Whisper of Memory (Whispering Woods Book 2) (12 page)

“Mia, you all right in there?”

“Yeah, Dad. Fine. I’m fine,” I muttered.

He knocked. “Can I come in?”

“No! I look like a…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. I hopped off the stool and sat on my bed.

“I’m coming in.”

I didn’t turn around. Staring at the poster on my wall, I said, “I look ridiculous.”

The door creaked as it opened. “Let me be the judge of that. Stand,” he said. “Please.”

The strapless dress fit snugly from bust to thigh, where it billowed into a mass of transparent layers of silk and taffeta, sweeping the floor.

“Dad, I can’t go out in this. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Hmm,” he said. “The truth.” He motioned me to stand and spin around. He grinned. “Where’s my little tomboy? You’ll break a few hearts in that tonight.”

“Daaaad.” I groaned.

“Regulus is one lucky guy to have you as a date. He’d better not leave your side or someone will try to steal you away.”

“Is it too tight? Do you think it’s too—”

“It’s perfect, Mia. Sweetheart, I don’t know how Emily pulled this off, but the dress is made for you. I expect you to be lovelier only on your wedding day.” His eyes twinkled.

The doorbell rang.

“It’s Em. Are you sure I look OK?”

He nodded, eyes shiny. To my horror I thought he might cry.

“I gotta go, Dad.”

“Be safe tonight, Mia.”

“Thanks for forgetting about the grounding tonight.”

“I love you, sweetheart.”

“Love you too, Dad,” I said as I teetered to the stairs in my high heels, grabbed the gown’s hem, and managed to make it down.

T
he car was already
warm from Em’s drive over. Adjusting masses of taffeta, I settled into the passenger seat. “We’re going to get the guys now?”

Em ignored me. “Listen, look in the back seat and you’ll see a fur wrap. My mom said you have to wear it.”

“Sure.” I turned down the radio. “I tried to call Regulus today and he never answered. Have you talked to them?”

“Yeah, to Arizona,” she said.

“Oh,” I said, disappointed that Regulus hadn’t called.

“They’re going to meet us there.”

“Why? Can’t we swing by and get them?”

“Something about last-minute adjustments,” she muttered. She turned up the radio. “You look great. My mom said she picked that dress out with you in mind.”

“Whatever,” I said, grinning. “I thought my dad was gonna cry before I left. He was so happy to see me in a dress.”

“Aw,” she said. “Your dad is the sweetest.” She unwrapped a piece of gum while steering with her elbows. “Let’s have fun tonight.”

“I can’t wait to see Regulus.”

A
pastel explosion
of color covered every inch of the Whispering Woods High gymnasium. At least a hundred pounds of glitter and billions of tiny white lights twinkled on artificial tree branches. I followed Em underneath the hulking arch that proclaimed Enchanted Forest.

“What happened to the steampunk theme I voted for?” I looked around. “It’s like we fell into a bag of taffy.”

“Pretty, isn’t it?” She ignored my scowl.

“What’s this supposed to be?”

“Fairy-tale night. Like Cinderella and Snow White.”

“Hmm,” I said, still not seeing what the decor had in common with children’s stories of wicked stepmothers and evil witches.

“Come on. I think I see Arizona. I gave him the passes so they could get in.”

I let her grab my hand and lead me through a crowd of dancers. Looking down at my dress, I held my breath. It was silly to be nervous about seeing Regulus. About him seeing me in the dress.

I took a deep breath and opened my lids slowly in anticipation.

“Hi, beautiful.” Austin stood inches from me in a black suit. He smiled, and I smiled back. “You look incredible.”

“Thanks,” I said and noticed Arizona, already holding Em’s hands, standing at Austin’s right. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as I looked in confusion at Arizona, then Em, then Austin.

“Where’s Regulus?” I said. I even turned to look behind me.

“Listen, Mia, he really wanted to be here, but…” Arizona twitched with nervousness. “He tried.”

“He tried what? I don’t get it. Where is he? And Austin, why are you here? Did you bring somebody from school?”

“I called Austin and told him to come along. Or you’d be alone,” Arizona’s tone was apologetic.

I didn’t care. “You
what?
This isn’t football, Arizona. You don’t send a fresh player in.”

Em put her hand on my arm.

I shrugged it off. “Did you know about this?” My voice rose, and people were starting to stare. I knew I was throwing a tantrum but couldn’t stop myself. “You knew. You did,” I said as I backed away. The betrayal made me feel like my heart was catching on fire.

“Mia, he couldn’t make it back, and…we didn’t want this night to be ruined.” Arizona waved his hands, trying to calm me down, I guess.

“I would have been fine if he’d called to tell me this.” I backed up two more steps. I could see the disappointment on Austin’s face, and it made me angrier. How could Regulus send another guy in his place if he cared that much about me?

Austin caught me by the arm. “Mia, you’re overreacting. I’ll take you home if you want.”

“Yeah, that’s what I want. I’m sorry, Austin. Take me home, OK? I hate these things. It was a stupid idea for me to come anyway.”

