate tree and twisted the knob. I felt it wind up like a music box, and I could only imagine what song would come from it.

  I felt Landen’s hands on my shoulders; he moved them slowly down my back birthing a throbbing sensation from my soul. One hand reached for my waist, and the other reached for my arm, he gently lifted it, so that I was stretching back and threading my hand through his dark hair. As I gazed into his eyes, his fingertips feathered down my arm, it took all I had not to laugh, that tender caress fell further, tracing my chest, my ribs, all the way down to my waist. I held his stare as I leaned up to let my lips brush against his.

  Every touch that night was innocent, yet provocatively sensual, holding the promise that we were eternal.

  I didn’t want to wake from the dream, but daylight brought us both back to reality.

  “How did the convo go downstairs last night?” I asked.

  He stared intently into my eyes and carefully thought his words through before he spoke. “All we came up with were more questions. It doesn’t make sense why the string doesn’t burn you when you pass through. Your dad said that was always his biggest fear. He could always see the green haze around you, but it didn’t ever hurt you, inside or out. We can’t figure out why you can’t change the emotions of the ones that are in your presence, or why the
emotions that call you are so simple. It’s amazing that you can see them through an entire string.”

  “Do you know why they can’t see me or feel me?”

  “You never completely leave the string. You stay in the haze just on the edge. That might be why.”

  It bothered me that I’d never seen the haze before.

  “Livingston thinks that if you focused your energy, you’d be able to affect the ones in your presence. If you could, you’d be able to give courage or a sense of empowerment to those who need it. He knows that there are good people in all the worlds, even in Esterious,” Landen said, looking away. I could feel that he was uneasy with his thoughts.

  “You don’t like his ideas, do you?”

  “He believes what he’s saying, but they’re guarding their intentions, not thinking about anything but the moment they’re in.”

  “What do you think it is?”

  “I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s anything we should look forward to hearing,” Landen said, tightening his jaw.

  “The way we feel is a choice. I hope Livingston doesn’t think I’ll be able to change those who aren’t willing.”

  “That’s exactly what our fathers and I said.”

  “So when do we leave? What’s the plan?”

  “That storm we were in was just a little one. Marc looked in the string last night, and it got worse after we left. It should completely pass by late tonight. We’re going to leave early tomorrow so Libby won’t have to travel through the night. Today, we’re going to go to one of the towns here and practice what you do so we can start to define it. You can’t help anyone until you can control it.”

  It wasn’t anyone’s intention, but I felt like a science experiment. It made me uneasy. Showing Landen was one thing, but I already felt embarrassed, thinking of the others watching me and critiquing what I was doing. I rolled on my back and stared at the arched wood above us, wishing I could just tell them to save myself from embarrassment.

  Libby ran into the room and dove onto the bed, making a place for herself between us. She was already dressed in a bright yellow swimsuit and sundress.

  “I wish you guys would go swimming with me instead of a silly hiking trip,” she said with a big pout on her face.

  Questioning her words, I looked at Landen, but he was just as lost. I assumed it was another story my mother had told her to keep the peace.

  “I promise to come back soon...we’ll think of something we can do then.”

  Libby laughed out loud when I started to tickle her then all at once she went rigid and her eyes were somewhere else, looking past the room. I sat up quickly, feeling the fear coming from her. I shook her lightly and called her name. Landen stood up and lifted her to a sitting position. Her fear impacted us both, and we were reaching the point of panic. Then all at once it was gone, and she resumed her normal excitement. Landen and I sighed deeply, and Libby looked at us as if we’d lost our minds.

  “Did her emotion change, too?” Landen thought.

  “She had fear, but only for an instant, now she’s fine. What do you think she saw?”

  “I don’t know. I just hope whatever it was passes just as quickly.”

  A sickening feeling came over me, accompanied by an intense sense of dread.

  Landen and I got ready for our day. When we went downstairs, I was surprised to see that only my mom and dad were there.

  “Where is everyone?”

  “Marc and Livingston went to check the progress of the storm. Dad went to see my mother.”

  Relief came over me. I wouldn’t have to be anyone’s science experiment after all. When I glanced at Landen he was grinning.

  “You didn’t think I’d let them make you uncomfortable, now did you?”

  “You might just be too perfect, Landen Chambers.”

  “Doubt that, you just bring out the best in me.”

  I could feel his disdain but I didn’t understand it. When my eyes questioned him he responded. “I’m a bit adventurous and stubborn, even reckless, but…I was that way because I wanted to find you. Figure out why I’m different. You’ve calmed me down.”

  “Is that why your dad and the others are looking at you like you are a ticking time bomb?”

