Erasing: Shadows (The Erasing Series) by K.D. Rose Page B

went there to investigate.”
    “What did you find?” said Jonathan, interested to know where Brandon had gone.
    “Brandon, who I didn’t know at the time was Michael’s son, was flying through the air like he was being propelled, minus one shoe. I could see how young he was, and I could tell he wasn’t of that realm, but I couldn’t figure out how he could look so real.”
    “Now we know,” said Michael, through a mouthful of peanut-butter. “He looked real because he took his whole self, there—”
    “—which we didn’t even know was possible,” continued Jonathan.
    “My guess is that Mira ended up completely there because of something to do with Brandon, but I don’t know exactly what or how, or why she seems to have forgotten her real life,” finished Stu.
    “Makes sense, at least as a hypothesis,” said Michael. “But that still doesn’t explain Brandon knowing your name.”
    “Right,” said Stu. “It’s like this: I attached a piece of my energetic self to both Brandon and Mira when I saw them each out of control flying into the other world. It’s called witnessing. You don’t interfere, but I was keeping tabs in case of trouble. Brandon, as it happened, came closer to me and looked at me, kind of like kids look at an interesting rock.”
    “Oh my God.” Tears sprang up in Michael’s eyes. He reached out a hand to stop them then stood up to pace by the fireplace. “When I think of what could have happened to them…”
    “Michael,” said Jonathan softly, “don’t torture yourself. They areok at this moment, and we’re all working to make sure they stay that way.”
    “I know,” said Michael, and for the first time his face relaxed just a bit. He realized that their safety might have partially had to do with Stu’s interference. He sighed.
    “Stu, I’m so sorry,” said Michael and held out his hand.
    Stu shook it instantly, though with the feeling that this would not be the last time the two butted heads. He pushed the feeling away . “So anyway,” Stu continued, “Brandon looked at me so awake and intelligent, I introduced myself. He wasn’t scared at all—which may I remind you both, can be a good or bad thing in the other world.”
    “You know, Mira was a prodigy when she was young,” mused Jonathan.
    “What did Brandon do when you introduced yourself?” asked Michael.
    “He just repeated what I said, just like you saw him earlier tonight. He said ‘Stu’ and then went on his way. But by then, I wasn’t as worried because part of me was with him so I knew I could keep him out of any real trouble. As it was, I felt him go back to the real world a few hours later.”
    “When he showed up in the living room wanting Cheerios,” said Michael.
    “Hunger,” said Jonathan. “He had a deep understanding on some level of where he needed to be for real food. Amazing.” Jonathan couldn’t fathom it. He got up and paced as well. The study looked like a doctor’s waiting room.
    “Yes,” said Stu, “but we can’t count on the instincts of a three-year-old. Nor can we count on Mira in her confused state, so our next move better be good.”
    “Well,” said Jonathan, “we have to stick with the plan tonight. Mira is expecting it. Let’s see if we can even get that far.”
    “Agreed.” said the other two.
    “Mind if I have another sandwich for the road?” asked Stu.
    “Take the rest,” said Jonathan, who knew Stu fended for himself and usually had an empty refrigerator.
    Stu grabbed the rest of the bundle, and the trio disbanded to ready themselves for 2:00 a.m. As tired as he was, Michael forced himself to record the events in the old High Five Gang Adventure Book. He and Mira had been keeping this record of events since they started the High Five Gang—before they were even married. The record made sure that all travels were recorded for posterity, rules written down to prevent disagreements, and all skill lessons permanently preserved so they would not be