“Sure.” Austin glanced over at Em. “You all right?”

“Yeah. Go ahead.” She turned to me. “Mia, don’t be mad. I didn’t know until the last second. Promise.”

“Thanks for the dress,” I said stiffly. “I’ll return it tomorrow.”

Austin took my elbow and steered me toward the exit. Once outside, we went to the parking lot.

“I’m happy I came,” he said.

When I didn’t respond, he continued, “It’s a good thing because I’ve never seen you in a dress like that before.”

I looked at him, confused. I couldn’t imagine why he was still being nice to me after I had practically thrown a screaming fit inside the building.

“I thought I liked being with you because you get me. And you’re into the gaming. And you’re real, you know.” He paused. “I thought that was all it was. That you’re like a buddy. I was wrong.”

I shook my head. “Huh?”

“I have news for you, Mia Taylor. You’re not one of the guys.” Austin dropped his hand from my elbow and walked in front of me. Then he turned to scrutinize me from head to toe. “I would never take you for granted, and I’d certainly never stand you up.”

“Please take me home, Austin.”

“Yeah, OK. But don’t forget that I’m the one who really knows you and everything you want in life.” He opened the door to the Jeep for me.

There was no way I could get up into the seat unless I planned to split the side of the dress. Austin obliged, grinning while lifting me into the passenger seat.

S
till in the aqua dress
, I flung myself down on my bed. I was in no mood to take time to undress. Throwing myself a pity party ranked high on my list of priorities at the moment. Dad seemed surprised when I got home so early, but he took one look at my face and didn’t ask. I had never been as thankful.

Biscuit insisted on licking a path around my hairline and anywhere he could see skin. Eventually, he settled in beside me, and I turned my head to him.

“I was really bad,” I said to him. He blinked and stuck out a pink tongue to lick my arm.

“I was so bad, Biscuit. My friends will never want to do anything with me again.” I sniffed and closed my eyes. Biscuit licked my cheek as a hot tear slid downward.

M
y cell phone vibrated
. Biscuit gave a quick bark.

I peered in the dim light at the screen. It was Arizona.

“Hello.”

“You OK?”

“Of course. Listen, I can’t believe I acted like that. Like some spoiled brat. I’m sorry. I guess I was nervous to begin with since—”

“Mia.”

“Yeah?”

“The portal has moved again. I need you to find it.”

“Why didn’t you say so?”

“It’s bad timing. I should have gone with him, but he wouldn’t let me. They said for him to come alone.”

“I can find it,” I said. I sat up and straightened the dress.

“Can we go now?”

“Sure. I’ll change.”

“No, I’m outside with Em. Let’s go now.” He sounded urgent.

I frowned. “In this dress? Is something wrong?”

“I can feel that Regulus is coming through.”

I nodded in understanding even though he couldn’t see me. The chip always made location of the team member possible. “Sure. I’ll be right down.” I scooted off the bed and shoved my feet into my old Converse tennis shoes and grabbed the skirt of the dress so it wouldn’t drag on the ground. At the last second, I snagged my jean jacket to put on. I looked at my ensemble of mermaid dress with tennis shoes topped by a clashing blue denim jacket and grimaced.

Tiptoeing down the stairs, I slipped past my dad in his recliner. His mouth hung open and a loud snore stopped me momentarily before I silently opened the front door.

Em and Austin weren’t exactly at the door, but I could see a flashlight glowing halfway down the gravel drive. I ran to them, struggling to adjust my vision to the pitch-blackness of the night.

“Portal,” Arizona demanded.

“Gimme a second. It’s not like I flip a switch.” I walked a couple of feet away from Em and closed my eyes to concentrate. There’s nothing like having an audience when trying to block everything out. I listened to the sounds of the night and saw indigos and purples swirl past me in my mind’s eye. I smelled the evergreen and wet leaves…

Sweetness filled me. Breathing in slow steady drafts of life force, I searched for the pull of the portal, allowing my feet to move of their own accord. “It’s not far,” I whispered. “It’s actually closer and back near the waiting booth.”

I opened my eyes and let myself be drawn like metal called by a magnet, hurrying through the dappled shadow and moonlight. The closer I came to the portal, the stronger the desire to meet it.

Arizona seized my arm, stopping me.

Regulus stood motionless in the clearing, silver light pouring down to illuminate his gleaming form.

I shook free. Grinning, I ran to him, no longer mad about his absence tonight or that Arizona had brought Austin in his place.

I came close enough to see his eyes glittering in the moonlight.

He cocked his head. “Halt.”

Who was he talking to? I continued toward him, noting he had something in his hand. A shiny metal box, glittering in the moonlight.

“Mia!” Arizona shouted.

Pain shot through my head. My knees buckled. In a flash, I thought of the dirt that I’d get on Em’s beautiful mermaid dress and of how the moonlight shafted down into the clearing like a spotlight.

I reached out to Regulus. Time stopped for one long second as I looked into his dark eyes.

Then, I thought no more.

E
m was hovering
over me with tears in her eyes. Her hands shook as she pushed hair off my forehead. Arizona’s voice whispered somewhere in the background.