  He laugh. “Not a time bomb, they just know they crossed a line by keeping secrets from me. If there is one thing you do not mess with in Chara it’s a persons soul mate. They’re still hiding something and they know I won’t take it well.”

  “Whatever it is…we’ll get through it.”

  “I promise we will.”

  We’d forgotten we were standing in the den, with my parents a few feet away. Until we heard my dad say, “I hope you guys are hungry. There’s more than enough.”

  Mom, was sketching the mountain view. “Are you going with me and Landen today, Dad?”

  He was surprised and flattered by my question. “I think I’m going to stay here with your mom and Libby,” he said, sitting down. “I heard you had a good day traveling yesterday, that it came quickly to you.”

  I glanced at Landen, “I promise I didn’t tell them everything. They don’t even know where we went,” Landen thought.

  “So where did you two go anyway?” my father asked.

  Landen raised his brow and tilted his head as he took a big bite of his omelet.

  “Well, a lot of places. We started at Victoria Falls.”

  We had my mother’s attention now. She’d put her sketch down and was looking at me, a surge of energy coming from her. “Zimbabwe?”

  There was no holding back the laughter from my father, Landen, and me. My mother sat back in her chair and tried to imagine how.

  Right after breakfast, Landen and I took the rental car and drove to the closest town. It was a tourist town, and we hoped it would be easy to find someone who was unhappy when they were vacationing.

  “Landen, do you think I could really help people close to me, like Livingston does?” I thought as we strolled across the sidewalk that lined the town.

  “I think there’s a reason for your gift. I don’t want you to rush it. It’ll happen when it’s supposed to.”

  “Do you really think I can, though?”

  “I know you’re special,” he said, giving me my favorite playful grin. “Did you like your tree last night?”

  It had been dancing through my thoughts all morning. I wanted to ask him if everything was really that perfect in our home.

  “Is it really there?” His eyes told me it was. “Where did you get it from?”

  “Your grandmother, Rose, gave it to me almost two years ago. She told me when she saw it, all she could think about was me. I thought it was strange then. Looking back, I think she was trying to give me an advantage.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone. It was Monica’s mother, Sharon, and she was hysterical. I felt a panic rush through me. Something was wrong. Why would she be in Montana? Then I felt a pull come across me, and a sinking feeling fell through my stomach as my eyes raced over her. Sharon was an image.

  “What’s wrong, Willow? Willow?” Landen said, trying to follow my gaze.

  “Sharon is an image,” I thought with a shaking voice.

  “Who is Sharon?” he asked.

  “Sharon lives in Franklin. I’m friends with her daughter, Monica. Remember I told you about her yesterday? She’s the outspoken friend of mine.”

  “Are you sure she’s an image? What does she look like?” He’d followed my stare and was searching for her.

  “She has on a black dress. Long blonde hair. She’s crying, screaming.” I knew he couldn’t see her. There was no way not to feel sympathy for her.

  “I have to help her, Landen.”

  Landen’s gift of intent was working. He knew that’s what I was planning to do, and he was ready to argue his point of view. “It could be a trap. She’s in Franklin. If Drake is anywhere near her, he’ll see you.”

  “Landen, I have to help her! Something has to be
really wrong—what if he’s hurting them?” I felt a sick feeling rise and settle in my throat.

  It would be my fault, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.

  “What if you just call and see?” He knew he was fighting a battle that I wasn’t going to let him win.

  “Landen, I have to help her,” I thought in a pleading tone. “You’ll be there, and you can pull me back into the string if he’s there. I’ll even let you take me all the way home if he tries anything.”

  Landen clenched his jaw. I could feel the turmoil stirring inside him. I felt his pain. He knew I was going to go, and I knew he was trying to think of ways to stop me. He knew if he tried by force, I’d just find another way.

  “Okay, let’s just compromise. You can’t stay, no matter what you see. If it’s bad, we’ll get the others and we’ll all help,” he thought.

  I could handle that compromise. I didn’t want to put myself in danger. I just wanted to help her. I had to help her. No choice in the matter.

  We walked to where Sharon was. She wasn’t screaming anymore, and she looked like she was calming down. Landen held my hand as we passed through the crowd.

  “Willow, don’t say anything to her. You have to keep your concentration. You can’t do anything differently than you normally do. I don’t know what could happen if you do.”

  I was having doubts. What if I put Landen in danger? I argued with myself. I had to help, though.

  When we reached Sharon, Landen stood behind me and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. His anxiety was growing stronger by the second. Putting him through this was torture. Taking in a deep breath, we reached for Sharon, and the string pulled us through with a rush of energy.