“It’s all going to be OK. Don’t worry,” she said over and over.

My tongue was dry and sticky in a mouth that didn’t cooperate when I opened it to speak. Em’s usual pink glow was a fiery red haze that emanated from every pore. I stared at her.

I tried again.

“He zapped me.” I giggled and said, “I must look crazy in this dress.”

The corner of Em’s mouth lifted slightly. She shook her head. “You look awesome in this dress.” She looked behind her. “I’m sorry, Mia. I’m so sorry.”

I raised my eyebrows, confused. What did she have to be sorry about? She wasn’t the one who’d accidentally zapped me. Trying to sit up, I slapped her fussing hands away. “Geez, Em. Let me up.”

She helped me stand. My head was spinning a little, so I kept a hand on her arm. A cloud drifted across the moon, and darkness smothered me like a heavy quilt. I noticed the silence, the pull of the portal, and the lack of the breeze I’d felt earlier.

“Regulus.” I squinted at him.

He didn’t answer.

“Regulus?” My voice came out in a wobbly whisper.

Then I saw him walking off, leaving the clearing without us. Leaving without checking to see if I was OK after he’d lit up my brain like a pinball machine.

“What’s going on?” I tried hard to still the quiver in my voice.

Arizona looked from Em to me. He put his arms around me in a hug.

I pushed him away. “Tell me now.”

“He’s had a cleansing, Mia.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know what that means.”

“The IIA cleansed him of certain memories.” Arizona waited a moment. Lifting my chin, he looked into my eyes. “It’s not you. They did something to him. I’ve heard about the procedure, but I’ve never known someone who—”

“What did they do to him?” I screamed.

“They took away certain memories. When he came through, he didn’t recognize you.”

“Me?” I couldn’t breathe. My throat constricted into a tight vice, and the hammering of blood in my ears competed with Arizona’s voice.

“Regulus stopped you because…he doesn’t know who you are.” Arizona looked over the top of my head. “I’ve told him that you’re one of us, our portal finder… He remembers me and even remembers Em. They were very selective in what they took.”

“Get out of my way. I’m more than your portal finder.” I shoved Arizona aside, grabbed the skirt of my dress, hiked it high and started running. Cold air whooshed around my bare legs.

The fine material of my dress caught on brush that seemed to reach and snag me at every turn. Ripping sounds told me that I had totally ruined the dress. The thought made me laugh a little hysterically.

I rounded a corner and ran into Regulus.

Surprised he’d been standing still as if waiting for me to find him, I didn’t know what to say. His shadowed face told me nothing.

I touched his arm.

He stared at my hand.

I took it away.

“Regulus.” I hoped all he needed was to hear my voice.

“Did you need something?”

“Need?” I asked. “Need? Look at me.”

Without moving, he looked at my face and my hair and my torn aqua dress.

“Look at me and tell me you don’t remember.” Desperation poured from my voice. I was trying hard not to cry. I searched him for the warmth I usually saw. All I could find was a dark golden brown of irritation and impatience.

He met my eyes for a second and looked away. “I know you are the portal finder.”

“It’s me, Mia.” I knew it was stupid to say it. Sometimes you can’t stop yourself. His words had forced a bitter lemon taste into the back of my mouth. My mind was whirling as I tried to find something important to jolt his memory. Instead, I found myself setting my hands on his shoulders and edging closer.

He looked shocked and promptly stepped back.

My hands fell away.

“There are things I must do tonight.” He turned and left.

My mind boggled. “What do you have to do?” I ran to follow him. Leaves crunched. Arizona and Em walked behind us.

“Hey, where are you going?” Anger was now taking over. My hands and legs were shaking. A new surge of adrenaline flowed through my body. “Did they also program you to be a rude jerk?”

Regulus stopped and stiffened. He glanced back. “Are you sure she is part of us?” he asked Arizona.

“She is,” Arizona said. “She’s upset.”

“I’m right here,” I said, exasperated. “I’m feeling like I’ve lost my mind, but I still have my hearing.”

Regulus turned to me. “I am aware that certain histories have been deleted for me. I am not ‘programmed.’ Selective history deletion was necessary. It’s a cleansing. I also know that I am in charge and you are not. Arizona, detain her. I need to get supplies together.”

He turned away and left. Arizona gently took my arm. I tried to shrug him off, but he was stronger. Regulus was disappearing into the darkness quickly; he’d begun to run.

“This cannot be real,” I said through gritted teeth. “How can you let this happen?” I asked Arizona.

“It’s already happened.” His voice was low and soft. Em had a pitying look on her face that made me madder.

Angry tears filled my eyes. “Did you know they were going to do it? That they would make me and Regulus disappear, like we never happened?” I wanted to blame someone even though I knew that it wasn’t Arizona’s fault.

“You need to stop worrying about you. There’s something more going on. The IIA is sending Regulus on a mission alone. They never do that. We need to figure out what they’ve ordered.”

“Why would they do that? Send him alone?” A thought flickered on the edge of my consciousness and broke free. “They think we’ll stop him or refuse to go along.”