  We were in the police station. Sharon was not alone. Other parents were there, in fact, all the parents of my friends were in the room with her. Using all my strength, bringing her a feeling of safety was all I could do. Her tears stopped, but she didn’t smile. I knew I was only giving her temporary peace. Deciding that was the most that we could do, we let go.

  Stopping in the string, I could still feel Landen’s arms around me. His anxiety was replaced by sorrow. When I turned to face him, his face held the same emotion. He pulled me closer to him. He saw more than I did. He knew what was wrong, why they were so upset.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  I knew my thoughts were as pleading as my face. Landen hesitated, just like he always did when he didn’t want to tell me something.

  “Landen.”

  He breathed in. “There are six missing.” I heard his words, but I couldn’t process them at first.

  “He took her,” I thought, remembering how Monica had wanted to go with Drake to the beach to go out on his boat.

  “I don’t know how. He’d have had to take them one by one. Esterious is dimensions away.”

  He was rocking me back and forth, trying to calm me down. The humming and gentle current of the string was helping him. All at once, Landen stopped. His whole body became ridged. Rage coursed through him. Then I heard who was making him angry.

  “Well, well…what do we have here?” It was Drake’s deep, charismatic voice.

  Landen moved, shielding me with his body.

  “Have you hand delivered my queen to me?” Drake asked.

  My adrenaline rushed to my defense. I was infuriated with Drake. He had now crossed the line.

  “You know, I’d expected to have to deal with her father, or maybe her little boyfriend, Dane. But you, my friend,” Drake paused while looking Landen up and down, “are a worthy opponent.” He began to circle us. “Mmm…yes…a degree of chivalry always makes for a good story.” Drake tilted his head, smiling arrogantly and winking at me. “It will be a good one to tell our sons, when I tell him how I won you and every dimension.” He stopped in front of us, his eyes moved from me to Landen. They were locked in a dead stare.

  “She’s not leaving with you,” Landen growled through his teeth.

  “You would think that a man of Chara would want the color to return to Esterious,” Drake said, folding his arms across his chest. “Would respect soul mates.”

  “You don’t need Willow to release those people. It’s you and your beloved Donalt that holds them captive,” Landen said in a harsh tone full of disgust for Drake.

  “Willow’s destiny is threaded through mine,” Drake said, glancing at the tattoo of the dragon on his arm, then to my ankh.

  I lunged at him, pushing him into the wall of the string. I could hear the singe of his clothes as he quickly stepped forward. The wrath in the string intensified. Every muscle in my body hardened, trying to block out the sheer force of the emotions coursing through the string.

  Drake didn’t scream in pain. Instead, a proud grin filled his face, and he chuckled under his breath.

  “Where are they?” I screamed at him as Landen pulled me behind him and blocked Drake, who was stepping toward us.

  Drake looked at Landen with an arrogant sneer. “She’s always belonged to me…I’ve been with her more nights than you could ever imagine,” Drake said, clearly enticed by my outburst. “Willow, are you going to make this easy or hard on yourself?” he said, glaring at Landen.

  Before I could answer or manage to pull a thought forward, a rush of energy with an unbearable force plowed through my back, knocking me into Landen. The flow intensified, and Landen pushed into Drake, then turned and pulled me close to him. We were both watching the sides of the string. The hazes were rushing by so fast, there was no way to be sure where the passages were. The hum suddenly rose to a roar. I felt every part of my body vibrate violently.

  “Let me go first. It won’t burn me,” I thought, feeling my confidence build. I pulled Landen’s arm and stepped through the moving wall into an open field.

  “Do you know where we are?” I asked, shaking.

  I looked back at him. The string had burned his arm—there was a large hole in sleeve of his shirt, blood oozing out. “You’re hurt again!” I gasped.

  Landen looked down at his arm, then around to find our place. My body was so weak from the storm it started to tremble.

  “It’s all right. It’ll be all right. I promise,” Landen said as he picked me up and held me as tight as he could. Over his shoulder, I saw Libby. I blinked a few times, thinking the stress had caused me to hallucinate. She seemed frantic. I felt a pull reach for me.

  “Libby!” I gasped. “It’s Libby—she’s scared!” I screamed.

  We ran the twenty-yard distance between her and us.

  “Landen, hold on to me!” I yelled, reaching for his hand as I reached for Libby.

  When my hand touched her, I screamed her name. When she looked at me, all the fear vanished from her face. I’d brought us back to the cabin. Everyone was there with her.

  Landen shouted toward Ashten. “Drake is in the string! Willow’s friends are in danger!”

  Without hesitation, Ashten, Marc, Livingston, and my father stepped through the passage I’d made. Landen was still holding my hand.

  “Stay here. I love you. Stay here.” He let go, and my passage was gone.

  “LANDEN!” I screamed.

  He had vanished.

  Chapter Eight